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I O N S P r o p h e s y, Visions, and Dreams By Lynn Thomas
IN THE LAST DAYS IT WILL BE, GOD DECLARES, THAT I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT UPON ALL FLESH, AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS, AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS. ACTS 2:17
2 0 / 2 0 In the confusion of Pentecost, Peter presents an explanation. Peter repeated a verse from the Old Testament book of Joel and explained the day Joel prophesied has now come. Sons and daughters will state the realities that are overlooked or ignored by their communities; young men will see, and profess what their eyes cannot see; and, old men will tell stories which the Holy Spirit placed on their hearts. Peter’s point is the Holy Spirit is being poured out and something new is happening.
We are the culmination of God’s act of sending. The Holy Spirit in us makes that possible. We are on God’s mission to the world. What is that mission? We are prophetic; by the Holy Spirit we reveal to the world the reality of sin and God’s Love. By the Holy Spirit we are visionary; the Holy Spirit helps us see with faith and proclaim what human eyes cannot see, which is the essence of hope. And, we dream; the Holy Spirit fills our minds with stories which give direction and assurance to our world. Acts 2:17 explains we are God’s “Word” empowered by the Holy Spirit to go into the world.
Pentecost was a Jewish harvest festival. It was fifty days after Passover; thus, its numeric name “penta.” Pentecost was also the celebration of the coming of God’s Word at Mount Sinai. Exodus 19 and 20 state God spoke these “Words” and then there was a flood of information given to Moses and Israel. The Jewish Pentecost celebration was a fall festival and it was a celebration of God’s “Word” sent to humankind. First, God sent God’s Word, then God sent God’s Son–The Word, and then God sent God’s Spirit to guide us to follow the Word, but, the Holy Spirit was not the final act of God’s sending. On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit fell on humans from around the known world and the multinational and multilingual Church of Jesus Christ was born. The Church was sent into the world. The book of Acts chronicles the acts of God’s sending. What is the Church’s relationship to the “Word?” SPRING 2020
During the season of Pentecost, we emphasize missions. The Holy Spirit continues to guide us in God’s mission. God’s mission is one of sending the church, the body of Christ incarnate, into the world to prophesy, vision, and dream. It is the mission of the entire church. As Acts well illustrates, soon after the Day of Pentecost the Church started to sacrificially send beloved leaders to other nations and lands to fulfill God’s mission to the world and proclaim and demonstrate the “Word.” The Cumberland Presbyterian Church supports all CP missionaries supervised by the Missions Ministry Team (the CP Church’s mission agency) through donations given to the StottWallace Missionary Offering to help pay their salaries and benefits. Please support the StottWallace Missionary Offering. MM
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Contents
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5 The Time Of The Spirit 6 Was the Cumberland Presbyterian Church Responsible for the Birth of Modern Japan? 8 We Never Stop Learning From One Another 10 Missionary Update 12 Cumberland Presbyterian Mission Around The World 14 Belize 16 RISE UP Convention 2020 Schedule and Registration Form
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PERSPECTIVES by Milton L. Ortiz Day of Pentecost and Stott-Wallace Missionary Offering The Cumberland Presbyterian Church was born of a revival experience like Day of Pentecost and, from the beginning, we became a missionary church. Our Pentecostal experience compelled us to continue preaching the gospel at home and around the world. God continues to call people to ministry and sends some to other nations. We commission them and promise to pay them salaries and benefits while they work in the mission field growing the Kingdom of God. To cover missionary expenses, salaries, and benefits we need almost $400,000 a year. At this time, we have five missionary families working in Cumberland Presbyterian ministries: Fhanor and The Stott-Wallace Missionary Socorro Pejendino in GuateOffering is named for two lifelong mala; Patrick and Jessica missionary families–Buddy and Wilkerson with daughters Bella Beverly Stott (Japan) and Boyce and Jacqueline in Colombia; and Beth Wallace (Colombia). The Josue and Sara Guerrero with Stotts served as Cumberland daughter Raquel in Brazil; Presbyterian missionaries for 26 Wilson and Diana Lopez with years and the Wallaces served as daughters Marcela and Valery missionaries for over 50 years. in Spain; Daniel and Kay Jang These two couples represent a long with their children Younjei and legacy of Cumberland Presbyterian Junha in the Philippines; and missionary service. Pentecost David and Sarah Lee in Southeast Asia. season is a great opportunity to
promote this offering. We encourage churches, women’s ministry groups, youth groups, Sunday school classes and even individuals to give to this missionary support fund.
The Stott-Wallace Missionary Offering is NOT an endowment fund. This offering is celebrated and received during the Pentecost season or at any appropriate time in the church year. It is an ongoing offering receiving contributions through the year to support Cumberland Presbyterian missionaries who are under the supervision of the Missions Ministry Team. All tax-deductible contributions are used to provide salaries and benefits to our Cumberland Presbyterian missionaries. This year, Pentecost Sunday is on May 31st, which is also World Missions Day. Please visit the Stott-Wallace Missionary Offering website to make a pledge or a contribution at cpcmc.org/mmt/sw. Resources are also provided on this website. MM 4 M ISS I O N A RY M ESS E N G E R
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MISSIONARY MESSENGER {
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MISSIONS MINISTRY TEAM OF THE CUMBERL AND PRESBY TERIAN CHURCH
ART DIRECTOR Sowgand Sheikholeslami ext:211
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Milton Ortiz ext:234
PUBLICATIONS MANAGER Matthew Gore ext:221
ASSOCIATE EDITOR Jinger Ellis ext:230
CONTRIBUTORS Johan Daza ext:202 Cardelia Howell-Diamond ext:264 Kristi Lounsbury ext:263 T.J. Malinoski ext:232 Milton Ortiz ext:234 Lynn Thomas ext:261
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 S T U DY
THE TIME OF THE SPIRIT By Milton L. Ortiz
“In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.” Acts 2:17 NRSV
Peter is quoting the Prophet Joel on the day of Pentecost from the Old Testament. “In the last days,” refers to the time after Christ ascended to heaven. The Pouring of the Spirit Read John 14:15-31
Jesus told his disciples he was going to talk to the Father, provide another Advocate, and be with them forever. This is the Spirt of truth; this Spirit dwells in the believers. According to Acts 2, we know the Holy Spirit came on Pentecost. All those who were together in that one place were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. The same experience with the Holy Spirit happened in Acts chapter 10, in the home of Cornelius. The difference this time was these people were gentiles. Today, more than two thousand years after this experience, it is very important to understand where the Holy Spirit resides. Jesus said the world cannot receive the Spirit. However, if you are a believer, the Spirit lives in you. According to the Confession of Faith, “through the Holy Spirit, people are able to acknowledge and repent of their sin, believe in Jesus Christ as Savior, and follow Christ as Lord.” (3.10) “Whoever will, therefore, may be saved, but not apart from the illuminating influence of the Holy Spirit.” (4.03) When Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to the disciples, he said the Spirit abided with them, but was also going to be in them. After that, Jesus said that he was not going to leave them orphaned, he was coming to them. He said, “in a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live.” Jesus was saying he was coming to his disciples in the Spirit. Before his ascension, Jesus was limited by his body but, after the pouring of the Spirit, Jesus was in the Spirit in each believer, “On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.” Father, Son, and Holy Spirit reside in us because of the pouring of the Spirit on Pentecost Day. The Spirit is God’s presence in us. Pentecost is not just a historical event; it is a daily experience for Christians. God’s purpose when creating humanity was to have a dwelling place. To be created in God’s image and likeness was not just for us to be like God, but to be the place where God resides. The same way that Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15), you and I are the visible image of God. We are individually and corporately God’s temple, the body of Christ, like Jesus, “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him.” (Colossians 1:19).
Prophesying One interesting aspect of Scripture is the concept of children in the family, sons and daughters, and also, the concept that there are not differences regarding gender. In the sight of God, male and female are created equal and complimentary (COF 1.11). Prophesy has historically held different meanings. I believe the simplest meaning of the Word is talking or communicating God’s Word to others. The Holy Spirit is in us in order to help us to say what we need to say regarding Jesus Christ so others can experience the coming of the Spirit in their lives when they recognize Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
Visioning and Dreaming Visions and dreams are basically the same. The difference is dreams happen while we are sleeping but visions happen while we are fully awake. We vision when we see ahead of time and expect to do great things in the name of Jesus. A dream will start in our mind and heart and will move us to accomplish something big for our Lord. Because of the presence of the Spirit in our lives, we have visions and dreams to accomplish God’s purpose for the kingdom, no matter the age or gender. Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to his disciples. Jesus promised to come back “in a little while” in the form of the Holy Spirit to reside within his disciples. Having the Holy Spirit reside permanently in us, means the wonderful experience of sharing the gospel to others and visioning and dreaming in order to accomplish God’s purpose for his kingdom. It doesn’t matter our age, gender or where we are in our spiritual journey. MM SPRING 2020
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By Lynn Thomas
Was the Cumberland Presbyterian Church Responsible for the Birth of Modern Japan? 6 M ISS I O N A RY M ESS E N G E R
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rime Minister Tetsu Katayama was from a rural fishing town called Tanabe in Wakayama, Japan. He was born in July 1887. He was the first prime minister elected to serve in Japan after World War II. Katayama’s tenure as prime minister was short, but it established some very important lasting trends. He was instrumental in passing labor reforms that influence Japan to this day. He promoted benevolent, pacifist, pro-children, and pro-women legislation. Katayama established policies to help the handicapped find employment. He outlawed child labor and implemented nationwide childcare centers. He established healthcare for women and children which included prenatal care. He appointed the first Supreme Court of Japan. He reorganized local governments and the Japanese police forces. And he abolished the ministry of Navy and War freeing Japan from imperialist temptations. Katayama helped set Japan on course to the prosperity it enjoys today. Prime Minister Katayama was inspired and influenced by a Cumberland Presbyterian woman from Indiana named Julia Leavitt.
t seventeen years old Julia Leavitt moved to Japan, sponsored by the CP Women’s Board of Missions. She was from Bloomfield, Indiana, and the first woman sent by the newly formed CP Women’s Board. She arrived in Japan in 1881 and was met by CP missionaries. Julia was a quick study and mastered the Japanese language and culture. She eventually moved to the remote area of Tanabe as an evangelist. Other missionaries expressed fear about living in Tanabe; it was a remote stormy coastal fishing town. Julia went anyway.
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uring a conference in Tokyo in 1900, Julia expressed a concern that many missionaries in Japan were living in the same city. She was appealing to missionaries to move out of their missionary communities and into the cities and villages of Japan. Julia was an evangelist living among the Japanese. She was calling others to follow her footsteps. Julia had become somewhat famous for her remarkable use of the Japanese language and the fact she lived with the Japanese in places where there were no other missionaries. Other missionaries were often amazed when they visited her and noted how involved, and accepted she was by the Japanese. They all noted her stamina and personal sacrifice. She shared her faith with women, children and men. Mission leaders recognized Julia for her gentle spirit, her hospitality, and her amazing ability to relate to nationals and share her faith. One of Julia’s ministries was teaching a young boys’ Bible study and English class in Tanabe. One of her students was a young man named Tetsu Katayama.
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Katayama was discipled by Julia. He saw her as his spiritual mentor. If you look up Prime Minister Katayama on the internet you will discover he is listed as a Presbyterian Christian. This information is very unusual for a Japanese politician. Christianity has always been a very small minority in Japan. Katayama identified himself as a Christian because of the witness and sacrifice of Julia Leavitt. If one looks at the policies Katayama promoted as a politician, one sees how faith influenced him and benefitted Japan. Katayama was not the only person to find Christ at the feet of Julia. There are many stories about people leaving abuse, fear, and cruelty, and finding wholeness because they came to Christ through Julia.
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ulia was a missionary to Japan for 46 years. She returned to the USA in 1927 and died in 1947. Her legacy is felt in Japan to this day. There were countless Cumberland Presbyterians who supported Julia as a missionary. They, too, expressed sacrifice, faithfulness and stamina. Many people had a hand in forming modern Japan, but one small part of that was the CP Church and its mission program. MM
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Cross–Culture Ministr y
WE NEVER STOP LEARNING FROM ONE ANOTHER A SHORT REFLECTION ON A TRIP TO COLOMBIA
By Johan Daza
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am originally a Cumberland Presbyterian from Colombia, South America. I could say the Missions Ministry Team (MMT) is one of the denominational agencies constantly learning about and interacting with different judicatories around the world. This constant interaction helps us to understand and develop our Cumberland Presbyterian identity.
Mission Synod of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church organized Emaús Presbytery in Medellin, Colombia, on February 4, 2017. One of the Missions Ministry Team´s commitments with the new presbytery was to assist the judicatory regarding our CP identity in different areas during three initial years. The MMT recognizes some of the challenges and the strengths which have helped the presbytery to evolve with a strong CP identity. There is strong leadership, including members of the congregations and new church developments, who are very active and involved in the life of the presbytery. We are blessed to have the Reverend Patrick Wilkerson and his family serving as missionaries in Emaús Presbytery. Rev. Wilkerson currently serves as moderator of the presbytery and is planting a new congregation in Rio Negro, Antioquia. Emaús Presbytery is intentional in training different church committees and ministries.
They have annual training opportunities for probationers and ministers. In the midst of these efforts and with new church planting efforts ongoing within the bounds of the presbytery, the presbytery noticed the need for members of the churches, probationers, and presbytery members to get a stronger approach and understanding of the CP Constitution in practical ways. In addition, the presbytery noticed there were some differences between how they and the CP General Assembly conduct business. The Missions Ministry Team in consultation with the presbytery, led a workshop on the Constitution and parliamentary procedure in December 2019. Director of Evangelism and New Church Development, the Reverend T.J. Malinoski, and I traveled to EmaĂşs Presbytery and led a one-day polity workshop on December 6th. We also attended their winter presbytery meeting on December 7th. Around 70 people attended the workshop, including church members and new church developments who were interested in serving on committees and the session. There were steering committee and session members present. All the ministers and probationers participated and guest ministers from Andes and Cauca Valley Presbyteries were also present.
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he workshop included quiz games, constant participation, and interaction. Roleplay activities gave members of the congregation the opportunity to glimpse the different officials and what their roles are like. It was a fun and practical way to learn more from one another. Again, the MMT was pleased to learn new things about the judicatory and the presbytery also learned new things as a reciprocal exercise.
If your local congregation, session, presbytery, or synod is interested in leading an event to encourage its members to learn more about our CP polity and constitution, the Missions Ministry Team, along with the Discipleship Ministry Team are more than willing to assist you with the many options available that might suit your needs. For more information please contact Rev. Kristi Lounsbury at Klounsbury@cumberland.org, Rev. Cardelia Howell-Diamond at chd@cumberland.org, Rev. T.J. Malinoski at TMalinoski@ cumberland.org, Rev. Johan Daza at Jdaza@cumberland.org, or Rev. Lynn Thomas, Lyndont@gmail.com. MM
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MISSIONARY
UPDATE By Lynn Thomas
The Missions Ministry Team Supervises The Following Missionaries. Their Work Is Planting Cumberland Presbyterian Churches.
GUATEMAL A
COLOMBIA
COLOMBIA
Fhanor and Socorro Pejendino live in Guatemala City, Guatemala. They are the only ordained CP pastors in Guatemala and serve all the churches and missions. They work with the Guatemala Council of churches, the hot lunch program, and the CP medical clinic.
Beth Wallace is a missionary emeritus. She is retired in Cali, but active in her church, as well as in the women’s ministry of Cauca Valley Presbytery.
Patrick and Jessica Wilkerson live in Rio Negro, Colombia (outside of Medellin). Patrick works with a new mission point in Rio Negro. Jessica has been helping with a women’s program. Patrick is also a leader in the Emaús Presbytery, giving encouragement and support to the different churches and missions in the presbytery.
BR
Josue and live in Salva are church with new ment proje and Mata d ue has dev of CP church is working t council.
R A ZIL
d Sara Guerrero ador, Brazil. They planters working church developects in Salvador de Sao Joao. Josveloped a council hes/missions and to strengthen the
SPAIN
CAMBODIA
THE PHILIPPINES
Wilson and Diana Lopez will be the first CP Church planters to work in Europe in CP history. Currently, there is one church and two mission points in Spain, and a new church development in France. Our missionaries will work with these congregations, as well as explore the development of more CP churches. They will also work with leadership development.
David and Sarah Lee work in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. They are church planters in Southeast Asia. They serve the CP Church in Cambodia and another country. They administer an English language school to help facilitate outreach (this school is not in Cambodia).
Daniel and Kay Jang live in Iloilo City, Philippines. They are church planters working with various new church development projects on Panay Island. Daniel works with the council of CP churches, and with the child development program that serves children in various CP churches and missions.
Havana Mexico City Belmopan Guatemala City
Port-au-Prince Kingston
0h
Nouakchott
Santo Domingo Praia
Tegucigalpa
Dakar
CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN MISSIONS AROUND THE WORLD San Salvador
Managua
San Jose
Panama City
Caracas
Paramaribo
Ouagadougou
Conakry Freetown
Georgetown
Bogota
Bamako
Banjul Bissau
Monrovia Yamoussoukro
Cayenne
+1h
Niamey
N‘Djamena Abuja
Accra
Porto-Novo
Lome
Malabo
Bangui
Yaounde
Libreville
Quito
-5h
-4h
-3h
Brazzaville
Kinshasa
Bu
Luanda
Lima
L
Brasilia
La Paz
Sucre
Windhoek Gaboron
Asuncion
Santiago
By Lynn Thomas
Buenos Aires
Montevideo
Bloemfonta M
Cape Town
-3h
AUSTR ALIA The largest city in Australia is Sydney, with a population of 5.2 million people. The CP Church has five Korean speaking churches, mostly in Sydney. One of our churches is in Darwin, which is just over a four hour flight from Sydney. Pray for our pastors in Australia. They are bi-vocational. Pray for their strength and wisdom as they balance ministry, family, and work.
CPs outside the USA are in Colombia. On any given Sunday there are around six thousand CPs in Colombian churches. Missionaries Patrick and Jessica Wilkerson live in Medellin. Missionary (emeritus) Beth Wallace lives in Cali. -4h Pray for the three presbyteries in Colombia, two camping facilities, three colegios (schools), and numerous mission points and ministries. Pray for the CP Colombian leaders, that they have the wisdom and resources to meet the needs of their many ministries.
BE LIZE
CUBA
Belize is the smallest country in Central America, both in landmass (180 miles long and 68 miles wide), and population (375,000). The official language is English. The CP Church just started working in Belize in 2019. We have one CP church with a CP pastor. We also have two mission liaisons (CP pastors) that retired to Belize and help the new church and pastor. Pray for the new pastor and his church as they become more involved in the life of the global CP Church.
Cuba is a very religious country, 65% claim religious affiliation. Most are Roman Catholic. Protestant house churches are a growing trend. Currently, Cuba allows Christians to meet in homes to worship. There are five provisional CP pastors and house churches in Cuba, mostly in Havana, the capital. Pray for our pastors in Cuba, particularly the training program we are implementing to help them become CP pastors. Pray that the doors remain open so that we can continue to work in Cuba.
BR A ZIL
FR ANCE
Brazil is the largest country in South America. It is the only country in the Americas that speaks Portuguese. Brazilians are Latinos but not Hispanics because they don’t speak Spanish. Missionaries Josue and Sarah Guerrero live in Salvador, Brazil. There is one CP church in Salvador and a mission point just outside. Pray for our missionaries and the expansion of the CP Church in Brazil. The 2019 Gift to the King Offering will go to help build a new church facility for our new mission.
Presbyterianism traces its roots to a Frenchman named John Calvin. It became a Scottish expression of Christianity because of the relationship of a Scottish seminary student John Knox and his seminary friend John Calvin. Pray for our small group that meets in Lyon. Ministry in secular France is not easy. Pray that God gives this group wisdom.
CAMBODIA Cambodia was a French territory for almost 100 years. Fifty percent of the population is under 15 years old. There is one CP church in the capital, Phnom Penh. Missionaries David and Sarah Lee work with the church and, as would be expected, it is full of young people. Pray for our missionaries working in Cambodia. Pray for the leaders they are developing to grow and expand our ministry in Cambodia.
Guatemala is a Central American country where Spanish is the principal language. However, there are twenty-one different indigenous dialects spoken in Guatemala. Missionaries Fhanor and Socorro Pejendino live in Guatemala City. There are two churches, two mission points, and a medical clinic in Guatemala City. Pray for our missionaries and the national leaders. Pray for the medical clinic. The resources to meet the need of the medical clinic are always a challenge. Pray that God calls Guatemalan men and women to pastoral leadership.
COLOMBIA
HAITI
Colombia is the only country in South America that has a Pacific Coast and an Atlantic Coast. The largest number of
In 1492 Columbus landed in Haiti. Haitians speak Creole, a language which is a mix of French and indigenous words.
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GUATE MAL A
Riyadh
Abu Dhabi
Muscat
+4h Asmara
Khartoum
San‘a
Kampala
+3h Mogadishu
Nairobi
Vientiane Bangkok
Manila
The Cumberland Presbyterian Church has churches in 18 countries around the world (including the United States). The following is a list of countries, what the CP Church is doing in that country, and how to pray for the country. Bandar Seri Begawan
Kuala Lumpur Singapore
+8h
+9h
Dili
Dar es Salaam
ain Maseru
+7h
Jakarta
+2h
ne
Hanoi
Colombo
ujumbura
Lusaka
+6,5h
Phnom Penh
Addis Ababa
Kigali
Dhaka
Yangon
Djibouti
Juba
+5,5h
Honiara
Port Moresby
+11h
Lilongwe
Harare
Antananarivo
+3h Pretoria
Port-Vila
+8h
Maputo Mbabane
Suva
+9,5h
+10h
Canberra
There are six CP churches in Haiti located in the countryside about two hours outside the capital Port-au-Prince. Each church has a small one-room primary school, with two teachers in each school. Pray for the pastors in Haiti. The resource challenges are extensive. The schools and church programs depend on donations and the sacrificial service of the Haitian pastors. HONG KONG Hong Kong is a city nation. It was a British colony for well over a hundred years. People in Hong Kong speak Cantonese and English. It is a major port city and commercial center for Asia. There are ten CP churches in Hong Kong Presbytery. For the past ten years Hong Kong Presbytery has been the fastest growing part of the CP Church. Pray for the stresses placed on the people of Hong Kong by China. Pray for our CP leaders; several are under the watchful eye of China for their participation in the protests. MACAU The city of Macau is one hour by boat or bus from Hong Kong. It was a Portuguese colony. There is one CP church in Macau and a new mission point. The Macau church is the oldest CP church in Hong Kong Presbytery. Pray for the Macau CP Church and new mission point. The CPs in Macau are looking for ways to expand and grow in Macau. JAPAN The CP Church has been working in Japan since 1877. Japan has a population of 127 million people, less than 1% profess to be Christian. The CP Church has one presbytery in Japan, with 13 churches and missions. Pray for the leaders of Japan. In recent years the growth of our churches has plateaued. Pray that God leads CPs in Japan as they seek new ways to share Christ. XX This country is in Asia. It is a communist country closed to missionaries. We have one church in this country. Pray for the Christians that work in this country. They courageously share their faith, knowing the risks of being reported to the government.
ME XICO
+12h
Wellington
Mexico is the largest Spanish speaking country in the world. It is one of the few countries in the Americas that has spicy “hot” food. The capital, Mexico City, has a metropolitan population of twenty-one million. We have churches and pastors in Mexico City. Our missionaries from Guatemala (neighboring country) travel to Mexico City several times a year to help encourage the churches and pastors. Pray for the leaders in Mexico. They have a strong vision to expand and grow in Mexico. THE PHILIPPINES The Philippines is a country which consists of 7,500 islands. There are about 175 different languages spoken in the Philippines; for that reason, English is the common trade language. Missionaries Daniel and Kay Jang live in Iloilo City, Philippines. On that island are several CP churches and mission points. The 2018 Gift to the King Offering is being used to build a church building for the Iloilo CP Church. Pray for our missionaries and Filipino pastors and leaders. The CP Church is growing in the Philippines, which places incredible demands on our missionaries and church leaders. SOUTH KORE A South Korea is not a large country; it is a little smaller than the state of Alabama. It has the 11th largest economy in the world. We have one church and three mission points in South Korea. Our churches are relatively small. Pray for the CP Church in South Korea. There are many different churches in Korea. Our pastors and leaders continue to try and find ways to grow their churches in a very competitive environment. SPAIN The native language of Spain is Spanish which includes various dialects. Castilian Spanish is the form which most of the Spanish world speaks. There is one CP church in Madrid and two mission points in towns outside of Spain. Missionaries Wilson and Diana Lopez will be moving to Spain in 2020. Pray for our new missionaries to Spain. Pray for the CP leaders in Spain as they seek effective ways to grow the CP Church in Europe. MM
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Global Missions
Belize The Cumberland Presbyterian Church’s Newest Mission Field
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elize is the smallest and least populated country in Central America. It is also the only English-speaking country in Central America. It is known for its beautiful beaches, Mayan ruins, and tropical climate. It is a retirement and vacation destination for people from North America. This in fact, is how we were able to initiate mission work in Belize. The Reverends Lee and Leslie Attema, Cumberland Presbyterian pastors, retired to Belize in 2017. They attend a Belizean church which is unaffiliated with any denomination. After years of being involved in the church, the pastor and leaders asked them about their church family in the United States. That conversation led to discussions with the Missions Ministry Team (MMT). In 2019, the MMT accepted James Jones as a provisional pastor and his congregation, “The Living Word Bible Church,” as a provisional church. The MMT also named Lee and Leslie as mission liaisons to work with the new pastor and church. The future of our work in Belize will involve training through the Program of Alternate Studies (PAS) and training of lay leadership. MMT also plans for short-term mission team visits to Belize. Our mission liaisons are exploring ways to expand in Belize. Pray for the new work in Belize, our provisional church and pastor, our mission liaisons, and our hope to expand. MM 14 M I S S I O N A R Y M E S S E N G E R
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Congregational
ENGAGE Your Congregation
Ministries
By Kristi Lounsbury
W
hen there is something unhealthy going on in your life, most often, you will stop and assess what is wrong. You will then make the necessary changes to affect a more positive outcome. If you choose not to make changes, the consequences are most likely negative. Many, not all, of our churches are unhealthy and it is time to stop and assess what is wrong. This past year, the approach has been to begin a program called C.A.R.E. for our congregations. Although the intent has been well-meaning, the name and what it implies is not. The word “CARE” tends to imply “nursing, coddling, and sickness” and other terms that may or may not produce positive images. The desire for our congregations to be alive and thriving produce different, more positive images than ones that imply its death bed. If the words “connect, join, participate, and involve” were used to describe your congregation, how differently would you think? Let us go forth and ENGAGE our congregations. In 2018, Blackbaud (the world’s leading supplier of software to the social good community) and The Unstuck Group (church consultants) teamed up to study a variety of churches of different sizes and traditions to produce “The Church Engagement Report 2019.” Their study concentrated on growing and declining churches and what was making the difference. Growing churches reported having several outreach opportunities, small group involvement, and increased social media presence. Matthew 28:19a (NRSV) says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.” The key word is “GO!” Scripture doesn’t tell us to sit in the pew on Sunday. “Early Christians didn’t attend church; they were the church.” (Carey Nieuwhof) How do you turn ordinary attendees into passionate champions of the Com-
mission? You ENGAGE them. Healthy, growing churches are engaging new people, as well as, the people that have been steadfast and previously connected with the church. Engaged congregations are made up of enthusiastic people. An engaged congregation will know their mission. This clarification will come about through professional help, a mission statement from the Session, a congregational assessment, or other means. Whatever the means, the congregation and her participants will serve the mission wholeheartedly and live it out daily. They will be passionate enough about the mission to invite their friends to participate. And, the church will grow–not because people sat in the pews–but because the congregation has become engaged in the Great Commission to “Go!” One of the most important aspects of engaging congregants is to encourage one to serve, to find their passion within the mission of the worshiping community. When one has a purpose, a place to serve, the passion explodes for that individual and they feel a loyalty and a sense of belonging within the community. Additionally, it is important to provide an avenue to explore the opportunities available for those willing to engage and serve. Many people want to engage but simply don’t know how. Go ahead and print those opportunities (with contact information) in the bulletin or on the website. Don’t be afraid to Tweet the latest opportunity. The easier the path is to engage; the more people will travel it. Equally important, a congregation needs to have determined their central mission but not to have provided too many opportunities for congregants to serve. In the excitement of engaging individuals to serve, too many opportunities can distort the true mission. Ask the question, “How does this fit into our mission as a congregation?” Remember, an individual’s passion or project is not
necessarily a congregation’s passion. If you want people to be passionate about the central mission of your church only do programming that directly advances the central mission. People, when challenged and given an opportunity, will rise to a certain level of expectation. The same is true of congregations. It is important to create a culture through your language, through your actions, through your services on Sundays and Wednesdays, and in all your communications where you expect people to engage. When you don’t expect people to do anything more than to attend church on Sunday morning, don’t be surprised if all they do is attend church on Sunday morning. Be intentional and encourage engagement in all you do. A side note to our ministers: Preachers have this incredible 20-40-minute window with which to speak into people’s lives every week. It is your opportunity (and time) to preach action and not only words of knowledge. “With your words you can make it clear that the goal of the Christian faith is not to know something, but to do something with what you know.” (Carey Nieuwhof) Lastly, it is so important to change our language. As mentioned before, using words to describe a stagnant, perhaps sickly, congregation doesn’t do any good. It is time to use empowering, more engaging, words and statements to describe our congregations. Let us GO and ENGAGE! Coming Together Ascertaining God’s Will Responding to the Needs Equipping for Ministry For more information about the emerging ENGAGE program for congregations, please contact Rev. Kristi Lounsbury, Director of Congregational Ministries at klounsbury@cumberland.org or 901-276-4572 ext. 263. MM
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Cumberland Presbyterian Women's Ministry
RISE UP
CONVENTION 2020-GA
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It is hard to imagine but Convention 2020 is just around the corner! We will be meeting June 9-11, 2020. Our theme for 2020-2021 is Rise Up! based on Isaiah 40:31 (NET) “But those who wait for the Lord’s help find renewed strength; they rise up as if they had eagles’ wings, they run without growing weary, they walk without getting tired.” The Executive Council has been hard at work planning for this special time for women from across the denomination to connect with one another through study, song, prayer, fellowship, and fun! All these things will happen under the roof of the Galt House Hotel, an amazingly beautiful facility in downtown Louisville, Kentucky. Remember our offerings and gifts to projects this year will be collected during Convention. As a reminder, our fall project was Stott-Wallace and our spring project is furniture for the new missionaries to Spain. Please be on the lookout for information about our in-kind gifts to be brought with you to Convention. MM
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P
A
Convention 2020
Tentative Schedule
Galt House Hotel–Louisville, Kentucky Sunday June 7, 2020 1:00pm-2:00pm - 3:00pm-7:00pm - 5:00pm - 7:30pm -
Meet with Registration Committee for instructions (Information Desk) Registration Open (Information Desk) Executive Committee Meets (Registration Area/Convention Office) Joint Worship Service with CPC, CPCA, and Missionary Society
Monday June 8, 2020 9:00am-3:00pm - 10:00am-11:00am - 12:00pm- 2:00pm - 4:30pm - 7:00pm-9:00pm -
Registration open (Information Desk) Decorate for Regional Luncheon (Terrace Room) Regional Delegate Luncheon (Terrace Room) Joint Moderator/President reception (Magnolia Restaurant) Joint activity with the National Missionary Society (Combs Chandler?)
Tuesday June 9, 2020 7:00am-9:00am - 8:00am-10:00am - 9:30am - 12:00pm - 1:00pm-2:00pm - 2:00pm-5:00pm - 8:00pm -
Fun Run Registration (Information Desk) CP Convention Begins (Ballroom C) Lunch Break Registration (Information Desk) Workshops Workshop A (Ballroom C ?) Workshop B (Combs Chandler ?) Workshop C (French ?) Reception - Women in Ministry (Combs Chandler or Ballroom C)
Wednesday June 10, 2020 8:30am-10:00am - 9:30am - 12:00pm - 2:00pm-5:00pm -
Registration (Information Desk) Convention Resumes (Ballroom C) Lunch Break Option A – Off-Site Trip Option B – Items for Sacred Sparks (Ballroom C)
Thursday June 11, 2020 8:30am-9:30am - 9:30am - 11:00am-12:00pm - 12:00pm-2:00pm - 3:00pm -
Registration (Information Desk) Convention resumes (Ballroom C) Decorate for luncheon (Ballroom B) CP Women’s Ministry Luncheon (Ballroom B) Executive Committee Meeting (Registration Area/Convention Office) SPRING 2020
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CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN’S MINISTRY 2020 CONVENTION – RISE UP! – ISAIAH 40 :31
JUNE 9-11, 2020
LOUISVILLE, KY
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 Cardelia Howell-Diamond at chd@cumberland.org or call at 901-276-4572 ext. 264. Name: _________________________________________________________________________________________ Address: ______________________________________________________________________________________ City: ______________________________State: _______________________ ZipCode:___________________ Telephone Number: ____________________________Cell Number: _______________________________ Email Address: _____________________________________________________________________________ Congregation: ______________________________________________________________________________ Region: _____________________________________________________________________________________ Registration Information: Additional information will be taken at Convention.
______ Regional Delegate ______ Youth Delegate ______ Minister ______ 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 Luncheon $ 26 $ ____- Regional Delegates ONLY (Monday, June 8, 12 noon) ____ Luncheon- $35 $ ____- Thursday, June 11, 12 noon Entrée selection choose one per ticket ____ Smothered Pork Chops ____ Parmesan Crusted Chicken ____ Vegetarian ____ One day only registration $ 20 $___ ____ I would like to make a donation to the $____ Stott-Wallace Missionary 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 the Galt House (800) 843-4258 or register online Use code “Cumberland Presbyterian GA” Group for registration Room rate $149 plus taxes Executive Suite Rate - $179 plus taxes Cut-off Date for reservations May 13, 2020 18 M I S S I O N A R Y M E S S E N G E R
SPRING 2020
145th General Assembly (CPCA) 190th General Assembly (CPC) (meeting concurrently)
June 7 - 12, 2020
GA Hotel - Meeting & Lodging
Galt House Hotel 140 N Fourth Street Louisville, KY 40202 (800)843-4258 hotel
Ask for “Cumberland Presbyterian GA” Group Code • Room Rate - $149 plus taxes •Executive Suite Rate - $179 plus taxes • Cut-Off Date - May 13, 2020 • Check-In - 3:00 p.m. • Check-Out - 11:00 a.m. AIRPORT LOUISVILLE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT - Approx 12 minutes GROUND TRANSPORTATION TO & FROM AIRPORT Shuttle service must be made by appointment at the rates of $15 per one-way trip, or $25 per round trip. This is not a 24hr service. To reserve your seat on a shuttle, please contact Xtreme Transportation at (502) 561-4022 ZERO BUS The Zero Bus covers a large area of Downtown Louisville and gives easy access to many local attractions with the convenience of boarding in front of the hotel. You can ride the Zero Bus for free, Monday – Saturday, 7:30 am to 11 pm PARKING $15.00 per day for self-parking $28.00 per day for valet
ONSITE - RESTAURANTS • RIVUE Restaurant & Lounge has a view to “dine for.” Featuring breathtaking views of the city and the waterfront. Open for Dinner, Monday-Saturday, and Sunday Brunch. • Cafe Magnolia offers casual dining for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. • Jockey Silks Bourbon Bar features more than 100 bourbons and a tasty pub menu. • Al J’s at the Conservatory is the best place to “sip a drink” at the aquarium bar. • Thelma’s Deli is open 24/7 serving a deli-style menu. • Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse features USDA Prime steaks and seafood, Monday-Saturday. • Down One Bourbon Bar & Restaurant offers more than 150 bourbons and whiskey, plus tasty entrees. GUEST SERVICES • 24-Hour Reception Desk • Bathroom Amenities • Free Wifi • Room Service • Non-Smoking Hotel
• • • • •
ATM Fitness Center Gift Shop Laundry Services Coffee Maker
AREA ATTRACTIONS • Churchill Downs & Kentucky Derby Museum • Fourth Street Live! Entertainment District (Connected by Skywalk) • Kentucky Science Center and IMAX, Kentucky Show! • KFC Yum! Center (Connected by Skywalk) • Louisville Slugger Field (Home of Louisville Bats Baseball) • Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory • Louisville Zoo • Muhammad Ali Center ( Connected by Skywalk) • Waterfront Park
Online Booking Link: https://book.passkey.com/go/2020CPCGA
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Missionary Cars - Project #34041
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GIVING NEWS/Second Mile Project for Missions
The Missions Ministry Team has new missionaries to Brazil. We plan to deploy new missionaries to Spain in 2020. We are also working with another missionary couple that will deploy to Guatemala in 2020. One of the benefits we provide new missionaries is a safe car. Sometimes they are new cars, but often they are good used cars. Our missionaries need a car in order to fulfill the church planting and ministry responsibilities that they have on the mission field. We are asking Cumberland Presbyterians to help us with this Second
Mile offering. We know this is an ambitious project. At the same time, it reflects the exciting reality that we will be deploying three new missionary families within a twelve month period. As you prayerfully consider this Second Mile project please pray for these three families that will be using these cars: Rev. and Mrs. Josue Guerrero and daughter (Brazil), Rev. Wilson and Rev. Diana Lopez and two daughters (Spain), and a missionary couple we are not ready to announce by name at this time (Guatemala).
Financial Data:
Contributions:
Amount received to date: $8,850
Please make check payable to the Missions Ministry Team indicating for Missionary Cars Project #34041 and mail to 8207 Traditional Place, Cordova, TN 38016-7414.
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Amount needed from Second Mile: $42,000
Contact Lynn Thomas at lynndont@gmail.com, (901) 276-4572 ext. 261.
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a nd
ol d
d r ea m
resources visit our website at cpcmc.org /mmt /sw
Place • Cordova, TN 38016-7414 / 901.276.4572 / For more information and
Cumberland Presby terian Church, Missions Ministry Team / 8207 Traditional
2:17
s h a l l Act s
m e n
d reams.”
y o u r
your young men shall see visions,
daughters shall prophesy, and
“...and your sons and your
Missionary Offering
T he S t ot t -Wa l l ace
D R E A M S
E S Y, A N D
P R O P H
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 issue 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.
WHAT:
SYMPOSIUM 2020 A Leadership Training Event for Pastors, Elders, Youth & Children’s Ministers, Lay Leaders
WHEN:
November 5-7, 2020
Dyersburg Cumberland WHERE: Presbyterian Church Dyersburg, Tennessee
2020