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MISSIONARIES GLEANING AFTER THE HARVEST Philippians 4:15, 2 Corinthians 11:9 On the Day of Pentecost people of different languages and cultures came together to worship God leading to the birth of the Church. The Church was then tasked to send missionaries into the world to proclaim the Kingdom of God. Those missionaries had to eat, find housing, and buy clothes. These first missionaries learned to live off the leftovers. by Lynn Thomas
The Old Testament heroine Ruth benefited from the Levitical law, also known as the Mosaic law, by allowing her to glean wheat from the fields, after the harvest. In other words, she survived off the “leftovers”. You no doubt have seen and heard about Cumberland Presbyterian (CP) missionaries visiting churches telling about the amazing work the CP Church is doing around the world. They too survive off the leftovers. Did you know there are CP churches in 13 countries and by the end of 2017 that number will grow? On the Day of Pentecost people of different languages and cultures came together to worship God leading to the birth of the Church. The Church was then tasked to send missionaries into the world to proclaim the Kingdom of God. Those missionaries had to eat, find housing, and buy clothes. These first missionaries learned to live off the leftovers (Phil. 4:15, 2 Cor. 11:9). On December 29, 2016 the new missionaries Rev. Jacob and Lindsey Sims and their three children flew to Brazil as new CP missionaries. In mid-2017 the goal is that Rev. Patrick and Jessica Wilkerson and their two small children will move to Colombia as new missionaries. We as a Church continue what Pentecost started. We send missionaries into the world because God so loves the world. Commissioning new missionaries is both exciting and challenging. It is exciting with the prospect of growing the Kingdom of God in new lands and also challenging as we face the reality of living off the leftovers. The world needs missionaries willing
to sacrifice the known world, family proximity, and security for something vitally important. As Paul writes in Romans 10, “how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” In 2017 it will take almost $400,000 to cover missionary expenses, salaries and benefits to support all of our CP missionaries. Missions is a part of the Church that lives off church offerings; it is the widow that goes into the wheat field after it has been harvested gleaning the leftovers. If only 200 persons, churches or groups (Sunday school classes) gave $2,000 a year that would be enough for our current missionary staff. Levitical law, gleaning the leftovers is God’s plan to support widows and missionaries. When all of your church’s staff and bills are paid, and other obligations met, please make an offering from the leftovers to the Stott-Wallace Missionary Support Offering. All donations go to CP missionaries to pay their salaries and benefits. Pentecost Sunday is June 4, 2017 which is also World Missions Day. Cumberland Presbyterians celebrate and receive the Stott-Wallace Missionary Offering, which helps support all endorsed CP missionaries. Please visit the StottWallace Missionary Offering website to make a pledge or a contribution at cpcmc.org/mmt/sw. Resources including a new video for 2017 are also provided on this website. MM
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Contents 6 Mexico: Finding Jesus In The Midst Of Diversity
7 Guatemala,“I Hear What You Mean�
8 Boyce and Beth Wallace: A Legacy Of Sacrificial Service
10 Brazil: Something New From Something Old
13 Worshiping God in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
14 Smiling, Sharing & Singing In The Philippines
15 NFWM and Beth-El Anniversary Celebration
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PERSPECTIVES by Milton L. Ortiz
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was 23 when I decided to search for a personal experience with the third person of the Triune God; the Holy Spirit. I had understood the need for repentance, confessed Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, accepted my responsibility as member of the Church but I was hungry for something else. My search first took me to the scriptures and then to different prayer experiences with a group of Christian young adults. In the case of Jesus, the Spirit experience is related with his conception, baptism, and ministry. The Holy Spirit is also related to specific actions like being filled by the Holy Spirit, led by the Spirit, the power of the Holy Spirit, and driving out demons by the Spirit. After Pentecost, Peter said, “Repent and be baptized… and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” In my case, my search led me to speaking in tongues. It was a new experience for me; a feeling of joy while praying was amazing. This experience with the Spirit, one other CPs have experienced, has been one of the most profound and vivid realities in my life and ministry. Recently, I was thinking about how we as Church are able to continue doing ministry in the world. Zachariah 4:6 comes to my mind, “Not by might nor by power, but my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty.” Pentecost is the answer to our personal needs and the experience that formed the Church, and gives power for the Church to accomplish everything in which the Lord has given it responsibility. It is not by creating budgets, programs, leadership, opportunities, etc. but by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is my prayer that we as a denomination come to understand that a revival with the Spirit is needed in order to transform the world with the preaching of the gospel. When those at Pentecost were filled with the Spirit they spoke in tongues but what was amazing is that people heard them speaking in their native languages. The gospel was proclaimed! This demonstrates how the Church proclaims the gospel in the languages of the people around the world in their own language. We need to seek the full Triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We need the Spirit to empower the body of Christ – The Church. People in the world need to hear the gospel in their language. Rev. Boyce Wallace, missionary to Colombia, spoke Spanish with a foreign accent. He understood the need for people to hear the good news in Spanish. For more than 54 years he preached in different parts of Colombia. The Spirit filled him, guided him, and used him until he was called home. This issue of the Missionary Messenger highlights Pentecost Sunday on June 4, 2017 and the Stott-Wallace Missionary Offering that is collected on Pentecost Sunday to support our Cumberland Presbyterian missionaries. This issue also has articles emphasizing countries where the CP Church is present proclaiming the gospel in the language of the people. MM
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The Spirit Experience
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MISSIONARY MESSENGER {
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MISSIONS MINISTRY TEAM OF THE CUMBERL AND PRESBY TERIAN CHURCH
ART DIRECTOR Sowgand Sheikholeslami
EDITORS Milton Ortiz ext:234 Pam Phillips-Burk ext:203 Lynn Thomas ext:261 T.J. Malinoski ext:232 Johan Daza ext:202
COPY EDITOR Jinger Ellis ext:230 82 07 Trad itiona l Pl ace Co rdova, TN 3 8 016 -7414 phone 901. 276. 4 572 fa x 901. 276. 4 578 mes senge r @cumbe r la nd.o rg VISIT US ON THE WEB
ht tp://cpcmc.o rg/m m To read the previous issues of The Missionary Messenger visit us at
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Printer A1 Printing Memphis, Tennessee MEMBER • Associated Church Press
Bible Study/Devotion by T.J. Malinoski
COURAGE IN THE MIDST OF TRANSFORMATION Acts 2:8-12 (New International Version) “Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs – we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”
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n the last two chapters of the Gospel according to Luke we read of puzzled, terrified and cowering disciples clothed in fear of receiving the same fate as their teacher Jesus. Not until the very last two verses of the Gospel does the writer Luke neatly wrap up a stellar transformation of scared and bumbling people to joyous and confident leaders. Extending the story in the books of Acts, the disciples remain in the city of Jerusalem where their courage is asserted in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. A dramatic experience threaded with Old Testament themes of wind and fire descends on the house where the men and women are assembled. These determined followers of Christ become filled with the Holy Spirit and begin to speak in languages other than their own. Tumbling from the windows and doorways into the city street teeming with pilgrims for the religious festival of Tabernacles, curious noises emanating from the house attract the attention of an inquisitive crowd. According to Luke, the disciples are speaking in different languages and are able to make themselves understood to the bystanders “each in our own native language”. The disciples make a startling spectacle for the assembled crowd but not everyone is impressed mockingly referring to them as morning partakers of the early harvest wine. Peter gains the attention of both disciples and pilgrims alike orating that the reasoning behind this episode is the one called Jesus of Nazareth, “as you yourselves know – attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders and signs”. Through a combination of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and in Peter’s oration both disciples and the assembly in the street are transformed. Interestingly, during the midst of a personal transformation – transformation of our lives, perception, morals, philosophy – is coupled with great courage. Who would have thought that a timid, salty fisherman would end up being an outspoken proponent of a brandnew faith community? Who could have guessed that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit would stem a new tide of faith-committed people spanning both time and space and make them courageous enough to take the good news to both friend and foe? Often our thoughts about God are limited to the parameters of what we think is possible, achievable and believable diminishing courage that is sleeping within us and undermining the possibility for spiritual transformation. As we celebrate the birth of the Church on June 4, and recall the courage of our biblical ancestors, may we be inspired toward transformation. Transformation of both mind and body can be a bit frightening. However, trusting in the Holy Spirit, who calls every person to repentance and faith, is where our Confession of Faith says we will find “salvation and life.” MM
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by Rev. Dan Castro, Rev. Uzziel Gabriel Gallardo, And Johan Daza
MEXICO
FINDING JESUS IN THE MIDST OF DIVERSITY
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he Cumberland Presbyterian ministries in Mexico have a strong presence in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area. Mexico City Metro Area’s population is around 21 million, one of the top ten largest cities in the world ranked by population.
Rev. Dan Castro, pastor of Iglesia Presbiteriana Cumberland Restauración de Vida, describes Mexico in this way, “Something characteristic of Mexico is our culture. It is interesting that each state of Mexico is very different from the others regarding food, dress codes, accents, and demographics. One thing all Mexicans have in common around the country is “el chile” (chili pepper). Almost every Mexican eats chile, and it is used in all the states.” El chile comes in different sizes, colors and forms. It is as diverse as Mexicans, but with the same essence. Rev. Uzziel Gabriel Gallardo, pastor of Fuente de Vida Cumberland Presbyterian Fellowship says that even though Mexico has been a lay country for several years, it is at the same time a very religious country due to the Catholic influence. In the last few years, Mexico has suffered the impact of financial, political, and social struggles. In the midst of these realities, people are open to hear and learn about Jesus Christ. People are attentive to hear the message from God to them.
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Rev. Castro describes Mexicans as warm, welcoming, and happy people. He affirms that for Mexicans, caring for their families is a priority. The way they care for each other is special, and it is a core element of their culture. Both ministers agree that families are in need of good news in Mexico City. Being one of the largest cities in the world makes Mexico City a wonderful mission field creating many opportunities for Cumberland Presbyterians living there to reach out to other families and their communities. The proclamation of the good news of Christ in the midst of the political, social and religious struggles is bringing relief, freedom and salvation to many families. The Mexico Council of Cumberland Presbyterian pastors and churches consists of two missionaries, and four Mexican ordained ministers. There are five ministries between provisional churches and new church developments. Churches are recognizing the needs and struggles of many people around them. With God´s help and leadership that has been equipped with necessary tools, churches are sharing the good news and new families are now members of the larger Cumberland Presbyterian family. Their goal for 2017 is to continue with discipleship and spiritual growth through creating opportunities for retreats, camps, evangelism, and numerical growth to train God´s children for the ministry of sharing the gospel with others. MM
by Lynn Thomas
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here is the old adage, “I hear what you mean.” The implication of this expression is I hear more than what you are saying. This is true when it comes to expressing the Good News; the Gospel. The Gospel is more than words, although words are important. The news we proclaim is much deeper in meaning than just the words we speak. The Cumberland Presbyterian Church’s missionaries in Guatemala proclaim Christ but the gospel message is much deeper than their words. “Do you hear what I mean?” The Panes and Peces (Loaves and Fishes) program is a weekday program in the Casa de Fe (House of Faith) CP Church in Guatemala. It works with 13 selected children, feeding them lunch in the church, helping with school work, teaching hygiene, providing a place to play, developing relational connection with the children’s parents, and giving spiritual guidance to the children and their families. If a child comes to the program sick, they will see a doctor. If a child shows signs of malnourishment, they will see a nutritionist. If a child comes to the program struggling in school, they will
GUATEMALA,
all this was born the New Hope new church development. Each Saturday afternoon there are approximately 75 people in worship, all the result of a community VBS. Obviously, families with children are a big part of the growing congregation. Although they are a new church, it is amazing to see how everyone pitches in setting up chairs, working with the children, helping with the music, and preparing snacks and meals for times of fellowship. It truly is a family of faith growing in warmth and kindness. Visitors that come experience the genuine love of Christ all around them. The gospel proclaimed, “Do you hear what I mean?” A third place where the gospel is proclaimed is in a medical clinic located in the Comunidad de Fe (Community of Faith) CP Church which provides medical care to the sick. Guatemalan doctors from our clinic host visiting medical teams from the USA. There are youth camps for Cumberland Presbyterian youth in Guatemala. The poor receive help with homes built by visiting work teams which is coordinated by our missionaries. There is follow-up during and after the project to make sure the families are doing well. And above all, worshiping communities meet and proclaim the mercies and love of God. “Do you hear what I mean?” MM
“I HEAR WHAT YOU MEAN” be tutored. If they demonstrate behaviors that are unhealthy, they will receive the attention of a psychologist. The church, with the help of our missionaries, hopes to take a group of children and guide, protect and nurture them for several years in the hope it opens their lives to God’s Kingdom through healthy behaviors, lifestyles and new opportunities for success. These are poor children from challenging circumstances. The gospel proclaimed, “Do you hear what I mean?” The Nueva Esperanza (New Hope) new church development in Guatemala was started by conducting a community Vacation Bible School (VBS) during school vacation. Hundreds of children attended providing fun activities such as arts, crafts, games, refreshments, and Bible stories. As part of the VBS the parents were invited and missionaries proclaimed the gospel. After loving their children for a week, the gospel message rang sincere. Each year the Cumberland Presbyterian Church conducts VBS for this community, now with guest work teams from the USA working with the missionaries to lead VBS. From
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BOYCE & BETH WALLACE MISSIONARY SUPPORT:
A LEGACY OF SACRIFICIAL SERVICE by Lynn Thomas
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oyce and Beth Wallace have served in Colombia for more than 50 years as Cumberland Presbyterian missionaries. A few years ago the CP Women’s Ministry and General Assembly named its new Missionary Support Fund in honor of Boyce and Beth. This fund is the key to missionary support for all CP missionaries. Boyce unexpectedly died in the USA on January 4, 2017. They were making plans to return to Colombia and continue their ministry of encouragement and support.
The death of Boyce brings to memory a group of extraordinary missionary families that worked in Colombia. They were coworkers in Colombia with Bill and Katheryn Wood, Jose and Fanny Fajardo, and John and Joyce Lovelace, among others. These
EXCERPTS FROM BOYCE WALLACE’S EULOGY by Rev. Dr. Bob Watkins North Central Presbytery
Our creator God said, “I am going to make a man. I am going to make an exceptional man and through his obedience I will be glorified. He will be named Boyce Wallace.” 8 M I S S I O N A R Y M E S S E N G E R S P R I N G 2 017
were the long-term families in Colombia; a group that all arrived around the same time to the mission field, while Boyce and Beth served the longest in Colombia of this group. They were full of faith. This generation of Colombian missionaries were people of faith. They were And our calling God quick to sing, to pray and to said, “I am going share God’s word. They were not overbearing or exaggerated, to make a man and they were sincere and authengive him a life-long tic. John Lovelace didn’t back away from going to poor and missionary call that he dangerous neighborhoods to will never abandon.” do ministry. And Bill Wood was willing to move his family to difficult and remote places to share Christ. Boyce took dugout canoes to start churches in the jungle. As a result of their spiritual leadership and encouragement of Colombian leaders the church of Colombia flourished. So what were Boyce and Beth like as missionaries? They were adventurers. They were attracted to challenges and they took risks. As new missionaries Boyce and Beth drove with their children from the USA to Colombia, passing through Mexico and Central America. The roads and trip were not easy 53 years ago; this trip is still not easy. All of these missionaries
were risk takers in life and in ministry. They found their way to remote places, to difficult projects, to dangerous situations for the cause of Christ. They were both assertive and caring. These missionaries were assertive; they were not afraid to speak out or jump in and lead. At the same time they all had a very tender and caring nature. They all cared for the poor, the young, and those on the margins of society. They all did fundraising, even at times outside the normal approved channels, in order to help others. They were never afraid to bend rules to benefit the Colombian people. They were loyal. These missionaries were loyal to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, even when it frustrated them. They all felt the responsibility of representing the CP Church in Colombia, careful not to misrepresent the Church with their own preferences. They tirelessly visited churches in the USA, promoting and advocating missions. They loved the Church. And our relational God Boyce spent the last days of his life visiting said, “I am going to CP churches and promake a man and I am moting missions.
going to give him a wife that will be beautiful, smart, spiritual, and profoundly called to the same purposes of the her husband. They will become a team, and most of what will be said about one will also be said about the other.”
The Missions Ministry Team realized the extraordinary work of Boyce and Beth several years ago by naming our missionary support fund in honor of them. It is our goal that the Stott-Wallace Missionary Support Fund be a lasting testimony and a challenge to the Church to be what these missionaries were; adventurous, full of faith, caring and loyal. May our current missionaries live up to their legacy. MM
And God said, “I am going to make a man, like so many missionaries, that will struggle to speak his second language so the multitudes of listeners will not focus on his verbal eloquence but instead on the love of Savior that wrote the message.”
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BRAZIL by Lynn Thomas
SOMETHING NEW FROM SOMETHING OLD
Fifty years ago Brazil was looking for farmers to help the country develop its vast lands. Brazil appealed to the world to send its farmers and the government would help them acquire farm land. This appeal was announced following World War II as the economy of Japan was still trying to recover. For some Japanese, even some who were not farmers, this seemed like a great opportunity. People moved from Japan to Brazil into the tropical open savannahs outside of Salvador and took large tracks of land in order to develop vegetable farms and orchards. Some of those Japanese farmers were from the Koza Cumberland Presbyterian Church. These were highly committed people who were both adventurous and hard-working. They quickly realized their new land was full of Japanese farmers that were open to the gospel. As is often the case, immigrants in new lands are freer to explore their faith. Brazil was not 10 M I S S I O N A R Y M E S S E N G E R S P R I N G 2 017
L only a fertile field for vegetables and fruit orchards, it was also a fertile field for evangelism among the new Japanese immigrants. Japanese CP Christian lay leaders started to reach out to their neighbors. They eventually contacted their home church back in Japan and they too caught the vision. Koza CP Church eventually sent one of their pastors to Brazil to work with these Japanese farmers. The Mata de Sao Joao CP Church was born, a church to Japanese farmers supported by Koza CP Church and organized by Japan Presbytery. During all of these fifty years it was staffed with Japanese pastors from Japan Presbytery. The Mata de Sao Joao CP Church is a beautiful facility in the farmlands of Brazil, about two hours outside of Salvador, Brazil. The congregation was S P R I N G 2 017 M I S S I O N A R Y M E S S E N G E R 11
close-knit from the start, with Japanese families having lived in the area for decades, and members who spoke in their own language. Mata de Sao Joao CP Church is your typical rural church with farmers and their families worshipping together in a beautiful church they built, enjoying the Lord, sharing meals, and fellowship with each other. Things changed over time in the countryside of Brazil. Japanese families had children, those children grew-up and went to the university in Salvador and other cities. They didn’t return to the farms. Often the parents followed their children, leaving the countryside and moved to the bigger cities. Young Japanese men and women, born and raised in Brazil, who speak perfect Portuguese married Brazilians. The world was changing, Japan Presbytery and the church session of Mata de Sao Joao CP Church came to a clear understanding about their future; it was time to become a Brazilian church. In 2016 the church, for the first time, employed a Brazilian to be their pastor. The primary language of worship is now Portuguese. In addition, the church in Brazil realized it was time to reach out to the city. Over the years many members had moved to the city and started church planting in Salvador. Therefore, in 2017, the Missions Ministry Team sent new missionaries, Rev. Jacob and Lindsey Sims, to Brazil to start CP churches in Salvador among the Brazilians and Brazilian Japanese that now live there. The Brazilian-Japanese Cumberland Presbyterian story is an amazing one. It represents fifty years of faithful service, sacrifice and commitment. The new is founded on the old and new churches will be coming in the future. Churches will be 12 M I S S I O N A R Y M E S S E N G E R S P R I N G 2 017
born as a result of Japanese farmers who were courageous enough to care about their community. New churches will be born from men and women, and Japanese pastors, who shared their faith and gathered other faithful believers into a worshiping community. New churches will be formed because a presbytery made a fifty year commitment to a small part of Brazil. The future is built on the faithfulness of those in the past, in reality it has always been that way. MM
by Lynn Thomas
WORSHIPING GOD IN
Cambodia is in the midst of a spiritual awakening and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church is part of it. It is now estimated there are 200,000 followers of Christ in Cambodia and that number is growing. There is religious freedom, unlike some of the neighboring countries around Cambodia. The Samaki CP Church, guided by our missionaries living in Southeast Asia, is a tool God is using to proclaim the gospel of forgiveness, compassion and hope in Cambodia. The CP Church raised $100,000 to help Samaki CP Church build a new worship facility. It is a worship space where Khmer is sung, spoken and prayed, all to God’s glory. Each Sunday they proclaim the Good News of the Christ to those that visit, reciting together the Apostles Creed. Just imagine you are a Cambodian and are visiting a church for the first time in your life. You know nothing about Christians or even about Jesus Christ. You may be wondering, what are these people all about? Then you hear everyone say together in your language, “I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord…” The gospel story summarized, the gospel message lived out before your very eyes by a worshiping, loving community. MM
PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA “I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord…” Imagine what that sounds like in the Khmer language. A new Cumberland Presbyterian place of worship is coming out of the ground in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Cambodia is a country in Southeast Asia that is between Thailand and Vietnam with Laos to its north. Their language is Khmer. The Samaki Cumberland Presbyterian Church is a church of about 150 Cumberland Presbyterians. Each Sunday the Samaki CP Church conducts its worship service. They sing songs, quote scriptures, pray and proclaim the Good News each Sunday. As part of the service the congregation quotes together the Apostles Creed in Khmer. There are always visitors that are sitting in a Christian service for the first time. It was only in the past 50 years, during the dark days of communist totalitarian oppression and genocide by Pol Pot, that all churches were closed, and 80% of all Christians martyred. It was estimated there were no more than 2,000 surviving Christians in Cambodia. In those days the voices of God’s people worshiping in Khmer were few and certainly not free to worship.
by Rev. Daniel Jang, Missionary To The Philippines, And Rev. Johan Daza
SMILING, SHARING & SINGING
IN THE PHILIPPINES
Manila is the capital of the Philippines and is one of the largest cities in the world (ranked by population). The population of the country is over 100 million. The strongest presence of Cumberland Presbyterian ministries is located in Iloilo, 410 miles south of Manila. One American pastor who has traveled to some countries in South America visited the Philippines and told Rev. Daniel Jang (a CP missionary to the Philippines) that the Philippines looked like those countries. The Philippines were strongly influenced by Spaniards and Americans because the Philippines, was formerly a colony of Spain and the US. Rev. Jang describes the Filipinos in this way, “I think Filipinos are very hospitable to foreigners. They are always smiling at strangers as well as one another. I seldom see people who are frowning or whose faces look serious. They know how to be content with what they have and how to share with others. They do not ignore when they see a person who needs help due to accident or emergency on the street. They love to sing and think positive always.� Evangelistic revivals have been an important ministry since Daniel and his family started their ministry in the Philippines five years ago. Daniel does not know exactly how many Filipinos have received the Good News through him because they have been so many places and preached the gospel to so many people. However, based on people who are members of the CP churches there, he would guess around 70 people came to believe in Jesus Christ and became church members through their ministry of sharing the gospel. Besides the two missionary families serving in the Philippines, there are three ordained Filipino pastors, six Filipino probationers, 2 licentiates, and 4 candidates. MM 14 M I S S I O N A R Y M E S S E N G E R S P R I N G 2 017
NFWM AND BETH-EL ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION Two important ministries supported by the Cumberland Presbyterian Church celebrated significant milestones in 2016. National Farm Worker Ministry and Beth-El Farmworker Ministry celebrated 45 and 40 years, respectively, of ministry. Cumberland Presbyterian representatives were present to celebrate with them. National Farm Worker Ministry Celebrates 45 Years by Rev. Joy Warren, First CP Church, Murfreesboro, Tennessee
In 2016, National Farm Worker Ministry (NFWM)celebrated its 45th anniversary during the August board meeting. The anniversary theme, “This Far By Faith,� highlights the importance of communities of faith intentionally advocating for farm worker justice. In conjunction with the milestone
celebration, a fundraiser dinner resulted in about $16,000 in contributions and sustaining member pledges. New executive director Julie Taylor (who served as a board member for a number of years) says that it can be difficult to explain to people what exactly it is NFWM does. She says it is hard to explain to some folks that our task is to stand with and accompany farm workers on their journey to improved living and working conditions. Farm workers are some of the lowest paid and highest exploited laborers of all. Advocacy work is long-suffering, and firmly entrenched economic systems slow to change, but 2016 saw some encouraging steps forward. S P R I N G 2 017 M I S S I O N A R Y M E S S E N G E R 15
· Familias Unidas por la Justicia (FUJ) won a union election at Sakuma Bros. Berry Farm in September with a 77% majority. · California farm workers won the right to overtime pay. In September, Gov. Jerry Brown signed the bill which will phase in over the next four years, granting overtime pay for over 800,000 laborers in the fields. · The union election at Sakuma led to an end of the boycotts endorsed by NFWM on Sakuma berries, Driscoll’s berries, and Häagen Case strawberry ice cream. NFWM board members visited labor camps in North Carolina during their August board meeting, and some noticed improvement in the living conditions. They are seeing the results of advocacy work of the Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC), which has had major success in recovering back wages for many workers.
Ways to Help NFWM Take a letter to your local Wendy’s manager (sample at www.nfwm.org) which lets them know people of faith are standing in solidarity with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (featured guests at 2014 Women’s Convention in Chattanooga) in their boycott of Wendy’s until the fast food chain joins the Fair Food Program. Make a Tribute Gift in honor or memory of someone you admire. Your gift honors that person while supporting the important work of NFWM. (“Take Action” tab at www. nfwm.org) From time to time, NFWM initiates a call to action inviting faith communities to participate in justice work. Often the calls involve making phone calls to members of Congress or writing letters to local restaurant or grocery store managers. The latest call came from the California Council of Churches asking advocates to help their Farm 16 M I S S I O N A R Y M E S S E N G E R S P R I N G 2 017
to Flint Foodlift. This effort asked growers (mainly in California) to send boxes of produce to Flint where locals still have no access to clean water for growing fresh produce, and they even struggle to find canned and frozen produce. Most of the calls take only a few minutes of time, but they have tremendous impact on the lives of so many who are often overlooked. The Farm Workers Association of Florida sends this thankyou to friends of NFWM: “Your support of farm workers struggles has been pivotal...Bringing the strength, passion, compassion, and commitment of the Faith Community to stand side-by-side with the people in the field has allowed us together to accomplish more as we walk on the path of social and environmental justice for all.”
Prayer of the Farm Workers’ Struggle (attributed to Cesar Chavez): Show me the suffering of the most miserable so I will know my peoples plight. Free me to pray for others for you are present in every person. Help me take responsibility for my own life so that I can be free at last. Grant me courage to serve others for in service there is true life. Give me honesty and patience so that I can work with other workers. Bring forth song and celebration so that the spirit will be alive among us. Let the Spirit flourish and grow so that we will never tire of the struggle. Let us remember those who have died for justice for they have given us life. Help us love even those who hate us so we can change the world. Amen. MM
Beth-el Farmworker Ministry Celebrates 40 Years by Pam Phillips-Burk
Beth-El Farmworker Ministry located in Wimauma, Florida, celebrated 40 years of ministry this past November. The celebration included a panel discussion, campus tours, farmworker camp tours, a silent auction, a harvest dinner, and worship. It was a great weekend attended by many people. There were a good number of Cumberland Presbyterians who traveled to Beth-El to join in on the celebrations. The Rev. Reese Baker and the members of Lewis Memorial Cumberland Presbyterian Church began this ministry in 1976. Little did they know the expansive ministries that would develop in the coming years. Beth-El started as a worshiping community but church members soon recognized other needs and challenges faced by the farmworkers; needs such as lack of sufficient food, inadequate housing, legal issues with the immigration process, and educational challenges faced by a migrant lifestyle. The members of Lewis Memorial Cumberland Presbyterian Church took to heart the words of Jesus in Matthew 25:40 and set about finding ways to help feed, clothe, house, and nurture the farmworkers in their communities and neighborhoods. The original location was a house located in Ruskin, Florida. In that tiny space the growing community, worshiped God and fellowshipped together, children were provided spiritual education and nurture, folks found help with legal counsel, and hungry families found sustenance and support through the food pantry and clothing closet. The ministry soon outgrew that space and relocated to its current campus in Wimauma where the ministries have been greatly expanded. Beth-El’s mission is to “help farm workers achieve self-sufficiency through its open opportunities to worship, its extensive educational programs, and the many services it provides to meet basic needs.” Its programs include:
· Spanish-language worship services, Bible study, and Vacation Bible School · A wide variety of adult education classes, such as English as a Second Language (ESL) and General Education Development degree (GED) · Pro-bono legal services · Caseworkers to help with housing · Programs for children such as back to school preparation, field trips, and summer camp · Mission groups who work at the Mission or help restore housing · Addiction recovery programs such as AA · Weekly food distribution (400-600 families a week receive food bags, a monthly meal to farm workers) · Located on the campus is a Head Start program for children of migrant workers and a charter school for at-risk children operated by Redlands Christian Migrant Association · Scholarships to help young people attend college (5 young people from the community received scholarships last year). Beth-El is a tri-union mission in covenant partnership with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church (the founding member) and the presbyteries of Peace River and Tampa Bay (PCUSA). Why support Beth-El? The mission helps to meet the most basic needs of the farmworkers who labor in the fields to help feed a large portion of America. The pay for a farmworker is below minimum wage, earning less than $15,000 a year. Farmworkers are a segment of people at-risk of exploitation and abuse. The work that they do touches the lives of all of us. Beth-El stands with these people who are in need and quite vulnerable. Through our prayers and support the Cumberland Presbyterian Church stands with them as well. And if the needs remains - may it be so in the next 40 years. MM
S P R I N G 2 017 M I S S I O N A R Y M E S S E N G E R 17
Convention Highlights
2017 CP WOMEN’S MINISTRY CONVENTION
by Pam Phillips-Burk
· Making Connections with our CPCA Sisters in an Outreach Project in the Community · Connecting with Beth-El Farm Worker Ministry – field trip · Worship, Bible Study, Fellowship, and Prayer Opportunities · Updates on the Convention Offering – Building A Promising Future
Information You Will Want to Know Regional Delegates will gather for their meeting on Monday, June 18th at 10:30 a.m. to include lunch. NOTE: the 10:30 a.m. time change differs from previous years.
School Supplies for Beth-El Farm Worker Ministry Each year Beth-El provides over 500 backpacks filled with school supplies so that children will start the new school year with some of the tools and resources to help them succeed in their studies. Items to donate include: Backpack-Set of four 3 prong folders with pockets (red, yellow, green, blue) - Three ring binder with pockets Washable markers - Hand sanitizer-Coloring pencilsTissue packs - Erasers of any type - HighlightersThree hole dividers - Five subject notebook Pencil bags - Pencils - Pens-Loose leaf paper
Schedule
JUNE 19-22
INNISBROOK RESORT & GOLF CLUB, PALM HARBOR, FLORIDA
Monday Morning, June 18th – 10:30 a.m. – Regional Delegate meeting to include lunch (Regional Delegates ONLY) Monday Afternoon, June 18th – Afternoon field trip to Beth-El Farm Worker Ministry. Transportation will be provided to and from the hotel by the Office of General Assembly. We will tour the campus and see the various ministries provided by Beth-El. A light supper will be provided, as well as the reception for the Moderator’s and Women’s Ministry President. Tuesday Morning, June 19th – while Convention will not “officially” be opened for business actions until Wednesday, there will be programming and activities for participants: prayer activities, officers’ training, etc. Tuesday Afternoon, June 19th – Two options available: outreach activity in partnership with CPCA Missionary Auxiliary or on-site Bible Study Wednesday, June 20th – Convention opens with installation of officers, keynote speaker, Bible Study, Membership Presentations, Memorial Service, etc. Thursday Morning, June 21st – Programming, missionary presentation, Luncheon
2017
Cumberland Presbyterian Women’s Ministry Convention June 19-22, 2017, Palm Harbor, FL Return your completed registration form and a check payable to Missions Ministry Team to Convention Registration, 8207 Traditional Place, Cordova, TN 38016. If you register after May 1, the late registration fee is an additional $15. A packet of information will be sent to those who register by JUNE 1st. Questions? Contact Pam Phillips-Burk at pam@cumberland.org or 901/276.4572, ext. 203. Name: _______________________________________________________________________________ Address:_______________________________________________________________________________ City: __________________________________________ State: __________ Zip Code: _______________ Telephone Number: ________________________________Cell Number: ____________________________ Email Address: _________________________________________________________________________ Congregation: _____________________________________Region: _______________________________
Registration Information: Additional information will be taken at Convention.
_____ Regional Delegate
_____ Youth Delegate
_____ This is my first time at Convention
Fees & Meals: Please indicate the number of tickets or fees you are paying in the blank in the left column; calculate the total cost in the right column.
_____ Registration - $30 $_____ (before May 1)
_____Late Registration - $45 $_____ (after May 1)
_____Regional Delegate Lunch - $20 $_____ (REGIONAL DELEGATES ONLY)
(The LUNCH Meeting will be Monday, June 19)
_____Luncheon - $31 $_____ (Thursday, June 22 at 12:00 NOON)
_____Luncheon -2_____If you attend One Day Only - $20 $_____
_____I would like to make a donation to the
$_____
Stott-Wallace Missionary Fund
Total $__________
I am interested in participating in an off-site “hands-on” project (Tuesday afternoon, June 20) _____Yes _____ No
Possible project sites include a food bank, homeless shelter, Salvation Army, or Neighborhood Housing Service
You are responsible for making your own hotel reservations: Innisbrook Resort & Golf Club (36750 U.S. Highway 19, N., Palm Harbor, FL 34684)
Website: www.visitinnisbrook.com
Reserve your room by calling (800) 492-6899 Group Code: CPGA Room Rate - $129 plus tax (1 bedroom executive suite – Room is 800 sq. ft. which includes living room, fully
equipped kitchen, sofa sleeper, private balcony/patio. Suites have either two queens or one king bed. If you need an accessible room, please note that when making your reservations.)
Cut off date for reservations at this rate: May 18, 2017
CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN Missionaries
SECOND MILE PROJECTS
INE P P I L I H P
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s Thank You for Your Support Pla nter Ch u rc h
ov 8 Ka y N 9 2 n a J and Fires – Devastating Tornadoes Da nie l pril 13 i ARespond Cumberland Presbyterians Younje Ma y 18 Thank you for your most J generous unha donations a u m.n e t for relief from the recent tornado in dmiddle 29@ 1 p u g n i o g Tennessee and fires in Gatlinburg. These two disasters were right on the heels of each other affecting a large number of people in the state. There were Cumberland Presbyterians who were directly affected, namely New Hope CP Church in Whitwell, Tennessee which took a direct hit and suffered major damage. As of this writing, a new roof is going on and repairs continue. Through your generous giving to the annual One Great Hour of Sharing offering the Cumberland Presbyterian Church was able to send $500 to the New Hope Church right away to use wherever there was a need in the church or community. In addition, CPs throughout the denomination have given a total of $11,182 in the tornado recovery and $6,292 in the Gatlinburg fire recovery. Thank you again for blessing others with your donations.
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CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH THE NEED–Project #34041 MISSIONS MINISTRY TEAM MISSIONARY APPLIANCES 8207 Traditional Place • Cordova, TN
• 901.276.4572 Our38016-7414 missionaries travel to the mission field with For more information and resources visit only their suitcases and they are expected to buy our website at http://cpcmc.org/mmt/ everything they need for their home once they arrive. One of the big ticket items they have to buy are appliances such as a refrigerator, stove, washer and dryer. We have a new missionary family, Patrick and Jessica Wilkerson, that desire to serve in Colombia as Cumberland Presbyterian missionaries planting Cumberland Presbyterian churches and providing leadership to the Cumberland Presbyterian churches on the mission field. This missionary couple and their two small children hope to be deployed in 2017. They are currently on deputation (fund-raising). Your second mile contribution will be used to help them purchase new appliances upon their arrival on the mission field.
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Amount Needed from Second Mile Amount Contributed to Date: Total Amount Needed for the Project:
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$4,000.00
DURATION: March 2017 – December 2017
Loaves and Fishes 2016
Because of your care and concern, the Cumberland Presbyterian churches in Haiti will soon be able to offer a nutritious hot meal to the children in their schools and communities. At the time of this writing, the 2016 offering was $73,440.30. Thanks be to God! That will go a long, long way in Haiti.
CONTRIBUTIONS:
Gift to the King 2016
Please make check payable to the Missions Ministry Team indicating for project #34041 and mail to 8207 Traditional Place, Cordova, TN 38016-7414.
New Church Development doesn’t just happen. It takes planning and preparation and funding. Through your efforts, the Cumberland Presbyterian Church will be able to “Enlarge FOR MORE INFORMATION: Our Tent” in 2017 and beyond. Thank you for Contact Lynn Thomas at lynndont@gmail.com, your generous gifts to the 2016 Gift to the King Da vidat this writing totals $21,726.36 Offering, which (901) 276-4572, ext. 261. A pril 17 If you haven’t returned your offering, it is not S a ra h b 20 too late to do so! A u g 10 John Fe w ( u m 2 1c @y a rc h 3(( a h o o.c o m Joy M et .n il a hanm b a rk m o k s a @
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POLICY: THE MISSIONARY MESSENGER is published for the Cumberland Presbyterian Church by the Missions Ministry Team. Opinions expressed by the individual writers are not necessarily those of the publisher or the editors. THE MISSIONARY MESSENGER does not accept advertising.
ADDRESS CHANGE: send new address and label from a recent newspaper to the Circulation Secretary at the address below. THE MISSIONARY MESSENGER (ISSN 08868344), (Publication permit number: PE14376) is published quarterly by the Missions Ministry Team of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 8207 Traditional Place, Cordova, TN 38016-7414. Periodicals postage paid at Memphis, Tenn. The magazine is sent free of charge to each household in the denomination. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: THE MISSIONARY MESSENGER, 8207 Traditional Place, Cordova, TN 38016-7414.
2017
CHURCH STARTE RS RETREAT AND CONFE RE NCE ALL RE C Ps A ED INVIT
November 13-17, 2017 Crystal Springs Camp in Kelso, Tennessee
“Peace to you. Just as the Father sent me, I send you… Receive the Holy Spirit” John 20:21.22 (The Message) Registration Fee $125.00 per participant It includes: Lodging, Meals and Materials For more information contact: Rev. T. J. Malinoski at TMalinoski@cumberland.org or Rev. Johan Daza at JDaza@cumberland.org For online registration visit: www.cpcmc.org/mmt/starters/