M M Missionary Messenger Spring 2018 / Volume 7
PENTECOST
STOTT-WALLACE MISSIONARY OFFERING FUND
Pray For New
Every gift to the Stott-Wallace Missionary Offering Fund is a prayer for the expansion of the gospel of Jesus Christ through the work of Cumberland Presbyterian Missionaries. The Stott-Wallace Missionary Offering Fund is the primary way the Cumberland Presbyterian Church supports all endorsed Cumberland Presbyterian missionaries to fulfill their call. All donations go to pay their salaries and benefits. CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH MISSIONS MINISTRY TEAM
AUSTRALIA 6 churches; the work in Australia is Korean
COLOMBIA 3 presbyter – 5,128 acti
BRAZIL 1 church and a new church development
CUBA 4 house ch
CAMBODIA AND LAOS 1 church in both countries
GUATEMAL 2 churches 1 clinic and program
8207 Traditional Place • Cordova, TN, 38016-7414 • 901.2
God Breaking Through To Other Nations Acts 11:17-18 “If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.” By Milton L. Ortiz Peter was sharing his story when he was prompted by God to go to the non-Jewish people to preach the good news of Jesus Christ. As soon as he started speaking the Holy Spirit fell upon them. Peter realized that all believers were granted the gift of the Spirit not just the Jews. Also, the other believers understood that God was breaking through to other nations. This is a critical turning point for the new Christian Church in Jerusalem. The unleashing of the gospel in order for those from different nations, cultures and languages to hear the good news of salvation and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit making everyone part of the same family. Everything started on the Day of Pentecost when people from different nations and cultures heard the disciples speaking in their native languages the wonders of God. Then it was confirmed when the crucial importance of the council in Acts 15 understood how to present the gospel to the nations without presenting cultural obstacles to follow Jesus. The Cumberland Presbyterian Church from its beginning understood the meaning of going and making disciples in all the nations. This has been done through the work of missionaries and those who support them. For example, in July of 2017 Rev. Patrick and Jessica Wilkerson and their
two small daughters moved to Medellin, Colombia as new missionaries. Their mission is to expand the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in the newly organized Emaus Presbytery. This includes exploring how to plant new churches and support the mission and community services of 9 Cumberland Presbyterian churches and their pastors. The Stott-Wallace Missionary Offering Fund helps support the Wilkersons and all endorsed Cumberland Presbyterian missionaries to fulfill their call. Pentecost Sunday is May 20, 2018 which is also World Missions Day. On this day, Cumberland Presbyterians celebrate and receive the Stott-Wallace Missionary Offering. All donations go to CP missionaries to pay their salaries and benefits. You can send your financial contribution to the Missions Ministry Team at 8207 Traditional Place, Cordova, TN 38016 any time throughout the year. By supporting the Stott-Wallace Missionary Offering Fund, the Cumberland Presbyterian Church will keep going to the nations, making disciples and teaching them to obey everything Jesus has commanded. MM S P R I N G 2 018 M I S S I O N A R Y M E S S E N G E R 1
Contents 6 A New Church Is Born
8 Church Planters Retreat And Conference
9 Mission Work Around The World
10 Conectados
12 Mission Updates
15 Women’s Conference
20 Giving News
MM Missionary Messenger S P R I N G 2 018
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Philippines
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PERSPECTIVES by Milton L. Ortiz
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very year, the spring issue of the Missionary Messenger focuses on Pentecost. On Pentecost Sunday the Christian Church celebrates the pouring out of the promised Spirit. What that means is that the Holy Spirit is now the personal presence of God. Jesus was God with us. The Holy Spirit is God in us. I am always confused when we sing or pray asking the Spirit to come as if we as Christians where able to live our lives without the Spirit. As Cumberland Presbyterians, we believe that the Spirit moves on hearts of sinners convincing them of their sins and their need for salvation and inclining them to repentance and faith toward God. Paul said in Ephesians 1:13, “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.” So, we received the Spirit when we believed. In order to live our Christian life, the Spirit resides and manifests in us in terms of fruit, testimony and gifts. Our Confession of Faith also says that when empowered by the illuminating influence of the Holy Spirit, believers are able to love and glorify God and to love and serve their neighbors. When Paul calls us to “be filled with the Spirit,” in reality he is calling us to allow the Holy Spirit to empower us by influencing us in our love to God and neighbor. In this issue you will find a call to celebrate Pentecost and receive the Stott-Wallace Missionary Offering. The offering can be received on Pentecost Sunday, May 20 2018 or any other Sunday during the year. You also will find a Bible study on the growing of the multi-ethnic church with many languages and cultures making it a hybrid community. There is also information about our mission work around the world with stories from our missionaries and missionary changes. MM
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PENTECOST SUNDAY
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SPRING
2018
MISSIONARY MESSENGER {
V O L.7, N O.1
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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 8207 Traditional Place Cor dova, T N 38016-7414 phone 901.276.4572 fa x 901.276.4578 m essenger @cu m berland.org VISIT US ON THE WEB
ht tp://cpcmc.o rg/m m To read the previous issues of The Missionary Messenger visit us at
http://cpcmc.org/mm/mm-archives MEMBER • Associated Church Press
Bible Study/Devotion By Lynn Thomas
HYBRIDS AND THE GROWING CHURCH Acts 11:18
“When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, ‘Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.’”
A
hybrid is a new thing that is the result of mixing dissimilar things. Hybrids are concoctions, mixing things up that normally do not belong together. Animals can be genetically mixed producing a new breed with unique characteristics. The same is true with plants. The best qualities of two plants can produce a new and improved hybrid. The mixing of a combustion engine with an electric engine has produced a new type of energy-friendly car. Hybrids are not new; the day of Pentecost produced a hybrid. What do you get when you mix Judaism and various Gentile cultures with the binding agent of the Holy Spirit? Acts 2 shows us a new community of many languages and cultures in unity understanding each other, sharing with each other, learning, praying, eating and worshiping as one (Acts 2:44 ff.). This hybrid was called the Church. But it did not stop there, it continued to expand and
hybridize. In Acts 10 the gospel mixed a Roman officer and his family with a Jewish fisherman. They shared lives with each other; they had a shared encounter with God. The culture and diet of a Roman is vastly different than that of a Jew. In Acts 10 two worlds came together with the help of the Holy Spirit, both the circumcised and the uncircumcised became one (Acts 10:44-47). The hybrid was baptism (not circumcision) into a multicultural family. Peter goes to a meeting of Jewish leaders in Acts 11 to explain the new hybrid. He tells the story of the Roman family and what happened. After Peter finishes the story they were shocked into silence; they were stunned. They realized that God’s work in the world was not just for the Jews, it was for all of humanity. They also realized (Acts 15) that the infusion of Gentiles into the Jewish Kingdom of God was going to change all of them. The new community was not going to be as Jewish. They changed as the new church expanded, mixed, and grew. There are two ways to look at expansion and hybridization. One is the response of some of the Jewish Christians; fear and hesitancy. The other is seen in Acts chapter 11 and in 15, “…if they repent and become followers of Christ, we glorify God and celebrate them as part of our community with open arms.” As the Church flows out of scripture and into history we see it transforming and being transformed. The Jewish “experiencing God in history” church moved from the Middle East to the analytical Roman world and gains theological depth, creeds and dogmas. It then goes on to Europe and gains piety and sacrifice. Democratization and empowerment that depends on a team effort were European contributions. The Church is now moving south of the equator, gaining passion, liveliness and vitality like never before. Now what? The Cumberland Presbyterian Church is on the march around the world. Missionaries and new church plants are moving the gospel to new communities, nations, and cultures. We have churches in 14 countries and we have missionaries serving from Asia to the Americas. We are transforming the world, and we are being transformed as a Church. As the Jewish Christians of Acts realized, expansion creates hybrids, it changes all of us for the better. Expansion is our hope; it makes us a more effective, and healthier Church. Bible Study Discussion Questions (Acts 11 to 15): •
What changes did the Christian Jews have to make to include the new gentile Christians?
•
What benefits did the Gentile Christians bring to the Church?
•
What unified the different cultures (people) that made up the first Church?
•
What role did a common experience with God play in helping the Church be one?
•
What are some of our fears with respect to expansion?
•
How can we encourage and support the growth and expansion of our local church and our global Church? MM S P R I N G 2 018
MISSIONARY MESSE NGE R 5
A NEW CHURCH
IS BORN By T. J. Malinoski
Minister: Reverend Rhonda McGowan
Elders: Bryan Jordan, Ian McDougald
Charter Members: Brenda Griffith, Mike Griffith, Alice Gunner, Reverend Lamar Jackson, Bryan Jordan, Linda Jordan, Matthew Jordan, Ian McDougald, Lenny McDougal, Kristin Miller, Jim Miller, Adel Soriano
Tennessee-Georgia Presbytery Commission for Organization: James Condra, George Holland, Reverend Phillip Layne, Reverend Theresa Martin, Moe McComick 6 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 2 018
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nder the December winds and in the north end of Sequatchie Valley, Cumberland Presbyterians gathered for worship. This was a different kind of gathering and a different kind of worship. People from Tennessee-Georgia Presbytery gathered and worshipped to celebrate the organization of a new Cumberland Presbyterian church. Upon ordination, Reverend Rhonda McGowan was called to continue a new church development in Pikeville, Tennessee, a community 60 miles north of Chattanooga. Reverend Tim Rapson was the original church planter and Rhonda began her leadership in 2012. The need for a new Cumberland Presbyterian church in the area arose from a few Cumberlands who moved into Bledsoe County due to work and family and were looking for a church home. Not finding one that spoke to their needs, Tennessee-Georgia Presbytery started a new church development in Pikeville. The group
Elders Ian McDougald Rev. Kris McGowan
and Bryan Jordan being
and Rev. Rhonda
ordained by commission
McGowan
grew slowly numerically but kept its people together with little attrition. At the time of the organizational service, Pikeville Cumberland Presbyterian Church had approximately 15 charter members; not counting regular worship attendees. An organizational service of a Cumberland Presbyterian church is, at its heart, a worship service. There are the primary elements of worship: songs, prayers, scripture readings, an offering and sermon. In addition, Pikeville’s organizational service included an oral historical outline of the Cumberland Presbyterian presence in Bledsoe County, the development of the church, changes in leadership and the importance of starting new groups to glorify God. The service also included the receiving of new members, the formation of a church session, and the election, ordination and
installation of 2 new elders. Reverend McGowan preached the organization sermon challenging the worshippers to minister to one another but also to those in the Pikeville community. Both she and her husband, Reverend Kris McGowan, served the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. The Cumberland Presbyterian denomination can celebrate with the Pikeville Church as being one of our most recent new church developments to become organized. In these exciting times, the TennesseeGeorgia Presbyterial Board of Missions is exploring ways and areas to start yet another new church development. Let us be in prayer for this new church that is part of the Cumberland Presbyterian family and be challenged and inspired to begin new churches. MM
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MISSIONARY MESSE NGE R 7
CUMBERLANDS LAUNCH CHURCH PLANTER’S RETREAT & CONFERENCE By T. J. Malinoski
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“It was a very good retreat for me. I met friends and found new friends. I could reflect on my ministry in those three days with a different perspective.” - Rev. Iwao Satoh “It was refreshing to meet more members of our Cumberland family who are facing new churches like we are. It is good to know that this profession is no longer a lonely one. Missions Ministry Team, thank you for making this possible!” - Revs. Lyvia and Freddy Rincon
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or the first time in many, many years, the Missions Ministry Team held a Church Planter’s Retreat and Conference this past November. Twenty people traveled to Kelso, Tennessee to Camp Crystal Springs, a Cumberland Presbyterian camp, supported by Tennessee Synod. In this retreat atmosphere Cumberland Presbyterians who are connected directly to or are interested in new church development met for three days.
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Those in attendance reflected a diverse representation in being connected with starting new churches. There were first time church planters, lay persons, clergy, candidates for ministry and even those who are new to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The purpose for hosting such a conference and retreat was to begin building lasting relationships and connectionalism for those in church planting. The Missions Ministry Team wants to continue to better equip our new church development leaders in their ministry and provide information for those who are in supportive roles; including those in the decision making process at the presbyterial level. The gathering at Crystal Springs was also a retreat. This was a time for our church planters to have a reprieve from their ministries to allow for rest, worship and spiritual experiences. A main focus of the retreat was to allow our church planters to meet with other Cumberlands who are doing the same throughout the United States. Church planters who are just starting were able hear from the experiences of those who are in later stages of new church development. Small group rotation was used to allow each participant to share with others the successes and challenges they face while starting new Cumberland churches. Each worship service was led by a different church planter, reflecting on their ecclesiology and development as a leader. One of the outcomes of hosting this conference and retreat is that the Cumberland Presbyterian church planting network is developing where our church planters now have ways in communicating with one another to provide encouragement, insight, motivation, prayer, ideas and shared experiences that was just not possible prior to having the conference. MM
hen Cumberland Presbyterians talk about connectionalism, we take it seriously. Have you wondered how we ended up having Cumberland Presbyterian ministries in Mexico, Guatemala, Cuba, Haiti, South Korea, Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines, Australia, and Spain in the last nineteen years? The answer is simple: through our CP connectionalism. Some of the initial ministerial opportunities in these countries were initiated by Cumberland Presbyterians living in the USA who were originally from some of those countries. For instance, all the vibrant effort to start immigrant churches in the USA through different presbyteries ended with positive, unintended consequences. The majority of the crossculture Cumberland Presbyterian ministers and church members in the USA still have By Johan Daza relatives, friends, and contacts in their home countries (South Korea, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, etc.). These existing connections allowed the denomination to establish new relationships and ministries in South Korea, Australia, Mexico, Guatemala, and recently Cuba through the Missions Ministry Team (MMT). In the case of Spain, Renacer CPC, a local congregation in Cali, Colombia, decided to minister remotely to Colombian families that live in Madrid, Spain. As a result a new
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MISSION WORK AROUND THE WORLD: A Serious Matter of Cumberland Presbyterian Connectionalism!
ministry was formed. Then the MMT was invited to be part of this initiative in order to establish a Cumberland Presbyterian presence in Madrid, Espaùa (Spain). Currently, there is a new church development and a church planter. The Council of Haitian Churches was formed by Hope Presbytery as a result of years of mission teams going to Haiti. With the support of the Missions Ministry Team churches in Haiti were formed into the Haiti Council of CP Churches. The presbytery is hosting the council of six churches and pastors in Haiti. Constant short-term mission teams are sent by the presbytery to encourage, educate, and support the different Council programs and churches. Hope Presbytery is providing missionary liaisons to serve between the Council and the MMT to cultivate the CP identity. As Cumberland Presbyterians, we celebrate the cultural and nationality diversity of our missionaries around the world. We have a more effective mission program because of the cultural diversity of our missionaries. We have Americans, Colombians, and South Korean missionaries serving in different countries. That diversity makes it possible to have CP missionaries serving effectively in countries like the Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, Colombia, Brazil, Mexico, and Guatemala. Finally, Memphis Theological Seminary through the Program of Alternate Studies (PAS), has provided CP education and training for many probationers and ministers in the different mission fields around the world. Isn´t this amazing? All this mission work is possible in part by your support of the Stott-Wallace Missionary Offering Fund and Our United Outreach. That is why I said at the beginning that we, the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, take connectionalism seriously. Thank you for your prayers and connectional support for the missionary work around the world. 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 9
CONEC TRIP TO MEXICO By Adriana Rodriguez
From December 27th through January 3rd 2018, I went on my first mission trip and had an amazing experience. This trip allowed me to share my love for Jesus to my brothers and sisters in Christ in Mexico and that was the best way for me to spend my New Years. I am Cumberland Presbyterian and live in Boston where there are only two Cumberland Presbyterian churches making it difficult for me to feel connected to my church family. It was not until I started attending church camp that I realized I am part of a larger church family that loves me. I wanted to show this same type of love toward others. The mission trip to Mexico was the perfect way for me to do that. I wanted my Cumberland Presbyterian family in Mexico to have a similar experience as me; I wanted them to feel connected to all of us. During the week in Mexico, we held a youth camp where we shared meals, led small groups, had recreation time, and shared laughs, tears, and a lot of love. Although there was a language barrier within the two groups it was obvious that God’s love is for all languages. When we started the camp, we met some of the youth from Mexico and it was during small group sessions that I was able to learn more about each person and we were able to see that we are all connected; that we are all the body of Christ. Experiencing camp in this way made me feel very connected to everyone including those who traveled with the mission group that I had not met before allowing me to connect with them in a very special way. When the trip was over, even 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 2 018
though it lasted for only five days, it felt like I had known everyone for years. I wanted to stay in Mexico, enjoying the camp and enjoying this community we created. For me, the times where I felt the most connected was during worship when everyone was singing together. Although we did not all sing in the same language, the voices brought tears to my eyes. This was a special moment for me and the singing sounded beautiful. The song which stood out to me was “Dios Manda Lluvia”. This translates to “God sends the rain”. I know this song from my home church and it was the song where I could hear everyone singing together to create this beautiful harmony. I loved looking around at all the smiles and all of us worshiping as one. We also had a prayer center where we could go to throughout the day. The prayer center was outdoors and going at night was my favorite thing to do. I could go to the prayer center and hear all of the
CTADOS NEXT CONECTADOS
Guatemala Missions and Immersion Trip
December 27th, 2018 - Janaury 3rd, 2019
Total for Trip: $1,600
To register visit
www.cpcmc.org/conectadosguatemala.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE FOR CONECTADOS: December 26 th: (possibly gathering in
Nashville or Memphis for orientation)
December 27 th: Travel to Guatemala City December 27th-29th: Youth Camp
crickets and talk and listen to God. On the first of January, the first day of the New Year we went to a church and painted it. What a great way to start the New Year! We painted this church with love knowing that the congregation would be happy to see the church with a new coat of paint. Originally, the color in the church was white and we painted it a sky blue. It was great to see everyone working together to help our church family in Mexico. This mission trip helped me connect with my church family in Mexico and I continue my communication with them through social media so that they can also feel this connection with us all. I loved going on this trip and I thank God for allowing me to meet all these great people and allowing me to connect with them on a personal level. MM
December 30st: Visit local CP churches January 31st: Helping at local CP church January 1st: Exploring Guatemala City January 2nd: Exploring Antigua January 3rd: Traveling back to USA
CONECTADOS Youth Camp: As a missions team we will help to plan and run a camp for young people in CP churches in Guatemala City. We will lead them in small groups, recreation and worship. Each person will be assigned to a team and will be helping to lead those activities during the camp.
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MISSION
UPDATES THE PHILIPPINES Daniel & Kay Jang
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want to tell you about the two ingredients that have recently reawakened my motivation to ministry. The first one is appreciation. I spoke with a woman in our church who has helped cook lunch for our children’s ministry. We provide lunch each week for around 200 needy children. She told that she had thought about quitting her service several times for various reasons but just could not quit. Whenever she thought about it, what came to her mind were the children’s smiling faces and the “thank yous” they said to her after eating. She felt appreciated by their gratitude. Appreciation is an ingredient for her to continue serving the Lord. I have also considered giving up feeding children a few times because of financial difficulty. When I questioned whether what I did was pleasing to the Lord, He let me know through Acts 10:4 that He received our feeding of the children as He received Cornelius’ gifts to the poor. I felt appreciated by God when I meditated on that scripture. I also appreciate all of you who support our mission with prayers and finances. In the Philippines, 2 out of 10 people live in extreme poverty. We cannot feed all the hungry children but try to feed as many as we can. Please keep praying for us so that we will continue to feed needy children.
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The second ingredient that has reawakened my motivation to ministry is to see someone’s commitment to Jesus. I read the testimony of a seminary student who was received as a candidate in February. She spent many years of her life without purpose and joined us for a youth camp that we held 4 years ago. She met Jesus Christ during the youth camp and committed her life to Christ. I came to know from her testimony how God called her to be a pastor. She said that she heard the Holy Spirit speak to her, “Be my worker”. When
I prayed for her with my hands on her head at the last revival meeting, God showed me that my effort in Christ is not in vain. Seeing someone who is changed by sharing God’s Word is an ingredient to a joyful ministry and God changes many people through our ministry and uses them to build CP churches in the Philippines. I don’t think we could do all of this without your help and prayers. We could focus on the ministry more after the Stott-Wallace Missionary Offering Fund was raised to help the CP missionaries. Please continue to support us with prayers and donations to the Stott-Wallace Missionary Offering Fund. MM S P R I N G 2 018 M I S S I O N A R Y M E S S E N G E R 13
CAMBODIA By David and Sarah Lee
ighteen years ago, there was a little girl whose name was Huat. She was a disabled child with a hearing problem and stunted growth. One day, she got stung by a hornet. Immediately, I took her to the hospital. After a little while, I left her even though she cried and grasped my hands. If I had known that she was about to die, I wouldn’t have left her lying on the bed. I should have been with her. I have since been regretful about what happened. So, I made up my mind and made a promise to God that I would never leave these people. Since my promise to God wonderful things have happened in our mission fields. June 10, 2001: “L” church was planted. December 17, 2002: we started a scholarship program for a local elementary school. November 4, 2007: “L” church was organized. May 5, 2008: “L” vision school was started. September 7, 2008: Samaki Cumberland Presbyterian Church was planted in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. June 16, 2013: Samaki Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized. January 2, 2015: a non-governmental organization (NGO) was established as “Cumberland Samaki Organization in Cambodia”
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September 2, 2017, we finished the construction of Samaki Cumberland Presbyterian Church and had a church dedication ceremony in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. In the beginning, we supported an elementary school with scholarships. We have now expanded to eight elementary schools. At first, we opened a Saturday English class for free. Now, it has become “L” Vision School. Like a tree that birds of the air perch in its branches, many people gather together in this place. Now the school has about 300 students. This is a place where many children and young students have grown with dreams, where students have heard the Gospel and believe in Jesus Christ, even in a communist country. The gospel spread across the border, from “L” to Cambodia, and the Samaki Cumberland Presbyterian Church was built in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The church was started with a few Cambodian students. As the years have gone by, we started building the church in 2016, and the church was dedicated in September 2017. It has become the church where many children and young people worship God. It is a beautiful congregation.
There are many women who work at sewing factories in the capital city of Phnom Penh, and many of them attend the Samaki church. Most of them are from the countryside with no education. Before believing in Jesus Christ there was no hope for their lives. Now, they have found purpose in their lives and have beautiful dreams. We are helping these women grow into great female Christian leaders, as well as improving their quality of life, making their dreams come true. In addition, we are building schools and center buildings to help students get an education in our community. Through this school I believe that we will be a good influence in society and give birth to great Christian leaders who can evangelize Cambodia. We want to make this beautiful dream come true with our Cumberland Presbyterian family! Our ministry has been possible because of God’s grace along with the loving and sincere support and prayers of churches and saints from the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Your missionary support is helping to spread the gospel and build up the kingdom of God by sponsoring Cumberland Presbyterian missionaries who are dedicated to mission work in many parts of the world. We look forward to your continued support and interest in the Cumberland Presbyterian family around the world. We would also like to express our gratitude to all the Cumberland Presbyterian families for their support of our missionaries. Love you all! Thank you! God bless you! MM
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SALUDOS FROM
COLOMBIA! By Patrick & Jessica Wilkerson
The Wilkerson family is happy to tell you a little about our life and to give you an update about our work in Emaús Presbytery. The first and most important thing is that we now have a dog and her name is Lucy. She is full of energy, very smart, and helps us feel like we fit in more in a place where everyone has pets. We are also very excited to let you know that our daughters are doing well and Bella already corrects our Spanish. Jessica is in the process of a pilot program, No Solo (Not Alone), which she has started in the Caldas Church for
BRAZIL Take A STEP! By Jacob & Lindsey Sims
In
Luke 17:11-19, Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem and ten lepers greet him with a shout, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” Jesus goes on to tell them to go show their bodies to the priests. It is an interesting miracle, because Luke writes, “And as they went they were cleansed.” Many times Jesus performed miracles, but this particular time he wanted the lepers to take a step of faith first. He wanted them to believe in what he was going to do, before the miracle was materialized. Thank you for taking the step of faith, believing the door God 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
opened to send missionaries to Brazil was purposed for the salvation of many, the training of future pastors, and the establishing of CP churches in another country. We firmly believe in the ministry work here through the O Caminho Center (our place for worship), in small groups, and the teaching of English. May our faith and obedience to God’s opening of ministry opportunities in the cities of Peri Peri, Peripe, Itapua, and Salvador bring about the physical manifestation that can only be done by God’s mercy and miraculous power. MM
single mothers. She is happy to use her profession and gifts to minister to the women working so hard to provide for their families. I have had the opportunity to work with the youth and young adults in Caldas, preach a little in Spanish, help provide our sacraments for our missions and churches without pastors, and work hard to learn Spanish better while building relationships within our new community. As always, we are so grateful for your support and continue to covet your prayers! MM
John Park
MISSIONARY
Rev. John Park began his missionary service in Iloilo, Philippines in early 2016. John is a Korean Cumberland Presbyterian pastor, who lived in the United States, along with his wife and adult children. Upon arriving in the Philippines, Rev. Park’s first task was language and culture education. While doing this, he was involved with different CP mission points on the island of Iloilo. John’s missionary work was completed December 2017. We are grateful for his willingness to serve as a missionary. Please join with us in prayer for John and his family.
CHANGES by Lynn Thomas
Carlos & Luz Dary Rivera
Thank you Rev. John Park, Revs. Carlos and Luz Dary Rivera and Anay Ortega for your work in this Great Commission effort.
Reverends Carlos and Luzy Dary Rivera, and their son Daniel, arrived in Mexico City and started their work as missionaries in early 2012. They felt God call them to missions and agreed to move to Mexico. The Riveras are both ordained CP pastors that came from Colombia, South America. Early this year they resigned their positions and are returning home to Colombia. The Riveras played an important role in helping establish the work in Mexico. Carlos and Luz Dary were tasked to work with the Council of CP Churches. Luz Dary worked with the different CP churches in Mexico City, in particular the women’s programs. Carlos helped in different churches associated with the Council by providing guidance and training to different church leaders. He also did a great deal of work in the administration of the Council. They served for six years as missionaries. We want to express thanks and appreciation to the Riveras for their service as CP missionaries in Mexico and we pray God continues to guide them.
Anay Ortega
medical clinic located at the Casa Shalom Children’s Home. She was able to open the clinic and secure medical staff. The clinic was eventually turned over to the Casa Shalom staff and they continue to run the clinic to this day for the benefit of the children’s home. Anay hosted various work teams during her time in Guatemala. Using the 2015 Loaves & Fishes Offering, Anay started a hot lunch program in Guatemala City, which feeds 13 children each weekday, and provides these children medical care, and tutoring. Anay worked for nine years as a CP missionary in Guatemala. She concluded her service as a missionary in Guatemala in February 2018. We are thankful for Anay’s service as a missionary with the Missions Ministry Team. Her determination and organizational skills will have far-reaching and lasting effects upon the growing Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Guatemala.
Stott-Wallace Missionary Offering Fund Cumberland Presbyterian missionaries who work with the Missions Ministry Team are supported by the Stott-Wallace Missionary Offering Fund. There are many missionaries serving the CP Church and they are dependent upon the support they receive from this offering and fund. Two new missionary families were deployed in 2017 and we anticipate others will be sent out in the future. Missionary deployment is totally dependent upon the amount of money donated to the StottWallace Missionary Offering Fund, the willingness of qualified people to serve, and needs on the mission field. Thank you for your committed giving to this offering. Through your efforts and those of our missionaries, the gospel of Jesus Christ is being proclaimed around the world. MM
Miss Anay Ortega moved from Colombia to Guatemala as a lay missionary in late 2009. Her first responsibility was to open a S P R I N G 2 018 M I S S I O N A R Y M E S S E N G E R 17
2018 CP WOMEN’S MINISTRY CONVENTION June 18-21 Norman, Oklahoma
Information You Will Want to Know Convention Registration will open on Sunday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. at the hotel and again on Monday morning. Registration booth will be closed for the Choctaw Celebrations. Regional Delegates will meet on Monday morning at 10:30 a.m. with lunch following. Bible study leader will be Rev. Kristi Lombard, pastor of Denton CP Church in Denton, Texas.
By Pam Phillips-Burk
In keeping with our theme instead of a keynote speaker, we will have a worship leader. The prophet Isaiah was in the midst of worship when God called him – “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” It was in the midst of worship that Isaiah answered God’s call to go - “Here I am; send me!” So, we will be lead in worship by the Rev. Lisa Scott as we listen for God’s call to each one of us. Rev. Scott is a chaplain and a member of North Central Presbytery. She has been a speaker and workshop leader at many Women’s Ministry regional events and retreats as well as at past Conventions. On Tuesday afternoon, we will be sent out in ministry to an organization called No Boundaries International. This faith-based non-profit organization serves all types of people in crisis – those who have been trafficked, who are experiencing poverty and/or homelessness, or are atrisk. There will be an opportunity for folks to actually get their hands and feet involved in ministry with them.
Celebrating 200 Years of Ministry with the Choctaw Pre-Assembly Activities in Choctaw Presbytery: OPEN HOUSE on Saturday at Camp Israel Folsom in Battiest, Oklahoma. WORSHIP with a Choctaw Congregation on Sunday: McGee Chapel (Broken Bow, Oklahoma) Rock Creek Church (Honobia, Oklahoma) Lone Star Church (Wardville, Oklahoma) Round Lake Church (Tupelo, Oklahoma) Pigeon Roost Church (Boswell, Oklahoma) Coal Creek Church (Coalgate, Oklahoma) CULTURAL CELEBRATIONS on Monday afternoon at the hotel – displays, demonstrations, storytelling, and greetings from the Chief of the Choctaw Nation. 18 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 2 018
We are also collecting gifts-in-kind this year for No Boundaries International. Fill new or gently used purses and handbags with all kinds of goodies one might find in a purse: personal care items, make-up, toiletries, Kleenex, jewelry, lotions, perfume, etc. There is a scheduled Family 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run on Tuesday morning from 7-9 a.m. This is something completely brand-new that you will want to know about. Join us at the park across the street from the hotel at 7 a.m. for devotions. Then either join in the Family 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run or stay around and cheer on the walkers/runners. If you are interested in this event – you will want to pre-register through the General Assembly webpage - http://cumberland.org/gao/. There will be lots to do at Convention and General Assembly this year. Register today online (https://cpcmc. org/mmt/convention/) or use the form on the opposite page. You can also find more information on the Convention webpage. MM
2018 Cumberland Presbyterian Women’s Ministry Convention June 18-21, 2018
Norman, Oklahoma
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, a Late Registration fee of an additional $15 applies. A packet of information will be sent by email to those who register by June 1. 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 - $45 $_____ (by May 1)
_____ Late Registration - $60 $_____ (after May 1)
_____ Regional Delegate Lunch - $20 $_____ (REGIONAL DELEGATES ONLY)
(The LUNCH Meeting will be Monday, June 18, 10:30 a.m.)
_____ Luncheon - $35 $_____ (Thursday, June 22 at 12:00 NOON)
_____ If you attend One Day Only - $20 $_____
_____ I would like to make a donation to the $_____
Stott-Wallace Missionary Offering Fund
Total $__________
I am interested in participating in an off-site “hands-on” project (Tuesday afternoon, June 19) No Boundaries International (NBI) is a faith-based non-profit dedicated to bringing light and hope to those in the midst of devastation from natural disasters, human-trafficking, at-risk children, those experiencing homelessness, addictions and/or brokenness. _____Yes
_____ No
Keep watch for a list of gifts-in-kind that we will collect on behalf of No Boundaries International.
You are responsible for making your own hotel reservations: EMBASSY SUITES (2501 Conference Drive, Norman, Oklahoma 73069)
Reserve your room by calling (405) 364-8040 Group Code: CPGA Room Rate - $138 plus tax (All rooms are two-room suites with free made to order breakfast.) - Cut off date for reservations at this rate: May 18, 2018
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GIVING NEWS Second Mile Projects for Missions The Missions Ministry Team is taking a new approach to Second Mile projects in an effort to better support specific project items. Often times, projects are not fully-funded when the designated time has passed. This makes it difficult to manage the project needs and our accounting process. Beginning this year we will focus on one Second Mile project at a time, until that project is fully-funded whether it be one year, 18 months or two years. It is our hope that this new approach will be helpful to the churches and individuals giving to missions, as well as to the individual projects around the world that are looking for financial support. We believe this collective effort to fully-fund a project will be much more effective for the total mission program of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
Brazil – O Caminho “The Way” – Project #34440 Our missionaries in Brazil, Rev. Jacob & Lindsey Sims, are starting an outreach by using a storefront in Salvador, Brazil. They are renting a storefront in a new office/retail building to use for outreach programs. They plan to do women’s meetings, men’s meetings and English classes as a way to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Our missionaries report that the space where they are renting has a great location in the Stella Maris community. Interestingly, the name of the building is O Caminho Center, which translates “The Way Center.” This second mile project is asking for donations to cover the cost of renovating the space to function as a meeting place for the CP mission work in Brazil. The Second Mile funds will buy chairs, tables, paint, and an air-conditioning unit. The financial goal is $5,000. Amount contributed to date is $850.00. For more information contact: Lynn Thomas at lynndont@gmail.com, (901) 276-4572 ext. 261. 2 0 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 2 018
One Great Hour of Sharing The Cumberland Presbyterian Church has been part of the One Great Hour of Sharing ecumenical effort for many years. This annual offering received on Palm Sunday makes the love of Christ real for individuals and communities around the world who suffer the effects of disaster, conflict, or severe economic hardships, and for those who serve them through gifts of money and time. Unfortunately, giving to this offering has decreased substantially in recent years while resource production costs have increased. The Missions Ministry Team made the hard decision to no longer participate in the offering. However, we will continue to receive money whenever disasters occur around the world with those contributions going 100% to the designated recipient. When there is a Cumberland Presbyterian presence in the region, we try to partner with that group. When there is no CP presence, we will connect with partners such as Church World Services; a sponsor of One Great Hour of Sharing. For more information about all of these projects go to cpcmc.org/missions/2nd-mile.
w Missionaries And Give Generously! Fhanor & Socorro Pejendino GuatemalA Daniel & Kay Jang Philippines David & Sarah Lee Cambodia Jacob & Lindsey Sims Brazil Patrick & Jessica Wilkerson Colombia
HAITI 6 missions and 4 schools
MÉXICO 3 churches and 1 mission
hurches
HONG KONG 1 presbytery, 10 churches – 1,526 active members
PHILIPPINES 1 church and 4 missions
LA s, 1 mission, d 1 hot lunch
JAPAN 1 presbytery, 13 churches – 1,150 active members
1 church and 3 missions
A eries, 33 churches ive members
SOUTH KOREA
SPAIN 1 mission, 2 satellite missions (1 in France) USA 19 presbyteries, 629 churches – 35,914 active members
276.4572 • For more information and resources visit our website at http://cpcmc.org/mmt
MM
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YOUTH EVANGELISM CONFERENCE
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.
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YOUTH EVANGELISM CONFERENCE F EB RUA RY 1 6 - 1 8 , 2 0 1 9
Nashville, Tennessee
Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. Colossians 3:13-14
For more info: cpcmc.org/yec