Missionary Messenger Volume 8 / SUMMER 2019
WALK IN LOVE
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LIVE
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THIS OLD COUCH
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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
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
…and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice. Ephesians 5:2 (NIV)
A couple of months ago, our family replaced a twenty year old couch—a couch older than both our children—which has served as a focal point in four different houses; a place where books were read, movies watched, fevers broken, and naps taken; a place where tears were absorbed, drinks spilled, mud spread, and animal hair collected. It served as a diaper changing station, a ladder, an imaginary airplane, a clothes hamper, a television remote eater, and as a desk for coloring, painting, and computer work. Instead of throwing out the old to be replaced by the new, the couch moved to a different part of the house. As weeks went by, I noticed our family activities moved where the old couch now resides. Cat, toddler, teenager, and spouse all seemed to gravitate toward the old multi-purpose couch. There is nothing wrong with the new couch. In every way it is better than the old one. Yet, we are unconsciously drawn to what is familiar.
Sometimes it is difficult to embrace the new. Whether a new piece of furniture is introduced into our home or a new perspective to our personal beliefs and convictions, we struggle with new items and ideas which stretch us and create tension in our lives. The life of the Church is not exempt from the creative tension which comes from the introduction of something new. We have the tendency to examine it with scrutiny from current convictions, practices, methods, models, and priorities. Your Missions Ministry Team strives to give witness to the message of Christ and works to facilitate a shared and cooperative approach to new and existing ministries. In doing so, new ministries, new churches, new leaders, new events, and new ways of faith-sharing addressing the needs of the world can add to the complexity of church life. For example, working toward unification of two denominations, essentially the creation of a new church, means rearranging what is familiar. Emphasizing and promoting new churches to share the gospel creates tension with the existing needs in other congregations. Having an evangelism conference for youth and introducing different ways of faith sharing can challenge the formation and understanding of what evangelism means. Facilitating a young women’s retreat can create situations in which others may feel neglected or disenfranchised. Introducing new missionaries into an existing mission field means adjustment for both the missionaries and those already engaged in ministry on that field.
New ministries, new churches, new leaders, and new ways for faith-sharing will always be in tension with current convictions, practices, methods, models, and priorities. It is a consequence of the tension between theory and practice. Theory explains how we should believe and live while practice is how we actually believe and live. Whenever a new perspective or a new ministry is added to life of the Church, like an old couch, we gravitate toward the familiar as an identifying mark of who we are and what we like.
All 365 Days Of The Year
SU M MER 2019
By T. J. Malinoski
Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children, and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:1-2 (NIV)
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Several years ago, the Cumberland Presbyterian Church adopted a vision of ministry which helps articulate an understanding of the Church’s identity:
Biblically-based and Christ-centered born out of a specific sense of mission, the Cumberland Presbyterian Church strives to be true to its heritage: to be open to God’s reforming spirit, to work cooperatively with the larger Body of Christ, and to nurture the connectional bonds that make us one. The Cumberland Presbyterian Church seeks – to be the hands and feet of Christ in witness and service to the world, and, above all, the Cumberland Presbyterian Church lives out the love of God to the glory of Jesus Christ. As we enter the half-way point of 2019, we walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us, into new and existing ministries with excitement, patience, understanding, and celebration for what God has done, is doing, and will do through the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. MM S U M M E R 2 019
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Contents 1 This Old Couch 4 Perspectives 5 Bible Study 6 -7 Pioneering Cumberland Presbyterians 10-11 New Church Development 14 Announcing New C.P. Missionaries to Europe 16 -17 UNITE! 2019 Youth Evangelism Conference
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2019 LATINA MINISTRY
PERSPECTIVES by Milton L. Ortiz WALKING IN THE WAY OF LOVE! “…and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:2 NIV) This verse could be cross referenced with verses related to sacrificial offerings made by fire in the Old Testament, a pleasing aroma to the Lord. In the New Testament the cross references are with Christ’s flesh given for the life of the world and the knowledge of Him as a fragrance spread by us; a call to love one another and to consider when we are not acting in love; the recognition that the Gentiles are now an acceptable offering to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit; and, over all, these virtues put on love, which is the bond of perfect unity. We as Cumberland Presbyterians are called to be “continuing in selfless love” and to pay careful attention, then, to how we walk, not as unwise but as wise. In this issue of the Missionary Messenger you will find different options to walk in the way of love. The article “This Old Couch” is a call to enter into new and existing ministries with excitement, patience, understanding, and celebratory nature for what God has done, is doing and will do through the denomination. The Bible Study will help us to understand that no longer do we live the way we lived before, for ourselves only. The article “Pioneering Cumberland Presbyterians” makes reference of how the Kingdom of God is constantly seeking new frontiers, looking for new cultures and new generations to be reached with the gospel of Christ. One way we can pioneer into these new frontiers is through new worshiping communities. An example of this is offered in the article “El Grupo,” a house worship community. The article “Carrying the Good News of Christ in Our Backpacks,” will help us to understand that to proclaim the goodness of Christ in public worship or in small group in our house is a way of translating the Gospel from person to person, culture to culture, and language to language. Also, in “New Church Development, The Ultimate Adventure” you will read the experience of our missionaries in Colombia planting a new church in their home. The article “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” is a call to re-imagine evangelism and the article “That Question” will help us to understand that, yes, we preach the Good News to the people all the time and, when forced, we use words. You also will find testimonies related to “Unite! The 2019 Youth Evangelism Conference,” the “2019 Young Women’s Retreat,” and the “2019 Latina Retreat.” There are also opportunities to serve and the announcement of new Cumberland Presbyterian Missionaries to Europe. Let us walk in the way of love! MM 4 MISSIONARY MESSE NGE R
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Bible Study/Devotion By Cardelia Howell-Diamond
As a child I walked everywhere. I had the freedom to explore my neighborhood and a group of like-minded kids would join me on all kinds of adventures. We would walk all around our blocks, through the alley ways, and to the local park together. But the day came when walking no longer cut it. Everyone wanted to ride. They all wanted to ride their bikes around the neighborhood, through the alley ways and to the park. It sounded like great fun, but there was a problem. I couldn’t ride my bike.
BEING A WITNESS BEFORE THE NATIONS AND THE PEOPLES
I had tried several times to learn to ride my bike, but each time I fell, I grew more and more leery of this mechanical monster everyone else seemed to love. It haunted my dreams, rolling behind me taunting me. It seemed to sneer at me every time I walked past it in the garage, so much so that I threw my beach towel over it so I wouldn’t have to avoid its gaze. I stayed inside the first weekend that the bike adventures began. I said I wanted to improve my mind by reading, but really I just didn’t want to be the only one not riding. During the week my friends made snide comments about me not riding with them. They teased me and made me feel terrible. I thought I might have to somehow talk my parents into moving so that way I could avoid the shame. The next weekend one of my friends, Laura, came to the door asking me to join them. I looked past her and there on the porch was her bike. My heart sank. Laura followed my eyes to the bike and said. “My legs are so tired of pumping. Maybe we could just walk around some today?” My heart leaped and off we went on an adventure, walking together. Laura didn’t need to walk, she was a great rider, but she knew that I needed someone to walk beside me until I was brave enough to try riding again. Eventually she taught me how to ride my bike and we joined everyone else on their adventures, but that summer she was content to walk beside me in love.
We as Cumberland Presbyterians are called to be “continuing in selfless love” and to pay careful attention, then, to how we walk, not as unwise but as wise.
When we read scripture, especially just a verse or so, it is important to put it in context. This particular passage starts with therefore, which means it is a response to what came directly before. Chapter 4 of Ephesians teaches about the new life we have in Christ. No longer do we live the way we lived before, for ourselves only. Instead we live in love of God and neighbor and this will show itself in the way we interact with one another. Verses 31-32 say “Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.” It is only in changing the way we behave towards others that we can live into love and into this New Life of Christ. Laura refused to join the other kids who teased and tormented me. Instead, she offered a way for me to be included at my own pace until I was ready. What grace and mercy she offered! Where have you been offered grace and mercy by someone walking in love? In what ways might you need to come alongside another to walk in love? How might your faith community walk in love with their neighbors? Locally? Globally? Christ came alongside us to walk with us through our lives, giving himself up for us so that we might know a new and better way of living. Let us walk with others in love, helping them along the path and seeking to support them giving of ourselves in love. MM S U M M E R 2 019
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PIONEERING CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIANS By T. J. Malinoski
From the title of this article, you might think you are about to read of Cumberland Presbyterians from the past, individuals who have carved new frontiers which have shaped the identity of the Church as we know it, or individuals who have influenced and impacted our congregations, ministries, polity, theology and institutions. This article is not a journey into the past but one to get us thinking about the present and embark toward the future. Are you a Cumberland Presbyterian who is seeking new frontiers to impact the world and shape the identity of the Church? Could you be a Cumberland Presbyterian pioneer?
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The Kingdom of God is constantly seeking new frontiers, ship to pioneer a community for worship.” There are a variety looking for new cultures, and seeking new generations to be of leadership gifts which can help you start a worshipping reached with the gospel of Christ. One way we can pioneer community. A worship community allows you to lead from into these new frontiers is through new worshipping commuyour strengths. You get to gather people who respond to your nities. A worshipping community is essentially three things: particular leadership style into a worshipping community it is a community for those who do not know Christ; a comopen to being led by your gifts. While there are a variety of munity for those who want to know Christ; and, a communigifts, there is one essential skill, you must love people more ty for those who already know Christ and need a community than you love the staples of what we think of as church. You with which to worship. You might be thinking, “that’s the must love people more than you love liturgy and music. You purpose of my church” or “that’s why we have new church must love people more than you love stained-glass windows development.” If you are reflecting in this way, you are right. or phenomenal curriculum. You must love people more than Our congregations and new church developments are spaces you love crafting and delivering messages. You can pioneer a for those who do not know, want to know, and already know worshipping community if you love God and are a professing Jesus Christ. Yet, there is complexand practicing Christian. Therefore, ity in each setting and obstacles each a Cumberland Presbyterian pioneer A pioneer can help procongregation and new church develcan be a minister, an elder (or neither), opment faces. Just scratching the young, young at heart, male, female, vide as many opportunisurface these include limited fundfully employed, part time, semi-reties as possible for as many ing, lack of leadership, lethargy, retired, or fully retired. mote locations, and a multitude of people as possible to hear The features of a worshipping questions without a single answer community are as unique and diverse the gospel of Christ. A or “one size fits all” solution. Nor as the Kingdom of God. It meets at are there specific plans or strategies pioneer can gather a group times suiting the people. It is a comwhich can instruct us in every aspect munity in which you get to wear comof how an existing congregation or for worship, study and fortable clothing. It is a community new church should do ministry or fellowship opportunities. where you sit next to people who live what it should look like. and think differently than you. You A pioneer can start a worWhat if we shift our focus? can meet in your living room, your From a pragmatic point of view, it back patio or porch, the public library, shipping community. is understandable we are reluctant to a school room, a neighboring church invest time and resources into speciffacility, a rental space, or a hotel conic plans and strategies, into an existference room. A worshipping coming congregation or new church, without guarantees. There munity meets where it is feasible because the purpose is to is no guarantee a new or existing church will be a decent repcreate a space where we get to pray, to have Bible study, to eat resentative of the denomination and, more importantly, will together, to share time, possessions and space together, and to be a community that helps build the Kingdom of God. What get involved in the needs of the community. if we shift our thinking from the complexities and difficulStarting worshipping communities is the frontier leadties of doing church to the actual need: creating communities ing toward great discoveries. When you start a worshipping for those who do not know, who want to know, and already community, you are pioneering on a journey where you are know Jesus Christ. This is where Cumberland Presbyterian privileged to share the gospel with others. It is a space in pioneers can make an impact. which you can practice love, reconciliation, and hospitality A pioneer can help provide as many opportunities as in your community. By so doing, a new frontier for Cumberpossible for as many people as possible to hear the gospel of land Presbyterian ministries will become visible. MM Christ. A pioneer can gather a group for worship, study and fellowship opportunities. A pioneer can start a worshipping How do I pioneer a worshipping community? community. You may want to counter the focus on new wor- For more information contact Rev. T. J. Malinoski at shipping communities by saying, “I do not have the qualifica- TMalinoski@cumberland.org or at 901-276-4572 ext. 232 or tions, gifts, and skills needed to make it work. I do not have Rev. Johan Daza at JDaza@cumberland.org or the training and education to provide the necessary leader- 901-276-4572 ext. 202.
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El Grupo
By: Johan Daza
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“Group.” As a We use our houses as places of worship and we see ourselves as members noun, a group of the body of Christ. We celebrate is defined as a number of individuals the sacraments in worship as a comassembled together or having some munity of faith in a public way. So, unifying relationship. In our case it you might ask, is this a new church is a number of people from different development? Is it a new exploration theological backgrounds, both Protestant initiative? Is it a Bible study group? and Catholic, who gather to worship The answer is “yes” to all these quesevery weekend. tions. Sometimes we think we can We are a group of people located become a ministry extension of a in Cordova, Tennessee. We are particular congregation in Memphis. continuously immersed in a bilingual Sometimes we think the group can world between English and Spanish. become an organized church on its We are composed of mixed families own in the future. Something we of Americans and Latinos (predomiknow for sure is that besides the fornately Colombians), and Latinomal worship services, beyond sancAmericans, who gather in different tuaries, we see ourselves as a loving houses once every weekend for a and caring family, finding time to good meal, fellowship, and informal worship and serve to God as adults, worship. youth and children. In that sense, we are a worshipping community. For some members of this ministry, “El Grupo” is an extension If you want to learn more of their Christian journey since they and are interested in sharing the are also members of other churches. good news of Jesus Christ through For others, “El Grupo” is their only opening your house and inviting worshipping community. “El Grupo” friends, relatives, and neighbors to is not a closed community. We often eat together, pray for one another, have visitors who do not speak Spanstudy, and proclaim the word of God, ish but are interested in learning the please contact Rev. T.J. Malinoski at language, and, sometimes, we have TMalinoski@cumberland.org or Rev. visitors who speak Spanish but are Johan Daza at JDaza@cumberland. interested in learning English. org. We will be glad to partner with you in this endeavor. MM We do not have a sanctuary, or a particular location we call church.
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CARRYING THE GOOD NEWS OF CHRIST IN OUR BACKPACKS
Translating the Gospel from person to person, culture to culture, language to language By: Johan Daza
When
I think of the progress of the Gospel and the scope of the great commission to make disciples to all nations, my tendency is to think of what is already done and it is difficult to think of the time, energy and efforts many faithful Christians dedicated and contributed in order to translate or move the Gospel not only from language to language, but from place to place, culture to culture, person to person. It is because of those early, medieval, modern and post-modern globetrotter Christians that the Gospel has been proved as universal to the point that I have benefited of it in my own language, culture and context. Haven’t you? There is a series of books called Message of the Fathers of the Church and the fifth volume, Early Christian baptism and the Catechumenate : West and East Syria, is written by Tomas Finn (Liturgical Press, 1992). In the general introduction, Finn says that for many early Christians, conversion was understood as a ritual “journey” with Salvation as the destination. Conversion, more than being a particular event, was understood as something that implied traveling, movement
from one place to another, movement from an old condition to a new one due to the movement of the Gospel. Finn (p.4) finds striking the fact that the translation (the displacement) of the Gospel and the new religion from rural Palestine eastward to the Indus Valley and westward all the way to Roman Britain happened in less than two centuries. He says that even more striking was the fact that the social survival of the Gospel and the new religion happened because they were moved “outward and upward in the backpacks of immigrants.” So today we are considered a post-modern generation of Christians and we are the ones responsible for making disciples of all nations. The Gospel has been translated and brought to us in our own language, culture, and context. We are now the ones who have to move and translate (move) the good news of Christ from person to person, from culture to culture, and from language to language. You can make this possible every day by walking across the street
to love your neighbors, by driving a van to bring people experiencing homelessness to a church to receive love, a hot meal, clean clothing, and a warm bed, by opening your house to have a Bible study, by visiting those who are sick, and by living the gospel as a testimony of God’s grace. Translating (bringing) the gospel in our backpacks could mean proclaiming the goodness of Christ in public worship or in a small home group in your house. Translating (living) the Gospel in our backpacks is to experience God’s love that we are moved to share it with others in many ways in order for all to enjoy the presence of God in our lives. My Cumberland Presbyterian relatives, brothers and sisters, have you benefited from the Gospel? If so, please get your backpack ready, stand up and continue your spiritual journey because God is your partner and the world is your mission field so you can bring (translate) God’s love and the Gospel of Jesus Christ wherever you go in word and deed. MM
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NEW CHURCH DEVELOPMENT, THE ULTIMATE ADVENTURE By Rev. Patrick Wilkerson
There
is something that just feels right about doing New Church Development. Maybe it is the adventure of trying something new, maybe it is the excitement of a new project, or maybe it is the positive feeling you get when you feel like you are doing what scripture says to do. I don’t know what it is, but I think we all can understand the sentiment of being a part of something new. The two largest parts of my job are Leadership Development and New Church Development. In the Emaús Presbytery we have one new church and four new church development projects to go with our other four established churches. Needless to say, I have been learning a lot about New Church Development (NCD). Within the last year my family and I moved to a new city called Ríonegro, outside of Medellín, to start working with a group with the hope of developing into a church. In the Cumberland Presbyterian Church we have three levels of NCD. When you first start meeting you are considered a
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group. After a time of growth and sustaining as a group you become a mission or mission point. The final step, after continuing to sustain, is to become a church. This is a process that can take years. Our group has started as a bible study every Sunday morning. We worship, study, and many times even eat lunch together. We also have an English bible study every Tuesday night. We are in the process of starting a youth group, women’s ministry, and family events. I even meet with one family individually on Wednesdays in a time of discipleship. This family is completely new to church and they want to know more and study so they can understand in our studies with the others. So what have I learned? A few things…first, stay open! You never know who or what God will put in your path when you are doing Kingdom work. We moved into a new house so that we would have space for our group. For the first week, a teenager sat in front of our window playing his guitar. After several days, I told Jessica I was going to go
outside and talk to this young man. The window he chose to sit under was to our living room. I went out there and said, “Hey!” He nicely responded. I said, “You like to play guitar, don’t you?” He said, “Yes, Sir.” I said, “We have a group that meets on Sunday’s for a Bible study. You should come and play music for us.” He is now a part of our group and plays for us every week. You never know! The second thing I learned is not much different from any new program within a church. You have to have patience. There are high weeks and low weeks. The point is to build relationships and never stop loving the people in the group. Some times we have 25 people and sometimes we have 15. Don’t be discouraged. One week, when I felt tired and had a negative mindset, I heard the group talking and they said they love how they feel like they are with family when they were here. Wow, that’s the goal isn’t it? Even when it is hard we must be patient and remember this isn’t an overnight process.
The third thing I learned is that when church is in your house, it adds another challenge. Our twoyear-old was throwing one of those fits only someone in their “terrible two’s” can do one Sunday morning. Why? She didn’t understand whey she couldn’t go downstairs to church without pants. Not a problem you usually have at church. But seriously, there can be an extra stress when you live at church. In Colombia, we have a problem that seems to be opposite of the States. We have many opportunities or projects and people to do them, but no resources. In the States there are resources, but not many new projects or people starting churches. This is something I always wrestle with. I would like to encourage you to take the step in the adventure of NCD. Whether it is a project at home or helping the projects outside of the States with resources to continue their hard work! May God continue to bless you in your adventures! MM
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M I S S I O N A R Y M E S S E N G E R 11
In 2018, Focus Features released a movie entitled Won’t You Be My Neighbor, a documentary about the long running television program Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. The movie documentary follows the television career of Fred Rogers and how his thirty-minute program impacted multiple generations of children. Through personal interactions with individuals from all walks of life and the use of hand puppets in the “Land of Make Believe,” Fred Rogers wanted to help children through the different stages of life. Each program focused on a particular theme such as grief, conflict, the first day of school, divorce, or how to manage feelings such as fear, anger, and happiness.
Won’t You Be My Neighbor? RE-IMAGINING EVANGELISM By T. J. Malinoski
As an adult who grew up watching Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, I can see now there was a spiritual dimension to the program. Not until years later did I learn Fred Rogers was an ordained minister. He graduated from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and was ordained by the Presbyterian Church as an evangelist. While growing up, I cannot recall him ever identifying himself as a Christian or minister on the show, his approach to life and the content of the show was his way of sharing the gospel; his way of sharing God’s assurance, acceptance and love. This is good news for those of us who would rather hide the discomfort, pressure, uncertainty, and practice of evangelism under the ecclesiastical bed where it can collect the dust of evangelical stereotypes; sweaty, Bible thumping, judgmental, finger pointing, Christians. Under the bed is where the monsters hide. Fred Rogers’ way of sharing the gospel can help us move past our preconceptions of evangelism; there is no Christian theology with a unique claim on faith-sharing. Looking at the way in which Fred Rogers shared the gospel gives us the opportunity to re-imagine how we too can express our vulnerability, needs, longings, joys, and aspirations in authentic ways. When we hear a great song, finish an excellent book, watch an engaging movie, travel on a fantastic vacation, or have a wonderful visit with friends or family, we share with others about our experience. Our friends, family, neighbors and coworkers accept, and often appreciate, when we share these experiences with them. We are sharing something that is significant and important to us. The overwhelming love of God we experience daily is something similar. Yes, the love of God is deeper than a song, a book, a movie, travel, or a visit, yet we can be a bit reluctant to express this deepness to another. The uniqueness of the overwhelming love of God speaks to the heart of what Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood tries to accomplish in a children’s program. The common struggles and sufferings we have, grief, guilt, anger, and loneliness, do not have to overtake us. Being vulnerable is a feeling we have all experienced. To cut through the hypocrisy of being strong and being right allows us to be the humans we are created to be. We happen to be recipients of good news and we know of places and persons where trust can be built and where agendas and scripts are not necessary or needed. We are always in places where hospitality can be practiced and our stories of God’s reality can be shared. So we can simply ask ourselves: Can I identify with those who are experiencing feelings of grief, guilt, anger, or loneliness? Can I speak to wounded people? How can I speak about Jesus in fresh, authentic, and unexpected ways? Where can I ask another, “Won’t you be my neighbor?” MM
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CONGREGATIONAL MINISTRY
LISA COOK
As a newly ordained minister, the question made me cringe because I never knew what the person asking was expecting in return. Was there a right or wrong answer to this question? As I stepped further into this unique call, I began to fully understand that this “church” I was serving did not fit into any usual molds. This church has no walls. Membership is fluid and ever-changing. There is not one member of this church who is not experiencing some sort of crisis or personal struggle. What does evangelism look like in this context? What if I get it wrong? “Do you preach the good news to the people, Pastor?” Over the past five plus years, I have lived out this unique call, I have loved this unique call, and I have learned much from this unique call. There have been successes and celebrations. There have been failures and disappointments. Relationships have been built, love has been given (and received) in abundance. Forgiveness has been offered, views have been changed, and minds have been expanded. I believe God uses others often to communicate with us. One day a friend of mine delivered a message from God that I really needed to hear. I needed to hear it so I could be at peace about that cringe-worthy question and my role as “evangelist” to the unique community God has called me to serve. “Do you preach the good news to the people?” Now, whenever I am asked this question, I use the words my friend shared with me that day as an answer: “I preach the good news to the people all the time! And when forced, I use words.”
Just about every definition of “evangelism” that I could find indicates it involves some kind of “public preaching or witness.” This automatically brings to mind someone standing on a street corner, yelling at others about salvation and damnation and asking if we “know Jesus Christ.”
Evangelism is not just “sharing” the good news with people. Evangelism is also “being” the good news. So, roll up your sleeves and get to work my fellow evangelists! Sacred Sparks serves about 50-75 people on average (about 30-40 on a weekly basis.) Think in terms of numbers on the roll (50-75) and weekly attendance (30-40). This ministry has been called to be relational first and foremost and to be a constant and judgment free presence in their life, offering in some small way the love and grace that we experience through our relationship with Christ.
We see this in movies, we read about this in books, and sometimes we see this play out in real life. It is fair to say this idea of evangelism works for some; and for others, it can be very uncomfortable, which may be why the word, “evangelism,” has gotten a bad rap over the years.
Our main ministry component is our weekly laundry and lunch day. We serve 30-40 people on average each week and have been doing so for the past five years on donations only. It costs $250-$300 each week to provide laundry services to our friends, this includes supplies and lunch.
As soon as I began serving men and women experiencing homelessness and extreme poverty in Nashville, Tennessee, through Sacred Sparks Ministry, I started getting the question: “Do you preach the good news to the people you serve?”
Lisa is the summer chaplain at Montgomery Bell State Park. A weekly worship service is held in the Birthplace Shrine Chapel every Sunday at 9:00am beginning May 26 (the Sunday before Memorial Day) through September 1 (the Sunday before Labor Day). Part of her ministry is to make visits in the park on Saturday afternoon meeting visitors and inviting them to the service the next morning. MM
Other ministry needs can be found on the blog site www.sacredsparksministry.wordpress.com.
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ANNOUNCING NEW CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN MISSIONARIES TO EUROPE
Several years ago, the Cumberland Presbyterian Church opened new mission points in Spain and France. These first Cumberland Presbyterian congregations in Europe were the result of Colombian migration to Europe. Colombians make up the largest Latin American immigrant group in Spain, with almost 150,000 Colombians. As a result of the Colombian migration several important things happened, some of these Colombian immigrants had connections to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and one of our churches in Cali started developing these connections in Europe. The Renacer Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Cali, a church with almost 650 active members, began to send their church’s leadership on mission trips to Spain and France to develop churches. Within just a few years groups were formed in Madrid, Banyeres, and Zaragoza in Spain, and in Lyon in France. During this time eight people who are participants in these groups expressed a desire to be pastors. There are currently eight Cumberland Presbyterian candidates for the ministry in Europe. Rev. Wilson Lopez and his wife Diana (also an ordained Cumberland Presbyterian minister) felt God calling them to serve as missionaries in Spain. Wilson is the senior pastor of the Renacer CP Church and Diana is an associate pastor. They were instrumental in establishing the work in Europe. When they first started working in Spain, taking short mission trips, they did not realize that God was also moving them in a new ministry direction. Wilson and Diana felt God’s call to missionary service and have been endorsed as CP missionaries. They will move to Spain in early 2020. Their responsibilities will be to work with these different congregations and look at starting more churches. They will also be heavily involved in leadership development.
Wilson and Diana Lopez, Marcela and Valery By Lynn Thomas 14 M I S S I O N A R Y M E S S E N G E R
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Wilson and Diana have two daughters that will also move with them to Spain, Marcela and Valery. Before they can go to Spain they need to raise $40,500 for set-up expenses, which includes deputation expenses, plane tickets, legal expenses, a car, and furniture. Also, the Stott-Wallace Missionary Offering Fund will need to be at a level where it can sustain this additional missionary salary. Please pray for the Lopez family. Please consider making a contribution to their setup fund (project #34041). And, please be a faithful supporter of all the CP missionaries by making contributions to the Stott-Wallace Missionary Offering Fund (project #34054). MM
CONGREGATIONAL MINISTRY
OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE By Kristi Launsbury As the weather begins to warm-up, the thought of planning vacations and other trips come to mind. Is your church or youth group looking to take a mission trip? We are ecumenical partners with the following ministries. Please prayerfully consider working with one of these groups. Beth-El Farmworker Ministry–This ministry, near Tampa, Florida, was begun by a small group of Cumberland Presbyterians in 1976. Now, working with two PC(USA) presbyteries and Grace Presbytery (CPC), the facilities have grown to encompass 27 acres of several ministries to include a worshiping community, health and wellness care, dental care and hunger relief. Their motto, “Feeding the Mind, Spirit, and Body of the farm-working community and our neighbors in need, through opportunities for hunger relief, education, healthcare and spiritual growth” is reflected throughout this ministry. The Beth-El Farmworker Ministry Hunger Relief initiative supports 500 to 700 families weekly with essential products that promote healthy living. Rev. Johan Daza represents the Missions Ministry Team (MMT) and serves on the board. Opportunities to serve include Vacation Bible School, distributing food, sorting donations, yard work and maintenance/ building repairs. Groups can stay on the grounds for a minimal fee. For more information visit beth-el.org or email outreach@beth-el.org. Coalition of Appalachian Ministry (CAM) – CAM, located at the foothills of the Smoky Mountains in an economically challenged community, representing five reformed traditions. Steeped in Appalachian tradition and history, CAM strives to make a positive impact networking with church and community, to provide educational and service opportunities for the people of the Appalachian area. The Craft Cabin
Outlet is one of several ministries which provides a place for local crafters throughout Appalachia to sell their handcrafted items. Those working in the area are invited to stay at the Weller Cabin which is adjacent to the Craft Cabin. The CAM Volunteer Program seeks skilled and semi-skilled volunteers to assist developing grassroots organizations to work toward social, economic and political justice; provide medical assistance; improve housing conditions; and improve education. Rev. Michael Sharpe serves in leadership for the board along with several other Cumberland Presbyterians. For more information visit appalachianministry.org. National Farm Worker Ministry (NFWM)–NFWM brings together national denominations, religious orders and congregations, regional groups and concerned individuals to act with the farm workers to achieve fundamental change in their living and working conditions. Rev. Joy Warren serves on the board as well as provides leadership as a “People of faith and conscience supporting farm workers as they organize for justice.” Opportunities to serve include giving financially, using the “Union Label Shopping Guide” to purchase products that benefit farm workers, advocating for farm worker equity and justice, and celebrating National Farm Worker Awareness week. Campaigns include Wendy’s (refusal to join CIW’s Fair Food Program), Vuse e-cigarette (freedom from retaliation in the workplace) and Equitable Food Initiative Certification (Assurances of Safety and Food Quality). For more information visit nfwm.org. Project Vida–A joint ministry of the CPC and the PC(USA) located in El Paso, Texas, just three blocks from the Mexican border, provides an opportunity to serve more than 1,500 families. Project Vida strives to identify the vision of the community for its future and to develop community-based structures and programs to implement that vision considering the needs and direction of the wider society. Project Vida has built affordable low-income rental housing; built clinics that provide high quality, low cost healthcare; created a homelessness prevention and recovery program; developed a curriculumbased early childhood education program; offering after-school enrichment; and provided economic development initiatives. You can become involved by donating, becoming an advocate and volunteering. For more information visit pvida.net. If you are unsure of where to serve, please contact Rev. Kristi Lounsbury, Director of Congregational Ministries for help in leading you and your group to the appropriate ministry at klounsbury@cumberland.org or 901-276-4572 ext.263. MM S U M M E R 2 019
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UNITE!
2019
By Maddie Taylor, Colonial Cumberland Presbyterian Church
Youth Evangelism Conference
For
the past two years, as I served on the West Tennessee Youth Ministry Planning Council (YMPC) and planned for the Youth Evangelism Conference (YEC) in 2019, I wondered what kind of conference it would be. Not having attended YEC in 2013, I was uncertain of what to expect.
As I drove into the parking lot of Tusculum Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Nashville, Tennessee, on a Friday night in February to setup, I experienced an overwhelming sense of peace for what I felt was going to be a tumultuous weekend; and boy was I right! It was a go-go-go weekend that left our cars’ gas tanks empty but our souls full to the brim. From the incredible preaching by Reverend Lisa Cook, to the fun-filled mixer with bouncy obstacle-courses, to the mission work in inner-city 16 M I S S I O N A R Y M E S S E N G E R
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Nashville, to the crazy-name games played before worship, to the in-depth small group studies, YEC created an environment welcoming to the most serious and silliest moments youth and adults are likely never to forget. The weekend took on a life of its own, teaching many about evangelism and its power while simultaneously evangelizing in its own way to those in attendance. God’s presence was felt in the music sung by the praise band, in the laughter shared between old and new friends, and in the faces of those we met while serving the Nashville community. I don’t think there will ever be another YEC 2019. I don’t mean that there will never be a YEC as good, but this conference had the power to be as special to every individual in attendance in a way that cannot be replicated. The Youth Evangelism Conference in 2022 will be its own entity and one
which will create its own story and impact. For YEC 2019, the impact was felt and it is still being acted on today which, for me, is incredible to think about. The young people were attentive to the words shared and even more excited to act on what they had heard. It was truly a blessing to watch the eyes of my peers light up as they began to understand what evangelism really is. Most importantly, they could start to make an impact in their own communities the very day they return home. I have never seen so many empowered not only to act on their knowledge of evangelism but do so with the love of Christ behind their every move. I am forever grateful for the laughs, the perspective, and the love that I experienced over the course of YEC 2019. It will be a weekend that I will continually look back on to remind myself that this world is in good hands: it is in the hands of Christ’s beloved and empowered people. MM
YEC was definitely an unforgettable experience. My group was given the opportunity to go and talk to people from a different community, and it allowed us to see how a simple conversation can change someone’s day. As I grew up evangelism was always just about spreading God’s word but this weekend I learned that evangelism is more than that, it’s living his word as well and showing his love to others. Natalia Rodriguez, First Cumberland Presbyterian Church Chattanooga
I really appreciated the focus on showing Christ’s love through building relationships and by serving others. I thought that Lisa’s observation about simply being present in a person’s life as a way to show love is something that the kids (and even we, as adults) don’t always understand. Presence and support can have such a profound impact.
YEC for me was a ton of fun. I had the most fun that I’ve had in a while. I would do the whole weekend over again if I could. I felt much closer to God being surrounded by a bunch of my own peers with the same beliefs. Reagan Nunley, First Cumberland Presbyterian Church Chattanooga
YEC helped me grow in my faith, and helped strengthen my connection with God in so many ways whether it be through the speakers, games, or the volunteer opportunities. Kiley Crenshaw, Welti Cumberland Presbyterian Church
Sarah Quatttrochi, First Cumberland Presbyterian Church Chattanooga S U M M E R 2 019
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2019 YOUNG WOMEN'S MINISTRY B y C a r d e li a H o w e ll - Di a m o n d
The Young Women’s retreat was held on January 25-27, 2019 at Camp Clark Williamson. This retreat is an annual retreat focused on the needs of young women from recent high school graduates to 30 years of age. Our theme this year was Proverbs 19:21 “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”
The retreat included times of worship, time for games, times for rest, and of course food! We looked into what it means to follow the Lord’s purpose, especially when the desires of our hearts don’t line up with that purpose. (Spoiler alert: the faster we can get our hearts on track with God, the better for all of us involved!)
I was blessed to not only attend this retreat, but to be the keynote speaker and to share with these young women. I shared messages from Proverbs 19:21, 1 Kings 17 where Elijah is told to go hide at the wadi and he waits there watching the water dry up for the Lord’s direction, and Luke 24:13-35, the Road to Emaus. Throughout these messages we learned of God’s persistence and our call to be alert to God’s movement.
I want to thank the Reverend Abby Prevost and the Young Women’s planning group for all the work they did to make this a special retreat. I also want to share some good news with you all. All of the resources from this retreat (breakout groups, prayer stations, and activities) will be available on our website so that you can plan your own Young Women’s retreat (or any age women’s retreat) using these resources! All you need to do is go to https://cpcmc.org/ mmt/wmresources-current and look for the Young Women’s 2019 Retreat. MM
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2019 LATINA MINISTRY
B y C a r d e li a H o w e ll - Di a m o n d
Cumberland Presbyterian Women’s Ministry continues to grow in its efforts to encourage all women to become active participants in Women’s Ministry. One of the ways we are striving to do this is through our ongoing ministry with Latino Cumberland Presbyterian Women. We help sponsor an annual retreat for Latino women which brings together women from different states to join in celebrating their faith and becoming more connectional as Cumberland Presbyterians. Here are some words on this year’s retreat experience from Linda Trejo-Todd, a participant from First Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Houston, Texas. “I was excited to attend the Latina Retreat at Camp McDowell in Alabama in March. The gathering was a multigenerational gathering of women from Spanish speaking congregations from Memphis and Alabama. The countries of origin were varied: Chile, Costa Rica, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and Colombia. These are all women now attending Cumberland Presbyterian churches. Although most of the retreat was conducted in Spanish, the support team of English speakers also participated.
Pastor Diann White, Francia Ortiz, and Lidia Aguilar conducted the Worship Services and the presentations. The experience of these women was diverse but we were all united by the language of faith. The theme of the Cumberland Presbyterian denomination this year is “Here I am, Send Me.” One of the sessions developed this idea of being open to God’s calling and our response with the gifts we have been given by God. The basis was from Romans 12. Three of the women from the retreat will be visiting Spain and France this summer to meet with the women from Cumberland Presbyterian congregations. We were given an opportunity to send encouraging messages on decorated cards and video greetings for our fellow Cumberland Presbyterian women in Spain and France. The circle of women will continue to be widened to encompass all of us. I was grateful for the opportunity to meet others in our denomination.” This event is life giving and nurturing to the Latino women in our denomination and to all others who participate. Next year’s retreat will be held in March. Be on the lookout for more details and dates. MM S U M M E R 2 019
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SECOND MILE PROJECTS FOR MISSIONS
Missionary Cars Project #34041 The Missions Ministry Team has new missionaries to Brazil. They just arrived. We plan to deploy new missionaries to Spain in early 2020. We are also working with another missionary couple that will deploy to Guatemala early 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 have to have 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 20 MISSI ONARY MESSE N GE R
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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: Amount Needed from Second Mile: $42,000 CONTRIBUTIONS: Please make check payable to the Missions Ministry Team indicating for project #34041 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.
All 365 Days Of The Year
Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children, and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:1-2 (NIV)
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POLICY: THE MISSIONARY MESSENGER is published for the Cumberland Presbyterian Church by the Missions Ministry Team. Opinions expressed by the individual writers are not necessarily those of the publisher or the editors. THE MISSIONARY MESSENGER does not accept advertising. ADDRESS CHANGE: send new address and label from a recent newspaper to the Circulation Secretary at the address below. THE MISSIONARY MESSENGER (ISSN 08868344), (Publication permit number: PE14376) is published quarterly by the Missions Ministry Team of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,8207 Traditional Place, Cordova, TN 38016-7414. Periodicals postage paid at Memphis, Tenn. The magazine is sent free of charge to each household in the denomination. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: THE MISSIONARY MESSENGER, 8207 Traditional Place, Cordova, TN 38016-7414.
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.