Following Jesus Spring 2014

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F R A Z E R

U N I T E D

M E T H O D I S T

PLEASE TAKE ONE.

C H U RC H

FOLLOWING

JESUS T

H E M

CHILDREN’S MINISTER

Theresa Reiter

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J O N A ND D I A NE K L A A REN

ORDINARY PEOPLE PAG E 11

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THE WORK OF AN EVANGELIST PAUL AND DIAN SIMS 18

BULLETS TO BLESSINGS INTERNATIONAL CLASS 26 PLUS GIRL’S MINISTRY • MOLDOVA • PERU • EASTER EVENTS • MORE FOLLOWING JESUS

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FOLLOWING JESUS VOL. 1 NO. 4 SPRING 2014 Published by Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church 6000 Atlanta Hwy. Montgomery, AL 36117 Printed in USA by Publications Press

Editor & Layout Ken Roach

Editorial Coordinator Amy Presley

Writers Amy Presley Alexia Scott Ken Roach Photographers Lori Mercer Lee Werling Suzanne Williams cover image: Theresa Reiter with some of Frazer’s children.

Photo by Lori Mercer.

©2014 Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church. Limited permission is granted to reproduce articles in their entirety for the purpose of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ without commercial gain.

APPLY TO BE A VOLUNTEER WRITER OR PHOTOGRAPHER. CONTACT AMY PRESLEY, AMYP@ FRAZERUMC.ORG 334.495.6436

The Good News about the Good News WHEN DOES EVANGELISM NOT LOOK LIKE EVANGELISM? Evangelism is a churchy word, so perhaps everyone doesn’t know what it means. It comes from the Greek roots “eu” meaning good and “angelium” meaning “news” or “message.” So, literally, it means the process or result of sharing good news.

Let’s be honest, though: for many Christians (and non-Christians), evangelism doesn’t sound like good news. We tend to picture street corner preachers calling hell-fire and brimstone down on intimidated passers-by, or socially awkward conversations with people who seem to force every topic to be about religion instead of letting relationships build naturally. Mentioning the word can cause unbelievers to be turned off to the church, while believers often become filled with fear, anxiety, or guilt for their perceived failure to fulfill Jesus’ command to “go and make disciples of all nations.”

Sometimes, however, evangelism looks a little different. It might look like a man accepting Christ precisely because he discovered a group of Christians who seemed perfectly normal to him (see the Klaaren’s story, p. 11). It might look like someone who is chosen to head up the evangelism committee, only to discover that he himself doesn’t know Jesus (see the Sims story, p. 18). It might look like a Children’s Minister making every child feel loved and worthy (p. 40), or a Student Minister inspiring girls to find their confidence and self-worth in Christ (p. 7).

It could be a husband who goes on a mission trip just to protect his wife, and ends up falling in love with the children in an orphanage (p. 32), or a Sunday School class that takes in refugees fleeing from a brutal dictatorship and builds lifelong friendships with them (p. 26).

Don’t get me wrong. There will be times when sharing our faith is difficult, and even offensive to unbelievers. Jesus warned us that the world had rejected him, and it would also reject his people at times.

Nevertheless, the good news about the good news is, when you become filled with the love of God, nothing is more natural, or more fulfilling, than having the privilege of sharing that love with others.

I hope you’ll see that as you read through the stories in these pages.

Ken Roach, Communication Director Frazer United Methodist Church

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Easter Events 2014 #GUILTYGOD TEACHING SERIES | MAR. 16-APR. 20

Our pastors continue their study through the Gospel of John with this sermon series exploring the week humanity put Jesus on trial, and what it means for us today.

EASTER EGGSTRAVAGANZA | SAT. APRIL 12

Celebrate the true meaning of Easter together as a family.

Fun for children up to 5th grade from 9-11 a.m. in the Frazer Atrium. Egg hunts, games, crafts, and inflatibles.

AWESTRUCK AT THE CROSS | SUN. APRIL 13

Palm Sunday night of worship featuring Frazer’s choir, orchestra, and praise band. A time to remember and praise the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for us. 6 p.m. in the Sanctuary.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS | WED.-FRI. APRIL 16-18

An interactive prayer experience that carries you on a journey through the last steps of Jesus to the cross. Open in Wesley Hall 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday, and 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday of Holy Week.

GOOD FRIDAY WORSHIP | FRI. APRIL 18

A solemn service of darkness, reenacting the day Jesus died through song, word, and the extinguishing of candles.

7 p.m. in the Sanctuary.

EASTER SUNRISE WORSHIP | SUN. APRIL 20

A victorious celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ outdoors by the lake at Blount Cultural Park. 6 a.m. Bring a blanket or lawn chair. Rain cancels.

EASTER FAMILY WORSHIP | SUN. APRIL 20

Worship together at one of our six morning worship services—Contemporary or Sanctuary at 8, 9:30 or 11 a.m. Celebrate the turning point of all history, and the hope of every future—the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Share the Love We didn’t intend for this issue of Following Jesus to focus on evangelism, but it turned out to be a common thread in all of our stories. As you read these stories, think about the diverse and unique ways in which people are sharing the love of God and the message of Jesus with others; then, take a moment to pray and ask God to use you to do the same.

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Confidence in Christ: Brittany Finch

Bullets to Blessings: Frazer International Class

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Ordinary People: Jon and Diane Klaaren

Moldova Feels Like Home: Brian and Kathryn Jones

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The Work of an Evangelist: Paul and Dian Sims

16 Missions Update: Peru

Greenless No More: Theresa Reiter

38 Photo Farewell: Brian Word FOLLOWING JESUS

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APRIL 25-26 CRAVE ROOM $40

DEADLINE TO SIGN UP

APRIL 9

STUDENT MINISTRY

CONFIDENCE IN

Christ

Frazer Girls’ Minister Brittany Finch helps girls find their self-worth in a relationship with Jesus » FOLLOWING JESUS

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BY KEN ROACH | If I told you a story about a grandchildren’s lives. “He took care of us and stayed girl that starts with “my father left us when I was with us. He’s a very strong Christian man, whom I two years old and I don’t even know what he looks could look up to in every way.” like,” you might expect that story to end with a Brittany’s mother remarried when she was in woman who was troubled, confused, or insecure. the fifth grade. Her stepfather, David, she describes Statistically, that would be a safe guess. But that’s as her “real dad.” Although there were challenges not who walks into the conference room when I with blending a family—David brought two stepinterview Brittany Finch, Frazer’s Girls’ Ministry brothers into Brittany’s life as well, and adjusting leader. Instead, Ms. Finch exudes confidence—even to all the new relationships was not easy—she says command—as she sits down and begins to walk me that through those hardships she has learned that through her journey of following Jesus. change can be good. “We became a better family in It’s clear from the beginning that a powerful the long run,” she observes, “which has helped me force in her life is her mother, Donna. “She is amaz- to be open to change and to see the good when the ing. She battled Lord wants to do through school to something new.” take care of us, Meanwhile, getting first her the church was teaching degree playing a formaand then her mastive role in Britter’s at AUM. We tany’s growth had no money, but as well. She was she did whatever very involved in it took to take her youth group care of us. Yet I at Heritage Bapnever felt like she tist of Prattville, was too busy with and she credits work to take time “healthy friendfor me.” Brittany ships” she made admires Donna’s ABOVE: Brittany Finch on a mission trip to Haiti. Wherever she goes, there with keepdrive and ambi- girls are drawn to Brittany. PHOTO CONTRIBUTED ing her out of tion, noting with trouble as a young pride that her mom is now an assistant principal, person. I ask her if she went through a period of but even more important noting that Donna is “a doubting God, as many teens do, but she is firm strong Christian.” It was her mother who helped in saying “the Lord showed me that He was real.

Brittany begin her faith journey. “My mom led me to I was aware of what he was doing in my life. I the Lord when I was 7 years old,” Brittany explains. was so plugged in to church and youth group that While her mother was the driving influence, I didn’t really struggle with my faith.” In fact, she Brittany also credits several men who stepped up sees regular church attendance as a discipline too in leadership roles in her life. She describes hav- many Christians are losing. “It frustrates me how ing a “special relationship” with her grandfather, flippant people are about church. it’s important to whom she worked alongside for a while in the fam- be consistent.” That discipline for Brittany includes ily business, a carpet company based in Prattville. not only being in church weekly, but also spending Her mother made sure they were involved in their time daily in God’s word and in prayer.

PREVIOUS PAGE: Brittany Finch joined Frazer’s Student Ministry staff in 2013. P HOTO BY LORI MERCER

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LEFT: Brittany with friends at First Baptist Church, Montgomery, where she got her start in Student Ministry.

RIGHT: Brittany with her mother, Donna Finch. P HOTOS CONTRIBUTED.

Heritage was also shaping in Brittany a passion for missions. The church offered missions conferences and missionaries often stayed in her house. Her youth pastor eventually went into full time mission work, as well. From them she caught a glimpse of a life filled with loving people, helping and serving them, and telling them about Jesus. Over the years she went on mission trips to Haiti, the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas, New York City and Atlanta.

Four trips to Nicaragua culminated in a six week stent in that nation, doing everything from serving in the feeding kitchens, to setting up churches for worship, to assisting the missions staff with bookkeeping. Once again she was inspired by a strong single woman, this time the missionary she served in Nicaragua. Despite the challenges for a woman on the mission field, Brittany felt called to go into full time international missions when she headed off to college at AUM. That trajectory was changed—or rather, took on new dimensions—through her church experience while in her college years. So many of her friends left the area to go to school, but Brittany found herself seeking out Christian community, and moved to the larger fellowship of First Baptist Church, Montgomery to find it. Instead, she found herself increasingly taking on ministry roles, volunteering in the youth ministry there under Student Pastor Stuart Davidson.

Simply through being faithful to serve as the Lord called her, she was unknowingly developing the heart and the skills that she is using in her job today.

She also discovered the Nehemiah Project (a local urban ministry program at FBC similar to Frazer’s Transformation Montgomery project in Garden Square). There Brittany worked with children in after school and summer camp programs, tutoring them and offering GED preparation, and being a mentor to young mothers. The experience opened BELOW: Brittany at the Nehemiah Project, an urban

ministry initiative similar to Frazer’s Transformation Montgomery project. P HOTO CONTRIBUTED.

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her eyes to the opportunities for local missions, and the possibility that her calling might not be overseas but here at home.

On the other hand, college was also a time of testing for Brittany. She did not particularly enjoy her Business Major class work, although education was an important value in her family. Then, a long time relationship with a boyfriend also came to a painful end. “My family said he was trouble, but I thought he was great,” she confesses. “He wasn’t.

It took a long time to realize they were right and I was wrong. I was stubborn.” She faced a great deal of loneliness after the experience.

However, Brittany’s foundations were not shaken. Her favorite verse is Isaiah 40:31: “but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and

not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Brittany says, “when you hope in the Lord, he is the one who will sustain you. He’ll take you farther than you can go on your own.”

Now, she is sharing that message with the young women of Frazer’s Student Ministry. “Being a girl today has crazy challenges,” she says. “My message to them is to know where their image comes from. So many have no self esteem because their image comes from boys, school, or activities, and they end up empty. But when you find your image in Jesus, He will fill you, protect you, give you self-esteem and self-confidence. That’s easy to say, but it took me years to learn.”

Confidence, indeed. Brittany Finch has that in spades, for this is a young woman who truly knows who her Heavenly Father is.

BELOW: Participants in “Draw Near,” an overnight event for girls in grades 6-12. Frazer’s Girl’s Minister, Brittany

Finch, organizes events like this to help young women become rooted in Christ. P HOTO BY FRAZER STUDENT MINISTRY

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DAILY WALK

ORDINARY

People God

EXTRAORDINARY

Jon and Diane Klaaren demonstrate what it looks like to follow Jesus in everyday ways.

BY KEN ROACH | Jon and Diane Klaaren are the kind of Jesus-followers I love to interview: they have absolutely no idea why I want to talk to them.

They consider their story completely normal, perhaps even boring. Yet, anyone who has met them is bound to sense the presence of Christ radiating from both of them, in Diane’s joyful smile and in Jon’s sincere devotion. I made it my goal to find out how, and why, two people came to be so full of God’s presence, even if they don’t think their story is much to write about.

The Klaaren’s are a classic example of the two paths to walking with Jesus: the gradual awakening, and the sudden conversion. Diane was raised in

the church. Her parents went regularly and ensured that she was involved in her youth group. There, she came to know Christ as her savior during a summer camp. “It was the ‘70s,” recalls Diane. “It was all about love and peace—Godspell and Jesus Christ Superstar,” for those who remember the times.

Nevertheless, an early marriage for Diane ended in divorce, and by the time she met and married Jon, who was not a believer, God was still in her life, but much of her devotion to Christ seemed to be in her past. “We were good, responsible people, but faith was not really a part of our daily lives,” they explain.

In contrast, Jon’s father had reacted against the

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strictness of his father’s Dutch Reformed upbringing, and turned against God, so he did not pass on a faith to Jon. Jon’s parents divorced when he was seven, and he has only vague memories of occasionally attending an old, formal Presbyterian church in downtown Dayton, Ohio. “My primary impression was that it was cold, the building and the people” Jon says.

He went to church some with his mother after the divorce, but the church youth program was weak. At age 16, his parents let him make his “own decisions

about religion.” Once or twice he attended a youth group with friends at another church, but although he knew there was a God, he was not a Christian.

Nevertheless, to Jon and Diane, life seemed good. They had one daughter, Suzanne. Jon had a successful career in the U.S. Air Force. Life was about working hard, getting promotions, and enjoying parties on the weekends. The occasional professing Christian they met seemed “weird” to them; they thought of them as “Bible thumpers.”

BELOW: Jon and Diane Klaaren with grandchildren Ella, Anna and Hudson. P HOTO BY SUZANNE WILLIAMS.

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Life began to change when the Air Force assigned Jon to Maxwell AFB in Montgomery in 1992, the first of three assignments in the city before the couple eventually retired here. They made their way to Frazer and began attending under the ministry of Dr. John Ed Mathison. Diane’s faith began to reawaken. “I knew I was a believer. The Holy Spirit began nagging me about my walk, and I began to read my Bible and pray more.”

For his part, Jon was intrigued by John Ed’s preaching. It seemed down to earth and comprehensible in contrast to the formal, high-brow sermons he had been used to in Northern churches. The couple also met numerous believers through their Sunday School class who struck them as ordinary, regular people—not weirdos. Seeing others who had a genuine faith walk with Christ, but who were not prudes or self-righteous, opened their hearts to the possibilities of exploring their faith more.

Jon especially remembers the influence of Jim Salminen, a fellow USAF vet, and the teacher of their Sunday School class, who broke the stereotype Jon had held that a Christian man would be “weak, judgmental, and unreal.” Jim was none of those things. Others who stood out included their neighbors, Braxton and Katherine Webb, who first invited them to Frazer, and the late Earl Andrews, Frazer’s former pastor of Congregational Care, who modeled being a godly man through his soft-spoken, warm and loving lifestyle.

Meanwhile, God was preparing Jon for a turning point at work. From 1992-93 he had been a student at Air Command and Staff College (ACSC), and the following year he was called on to turn around and immediately become an instructor in the program.

Previously he had been a “flier,” not a classroom instructor. His workload was heavy, he was under significant stress, and he was losing sleep at night.

For perhaps the first time in his life, God was showing Jon that he could not handle life completely on his own.

Around the evening of March 20, 1995, Jon awoke in the middle of the night in a cold sweat, finally overwhelmed. He knew in his spirit he could no longer keep doing life on his own. He knelt down beside the bed and accepted Jesus as his Lord and

ABOVE: Jon in uniform just before his retirement from the USAF. He flew 30 combat missions during operation Desert Storm as well as serving as an instructor, curriculum developer, commander, and academic administrator before retiring as a colonel. However, perhaps his greatest rank to date is that of “PopPop.” PHOTO BY SUZANNE WILLIAMS.

Savior. “I know it sounds like a cliché,” Jon remembers, “but when I got back in bed I had a sense of peace, and I got up the next morning with a new spring in my step.”

Jon did not tell Diane immediately what had transpired in the night, but as fate would have it, they were scheduled that weekend to pick up their daughter from a choir trip she had been participating in with the church under the ministry of Amis Sellers.

When she got in the car, Suzanne told her parents, “I became a Christian!” Jon’s reply: “So did I!” The weekend was a turning point. As Diane notes, so often in the church, when you reach the father, you reach the whole family. Her own faith began to grow much more rapidly now that Jon was sharing the journey. “We had never had problems in our marriage, but now it became even more solid,” she says. They began reading their Bibles on

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Initially, their volunteer service took the form of what they call “non-sacrificial ways” with limited commitment, but over the years it has grown to be a bigger and bigger part of their lives. Recently they took courses to be certified as foster care parents so they could assist younger foster families in the growing OneFamily ministry of the church. Jon, an amateur musician, plays the guitar frequently for the chapel worship services at the Air Force base. The Klaarens have also taken over leadership of the Alpha Course, an outreach program, and are considering how they can take the next steps in develABOVE: Diane with her mother and sister. P HOTO BY SUZANNE WILLIAMS. oping a small group to mentor younger couples.

In the area of giving, the a regular basis.

Klaarens have attempted to apply biblical principles Suzanne remembers the difference in her par- of money management so they can be free to inents before and after that time in their lives. “They vest in the lives of others. Applying his military were always great parents, but before then, church discipline, Jon created a spreadsheet to track the was not a priority in our lives,” she recalls. “After- couple’s progress out of debt so that they would be wards, all of our priorities just seemed to shift. financially free to tithe.

Prayer became part of our daily lives, and we were Perhaps closest to their hearts, their walk with in church every week.”

Jesus has subtly shifted the priority they place on She especially remembers how loving her father family. Jon was a likely candidate for eventual prowas towards her after she made some mistakes in motion to General in the USAF, which would have life in her college years and realized she needed to been a great honor, but the Klaarens also knew it come back home. “He showed so much grace and would move them away from their children and forgiveness to me. I don’t know where I would be grandchildren and take up most of their time with if he had responded differently,” Suzanne says. work. Instead, he retired to a civilian career, and Jon says accepting Christ was also the begin- they are able to invest their time with daughter Suning of a journey that has carried them away from zane, son-in-law Keith Williams, and grandchildren a life concerned with accumulating possessions, to Ella, Anna and Hudson. Diane has also recently one in which they find their greatest satisfaction in taken on the role of assistant in Suzanne’s photogserving others. Inspired by testimonies they heard raphy business so she can spend even more time from other couples in the church, they signed up to with her grandchildren. give and serve through Frazer’s In His Steps ministry Keith says he has been significantly influenced (now known as Followership). by the Klaarens’ example, especially his father-in-

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law. “Sometimes I ask myself, WWJD—what would Jon do?” laughs Keith. “He is a man of such complete integrity, and yet amazing humility, I want to be more like him.”

Suzanne notes the impact of her parents example on her own family. “We are raising our children completely differently now than we would have. They have shown me that life is not divided up—certain parts ‘Christian” and other parts not—it’s a total incorporation of the joy of Christ into all that they do.”

Diane has also taken on the role of primary caregiver to her aging mother. Her older sister lives in South Dakota and is unable to be directly involved, so the burden of almost daily care falls to Diane.

Here again, following Jesus has been formative in Diane’s heart attitude. “It’s hard. I love my mom, but it can still be difficult,” admits Diane. However, she believes God put her in a position to serve her mother so she would learn what true service is about. “He showed me to just keep serving and to love her with no strings or conditions attached.” The result is an unexpected joy even in the hardships.

Sustaining their ongoing growth in Christ for both Jon and Diane is a regular daily practice of Bible reading. Jon typically rises between 4-5 a.m. to set aside time for reading, prayer, and reflection before he takes his morning run. He uses the GLO electronic Bible resource and the My Utmost for His Highest devotional classic.

Diane served for a time on staff at Frazer, as assistant to former Minister of Discipleship Shane Segars and also as assistant to Teaching Pastor Patrick Quinn. She credits Shane with discipling her on the importance of a daily time with God, and for modeling what a real and authentic Christian walk looked like. Her down to earth understanding of a walk with God was a great asset to Frazer’s contemporary worship team while she served with Patrick.

Before retirement, Jon attended base Bible studies and Officers’ Christian Fellowship breakfasts, but he did not always feel free to share his faith openly in the military environment. Now, Jon is in a civilian role at Ingram State Technical College, working as Dean of Administration. All students are convicted felons currently serving out their sentences, who have earned the privilege to participate in the

ABOVE: The Klaaren’s daughter, Suzanne Williams, with husband Keith and their children. P HOTO CONTRIBUTED.

technical classes offered at Ingram. Jon considers it a ministry, working to bring the transforming influence of Christ to these men and women so desperately seeking a new start in life.

In fact, Jon and Diane make it their goal to share Christ in some way in every aspect of their daily lives.

Jon admits he is uncomfortable approaching people in an overt way to evangelize or proselytize them, but he strives to be an example in the way he lives and the way he makes decisions, and by sharing his own faith story when the opportunity arises. Diane notes that they have friends who went through a difficult time in their marriage and asked, “what is so different about you and Jon?” Her response is simple: “We are following Jesus now.” She says, “everything about us is who we are in Christ. In every interaction we try to put others first. The reason why we’re left here is to introduce others to Him.” Perhaps Jon and Diane are living “ordinary” lives for Christ, with no dramatic highs or lows. However, it was just such “ordinary” people who showed them that Christianity did not have to be weird and opened the door to their own faith journey. Now, in the lives of prisoners, and foster children, and aging parents, and precious grandchildren, they are making an extraordinary difference in that same quiet, ordinary way.

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MISSIONS

Moving Mountains Martin Reeves is thankful for Frazer’s support as he celebrates 10 Years on mission in Peru

An

Martin Reeves’ newsletter: Thank you for your partnership with us in making disciples in Peru.

Thank you from the 700 children, youth, and adults who heard the Gospel message and received hot chocolate and fruitcake during our Christmas outreach.

Thank you for paying the medical bills for Cesar and Eva who miscarried Dec. 23. Thank you from the 500 children learning about new life in Christ during three weeks of VBS in February. Thank you for making an eternal difference in the lives of the Peruvian people through your partnership with us in ministry.

We first arrived in Peru 10 years ago February. By invitation of the District Superintendent of Northern Peru, my primary task was training Methodist lay pastors and Christian leaders. After

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training dozens of leaders, in 2007, God gave us a clear vision of planting churches, evangelizing the lost, equipping believers to be disciple makers, and ministering to the spiritual, physical, and emotional needs of the Peruvian people. Since then, through the power of the Holy Spirit and God’s amazing grace, we have planted four churches, trained dozens of leaders, and baptized over 40 new believers in Christ Jesus. Each week, we minister to over 300 children, youth, and adults at our five primary worship services. In addition, we have a dozen discipleship groups meeting on a regular basis.

This past year, we have been busy working alongside the Holy Spirit building God’s Kingdom in Peru. Our youth group presented an Easter drama in a public park, we planted a new church, hosted a mission team from Frazer UMC who ministered to

PICTURED: Machu Pichu, Peru. GETTY IMAGES.

over 1,100 people, prayed with dozens of people to trust in Christ as their personal Savior, and purchased land to build the first of three churches and family centers. While I am here in the States, the ministry in Peru continues on under the leadership of our Peruvian team. Peruvians have taken ownership of the ministry, compelled by Christ to make disciples. After 10 years of building relationships and sharing Christ’s love through word and deed, we are witnessing an incredible outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

This past year, we have experienced many emotional highs and lows. We have seen God heal broken relationships through repentance and forgiveness. We were blessed to play a role in the lives of many people who came to faith in Christ as their Lord and Savior. We have grieved with three couples who lost their babies through miscarriage. We were

there to baptize a 10-month old baby hours before he entered the presence of his Heavenly Father and to pray and grieve with his heartbroken parents.

We have fought alongside those battling demonic oppression and have seen them set free through the blood and authority of Jesus Christ. We have borne witness to God instantly and miraculously healing three people.

I am truly humbled by our loving heavenly Father who allows me to participate with Him in transforming lives for eternity. We look forward to another 10+ years of ministering alongside the Holy Spirit in making disciples of Christ in Peru. We give thanks to God for each and everyone of you who have partnered with us prayerfully and financially in fighting the good fight of faith. —Martin Reeves

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WITNESS

THE WORK OF AN

Evangelist Paul and Dian Sims have spent nearly 40 years finding platforms from which to share the good news of Christ with others.

“But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

–2 Timothy 4:5 NASB

BY KEN ROACH | When I sit down in the living room of Paul and Dian Sims, he is in between chemo treatments for lymphoma, a few weeks after having a mass removed from his sinus area. However, you wouldn’t know it from Paul’s joyful spirit. He and Dian welcome me into their peaceful home with beautiful smiles and warm hugs. Paul’s just excited that he hasn’t lost all his hair.

It’s not like the Sims are unfamiliar with serious illness. When he retired after 18 years in a staff role with Frazer’s Congregational Care Ministry, Paul had visited thousands of

people in and out of area hospitals and treatment centers. Dian herself has been through two different bouts with cancer. To fully understand their joy in the midst of trials, you need to go back to the beginning of Paul and Dian’s journey of following Jesus—one that begins, interestingly enough, in a hospital bed.

The year was 1973. Dian was facing a potentially life-threatening illness.

She had been married to Paul for several years and they had one daughter, Paula, who was in first grade at the time. They attended church, but Paul was not a believer. Although Dian had been raised by parents who took her to church, Sunday School, and Vacation Bible School regularly, her relationship with God was only head knowledge.

OPPOSITE: Dr. Tim Thompson honors Paul Sims at his retirement. Paul served for 18 years in the Frazer Congregational

Care Ministry. P HOTO BY LEE WERLING. ABOVE: Dian Sims volunteering for Vacation Bible School. PHOTO CONTRIBUTED.

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Lying in a hospital bed, gripped by fear and lism ministry. So, in an effort to figure out what desperation, Dian cried out with the simplest of ‘evangelism’ was all about, he and Dian attended a prayers: “God help me.” That three word ‘sinner’s Campus Crusade conference where Paul was introprayer’ began a journey that would last a lifetime. duced to the Four Spiritual Laws (a simple way of By praying that, Dian “acknowledged God and that presenting the good news of Jesus to those who I needed Him in my life,” she explains. “Changes don’t know Him). Conference attendees then went began to take place and I knew I was different.” out door to door, practicing their skills by sharing At the same time, Frazer member Linda Suttle Christ with others. Instead, Paul found himself realwas teaching the Sims’ daughter Paula at Trinity izing he needed to know more about Jesus himself.

Presbyterian School, and she began to come home That seed planted by the Holy Spirit grew in and discuss what she Paul’s heart, watered was learning from the

by Dian’s prayers, and Bible with her parents. in February of 1976 That led Dian to begin at a Sunday night reading her own Bible worship service, Paul in earnest. “I had an incame forward and describable hunger for knelt at the altar in God’s Word and would Frazer’s East Sanctusit for hours reading it,” ary to accept Jesus as she recalls. “I couldn’t his Lord and Savior. believe how relevant it Like Dian, Paul imwas to daily life.” mediately felt a hunger After about a to learn more of God’s year Dian joined a Word, now that he was Frazer women’s sharfollowing Jesus. He ing group and began was connected with a to grow rapidly in her Bible Study being led Christian life. Sylvia

by John Riley at the Baldwin led the group.

Holiday Inn. Starting “She made me hungry with 11 members, the for Jesus,” says Dian. study eventually grew “I saw in her something to more than 400 meetI wanted in my own ing at the Civic Center life, an assurance of and was influential in God’s love and provishaping the faith of sion.” She also credmany in our city. At its her friend Nancy the same time, Paul James, among many others, with discipling her to wanted to be part of a small group, and reached understand the scriptures. Desiring to share her out to Andy Harris. Andy soon started the Saturday wonderful new life with her husband, Dian and her morning men’s group that has been meeting ever group began to pray for Paul’s salvation. Two years since (see the Summer 2013 issue of Following Jesus). later their prayer was answered in a unique way.

Every night at home Paul was reading his Bible Like many church members who are not actu- as well, a practice he continues today along with ally followers of Jesus, by 1975 Paul was “going and Dian. They use a variety of devotional materials, giving” enough to look the part of a church leader. some printed and some delivered electronically to Ironically, he was elected to head up the evange- their computer or Kindle devices. Both speak highly

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of the impact of the daily devotions written by Frazer Pastor Tim Thompson for the past couple of years on their lives. Dian uses a prayer system called the 29:59 Plan that helps her focus a daily devotional time with a different prayer focus for each day of the week. She also maintains a running prayer journal that lists all the requests people have shared with her, which she continues to pray over faithfully until she is able to write in that the prayer has been answered.

Those daily devotional habits prepared Paul and Dian for uncertain days ahead. Paul’s first career was with an electrical contractor, he was succesful, becoming president of the corporation. In 1980 when the economy took a downturn, the owner decided to close the company. The Sims found themselves without income for an extended period. Yet time and again, the Lord provided just what they needed, when they needed it.

One day, Paul got a call from a former employee— remarkably, one whom he had fired. “He started by saying that getting fired was the best thing that could have happened to him,” Paul recalls. “It helped him become a better person. Then he went on to tell me about a job opening with the Blount company.” Paul ended up working for Blount for the next 10 years.

In 1993, it happened again; an economic turn that spelled the end of that line of business for Blount. Paul had already scheduled a trip to the Holy Land before he lost his job. While in Israel, he remembers thinking, although there was not much likelihood of him finding another job in his field in Montgomery, “I ain’t leavin’ my church.” Shortly after he returned home, Earl Andrews, who headed up Frazer’s Congregational Care Ministry at the time, approached him about coming on staff with the church.

“I didn’t even like going in hospitals,” Paul admits. But he agreed to pray and seek God’s will. The next week, he rode with Earl on some visits. Paul says, “I knew then it was the right thing. Sometimes, you have to go through the door before you know where the Lord is leading you.” It’s an indication of how right that decision was that, since his illness, Paul has been flooded with cards from around the

TOP: The Sims with their 4th Grade Sunday School

class in 1976. Today, they still faithfully teach the next generation of 4th graders. P HOTO CONTRIBUTED. ABOVE: The Sims enjoy a family vacation with daughter Paula and granddaughter Elizabeth. PHOTO CONTRIBUTED.

world. People from Italy, Korea, and China, and all over the U.S. are extending well wishes to the man who ministered to them over the years.

When he looks back on his years visiting hospitals, it’s clear that although Paul’s job title may have been in Congregational Care, he was truly continuing that first job of being an evangelist. The memories that stand out to him the most are the times he had the opportunity to share Christ with someone in need.

In one case, a doctor stopped him in the hall and asked him to look in on a girl whose family had

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cut her off because of her lifestyle. Paul shared the gospel with her, and she prayed to receive Christ.

Later he took her a Bible, which she began to read eagerly. The next week, she died of a hemorrhage.

But Paul still has a letter she wrote to him, telling of her joy and sense of new life after receiving forgiveness in Christ, and how she had reunited with her family. “You just can’t do that kind of job in your own strength,” Paul explains. “You have to be sensitive to the little nudges of the Holy Spirit.”

The work of an evangelist hasn’t stopped for Paul. He speaks of the Montgomery Cancer Center, where he receives his treatments, as “the most loving, caring place.” Then he mentions several opportunities he has had to pray for others in need whom he has met there. Going through lymphoma is simply another platform for Paul from which to share the good news of Jesus.

Even before Paul’s work at the church, God was using the Sims to share Christ through words and actions. As Frazer grew from a church of about 350 to more than 4,000, they served in almost every area of ministry, from working in the nursery, to delivering Meals on Wheels, to serving on stewardship campaigns and finance committees. However, one area of service particularly stands out for Dian.

It started with a tugging on Dian’s heart to serve with children, such that she took vacation time off from her job to volunteer in Vacation Bible School. She remembers praying, “Lord, if I’m supposed to be in Children’s Ministry, give me a sign.”

Later that day, she came across Mabel Robinson, who was Children’s Director at that time, broken down by the side of the road. As she stopped to help her, she knew she had her sign. Since then, Dian has served in a variety of ways including being the director herself for a time, and the couple have taught 4th or 5th grade Sunday School together with only short breaks for almost 40 years.

“We chose that age because it is such a formative year, before they go off to the Student Ministry,” explains Dian. The influence of their class has been amazing. Former students now serve as missionaries and pastors, professionals and corporate presidents all over. Perhaps most importantly, the Sims were able to teach their daughter Paula at that

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age, and later teach their granddaughter Elizabeth at the same age.

That sharing of Christ with family is one of the Sims greatest joys. They recall fondly how Paul’s father, who had been “more committed to golf than to church,” saw a difference in Paul and Dian’s lives after they became Christians that drew him to the Lord. At age 70, he gave his heart to Jesus. “It was a wonderful experience they were able to share for the last 13 years of his father’s life,” Dian recalls.

While I am interviewing the Sims, their granddaughter Elizabeth drops in after school. It’s clear she spends plenty of time here as she helps herself to some of Mrs. Dian’s poppyseed chicken casserole and makes herself at home in the living room with us. I can’t help but think of the generational impact the Sims will have for many years to come, if the Lord tarries—from the lives they touched going to door to door with the Four Spiritual Laws even before they knew for themselves what the gospel meant, to the people touched by Paul’s hospital ministry, to the scores of children who have come through their Sunday School class, and to the investments they have made as parents and grandparents in their own family.

Perhaps this is why his cancer seems like such a small thing to Paul; he is still thinking about the bigger issue of how to share the gospel. He asks me sincerely during our meeting, “how do we reach this new generation for Jesus, Ken?” I fumble over the answer at the time. That’s a big question, one we wrestle with every day in the church world. But I’m pretty sure a big part of the answer is, we’ll reach the next generation through the witness of men and women like Paul and Dian Sims—faithful believers who hunger for God’s Word daily, and who are willing to give their whole lives to doing the work of an evangelist.

OPPOSITE: The impact Paul and Dian have had on their

granddaughter is evident. Perhaps not seen this side of eternity is how great their impact has been on the many spiritual “children” and “grandchildren” they have led to the Lord and discipled. P HOTO BY KEN ROACH.

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I hope you dance.

SENIOR PROM: In December of 2013, Crave Student

Ministry students got dressed and put on their dancing shoes for a Senior Prom—Senior Citizens, that is. They put the dance event on for residents of an area assisted living home as a way to show the love of Jesus to those who might feel lonely or forgotten during the holiday season.

The event quickly become a lifetime memory—not just for the residents, but for the students who participated. One young man (not pictured) posted on Facebook, “Tonight I danced with an elderly woman who hadn’t walked in years. I honestly think it’s one of the most touching moments in my life that I can remember.” Sometimes, following Jesus means walking in his footsteps; and sometimes, it means dancing in his dance steps.

PICTURED: James Djamba. P HOTO BY CRAVE STAFF

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SMALL GROUPS

Bullets to Blessings International Class celebrates the joy that is in Christ despite a history of harrowing escapes from Communist dictatorships.

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A SONG TO SHARE: Seng-In Hsiao (Ivy) speaks about the International class during morning worship June 16, 2013. The group loves to sing together as an expression of their love and joy in the Lord. PHOTO BY LEE WERLING

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BY ALEXIA SCOTT | To see her surrounded by her the night, then handcuffed them and shot them to beautiful family, enjoying a picnic at the church death. Her husband, Bounk, witnessed the execuon a sunny autumn day, you would never know tions of friends and their children. what Tang Sisavath went through when she was So, in 1981, when life had became practically 14 years old. intolerable, with no work and little food on the table, To escape the dangers of Laos following the B and Bounk, with five children in tow and another withdrawal of American troops, she left her home on the way, climbed into a little boat and warned country and her family and headed for an unknown the children to be very quiet. destination. Luckily for us, she ended up at Frazer.

As they set out across the Mekong River, they After the North Vietnamese invaded and seized took gunfire from the communists, but they manthe country in 1975, many of the Hmong, Khmu, Lao aged to escape to the relative safety of the refugee and Mein people of Laos battled genocide, starva- camps in Thailand. tion and cultural oppresFor their final destision as punishment for nation, they were able having sided with the to choose from among Americans. Kidnappings a group of friendly counfor the slave trade were tries. B says that the all too common. only thing she knew Tens of thousands about the United States of Laotians managed to was that Apollo 11 had escape to Thailand, and landed on the moon, but many of those eventually clearly that was enough, resettled in the United because they chose the States. A dozen or so U.S. as their new home. of that number, includFrazer’s Roy Cox ing Tang, journeyed to Sunday School Class, Montgomery, and finally along with Morningview to Frazer.

Baptist Church, sponAlong the way, some sored the family, and of them dodged gunfire, B and Bounk became hid their families in regular members of the boats to cross the Meclass. About 1997, the kong River, and traveled pair joined the church.

9,000 miles to their new She beams as she says ABOVE: Cindy Alsabrook teaches the International homes. she “thanks God for beClass. PHOTO BY LORI MERCER During the multi-siding here at Frazer.” ed Laotian civil war, the At a time when peocountry had suffered some of the worst bombings in ple didn’t know whom to trust, Tang trusted God. the history of warfare, and the aftermath, although She still gets emotional when she thinks about how different, was no better. The “Secret War” saw un- she left Laos so many years ago. provoked attacks on villages, human trafficking, and Tang said she learned that when you find yourshifting loyalties among the various groups. self alone and “in the dark,” you have to remember Bounnhong Detamphayvanh, who goes by “B,” that God is still in control. She says that the friendis a devoted member of Frazer’s international group. ships she made at Frazer, with Cindy Alsabrook B says that, back in Laos, the communists dragged (teacher of the International Class) and others, have innocent people out of their homes in the middle of meant everything to her.

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BELOW: Tang and her family at a recent picnic held by the International class. Pictured are Tang, Savay, Tony, Rocky

and Angie Sisavath and Ericka Zachery. PHOTO BY ALEXIA SCOTT. “We thank God for blessing us,” said Tang. She and husband Savay have been married for 26 years, and they have three children. “God is awesome.

He saved my life. Sometimes I felt like no one else understood–only God.” In 2010, out of a passion for serving this extraordinary population, Seng-in Hsiao (who goes by “Ivy”) and Cindy Alsabrook organized the group and held their first Sunday School class. Both have devoted countless hours to serving the international community here at the church.

Cindy said, “I was always intrigued with how people from other countries came to know Christ when it was not always part of their culture and especially when they were threatened.”

Jian Jun Tang (“Jun”), originally from China, has been coming to Frazer for about 5 years, and she said that she appreciates all of Cindy’s volunteer work, adding, “She takes care of everybody.”

Several churches supported our international friends over the years. Ivy said, “I thank God for

blessing me and keeping me through Morningview, First Baptist and Frazer.” You could say that the Chinese class is well-traveled. It got its start at First Baptist Church, then moved to Vaughn Forest, and now has found a home here at Frazer.

Cindy Alsabrook and Daniel Soohoo teach the International Sunday School class. Recently, Daniel spoke to the group of about 18 members on how to lead a balanced spiritual life, and on witnessing about Christ to others.

Although Daniel and Cindy teach the Bible study in English, class members use Bibles in their native languages—Chinese, Laotian, and Thai. Despite the language differences, the common ground of God’s Word ties them together. Jun, who had invited a friend, also used an electronic translator to help her guest follow along.

Darrin Adams has set up a Facebook Page for the International Ministry. They also have a singing group, which earned a standing ovation at the FOLLOWING JESUS

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church on Sept. 29, 2013. Savay takes care of the sound equipment for the singing group.

Of the international ministry, Darrin said, “History’s being made—it’s just something we’ve never had here.”

If you would like to visit the group, they welcome everyone with open arms. The International Sunday School is open to all. Jun adds that they would love to have another volunteer to teach the Bible Study, or to help the children with learning English.

Taught in English with members following along in Bibles in their native languages, the Bible Study meets at 9:30 a.m. Sundays in Room 3214.

Ivy teaches in Chinese at the same time. On Fridays, a Laotian Bible Study meets at 6 p.m., with

a Chinese Bible Study at 7:30.

At a class picnic this past fall, Tang and her husband wore shirts bearing scripture. The verse describes how the Lord can lead even entire nations out of the darkness into the light. From Isaiah 60:1-3: “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.

For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.” (NRSV)

BELOW: Cindy Alsabrook leads Bible Study for the International Class. Although the class is conducted in English,

members follow along with Bibles in their native languages. PHOTO BY DARRIN ADAMS.

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The Mighty One, God, the Lord, has spoken, and summoned the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. –Psalm 50:1-3

DANIEL AND KEIKO SEXTON MISSIONARIES TO JAPAN FRAZER KOREAN MINISTRY

FRAZER CHINESE MINISTRY

JEFF AND TRUDY MCFARLAND MISSIONARIES TO NEPAL JIM AND APRIL JURGENSON MISSIONARIES TO INDIA

JOHN-MARK & SUSAN BRABON MISSIONARIES TO TAIWAN

DOUG AND NANCY TURMAN MISSIONARIES TO BURMA

KATIE AND MARK FRIEDRICK MISSIONARIES TO HONG KONG

BRAD AND JOYCE HAZLETT MISSIONARIES TO THAILAND

INTERNATIONAL CLASS MEMBERS FROM THAILAND, LAOS, VIETNAM

ADDITIONAL MISSIONARIES TO EAST ASIA (FOR SECURITY REASONS LOCATION NOT SPECIFIED) BETH GRISWOLD, SCOTT AND CATHERINE LITTLEPAGE, JACK AND CELESTA REA, JONATHAN SMYTH, JOHN AND SANDY TRZCINSKI

FRAZER’S MANY CONNECTIONS WITH

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MISSIONS

Moldova FEELS LIKE HOME Brian and Kathryn Jones discover a deep love for the children of a nation half a world away.

BY AMY PRESLEY | The first time Kathryn Jones heard Phillip Cameron speak on the radio in 2008, she knew nothing about the country of Moldova or the growing human trafficking crisis taking place in the Eastern European nation.

“I had never even heard of Moldova before that day but I knew the things he was talking about sounded very sad and very scary and I wanted to learn more,” she said.

As she listened to the founder of Phillip Cameron Ministries and Stella’s Voice share about the unspeakable crimes being committed against children and young adults in Moldova, God was already at work in Kathryn’s heart, placing a burden He would continue to nurture over the next few years. About a year after she first heard Cameron’s message on the radio, Stella’s Voice came to Frazer and by that

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time, Kathryn said, “I was determined to go on a trip there.”

In all of Europe, no country attracts more opportunities for human trafficking than Moldova, and young women who have aged out of the state-run orphanages are the primary victims. At age 16, they are forced to leave, and when many go to the city to look for work, they disappear into the night and are never heard from again. Stella’s Voice is a ministry that developed out of a calling to help orphaned girls escape the horrors of human trafficking, and works tirelessly to share the love of Christ and give hope to orphaned children and young adults in this dark nation.

STELLA’S STORY Stella was an orphan who was sold, used and abused and died from AIDS at age 19. Phillip Cameron Ministries recognized the dire need of creating safe houses for these vulnerable young women who have aged out of state-run orphanages. Stella’s Voice provides not only a safe place to live but also a beacon of hope and transformation in the lives of these young people. Today, there are two Stella’s Houses that provide a loving home for about 50

ABOVE: Frazer members Joy Ohme (left side), and Kathryn and Brian Jones (right side) sit overlooking the Moldovan countryside with two of the girls from Stella’s Voice (center). PHOTO CONTRIBUTED. OPPOSITE PAGE, PHOTO BY LEE WERLING.

young women who have aged out of the system.

Here, they have an opportunity to complete their education, learn life skills and grow in a loving Christian environment. Two more Stella’s Houses are currently under construction, and these will house a larger facility to be used as a church, and provide a home for 75 more girls. Simon’s House, a separate home for boys, currently houses 16 young men. In 2011, the Moldovan government allowed Stella’s Voice to open and run Providence Orphanage, the only Christian orphanage in the country. The organization restored the buildings and turned it into a home where children will feel loved, instead of rejected and despised. Providence cares for around 40 children ages 3 to 16 plus many children from the surrounding village, many who lived in unfathomable poverty and suffered abuse and neglect before finding a home and a family at Providence.

A GROWING BURDEN Kathryn, a special education teacher and her

husband Brian, a quality engineer, continued to learn more about the ministry taking place in Moldova and in 2011, they had the opportunity to organize and lead a mission trip to the country, where they spent much time with the children at Providence in Cupcui, and worshipped with the girls of Stella’s House.

The couple admits they had differing opinions leading up to the initial trip. While Kathryn was ecstatic about the opportunity to share Christ and “love on” the children and teenagers they would be serving there, Brian admits he was nervous about their adventure.

“I’d never been to a country where English is not the primary language, so I guess my main motivation at the time was to go and look after Kathryn,” he said. “I didn’t figure out until later that in reality, it’s God who is keeping us safe, not me!”

Kathryn had been feeling the burden on her heart to help the children of Moldova growing stronger, and once they arrived, she said it was like a

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whirlwind as they tried to figure out exactly what God wanted to show them.

“We had some really cool God moments there. I felt like my prayers were much more fervent there, too. I cried out to God every night, ‘Please show me what you want me to do. Please use me,’” she explained. “But we also thought God was going to give us some big revelation, like we had it all figured out.”

That wasn’t the case. Though God was working both in and through them, the couple were not yet certain about their greater purpose with this ministry. Brian added that, with all the excitement and activity each day, they didn’t have any down time to discuss with each other their personal experiences.

Once they returned home, however, God began to gradually reveal His plans to them as Kathryn and Brian tried to sort out their feelings and process all they had experienced during their mission.

“Any time you go on a trip, you have that ‘mountain-top experience’ but it only lasts a few days,”

Kathryn said. “When we got home, I felt like I was just moping around, lost. I didn’t feel like I was where I was supposed to be at all.”

FEELS LIKE HOME Despite all of the darkness that exists in Moldova, both Kathryn and Brian were feeling that was exactly where God wanted them to be: “Moldova is not nearly as comfortable as life is here. It can feel scary, but it also feels right. It feels like home.

I was ready to go back right away,” Kathryn said.

“But neither of us would really say what we were feeling out loud because it was scary.”

They felt God pressing them to become more involved with the ministry in Moldova, though they still weren’t exactly sure where His plan would lead them. They just knew that even things in their every day lives were pointing them back there. For example, Kathryn shared that, soon after they returned, they read the book, The Dream Giver, by Bruce Wilkinson. The author talks about identify-

BELOW: The young women of Stella’s Voice sing and share “cardboard testimonies” of how Jesus has changed their

lives during a Frazer worship service. PHOTO BY LEE WERLING.

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ing and overcoming the obstacles that prevent us from fulfilling our God-given destinies, and seeking Him to help us step out on faith instead of being overcome by fear of the unfamiliar and uncomfortable. For Kathryn and Brian, maybe this unsettled feeling was God pushing them to step outside of their comfort zone even further with their ministry to Moldova, she said.

Even Sunday morning worship was filled with messages the couple felt were God speaking directly to them: ”Every sermon we heard after that was related to what we were thinking and feeling,” Brian said.

MEETING ‘QUEEN ESTHER’ One sermon in particular, about Queen Esther, reminded them of a friend from Moldova whose story had a profound impact on Brian and Kathryn. They first met Galina in 2011 during their first trip to Moldova. They had the opportunity to get to know Galina, and she shared her heartbreaking story with the couple.

“She shared about her horrible upbringing.”Kathryn said. “She was one of five children, and sadly, she was the one her family chose to send to Cupcui Orphanage. She was treated very badly by her teachers and the other adults in her life until she met the Cameron family.”

Back then, Cupcui Orphanage (the building that later became Providence) was a filthy, desolate place, and Galina told them how she vowed she would never return there once she aged out of the system. But through God’s grace and the ministry she encountered through Stella’s Voice, Galina now runs operations and cares for the children currently living at the orphanage.

“She was mistreated by everyone in her life, but God’s love healed her heart and now she cares for the children in the very place she experienced so much pain and suffering,” Kathryn said.

Brian noted, “She didn’t realize all those years that God was really preparing her to return there one day and take care of the children.”

In the book of Esther, we learn that she, too, was an orphan, struggling to understand why God had placed her in difficult circumstances that

ABOVE: Brian and Kathryn share God’s love with orphans in Moldova during a summer mission trip.

PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED.

threatened not only her life but her family and the entire Jewish nation. Galina could have maintained her resolve to turn her back forever on the place that caused her so much pain, to remain silent against the suffering that countless children continued to endure. Instead, she chose to return to a place that once represented darkness and death and help fill it with laughter and life. She lives out Esther 4:14, “perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?”

“Galina is like Queen Esther,” Kathryn said.

“She’s our hero.”

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PHOTO CONTRIBUTED.

ROOTS IN CHRIST High school sweethearts Kathryn and Brian met at Benjamin Russell High School in Alexander City, where both were involved in the marching band.

The pair has been together almost 19 years, married 11 of those.

“We’ve been together longer than we’ve been apart,” Kathryn noted.

Kathryn was raised in church, and cites her grandparents for having a major influence on her developing faith. “They were such followers of Christtheir lives were always the example,” she said. She recalls the time her grandfather took her on her first mission trip with Carpenters for Christ, outside of Louisville, Ky., where Kathryn had the opportunity to participate in inner city mission work. “It was my first real experience following Christ. My grandmother knew my heart and that I would want to connect with people.”

Kathryn said she considers her classroom her mission field, using her passion for teaching and caring for children as an outlet to share the love of Christ with the students and parents that she works with each year. It’s no surprise that her heart is bursting with love and concern for the orphans of

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Moldova, and that God has opened a door for her to share her love for Christ with these children she has come to adore.

Brian also grew up in church, accepting Christ as a teenager but “I don’t know if I was really following Christ,” he said. It was after he and Kathryn were married and joined a Sunday School class at Frazer, he said, that they really started connecting with others and their relationships with Christ began to flourish.

“We’ve had so many great teachers and met a bunch of people over the years who have helped us grow. I feel like if we had never had those experiences, we’d never be where we are today, or even have had the opportunity to serve in Moldova now,” he said.

Where Brian is more reserved and prefers quieter settings, Kathryn thrives in a crowd. She enjoys living in the moment while he is more pragmatic. Their personality differences complement one another, though, and it is evident that theirs is a relationship that has withstood the test of time, even as they are continually learning and growing together. Each would rather talk about their other half, than themselves. Most of all, they both prefer to share about the new friends they’ve made in Moldova and how God has brought all of them together.

“Throughout this entire process of seeking His will and His plan for us and the children of Moldova, God has shown me so many beautiful things—tears turning to smiles on the faces of children coming to know Jesus, young children caring for their even younger brothers and sisters with such attention and care, orphans leading other orphans to Christ, elderly neighbors in the village inviting us in to share what little they have,” Kathryn shared. “But the most precious gift God has allowed me to see is my husband ever growing in his faith. I see him leaning on our Savior more and more and truly casting his fears upon him daily. This experience has stretched our faith so much and I know it will continue to stretch it even more. I am so thankful that my best friend is a part of this with me, every scary step of the way.”

THE GIFT OF HOPE A few years ago, the couple had the opportunity to help Stella’s Voice provide Christmas for the children at Providence Orphanage. With the help of friends, co-workers, Sunday School classes and even other churches, Brian and Kathryn were able to sponsor several children and bless them with Christmas gifts of toys, clothes and other needed items. This past October, they once again were able to work alongside friends and co-workers to shop for the children in Moldova for Christmas, a project that brings them great joy each year.

“We’ve seen God multiply those efforts over the years, through the relationships that have been built, even among the people here who are getting involved, and definitely through the kids there whose lives are being changed,” Brian said.

“It’s been so neat to go over there and see those children, and how the gifts changed their lives.”

In a country as full of despair and darkness as Moldova, Brian said they have been so encouraged to see the difference that is being made through organizations like Stella’s Voice and others. Lives are being transformed as the children and teens experience true love from their Heavenly Father and can’t wait to share what they have found with everyone they meet. For example, the girls at Stella’s House started a church and each week they invite their siblings, friends, classmates, cousins and anyone they can think of to join them in worship.

“The teenagers we know in Moldova are the light in their community. They are bringing their friends to church,” he said. “They have the hope that no one else in their nation does.”

“These kids are so amazing. If they had half the opportunities we have, there’s no telling what they could accomplish. They have so much potential. I never would have thought five years ago that we’d even have a chance to meet some of these amazing people,” Brian said. “ We feel so honored and blessed that these awesome young people seem to actually want to be friends with us, even though we’re not really anything all that special.”

Kathryn shared that Brian has a love for all things math-related, and some of his favorite ex-

periences in Moldova include time he spent helping their new friends at Stella’s House and Simon’s House study for the math portion of their high stakes graduation test.

“He had the biggest smile on his face the whole time he was helping them,” she said. “It melts my heart.”

ONE PERSON AT A TIME On their summer mission trips, the Frazer team has been involved with a summer camp for the children at the orphanage and in the surrounding village. The summer camp is run by the young people from Stella’s House and Simon’s House.

“That may be the only chance these kids have to hear about Jesus,” Brian said.

“I can’t imagine how hard that must be to first grasp the concept of a Heavenly Father when you have no father figure,” Kathryn said. “But these kids just love Jesus. Orphans ministering to orphans— that’s a phenomenal and beautiful thing to witness.”

Still, it can be so overwhelming to know where to begin in helping pull so many from a life of despair. “I’m reading Kisses from Katie (by Katie Davis, an advocate for orphans) and she describes it as trying to fill the ocean with an eye dropper,” Kathryn explained. “You want to save them all but don’t know where to start. I have to think about how Jesus helped people. He did it one person at a time.”

Brian said he remains amazed that God has given them such an incredible opportunity to serve Him.“Even though we aren’t Bible scholars or anything like that, He gives us a chance to be part of His plan.

And I’m thankful for Kathryn leading us on that first journey, even when I was slow to respond,” he said.

As the couple continues to seek God’s will for their lives and their involvement with ministry in Moldova, Kathryn said she’s learning daily to trust God and His timing, resting in the assurance that His plans and purposes are greater than our own.

“I’m so thankful that God reveals His plans for us, even if it’s not always all the pieces that I want to hear when I want to hear them. I am incredibly blessed,” Kathryn said. “Being part of His plan and His people gives us the chance to bring joy to others.”

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TOP TEN LESSONS I LEARNED FROM BRIAN WORD In February, Frazer Student Minister Brian Word moved on to follow God’s call as a pastor at Biltmore Baptist Church in Asheville, North Carolina. In their seven years here, Brian and his wife Leslie made an indelible impression our church, not only among students, but also in the OneFamily Ministry that

Leslie launched, and in the example of Christ they modeled every day. As a fellow staff member and a friend, Brian also taught me some personal lessons on how to follow Jesus that I’d like to share as a tribute to the Words and an encouragement to us all. —Ken Roach

1

Impact with others starts with time alone before God.

2

Invest in future leaders.

Someone invested in you.

3

If you’re going to play, play to win.

5

Do sweat the details.

Details make the difference.

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4

You don’t have to have a BBQ, but if you do, make it awesome.

6

Make everyone feel like they count. They do.

7

Don’t just preach a sermon.

Be a sermon.

8

You are only as good as your team.

9

Don’t take yourself too seriously.

10

Fight for love.

PHOTOS: TJ DAVIS, LORI MERCER, CRAVE STAFF, CONTRIBUTED.

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CHILDREN

Greenless No More 40

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Children’s Minister Theresa Reiter models Christ for children through a faith forged in both good times and bad.

BY KEN ROACH | They say many of the great comedians come out of painful childhood backgrounds.

It seems that tears are a particularly fertile soil for laughter. Perhaps the same is true for Children’s Ministers. Theresa Reiter, who joined Frazer’s staff in 2013 overseeing all ministries to children up to 5th grade, certainly brings a great deal of laughter to our halls. In Frazer’s Lead Team meetings (which Theresa and I both sit in on along with pastors and senior ministry leaders), Theresa has quickly become known as the “cut up,” sometimes disrupting our “progress” with a joke or humorous side-story.

Church Business Administrator Rev. Rusty Taylor has jokingly suggested she not be given anything with caffeine to drink, since she is rambunctious enough with just her natural energy level. However, as we talk it becomes clear that behind her fun loving ways, Theresa has also seen her share of tears in the course of her journey to follow Jesus.

Theresa did not grow up in a church-going home. Her childhood home was spent in a government-housing-project apartment that was often without adequate heat in the cold mountain winters of Western North Carolina. Her family was poor and mostly without a high school education, experiences that marked her. She remembers going to school after the Christmas holidays and pretending to have gotten a long list of items from Santa, so she could feel like she fit in with others. Although she loved her parents and knows they did the best they could, in hindsight she says she would have to label some of their behaviors as abusive, although she didn’t know that at the time. “That’s how they were raised,” she explains. “They weren’t mean people, but they were dysfunctional.”

To illustrate how she felt as a child, Theresa pulls out a poem by Ann Weems entitled “Greenless Child:”

ABOVE: Theresa with husband Craig and son Alex. P HOTO CONTRIBUTED

I watched her go uncelebrated into the second grade, a greenless child, gray among the orange and yellow, attached too much to corners and to other people’s sunshine.

She colors the rainbow brown and leaves balloons unopened in their packages. Oh, who will touch this colorless child? Who will plant alleluias in her heart and send her dancing into all the colors of God? Or will she be left like an unwrapped package on the kitchen table— too dull for anyone to take the trouble?

Does God think we’re her keeper?

If Theresa was a “greenless child,” she found in the church many who were willing to show her “the colors of God.” She went to Vacation Bible School in the summers and experienced God’s love in tangible ways. Church was a happy place for her. Later a schoolmate who rode the bus with her saved her a seat every day, and every day she would quietly but persistently ask Theresa if she wanted to come

OPPOSITE: Theresa Reiter embraces a group of children in the Frazer courtyard. Theresa joined the staff as Children’s

Minister in 2013. P HOTO BY LORI MERCER.

FOLLOWING JESUS

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to church with her. Every time her answer was ‘no,’ but eventually she agreed to go with her.

She remembers in particular a sermon she heard on a youth trip in the ninth grade. The speaker made the statement, “if you were the only person in the world and had committed only one sin, Jesus would still have died for you.” “For a child with poor self-esteem, that was extremely important,” Theresa recalls, “to think that God would love me personally that much. I knew I wanted to follow Him.” Those early encounters with Christ still form a key role in shaping her understanding of God as a God of grace—as pastor Tim Thompson frequently says, a God who loves all of us ‘messy mortals.’ “I’m a messy person,” Theresa says. “My house, my car, my office are messy, just like my life. My family is not perfect either, although we adore each other. We go through the same struggles as any other family. So, I may not be someone’s portrait of what the ideal church staff member should look like. However, I do strive to be authentic. It takes too much energy

to be inauthentic. And you won’t find anyone who will love your child more.”

Now, Theresa loves seeing children grasp the same amazing grace that gripped her. “I love seeing the teaching of grace ‘click’ in a child’s heart—when they realize they don’t have to be perfect, that we become perfect through Jesus.”

Sharing that grace started early for Theresa. She became a Youth Director at age 17, and spent the next 27 years in youth ministry, until more recently entering into Children’s Ministry 7 years ago. Although she never felt “religious” or “spiritual enough” to be in ministry, when she realized she could help other people find hope in the midst of pain, it just came naturally for her. And because God has chosen to use her, she finds great joy in helping others discover their own gifts for ministry and equipping them to pursue those gifts. More than 100 youth who came up under her ministry are now in full time ministry themselves, from Youth Pastors to Music Ministers CONTINUED PAGE 44

BELOW: Theresa leads children in a dance game at Wednesday Night SPLASH. P HOTO BY LORI MERCER.

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FROM RESCUER TO REACHER THERESA SHARES HER THOUGHTS ON HER ROLE AS CHILDREN’S MINISTER AND WHAT’S NEW FOR CHILDREN AT FRAZER

BY AMY PRESLEY | During her years as a youth minister, Theresa said often times parents were wanting her to help “rescue” their teens, to encourage them to get more involved. “I often felt if only they could be reached as children, then they wouldn’t need to be rescued,” she said. Now as a children’s minister, she explains, “I feel like a ‘reacher’.”

Her experience working with teens has helped her understand the best way to help mold and shape children into becoming the people God designed them to be, and to know how to prepare them to enter youth ministry.

“I’m like the ‘fun aunt’ of the youth ministry,” she explained. “It’s so neat to watch children grow and be raised up to become disciples.”

She also stresses that her ministry extends beyond what happens within the church walls.

“At schools, in the community, anywhere children are involved, I want to be there for them and advocate for children at every level possible,” she said. “It’s so important for children to know who is for them.”

Wednesday Nights Make a SPLASH In the fall of 2013, Theresa introduced a new take on children’s Wednesday evening programs with SPLASH. SPLASH is all about Singing, Playing, Learning and Serving Him, and the program is designed to keep children engaged and excited about getting to know Jesus. Children travel to various stations that offer learning in a fun and interactive way. The program is broken down into three 20 minute segments, including a hands-on, ageappropriate Bible lesson, time for group games and an opportunity to serve Him by participating in a mission or learning about one.

“There’s a lot of movement- we want to utilize every second with these kids. SPLASH is very interactive and volunteer intensive,“ Theresa explained. “It’s also very exciting!”

Sunday Mornings Leap Forward In December, the nursery and Children’s Ministry also began a new curriculum, Grow, Proclaim and Serve, for children age 2 through fifth graders. Theresa describes the new curriculum as teacher-friendly with a focus on strong biblical basics.

Part of the Children’s curriculum includes a visit to “Leaper’s Point,” a video series with a regular cast of characters developed to introduce and reinforce each week’s Bible lesson. The mascot for the series is Leaper, a frog, who reminds children that a “leap of faith” is the beginning of a life of joy and purpose.

“We want to help the children understand why all of the Bible is important in explaining who Jesus is,” she said. “I think we will see tremendous growth for Sunday School and Wednesday nights.”

VBS: Workshop of Wonders Volunteers have already begun planning this summer’s Vacation Bible School, to be held July 14-18 with the theme “Workshop of Wonders.” Children will learn about the wonders of God’s creation, and at the same time explore the wonders of their own God-given creativity.

Theresa is committed to maximizing the impact of VBS, which is Frazer’s largest outreach to children each year. For that reason, Frazer will implement incentives for early registration, and conversely a resource fee for late registration. “It’s critical that we have an accurate count of children so that we can ensure there are enough volunteers and resources for every child to have a safe, enjoyable, and Christ-centered experience at VBS,” Theresa explains.

••• Theresa shared that she is excited to be continuing her ministry for children at Frazer.

“The love we have been shown here has been overwhelming. I feel blessed to work with an amazing team and I love being involved with what the church as a whole is doing. This church understands the value of Children’s Ministry and how every aspect of the church has an influence on children, “ she said. “That’s been such an affirmation to me that I’m meant to be here.”

“I know the Holy Spirit is here, and everyone is going to grow in their faith,” she said. “My job is to help equip everyone to make it happen.”

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ABOVE: Sometimes Children’s Ministry is “bananas.”

Laurie Shipp and Gayle Elmore are some of the key members of the Children’s Ministry team serving alongside Theresa. P HOTO CONTRIBUTED.

to directors of Foster Care houses. “It’s one of the most satisfying things,” Theresa says, “to become a ‘spiritual grandparent.’ I think they looked at me and said, ‘If Theresa can do it, I can do it.’”

Theresa nurtures her walk with Christ through friendships, books, and journaling. Although it is difficult for her to be a part of a regular small group due to her ministry responsibilities, she has several long time friends from previous churches she has served who help to encourage her and hold her accountable. “Secure friends aren’t demanding,” she says. “When you find people you can be yourself with, and who can be themselves with you, the friendship stays strong even when you can’t spend time together as often as you would like.”

In addition to Bible reading, she finds courage and direction from grace-filled books like Mike Yaconelli’s Messy Spirituality or Donald Miller’s Blue Like Jazz, as well as poets like the aforementioned Ann Weems. Keeping a journal of hand-written prayers helps to focus her attention and gives her a record she can look back at when she gets down, to see how God has worked in her life.

That practice of “writing it down” has grown into two books published by Thomas Nelson, Nelson’s Youth Minister’s Manual and Nelson’s

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Children’s Minister’s Manual, sharing her ideas for what has worked over the years as well as her honest accounts of what has not worked so well.

She also helps to write Bible study curriculum for children’s ministry. Writing is not something she would have seen herself doing as a child, but it is one more evidence of God’s grace. “My parents did not have even a complete high school education,” she says. “However, I had high school teachers who invested their time in me and taught me the value of education. They set me on a different path. Now I love to write because I can share what God has done for me with others, just like a cook sharing a favorite recipe.”

On a personal level, Theresa was not done with the ‘school of suffering’ once she became an adult.

“I’ve lost two sisters, my mom and dad and a I’ve been through deep valleys of grief,” she reflects. “I think I’ve got suffering down.” However, she believes her experiences have given her more empathy for others, as well as a greater appreciation for the joys in life when they come. “As a minister, I’ve had to hold a child who is in the hospital, or who has lost a parent. I never feel closer to God than in those moments of serving others.”

When Theresa met her husband, Craig Reiter, they felt an immediate bond. “We knew on our first date that we would get married,” she recalls. Craig works for an IT company but also frequently volunteers alongside Theresa in ministry. They became a great team, each bringing unique gifts to their marriage and ministry together.

While the couple were grateful to God to have found one another, for 15 years they struggled with the burden of infertility. “The worst part was when my friends were having children, and I couldn’t feel their joy. I wanted to celebrate with them, but it was very difficult.” The experience has made Theresa more sensitive to the hurts of those in the church who are unable to have children.

Then came what Theresa calls “the greatest miracle of our lives” when son Alex was born to Craig and Theresa after so many years of waiting.

A teenager now and active in Frazer’s student ministry, Theresa considers Alex her first ministry.

“I try not to let church work consume me. I am

most accountable to God as a mom. I try to be very present when I am at home, not treating home as an extension of the office.” Theresa also tries to weave her understanding of grace into the way she parents. “Life can be hard for the child of a church staff member,” she explains. “I don’t want Alex to feel like he can never make a mistake or he’ll be embarrassing me. It’s not about me, it’s about his relationship with Jesus. I want him to understand he’s not special because he’s a child of a church leader, he’s special because he belongs to God, and nothing can change that.”

All of her experiences—a difficult childhood, years of fruitful ministry, the ups and downs of family life—come together in Theresa’s picture of who Jesus is. “I know him as powerful but humble, full of wisdom, yet not boastful. He was a quiet, gentle teacher and teller of stories, but yet he challenged everyoneRegistration to become the better person God made Complete them to be. I think people would be surprised if they met Jesus—we want him to be like us, to love who we love and hate who we hate—but the real  Registration Form

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Jesus is more compassionate than that. It’s not his miracles that surprise me, it’s his compassion.”

Reflecting on a life of following this Jesus, Theresa says, “the greatest thing about the Christian life is that there can be a lot of grief—and yet complete joy. It’s not mere happiness. We go through suffering, but Jesus is always able to restore our Joy.” Perhaps that’s why our children are so drawn to “Mrs. Theresa.” She is full of laughter and fun, yes. She makes church a happy place, yes. But most importantly, she shines with the grace and love and joy of Jesus Christ. The “greenless child” now shows others all the colors of God. FRAZER UNITED ••• METHODIST CHURCH Editor’s Note: Since this story was completed, Theresa and Craig have signed up for Foster Care training at Frazer. It would seem that God is calling them to minister to the “greenless” children of the world world in even deeper ways.

CHILDREN'S

Payment DEADLINES

Camp Sonshine Deposit Total Balance

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Due April 1 Due May 9

Payment DEADLINES Vacation Bible School for 4 yrs. through rising 6th grade Camp CHALLENGE 9-12 a.m. Mon.-Fri. July 14-18, 2014

Deposit $85 Kids discover the Creator and the Total Balance

Due April 1

NEW REGISTRATION PROCESS! Due May 9 Register at the Tugboat in Frazer Atrium creative gifts He has given them as or go online to frazerumc.org/vbs. Free they “imagine and build with God” if you signwill up bybe Juneadded 30!

•inAtheLate FeeofofWonders.” $25 per camper “Workshop • Register in April: get a free VBS AFTER May 9Email Want to volunteer?

T-shirt Shipp, lshipp@frazerumc.

•Laurie AFTER May 9, $140 will• beRegister non-refundable. in May: free VBS music CD org. Nursery (0-3) available for • Late registrations after July 1: •volunteer There workers will beonly. no refunds after$10May 25. per child (supply fee)

CAMP at Camp Chandler CAMP SONSHINE Rising 1st-3rd Graders June 9-11 3 Days 2 Nights $150

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Boys and girls, join us for an unforgettable week as we practice following Jesus and learn “His Story” in the midst of fun outdoor experiences including swimming, fishing, horseback riding, crafts, and more. Worship led by Rev. Patrick Quinn. Frazer Children’s Ministry staff and parents will serve as camp leaders.

Registration Deadline: May 9. Late Registration Deadline: May 25 ($25 fee) PICK UP A BROCHURE IN THE CHILDREN’S MINISTRY AREA OR VISIT FRAZERUMC.ORG/CAMP FOR MORE INFORMATION. FOLLOWING JESUS | 45

CAM P S O N S H I N E

rising

The Gospel of John Sermon Series • Part 3 M ARCH 1 6–A PR I L 2 0, 2 014 During the season leading up to Easter, our teaching pastors continue to preach through the book of John with a look at the arrest, trial, execution—and resurrection—of Jesus of Nazareth.

What does it say about humanity that we put God himself on trial? What does it say about God that he allowed us to do it? And how does this gospel speak to us today, when we long for hope amidst the crushing weight of our own guilt, shame, fear, and grief?

WORSHIP EXPERIENCES: Join us Sunday mornings at 8, 9:30 or 11 a.m. in our Sanctuary or Contemporary Worship Services, watch us on WFRZ TV, or watch online anytime at frazerumc.org/media.

SOCIAL MEDIA: Before and after worship, become part of the ongoing conversation on Facebook or Twitter by following @frazerumc and using the hashtag #GuiltyGod.

“I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.” John 18:37 46

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HOW TO BECOME A

Follower of Jesus 1. REPENT | To repent means to turn around, to change your thinking and your direction and go the other way.1 The Bible teaches that every person has a Sin Nature—a deeply ingrained inner tendency to go our own way instead of following God’s way.2 When we follow our sin nature, we violate our conscience and break God’s commands by not loving Him and not loving our neighbor as ourself.3 The results are broken relationships, lack of peace, loss of purpose, anger, worry, fear, frustration, and hopelessness. The ultimate consequence of sin is death.4 you can pray a prayer of repentance like this: “God, I admit that I am a sinner and I deserve to die. I have broken your commands. I have not loved you as I ought to, and not loved my neighbor as myself.

I repent of my sins. I turn from going my own way to go your way and obey you as Lord.”

2. BELIEVE | The “gospel” (good news) of Jesus Christ is that we do not have to earn a relationship with God and pay for our sins by doing good deeds or religious rituals.5 Instead, God Himself took the initiative to come to us, being born as a man, suffering on the cross and dying in our place on the cross. He won the victory over sin and death by rising from the grave.6 God promises a new spiritual birth to those who believe in Jesus, trusting Him by faith.7 This new birth makes the believer a child of God, and begins a process of inner transformation8 that fills us with His joy, peace, and love, and the hope of eternal life.9 you can pray a prayer of belief like this: “God, I thank you that Your Son Jesus died and rose again the third day. I trust in him alone to save me from my sins and give me your abundant, new, spirit-filled life to transform me now, and to give me the hope of resurrection and eternal life.”

3. COMMIT | The decision to follow Jesus begins with repentance and belief, but it is lived out by a daily commitment to live according to the pattern of life and teaching Jesus showed us.10 Some of the ways you can follow Jesus daily include: • become a member of a local church. The church is the Body of Christ,11 the living expression of Jesus on earth. Joining a church means more than signing up for a human institution. It means you are committed to building authentic relationships with other believers for worship, growth, fellowship, and service together.

• read and prayerfully reflect on the bible. God has revealed himself to us through the scriptures.12 The Holy Spirit uses the words of the Bible to give us understanding of who Jesus is and how we can live like Him as we study it on our own and in community with other believers.13 • serve others in humility. We enter into the experience of Jesus’ death and resurrection by “dying” to ourselves and our selfish desires so we can discover the joy of giving and living for others.14

1 Mark 1:15 2 Rom. 3:23 3 Mark 12:29-31 4 Rom. 6:23 5 Tit. 3:4-7 6 I Cor. 15:3-6 7 John 1:12-13 8 2 Cor. 5:17 9 John 3:16 10 Luke 9:23 11 Eph. 5:29-30 12 Heb. 4:12 13 John 14:25-26 14 Mark 10:43-45

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✝

✝ SHARE CHRIST

Socially Like. Follow. Comment. Share. Join the conversation.

When you think about Social Media like Facebook

message of Christ if we all became intentional about

and Twitter, do you think of it as a mission field?

living out our faith in our online neighborhoods. Sign

Followers of Jesus at Frazer are already connected to

up, find Frazer at the accounts listed below, and start

over 88,000 people in the Montgomery area through

sharing the story of God’s love with others in your

social media. Imagine the potential for sharing the

social network.

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Questions about how to get involved? Email Ken Roach ken@frazerumc.org

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