WINTER
WINTER 2016
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THE MISSIONARY MESSENGER MAGA ZINE OF THE CUMBERL AND PRESBY TERIAN CHURCH
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to GIFT the KING OFFERING
EXPLORING NEW EXPLORI N G LANDS
Enlarging The Cumberland NEW Presbyterian Tent LANDS GIFT TO THE KING OFFERING
+ Enlarging The Cumberland Presbyterian Tent
N O. 4 LIVES ARE CHANGED IN GUATEM AL A S ON THE ROAD TO MEDELLIN l MISSION TRIP S OF ALL SHAPES AND SIZES
WHAT DOE S IT TAKE TO BE A CHURCH STARTER 9 DO YOU TRUST ME? X THE Y COME FROM NORTH SOUTH E A ST AND WE ST
Vol. 5
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GIFT to the
KING OFFERING
Enlarging the CP Tent Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. Isaiah 54:2 (NIV)
CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH MISSIONS MINISTRY TEAM
8207 Traditional Place Cordova, TN 38016-7414 901.276.4572 For more information and resources visit our website at http://cpcmc.org/mmt/
GIFT TO THE KING Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. Isaiah 54:2 (NIV)
Enlarging the Cumberland Presbyterian Tent: Promoting new churches in the United States
Trivia: Do we have a Cumberland Presbyterian Church in North Carolina? Do we have a Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Kansas? West Virginia? Ohio? Nevada?
The Answer: Not yet, but we can! The United States is becoming one of the fastest growing mission fields in the world. This statement reads like a fantastic headline of a news report; however, there is a growing number within the United States population that have no religious affiliation. The temptation is to give in, give up and turn one’s attention to other areas of the world that may be more receptive to the gospel of Jesus Christ. However, a narrow focus on sharing the gospel can ignore entire groups of people who are hurting and burdened in this complex world when we have an experience of grace and love to share. The Cumberland Presbyterian Church is called into being and exists to reach out to those who have not experienced God’s grace through and in Jesus Christ. We can accomplish this call of spreading the gospel of Christ only through the diligent desire to extend God’s kingdom in the lives of individuals and communities. Starting new churches is one vital means of outreach. Starting new churches was the method of the apostles in the New Testament and it is also a primary response to the Great Commission.
Currently, we have Cumberland Presbyterian churches in 24 states. Of those 24 states, 12 have 3 or less congregations. As an entire denomination, approximately 56% of our churches are located in the states of Kentucky and Tennessee and approximately 68% of our total churches are located in just 4 states. We have the potential for growth, to enlarge our tent, and to become a denomination which aspires to be faithful to the Great Commission. Your giving to this year’s Gift to the King Offering will directly promote efforts to begin new churches. Your gifts will provide demographic studies to help determine where a new church has the best opportunity to serve individuals and communities. It will secure a stipend to the leaders of these new efforts. Your participation in the Gift to the King Offering will pay for rent and utilities, send leaders to church starting training, purchase advertisement to promote new groups, furnish a space conducive for worship and study, and buy Christian education materials. Your giving to the Gift to the King Offering will directly impact lives and bring the message of Jesus Christ to those who have no religious affiliation. Through your giving, the Cumberland Presbyterian Church will be able to enlarge its tent and to stretch open the scriptures that have transformed our lives to others. We can expand into parts of the United States that we have not explored and to answer the diligent desire to extend God’s Kingdom into the lives of individuals and communities. MM
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M ISS I O N A RY M ESS E N G E R 1
Contents 6 What Does It Take To Be A Church Starter?
8 Five Crucial Steps to Start a Church
10 Do You Trust Me?
11 On The Road To Medellin 14 Mission Trips of all Shapes and Sizes
16 I’ll Never Be The Same 19 They Come From North, South, East & West
MM Missionary Messenger W I N T E R 2016
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On The Road to
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PERSPECTIVES by Milton L. Ortiz
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hristmas is a time when we celebrate the coming of the Messiah and are reminded of the gift of universal salvation. Isaiah is one of the most Christ centered prophets from the Old Testament, and his name actually means “The Lord is salvation.” While the message on chapter 55 is an invitation in regards to the grace of God to all nations, chapter 54 is a call to the people of God to prepare for what will happen.
In order to help God’s people to understand God’s message, Isaiah describes in chapter 54 the image of a relationship between a grieving wife and a glorious husband. This wife represents Jerusalem, a barren woman and a sorrowing widow. The husband is our In order to help God’s people God, the protector, the eternal. The grieving wife is called to understand God’s by God to do something very special: “Clear lots of ground for your tents! Make your tents message, Isaiah describes in large. Spread out! Think big! Use plenty of rope, drive the chapter 54 the image of a tent pegs deep. You’re going to need lots of elbow room for your growing family. You’re gorelationship between a ing to take over whole nations; you’re going to resettle abangrieving wife and a glorious doned cities.” (Isaiah 54:2-3 The Message).
husband.
Salvation is offered to anyone who will answer God’s call. Christmas is the coming of salvation to humanity. We are the new Jerusalem, the Church, the wife; we still are called to spread out and think big. As a denomination, a question we need to ask ourselves is where is our new frontier here in the USA? How much do we want to grow and expand in those states where there are not Cumberland Presbyterian churches? I dream of a time when Cumberland Presbyterian churches will be found in every state of the Union. Salvation has come as a child, we the church should prepare for what is coming in the following years, because it is going to be big! Let’s celebrate Christmas this year with the anticipation of the good news being shared, new Churches being planted, new ministries being established and the Kingdom of God growing in our nation. Let’s participate in this year’s Gift to the King abundantly! MM
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It’s Christmas Again!
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W I N TER 2016
MISSIONARY MESSENGER {
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MISSIONS MINISTRY TEAM OF THE CUMBERL AND PRESBY TERIAN CHURCH
ART DIRECTOR Sowgand Sheikholeslami
EDITORS Milton Ortiz ext:234 Pam Phillips-Burk ext:203 Lynn Thomas ext:261 T.J. Malinoski ext:232 Johan Daza ext:202
COPY EDITOR Jinger Ellis ext:230 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 PRINTER A1 Printing Memphis, Tennessee MEMBER • Associated Church Press
Listening to the Spirit SERVING WITH CONVICTION by Pam Phillips-Burk
Feb. 10-11, 2017 4-H Center, Little Rock, Arkansas
We will LISTEN for the Holy Spirit’s direction, and develop plans for returning to our presbyteries to SERVE with conviction. In an effort to help Boards of Missions in their work and ministry, the Missions Ministry Team and elected team members is offering a two-day retreat where committee chairpersons and/or representatives can learn from each other, hear what is working in other presbyteries, and support each other in our efforts of serving God and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Listening to the Spirit – Serving with Conviction is a two-day retreat on February 10-11, 2017, at the 4-H Center in Little Rock, Arkansas. Cost will range between $103-$130, depending upon room type, and transportation will be the responsibility of the attendee. We are encouraging every presbytery to send one or more representatives from their Board of Missions to this event in Little Rock. Participants can register online at www. cpcmc.org/mmt-retreat, which will help us make adequate plans. A presbyterial Board of Missions committee has a long list of responsibilities under its care. The list below is taken from the Presbytery Manual of Operation, page 10.
• Develop new churches • R edevelop established churches • Develop programs of evangelism and church growth • Establish multiple church parishes • Make recommendations concerning the establishing and dissolving of pastoral relationships • Make recommendation concerning moderators for vacant churches • Aid pulpit and search committees • Aid churches that are experiencing disharmony among its members, or other serious difficulties • Publicize and promote the mission programs of
the General Assembly’s Missions Ministry Team • Maintain contact with the mission committees in particular churches, and provide them with information concerning missions materials and other resources • Serve as a channel of communication between the General Assembly’s Board of Missions and the Committees on Missions in the particular churches • Sponsor seminars, mission fairs, and workshops for a particular church, a cluster of churches, or the churches of the presbytery-at-large • Advise local churches concerning the organization of volunteer work groups
Not every presbytery attends to every task on this list. In addition, some presbyteries have determined that the list of tasks is too much for one committee and have created two or more committees to handle all of these responsibilities. Each presbytery’s Board of Missions is unique to its context. Regardless of how a presbytery or committee decides to handle all the work and ministry required – it can be overwhelming. So, let us all work together, learn from each other, support one another, and pray for the work that we do in missions. MM W I N T E R 2 016 M I S S I O N A R Y M E S S E N G E R 5
What Does It Take To Be
A Church Starter? by T.J. Malinoski
“Proficient ”, “seasoned”, “expert ”, “well-qualified”, “brilliant ”, “accomplished”, and “certified” are just a few words in which we often think in terms of describing the qualifications of a person who is starting a new church. Qualifications and expectations are lofty even for leaders within our current Cumberland Presbyterian churches. What does it take to be a church starter in the Cumberland Presbyterian denomination? While there are books written extensively covering the qualifications of a church starter that extrapolate the finer points, here are just a few attributes needed to help one along in his or her ministry. These five attributes are not inclusive but are relevant to help a church starter to be successful in starting new Cumberland Presbyterian churches. 6 M I S S I O N A R Y M E S S E N G E R W I N T E R 2 016
Courage Courage is needed to try and begin something new. Each and every new church start has unique circumstances, attributes, and challenges. In many cases with a new church development, a group of people has yet to be gathered for the purpose of starting a new church. The church starter has to begin with something that sounds good in one’s mind, develop it on paper and then the challenge is to make it a reality. It takes a courageous person to take this leap of faith into new frontiers. However, the courage attribute is also rewarding. No one else is attempting to start a church just like yours. The group you are trying to form will be as unique as the people involved. Courage is always coupled with excitement as the church starter enters new frontiers.
Vision To have an idea or an image of what church can look like takes vision and imagination. A church starter wants to create a sacred space where people can spiritually grow and mature in the Christian faith. The vision is shared with the larger faith community to discern if that vision has the makings of becoming a reality. You may not necessarily be the one who cast the initial vision but must be one who believes and feels called to bring that idea into purpose while inviting others to share in that purpose.
Self-motivation The church starter has to be an ambitious person who is able and willing to see a new church development becoming a church in the future. The pastorate is a lonely profession yet the church starter is even lonelier. Currently, there are not a lot of church starters in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, so you have to be comfortable with working on your own without have the luxury of depending upon staff or instant affirmation that you are doing a good job. The self-motivator is driven by the success, is eager to try new things, and is opportunistic and energetic towards starting a new church.
Openness Having an openness and flexibility is an important attribute for a church starter. An openness is necessary as the achievement of goals, objectives, plans and growth are not automatic.
You also need to be receptive when serving and working with other people. You must also have a willingness to work with other people and the ability to listen to those involved with the new church development. Having a true sensitivity and loving passion towards those who have not made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ is crucial.
Sense of humor Starting a new church is a great challenge with many rewards. There will be difficult times that come with the growing pains and much of it may be out of the church starter’s control. The church starter benefits from having a sense of humor in terms of putting the labor, toil, and conflicts into perspective. A new church does not come without complications and having a sense of humor can ease the tension and growing pains that come with starting a new endeavor. If you find yourself resonating with the attributes listed above and have a yearning towards starting new churches to reach new people, the Missions Ministry Team invites you to attend the Church Starters Retreat and Conference in 2017. The retreat and conference is for those who are interested in Cumberland Presbyterian new church developments and for those who want to start new churches. You will be able to meet our current church starters, hear about their efforts and learn from their experiences. The retreat and conference will also provide information about the various methods of starting new churches, give guidance for presbyterial board of missions and task forces and help individuals discern if becoming a church starter is for you. MM W I N T E R 2 016
M ISS I O N A RY M ESS E N G E R 7
FIVE
Crucial Steps to Start A Church by Johan Daza
1 2 3 4 5
Receive the Vision
God gives individuals the vision to start new churches. As a Christian led by the Holy Spirit, you are invited by Christ to see God’s plans of love and grace for all human beings. This step requires discernment, prayer, passion, and disposition to follow God’s vision. Remember, all Christians are called to share the good news of Christ and make disciples. Share the Vision Once you have clarity about God’s vision, this vision must be shared with others (family, friends, church small group, church’s session, etc.) in order to measure and confirm God’s vision in a sense of community. During this step, God brings others into the process of discernment and receptivity to the vision. Bring Your Plans Into God’s Vision - Planning Planting a church is not an individual action; it requires different levels of participation, support, and leadership. Making plans to set goals, to seek guidance from God to find the right leadership, location, and volunteers must be centered in God’s vision. This step is an opportunity to design the new church in detail. Planning requires bringing God’s vision into organized and measurable decisions. You Can Do It! - Action You have been immersed in God’s mission field. The practice of the vision in tangible ways in the mission field is the way to start. You find yourself as a Christ-centered person sharing the good news of Christ, loving others, and making disciples by establishing lasting relationships with them. God, you, and the new disciples together form a core group willing to make more new disciples and discern about forming an intentional community of faith. Once you start, it becomes something ongoing with no end. Strengthen the New Church Spiritual growth is the result of living God’s vision through ongoing discipleship and evangelism. By equipping the saints for the ministry, and forming lasting relationships within the community of faith, The new church will naturally grow and become a self-sustainable church that fulfills God’s vision with sacrificial love. MM
For more information contact Rev. T.J. Malinoski at TMalinoski@cumberland.org or Rev. Johan Daza at JDaza@cumberland.org. 8 M I S S I O N A R Y M E S S E N G E R W I N T E R 2 016
A Daybreak Memento! by Johan Daza
At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them. But he said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.” And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea. Luke 4:42-44 (NIV)
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rom time to time the Missions Ministry Team receives calls, emails, and Facebook messages from Cumberland Presbyterians asking, “Is there a Cumberland Presbyterian Church in X location where I am right now?” Our common response is, “Unfortunately, we do not have a Cumberland Presbyterian Church in that city, area, or region.” The conversation can be done right there. However, sometimes we ask the awkward question. “Are you willing to discern about the possibility to start a Cumberland Presbyterian ministry there where you are?” Sometimes there is not an answer, sometimes we receive an immediate answer saying, “Oh no, I don´t feel I am ready for something like that!” It is true, we do not have Cumberland Presbyterian churches in many and different places around the US; however, we have many Cumberland Presbyterians spread throughout the country. What if we are at the gates of a daybreak time for Cumberland Presbyterians? The Cumberland Presbyterian Church has been in the same geographical area for a long time. In the last 5 years we have had the blessing to start new churches where we did not have a presence before.
It is challenging to explore new possibilities, new destinations, and new frontiers if we think we need to stay within the bounds of the regional concentration of Cumberland Presbyterian churches of the presbyteries throughout the US.
The text of Luke does not provide explanation of why Jesus was at daybreak in a solitary place. However, it looks like Jesus is planning something and is in need for privacy to discern and pray. When people find him, they asked him to stay with them, trying to prevent him to leave; but his answer can result in a change of paradigm for us as Cumberland Presbyterians living in the US. “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to other towns also, because that is why I was sent.” Dear Cumberland Presbyterian family, maybe we need to have a daybreak private time to plan, discern, pray, and move forward. Daybreak is here and we must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God to other towns, cities, and states, because that is why we were sent. The Missions Ministry Team is encouraging individuals, families, churches, and presbyteries to consider the possibility to move beyond the well-known presbyterial bounds, to explore new and exciting places where the Cumberland Presbyterian Church can extend its presence. What if the next call we receive asks the same question? Rather than answering back, “Well, we do not have a presence there”, we answer “You know what, we are starting a new CP ministry in that area, are you willing to join us in that effort?” Daybreak is here CP family; do not let the day get away without moving forward to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ in other towns, cities, and states! MM W I N T E R 2 016 M I S S I O N A R Y M E S S E N G E R 9
Do You T TRUST ME?
here has been a resounding phrase within my head as Lindsey and I continue the process of raising money and preparing our family for mission work in Brazil, “Surrender to the process.” It is so easy to have an “end focus” mentality. We want results and we want them right now, but that is typically not how God works. Surrendering to a simple pursuit of God’s will for our life inevitably causes us to step into situations and opportunities with very little if no clarity at all.
by Jacob Sims
It is only natural for Lindsey and I to ask questions like, “When are we going to get there? How are we going to learn this or do that?” As we continue to ask those questions, it makes me think of a scene from Disney’s Aladdin where Aladdin is on the flying carpet and he reaches his hand out and asks Jasmine, “Do you trust me?” Offering our bodies as a living sacrifice is simply pushing aside our personal agendas, and stepping out onto a path that either can not be seen or just does not make logical sense and maybe even saying as we step, “Geronimo!” Surrendering to the process is really nothing more than being passionate for God, intimate with God, and reaching our hand out in authentic commitment as he asks, “Do you trust me?” This is not a simple process and it really can only be done with the Holy Spirit’s enablement. In doing so we will be one step closer to God truly using us as a connectional church to do amazing things. Wherever you may be in your spiritual journey, surrender to the process. God is reaching his hand out to all of us and asking, “Do you trust me?” God’s will for all of our lives is really simple - glorify God in all that we do - but you can’t do that if you don’t first surrender to the process by loving God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength and trusting God with complete faith. I’m expecting great things from God in Brazil as well as within the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, but I must ask, “Do you trust Him?” MM
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On the Road to
MEDELLIN by Patrick Wilkerson
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early every weekend I load up my family in a rental car stuffed with our luggage, baby supplies, a pack and play, some toys, a cooler filled with road food, and presentation materials. I get in the vehicle, buckle my seat belt, look at my wife and sing, “On the road again, just can’t wait to get on the road again!” What a crazy time in our journey. We sometimes tease each other how someday when we are retired we will sit on our porch drinking coffee and talk about our early missionary days traveling to raise money for our start-up and the Stott-Wallace Missionary Offering Fund. Before our family leaves to go and serve in Medellin, Colombia we have a task that all missionaries in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church have. We must travel to other churches and groups to share about our calling and the work we will be doing in the field. We are to raise our start-up money, which includes our flights, visas, lawyer fees, housing, furniture, a vehicle, and much, much more. On top of this, we are to share about the Stott-Wallace Missionary Offering Fund, which
pays the salary and benefits of all our CP missionaries. The hope is to increase the fund enough to pay our salary for the three years we are deployed. We are essentially doing two fundraisers at the same time. Although this is a tough process, I can not help but be amazed at how God is moving and how people are so loving. Everywhere we go we are greeted with Christian love and excitement. I am astonished at how people give us places to stay, great church meals, spiritual encouragement, and financial support. To all of the churches out there – Thank you for participating in the mission work of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. If you have not yet taken the opportunity, have some of the missionaries come and speak at your church and become involved. I promise that all parties will be blessed! “Give liberally and be ungrudging when you do so, for on this account the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake.” -- Deuteronomy 15:10 (NRSV) MM W I N T E R 2 016
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Bible Study/Devotion by T.J. Malinoski
Luke 1:26-38 NRSV
PREPARATION &
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
The news of having a baby puts you in the mind-set of preparation and anticipation. You have to postpone that dream of a motorcycle, revisit your insurance plan and make room in your home for another family member. A new perspective on the world is just around the corner as you prepare for a new life to enter upon your own. What this new perspective will be is uncertain but you anticipate having your worldview changed. Change is immanent with the announcement of a baby carrying questions like, “What will I have to give up?” “What new things will I have to take on?” “What must I do to get ready for this new one?” Mary must have deliberated on how her life was going to change following the departure of the messenger Gabriel. Exciting and nerve-racking news he leaves behind for Mary to ruminate with. In her immediate future lies preparation (if one truly can prepare) for swollen feet and stomach, and back pain during her time of pregnancy. Soon to follow, she anticipates late night feedings, crying, cooing, exploring, crawling, pulling up, and grabbing hair. And we wonder why Mary “was much perplexed by [Gabriel’s] words and wondered what sort of greeting this might be” (vs. 29). Within the humanity of Mary, we are reminded every season of Advent that God draws close to us but in a different way from any that we can imagine; to live in the flesh and to experience everyday living like we do. This drawing near offers us renewal and gives us hope. Our Savior is coming in the form of a baby. But what must we do to get ready for this new one? Similar to having a new infant entering into our family, we get in a disposition of preparation and anticipation with God, with Mary and with the world for the coming of the Christ Child. In response to the news, we declare with Mary, “Here I am, the servant of God.” And here we are: our bodies - flabby and firm, our activities - full of meaning and purpose or pleasure, our possessions – from our favorite pair of blue jeans to our HD televisions, our attitudes – whether friendly or “Grinchy”, our shortcomings, our accomplishments, our everything, we are servants of God. That God loves us with our limitations and knows that we are experiencing Christmas this year without our loved one, in a new environment or in the same persistent tensions and conflicts of the previous year. For the words of Gabriel that are directed to Mary can also comfort us. God comes to live
ANTICIPATION &
Mother and Child George Stefanescu ¡ 1986
among us, the lover of humanity, bringing life and a vision of glory. For amidst our anger, animosity, pain, and uncertainty, there is joy, determination, patience, hope and a continuous offer of a welcoming place for us to receive forgiveness. Getting ready for the new life of the Christ Child in our lives and
homes is a corporate action. We do it together as a family of God. When Mary receives the good news from Gabriel, she hurries out to the hill country to share her joy. Good news is for sharing and as we prepare and anticipate for the Christ Child, we share with strangers, family and friends. MM
REFLECTION : Holy God, you give us forgiveness of sins through Jesus and welcome us into your family. We belong to you! How amazing is your kindness. May our zeal for you be seen in our prayers, our singing, our attentiveness to your Holy Spirit, and our service to one another. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen. W I N T E R 2 016 M I S S I O N A R Y M E S S E N G E R 13
MISSION TRIPS OF ALL SHAPES AND SIZES by Pam Phillips-Burk
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ave you ever been on a mission trip? Maybe you have never been on a mission trip, but have always wanted to go on one. Mission trips come in all shapes and sizes. They can range from one person to youth groups to cross-generational church groups to presbytery groups to….well, you get the picture. Mission trips can range from a few hours to a week to a short-term experience from a few weeks to maybe 6 months. Trips can be across town or to a neighboring state or halfway around the world. Mission trips can be cleaning up from a natural disaster – like the recent Louisiana flooding. It can be a medical mission trip to Guatemala. It can be a construction mission trip to West Virginia in the Appalachia region. It can be a Vacation Bible school in Choctaw Presbytery or at Beth-El Farm Worker Ministry in Wimauma, Florida. Or mission trips can be a combination of several tasks. Mission trips can be as unique as the people who are involved in them. One might question who is the “giver” and who is a “receiver” of a mission trip. Often times, the one “going” on the mission trip is seen as the “giver” and those who receive the gift of the work done as the “receiver.” While technically or theoretically this might be true, it is not reality. Those who GO on a mission trip receive as much, if not more, as the persons who are being “served” on the mission. That is the beauty and mystery of mission trips – it is hard to determine who receives the greatest blessing. Ask any veteran mission trip go-er!! 14 M I S S I O N A R Y M E S S E N G E R W I N T E R 2 016
One responsibility of the Missions Ministry Team (MMT) is that of missions. The team may organize mission trips of all sorts, such as the upcoming trip to Salvador, Brazil, or last summer’s youth mission trip to Colombia, or an upcoming Women’s Ministry immersion/ mission trip to Mexico. These trips are organized and led by MMT staff members and/or others in the church with experience or expertise in the field. MMT also will “endorse” a mission trip organized by a church, presbytery, or member, whereby the organizer is in communication with a MMT staff person. This endorsement is generally for trips outside the US to a CP mission field. One benefit of an endorsed mission trip is that staff will come alongside a trip organizer in the effort of emergencies outside the US. MMT is also available to communicate through their website, print, and social media mission trips organized within the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, particularly if those trips are open to other participants. In essence, we help “spread the word.” Are you looking for a mission trip opportunity? Visit our website at www.cpcmc.org/mission-trips because there are a couple of trips coming up. Are you an organizer and want to get the word out? Give us a call or email with the details. We are glad to help. If you have never been on a mission trip, make it a priority to get your feet wet this year. Do something close at home. Then branch out a little further each time. Before you know it, you might even be leading a trip of your own. Oh, and by the way, get ready for a blessing! MM
Commitment and Goals
The Life Blood of
Missionaries by Lynn Thomas
The factors that give vitality and life to our mission program is commitment followed by goals. Never underestimate the power of setting a goal to get something done. For both the new and established missionaries commitment has to have goals if they are going to accomplish things that benefit God’s Kingdom. That is true for all of us, our commitment, if it is real, should propel us to set goals that lead to real actions. Our missionaries demonstrate their commitment by setting goals for things that they plan to accomplish. Look at some of the things we are doing right now because of missionary goals. We have a new church building going up in Cambodia. We have a new church development with 60 participants in Guatemala. We have a new hot lunch program in Guatemala serving undernourished children. We have churches growing and maturing in Mexico. We have new men and women in training to be leaders in the Philippines. We have new missionaries preparing to move to the mission field. These and many other things are the result of a missionary’s commitment and concrete goals demonstrating that commitment.
But it doesn’t stop there. Our missionaries can only serve the CP Church if we also have a commitment and set goals. We are asking CP churches, women and men’s groups, Sunday school classes, youth groups, and individuals to make a commitment to our missionaries. We are asking those who are committed to our missionaries to set goals. In order for us to prepare budgets and deploy missionaries in 2017 we need to know the CP Church’s level of support. If your church, your group, or family has set a goal in 2017 for giving to the Stott-Wallace Missionary Offering Fund (our missionary support fund) we would like to know what your goal is so we can make plans. When can we deploy new missionaries? How many missionaries can we have? That depends on the church’s commitment and concrete goals they set to support our missionaries. It helps us plan for missionary placement on the mission field if we know what your giving goal is for 2017. Please let us know by going to our website www.cpcmc.org/mmt/sw, or send us an e-mail or note, and tell us about your StottWallace Missionary Offering support goal for 2017. MM
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M I S S I O N A R Y M E S S E N G E R 15
I’ll Never Be The Same
Lives are changed in Guatemala by Micaiah Tanck
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While the doctors worked at our CP medical clinic in Guatemala, the rest of the team worked at the “Hot Lunch Program.” CP missionary, Anay Ortega, administrates the program. Through it, 15 children come after school to receive assistance with their homework, tutoring, psychological care, and a hot meal. Most children were scared when they first entered the program. They didn’t smile much or give hugs because they came from abusive homes and sad family situations. Since January of 2016, the children are now warm and full of smiles. Each child has gained 8-10 pounds and grown several inches thanks to nutritious lunches. One particular child was new to the program while our team was present. Every afternoon we watched him eat. Slowly. Painstakingly. It was nearly impossible to get him to eat his food. Why? His stomach is so small. After years of poor nutrition and very little food, it pains him to eat a normal meal.
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n July 9, 2016, 11 members of the Scottsboro Cumberland Presbyterian Church boarded a plane and headed to Guatemala City, Guatemala. The goal was to provide dental and eye care, and to work with the children of the “Hot Lunch Program”.
In the course of 4 days, the doctors saw 548 eye patients and 106 dental patients. The eye doctors worked to fit every patient with glasses. Of the hundreds of glasses, dental equipment, toothbrushes, and eye drops supplied, amazingly nothing was seized or taxed by Guatemalan customs.
One of our team members bought ingredients to make peanut butter Rice Krispies treats–a dessert for the kids and a source of protein! At first, this little boy didn’t want any. He asked me if he could just taste a bite. “Of course,” I said. A second later, I looked over and saw him go back into the kitchen and come out with a whole piece of the dessert. He looked at me with a grin on his face and nodded. We were amazed by the ways God is moving in Guatemala through the CP Church. We were inspired by the families and children we worked alongside. And we were grateful for the week we had there. Upon coming back home, one team member summarized our experience, with tears in her eyes, saying, “I’ll never be the same.” MM
One morning a 14-year-old girl came in for eye care. A member of our team described the impact like this: “There was a 14-year-old girl whose smile lit up the room when she saw clearly for the first time. Fourteen years of her life she had never been able to see farther than about 12 to 18 inches away. That was enough to have made the trip more than worthwhile.” Several men walked in with Bibles tucked under their arms, shuffling forward to be fitted for glasses. The doctors would do the exam, find them a pair of glasses, and watch as the men pulled out their Bibles and began to read them out loud. Tears streaming down their faces, these men looked up with sincere gratitude for the ability to read the Living Word of God again. Their hunger for the Word of God was convicting to us. Though most of us have the ability to see, we do not open our Bibles to read them. W I N T E R 2 016
M I S S I O N A R Y M E S S E N G E R 17
YOUNG WOMEN by Pam Phillips-Burk
CP
Women’s Ministry is over 136 years old. Throughout the years it has changed and evolved – different names, different emphases, different structures. One constant thread through the years has been the kinship between women and missions. The same is true for women’s ministries of other mainline denominations.
CP Women’s Ministry is in the midst of a change from a vision that was expressed at the last revision or change in 2002 – that we would continue to evolve and grow into new areas. For many years, there was a nagging concern about the absence of young women from the organized women’s groups in local churches and regions. There has even been puzzlement and a little hand-wringing. After focus groups and workshops at Convention, in light of encouragement for churches and regions to “re-think” young women and their unique situations, and following plenty of conversations with young women about women’s ministry, a couple of things are pretty clear: 1. young women see the value of a women-specific ministry in the church 2. young women value relationships – with each other and across the generations 3. young women want to serve God and the church
These are great goals for a new ministry! And we are working to bring this vision and dream into reality. Abby Prevost is the consultant for this budding ministry. There have been two retreats for young women. We are working to make sure this ministry becomes more than just a “retreat-based” ministry. The future 18 M I S S I O N A R Y M E S S E N G E R W I N T E R 2 016
is exciting! Here is what Natalie Meinzer, student at Bethel University, is saying about this new ministry: The young women of the CP Church have been awakened. Being a part of the new ministry has been a blessing and I have met so many new friends through the retreats. I was so excited to see the many upcoming events for different areas that are happening in the next year. The retreats are a time to set our eyes on how God has planned to use us, all the while being with your sisters in Christ. It is a wonderful time to be a young CP woman! Join us in prayer for this new ministry. Consider making a scholarship available for a young woman to attend an event. Serve as an advocate for this new ministry in your church or presbytery. Contact us if you’d like to organize an event, retreat, or a mission opportunity in your presbytery for young women in your area. The possibilities are limitless. MM
They Come From the
NORTH, SOUTH, EAST & WEST by Lisa Cook The Cumberland Presbyterian Church supplies a chaplain for the Montgomery Bell State Park each summer from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The primary responsibility for the chaplain is to lead a worship service each Sunday morning during that time for those staying in the park and those in the local community. Worship is held each Sunday at 9:00 a.m. and everyone is welcome, including dogs, cats, and whoever wants to come and praise God! With this type of ministry, you just never know who is going to show up on any given Sunday. One morning there were more than 50 people in the chapel. One morning there were 3. Many dogs come and go but Ginger, a dachshund, is a regular for Sunday morning service. One morning we were an international church with people from Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, and Guatemala present. Couples come to visit the chapel in which they were married in years ago and Cumberland Presbyterians come to worship on the grounds where the church they love was born. They come from the North, South, East and West because there is just something about worship in this special place. I wish those beautiful stone walls and colorful windows could talk. I bet they have stories about the beautiful mixture of folks who show up for worship each summer. You should check it out on a Sunday morning one summer. You won’t regret the experience. Reverend Lisa Cook is an ordained Cumberland Presbyterian minister in Nashville Presbytery. She has served as the summer chaplain since 2014 at the Cumberland Presbyterian Birthplace Shrine in Montgomery Bell State Park located in Dickson, Tennessee. MM
While this unique ministry is not “about the numbers” it is nice to take a quick look! From Memorial Day to Labor Day, there were 192 worshipers, some were one-time only guests and some were repeat attendees. In addition, those 192 worshipers have given over $429 to the glory of God. Thanks be to God.
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M I S S I O N A R Y M E S S E N G E R 19
S E C ON D M I L E PROJ E C T S THE NEED–Project #34396
Something New For Young CP Women
Starting something from “scratch” is tough. But often times it is a better end product. A cake made from “scratch” is often much tastier than a “box” cake. Doing something “new” is exciting but it can be difficult to share the vision of what is “new.” Women’s Ministry is doing “something new” in partnership with young CP women. There is an intentional focus on involving young women in the church in a “new” model for Women’s Ministry. This is not an attempt to do away with the current model, which many women find great meaning and opportunities to serve God and the CP Church. Instead, this is a vision to create a ministry for women, specifically young women, who are not currently involved in Women’s Ministry. See how hard it is to try and explain the “new” idea? Our goal is to create a ministry with young women in the CP Church (post-high school to age 35) focused on relationships – a relationship with Jesus, with one’s self, and with others. One way we are seeking to build these relationships is through a retreat setting. We hope to have two-three retreats per year where women can come together to build friendship and ultimately a sense of community. The retreats will provide opportunities for young women to recharge their spiritual batteries, to become engaged in missions/service, and to begin to see themselves as a “new ministry.” Many of the young women that we are targeting for this new ministry are either in college or just starting out in their careers and jobs. For many, a retreat registration fee is simply too much for their limited budget. That is where you come in: sponsorships. This Second Mile Project is designed to provide full or partial scholarships for financial assistance to young CP women who wish to attend one of these retreats. Registrations fees range from $75-$100. The goal for this project is $5,000 and will go a long way in helping this “new” ministry become established in the church. If you would like to sponsor a young woman in this new ministry there are a couple ways for you to do so. One is by check payable to Missions Ministry Team and indicate it is for “Young CP Women”. Or you can also make a donation online at https://cpcmc.org/mmt/cpywm/.
FINANCIAL DATA: Amount Needed from Second Mile
$5,000.00
Amount Contributed to Date:
$ 0.00
Total Amount Needed for the Project:
$5,000.00
DURATION: November 2016 – June 2018
Ongoing Second Mile Projects Contributions for the following projects should be sent to the Missions Ministry Team, 8207 Traditional Place, Cordova, TN 38016-7414 indicating on the check the project number:
Youth Asia Gathering
– Project #34421
Missionary Appliances – Project #34026 Sacred Sparks – Project #34027 Weller Cottage – Project #34415 Choctaw Transportation – Project #34403 2016 Convention Offering – Building a Promising Future – Project #34051 Contributions for the following projects should be sent to the Discipleship Ministry Team, 8207 Traditional Place, Cordova, TN 38016-7414 indicating on the check the project number
Cumberland Presbyterian Youth Conference (CPYC) Scholarships – Project #33019 Children’s Fest – Project #33020
CONTRIBUTIONS: Please make check payable to the Missions Ministry Team indicating for project #34396 and mail to 8207 Traditional Place, Cordova, TN 38016-7414.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact Pam Phillips-Burk at pam@cumberland.org (901) 276-4572 ext. 203. 2 0 M I S S I O N A R Y M E S S E N G E R W I N T E R 2 016
For more information about all of these projects go to cpcmc.org/missions/2nd-mile.
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.
LISTENING TO THE SPIRIT SERVING WITH CONVICTION Feb. 10-11, 2017 4-H Center, Little Rock, Arkansas
We will LISTEN for the Holy Spirit’s direction, and develop plans for returning to our presbyteries to SERV E with conviction. This event is for chairpersons and/or representatives of presbyterial Boards of Missions and the elected team members of the Missions Ministry Team.
Topics will include:
• Ways to support small churches • Ideas to engage churches in missions • • Exploration of the new online process for calling a pastor • • Opportunities to learn what is “working” in other presbyteries • • Networking for future joint ministries and more • REGISTRATION FEE (includes 3 meals and room) Costs vary depending upon room type and your willingness to share a room - $103-$139 4-H Center – 1 Four-H Way, Little Rock, AR 72223 • To register online – cpcmc.org/mmt/listening You can call or email Pam Phillips-Burk to register– pam@cumberland.org or 901/276-4572 ext. 203.