October 2012
Fall at Eastminster Meet Our New Staff Members Operation Christmas Child All-Church Prayer
Do the Right Thing, then Trust God by Bob Hopper, Interim Senior Pastor “The Property Task Force’s first contact with the Presbytery of Southern Kansas (PSK) was a meeting in June 2011, prior to the church’s decision to leave PC (USA). The purpose of the meeting was to reach an agreement with PSK about the true ownership of the church’s real and personal property. Four months later when the church disaffiliated from PC (USA) and affiliated with EPC, the task force and session aggressively pursued the settlement of the issue. The task force recognized that Eastminster’s leaving the Presbytery would substantially impact the budget of PSK, which led to the task force and session agreeing to provide a gracious gift of $300,000, ($80,000 dedicated to Westminster Woods) to be paid over four years to assist PSK in adjusting to the reduction in revenue. In response, PSK requested a substantially increased amount but such request was rejected by the task force. Fifteen months after the initial meeting, PSK approved the offer and graciously dismissed Eastminster from PC (USA) to the Evangelical Presbyterian Church denomination and renounced and released any and all claims to the real or personal property owned by the church.” Report by Roger Lowe, Chair of the Property Task Force. It is a great blessing that deserves to be celebrated that Eastminster Presbyterian Church and our former Presbytery of South Kansas PC (USA) have reached a final, just and legal agreement regarding all property issues. A special note of appreciation to those who served on our Property Task Force (Roger Lowe, John Moody, Jack Argetsinger, Jack Kirkham, Doug Crow, Barry Blades, Bob Howard). God blessed our negotiations of some 15 months and Eastminster was dismissed from the PC (USA) to the EPC, and the Presbytery of Southern Kansas released any and all claims to the real or personal property owned by Eastminster. It could have been a different outcome, but praise God that it was a favorable one. Did you know that when some congregations have left the PC (USA) and entered the EPC, that the PC (USA) presbytery has padlocked the church doors and prohibited pastors, staff and church members from stepping foot on the property? They have taken the congregation to court and made claim to all property, assets and finances. Wow – how devastating that would be! But, praise God, that did not happen to us.
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This, however, is a wonderful example of a profound yet simple principle of LEADERSHIP: “Do the right thing (as God defines it) and trust God for the results.” More than 97% of our voting congregation concluded that it was the “right thing” to do to withdraw from the PC (USA). No one knew how the Presbytery of South Kansas would respond. It could have been very, very ugly. But your elders “did the right thing and trusted God for the results” when they recommended withdrawal to you, the congregation. That, dear friends, is principled, God-honoring leadership. Your boss at work asks you to do something illegal or unethical and threatens you with the loss of your job if you do not comply – “Do the right thing and trust God for the results.” Your teenager threatens you with some sinful response if you do not cave into their demands that you remove all curfews on them – “Do the right thing and trust God for the results.” Your family budget is tight and you are tempted to no longer support the Lord’s work financially – “Do the right thing and trust God for the results.” I have been here less than five months and I can tell you this without hesitation or equivocation: your current session (I cannot speak to any previous session) is seeking God’s wisdom to “do the right thing and trust God for the results.” Obedience to Christ is the fruit and evidence of faith in Christ. The latter is the motive for the former. God can be trusted because God is completely trustworthy. Your senior pastor search team (PSC) is being prayerful, careful, faithful and methodical. The process may be longer than some desire or expect, but they are being very intentional and want to “do the right thing and trust God for the results.” There is nothing wrong with being pragmatic – wisdom demands that we consider outcomes of our decisions. There is everything wrong with “pragmatism” which is a popular worldview (even in some churches) where the anticipated consequence is the decisive factor in the decision making process. This is the opposite of “doing the right thing and trusting God for the results.” Instead, it is “anticipating the results which then define for us what is the right thing.” May the Lord give to all of us a shared vision to “do the right thing and trust God for the results.” God has already proven this principle to Eastminster many times in the past. He can be trusted to do so for our present and our future. To him be the glory. Pastor Bob
The Journey
M ov in g F o rward To g et her.
The Journey is Eastminster’s leadership and transitions blog. It’s the place to start for information on the next steps Eastminster is taking during this time of transition. Eastwind will now contain snippets from Journey posts, but to read the entire update please visit the online blog at eastminster.org/blogs/ thejourney. As we follow God’s leading, our elders, staff and leadership are here to answer your questions, share information about recent issues and decisions, and offer encouragement so we can move forward together.
August Session Update From the August 21 session meeting Mission Study Implementation Team Ann Ramseyer updated the session on the work of the MSIT, known as The Promise Project. (Learn more at eastminster.org/ promise.) The MSIT also requested three ad hoc task forces be formed, which session approved. Those task forces are: Role of Deacons: this team will search Scripture and the EPC book of order to determine what does and does not belong in the purpose and work of our deacons. This team will be led by elders Jack Argetsinger and Ray Jones, and will include two deacons and Associate Director of Community Kat Anderson, and will be advised by Pastor Bob. Eastminster Bylaws: this team will ensure our bylaws are aligned with our denomination’s standards and guidelines. The team will be led by elders Barry Blades and Ken Juell, and be resourced by Director of Operations Kim Case and Pastor Bob. Mission Statement: this team will consider our mission statement of “being and making disciples” in light of our mission study, and review its accuracy, wording and Scriptural alignment. This team is led by elders Deb Hilscher and John Moody, and includes Jan Mauer, David Wasson, Carol Amstutz, Jack Kirkham and Director of Communications Courtney Browning, and will be resourced by Pastor Bob. Read more at eastminster.org/blogs/thejourney.
Pastor Search Team Update Posted September 13 We wanted to share a few snippets of what the Pastor Search Team is learning right now. These are great “thinking points” for both the team and the congregation.
Senior pastors • Know their limits • Hires others in areas where they’re not gifted • Need to know God has called them to a ministry • Lead with oversight and decisiveness • Are clothed in humility/sanctification • Have godly character, pastoral/worship skills, theological depth, EPC principles, leadership and interpersonal aptitude • Lead by example • Change lives for and through Christ • Are Holy Spirit driven • Are visionary • Are pacesetters • Cannot be everything to everybody • Have a complex career – preaching, preparing, CEO of a business, directing staff, community involvement, conference speaker, etc. • Enable people in ministry, do not do ministry for the people • Model Christian love, in turn teaching the congregation how to love • Launch members into service for God Healthy churches • Want to be lead into a movement, not a religious institution • Build up/encourage a pastor • Maintain realistic expectations of what all a pastor can do • Are set in the gospel and truth of Christ, not set in their ways • Members have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ • Trust and pray for their pastor • Realize that pastors have sensitive feelings and that they are vulnerable to criticism • Aren’t demanding • Don’t take ‘potshots’ • Come alongside staff and leaders in times of heavy strain, avoiding negative comments • Look forward to the future and accept change • Show support through tithes and energy • Are a lift to a pastor’s ministry, not a load • Are united, not divisive • Reach out in love to those who are struggling (without judgment) • Are responsive to pastor’s vision and the gospel • “Pastor” a pastor’s family, including them in real community
Dedicated to the Cause An interview with missionaries John and Joy Haspels of Africa Inland Mission Recently we interviewed the Haspels, one of Eastminster’s supported missionaries. Though they are at home on furlough right now, their hearts are in the African bush with the Turkana people.
frontline, in the hardship areas, in the bush. Basically we do all that we can to help our missionaries survive and to spend as much time as possible doing what they were called to do, reach the unreached with the love of Jesus. The list of what we do is extensive, but an important aspect is friendship evangelism to the business owners of Nairobi who are primarily of Indian descent and are Hindu and Muslim in belief. Why do you feel this work is so important? The best way to answer this question would be to ask the people whom we help, the frontline missionaries. But we are basically a lifeline, making it much easier for our people to live in the bush thus giving them more time and opportunity to share Christ. The other aspect is developing relationships with a group of people that are technically unreached, the Indian Kenyans. Why do you feel specifically called to this area of ministry? Being called to a ministry is simply doing what God asks us to do, and that is what we have done. However, we feel our first 10 years with AIM in Kenya were training for what we do know. The specific assignments we have had and the experiences we endured have prepared us to understand the struggles and needs of missionaries living out in the bush.
Tell us a little about yourselves and your family. I, John, was born in a small mission hospital in southern Ethiopia. My wife, Joy, was born in Manchester, New Hampshire. The Lord brought us together in a boarding school in Kenya when Joy’s parents went to the mission field her senior year of high school. We were married in 1997 and returned to the mission field of Kenya in May of 2000 with Africa Inland Mission. We now have four children aged 2, 5, 9 and 11. How do you serve with AIM International? Africa Inland Mission (AIM) is a nondenominational evangelical organization that was started in 1885 with the goal of having a line of churches across the African continent to stem the flood of Islam into the southern part of Africa. We are a “faithbased” organization meaning we are able to be on the field simply because of prayer and financial support given directly by churches and individuals. We are currently based out of Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya, under the Eastern Region of AIM. What’s your role? My official title is “Logistics and Purchasing for Eastern Region.” This is a ministry set up to help those families who are on the
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What’s one specific story of how you’ve seen God work in your time in Africa? How can you pick just one? When we worked in Northern Kenya with the Turkana people we were building the first secondary school in the area (an area bigger than Rhode Island). During the construction phase, I would hold devotions with the crew before work every morning. The Turkana have a reputation of being fierce raiders and warriors. We had on our crew a man who was known for his competence in raiding cows and killing the rival tribes. He had spent a lifetime going every year to war against the surrounding tribes. When he came to work for me he was in his early 40s, old for a Turkana man. During our devotion time and through the efforts of my Turkana supervisor over the course of several months, this man came to know the Lord and became a huge testimony to the Turkana youth of the changing power of Christ. What’s it like to raise children while working as missionaries? How can one accurately describe what it is like, it is so vastly different than it is in the US. But then, children are children and are very much the same the world over. But the very nature of life
on the mission field raises different difficulties and challenges, such as sending our kids to boarding school.
In Africa alone, there are almost 300,000,000 people who have never heard of the saving grace of Jesus. In Kenya, there are still 30 unreached people groups. How has this impacted your family life? In many ways this has drawn our family closer together, focusing on the interfamily relationships instead of focusing on the minor annoyances. In addition to this, because the kids are away from us all the time, we pray for them several times a day. How can the people of Eastminster pray for you and support your ministry? We need more prayer coverage. We will be witnessing more and more to Hindus and Muslims as a part of our ministry to the Indian Kenyans. This involves a great deal of spiritual warfare. We need to be well covered in prayer.
Missions Second Sundays Second Sunday, October 14 John and Joy Haspels John and Joy Haspels, who work in Kenya with Africa Inland Missions, will be our Second Sunday presenters for October. Both John and Joy grew up as missionary kids and their love for sharing the hope of Christ continues as they work to support the needs of bush missionaries in Nairobi and the surrounding area. Their children Acacia (11) and Charles (9) are at the Rift Valley Academy while Sianna and Tiarra are at home in Nairobi. Join us to hear how this young family extends God’s kingdom on the African continent.
Second Sunday, November 11 David Bridgman David Bridgman, former associate pastor of missions at Eastminster, now serves with Presbyterian Frontier Fellowship. He will share about his recent trip to China. Join us for an interesting and enlightening update on the latest work in Yunnan Province in China. God is working diligently in this land of the far east extending his kingdom.
How are you spending your time now that you’re in the States? Our goal is to triple our prayer coverage while we are in the US this time. This means we need to be out visiting churches discussing the need for prayer and showing what God is doing through our ministry in Kenya. We are also short of financial support and need to raise a significant amount before we will be allowed to return to Kenya, hopefully by the end of December. If there was one thing you wished the church could know about world missions, what would it be? Our work is far from over. In Africa alone, there are almost 300,000,000 people who have never heard of the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. In Kenya alone, there are still 30 people groups that are considered unreached, meaning less than 2% of the people group have heard about the ove of Christ. Africa is not alone in the tremendous amount of work still to be done. Asia, Indonesia, the Soviet Block, all have need of men and women willing to go and live and share Christ. Anything else you’d like to share? We want to say thank you to Eastminster for your consistent support and prayers. A church is truly blessed when it when it pours out support for missions around the world, like Eastminster has done. Thank you.
Morning Star Ranch
Second Sunday, December 9 Morning Star Ranch World Impact’s Morning Star Ranch will be the beneficiary of this year’s Christmas Eve offering. Morning Star Ranch is located in central Kansas, and features a beautiful 560-acre facility and a real working ranch. The camp provides unique Christian retreat experiences for inner-city and at-risk children and teens, sharing the hope of Christ in a fun camp environment. The ranch also hosts various retreat groups and offers a residential discipleship program. Make sure to mark your calendar to hear about this ministry and how the Christmas Eve offering will impact Morning Star Ranch and our community.
Prayer Opportunities Pray for the Pastor Search Team and MSIT Second and fourth Mondays, 7 p.m., Chapel You are invited to be a part of the search for our new senior pastor through supporting our search team with prayer. The search team and the MSIT submit specifc prayer requests for us to pray for each week.
Prayers for Our Nation Tuesdays, October 2 through November 6 noon to 12:30 p.m. in the Chapel Gather to pray for our country and our leaders in the weeks leading up to the November 6 election.
New Series: The Praying Church with Pastor Bob Hopper October 7 and 14 Join the Rev. Bob Hopper for a twoweek focus on the importance and power of prayer in church life. Learn the secrets of praying effectively mined from biblical truth, practical steps for your own prayer life and how to lift up our church and leaders.
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The Promise Project: Prayer The Promise Project isn’t just about new Councils and serving, this new start for our church is also about getting back to the basics of faith, and praying like we mean it.
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he Bible’s command to “pray continually” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) is no easy feat. How do we, as individuals and as a church, stay in constant connection with God? One of Eastminster’s new areas of ministry is prayer, and the Prayer Council is striving toward making prayer an integral part of the life of Eastminster. Though we’ve always been a praying church, we are now placing key emphasis on the importance of communing with God through a designated Council to help facilitate and encourage prayer throughout our congregation. “This is a time in the life of Eastminster when prayer is more important than ever,” says Council chair Lisa Ritchie. “Our church is going through a lot of changes and transition. These are all very positive steps for Eastminster, but change can bring uncertainty, and that requires complete dependence on God and his plan. We know that we cannot accomplish the Lord’s will for Eastminster without intentional conversation with him. And that’s why the Prayer Council has come into existence.”
The Prayer Council and our elders are asking for specific and intentional prayer on the part of our congregation. This prayer initiative is a part of The Promise Project, as we see it as an important component of Eastminster moving forward on the path God has laid out for us. We ask that you pray fervently in three specific areas: New Shepherd New Structure New Start
New Shepherd Our Pastor Search Team is working hard to find God’s next leader for Eastminster. But they cannot do this alone! Will you commit to pray for the search team, for the search process, and for our next pastor? This is absolutely key as we discern God’s will in this area. You can read the search team’s specific prayer requests
and a guide for praying for this process at eastminster.org/blogs/thejourney.
New Structure We are set to launch our eight new areas of ministry in January of 2013. This requires lots of preparation, planning, service, participation and most importantly prayer. To reorganize a church structure is much more easily said than done, and session, staff and the MSIT have been working tirelessly to accomplish this task. We would love your help in going before the Lord to ask for his blessing and wisdom as we strive to shape Eastminster into the church he wants it to be.
New Start We have made some major steps within the church over the last year. Between entering a new denomination, taking a look at who we really are through a mission study, discerning God’s will for our future, beginning to hire a new pastor, and realigning the church structure, this year has marked a new chapter in Eastminster’s history. Will you continue to pray for our leadership as they move into the next phases of discerning God’s will for the church? Right now we are looking at our mission statement of “being and making disciples” in light of Scripture and the mission study. Once this step is accomplished, there may be more steps in the process of beginning our new chapter. Keep praying for God’s will to be done. Keep praying for wisdom for our leadership. And most importantly, keep praying that the gospel of Christ would be proclaimed through the work and people of Eastminster!
Get Involved in Scouting! Eastminster’s Scout troop is the perfect way for dads and sons to spend quality time together while teaching the next generation important life skills. If you’d like to get involved, contact Scoutmaster Tim Lawton at 744.9268 or tblawton@att.net.
Strengthening Bonds Eastminster Boy Scout Troop 524 Celebrates 20 Years
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astminster Boy Scout Troop 524 was organized in 1992 by a group of dads led by the late Dr. Bob Smith. Troop 524 is special in that it was founded as a Christcentered troop with the goal of helping boys develop Christian character in their passage from boyhood into manhood. The troop was started to provide leadership, confidence and life skills from a Christian worldview perspective. The scouts and leaders pour into each others’ lives during meetings, scouting and many adventures together. Boys today face many challenges and this is one place they can receive support in a Christian environment.
Rob Ramseyer and Tom Davis were key in the development of the troop in 1992. They served in the troop and watched both their sons earn the recognition of Eagle Scout. Rob pointed out another special quality of the troop: “Nationally, only 2-3% of those who enter Scouting earn the rank of Eagle. The number for Eastminster’s troop is significantly higher.” “More than 70 Scouts have earned the rank of Eagle in the 20-year history of the troop,” says Tom. Those Eagle Scouts have sponsored 70 projects and made their mark in Wichita by serving several churches, ministires and community organizations. The troop is also set apart because they open and close each meeting with a prayer (in addition to the traditional Boy Scout ceremonies). A requirement for each rank is for the Scout to memorize two Bible verses for each point of the Scout Law. By the rank of Eagle, they have memorized a total of 24 verses.
The troop has strenthened bonds between fathers and sons and developed life-long friendships and memories for 20 years. Many mentoring relationships have been built, and support is provided for boys without dads as well. “I not only have memories from scouting with my dad, but also with many others. All of the dads shaped me through scouting,” says Dr. Brian Smith, son of Dr. Bob Smith.
The troop was founded with a heavy emphasis on dad participation at troop meetings, campouts and summer high adventures. “These founding principles were key in the development of Troop 524 and are why it continues to be an active, vibrant and very special Boy Scout Troop some 20 years later!” says Rob.
Troop 524 Meetings All meetings at 6:45 p.m. in the Student Center
September 24, 2012 October 1, 2012 October 15, 2012 November 5, 2012 November 19, 2012 January 7, 2012 January 21, 2013 February 4, 2013 February 18, 2013 March 4, 2013 March 25, 2013 April 8, 2013 April 22, 2013 May 6, 2013 May 20, 2013
Eastminster Presbyterian Church
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Discovering Hope
Eastminster is tackling the issue of human trafficking, one step at a time. Human trafficking is a topic gaining more and more attention nationally and internationally. You may have heard heinous stories of young teens or even children being abducted and sold into modern-day slavery across the world, but did you know this unthinkable crime even happens right here on US soil, and within the city of Wichita? ICT SOS is one local group working to prevent and end trafficking. They are a Wichita-based organization that acts as a liaison between local organizations and Wichita volunteers working against trafficking. By the organization’s statistics, this crime is closer to home than we may think. In 2011, there were 44 validated cases of domestic minor sex trafficking, commercial sex trafficking, or commercial sexual exploitation in Wichita. Conservative estimates are that there are 300-400 young people in Wichita who are considered “at risk” for domestic minor sex trafficking. (Most of these are homeless youth and young adults.) Of 250 youth interviewed at the Wichita Children’s Home, 67% (168) reported that they had been sexually assaulted or raped; 46% (115) had been propositioned to strip, go on a date, or provide sexual favors in exchange for food, shelter, money or drugs; and, once propositioned, 40% (100) reported that they had been forced, defrauded, and/ or coerced to exchange stripping, intercourse, or other sexual favors for food, shelter, money or drugs. Trafficking is even more prevelant in other parts of the world, and the country of Moldova has been called the “epicenter” of human trafficking. Eastminster has begun working with missionary Oleg Reutki, director of New Hope for Moldova, who is working to change that. Oleg’s ministry operates several transition homes in that country to rescue young teens from modern day slavery. He tells the story of a young girl named Lucia who he helped rescue. Her story represents millions of others around the globe, and tells of the tragedy that abounds in the world of trafficking.
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“About four weeks ago, the phone rang in the New Hope for Moldova office. A voice was asking for help and shelter for a desperate girl that lost her mother, does not know who her father was, and is in a tragic situation of sexual exploitation. That same day we decided to go to the place where Lucia was. When we got to the house, she was locked in. It seemed to be the most trashy and dirty place you can imagine. It was a place of spiritual oppression and a stronghold of darkness. We were told that every night she is placed under a bridge to be sold by the same people who were hosting her. When we looked at her face, we saw a girl angry and agressive in the exterior, but inside a girl desperate for help and hope. In that unusual and tough environment we felt that we needed to act fast, and set her free. When we were driving away from that place, my heart was filled up with anger and pain at the thought of how a teenage girl could go through so much pain and abuse, with nobody to stop it. We immediately vowed that we would do all we could to help this young girl. We placed her into one of our transition homes where she can be cared for spiritually and physically, learn basic skills for life, be restored, and have hope and a great future.”
Trafficking Statistics • Approximately 27 million people are in slavery today. More people are enslaved today than during the transatlantic slave trade during the 19th century. • 80,000 slaves were transported each year during the peak of the transatlantic slave trade. Currently, it’s estimated that about 800,000 slaves are transported each year. • Human trafficking generates approximately $32 billion in profits annually, competing with the illegal arms trade for second place behind drug trafficking. Statistics provided by ICT SOS
Taking Action With this crime looming larger and larger, what are we, as the Church, doing to put a stop to trafficking? The Eastminster missions department is taking this issue seriously, and our first step is to hold a panel discussion featuring three experts in the field. The event is Monday, October 15, at 7 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. The panel includes: Jennifer White with ICT SOS, Oleg Reutki and Lt. Jeff Weible with the Wichita Exploited and Missing Children Unit. This evening will be an eye-opening discussion on the reality of trafficking locally and globally. It is also a call to action for our church as we discover how to step in and help as the body of Christ. Join us as we enter the fight to end slavery and trafficking, and share the hope of Jesus with those in the darkest situations.
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Years Old for Christ through Operation Christmas Child • October 2-4 Years28, Old Help 2-4 reach 2-4 Yearskids Old 2-4 Years Old November 4 and 11 Years Old Old option, or you can write a check Donation” Dear5-9Friend, How to Pack a Shoe Box 5-9 Years 5-9 Years Old 5-9 Years Old 1. Use an empty shoe box (standard size, to Samaritan’s Purse (note “OCC” on From earthquake-ravaged Haiti to 10-14 Sudan, Years Old 10-14memo Years Old and place it in an envelope on war-scarred 10-14 Years OldI have seen firsthand please) or a small plastic container. 10-14 Years line) Old the hope and joy that simple shoe box Mark bring the correct category:around the world. gifts toage children Mark the correct age category: Our Operation Child project 2-4 YearsChristmas Old Yearsthan Old coloring books, toys, is about2-4 more and toothbrushes. 5-9 Years OldYour gifts enable 5-9 Years Oldto share the Good Samaritan’s Purse News of God’s greatest 10-14 Years Old gift—his Son, 10-14 Years Old Jesus Christ—with boys and girls who need tocorrect knowagehow much Jesus loves Mark the category: Mark the correct age category: them. Please keep these children in your 2-4You Years Oldbe sure that your gifts prayers. canOld 2-4 Years are making an eternal difference. 5-9 Years Old Franklin Graham 5-9 Years Old President, Samaritan’s Purse
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for a boy or a girl, and the child’s age 2-4 Years Old Old a rubber band around each category. Cut out the appropriate boy/girl2-4 Years 5. Place label, mark the correct age category, and 5-9 Years closed Oldshoe box and drop it off at the 5-9 Years Oldon October 28, November 4 or tape the label to the top of your box. church 10-14November Years Old 11. 3. Fill the box with a variety of gifts that 10-14 Years Old would bring delight to a child. Gift Ideas Mark the correct age category: Mark the correct age category: Small toys, school supplies, hygiene Years Oldhard candy (please double bag) items, 4. Please donate $7 or more for each 2-4 2-4 Years Old t-shirts, socks, ball caps, sunglasses shoe box you prepare to help cover 5-9 Years Old shipping and other project costs. You can5-9 Years Old give online by using the “Follow Your Box 10-14Personal Years Old Note a separate 10-14InYears Old envelope, you may enclose a note to the child and a photo of yourself Mark the correct age category: Mark the correct category: orage your family. (If you include your name 2-4 Years Old and address, the child may write back.) CMYK
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Eastminster Presbyterian Church
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Meet Our New Staff Cassidy Cheray, Meg Jackson and Juilie Pritchard are the newest Easminster staff members. What are some goals or dreams you have for your ministry at Eastminster? I have many goals and dreams for the worship team at Eastminster, but most importantly, I want to make sure myself and the team does not lose sight of the “Who” of our worship. We are worshipping an audience of One, which remains our constant focus. What are your future plans for your career and ministry? I hope to continue to follow God’s gentle voice. And, the directions he has taken my wife and I in four short years of our marriage have been places we would have never expected. So, I hope to continue to listen to him for direction in all things. Cassidy Cheray joined the Eastminster staff in September as our Contemporary Worship Leader. Tell us a little about yourself. I have been married nearly four years to my wife, Mary Alice, and we currently have two dogs, Aisley and Molly. I am originally from the Kansas City area, but came here for college, met my wife, and have stayed here since. I went to Wichita State for my undergraduate degrees, studying music performance and business administration. I recently completed a Master’s in Theology from Friends University. I coach middle school boys soccer for one of the private schools in east Wichita. I thoroughly enjoy coaching and staying in touch with a sport I played throughout my adolescence. When I’m not working on something music-related, I love photography, yard work, travel, and spending time with my wife and family.
What is God teaching you right now? God is revealing to me how to be a good listener. As I transition into my role at Eastminster, I look forward to getting to know a new group of people, while listening to the their ideas, experiences, and input as to how to help grow, both spiritually and musically, in worship. What’s currently on your reading list? For now, I have two. First, I haven’t read a lot of Rob Bell’s works, but I just began his book Love Wins. It’s a quick-read, but I am really enjoying it thus far. I’m also reading a book by Andy Hill, titled Be Quick- But Don’t Hurry!
When did you meet Jesus? I have known Jesus my entire life. I was raised in a loving household. Not knowing Jesus was never a question. Although I have drifted away from his love from time to time, trying things on my own terms, I always knew he wanted to bring me back to the fold more than anything else. Even today, when I mess up, I know he’s calling me back home! Why do you have a passion for worship? I have a passion for worship because it’s how I, and we, are to live our lives; constantly in amazement of him, in all that we do. Worship is life; it’s how God wired us. It is our eternal posture, as the book of Revelation tells us. Worship goes far beyond music: it goes to how we interact with others, the patience we show one another, and the way we treat the least and lost of those around us.
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Eastwind Newsletter
Meg Jackson joined the Eastminster staff in September as our Associate Director of Communications.
Tell us a little about yourself. I have four younger brothers and family all over the US from California to Virginia. I grew up in Oklahoma and recently got engaged to my fiance, Sam, who is from Topeka. He has lived in Wichita for more than a year, and I moved here a few weeks ago. In my spare time I like to cook, read, and am a bit of a technology nerd so I like to learn about what’s new in that area. I danced for more than 15 years and have a passion for music, theater and anything that has to do with the arts. I’m also an OU football fan while Sam is a K-State fan, so I’m trying to get used to all the purple. Describe what you are doing in your new position. I am helping Courtney with communications, marketing and branding. I am responsible for the weekly bulletin and communications planning with different ministries. I’m so happy to be here and know this position is exactly what I’ve been praying for. When did you meet Jesus? I have known Jesus my whole life and felt like he has called me from the time I was born. I had some very difficult times as a child and young adult and I knew God was always there for me. I did try to do things on my own for a little while in college and he led me back to his grace. He has shown himself in my life in so many ways and I know he has something big planned for my life. I’m on the path and really excited to see what he does! Other than Jesus, who has had the greatest impact on your life? My grandmother. She emigrated from Germany when she was a child and had so many hardships in her life. She is more like a mother to me than anyone else and has always been there to support me. She is inspiring and the strongest person I know. Is there a Bible verse God is using in your life? “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” (Mark 9:23) God is really showing me my life is his plan and to completely hand everything over to him. I’ve had so many changes in the past month so this verse really helps me not to stress or worry about things. What’s your biggest challenge? Getting to know a new state and learning about all the different ministries and the ins and outs of Eastminster. What is currently on your reading list? I am reading A Lineage of Grace by Francine Rivers, Unglued by Lysa Terkeurst and Sam and I are doing a marriage workbook by Jerry Hardin and Diane Sloan called How to Really Get to Know the Person You’re Going to Marry.
Julie Pritchard joined the Eastminster staff in September as our Children’s Ministries Coordinator. Tell us a little about yourself. I am number three of four kids. My husband, Don and I have been married for 32 years. We have two grown children, Sarah and Andrew. Both kids graduated from K-State, so we bleed purple in our house! I enjoy watching college football, walking and doing cross-stitch projects. When did you meet Jesus? I have known Jesus since I was very little. I was blessed to have a mom and dad who taught me about his unconditional love early. Why do you have a passion for Children’s Ministries? My passion for children goes back to raising our own kids. Teaching, shaping and molding these young lives with Jesus’ love. I love getting down on their level and being silly with them. Listening to all their stories they want to share is so much fun. What are some goals or dreams you have for your ministry at Eastminster? To be a great support for Mary and Brandi. Also, to give great service to my ‘customers’ the children, the parents and the volunteers. What are your future plans for your ministry? As far as my future plans for ministry, every day I walk out of my house, I’m on the mission field. It is exciting and scary who God puts in front of me. Sometimes I miss the opportunities he places in front of me because of fear of the unknown. Other times, God uses me and hits it out of the park! What is God teaching you right now? Be still and listen to him speak. What’s currently on your reading list? Max Lucado’s It’s Not About Me and Love and Respect by Emerson Eggrichs. Eastminster Presbyterian Church
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Non Profit Org. US Postage
PAID
Wichita, KS Permit No. 1293
Eastminster Presbyterian Church 1958 N. Webb Road • Wichita, Kansas 67206 316.634.0337 • www.eastminster.org
Worship Services Sundays at 8, 9:30 and 11 a.m.
12 i g h sisctoh o ol the mission of Eastminster: “being and making disciples.” Director of Communications: Courtney Browning The 20 goal of h Eastwind support (cbrowning@eastminster.org). Associate Director of Communications: Meg Jackson (meg@eastminster.org).
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MS: The Starting Line nov October 26 – 28 scholarship deadline: oct15 Registration deadline: registration deadline: oct22 October 15 • Scholarship deadline: October 8 On the fall retreat, we’ll put first things first and take a look at the basics of what it means to follow Christ. Retreats are packed with worship, time with friends and awesome messages that’ll re-energize your faith.
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m o v i n g Fall from Student l o s t t o f Retreats o u n d
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1958 N. Webb Road • Wichita, Kansas 67206 p 316.634.0337 f 316.634.1496 • www.eastminster.org
HS: Alive Again November 2 – 4 Registration deadline: October 15 • Scholarship deadline: October 8 We’ll look at stories from Scripture that apply to our lives today and see how God’s grace can move us from lost to found. We’re alive again...and it’s all because of the gospel.
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Eastwind Newsletter
g • safe fall fun for the whole family •
Wednesday, October 31 • 6 – 8 p.m. Eastminster parking lot • eastminster.org/trunkortreat
Trunk or Treat is a safe alternative to traditional Halloween festivities that encourages participation from the entire church family. The evening includes candy, inflatables, activities, relays, snacks, family time and more. So grab the kids or grandkids, invite a few neighbors and classmates, and come on out for an incredible night of family-focused fall excitement!