Spring 2015
Glorify God. Follow Christ. Transform Lives.
Discipleship = Relationship by Pastor Stan Van Den Berg I went on a “South American Safari” a few years back. I saw things like piranha, jaguars, anteaters, crocodiles and anacondas. The guide who led our small group of travelers gave us counsel while on the trip. “Don’t put your hand in this river,” “Don’t get separated from the group,” “Don’t leave our tent at night.” I figured he said these things because he cared for us. He not only wanted me to believe him, but follow him closely as he led us on our adventure. I see similarities in our relationship with Jesus. Jesus calls us not just to believe in him, but to follow him. Some people think being a Christian is only believing in Jesus, but a Christian is someone who not only believes in Jesus, but believes Jesus and follows him. To follow means we are with him, we learn from him, and we do what he says. This is the essence of true discipleship. Discipleship has two primary goals: 1. to grow close in relationship with Jesus so he lives his life through us and 2. to grow in conformity to his image. We know from research and many years of church history that people are best discipled in relationship with others who interact with the Word and pursue Jesus together. This means we grow most in Christ when we grow together with someone else, such as a small group, a friend, a mentor or a spiritual director. I want to encourage the members of Eastminster to grow in faith with others who know Christ in a fellowship close enough to actually share our lives and encourage each other in the faith. SMALL GROUPS are a group of three to 15 people who interact with the Word and talk about life together. In a small group we can share our lives and encourage each other to deeper faith and transformation. MENTORS are people who are further along in life and spiritual maturity that can counsel us through life’s struggles and transitions. SPIRITUAL DIRECTION refers to a relationship in which one person assists another’s spiritual and devotional development. It is a personal process through which people deepen their walk
2
Eastwind Newsletter
with the Lord and grow in discernment and love for God. The great traditions of Christianity and spiritual disciplines such as prayer, meditation, fasting, solitude and guidance are explored and celebrated together through readings from the devotional classics. Dr. Hank Lederle will move from his responsibilities in missions to the role of spiritual direction. He will build a relationship with a certain number of people from Eastminster and serve as their spiritual director. He will also offer the entire congregation learning opportunities in spiritual development. The Lord entrusts the Church with the souls of people. In order to be a faithful church we must teach people to believe him and follow him. This does not happen on its own, but requires intentional effort on our part. As we purse him and follow him, he meets us and does the work of transformation in our lives. During the month of March our Sunday services will focus on the idea of discipleship and the opportunities our church provides to make us truly devoted disciples of Jesus Christ.
March 8 • Unity in Worship No 8 a.m. service, blended worship at 9:30 and 11 a.m. Revelation 7:9-12 Pastor Stan Van Den Berg March 15 • Transformation Romans 12:1-2 Pastor Stan Van Den Berg March 22 • True Abiding 1 John 2:18-27 Pastor Paul Bammel March 29 • Palm Sunday Pastor Stan Van Den Berg April 5 • Easter Sunday 8, 9:30 and 11:15 a.m. Pastor Stan Van Den Berg *learn more on page XX April 12 • Transformed Living Romans 12:1-2 Pastor Stan Van Den Berg
April 19 • The Mission of God One service at 9:30 a.m. Matt. 28:18-20, Rev. 5:9-14 Pastor Stan Van Den Berg April 26 Guest speaker Phil Linton May 3 • Confirmation Sunday Pastor Stan Van Den Berg May 10 • Mother’s Day Pastor Stan Van Den Berg May 17 • The Body of Christ 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 Pastor Stan Van Den Berg May 24 • Filled with the Spirit Ephesians 5:18-20 Pastor Stan Van Den Berg May 31 • Confident Abiding 1 John 2:28-3:10 Pastor Paul Bammel
In the Right Direction by Jenny Wall Have you ever wished for a spiritual companion? Someone to come alongside and listen to your questions about God and support you as you explore your relationship with him? Christian spiritual direction is just that – meeting confidentially one-on-one with someone who is biblically grounded, and has been trained to accompany individuals as they share about their spiritual journey, helping them notice God’s presence and activity along the way, as well as offering personal reactions and responses. This person, in a formal, non-directive method, invites directees to discover a relationship with God through Christ, and grow deeper in prayer and in living their calling as a follower of Christ. My interest in spiritual direction grew out of my own personal “crisis of faith” experiences. While I grew up in a Christian home, accepted Christ’s offer of salvation at a young age, attended church, Christian high school and Bible college, and was deeply involved in lay ministry within the church as a married woman and mother of two young daughters, I found myself at times, confused about what God was allowing in my life, angry with God, grieving a loss, and sometimes burned out on my church busyness. I traveled through the majority of these experiences on my own, without a spiritual director to assist me. My turning points came as God brought to mind certain Scripture, and I found myself turning to God’s Word to find answers, eventually, finding God himself. I realized that I was trying to live the Christian life in my own strength, instead of submitting my life to Christ and letting his life flow through me. I must confess this was a very slow process, as I often let myself get too busy to spend regular time with God. God has been and continues to be re-forming my desires to long for what he longs for, and in doing that, he has led me to begin to see a vision of the church as a “hospital for souls.” What if, in the church, we could learn to care for the souls of others? What if, in our small groups, we learn to compassionately listen to others in the presence of the Holy Spirit, prayerfully discerning what God would desire for that person, stirring up a passion for God, as well as “spurring each other to love and good deeds.” What could happen?
I am currently meeting once a month for individual spiritual direction, and find my spiritual director’s warm, accepting, gentle presence so helpful as I explore with her what is happening in my life and in my life with God. I have experienced group spiritual direction and witnessed God help participants realize a decision they need to make, a truth about themselves, encouragement for a difficult situation, restoration of a fractured marriage relationship. God has impressed on me the fact that none of us are “experts” when it comes to the spiritual journey! We may have heard that we need to have a “relationship with Jesus” but we really don’t know how to do that. We may have walked with God for years, when something devastating happens in our lives, and we wonder where God is. We may lose the feeling of God’s presence after having felt close to him, and wonder what happened. Wherever we are in our journey with God, God invites us to go deeper. A spiritual director can be that spiritual companion who journeys with us. God ministers to us as we spend time with him, and calls us to join him in his ministry of revealing who he is, and inviting others into a relationship with him. For me, that calling has been encouraging others through spiritual direction. To prepare myself for this ministry, I have completed a master’s degree in Christian ministry with spiritual direction and spiritual formation as my emphasis. I have also studied at Larry Crabb’s NewWay School of Spiritual Direction. To offer spiritual direction at Eastminster, joining the ongoing discipleship ministry of Sunday school, Bible studies and small groups, gives me great joy and anticipation as together we watch how God moves us forward in our spiritual journey with him.
Discipleship Next Steps Join a small group Our new small groups are forming now, so let us know you’d like to be a part of one by contacting Ben Marquez at 634.0337, ext. 211, or bmarquez@eastminster.org. You can also mark the Connect Card in your worship bulletin. Get spiritual direction Dr. Hank Lederle and Jenny Wall are both offering opportunities to come alongside individuals in spiritual direction. If you’re interested, please contact Ben Marquez at 634.0337, ext. 211. or bmarquez@eastminster.org.
Eastminster Presbyterian Church
3
Mission-Centered Our new Associate Pastor of Mission, Michael Goolsby, shares about his new role and the dreams he has for Eastminster missions. training and consulting business that grew quickly and employed nearly four dozen national workers. It was a wonderfully difficult experience! We served there about seven years and returned to the US a little more than two years ago. I accepted a staff position at our church in Saint Joseph, Missouri, where I worked until just recently.
When did you meet Jesus? Specifically, during a lay-witness mission at my hometown church when I was 14 years old, but the Lord began drawing me when I was about 10 years old, using the rich hymns of the church to awaken me to the wonders of Christ and his Church.
Tell us a little about your family.
Michael Goolsby joined the Eastminster staff on February 15 after an 18-month search process for an Associate Pastor of Mission. Search team members describe Michael (Mike) as extremely humble, godly, kind and personable. He and his wife, Gail, recently moved to Wichita from St. Joseph, Mo., where he was director of discipleship at Brookdale Presbyterian Church. We are excited to have him as part of the team!
What are you most looking forward to about being at Eastminster? I’m looking forward to getting to know the Eastminster staff, officers, and members and to mobilizing people for missional outreach!
What’s your background like? I grew up on a farm/ranch in central Oklahoma. I studied agriculture at Oklahoma State University, worked in agribusiness for about seven years, and then sensed a call to ministry. I graduated from seminary at Regent University in Virginia, but chose not to pursue vocational ministry immediately upon graduation. Instead, I helped a friend launch a plastics recycling business and worked in various volunteer leadership roles in my church, eventually serving as an associate pastor. A few years later my wife and I moved to Central Asia to work with an international school. While there two friends and I started a
4
Eastwind Newsletter
My wife, Gail, and I have three grown children and three granddaughters. Our oldest, Sarah, is married to Jason, who is serving a church in Tulsa, Okla. They have three girls, Cora (5-1/2), Avi (2-1/2), and Lilah (7 months). Our son, John, is single and is a musician based out of Kansas City. Our youngest, Anna, is married to Jordan and they also live in Kansas City.
Who has most influenced your leadership? I honestly hope that Christ has influenced my leadership the most. My parents, a man named Russ Weathers whom I worked for in my 20s at Farmland Industries in Kansas City, and several pastors and friends have impacted me in the past and even continue to impact my life now. My wife has great leadership skills and I’ve learned a lot from her, too.
What is one promising trend in missions today? Disciple Making Movements are a counter-intuitive church planting and discipleship method that are having a huge impact among peoples who were formerly very resistant to the Bible and the gospel. They utilize inductive Bible study groups where the Holy Spirit leads people in obedience to scripture rather than simply obtaining Bible knowledge.
As a pastor, what is the toughest part of ministry? For me it is often balancing the demands of ministry with the desire to also be a good husband and father. While my family has always been supportive of my being in ministry, sometimes the demands of ministry actually compete with family priorities.
What adjective would your friends say best describes your personality? Probably either “relational” or “compassionate.”
Why do you have a passion for missions and ministry? Three reasons: 1) Jesus commissioned us (Matthew 28:19) to go and make disciples of all nations (Greek, ethne; think of these as people groups bound by a common language and culture, not geopolitical nations) and he said his return would not happen until the gospel had been preached to all these nations (Matthew 24:14). 2) I am inspired by the picture found in Revelation 7:9, which states that there will be people from “every nation, tribe, people, and language” standing before the throne of God worshipping. 3) I have a very high view of the local church as God’s instrument for advancing his kingdom. Every person who belongs to Christ has an important role to play in missions and ministry. I want to help people find their place.
What are some goals or dreams you have for your ministry at Eastminster? • To see every Christ-follower learn about relational evangelism and put that into practice missionally in our neighborhoods, our workplaces, and in other spheres of influence. • To see Eastminster’s ministry to international students at Wichita State University grow (Did you know there are more than 1,300 international students there, and most of them will never be invited into an American home? How sad!) and to facilitate a discovery Bible study among them.
• For each person at Eastminster to participate in a short-term mission trip--it changes you in very powerful ways! • To, along with Eastminster’s World Mission Council and teams, identify unengaged/unreached people groups, pray diligently for those peoples and focus resources (time, energy, skills, talents, in addition to money) in order to see vibrant churches planted among them. • To join with other churches in our presbytery to participate fully in the EPC’s Engage 2025 church planting initiative. • To convert Paul Bammel into an Oklahoma State fan!
Is there anything else you would like the church to know? Yes, that I count it an incredible privilege to receive a call from Eastminster! I look forward to working with Pastor Stan and the rest of the staff to serve you and inspire you to love and serve and obey Christ – for his glory!
Ordination & Installation Service for Michael Goolsby Sunday, March 8, 5 p.m.; Sanctuary Join us as we ordain and install Michael Goolsby as a reverend in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church and as Associate Pastor of Mission at Eastminster. The service will include worship, a special message, and a time of blessing for Mike and his family. Then, you can greet the Goolsbys at a reception in Fellowship Hall. Don’t miss this special occasion for the Eastminster family!
Eastminster Presbyterian Church
5
An interview with founding president, Cathy Turner
A woman’s powerful prayer. A vision of brokenness and ultimate restoration. A voice saying, “I have heard the cry of the broken – who will go?” In these moments of the Lord speaking to Cathy Turner, Hope Ranch was born. Hope Ranch is a ministry in Wichita dedicated to empowering and equipping women who have been exploited and abused to rise above their circumstances and become whole in mind, body and soul. Cathy came to God with open hands and asked, “what’s next?” And as he often does, the Lord began leading Cathy through a journey filled with miracles, blessings, redemption and ultimately hope.
home hopes to open its doors for women to live in a familial type of community with a maximum of four women and a couple serving as house parents. The home has been paid for, thanks to faithful supporters. “It is a commitment of ours,” Cathy shares, “to make sure we are debt-free through every phase of Hope Ranch.” In Wichita alone the abuse and victimization of women is staggering, happening often in our own backyards. Cathy explains some of the current issues. “Wichita, and Kansas in general, is known, especially in places such as New York, as one of the grounds to recruit from, because of naïveté, innocence and the challenge of relational poverty in our community.”
Hope Ranch is currently operating a mentorship program. Mentorship, Cathy explains, is one of the most effective ways to counter abuse. “You cannot legislate issues out of this, or throw enough prescription drugs at this issue, or just get girls over it. We take on relationships and define what integrity and trust look like as a mentor. The opportunities are endless for the girls to receive that love.” This kind of mentor relationship is often messy work, as true, gospel community usually is. “Chances are good she has been on drugs, either given by the pimp, or just used as a way of coping. There will be lots of emotional trauma, complex trauma.” But in the hardness is where healing lives. Redemption and restoration are possible for them.
While the numbers and statistics of women involved in abuse and trafficking may seem overwhelming, and the stories and images paralyzing, all is not hopeless. “Our faith is to be put into works, and while the numbers may seem crazy big – and they are, they are huge, it’s like you cut off the head and it grows another one – if you have made a difference for one girl, you are making the difference for generations on down the line. It’s important to that one and the cycle is ended with her,” Cathy explains. “If this was your daughter, what would you do? If she was out on the street, turning tricks or doing pornography what would you do?”
An equine program is also active, set up to help exploited and abused women learn to trust, process and problem solve, in faithbased therapy with horses. And In the fall of 2015 the Hope Ranch
Hope Ranch may have been born out of a vision, but it ends with Jesus. His redemption, grace and ultimately his hope. Not only for abused women, but for us all.
Missions Second Sunday with Hope Ranch Sunday, March 8, 12:15 p.m.; Fireside Room Join us to hear Cathy Turner share about the work of Hope Ranch and how Eastminster can be involved. RSVP for the luncheon to Marcia Davis at 634.0337, ext. 231, or mdavis@ eastminster.org by Wednesday, March 4.
6
Eastwind Newsletter
Steve Falke Matthew 22: 37-39 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Who do you LOVE? One way God allows us to participate in his redemptive plan for our city is through LOVE Wichita. We become the hands and feet of Jesus in a direct physical way. I think of the elderly widow who described the LOVE team that painted her house as “miracle workers” and I think about the single woman battling cancer who was so inspired by those in her neighborhood who stepped up to help her in her time of need that she herself became part of a LOVE team the following year after being diagnosed as cancer free. LOVE comes in many forms and, sometimes, in unexpected places. There was the couple who had been married for many years, and the husband had become disabled and was off work for awhile, who broke down in tears when their own church assembled a LOVE team to help them. In serving others, God always reminds me of my own need for him and that’s a perspective that has made a great difference in my personal faith journey. And in my heart, I have found true gratitude, not only for what God has done in my own life, but in what he has allowed me to be a part of in serving those around me. I ask myself everyday – Who do I love? It sounds simple, and it really is. But the answer to that simple question and then humbling myself and submitting to God’s will to love him with all my heart, soul, and mind and then to love my neighbor as myself, has strengthen my faith like nothing else ever has. Eastminster Presbyterian Church
7
Junior Organist Shines as Author An interview with an 11 year-old writer, artist and organist, Laura Smith You wrote and illustrated a very creative book about our organ. Tell us about it! It’s about a mouse named Christine who meets a baby angel, Rufus, when she moves into a church. Rufus wants to help Christine find “a mouse-sized palace,” but they are clueless to the fact that it’s a pipe organ, and will blow Christine out of any pipe she nests in each time it’s played. What gave you the idea to write this book? It was written as part of a home school assignment. I had to write a short story explaining how a pipe organ works. It went way above and beyond the guidelines! but also I want kids to know about pipe organs. If they don’t come to the traditional service where they can hear the organ, it just seems like decoration. It’s actually a really cool instrument. Did you write and illustrate the book? I wrote the book, took photos, and drew pictures. My mom Photoshopped some of my drawings onto the photographs. I got to go inside the organ once when it was being tuned and was able to take pictures of the pipes you don’t normally see. How hard was it to illustrate the book? Some pictures were easier than others. I decided to draw a more stylized type of mouse than authentic because I knew drawing things to look life-like would drive me crazy! Rufus, the angel, was harder to draw because I can’t draw guys in general. What do you love about the organ? The organ is cool because it can sound like almost any type of instrument and has some unique sounds of its own. Also, it’s cool to play something that can shake the floor! What do you love about music? I love music because it’s a way to make almost anybody happy, plus it has a huge range of styles. Was writing this book harder than you thought? Not really. I write loooong novels for fun in my spare time, so it was harder to keep it as a short story and not make a supercomplicated plot. It took about two hours or so to make the rough draft and then several days of working off-and-on to edit.
8
Eastwind Newsletter
Are you hoping to make more books? Of course! I write all the time. My current novel is about J.S. Bach’s daughter. How did you get it published? Technically, it isn’t published. I put my photos and text together in a Shutterfly album, then bought several copies to give away or keep. It would be nice to have it published, but that isn’t my one ambition in life or anything like that. What role will the organ play in your future? I think in college that I’d like to minor in organ performance. I want to pursue a career in writing, but having organ skills is like a cushion. There are more churches looking for organists than there are organists around. I also might want to write music for organ, like arrangements of the “Star Wars” theme or things like that that, so people who aren’t classical music fans would enjoy, too.
from Anna Jeter, Laura’s Organ Instructor God has given us many verses in the Bible instructing us to sing and make music in praise to God. So I consider it a blessing when young persons from our congregation wish to use their talents in this way. When Laura began her organ lessons, she understood the principles of good organ playing immediately. It is not easy to play the pipe organ well. We work on connecting the notes to make the music sing. This involves using different fingering from the piano since we have to connect the notes with our fingers rather than the sustaining pedal. We work on music that is appropriate for worship and hymn playing. Shortly after she started lessons with me, she and another young organist were able to play for a Youth Sunday, leading the congregational hymns and playing other parts of the service. Laura has also played for the Children’s Christmas Eve services for the last few years. What a joy it is to work with her as a student. She is a delightful young lady. A special thank you goes to Duane Hanks, the organ technician, who assisted Laura with obtaining the inside photographs and more information about the organ.
“
Laura has advanced very quickly in her skills, and I am thankful that she continues to give her talents to serve God and this congregation. Anna Jeter
�
organ pipes photograph and original illustration of Christine the mouse
original illustration of Christine the mouse entering an organ pipe
original illustration of an upset Christine the mouse by Laura
photograph of inside of organ from the back looking out to the pews
Eastminster Presbyterian Church
9
Easter at eastminster
RISE PRAY • INVITE • REPEAT
Sunday, April 5
8, 9:30 & 11:15 a.m. This Easter, join with us in an effort of prayer. Pastor Stan is calling the church to pray specifically for those who don’t yet know Jesus to join us on Easter Sunday. We’ll pray and pray some more. Then, we’ll equip ourselves with tools to invite friends, neighbors and co-workers to attend worship with us on April 5. Begin asking God now who he is calling you to invite. We’re praying God will use each of us in spectacular ways this Easter season to share the hope of the gospel. So let’s pray, let’s invite, and then repeat. 8 & 9:30 a.m. Traditional services in the Sanctuary with choir, brass, bells and organ 11:15 a.m. Contemporary service in the Sanctuary with worship team
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you! Isaiah 60:1 10
Eastwind Newsletter
An Easter Invitation
by Warren Snyder, Director of Membership Development I don’t know about you but I didn’t like going to church when I was growing up. It was boring. I had to dress up in uncomfortable clothes. We had to get up early on Sunday morning. None of my friends went to church. It wasn’t a part of my life. The Bible was the last book I wanted to read. It was old and outdated. As I got older I became interested in sports, girls and what I was going to do on the weekends. I was having fun but being selfabsorbed left me feeling empty. The fun stuff was leaving me wanting. I didn’t know what I wanted and I didn’t know where to turn.
the problem of sin was that God sent his Son to die on the cross for me. But I had to reach out and accept this gift that God was offering me – his Son Jesus Christ. After he finished I thought, “Well, that is good advice. I will give it some thought and maybe Randy and I can talk about it later.” But Randy wasn’t going to let me off that easy. He said, “Is there any reason why you can’t accept Jesus as your Savior right now?” I couldn’t give him a reason. So I did. I didn’t notice any bells or whistles going off. No heavenly choirs singing. But, I knew I was different.
The question of what it meant to be a Christian came up. To be honest, I didn’t know what a Christian was. I remember thinking out loud, as I was walking along the parking lot in front of my house, that I thought I was a Christian because I lived in America, and America is a Christian nation. And second, I wasn’t as evil as Charles Manson. I thought I was a nice guy. In reality, I had no idea what it meant to be a Christian. I was clueless. So, I continued to live life as best I could, trying to survive.
From that point I began to meet with men who wanted me to grow in my faith. And you will never guess what else I started doing! I started reading my Bible regularly. I would take it to class. I started memorizing – yes, memorizing – whole chapters of it. I took a class called Memorize the Word with Dr. Richard Spann. My prayer partner was Ben Owen. The same Ben Owen who tends the Welcome Desk here at Eastminster on Sunday morning. That was more than 40 years ago.
Then, out of the blue a friend of my brother’s invited me to attend church with him on Easter. Easter is an important holiday and so I thought “Well, why not?” Besides, I couldn’t come up with an excuse. What else did I have going on Sunday morning?
This Easter there may be someone you know who needs to come to church. We don’t know who is ripe to hear the gospel just by looking at them. They don’t have signs around their neck saying, “I am searching, can you help me?” They look just like you and me. Don’t let the outside fool you. This Easter may be the Sunday God will use to change their life like he did mine. If it is, I know he or she will be eternally grateful.
I know now I was looking for meaning in life but I didn’t know where to look. I certainly did not think Jesus was the answer. After my friend and I went to the Easter service, I really felt different. I was open to the idea that maybe there is something to Christianity after all. My perspective was changing. I couldn’t explain it. But I began to feel different in the way I viewed church and God. So, my friend Randy Madison invited me out for a coke that evening. He told me God loved me and had a wonderful plan for my life. The problem is that I was a sinner. The solution to
Holy Week
Palm Sunday, March 29 Services at 8, 9:30 and 11 a.m.; Sanctuary Maundy Thursday, April 2 7 p.m. in the Sanctuary Includes a demonstration of the Seder Dinner Good Friday, April 3 7 p.m. in the Sanctuary Includes music led by the Eastminster Chancel Choir, bells and organ.
The Gospel Empowers Us to Be Friendly by Jeff Penner Originally published by Journey The Way Church used with permission The only way to accomplish [being a welcoming, friendly church] is through intentionality. We must fight against our tendency to seek out people we know and are comfortable with. This simply isn’t natural to us. We tend to find people we know and are comfortable with. This is why we have developed teams for hospitality...We want to be intentional about being friendly. But it can’t be limited to a few dozen extroverts, it must be a realized conviction of the entire congregation. If everyone in the church only spoke to people they know, then newcomers would never feel welcome. For us to be hospitable to first-time guests we have to prioritize being friendly and hospitable over socializing. We have to remember we may only have one chance to reach out to the people who walk in our doors on a Sunday morning. Some of them are hurting and lonely. Others haven’t felt loved in a long time. We don’t know what the impact [may be] of reaching out to someone and say, “Hi, I haven’t met you before. My name is ____, what is your name? Is this your first time with us?” The Spirit may use our friendliness and welcoming others to woo them to believe in Christ – which is what we want for every person we meet.
Friendliness Tip #1: As our congregation grows, there is an increasing risk of meeting people for the first time who are NOT new to Journey The Way, but we’re only now meeting for the first time. This can be awkward, but it’s also understandable. A good way to start that conversation is “Have I met you before?” and if they say yes, you can follow up with, “I’m sorry I’m trying my best to put faces and names together,” and then work to remember them the next time. Another thing that can be helpful is when you have something unique that helps you connect with that person and remember them. Ask them about their job, their family, their college major, or something that will help you make a personal connection with them and give you something to discuss the next time you see each other.
Friendliness Tip #2: Some new guests will leave within the first five minutes following a service. For the five minutes right after the service ends, try to find someone you do not know, introduce yourself, and get to know them.
The reason why the church strives to be hospitable is simply to express the love of Christ in a tangible way. Here are a few wrong ways to think about hospitality: • “I want to look good, so I’ll be hospitable.” Correction: Because Jesus is hospitable to me, and I want Jesus to look good, I’ll be hospitable. • “I want others to like me, so I’ll be friendly.” Correction: Because Jesus sought me out when I was a stranger, I want others to experience Christ’s love, so I’ll be friendly. • “I don’t want to be hospitable because it’s uncomfortable.” Correction: Because Jesus rejected his own comfort to seek me out, I want to provide every opportunity for others to feel loved, even if I’m uncomfortable. Special note for introverts: Some of you are not extroverted in your personality, and all of the above is overwhelming to you. You see [pastors] walking from person to person, smiling and shaking hands and making small talk, and it terrifies you. On the one hand, just because you’re an introvert doesn’t mean you get away with not being friendly, but it does mean it might look different for you. Here’s an idea: If you look to connect with one new person and then continue that connection for several weeks while they get plugged into more relationships, you can reach several people throughout the year without feeling like you have to greet and get to know every person you see on Sunday morning. Part of how you can serve is by pushing yourself out of your comfort zone for a couple hours every Sunday.
Friendliness Tip #3: Think of it like a radar for new people. When you pull into the parking lot on Sunday morning, begin looking for people you don’t know. As you check in your children at [Children’s Ministries], get some coffee, or make lunch plans after the service, be aware of your surroundings. Your “ping” radios should be about 10 feet – [meaning you] try to meet everyone within 10 feet of you. Want friends? Be friendly! You might be missing out on a tremendous blessing of a great friendship if you don’t make the opportunity to meet someone and invite them to lunch after service. Your next best friend might be walking into our building for the first time this Sunday! The purpose of all of this is to simply provide every opportunity for people to be loved... [We do this] by renouncing our selfishness and seeking to reach out to people we do not know on a Sunday morning. We do this in the hopes that every person who walks in the building...will experience the love of Christ through every aspect of a service – from being welcomed at the front door, worshipping through great music, hearing the preaching of the Word, to being sought out by members of the church for relationship...We serve a hospitable God, so let’s be hospitable people! Eastminster Presbyterian Church
11
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.
The goal of Eastwind is to support the mission of Eastminster Church: Glorify God. Follow Christ. Transform Lives. Director of Communications: Courtney Browning (cbrowning@eastminster.org). Associate Director of Communications: Hannah Lambert (hlambert@eastminster.org).
From the Editor Everyone has a story. Our stories make up the fabric of our lives, and are the threads woven into the larger picture – God’s own story. At Eastminster, we value telling the stories of God’s people. Life transformation needs to be shared. A new life in Christ should absolutely be celebrated! Eastwind has long been a primary vehicle for telling our stories. And with the advent of new technology, we have even more power to share life change and reach others with our stories of hope. In 2015, you’ll receive four issues of Eastwind magazine (Spring, Summer, Fall and Holiday), and we also encourage you to interact with the online extension of the church – our website. There you’ll find even more stories of redemption and encouragement through our Stories blog (eastminster.org/blogs/stories). And if you have a story to share, I would love to hear it! Please email me at cbrowning@eastminster.org. It is my greatest joy to tell the story of Jesus’ redemption of his people!
The Mission Experience
4 . 1 9 . 1 5 // 9 : 3 0 a . m . WHEN god says go will you say yes?
This Sunday will propel us forward to GO into the community and world with the gospel. Join us for a worship service involving the entire church family as we worship, hear testimonies, are challenged from God’s Word, spend time in prayer, and are equipped to GO and live on mission. We’re using the momentum of Eastminster’s long history and love for missions to write a new chapter in our global outreach. You’ll catch the new vision for missions at Eastminster, be inspired by stories of the gospel from around the globe, challenged to take action right where you are, and be equipped to join in the movement. Don’t miss this special day as we prepare to GO into all the world with the gospel!