Missionary Messenger Volume 8 / SPRING 2019
To Know And Believe
By Lynn Thomas
GATHERING THE NATIONS IN WORSHIP STOTTWALLACE MISSIONARY SUPPORT FUND
Let all the nations gather together, and let the peoples assemble....You are my witnesses, says the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Isaiah 43: 9-10
The prophet Isaiah pronounces an ambitious vision. He sees the nations together in unity and worship. How is it nations are able to stand in unity? Isaiah explains the reason the nations gather in unity is because of their belief and understanding of God. In our case, the church is the means God uses as a witness of Jesus Christ. In particular the Cumberland Presbyterian Church is made up of fifteen different nations standing together dedicated to Jesus Christ. We are a witness to the world by our unity in Christ. The goal of missions is for the nations of the world to have an opportunity to hear and experience the gospel message of Jesus Christ. Belief in Christ is like the spokes of a wheel, for those who understand their belief draws them closer to others as they move toward Jesus Christ. The two relational forces are inseparable realities, multinational unity and belief in Christ. The church provides a way for the world to see the impact God’s love has on people. God’s love placed in human hearts through the Holy Spirit takes people of different races, cultures, economic levels, young and old and draws them together. We have ten Cumberland Presbyterian missionaries around the world sharing Jesus Christ and planting new CP churches. We hope to have four new missionaries later in 2019. These people are beacons of light in different countries. Our missionaries are drawing men and women to Christ. As a result of their work people profess faith and become followers of Jesus. Our missionaries help these followers gather in faith communities and become part of the Cumberland Presbyterian family. These new churches become connected to each other in councils and presbyteries. Those connections extend outside of their culture and country producing an international body that stands as One Church in joint witness. We are living out the vision of the prophet Isaiah. Your support of the Stott-Wallace Missionary Support Fund provides the money we need to pay missionary salaries and benefits. Our goal is to sustain fourteen missionaries by late 2019 and in order to do that we need $350,000 (US) in donations to Stott-Wallace. Consider this; the total income reported in 2018 for all CP churches in 2017 was approximately 51.5 million dollars. If all CP churches just gave 1% of their church’s annual income to missionary support we would have $500,000. When our missionaries are deployed they are given an agreed-upon salary and benefits package and that amount is paid by the Stott-Wallace Missionary Support Fund. Your donations to the Stott-Wallace Fund make this possible. Pray that God touches the hearts of men and women to give to missionary support so that we may see and experience Isaiah’s ambitious vision in our church. MM
M M
PERSPECTIVES by Milton L. Ortiz
WITNESSING IN BRAZIL
SPR I N G 2019
MISSIONARY MESSENGER {
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MISSIONS MINISTRY TEAM OF THE CUMBERL AND PRESBY TERIAN CHURCH
ART DIRECTOR Sowgand Sheikholeslami
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Milton Ortiz ext:234
PUBLICATIONS MANAGER Matthew Gore ext:221
ASSOCIATE EDITOR Jinger Ellis ext:230
CONTRIBUTORS Pam Phillips-Burk ext:203 Johan Daza ext:202 T.J. Malinoski ext:232 Milton Ortiz ext:234 Lynn Thomas ext:261 Kristi Lounsbury ext:263 Cardelia Howell-Diamond ext:264
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
Last January I had the opportunity to visit Brazil. While the United States was experiencing winter, Salvador, Brazil, was in the midst of summer. The group from the United States and I were also in a different time zone, three hours difference in relation to our families in Tennessee. Eating different kinds of food and trying to understand Brazilian culture was an amazing experience for everyone. But, mostly, experiencing worship was number one on the list of new things in 2019. Worship in a different culture means a lot of things. Many times the experience is in the simplicity of singing and praying, sharing testimonies, and hearing God’s word being preached without much preparation and no concerns about all those details which, for those involved, make worship in the United States a painful work. For me this was also an opportunity to meet and learn from the group from the United States. I took the opportunity to share with them everything I could about missions and the mission field. Mostly, I wanted to talk about Stott-Wallace, the Cumberland Presbyterian Missions Fund. We expend about $350,000 every year in salaries and benefits for our missionaries and families but the reality is annually the Stott-Wallace Missionary Offering raises about $250,000. The question is always, how do we cover these expenses? And the answer is always, funds from Our United Outreach and savings. My hope is that a time will come when offerings and donations to the Stott-Wallace Missionary Fund will not only be enough to pay our missionaries but to consider sending more to the mission field. A new missionary family is now in Brazil: Josué, Sara, and Raquel Guerrero. I have known them for many years now. Our Brazilian brothers and sisters in Periperi and Mata de Sao Joao are excited and expectant of what the Lord will be doing in their midst. Missionaries are a blessing to the people in the mission field. Missionaries are respected but at the same time what is expected of them is high. Our prayers and good thoughts are with the Guerrero family and our churches in Brazil. In this issue of the Missionary Messenger you will find Josué’s vision for Brazil, a call to participate in the Stott-Wallace Missionary Offering, and a Bible study on being called to be witnesses to the nations and to the peoples. You will also find mission field updates, news about 2019 Convention, and our mission work in Florida. Instead of a poster this issue we have included prayer book marks for each country to encourage prayer for these ministries. Missions Ministry Team is pleased to welcome the Rev. Cardelia Howell-Diamond, new Coordinator of Women’s Ministries and the Rev. Kristi Lounsbury, new Director of Congregational Ministries. MM S P R I N G 2 019
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Contents 1 Perspectives 4 Bible Study 5 Just A Note To A Friend 6 -7 Did You Know 11-13 We Pray 16 -17 What Do You Want Lord? 20 Conectados 2020
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Cover Illustration: Sowgand Sheikholeslami
CONECTADOS/2020
Bible Study/Devotion
Can you refuse being a witness in a court? The book of Isaiah has three sections: The events leading to Babylonian captivity, the redemption and restoration of Israel, and the messianic kingdom. Isaiah 43, in the second part, is known also as the book of comfort. So, it is fundamental for us to understand that the Lord is calling his witness not during the judging but during the redemption and restoration. This is important because the point is not to probe innocence or culpability but to probe who God is.
By Milton Ortiz
BEING A WITNESS BEFORE THE NATIONS AND THE PEOPLES Let all the nations gather together, and let the peoples assemble… You are my witnesses, says the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Isaiah 43:9-10
Are these texts to be considered just in the historical context, meaning, God was speaking specifically to Israel about something that has already happened? Or, is the Lord speaking to believers in all periods of human’s history? Because those who have faith are the children of Abraham, all believers are called to serve as evidence or proof of God’s truthfulness and to make a public affirmation by word and/or example of having personal or direct cognizance of God’s faithfulness. If God is actually speaking to us today, what are we called to do? In the verses before 9 and 10, God promises the people of Israel that no matter what, he is with them. Then, God put them on a mission, to gather all nations and to get the peoples in assembly. They, us, are God’s witnesses and servants. Called, because God wants us to trust him, to understand he is who he is, to know he is truthful, and there is no one before or after him. Witnesses are sworn to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. The Israelites were to bring the knowledge of God to the nations. Israel was an insignificant monotheist nation in the midst of bigger and stronger polytheist nations. As then, we are called to be a community proclaiming Jesus as the means of reconciliation between the peoples and God. We became the evidence that what God has promised has been accomplished in Jesus Christ for the world. How can we be a witness where we are and how can we be a witness far away? We are called as individuals to share our faith wherever we are, but also, we are called as the body of Christ to send witnesses to other lands and nations. We do proclaim, individually and collectively, the way of salvation, restoration, and wholeness through God’s act of redemption in Jesus Christ. Let us think about ways we can share our story of faith to people around us and ways we can support those going to proclaim good news to other lands. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines witness as attestation of a fact or event: Testimony, one that gives evidence; specifically, one who testifies in a cause or before a judicial tribunal; one asked to be present at a transaction so as to be able to testify to its having taken place; one who has personal knowledge of something. MM
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When
people in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church become aware of the missionaries we have around the world and the many countries where there are CP churches (fifteen countries), they are amazed. How can such a small denomination have such a large global footprint? In reality our global expansion is the result of many people giving of themselves in different ways to advance the Kingdom of God. We have missionaries, and we have national church leaders in sacrificial service, but we also have people praying and supporting their efforts. Those working to expand the Cumberland Presbyterian Church around the world could not do it without prayers and support.
Just A NOTE To A Friend Could Change The WORLD By Lynn Thomas
Modern technology has introduced texting, but we all like hand written notes. Why not send a note! You can be part of global expansion with just a NOTE, to a friend, that Could Change the WORLD. First pray about this, and then think of three people to whom you could send a note. This is where we start. Prayerfully think of three friends or family members, maybe more, but start with three. The note could look something like this: Dear – “Friend’s Name” God placed you on my heart today. While reading the “Missionary Messenger” I realized there are Cumberland Presbyterians devoting their lives sacrificially around the world for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I think about that and it inspires me. I hope it inspires you. I just wanted to send you a note and ask you to join me in prayer and support for our missionaries and mission fields. I am praying for these people and I am making a donation to the Stott-Wallace Missionary Support Fund to help Cumberland Presbyterian missionaries. I want to advocate for the importance of those missionaries by sending you this note and ask you to do the same. Please pray for and support our missionaries. Thank You and Blessings, “Your Name” It was not a powerful and influential man that stopped the genocide of an ethnic group of people; it was a female orphan, a Jewish immigrant, named Ester. It was not the Philistine giant who changed the world; it was the humble shepherd boy with five small stones. It was not the mighty Midianite army which changed the world; it was a few men obedient to God blowing their trumpets. It was not a powerful general or politician who brought hope to the world; it was a child in a manger, who became a carpenter, and guided his small group of mostly fisherman to be evangelists. It is not the mighty, the wealthy, the powerful who bring compassion, peace, and hope; it is a few servants, humble and compassionate, serving Jesus Christ and a few notes to friends asking them to support those servants. Just a note to a friend Could Change the WORLD. MM S P R I N G 2 019
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DID YOU KNOW.... B y Ly nn T h o m as
Did You Know? The Cumberland Presbyterian Church has a mission point in Lyon, France. The members are immigrants from Latin America who live and work in Lyon. Some of the members of the group were part of CP churches in Colombia before immigrating to France. They are excited to help plant a new CP church in France.
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Did You Know? One of the most populous cities in the world is Mexico City. Metro Mexico City has about 21 million inhabitants. One of the stronger CP churches in Mexico is the Restoration of Life Cumberland Presbyterian Church. There is a council of CP churches in Mexico and most of the council’s meetings take place in the Restoration of Life Church. This church has been a sacrificial leader helping the work in Mexico expand.
Did You Know? The Philippines is one of the places in the world where we are planting new CP churches the fastest. As a result of several new ordained pastors and various candidates for the ministry we have the man/woman power to do evangelism and church planting. Our mission work in the Philippines is able to use young and enthusiastic leaders to open new mission points.
Did You Know? The Cumberland Presbyterian Church has a strong congregation and missionaries in Cambodia. One of Cambodia’s famous tourist attractions in an ancient temple in Angkor Wat. It is also a place several movies have been filmed.
Did You Know? The CP Church has Korean speaking churches in Australia. There is a large Korean population living in Australia and because of family and friend connections with CPs living outside of Australia, the CP Church was able to work in Australia. Our churches are in Sydney, Darwin, and Melbourne.
Did You Know? Hong Kong Presbytery had the fastest growth in the past ten years of any part of the CP Church. Hong Kong is actually part of China, it is designated a special district of China and is given greater freedoms than mainland China. The CP church has ten churches and three schools in Hong Kong. In 2019, the Missions Ministry Team agreed to partner with Hong Kong Presbytery to help start two new churches, one in Hong Kong and the other in nearby Macau (another special district of China).
Did You Know? As a result of the Loaves & Fishes Offering, the CP Church was able to start several Hot Lunch Programs in Haiti. Those programs are conducted in CP Churches and are connected to the schools in those churches.
Did You Know? There is a congregation of about 50 Cumberland Presbyterians in Madrid, Spain. They rent their own facility and have a steering committee that works with their pastor. Currently, the pastor and steering committee are all women. They are the founders of the work in Spain. They have extended the ministry in Spain to two other cities and are helping develop groups in those cities. MM
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EVALUATIONS:
The Who, What, Why and How By Pam Phillips-Burk Pastoral Development Ministry Team Leader
Within
one week, I received two phone calls from elders at two different churches requesting a pastor evaluation resource. The first request caused a big red flag for me. It is not because I am against evaluations and reviews. I think it is important to review and evaluate ministry. Evaluation is a healthy process for any pastor. But, it is also a healthy process for every CHURCH to do, regardless of size. In addition, it is a healthy thing for the elders and a session to do. The red flag for me was that the request was for ONLY a pastor evaluation. I shared my red flag with the elder, and said that my first thought was of a church trying to “get rid of” the pastor. Thankfully, this was not the case at all with either church. The reality was neither elder had ever considered a more comprehensive evaluation. The good news to this story is both elders were very much open to a more comprehensive evaluation process. Both elders wanted to make sure that their pastor was supported in ministry. Both elders absolutely realized that a pastor 8 MISSIONARY MESSE NGE R
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cannot do the work of ministry alone, it takes a partnership with the session and other church leaders. Whether it is a new pastor/church relationship or a twenty year tenure, now is the time to start this more comprehensive process. Do not wait until there is a problem or conflict. It is a mark of a healthy ministry relationship to do an annual evaluation for both the pastor and the session. The Pastoral Development and Missions Ministry teams have created a resource tool for this purpose. It is designed for both self-evaluations by the pastor and the elders, as well as a group evaluation of pastor and session. You can find it at https://cpcmc.org/pdmt/. If you are unable to access the resource from the website, please contact us and we will send it to you via postal mail. In a comprehensive evaluation process, the first task is to review the pastor’s job description. If there is not one, then take the time to create one. You might decide to base it on the Constitution found in the Confession of Faith, 2.63. Next, review the previous year’s ministry goals. You don’t have
any? Well, this is a good time to set a few goals for the coming year. Make sure they are measureable; that there is a deadline; and that they are assigned to a specific person, team, committee or group. Share those goals with the rest of the church. Once you have these two tasks completed, you can continue with the evaluation process. When the annual evaluation comes around you can review the previous year’s goals for both the minister and the session/elders. Celebrate joyously when a goal is accomplished. Pray for guidance and support when a goal is becoming a challenge. Be ready to restructure or let go of a goal. Evaluations are a good thing, not something to be dreaded or avoided. Evaluations can be life-giving. Evaluations can lead to growth, both spiritually and numerically. This is the good news of this story, growth within the kingdom of God. MM pam@cumberland.org 901.276.4572, x203
Joining Hands To Work Together
A Multi-Event In Miami (South Florida) By: Johan Daza
Last fall, on the last weekend of October, the Missions Ministry Team, Discipleship Ministry Team, the Program of Alternate Studies, and Grace Presbytery’s Board of Missions organized a multi-event weekend for the Cumberland Presbyterian Latino Ministries in South Florida. The purpose was to gather the various Cumberland Presbyterian Latino ministries of South Florida for scholarship, fellowship, connectionalism, and worship through events and activities. El Camino Cumberland Presbyterian Church session orchestrated the logistics to host multiple events during one weekend. They provided lodging, meals, classrooms, audiovisual system, and their love and hospitality to have three days full of activities, fellowship, worship, and connectionalism. Cumberland Presbyterian brothers and sisters from Colombia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Mexico, and the United States enjoyed all the different activities and events. PAS provided three different classes: Dr. Michael Qualls led a class on Evangelism; Rev. Nathan Wheeler led a class on Introduction to the Bible; and Drs. Luciano Jaramillo
and Milton Ortiz led a class on Cumberland Presbyterian Polity. The classes were available and open to all church members and friends interested in learning more about PAS, MMT, and DMT. Discipleship Ministry Team offered a Cumberland Presbyterian Youth Conference One Day Experience for youth and adults from all the different ministries. This activity included intentional times of food, fellowship, fun, and faith. Rev. Nathan Wheeler, CP Coordinator for Youth and Young Adult Ministries, along with Josué Rodriguez, a YMPC leader from Miami, led the whole event that positively impacted the lives of the participants This event closed with worship and dinner. Grace Presbytery authorized an ordination commission for Janina Barrios during this multi-event weekend. The Commission led the worship service on Sunday and ordained Janina, a member of El Camino Cumberland Presbyterian Church who is serving with her husband, Johnathan Hernández, as church planters in Jacksonville, Florida. Missions Ministry Team, along with the CP leaders in Miami, started planning this
multi-event effort in the spring of 2018. We had six out of eight Cumberland ministries represented by pastors, church planters, probationers, and members of churches and ministries (including children, youth, and adults) attending different events at El Camino CPC. Our goal is to consolidate the different ministries in order to build a strong Cumberland Presbyterian identity and develop a team effort serving the community of South Florida. Join us in prayer asking God to bless the future of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in that particular geographical area. “We had a great time at our CPYC One Day hosted by the El Camino CPC in Miami, Florida. We sang songs, played games, held worship, and read the scriptures. The theme for the afternoon was prayer and how it connects us to God but also helps us be practical with our feelings and emotions. Children, youth, and adults came from several churches in the area and we all had a wonderful time together. We hope that this is just the beginning of our fellowship and that we may see many of them at CPYC in the years to come.” Nathan Wheeler MM
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Congregational Ministry
The
New Director of Congregational Ministries
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Reverend Kristi Lounsbury began as the Director of Congregational Ministries on January 1, 2019. Kristi grew up in the Shinar Cumberland Presbyterian Church in North Central Presbytery. She was very active in her church as a youth and served as moderator of the North Central Presbytery youth camping program. Kristi graduated from Bethel College (now University) in 1989. While at Bethel, she was a member of the Theta Psi Sorority, served on the Student Ministries Team, and was the 1988-89 Cumberland Presbyterian Women’s Ministry Scholarship recipient. In Kristi’s middle year at Memphis Theological Seminary, her paper on “Ministry to the Choctaw People” received the Virginia H. Ingram award for excellence in Cumberland Presbyterian History. She graduated from MTS in 1992, serving as the MTS student body president her senior year. Kristi has served churches in Middle and East Tennessee, Mississippi and Texas. Most recently, she pastored First Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Denton, Texas. She also served as a houseparent and as chaplain for the Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home. She has written Bible Studies for Cumberland Presbyterian Women’s Ministry, devotions for online e-votions and, most recently, presented a Bible Study for the 2018 Cumberland Presbyterian Women’s Ministry Convention which emphasized the History of Cumberland Presbyterian ministry to and with the Choctaw. She has planned and carried out several mission trips throughout her ministry. Kristi and her son, Will, reside near Denton, Texas. She spends her free time attending Will’s many school, band, and tennis events. Kristi enjoys gardening, yard work, photography, and event planning. She receives great satisfaction growing an organic seed into a healthy plant producing fruit or vegetables in her garden months later. She hopes to model this strategy working with people and congregations in her new position. The purpose of Congregational Ministries is to provide leadership and resources to congregations. The Ministry Council has broadened its scope into a full-time position in order to better serve the denomination by: • Working in partnership with all Missions Ministry Team members to identify and implement innovative ministries for congregations. • Developing programs, resources, and training events to help congregations be effective in various types of ministries. • Providing staff support for Leadership Referral Services. • Providing staff support and oversight for disaster relief and world emergency situations. • Serving as a resource person for disaster work teams, mission trips domestic and abroad, and other missions/service needs for the global • Cumberland Presbyterian Church and our ecumenical partners. • Communicating the activities, resources, and needs of the Missions Ministry Team to the greater Cumberland Presbyterian Church. MM
PRAY■ WE PRAY LET ALL THE NATIONS GATHER TOGETHER…
AND
PRAY
PRAY
PRAY
PRAY
AUSTRALIA
BRAZIL
CAMBODIA AND LAOS
We pray for
We pray for the new
speaking churches
and Sara Guerrero
We pray to God for
Raquel). We pray
in Cambodia and
the six Korean
and missions in
Australia, that they would be effective in their outreach
to Koreans and to non-Koreans. We
pray to God for the
new candidates for The Cumberland Presbyterian Church consists of 685 organized churches and dozens of missions (congregations that are developing into organized churches). Those churches and missions are located in fifteen different countries. Let us come together and pray for our international family.
the ministry, that they would grow
in knowledge and
confidence in their ministry.
missionaries, Josue (and daughter
they adjust to Brazil and find success in
understanding their new language and
culture. We pray the Holy Spirit leads
them to new people that will come to
faith and join in the
growth of the church in Brazil.
our missionaries Laos. Laos is a difficult country and is closed to the formation of Christian groups, we pray for our church’s safety. We pray for our church in Laos, that it will be creative in reaching out to others. We pray for the CP Church in Cambodia that it continues to march on developing new leaders and programs of outreach. We pray for strength for our missionaries working in both countries, praying for their safety and success.
WE PRAY ■ WE P PRAY
PRAY
PRAY
PRAY
COLOMBIA
HAITI
HONG KONG
JAPAN
We pray for our missionaries in
Colombia, Patrick and Jessica
We pray for the
We pray for the
in Haiti. We
Kong, that they
council of churches
Wilkerson (and their
pray for the six
We pray for their
CP pastors and
for wisdom to be
they face many
two daughters).
newly ordained
safety and we pray
their churches as
effective in ministry. We pray for Beth
Wallace as a retired missionary living in Cali, give her
challenges. We
pray that God gives the Cumberland Presbyterians
strength and safety
outside of Haiti
to serve. We
genuinely help the
as she continues
wisdom in how to
pray for the three
CP churches of
presbyteries, give them wisdom as
they face difficult challenges. We
pray for continued
Haiti. We pray that God shows us all
how to work “with” our brothers and
expansion and
sisters in Haiti in
We pray that
unity and shared
presbyteries and
the work in Haiti
growth in Colombia.
ways that brings
God gives the
ministry. We pray
their churches unity and peace.
grows in maturity and wisdom.
presbytery in Hong would have wisdom and unity as they expand the CP
Church in Hong Kong. We pray
for the two new
church development projects, we pray
for their success. We pray for
the numerous
candidates and
licentiates in Hong Kong Presbytery,
give them success in their ministries and open doors
of opportunity for
them. We pray you continue to give
the CPs in Hong
Kong wisdom as
they navigate the
changes produced by China.
We pray for the presbytery in
Japan, that they can overcome
the challenges
of indifference to
the Gospel in that country. We pray
God gives leaders wisdom in doing
effective outreach to the people in
Japan. We pray
you will continue to give Japanese CP
leaders strength and knowledge as they try to lead Asian
CPs in forming an international CP
community in their part of the world.
PRAYâ– WE PRAY PRAY
PRAY
PRAY
PRAY
MEXICO
SOUTH KOREA
GUATEMALA
CUBA
We pray for the
We pray for the
We pray for our
that they would
in South Korea.
Pejendinos, in
challenges they
pray for their safety
council of churches, continue to grow in wisdom and unity. We pray for the
new probationers, their education
and, ministry. We pray for the new
church development in Mexico City.
We pray for the
churches in Mexico, that they would
continue to grow and touch lives.
council of churches
missionaries, the
We pray for the
Guatemala. We
face trying to reach
and their success
others and grow
their congregations. We pray you
would give the
pastors wisdom and assurance
that their God is
faithful and able to
overcome financial
and cultural barriers to ministry. We pray for unity.
in ministry. We pray for the council of churches. We pray for the new leaders our missionaries are developing. We pray God would call more men and women to pastoral ministry in Guatemala. We pray for our clinic, that it would overcome financial challenges. We pray for our children’s hot-lunch program, and for the children and their families to be transformed in positive ways.
We pray God gives wisdom to those
who are working
with the provisional Cuban pastors and congregations.
We pray for their unity. We pray
God will give them understanding
as they continue to appreciate
their new church family. We pray for their safety
and protection in
a country that has been antagonistic to the Church.
WE PRAY â– WE P PRAY
PRAY
PRAY
SPAIN AND FRANCE
THE PHILIPPINES
USA
We pray for our new ministry in
Europe, that it will be effective in outreach. We pray for wisdom and strength for the leaders working in
Madrid, Spain, and Lyon, France. We pray for the two
new mission points in Spain. We pray
for our candidates for the ministry, that they would
have enthusiasm
for their theological
studies. We pray for
continued expansion in Europe.
We pray for the churches and
We pray for the
presbyteries in the
in the Philippines,
continue to lead
unity and a shared
effective ministry
our missionaries,
cultural headwinds
and their children,
that God will continue
wisdom. We pray
innovative methods
their needs. We
church planting. We
ordained CP pastors
CP churches in the
success in their
to focus on Christ as
for the candidates
focus. We pray for
them stamina and
around the world look
council of churches
USA, that God will
that they would have
and guide them to
vision. We pray for
despite the strong
Danial and Kay Jang
they face. We pray
give them safety and
to reveal new and
you continue to meet
of evangelism and
pray for the many
pray for unity, that the
there, give them
United States continue
ministry. We pray
their shared principal
for the ministry, give
wisdom, that as CPs
confidence.
to the CP churches in
How do we pray for the nations that gather as the family of CP churches giving witness to Christ? Please cut these prayer cards apart, put them in your Bible and use them as reminders to pray for our mission fields.
CUMBERL AND
PRESBY TERIAN CHURCH MISSIONS MINISTRY TE AM
8207 Traditional Place Cordova, TN, 38016 -74
the USA, they will be a
901.276.4572
positive influence and
For more information and resources visit our website at http://cpcmc.org/mmt
source of blessing to others.
Women’s Ministry
Cardelia
Howell-Diamond is the pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church (a Cumberland Presbyterian congregation) in Huntsville, Alabama, where she has served since 2013. Cardelia also served as an associate pastor and co-pastor of Manchester Cumberland Presbyterian Church and Virtue Cumberland Presbyterian Church. She has a Bachelor of Science in Family Studies and Human Development from Texas Tech University, and a Master of Divinity from Memphis Theological Seminary. Many of Cardelia’s contributions to the church have revolved around the area of education. She has written numerous Sunday school and small group adult curricula for the denomination. She has also written for the annual Bible Study resource for Women’s Ministry and provided leadership at past Conventions and Women’s Ministry conferences. Cardelia is married to the Reverend Steven Howell-Diamond. The couple have three wonderful children Zanna (14), Sara (10), and Wyatt (6). She is the daughter of Mr. Louis and the Reverend Linda Howell, Keller, Texas, and the daughter-in-law of Mrs. Gladys Diamond and the late Reverend James (Jim) Diamond, Georgetown, Kentucky. She loves to knit, crochet, and art journal. She also enjoys reading all kinds of books and writing prose and poetry. Cardelia collects camel figurines and her children’s artwork. She would love to learn how to quilt and how to paint with watercolors. Cardelia began her new role on January 1, 2019, and works remotely from Huntsville, Alabama.
New Coordinator of Women’s Ministry
As Coordinator, Cardelia is giving leadership to Women’s Ministry as it engages all women in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in a wide variety of ministry opportunities. This includes: • Assisting the Women’s Ministry Executive Committee in developing plans for the annual Convention. • Developing resources used by women in the church. • Recognizing, developing and supporting women’s ministry in the global church. Other areas of assistance to CP Women's Ministry and ministry opportunities such as: • Plan work/educational trips to mission areas. • Oversee the maintenance of the CP Women's Ministry Directory. • Nourish, educate and be available to local/regional women by providing resources and encouragement. • Work with existing ministries to young women and Latina women as well as develop ministries geared toward other needed areas once identified. * Provide spiritual resources to enhance women’s ministries. * Work with the MMT, Ministry Council, and Missionary Society of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church of America as needed to best serve the needs of women in the denomination. Cardelia looks forward to living out her calling to enrich and enhance the experiences of women in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. MM S P R I N G 2 019
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WHAT DO YOU WANT
LORD?
JESUS SAID: “Go therefore and make
disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the HOLY SPIRIT, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28: 19-20
By Josue Guerrero Missionary to Brazil
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"What do you want Lord?" These were the words of Saul of Tarsus at the moment he was heading to Jerusalem in order to stop the spread of the gospel where he was currently living. These words deeply impacted my life when I was young. Over the years these words have become a personal resolution. I deeply yearn to do what the Lord has planned for me. Let me explain how this works in my life. I understand this yearning, this desire for a call from God to serve. That said, God has not sent me a map with specific guidelines for my entire life, a map telling me what to do or where to go, but God has spoken to me through the Word about divine will, which no one can change. God has revealed moral will so that I know what delights and has spoken to me about particular will for me, which teaches me that I am an instrument belonging to God S P R I N G 2 019
and that it is God’s will residing in me that I must reveal. As a consequence of God’s mercy and goodness, in the midst of my fragility and inability to serve, I will do God’s will as I understand it. In the company of my wife, who was also yearning to do the will of God, and of our daughter, we will do God’s will. It was because of our personal relationship with God we eventually understood what was desired of us. We understand that as we remain constantly in relationship with our Lord, God’s will is in our hearts. Amazingly, it is God’s will to send us where our heart wants to go. Obviously we want to go where God desires us to go, but it is God that gives us the “want” to go. This call, which impacts our family, has also been affirmed through the churches and the presbyteries to which we belong. They have confirmed our call
and even confirmed the place to which God is sending us. Through the Missions Ministry Team of our denomination, we have been able to gain a vision for our specific call to missionary service in the country of Brazil. Our call has become powerful and consuming; and our vision is relevant to the needs of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. This call to Brazil is in harmony with the great commission of our Lord Jesus Christ, because it consists of the development of leaders and the planting of new churches. God’s specific and increasingly clear will for us is precisely then our desire. The will of the Lord is a reality for my wife, our daughter and me. God’s will for us is in Brazil where God has sent us to do God’s work supported by the prayers of our brothers and sisters in Colombia. We know that the encouragement and support we need is much larger than just Colombia, it extends to wherever the Cumberland Presbyterian Church is present in the world. And we accept the Church’s expectation that we be witnesses who tell the truth, believe in the truth, and live the truth. And above all, praise be to God, there is salvation in Jesus Christ. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8 MM Rev. Dr. Josue Guerrero and his wife, Sara, and daughter, Raquel, are new CP missionaries in Brazil. They are from the Emaus Presbytery in Medellin, Colombia. Josue and Sara will dedicate their first months to learning Portuguese, and then they will work with leadership development and church planting in Mata de Sao Joao and Salvador, Brazil. The Guerreros are entirely supported by donations made to the Stott-Wallace Missionary Support Fund. S P R I N G 2 019
M I S S I O N A R Y M E S S E N G E R 17
2019 CP WOMEN’S MINISTRY CONVENTION June 10-13, 2019 Huntsville, Alabama Jo Ann Shugert, Interim Coordinator of CP Women's Ministry
Walk in LOVE
Our theme is “Walk in Love” based on Ephesians 5:2 “And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” The Rev. Cardelia Howell-Diamond will be our keynote speaker. Please see her bio in the article introducing her as our new Coordinator of Women’s Ministry. The Rev. Micaiah Thomas Tanck, pastor, with her husband, at Scottsboro Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Scottsboro, Alabama, will lead the Bible Study. Sarah Reyes, who led worship last year in Norman, Oklahoma, will return to lead worship in Huntsville. The second annual Fun Run will be at Big Spring Park which is directly across from the hotel and convention center. Our meetings will be at the Von Braun Center which is next to our hotel, Embassy Suites, located at 800 Monroe Street, Huntsville, Alabama 35801. Make your reservation by using links to hotel/reservation information which are on the General Assembly website: www.cumberland.org/gao. Or you can call the hotel directly at (256) 539-7373 to make your reservation. When making a reservation by either method, use the group code “Cumberland Presbyterian GA.” A secondary hotel is available. The Convention registration form is in this magazine as well as online. Come join us!! MM 18 M I S S I O N A R Y M E S S E N G E R
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2019 CONVENTION OFFERING YOU ARE NOT ALONE NO ESTÁS SOLA WOMEN IN NEED PROJECT There are many women in need in Medellin, Colombia (Emaus Presbytery, Colombia, SA), which puts great financial and social stress on the family. Unfortunately, in Colombia there are very few safety nets and programs to assist these women. This project aims to fill that gap. No Estás Sola/You Are Not Alone is a bi-weekly ministry targeted at women in Medellín, Colombia. This ministry will equip women with community resources, micro loans to start small businesses, job training, life skills, child development education, family development and spiritual growth. Missionary Jessica Wilkerson will direct this new ministry. Funding Goal: $10,000 Make checks payable to Missions Ministry Team (8207 Traditional Place, Cordova, TN 38016) and designate for “Single Moms” - #34051.
2019 Walk
in LOVE
Cumberland Presbyterian Women’s Ministry Convention June 10-13, 2019 Huntsville, Alabama
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 (an additional $15) applies. A packet of information will be sent by email to those who register by JUNE 1st. Questions? Contact Jo Ann Shugert at cpwm@cumberland.org or call at 901-276-4572 ext. 262. 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: 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 10, NOON)
_____ Luncheon - $30 $_____ (Thursday, June 13 at 12:00 NOON)
_____ If you attend One Day Only - $30 $_____
_____ I would like to make a donation to the $_____
Stott-Wallace Missionary Offering Fund
Total $__________
Information about our special project and workshops will be in upcoming notifications and in our Registration Packet which you will receive in May.
You are responsible for making your own hotel reservations: Call Embassy Suites (256) 539-7373 or register online Use code “Cumberland Presbyterian GA” Group for registration Room Rate - $135 plus taxes (All rooms are two-room suites with free made to order breakfast) Cut-Off Date for Reservations - May 24, 2019 S P R I N G 2 019
M I S S I O N A R Y M E S S E N G E R 19
CONECTADOS GUATEMALA IMMERSION TRIP A missions group of four young adults led the USA to Guatemala from December 27 through 31, 2018. Their purpose was to learn from and support the ministry of the Cumberland Presbyterian churches in Guatemala City by leading activities for youth and young adults on Sunday during a three day camp and worship. One of the young adults from the United States was Abby Miller. This was her experience: I’m from Marshall County, Kentucky and I’m a student at Bethel University. I decided to go to Guatemala because I have felt a call into missions since I went to Colombia in 2015 and want to further discern my call into ministry. We helped at the youth camp and the leaders from Guatemala did an amazing job preparing and planning the event. We worked with teenagers from ages twelve and up. Claire Little, Lianny Hernandez, Francia Ortiz, and I, each had a time of sharing which really helped us connect with the children. Sunday we went to one of the churches in Guatemala and received an amazing message from Missionary Fhanor Pejendino and got to see the clinic we have there to help the community. After lunch we went to visit La Antigua which was beautiful and that evening we were invited to eat with a couple from the church. Overall, the trip was amazing for me. I love being able to connect with my brothers and sisters despite the language barrier. Love is a universal language and Guatemala really showed me that. Next year’s immersion trip for young adults will be in July 2020, the Cumberland Presbyterian Americas Youth Gathering. A gathering of young people from throughout the Americas! Check out https://cpcmc. org/ayg2020/ for more details. MM
20 MISSI ONARY MESSE N GE R
S P R I N G 2 019
SECOND MILE PROJECTS FOR MISSIONS
Scholarships for Asia Minister’s Conference Project #34456 The Asian Missions Forum (AMF) was formed by Cumberland Presbyterian leaders in Japan and Hong Kong. The AMF consists of leaders from Hong Kong, Japan, the Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, and South Korea. They meet each year and plan events and activities for CPs living on that side of the world. One of the events planned for 2019 is a Cumberland Presbyterian minister’s conference in Hong Kong. We would like to provide pastors from the developing countries in Asia a travel scholarship so they can travel to Hong Kong and participate in the minister’s
conference. Hong Kong Presbytery is providing food and lodging for the pastors attending. This Second Mile project will provide plane tickets for pastors from the developing countries that are part of the AMF.
FINANCIAL DATA: Amount Needed from Second Mile: $6,000.00
CONTRIBUTIONS: Please make check payable to the Missions Ministry Team indicating for project #34456 and mail to 8207 Traditional Place, Cordova, TN 38016-7414. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Lynn Thomas at lynndont@gmail.com, (901) 276-4572 ext. 261.
YMPOSIUM
SYMPOSIUM
SYMPOSIUM YMPOSIUM
Dated Mail – Please Do Not Delay
SYMPOSIU
MPOSIUM
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.
MANY MINDS ONE MINISTRY
HEBREWS 10:24 “And let us consider each other carefully for the purpose of sparking love and good deeds.” (CEB)
Thursday, Nov. 7 to Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019 Nashville, Tennessee Presbytery And Church Board And Ministry Team Members, Pastors, Clergy, Other Church And Lay Leaders. This event made possible in part by your tithe to Our United Outreach.