Faith Pittsburgh North by IN Community Magazines

T h e h a rv e st i s p l e n t i f u l , b u t t h e w o r k e r s a r e f e w. -

FAI H

M att h e w 9 : 3 7

Pi sburgh North

Matters of the Heart page 12

Purpose Quest page 16

Raising Up Young Leaders page 30

Built

on the

Word of God page 7

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FAI H PUBLISHER Wayne Dollard

Letter from the

Publisher

MANAGING EDITOR Mike Granovitz m.granovitz@faithpittsburgh.com Faith Pittsburgh Advisory Board Rev. Ernie Conley Rev. Tom Parkinson Rev. Craig Giles Rev. Jon Price Mike Granovitz Rev. John Stanko Rev. Ted Martin Rev. Dan Turney Design Director Mike Miller Designer Melissa St Giles OFFICE MANAGER Leo Vighetti l.vighetti@icmags.com ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Debbie Mountain d.mountain@icmags.com ADVERTISING SALES MANAGERS Tamara Myers t.myers@icmags.com ADVERTISING SALES Sophia Alfaras Pamela Arder Dan DeCesare Aimee Nicolia Laurie Holding Vincent Sabatini Connie McDaniel Michael Silvert Brian McKee RJ Vighetti Gabriel Negri Nikki Capezio-Watson

Welcome to the Faith Pittsburgh summer issue. I would like to personally thank each and every person who has taken the time to read our magazine. Time is a valuable commodity but one that is rarely found in abundance. I would like to extend a sincere welcome to the readers in the north region who are reading Faith Pittsburgh for the first time. It is my honor and privilege to continue this journey with each of you, for we are truly in this together. We are taught in scripture to share the word of God, to lift each other up to greater love and works, and to use the gifts that we have received through God’s grace in service to others. We will succeed in honoring these mandates when Faith Pittsburgh becomes a medium to reach the lost, educate believers, and inspire ordinary people to extraordinary action that brings glory to God. We have received a wonderful response from the premier issue of Faith Pittsburgh South including some wonderful testimonies to the impact the articles had in people’s lives. I believe that Faith Pittsburgh North will be met with a similar response. Without a doubt it has been, and continues to be, an awe-inspiring experience to see God at work opening doors and leading those involved with Faith Pittsburgh. Please share your inspiring stories of faith with us. You may have gone through what someone else is going through right now and your story could quite possibly transform a life. Again I thank you for allowing us to come into your lives through the pages of Faith Pittsburgh magazine and please share the magazine with others around you.

Have an excellent summer!

Direct all inquiries, letters to the editor and press releases to: Faith Pittsburgh c/o IN Community Magazines 603 East McMurray Road McMurray, PA 15317 724/942-0940; Fax: 724/942-0968 faithpittsburgh.com

Wayne Dollard, Publisher

Please recycle this magazine when you are through enjoying it.

FAITH Pittsburgh North | Summer 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 1

Faith Pittsburgh Advisory Board

Pastor Dan Turney Dan Turney has been serving as pastor of Christian Community Church since 2006. He studied for the ministry at Lancaster Bible College and spent time in youth ministry both in Greensburg and Gettysburg before coming to Pittsburgh. Dan is married to Carissa, and together they have three children Ashton: Madelyn and Jackson. Dan and Carissa are also actively involved in the autism community having a child of their own on the spectrum. Together they lead a monthly support group/play group as well as a special worship service, all of which are designed to minister to families of children with autism. Dan is also passionate about prayer, believing that prayer is his first calling as a pastor/shepherd.

Rev. Tom Parkinson Rev. Tom Parkinson is the pastor of Faith United Methodist Church in Fox Chapel. A graduate of Duke Divinity School, Tom is an ordained elder in the Western PA Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church and has been serving in full-time ministry since 2010. In his ministry, Tom is passionate about empowering and equipping disciples of Jesus to go and make disciples for the transformation of the world. Along with his wife and five -year-old son, Tom loves living and serving in the Pittsburgh area and is thankful for the many friends he has found here.

Rev. Ernest Conley Rev. Ernest Conley is the pastor of North Hills Alliance Church, a member church of the Christian and Missionary Alliance denomination. He has served five churches in 34 years of pastoral ministry and currently has served at North Hills Alliance for 23 years. Ernest attended Nyack College (Nyack, NY) where he received his bachelor’s degree in theology. While in ministry he received his master’s degree from Alliance Theological Seminary (Nyack, NY). He and his wife, Donna, reside in Franklin Park. They are the parents of three grown daughters and have one grandson. Ernest’s passion is teaching, preaching and building relationships.

Rev. Jonathan Price The Rev. Jonathan ( Jon) Price was born in Pittsburgh, and lived for a few years in Beaver, PA. Growing up he spent time in Central Kansas and Eastern & Western New York. He came back to Western PA to attend Geneva College, where he received his B.S. in Biology. After serving churches in Pittsburgh and Washington D.C. for five years, he attended Covenant Seminary in St. Louis, MO, where he received his Masters of Divinity. While attending Covenant Seminary he served on staff with their Youth in Ministry Institute, and served his pastoral internship at Grace and Peace Fellowship. In 2006 Jon was called as Assistant Pastor of Children’s and Youth Ministries at Murrysville Community Church in Murrysville, PA. After five fruitful years of ministry, God called Jon to be the pastor of Covenant Community Church in February 2011.

John Stanko John Stanko was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After graduating from St. Basil’s Prep School in Stamford, Connecticut, he attended Duquesne University where he received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics in 1972 and 1974 respectively. In 1973, he had a life-changing spiritual experience that radically changed his life course and purpose. Since then, John has served as an administrator, teacher, consultant, author, and pastor in his professional career. He holds a second master’s degree in pastoral ministries, and earned his doctorate in pastoral ministries from Liberty Theological Seminary in Houston, Texas in 1995. He recently completed a Doctor of Ministry degree at Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh. 2 724.942.0940 to advertise | FAITH Pittsburgh North

Rev. Dr. Ted Martin Rev. Dr. Ted Martin serves as the senior pastor of Hampton Presbyterian Church. Receiving his ordination as a minister of Word and Sacrament in 1992, he began his tenure as ordained pastor serving the First Presbyterian Church of Meadville. After his son Caleb was born, he and his wife, Becky, moved to Nashville to serve the First Presbyterian Church of Nashville. Prior to his ordained ministry, Ted engaged with campus ministry through the CCO on the campuses of Penn State McKeesport and Beaver. Immediately following his graduation from Westminster College, Ted spent a year cycling across the United States raising money and awareness for the then fledgling ministry of Habitat for Humanity.

Rev. Craig L. Giles American Baptist Theological Seminary--Biblical Studies. Senior Pastor of Triumph Baptist Church for the last 27 years. In addition to his role as Senior Pastor of Triumph, Craig serves with a number of community boards and organizations – The Boy Scouts of America, Robert Morris University Diversity Committee, Beaver Valley YMCA. Pastor Craig and his lovely wife Ronita have been married 33 years and they are the proud parents of two young adults – Jordan and Jillian.

SUMMER 2013

In this Issue 30

Features

I am a Christian

A Marriage Made in Heaven

Raising Up Young Leaders

News

FAITH Media

Test Your Knowledge Old Testament Quiz

8 A Christian Response to Atheism

FAITH BASED NEWS

Book Review Who Do You Think You Are?

Matters of the Heart

The Purpose Quest

Movie Review

“King’s Faith”

Our Source of Strength in Life and Death

Crossword

KIDS’ CORNER

20 Perspective: No Small Decisions 22

Never Again! How a divine encounter with Pittsburgh’s homeless helped shape the faith of one man

The Road to Heaven

Raising Up Young Leaders

A Christian Response to Atheism

Giving in Jesus’ Name

Metallic Communication

To Those Who are Troubled

A Family Reality Check

God is Always Speaking

Dark Nature

CHURCH Spotlight

Triumph Baptist Church A Place for Enrichment

Industry Insight

11 Janney Montgomery Scott LLC Determining Your Retirement Income Needs 25

TODAY’s SCRIPTURE

James 1:2-4 (ESV)

NonProfit Spotlight

Dark Nature

Kids’ Fun Emma’s Hope A Children’s Story

Bible Study

Faith Pittsburgh Bible Study

FAITH Pittsburgh North | Summer 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 3

I am a Christian! By Carol Wimmer

When I say that ‘I am a Christian’, I am not shouting that ‘I am clean living.’ I’m whispering ‘I was lost, but now I’m found and forgiven.’ When I say ‘I am a Christian’, I don’t speak of this with pride. I’m confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide. When I say ‘I am a Christian’, I’m not trying to be strong. I’m professing that I’m weak and need His strength to carry on.

When I say ‘I am a Christian’, I’m not claiming to be perfect. My flaws are far too visible, but God believes I am worth it. When I say ‘I am a Christian’, I still feel the sting of pain. I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name. When I say ‘I am a Christian’, I’m not holier than thou, I’m just a simple sinner who received God’s good grace, somehow! Be Blessed, Be a Blessing.

When I say ‘I am a Christian’, I’m not bragging of success. I’m admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.

4 724.942.0940 to advertise | FAITH Pittsburgh North

When you feel like you’re drowning in life, don’t worry – your Lifeguard walks on water.

A Marriage Made In Heaven Part one in two-part series By Tim Burgan Director of Communications Cornerstone TeleVision Network

ately I’ve been spending a lot of time helping couples work through some of their issues. After 50 years, you should still get a smile on your face when you think of your spouse. Yes, I know you’re thinking, “You’ve got to be kidding!” But after nearly 29 years, I still smile when I think about my wife, Paige. We have had some rough roads, but “God is faithful!” Allow me to share a few words of advice about having and maintaining a happy marriage. 1) Pray together! George Barna of the Barna Research Group found that couples who pray together have a much greater chance of staying together for life. For Paige and me, some of our driest times as a couple have been when we neglected to pray together due to busyness or tiredness. Plus, we have found that in addition to the spiritual blessings that come from praying together, some practical blessings come as well. Sometimes I am not the greatest communicator in the world—after all, I am male! But when we pray together I hear Paige’s heart, and she hears mine. Then we are able to keep up with what is really important in our lives. Even with all of the unpredictable things happening in the world, we know that there is at least one other person praying for us… On top of that, it is very hard to stay upset with someone you are praying for (not that Paige or I would know anything about that!).

2) Make it your goal to enable your spouse to be the best that they can be. In “The Message,” Ephesians 5 says this, “Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her.” This is Christ’s example to the church of how a husband should treat his wife. It is a blessing to both you and your spouse if every day your focus is, “How can I bless my spouse today, to help this person be who God has called him/her to be?” Hurtful words and wounding actions all get set aside if that’s your goal. Find out what your spouse’s gifts and goals are, and help make them happen.

3) Be each other’s best friend! Ephesians 5 (verse 31) also says the husband and wife are one. What this has meant to me is that nothing should come between the two. I have seen many marriage disasters due to friends, children, or parents “coming between” and dividing what should be one. Your parents will pass away, your children will grow up and move away, and any friend who is more important to you than your spouse is trouble. We are to “prefer one another” (Romans 12:10), and that should be especially true of our spouses. If you want respect, give respect. If you want to feel safe in your marriage, then make your marriage a safe place for your spouse. If you do steps 1 and 2, step 3 will be easy. Having a happy marriage isn’t about stuff, beauty, or perfection; it’s about love. And the three steps above say “I love you” louder than words. There are a few more steps I would recommend, but those are for another article. I give you my personal guarantee: If you do these three steps, your marriage will be on the road to that smile every time you think of your spouse (even after 50 years)! †

Tim Burgan Director of Communications Cornerstone TeleVision Network (Life-Changing TeleVision!) 1 Signal Hill Drive Wall, PA 15148 www.ctvn.org CTVN’s 24-Hour Prayer Line: 1.888.665.4483

FAITH Pittsburgh North | Summer 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 5

Church Spotlight

Triumph

Baptist Church a place for enrichment

ounded in 1905, Triumph Baptist Church has been a picture of stability, having only had seven pastors in the 108 years of the church’s existence. Triumph’s services continue today with Rev. Craig Giles who is in his 27th year as pastor and servant-leader of the church. Started in Sewickley as an African American church that catered to the working families in the area, the church is now (having just completed construction of a new facility in Ohio Township) home to 400 members representing 25 communities throughout the Pittsburgh area. Since Pastor Giles started with the church, it has undergone many changes. By his own admission, he has been truly blessed with very effective leaders from a variety of backgrounds that enable the church to fulfill the vision of its lead pastor. The mission of Triumph is to be a biblically based community of baptized believers, charged with growing the Kingdom by demonstrating the love of God for all people through Christ and the spirit of praise, worship, and fellowship. The vision of the church leadership is: 1. To continue to win souls to Christ through sharing and living the gospel. 2. Ministering to the needs of families, children, and singles. 3. Tearing down racial barriers through worship and fellowship. 4. Becoming a spiritual epicenter of family life. 5. Offering holistic services and programs that serve the region. 6. Serving under spiritual authority. 7. Establishing community partnerships. And Triumph’s theme is “Triumph, a Church of Love!” Triumph is a place for worship where God is glorified, the name of Jesus Christ is magnified, believers are edified, and the Body of Christ fortified. Triumph is a place for service. Triumph is a place to build relationships. Triumph is a place for learning. Triumph is a place for enrichment. The pastor’s goal as a leader is to be authentic and intentional in all that he does. He and the church are committed to becoming a diverse multicultural congregation of believers from different areas throughout the region dedicated to love, live, serve, and grow in Christ from infancy to maturity. There is an emphasis placed on being a church of love where the name of Jesus Christ is magnified and glorified. With the emphasis on becoming multicultural, offering a holistic 6 724.942.0940 to advertise | FAITH Pittsburgh North

approach to ministry, acceptance and love through discipleship and the transformation of lives is a core part of the vision of Triumph Baptist Church. Its approach to ministry is holistic for the development of the whole person: spiritual, physical, educational, relational, recreational and political. The members accentuate learning and living according to the teachings of Christ, caring for the physical body (temple) and establishing themselves as wise stewards in Christ. They stress healthy living and exercise. The church participates in the Daniel plan which focuses on healthy lifestyles; it provides monthly health initiatives that focus on awareness, encourages and sponsors exercise classes, promotes community business sponsorships in offering health fairs, and, through the church’s nonprofit arm, offers a financial management forum to the church and community. Over the years as the church has grown, the vision has also changed. In 2004 after months of vision casting about biblical change, the church purchased the land that is now its new home. To prepare for the coming transition, leadership task forces were created to aid in planning and increasing accountability. Six years ago strategic planning sessions for all servant-leaders were begun to ensure a smooth transition brought about by the changes. The thoughts and ideas of the membership and leadership were incorporated into the decisions being made about the new direction for the church. Of the 400 members of the church, 110 are involved in some way with church or ministry leadership. The priority is to make the core strong so that they can influence the incoming people rather than the incoming people influencing the core because “the core develops the culture.” Throughout this evolution the importance of leadership setting the tone has been maintained as well as the importance of fellowship within the church. Pastor Giles is a firm believer in the concept that the people within the church are much more important than the brick-and-mortar building where they reside. When asked what gives him the strength to continue in his ministry, Pastor Giles, without hesitation, answered “God’s will, my wife, family, and the desire to be significant for Christ.” If you’d like to visit Triumph Baptist Church, Sunday service is at 10:00 a.m.You can visit the website at www.triumphbaptist.com to view a calendar of events or the church office can be reached at 412.630.8204. †

Journey

the

Q & A with Triumph Baptist Church

On a cold and damp February day a group of parishioners from Triumph Baptist Church gathered at the site of what would become their new church home, each had a piece of paper with their favorite scripture on it. They placed the verses in the framework where the concrete foundation would later be poured to ensure t hat the church would be built on the Word of God.

Faith Pittsburgh: Going into this expansion project, did Triumph’s building committee members have any prior expansion/remodel experience? Triumph Baptist Church: The church’s building committees possessed some experience building new business facilities, but had very little experience in the building of a new church. We had to rely heavily on the expertise of Nello Construction and the architects of Brenenborg Brown Group. We expected their guidance in the process of modifying our Master Plan, selecting the subs, handling the building permit process and managing the actual building process. FP: Why did the building committee select Brenenborg Brown Group as the architect and Nello Construction as the general contractor and design-build team? TBC: Triumph had a number of preliminary planning meetings with other companies and, after much due diligence, decided not to pursue a relationship with those builders. One of our servant-leaders had prior knowledge of Nello and recommended that we include it in the pool of construction companies that we were considering. Nello in turn recommended Brenenborg Brown Group as an experienced ‘church architect.’ FP: How long did the planning process take before the 14-month construction schedule began? TBC: We purchased our land for the project in 2004 and continued preparing while seeking the approval to build. From 2006 to 2012, we were engaged in two fundraiser campaigns (Proceeding with the Promise [PWP]), PWP committee meetings, Master Planning with the congregation, and meetings with the executive task force team, construction team, architects and builders. We finally began the ‘groundbreaking’ and actual site clearing in March of 2012. FP: In terms of how the new building functions, were there any specific goals set by the building committee ahead of time? TBC: The entire long-term Master Plan vision consisted of nearly 40,000 sq. ft. of space and is divided into two phases...Phase I consisted of a ‘multi-purpose’ sanctuary and recreation room with classrooms/offices surrounding it. Phase II plans for the future consist of a dedicated sanctuary with various offices, classrooms and a daycare/educational wing. FP: How will the church operate in the new building compared to the old (i.e. will worship services be the same format, will the choir/worship team function any differently, how do event hosting capabilities differ

now, are there any specific events you can now hold, how will it affect children’s ministries)? TBC: In our former structure, we conducted two services each Sunday to accommodate the congregation; however we used two other buildings to house our offices, computer lab, youth classes and other ministry-related activities. The new facility will allow us to accommodate those things while moving forward to carry out our vision statement and strategic ministry objectives through various ministries and activities that serve the needs of the membership and community. Through our strategic planning we have in place ongoing evaluations that assess the growing needs of our congregation to determine how we proceed with our worship formats in the new facility. FP: Any specific obstacles or hurdles in the construction process during which the building committee had to possess unwavering faith? TBC: Yes, a number of them. However, they were not unexpected and we remained steadfast in our confidence in Christ and our faith. As in the book of Nehemiah we understood that obstacles might arise from without and within. Our belief in God’s vision was consistently tested through plan modifications, budget challenges, and building and compliance issues. However, by the grace and power of God and the diligent work of our team, we were able to overcome the challenges we faced while still maintaining Triumph’s Christian integrity and witness for the Kingdom of God. FP: Why was it important for Triumph to open its new doors when it did? TBC: We had other agreements and obligations that we had to live up to. Also it was very important and exciting to our congregation to begin ministering to a new community and all those who were anticipating the completion of our new facility. FP: Any compliments or praise received for Triumph’s new building from other pastors/congregations/local politicians that Triumph was encouraged by? TBC: Many outsiders have toured our new facility and said that it looks like a wonderful facility and a place to worship. We plan to have an official Open House celebration later this year! FP: Why did the church choose a Butler Building (pre-engineered metal) over conventional construction (wood frame, bricks, and mortar)? TBC: We felt it was more cost efficient. Additionally, commented Pastor Giles, ‘we liked the look of modern exterior panels in that it provided a multidimensional look.’ †

Fast Facts: Architect: Brenenborg Brown Group General Contractor: Nello Construction Company Building Supplier: Butler Manufacturing Civil Engineer: Trant Corporation Structural Engineer: Churches Engineering LLC

Project Cost: $4+ million Square Feet: 18,000 square feet Multi-Purpose Sanctuary: 7,000 square feet, seats 450-500 people

right : Financial Manager, Mike Bozic left: Rev. Craig Giles

FAITH Pittsburgh North | Summer 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 7

Listening and Sharing:

A Christian Response to

Atheism By Rev. Tom Parkinson Faith United Methodist Church

Amid the piercing sounds of warning sirens signaling the impending arrival of a tornado, 30-year-old Rebecca Vitsmun made a split-second decision. Rather than sheltering in place to ride out the storm, she decided to take her 19-monthold baby, get in the car and flee. It was a decision that saved their lives. Within minutes an F-4 tornado leveled their home. When CNN picked up on Vitsmun’s story, it sent Wolf Blitzer to interview her. After telling her story, Blitzer casually asked Vitsmun, “Do you thank God for that split-second decision?” She paused and stuttered, clearly caught off-guard by the question. After a moment of uneasy silence, she smiled and said, “Actually, I’m an atheist.” That awkward moment on live television has since garnered a lot of attention and commentary. That’s because Vitsmun’s self-identification as an atheist is a window into the modern religious landscape of America. According to the Pew Research Forum, 20% of American adults identify themselves as atheists, agnostics, or religiously unaffiliated. While atheism used to be associated with academic elites, it is increasingly common among everyday, ordinary folks like Rebecca Vitsmun. For Christians, this raises an important question: how should we respond to atheism? In an increasingly secular culture, it’s a timely question. If you don’t already, the chances are very high that you will someday encounter somebody in your life – a friend, coworker, spouse, or child – who doesn’t believe in God. As followers of Jesus, how should we respond? When I was in high school, one of my friends shared with me that she was an atheist. For some reason, my gut reaction was to make it my responsibility to convert her. I mustered every ounce of mental energy I had to make a rational argument for God’s existence. I quoted scripture, talked about intelligent design, and pushed her to make a decision to believe. But rather than converting her to the Christian faith, all I did was drive her farther away. continued on next page ›

8 724.942.0940 to advertise | FAITH Pittsburgh North

FAITH Pittsburgh North | Summer 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 9

She said it was because of the coercive tactics of people like me that she had given up on religious faith in the first place.

She said it was because of the coercive tactics of people like me that she had given up on religious faith in the first place. In the end, my attempts to convert her only confirmed her distaste for the Christian faith. In that moment I learned that a Christian response to atheism must do better than trying to convert non-believers. Besides, Jesus never called us to convert anybody. Rather, Jesus calls us to love God with everything we have, and to love our neighbors as ourselves (Mark 12:29-31). And regardless of a person’s religious belief (or lack thereof), she/he is still a neighbor whom Christ calls us to love. Our response to atheism, therefore, must begin with love. How can we show love toward our neighbors who do not believe in God? True love for neighbor begins with healthy relationships. The way that we experience God’s love for us is in relationship. Since all love is from God, if we are to love our neighbors, then the place to start is by building healthy relationships. Healthy relationships are those that entail mutual listening and sharing. That means that listening to our non-believing neighbors is always a good starting place. Ask why they choose not to believe in God. In most cases, a person’s choice not to believe in God is made only after careful consideration. Maybe he/she had a terrible religious experience as a child. Maybe the person has experienced difficult seasons of suffering and pain. Maybe he/she is fed up with the violence and hatred that has been spread in the name of 10 724.942.0940 to advertise | FAITH Pittsburgh North

God. Whatever the reason, listening to people tell their stories communicates that you honor and respect where they are in life’s journey. In my zeal to convert my high school friend, I never once stopped to listen and honor her for who she is. My response, well intentioned as it may have been, was not loving. But listening is just the beginning. Forming healthy relationships with non-believing neighbors also requires our own sharing. Once we have heard their stories, and understand their reasons for unbelief, we can share our own story. Tell them what a difference Jesus has made in your life. Share how God has helped you through a difficult time. Talk about your doubts and personal struggles in faith. Sharing your story is not meant to provide a rational case for why all people should believe in God; rather it is to provide a witness to how Jesus has changed you. The goal of listening and sharing is not to convert our neighbors, but to love our neighbors as Christ has loved us. The work of conversion is never ours; it is always up to God. Our act of listening and sharing with atheists may be a means by which God’s converting grace is poured out. On the other hand, it may not. Either way, listening and sharing are the basic practices that enable us to respond to atheism by loving our neighbors, which is all Jesus ever wanted us to do anyway. † By Rev. Tom Parkinson, Faith United Methodist Church

Industry Insight

Determining Your Retirement

Income Needs

What is it? Determining your retirement income needs is a process that helps you identify your retirement planning needs based on your desired standard of living and the resources you’ll have available. Today, you can typically no longer rely on Social Security benefits and a company pension check to fulfill all your retirement income needs. Social Security benefits will probably satisfy only a fraction of your overall retirement income needs, and generous company pensions have largely been replaced in many cases with employer-sponsored retirement plans that are funded largely with employee dollars. A successful and rewarding retirement requires you to plan ahead in order to help ensure that you have sufficient retirement income to last you for your entire retirement. Determining your retirement income needs requires a discussion of the various stages of retirement planning, including preretirement, the transition into retirement, and retirement. Preretirement. Your retirement is sometime in the future - maybe 10 years, maybe 30 years down the road. If so, you’ve got a little breathing room. The single biggest mistake that you can make right now is to put off thinking about your retirement. The more time you have, the more you can hope to accomplish, so the sooner you start, the better off you should be. You’ve got a lot to think about. There are many factors to

consider, including your expected sources of retirement income, your retirement income needs, and how you can use those sources of retirement income to fulfill your retirement income needs. See our topic discussion, Preretirement. The transition into retirement. If retirement is right around the corner, you’ve got some important decisions to make. If you haven’t done so, spend some time forming a good picture of your retirement financial position. To the best of your ability, estimate your retirement income and expenses as discussed in preretirement. As retirement approaches, though, you have to consider the impact of when you retire. Early retirement and delayed retirement, through choice or necessity, can raise certain issues you’ll want to understand. See our topic discussion, The Transition into Retirement. Retirement. When you retire, there are still some retirement issues that you may need to consider. These include the effect of working during your retirement, and the impact of other sources of income on your Social Security benefits. Also, required minimum distributions from your IRA or employer-sponsored retirement plan may be an issue. The most important thing for you to do is review your retirement plan with your financial advisor. It is always a good idea to have an outside analysis to ensure your needs and goals are reasonable and achievable. Please contact me if you would like a second opinion. Disclosure. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC Financial Consultants are available to discuss the suitability and risks involved with various products and strategies presented. We will be happy to provide a prospectus, when available, and other information upon request. Please note that the information provided includes reference to concepts that have legal, accounting and tax implications. It is not to be construed as legal, accounting or tax advice, and is provided as general information to you to assist in understanding the issues discussed. Neither Janney Montgomery Scott LLC nor its Financial Consultants (in their capacity as Financial Consultants) give tax, legal, or accounting advice. We would urge you to consult with your own attorney and/or accountant regarding the application of the information contained in this article to the facts and circumstances of your particular situation. Mark J. Mendicino, AWMA®, CLTC® Senior Vice President/Wealth Management Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, Pittsburgh Office 412.562.8096 • mmendicino@janney.com www.MendicinoGiliberti.com Janney Montgomery Scott LLC is a full-service investment firm that is a member of the NYSE, the FINRA and SIPC. Prepared by Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions, Inc. Copyright 2013.

FAITH Pittsburgh North | Summer 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 11

Matters of the

Heart Are There Roadblocks Impacting Your Walk? By Melissa Pearce Founder/President, Enduring Hope Ministries

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or the last several weeks, I have been studying the seven different messages to the churches in the book of Revelations. As I was reading through each of the letters, there had seemed to be a common denominator between all of them – the emphasis of their works for the Lord. As I continued to reflect upon God’s Word, I came upon the following passage in Luke. Scripture Reading: Luke 10:38-42 “As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” I want you to notice some key points from this passage that the Lord had given me. First, Martha had opened her home to Jesus. She had welcomed Him and the other disciples to her home. Martha wanted to be close to Jesus. How often do we want to be close to Jesus? What is our responsibility of engaging with Him? I believe we need to respond to Jesus like Martha did, invite Him to our home. The first part of developing an intimate relationship with God is welcoming Him into our hearts, where He will make His home. Ephesians 3:17 “So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith…” reinforces God’s desire to dwell and be completely at home within us. However, there is a warning I believe Jesus is speaking to Martha, just as He did to the seven churches in Revelation. The warning is the distraction of works for the Lord versus being intimate with Him. If we are not careful, our doing can become a deterrent in building an intimate relationship with God. Luke 10:40 “But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.” How many times do we act like Martha? How often do we allow the preparations of doing ministry to interfere with our walk with God? How many times do we rely on our service for the Lord to be credited toward our relationship with Him? Please understand my heart – God desires for

How many times have we forsaken Christ who is our first love by placing emphasis on our works and deeds? How many times have we forsaken our first love by esteeming material things versus building quality of time with God? How many times have we forsaken our first love by being politically correct for fear of rejection? us to serve Him but not when our service triumphs our relationship with Him. I started to reflect even more. Lord, have I allowed the works you have called me to do for your glory to interfere with my relationship with you? If it’s not my service of ministry interfering with my relationship with Him, then what other distractions are causing an interference in my walk with God? Is it my job, spouse, relationships, illness, family, and/or my ‘to do’ list? Or have I allowed my own selfish ambitions and goals to interfere with my love for Christ? Listen to the words of Christ speaking to the church of Ephesus in Revelations. Revelations 2:2-4 “I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false…Yet, I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.” How many times have we forsaken Christ who is our first love by placing emphasis on our works and deeds? How many times have we forsaken our first love by esteeming material things versus building quality of time with God? How many times have we forsaken our first love by being politically correct for fear of rejection? Didn’t Martha fall into this trap? She wanted to be close to Jesus but somewhere along the way, the priority of ‘serving’ and ‘becoming’ became her focus instead of ‘resting’ and ‘developing.’ Jesus spoke to the heart of the matter. He knew she was upset and worried about many things, yet He knew what was best – time at His feet. Here is what we fail to realize – God knows every detail that is occurring within our lives. He knows what is causing anxiety within our hearts. He knows the steps needed in helping a loved one. He knows our worries about our kids or spouse. He knows

the emotional and physical stress we endure when a loved one is ailing. He knows every detail. There is nothing hidden from Him. He also knows the importance of sitting at His feet and abiding in what His Word would bring. So often, we try to handle this situation or that circumstance; yet God is so willing to direct our steps and provide solutions for us if only we would sit down with Him and allow Him to speak to our hearts. God wants us to learn from both Martha and Mary. Mary made a decision that would have a profound impact on her life. She chose what was better. She chose not to allow the distractions to interfere with her walk with God. Her fellowship time with God was a high priority in her life. How we too need to be like Mary and not allow the distractions of life to interfere not only with our time with God but our relationship with Him. I also love the fact that Mary exercised wisdom. Instead of allowing the distractions to overwhelm her, she had learned to take those matters directly to Him. How much better we would be if we would do the same. So perhaps God is using this teaching to have you reflect upon your own walk with God. Let me ask you, have you engaged with Him and invited Him into your heart? Or perhaps He is asking to reevaluate where you have placed your priorities? Or is He asking you to be like Mary and make Him the choice? How I pray the Lord will bless you and keep you. May His face shine upon you and give you peace. †

Melissa Pearce Founder/President, Enduring Hope Ministries www.enduringhopeministries.com

FAITH Pittsburgh North | Summer 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 13

FAITH Media

Test your knowledge Old Testament Quiz

1.) Who was the first man created on Earth? Abraham Noah Adam Moses 2.) Who was the first woman created on Earth? Sarah Rebekah Eve Rachel 3.) Who built an ark to survive the great flood? Samson Isaac Adam Noah 4.) Who parted the Red Sea and helped the children of Israel escape from Egypt? Jacob Naaman Moses Elijah 5.) Who was the first murderer? Moses Abraham Cain Joseph

Book review

6.) Who sold the birthright to his brother for a meal? Jeremiah Zedekiah Abraham Esau

10.) Who had incredible strength until his hair was cut? Naaman Samson Daniel Israel

7.) Whose name was changed to “Israel”? Noah Moses Adam Jacob

11.) Who could interpret King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and later was delivered by God from a den of lions? Daniel David Jacob Isaac

8.) Who is taken captive into Egypt, becomes a ruler, and later saves the country from famine? Israel Moses Joseph Noah 9.) Who becomes the leader of the children of Israel following Moses’ death and brings them to the promised land? Naaman Noah Joshua Daniel

12.) Who received the ability to interpret visions and dreams because he refused to eat the king’s rich food? Abed-nego Meshach Daniel Shadrach

Source – religionresourcesonline.org

See page 48 for answers

Review By: Sam Isaacson This book is essentially a sermon series in book form, walking through the book of Ephesians from start to finish. The subtitle is “Finding Your True Identity in Christ,” which captures the theme that runs through the book, but there’s a lot more in it than simply a redefinition of identity. I read this expecting to like the content, but not be too enamored by the presentation. It turns out he’s struck a winning formula in this one. Although perhaps not as funny as some of his other books, this is a solid, Driscollstyle presentation of Ephesians, taking a few verses and breaking them down in each chapter into a number of easy-to-digest points, with challenging and practical ways to apply the lessons learnt throughout. He’s a massive fan of footnotes and endnotes,

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which means that it’s easy to find out what Bible passage to look up to follow an idea through, or which book to buy next if you want to explore an idea. In short, I don’t think I’m going too far to say this is Driscoll’s best book out there. It’s easy to read, thoroughly biblical, and contains an important message that people need to hear. With some insignificant reservations I’d recommend it to anyone, but particularly new Christians, and Christians who don’t think they need to read it. That might be you! Sam is a reformed charismatic husband and father, working in technology risk in London and planting a church at the same time. samisaacson.wordpress.com Article Source: www.faithwriters.com

movie Review

Romans Crossword Puzzle 1

King’s Faith

Directed By:

Nicholas DiBella

Written By:

Nicholas DiBella and Paul Root PG-13 : Violence and Adult Situations

“King’s Faith” is the story of Brendan, played by Crawford Wilson, who after being released from jail is headed for his 18th foster home. Brendan is taken in by Mike (James McDaniel) and Vanessa (Lynn Whitfield) whose performances are a huge part of the success of this movie. Mike and Vanessa are still dealing with the pain from the loss of their son, who was killed in the line of duty as a police officer, when they open their home and their hearts to Brendan. Things are different this time for Brendan: he has a newfound faith and is determined not to repeat past mistakes and return to his old life. Throughout the movie the performances of James McDaniel and Lynn Whitfield are inspired, believable, and truly well done. Clashing with Brendan’s newfound faith and desire to do what is right are old friends, old temptations and a dangerous past that threatens to destroy all hope of a different future. “King’s Faith” has a strong message of repentance and redemption that is well delivered through a story that keeps your interest without sounding like they are preaching. The movie also deals with the pain and difficulty of losing a loved one as well as the hurt caused by abortion. I would recommend this movie to anyone who is interested in not only a good faith-based movie but a very good movie period. When used in conjunction with the group Bible study, “King’s Faith” would make an excellent tool for youth leaders to use to deliver a very important message.

DOWN

ACROSS

1 what as believers are we controlled by in chapter 8 2 by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners God showed his 3 what did Abraham do that was counted him as righteousness 4 how many chapters in Romans 8 what can separate us from God’s love 10 who was the writer of the book of Romans 12 what root represented the blessings promised to Abraham’s descendants.

1 through endurance and the encouragement of scriptures we have 5 the book of Romans was written for what group of believers 6 the law for gentiles is written on 7 we are called to be ______ as to what is evil 9 what illustration is used in chapter 6 to help the reader understand the relation of human nature to sin 11 we are personally ________ to God for our actions See page 49 for answers

FAITH Pittsburgh North | Summer 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 15

The

Purpose Quest By REV. John Stanko

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Rick Warren wrote The Purpose Driven Life and it sold 33 million copies, maybe more. Recently he re-released the same book under a different title with a few more chapters. Pastor Warren helped focus the church on the topic of purpose, but what changes has that focus brought to the church itself? Are we more purposeful? Do our members focus on or talk about purpose? It seems that 33 million readers told the church what they want to hear, but for all intents and purposes, the church has not embraced what I call the “Purpose Craze.” Why are people so interested in purpose these days? Is it a fad? A product of the self-help world of psychology? An expression of a selfabsorbed generation? The reasons are many, but not found in any of those assumptions. Here are some reasons for the purpose craze:

People have more work and ministry options than ever before. Because there are so many things they can do, they are asking, “What is it that I am supposed to do?”

The Internet has made publishing and communication easier than ever. Since people now have outlets for their creativity, they are looking for ways to express it.

People have more leisure time than ever before. They are looking for meaningful purpose during their down times.

In the western world at least, basic needs are met, so people are turning their attention to matters of significance. continued on next page ›

FAITH Pittsburgh North | Summer 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 17

The Purpose Quest Continued

I have taught on the topic of purpose for more than 20 years, utilizing one basic assumption: If God wants you to do His will (and He does), then He must reveal to you what that purpose is. So what can churches do to engage their members where purpose is concerned? In my book Changing the Way We Do Church, I recommend seven steps for churches to take that will lead to a purposeful reformation. I won’t outline all seven, but here is the first: 1. Raise up an army of purpose-led men and women who have faith to do the impossible, freed from trying to be who they are not and released to be the fullest, best expression of who God created them to be. The goal of the seven steps I outline in my book is to: Put leaders more in touch with the purpose of the members.

Put the members more in touch with their role in the body of Christ.

Allow the church to be purpose-driven, mission-driven, bold and outward-focused.

To raise up these purpose-driven people, I suggest that churches start Life Purpose Centers, where teaching and resources are available to help people understand purpose. Then I suggest that each church have a purpose pastor, someone who is listening to what the Spirit is saying to the people and who can make the rest of leadership aware of what’s going on. Then those leaders can help strategize how best the church can assist people with purpose-related issues. Finally, the church needs to develop a leadership-training program. This doesn’t have to be a seminary or academic program, but something that will put leadership in touch with budding leaders and students in touch with their leadership along with the church’s philosophy for ministry and worldview. Now that Pastor Warren has raised the subject of purpose once again, let’s not let it pass before we make full use of it for the development of our churches and members. It would be wonderful if more of our members were involved in the work of ministry, and purpose has the potential to do just that, but only if we change the way we do church to make room for the phenomenon of the purpose craze. †

John Stanko is administrative pastor for discipleship at Allegheny Center Alliance Church and president of PurposeQuest International. He has written extensively on the topic of purpose. You can find John’s material at www.purposequest.com.

The Red Convertible By Rev. Ted Martin Hampton Presbyterian Church

With the vintage Grand Prix around the corner, we have the thrill of seeing some wonderful cars that have been restored or protected through the years. Some of these cars roar with raw power. The sound. The crescendo of energy as the engine revs. The vibration and the purr. I was never a motorhead, but my mother would encourage me to go down to the garage and help my brother work on cars. My brother would always have a small assortment of cars in our driveway when I was growing up. Whenever my mom would suggest that I go down and help my brother, I would say something like, “You really don’t love me, do you?” “Oh Ted, you’ll thank me later.” One thing for sure, Mom was right….again. Even in the midst of having my vocabulary expanded as a child by my older brother, learning that certain parts to cars only respond to certain words in the English language, I deeply appreciate those days of monkeying around with the grease, now. Take for example the beat up ’74 drop top VW bug my brother picked up for $50.00. It was a heap of a mess. Now, I know this car doesn’t have a roar of power, but it has character. My brother stripped it down to the bare bones. He breathed life into the car. With grinder and torch, body putty and paint, he turned a wreck into a beautiful ride. He and I worked on the interior with a lush red shag carpet to match the cherry red paint with blacked out trim. This convertible gave definition to the term Phat Ride before it was even in vogue. As I think back on those days of helping my brother and the satisfaction of bringing order out of chaos, I think how blessed we are to catch even a small slice of what God thinks and feels after He completed His work in creation. It’s refreshing to think that God relates to the mechanic. After 6 days of blood, sweat and tears He steps back wiping His hands on a soiled red rag. He gives a quick polish on one little spot and says, “This is very good.” It’s time to hop into God’s creation. Summer is coming to a close and the beautiful days of Autumn are before us. Let the top down and let the wind blow through your hair. God’s creation has been given to us to care for and enjoy just like a drop top ’74 VW Superbeetle. By Rev. Ted Martin, Hampton Presbyterian Church 724-443-3201

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Our Source of Strength in Life and Death BY Mike Howard

FEAR NOT! This phrase has a regular occurrence in the Bible. It is also the title of a book by Ligon Duncan, one of our country’s leading pastors. I read this book to get encouragement as my wife battles pancreatic cancer and am now reading it with her (at the time of this writing she began hospice care). The “foreword” to the book was written by Jerry Bridges. He said: “Most people, even Christians, live in a state of semi-denial about death. We hesitate to say a dearly loved relative ‘died.’ We prefer to say she ‘passed away’ or she ‘went to be with the Lord.’ Even unbelievers who assume that everyone ends up in Heaven are known to say something such as, ‘He’s gone to a better place.” To that last statement I say: Maybe so …. maybe not! The truth is at death we ALL go to some place MUCH better or MUCH worse. Oh, and let’s also point out our loved ones are not “looking down on us.” Who would want to do that after beholding the glory of God and Jesus Christ!? We are either praising God, or suffering in eternal torment. The main problem IS fear. We do not face the issue with a reliance on Scripture as our source for information, nor do we meditate on eternal things as often as we should. Jonathan Edwards (Jonathan Edwards was a Christian preacher and theologian) was known to have spent at least 20 minutes a day meditating on Heaven! We should “go and do likewise.” God is our source of strength in BOTH life and death. Strength is defined as power and ability … force and might. The Scriptures are replete with these types of references to our Heavenly Father. Joshua reminds us to “be strong and courageous.” The Psalms talk of God as our “strength.” Paul exhorts us to “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.”

(Ephesians 6:10) I recently listened to another one of my favorite pastors, Rick Phillips, and something he said came from John 21 when Jesus met the disciples at the Sea of Galilee. Pastor Rick reminds us of this one convicting point, which is the first point of his sermon outline: “The Futility of Laboring for Christ According to Our Own Wisdom.” Think on that statement for a minute. Jesus asks the disciples in John 21:5 “Children, you do not have any fish do you?” A rhetorical question, he knew the answer. (I guess ALL of Jesus’ questions were rhetorical when you think about it!) The disciples had not caught any fish … and the reason was they were attempting things in their own strength. Regarding this same passage, John MacArthur (John Fullerton MacArthur, Jr. is an American Evangelical Christian pastor and author) reminds us: “The disciple’s failure through that long night established their inability to give themselves successfully to any other enterprise than serving the Lord. Not only had they dramatically been brought face-to-face with their own inability, AND divine sovereignty, but they were also next shown a miraculous creative act demonstrating that Jesus would continue to provide their needs.” They produced NOTHING on their own efforts, but through Christ, they yielded a “catch” so large, they could barely haul it in. What is the lesson here?? Christ wants us to see futility in self-trust. Once Christ tells them WHERE to get the fish … and they OBEY … the result: HUGE CATCH! This gives us the promise of blessing from Christ. It reminds me strikingly of John 15, the

Editor’s note: On July 11th 2013 Amy Howard passed away leaving this world to be with the Lord. All of us at Faith Pittsburgh magazine want to extend our deepest sympathies to the Howard family and we ask that all of our readers keep the Howard family in their prayers. The soul is made for eternal glory; Amy’s has gone on to the Kingdom of Heaven to her glory. 6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 2 Cor 5:6-8 (ESV)

picture of the vine. If we, the branches, do NOT abide in Christ the vine … NO fruit! It is a simple agricultural lesson. If our lives are not enmeshed with Christ … NO fruit. (Fish and fruit … the makings of a great Baptist pot luck dinner, wouldn’t you say?) Our job then is to take these biblical truths, these scriptural lessons, and apply them to life; to the big things of life. What might those big things be? Work … Marriage … Presenting the Gospel!! In a future issue (or two!) we will deal with these issues AND circle right back around to the BIGGEST issue of all: Death and the life hereafter. We will convince ourselves that the ONLY way to deal with these, or ANY of life’s issues, big OR small, is by having God as our ONLY source for strength. FEAR NOT! †

Mike Howard General Sales Manager WORD FM 101.5 He is also host of “Bible Burgh” heard Sunday nights at 9:00 p.m.

FAITH Pittsburgh North | Summer 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 19

Perspective

No Small Decisions by Michael Granovitz

Every single day we are faced with many decisions: some are small and others are very large. Not one of these decisions is inconsequential; to the last one all have far-reaching ramifications. As believers we can choose to live either worldly or eternally. To live worldly is to act and react in accordance with society and what is valued by a majority of the populace. To live eternally is living in a manner that brings glory to and pleases the Lord. When we live eternally Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s love is reflected in our lives; we live every day knowing that at any moment our time here could end and we will be called to account for our lives. â&#x20AC;şâ&#x20AC;ş

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8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

Romans 8:8 (ESV)

Conversely the priorities of those living with an eternal perspective will be advancing their personal relationship with the Lord, treating others with love and respect, ensuring their actions and reactions please the Lord, and serving the Lord as well as other people. The person with an eternal perspective is not worried about what happens here on earth but much more so what will happen on the day of his/her bodily death when standing in front of the Lord waiting to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Romans 8:5 (ESV)

A worldly life is where the priority is gaining material things, attaining a high status, and making everyday decisions to benefit one’s self without a thought of God. Wordly people may give no thought as to how they treat others, what their actions and reactions cause those around them to think, and whether or not their decisions will please the Lord.

✝ 9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. Romans 8:9-11 (ESV)

Christians, it is our duty to live in a manner that honors God, fulfills his will, and reflects the Lord’s love to the people who come into our lives. I would venture to say that as a Christian, if you are sharing the gospel with the people you meet in your life, you have heard at one time or another someone say “I stopped going to church because Christians are hypocrites-they are ‘holier than thou’ on Sunday in church but the rest of the week they are worse than many people who don’t ever go to church” or something to that effect. This statement is a direct reflection of one’s perspective; when Christians live Monday through Saturday with a worldly perspective, not giving a second thought to God, they not only displease God with their actions they also drive non-believers away from church, the gospel, and salvation. Whereas if we live every day with the thought that at any moment our time on this earth might end and we will have to stand before the Lord and give an account of why we chose to live the way we did, it would give us an eternal perspective not only changing our lives but also could very well change the lives of those around us when they see the Lord’s love reflected in the way we live.

✝ So when you are faced with everyday decisions, look at them with an eternal perspective and ask yourself what would please God instead of what is best for me. Never forget that scripture calls us to be Christ-like in our lives. 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. 1 John 2:4-6 (ESV)

FAITH Pittsburgh North | Summer 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 21

Never Again! ith How a divine encounter wpe d Pittsburgh’s homeless helan.. shape the faith of one m By Dennis Miranda

“LORD,” I sighed deeply. “I really don’t want to do this.

I mean, what if they laugh at me? I don’t want to look like a fool…again!” Like a small child trying to negotiate with his parents looking for a way out of doing chores; I found myself in the same manner trying to talk my way out of what God was tugging on my heart to do – step out in faith. When I first started working on Pittsburgh’s North Shore, back in 2009, there was only one homeless man who wandered about the area in front of my office building. Eight months later there sprang up over 10! “Bob” was one of the first I saw on a

regular basis. He was a loner and would often be found standing in front of the Fox Sports Network window outside my office building watching sports news. He stood glued in front of the flat screen TV ignoring the busy people scurrying about. We would walk by Bob as well, pretending he wasn’t there either. Putting my faith into action, I tried reaching out to Bob one day by offering him a can of soda. In typical stalker-like fashion I crept up on Bob while he was sleeping on a park bench nearby. Looking back it was probably not a smart move. Bob cracked opened his tired eyes for a brief moment only to see a crazy man hovering over him waving a can of diet soda. Bob shook his head as if to say, “Get lost,” rolled his eyes, and went

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back to sleep. Later, my pastor would gently remind me that some people may simply just want to be left alone. So, I did just that. By the way, I have no idea what Bob’s real name is. So, that’s what I named him. Everyone’s got a name, right? Well, it was apparent this guy wasn’t giving it up any time soon. Still feeling that God was pressing upon my heart, I tried reaching out again. Stretching my faith a little more I decided this time to approach a different group of homeless men. However, I froze and I could not shake that old familiar fear of rejection that stemmed from an awful past experience with another homeless man from my neighborhood only years earlier. I had good reason for feeling reluctant in making another attempt at reaching out to

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We are Blessed Every day... society’s “castaways.” “After all,” grumbling to myself, “I’m the one who got hurt in the first place, right?” Rewind a few years ago, my wife and I were out driving one day and we came past a busy intersection in our neighborhood. There we spotted the same homeless man we’ve seen countless times standing along the median, panhandling stopped motorists for a few coins as they waited for their light to turn green. Feeling in a good mood that day, I turned to my wife, Tina, with a wide grin and sparks in my eyes saying, “Honey, I want to do something nice today. Let’s go buy a few things for that homeless man, and make his day!” With my wife in tow, we headed over

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continued on next page › FAITH Pittsburgh North | Summer 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 23

to the nearest grocery store and bought a few food items that we liked. (I mean, we bought items that we thought he would like.) Feeling pretty pleased with myself, I loaded the four hefty grocery bags full of food into our vehicle. Approaching the intersection, I asked Tina to pull over. I quickly jumped out of our vehicle toting the four bags of hope, one in each hand. I was on a mission! With chest out and head held high, I was as proud as a peacock! Making my way up, I apparently startled the poor man with a barrage of assertive questions. “Hey man, how’s it going?” “Nice cammo jacket!” “Are you a vet?” “I’m a Marine.” “Hey, here’s some food, and a jug of water we bought for you.” “You been out here long?” “What’s your name?” “My name’s Dennis.” BAM! BAM! BAM! With one proverbial round after another, being fired downrange the poor guy didn’t stand a chance. Between my “high and tight” military haircut, tattoos, fixed eyes and devilish grin it’s no wonder the old man appeared a bit shaken. The jittery homeless man quickly turned his attention to the bags of food and water I had laid down before him, and carefully sifted through each one without saying a word. After his final inspection was complete the old man cautiously handed over all of the bags back to me, except the gallon jug of clean drinking water. He nervously explained that he was on a “special diet” and was allergic to many of the foods I had brought. Feeling a bit embarrassed and in disbelief that someone would actually refuse free food I stood there with my jaw wide open, resting comfortably on the asphalt right beside my pride. In the awkwardness of the moment I didn’t know what to say and suddenly I felt as though every person who was stopped at that intersection was pointing and laughing at me. It would be years later, however, that I would learn a simple yet profound truth from this lesson and that this man wasn’t purposely trying to be rude or even ungrateful. Quite the contrary, what he was actually trying to tell this stubborn Marine jarhead was simply that his needs were not the same as my needs. After all, where exactly did I expect this homeless man to store up all of these treasures I had brought to him, in his kitchen pantry? We have a saying in the military for moments like these: “Good initiative, bad judgment.” It was certainly a good try, but poor judgment on my part to have presumed

So, in leaving the old homeless man I crossed the intersection between humiliation and resentment while shaking my head and saying, “Never again!” Never again will I offer help to another person like that only to wind up in complete and utter failure and humiliation . “Never again !” anything. So, in leaving the old homeless man I crossed the intersection between humiliation and resentment while shaking my head and saying, “Never again!” Never again will I offer help to another person like that only to wind up in complete and utter failure and humiliation. “Never again!” I reaffirmed my anger once more because of the hope in Jesus Christ I had lacked within my heart back then. That was of course until I met Al. Remember the group of homeless men at the beginning of this story? Well, there was another profound truth in this lesson that a sister in Christ and fellow runner named Shelley would help me to discover. As I recounted to her this past experience while confessing my present day struggle with what God was tugging on my heart to do, Shelley made clear to me that the old homeless man did not completely reject everything (including me). In fact, he had accepted the gallon of clean drinking water I had brought him! Furthermore, Shelley helped me to see in action what Jesus talks about in Matthew 25:34-40 that when we give to the least of these we do the same to Him also. As I fixed my eyes now on the new set of homeless men outside of my office I took a deep breath, exhaled and then set my feet in motion. With my red and white cooler in hand, filled now with ice and multiple bottles of cold water, I carefully approached the small group of homeless men. Looking

puzzled, they watched as this stranger came from seemingly out of nowhere, set down his cooler, and politely introduced himself while encouraging them to take a bottle of cold water. “Thanks man. My name is Al,” one of the homeless men said as he stuck out his hand. As I shook Al’s rough and calloused hand I saw a smile on his face. And for the first time I saw a man, like me, made in the image of God. Suddenly, my fear melted away and Al and I talked briefly, even shared a laugh or two. The men were very grateful for the water and it was a welcomed treat on such a hot and humid day in August. It was also literally a life saver as I was informed by Al that one of the men was so thirsty he had been drinking water from the nearby river! Today I have lost contact with Al, but in the weeks that followed that moment where the Lord had introduced us to one another, I had met with Al a few more times over coffee in our downstairs lobby. Looking back, my passing co-workers probably did not know what to make of it at the time, and I can’t help but wonder now what if Jesus had looked at me with the same contempt I once held toward that homeless man in my first encounter? What if Jesus had shook His head and said of me “Never again!” I am eternally grateful to my Savior that He chose instead to reach out to me through the gift of the cross. “Run to Win!” †

Dennis Miranda A devoted husband to my wife of 24 years, father of two sons, and currently attending the Pennsylvania Bible Institute. I am a retired Marine and part of Alliance Veterans leadership team at Murrysville Alliance Church.

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KIDS’ CORNER

Crossword by Myles Mellor Across

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 1

1 He doubted Jesus (6)

5 Moses parted it (goes with 4 down) (3) Genesis 1:1 6 He built the ark (4)

5 6

7 8

9 11

10 13

13 Up to now (6)

9 11

Crossword

Crossword by Myles Mellor

Down

Across

1 Number of commandments (3)

1 He doubted Jesus (6)

2 Second son of Judah (Genesis 38) (4)

5 Moses parted it (goes with 4 down) (3)

3 __mageddon (2)

6 He built the ark (4)

4 See 5 across (3)

8 Harass verbally (3)

7 Word meaning hell (5)

11 Opposite of light (4)

9 Entrance point to heaven (4)

13 Up to now (6)

12 Word meaning gazelle in the Bible (Deuteronomy 14:5) (3)

14 "_____ and ye shall find..." (4) Down See page 49 for answers 1 Number of commandments (3) 2 Second son of Judah (Genesis 38) (4)

The

Bag of Nails

There once was a young boy with a very bad temper. The boy’s father wanted to teach him a lesson, so he gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper he must hammer a nail into their wooden fence. On the first day of this lesson, the little boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. He was really mad! Over the course of the next few weeks, the little boy began to control his temper, so the number of nails that were hammered into the fence dramatically decreased. It wasn’t long before the little boy discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence. Then, the day finally came when the little boy didn’t lose his temper even once, and he became so proud of himself, he couldn’t wait

7 8

8 Harass verbally (3)

14 "_____ and ye shall find..." (4)

3 5

11 Opposite of light (4)

10 ____ Second Coming (3)

3 __mageddon (2) to4tell his5 father. See across (3) Pleased, his father suggested that he now 7 meaning (5)day that he could pull Word out one nail forhell each 9 Entrance point to heaven (4) hold his temper. Several weeks by and 10 ____ Secondwent Coming (3) the day finally came when the young boy was able to tell his 12 Word meaning gazelle in the Bible father that all the nails (Deuteronomy 14:5)were (3) gone. Very gently, the father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. “You have done very well, my son,” he smiled, “but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same.” The little boy listened carefully as his father continued to speak. “When you say things in anger, they leave permanent scars just like these. And no matter how many times you say you’re sorry, the wounds will still be there.” Reprinted From : www.Spiritual-Short-Stories.com

FAITH Pittsburgh North | Summer 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 25

KIDS CORNER

Emma’s

Hope A children’s story by Shelley Rogers

Today is Emma’s birthday. Her name is Emma, but she will always be “Emmie” to me, at least until she’s a teenager and wants to be called Emma because Emmie doesn’t sound grown-up enough. Today is Emmie’s birthday and she is very, very excited: there is joy shining through her eyes, a joy so bright it outshines the stars in the heavens.

mmie giggles as she opens each present: she is 3 years old today and isn’t embarrassed to be silly or to bubble over with anticipation. All the people that Emmie loves are at her party. First there’s Mommy and Dadddy (they’re always there). Mommy is ready with her camera to capture each moment. Then there’s cousin Nico: Nico is her favorite, she calls him “my Nico”. Emmie is surrounded by people who love her, but this birthday is different - there is someone missing! Before long she

looks up at Grammy and asks, “Where’s Papa?” I see the questioning look on her face: Papa would never miss her special day! “Is Papa coming?” she asks. Silence falls like a heavy blanket over the room. Papa has gone to heaven, but Emmie doesn’t remember. Emmie’s mommy scoops her up, holds her tight and gently reminds her that Papa has gone to heaven to be with Jesus. Emmie has heard of Jesus: Mommy takes her to church each Sunday and she knows that they talk about Jesus there. With a thoughtful expression, Emmie climbs off of her mommy’s lap: there are more presents to open and cake to eat. After devouring her cake, Emmie announces that she wants to go outside. It’s a beautiful day full of sunshine, the sky is a brilliant blue with puffy clouds, a rare treat for a November day in New England and far too beautiful for being cooped-up indoors. Our little girl has little patience for putting on a coat and shoes - she would go out barefoot if her mommy would let her. Charging out the door with Nico, they race to the playground and head straight for the monkey bars - they’re her favorite! With Mommy close by, Emmie dangles from one of the low bars, a smile stretched wide across her face. Grammy has brought a folding chair out to the playground. She plunks it down as she watches her granddaughter. Grammy is lots of fun. Emmie calls out to her, “Look at me, Grammy!” Grammy waves and says “I’m looking big girl, I’m looking.” It’s a wonderful day: the air is crisp, the sun is shining. While the kids play, the adults drift into conversation, stopping here and there to make sure all the little ones are accounted for. For a moment I catch myself daydreaming: I wonder, “What is Papa doing right now?” I mention this thought to Grammy - she is also my sister and we think a lot alike. Now I see a thoughtful expression cross her face and it amazes me how both her daughter and granddaughter’s expressions so mirror

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FAITH Pittsburgh North | Summer 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 27

KIDS CORNER

a Emm Love Cole e p o H

for Papa Evancic

her own. Then she looks at me and says, “I have an idea.” She reaches into her pocket and pulls out two balloons, one bright pink, the other purple. From the other pocket she gets a small piece of paper, then asks me if I would get her a pen. As I walk to the house to find a pen, I laugh at the strange collection of items Grammy keeps in her pockets. I guess it comes from raising her own children and having to be prepared for anything. When I return to the playground with the pen, I find Emmie and Grammy sharing the folding chair. Grammy is saying something about writing a note to Papa and putting it in one of the balloons. Together they write a note telling Papa how much he is loved and missed “we’ll send him all of our hopes” she says, then Grammy helps Emmie to sign her name, she writes “Love Emma Hope Cole”. Grammy hands me the balloons, I have been assigned the task of blowing them up. One balloon holds the note, on the other we write “for Papa Evancic”, that was Emmies idea, she wanted to be sure that her Papa gets it. Emmies mommy attaches a piece of ribbon to each balloon, while tying them on she tells Emmie that the ribbons are from one of her presents and that when Papa gets his special note and sees the ribbons, he will think of her and feel like he is at the party to. Emmie smiles, she loves her Papa so. We all stand together, Emmie is holding the ribbons to both balloons and looking up, “Papa is up in heaven,” she says, then Grammy says, “Let’s count to three and let the balloons go.” Emmie holds the balloons tight in one hand, with the other she counts 1, 2, 3, and lets go. As we stand together looking up, the balloons rise, they float higher and higher. Emmie points and asks, “Are the balloons going to Papa in heaven?” “Yes they are,” Grammy says, “yes they are.”

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Heaven the road to

Follow Jesus Today

Everyone has sinned and has fallen short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)

If you are ready to follow Jesus take the first step now and pray this prayer.

Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved. (Acts 16:31)

Lord I know and confess that I am a sinner, Lord please forgive me for my past sins and keep me from future sins. I believe Jesus is God and lived a sinless life, died for my sins so that I wouldn’t have to, and was raised from the dead that I can have new and eternal life. Lord please come into my life now and become my personal savior. From this day until my last day I give you control Lord. Make me a new person born again this day, guide my life to fulfill your will and bring glory to your name. In Jesus Christ’s name I ask this. Amen.

Confess your sins. If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. (1 John 1:9) Everyone needs to be saved, because sin causes separation from God and eternal death. The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23) You can’t save yourself, but God desires to save you! This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (I Timothy 2:3,4) For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

If you said this prayer sincerely desiring a relationship with Jesus Christ and have accepted Jesus as your savior, you have taken the first step in an amazing journey with the Lord. There is much more to do; first and foremost is to find a church family to be part of that will educate and inspire you in your walk with the Lord.

By faith believe Jesus and accept Him. Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved you and your household. (Acts 16:31) FAITH Pittsburgh North | Summer 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 29

Raising Up Young Leaders By Dr. Jay Passavant Founding Pastor, North Way Christian Community

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Just recently, I was privileged to give the commencement address at a local Christian school that was very proud of the 35 graduating seniors who were about to receive their high school diplomas. As each person was introduced and talked about their future plans, I couldn’t help but imagine just how many lives will be affected by a group of young, intelligent and committed leaders such as these. We live in a strange dichotomy in our current culture. On the one hand, there seems to be a bit of a strain between the aging boomer generation and the much younger “emerging leaders” group (20-35) taking place in every area of life – from business to the local church and everything in between. On the other hand, great things happen when we learn to value and appreciate each other’s contributions! What I have come to hold as a deep conviction is that the baby boomer generation would do very well to identify the incredible potential and talent that lies dormant in the lives of many young leaders. Since making the transition out of senior leadership in my own local church, I’ve seen a number of young men and women “raise their game” to a new level of effectiveness, authenticity and responsibility. I also believe that it’s the members of the younger generation who have fresh ideas and creativity oozing out of their hearts and minds just looking for a place to be accepted. The older generation values the things that got them where they are, but need to realize that it will take something else to get us all where we want to go. Perhaps the most obvious discipline where this applies is in technology. What I think looks and works well is considered “ancient scrolls from a former civilization.” However, the qualities that I’m speaking about go far beyond the tech world. They have to do with injecting a sense of hopefulness into every area where these people have made a commitment.

The emerging generation of leaders represents the hope that things can continue to change, improve, excel and transform our lives. The key to unlocking this incredibly valuable resource in any organization is for the older generation to trust the younger rising leaders and for the younger generation to appropriately value the wisdom and experience of those who preceded them. When that balance is struck, something dynamic and often inexplicable begins to happen to reignite a fresh passion in the lives and mission of all concerned. Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, a nationally recognized seminary headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, has been working with a group of leaders to establish a permanent, accredited presence in the Pittsburgh area. Though it took some “senior leadership” to get things rolling, it was the devotion, tireless energy and the belief that this would come to pass from the younger generation on our team that has spurred our five-year dream to materialize. (See www.teds.edu/pittsburgh.) Finally, the other unforeseen benefit of the merging of senior leaders and young leaders is the true sense of appreciation and even

validation this brings to both groups. A lot of laughter takes place among these folks at meetings, work events and social gatherings because both groups are celebrated and also a little revealed in ways they perhaps had not been able to see on their own. I’m very grateful that we live in a community in the north where young leaders from all disciplines of life are moving in, not away. It’s incumbent on the church and other ministries of faith to tap into these great resources. †

Dr. Jay Passavant Founding Pastor, North Way Christian Community Founder & CEO, Passavant Leadership Group

The key to unlocking this incredibly valuable resource in any organization is for the older generation to trust the younger rising leaders and for the younger generation to appropriately value the wisdom and experience of those who preceded them.

FAITH Pittsburgh North | Summer 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 31

Giving in Jesus’ Name By Pastor Jennifer McCurry Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Etna

he importance of loving one’s neighbor is spread all over the Bible, in both the Old and New Testaments. The Ten Commandments were a gift to the people of Israel, as they learned to live faithfully as people freed from slavery. The first four commandments focus on what it means to love God; the remaining six commandments guide believers in their relationships with other people. These 10 are joined together, helping to summarize what the Jewish life of faith means concretely. In the gospels, Jesus taught about loving one’s neighbor in

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various ways. Love of neighbor was second only to love of God when he taught about the “greatest” commandment (Matt. 22:3639). He illustrated who a neighbor was and what it meant to care for someone in need by telling the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). Perhaps most convincingly, Jesus lived God’s love for the neighbor in ways that shifted people’s expectations and called them to a way of being. He reached out to the ill and ostracized, tax collectors, women, children, and anyone who came to him in need, when the time was right.

If we’re honest, often it is not our own family or close friends who are our neighbors in need. When holidays come around we want to let them know of our appreciation and care, but more “stuff ” may not be helpful for their souls or their lives. Our consumer culture can be bad for the giver, too. It doesn’t take long before our spending balloons out of control. Americans spend over $300 billion on Christmas alone. Amid our consumer-focused American culture, how can Christians take seriously the calling to love our neighbor, while also giving thanks for our loved ones? Our congregation, Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Etna, has been experimenting with a different way. Over the last couple of years, our leaders have encouraged congregation members to give to one or two specific charities around holidays like Christmas, Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day. We have printed cards for givers to share with loved ones that name the gifts given in their honor, or in memory of those who have died.

We have also selected more global projects, like buying mosquito nets through the ELCA Malaria Campaign or blankets to “Wrap the World in Love” through Church World Service.

had a hot, nourishing meal. The festive tree on our piano serves as a visual reminder of what should be at the heart of our Christmas decorations and gifts for loved ones. We are giving thanks to God for the gift of Jesus by sharing the love of God with a world in need. Another tie or pair of socks to toss in a drawer is not the way to celebrate the birth of our Lord. What better gift can we give to loved ones than to show them that we remember how to show God’s love, by sharing on their behalf? We offer our experience as a way that churches can actively encourage their members to generously give to those in need at times when giving is on everyone’s mind. In the words of Colossians: “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:17) May God transform our expressions of gratitude and celebration to be means of sharing Christ’s grace and our abundance with our neighbors. Amen. † By Pastor Jennifer McCurry, Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Etna

Our charities of choice have been close to our congregation’s ministry commitments, like our local Bread of Life Food Pantry (with which we’re quite involved) or the Northside Common Ministries’ Pleasant Valley Men’s Shelter (where Emmanuel volunteers serve meals throughout the year). We have also selected more global projects, like buying mosquito nets through the ELCA Malaria Campaign or blankets to “Wrap the World in Love” through Church World Service. In the Advent and Christmas seasons, we encourage and measure our giving visually, helping us to better celebrate and understand the seasons. On the first Sunday in Advent, we place a small table-top Christmas tree without any decorations on the piano in our sanctuary. With each donation to people in need, no matter how large or small, a Christmas bulb is placed on the tree. Fast-forward to Christmas Eve: by then, the tree is fully loaded with bulbs! There were fewer perfume bottles or ties sold in the world, but more of our Pittsburgh neighbors

FAITH Pittsburgh North | Summer 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 33

Measuring Success By Willow Welter

A first-of-itskind study of child sponsorship reveals practical and psychological benefits traced directly to Compassionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s child development approach.

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o track their kids’ well-being, Mom and Dad use tools such as thermometers and report cards. And while sponsors use different tools to assess sponsored children’s well-being — letter exchanges, child updates, photos, even Sponsor Tours to meet their children — they hope to see similar life outcomes. But there’s more than just a hope that Compassion’s program can produce those desired adult life outcomes—there’s compelling evidence. A new, independent study of adults who were sponsored as children found that Compassion’s Child Sponsorship Program is molding educated, employed leaders in the most impoverished, hopeless places. Dr. Bruce Wydick, professor of economics and international studies at the University of San Francisco, and a team of researchers spent two years in six developing countries where Compassion has offered its Child Sponsorship Program. In April, the prestigious Journal of Political Economy published their peer-reviewed research, which found “large and statistically significant impacts” of Compassion’s child development program. The researchers found that adults who had been sponsored through Compassion as children were significantly better off than unsponsored children in the areas of education, employment and leadership.

Education: Stairway To Sufficiency Among the most powerful evidence gathered by Wydick’s team was that Compassion sponsorship increased secondary school completion by 27 to 40 percent. The skills developed in secondary school can help a student become a business owner or public servant as an adult, Wydick says, rather than a daily laborer. So imagine the difference university education could make for a sponsored child. Compassion sponsorship more than doubled the probability that a student earned a college degree in the countries studied. That increase was over a small baseline, since only about 5 percent of people finish university in these areas, “but it’s still a dramatic increase,” Wydick says. The value of education isn’t lost on those who receive it. When the researchers

asked formerly sponsored children to name Compassion’s biggest benefit, the most common response was educational support, followed by spiritual development. Equipped with extra knowledge, sponsored children see a new realm of employment—and a path out of poverty—unfold before them.

Employment: Labor And Love In another impressive result of the study, researchers found that sponsored children were roughly 35 percent more likely than their unsponsored peers to grow up to become whitecollar employees – teachers, pastors, nurses. These careers offer stability and a salary, benefits that are rare in countries where itinerant or seasonal labor is most common. Wydick reasons that staff members at Compassion’s child development centers and schoolteachers provide positive role models for the children and “they want to emulate people who have given to them when they were younger. And that’s an exciting thing.” The staff at a child development center may be some children’s primary role models, since many parents work long hours or do not have the job status to model new roles. Staff members ensure that every child at a development center is known and loved. Many children also receive encouraging letters from their sponsors. So all sponsored children have advocates cheering them on as they develop goals. As adults, the stable employment allows them to provide for themselves and their families. But their influence doesn’t end in the home.

Leadership: Consequence of Confidence A goal of Compassion is to see children grow into fulfilled, Christian adults who exhibit servant leadership. And a goal of the above study was to find out whether Compassion’s child sponsorship model does what it sets out to do. So the researchers examined formerly sponsored children’s roles as leaders in adulthood. They found that adults who were sponsored as children were more likely than their unsponsored peers to lead in their communities and churches. “We asked what happens during this programming,” Wydick says, “and a lot of it seemed to be in the development of children’s

self-esteem.” It’s the trust in their own capabilities that convinces the children that they can be leaders, whether making decisions on village councils or offering spiritual guidance in their churches. Compassion’s church-based model shows children just how precious they are to God. And when children are nurtured physically and spiritually, they thrive.

A Whole-Life, Whole-Person Result The Child Sponsorship Program’s unique approach is to nurture children directly. While Compassion does offer provisions—school uniforms, healthful meals, safe water—the focus is on the individual child rather than on more diffuse communitywide improvements. Wydick says that development experts and many child-sponsorship organizations often focus on solving external problems. For example, if a village lacks clean water, an organization may help to install a pump. Such provisions are essential, but what happens if the pump breaks? Compassion’s leaders believe it is more effective for children to learn how to develop safe-water solutions for their communities or learn how to fix the pump. By building up children, educating them, providing them with a safe place to learn and grow, and teaching them about the hope that comes from a relationship with Jesus, children are growing up to make positive, lasting changes to better their communities. “The study,” says Compassion President Wess Stafford, “clearly demonstrates that a holistic approach to child development is the critical factor that enables young people to step out of poverty.” † If you would be interested in someone speaking to your church, organization, or any group about Compassion International and the opportunities to make a difference in the lives of children please contact me Michael Granovitz at 412.779.6733 or m.granovitz@faithpittsburgh.com Article taken from Compassion Magazine Editor’s Note: When the independent researchers started the study they contacted many of the different child sponsorship organizations. Compassion International was the only one willing to be part of the study.

FAITH Pittsburgh North | Summer 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 35

Metallic Communication By Leslie Rich Nursery Director

Yesterday I was holding my iPhone and imagining all of the “things” it has replaced… Bible, notepad, calendar, contact list (previously known as phone book), camera, photo album, music (anyone ever hear of a transistor radio?), calculator, and more recently my laptop for Internet connection and movies, and my e-reader for books. Oh yeah, my phone! If I were lost on a desert island and could only take one thing? Of course if I did choose my iPhone I would need to be rescued pretty quickly – before the battery died. Unless...is there an app that recharges the phone through sunlight? In that convoluted way that my mind works, these musings brought the memory of my salvation experience way back in 1973. On a retreat, I was listening to a man tell me about a “personal” relationship with God. Pretty amazing information. To get his point across, he held up a poster of a black desk telephone; the base was on the bottom left and the receiver was up in a group of clouds, connected by a curly cord. Underneath it all was the statement “GOD’S TELEPHONE

NUMBER.” Then we found out it was Jeremiah 33:3… “Call to me and I will answer and tell you great and hidden things you have not known.” That weekend I made the call and, whew, what a ride! God has faithfully revealed Himself to me, day after day, year after year. I’m so glad that He is beyond our methods of communication. And yet, He was gracious to give us His written Word, a place to find our life’s instructions. Through the ages He has allowed us to speak, read, and hear His words. Every bit of “news” was ordained by Him. From the painstakingly handwritten words of the Old Testament (first only verbal) to the quill to parchment pages of the second century, to the invention of paper and printing with blocks, it became easier and faster to spread news. The miracle of the Gutenberg printing press made it possible to have cheap books and newspapers, and this led to a postal service. Even the invention of the lowly pencil was a huge step! It’s only been since the 19th century that communication has become so

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efficient. Telegraph, transatlantic cable, fax machine (surprisingly invented before the telephone!), telephone, typewriter, radio, television, satellite, and Internet… all amazing inventions, all from the mind of a heavenly Master-Creator. Can anything be easier than reading my Bible today? I can even listen to it while doing my chores, or watch it on DVD. Isn’t our heavenly Father amazing to make sharing the gospel as quick as a click on my keyboard or a “send” on my phone? Today, I am fresh out of excuses. I choose to contact God... by using His telephone number…Jeremiah 33:3. I wonder what hidden things I will learn today. †

Leslie Rich Nursery Director Allegheny Alliance Church 4 Allegheny Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15212

Bible study

Faith Pittsburgh

BIBLE STUDY

Welcome to Faith Pittsburgh Bible Study. Every issue we take a verse, break it down, look at what the verse says, talk about the meaning, and discuss ways to apply it in our daily lives.

6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:6-7 (ESV)

These are two well-known and oft quoted verses of the Bible; this is especially true of verse six. Throughout our lives we will face adversity in one form or another; verse six tells us to not be anxious about any of these adversities. Our anxiety is incapable of changing anything from bad to good; all it does is cause a myriad of damage to our minds, bodies, and souls. The verse goes on to tell us that we must make our requests known to God through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. This part of the sentence emphasizes the importance of making our requests known to God through earnest, humble prayer to God with thanksgiving. The key here is the importance of prayer with thanksgiving for the innumerable favors already received.

Verse seven goes on to talk about the peace of God “which surpasses all understanding” and “will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” This is the peace that is felt from the favor and grace of God, and the harmony of all things working together through the Holy Spirit. It is Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross that has paid the price for this peace. When we as believers face difficulties in our lives, or are persecuted for sharing our faith, we must remember to face these trying times with peace in our heart and earnest humble prayer knowing that our Lord is with us and that these events strengthen our faith and show others God’s glory. †

FAITH Pittsburgh North | Summer 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 37

NonProfit Spotlight

dark nature

The Alarming Truth of sex trafficking in America. Pittsburgh-based nonprofit calls on God for hope in the desperate fight.

Many Americans recognize that human trafficking occurs in countries around the world. In fact experts now report that at any give time, over 2.4 million people in the world are victims of human trafficking in the form of forced labor and sexual bondage and exploitation. Across the globe, this crime generates in excess of 32 billion dollars per year and is now second in illegal annual revenue only to drug sales. Unfortunately, the worldwide pandemic of human trafficking has made its way to the United States in the form of sex slavery and has grown to overwhelming rates. A congressional hearing before the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security reports that there are 100,000 American children in the United States currently caught in the net of sex slavery and commercial sexual exploitation.

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“The situation for these children is dire,” Shivler says. “Time is short and these girls are in so much trouble. “It’s a sobering, somewhat surreal moment when you grasp the true dark nature and magnitude of this type of child abuse,” notes Brian Shivler, founder and CEO of Resolution Hope, the Pittsburgh-based anti-trafficking movement that sponsors The 13A National Awareness Campaign to End Sex Trafficking in America. “Most people have no idea that sex slavery is now happening in the United States at alarming rates and is prevalent in our all-American cities like Columbus, Denver and Atlanta. We had a sex trafficking arrest here in Pittsburgh just last month.” Shivler tells us that the 13A campaign and logo were created to stand as a vigilant reminder of the 13th Amendment to our Constitution, which formally abolished slavery in America almost 150 years ago. The goal of the campaign is to educate and call to action millions of Americans to stand together as modern-day abolitionists. “The situation for these children is dire,” Shivler says. “Time is short and these girls are in so much trouble. I recently read a report that the estimated life expectancy of a child caught in this nightmare is 7 years before she overdoses, is murdered or commits suicide. We just cannot allow this to continue. Kidnapping or coercing a child through drug addiction and threats and forcing them

How Can You Help? Resolution Hope is asking Americans to join the National 13A Movement and help bring sex slavery in America to an end. 1. Sign the petition to the U.S. President asking that he increase federal resources for restorative care for trafficked victims, provide adequate resources to federal, state and local law enforcement for trafficking sting operations and urge each state to enact the appropriate laws which ensure safety and care to trafficking victims. The goal with the petition is 1 million signatures. 2. Consider an Online Donation to help continue to raise awareness through social media, community education and The Legacy Of Freedom Concert Tour, which is playing in churches and colleges around the country. 3. Tell Your Friends and Family about this situation and ask them to consider joining the 13A Movement and help spread the word.

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to have sex with multiple men per day until her body wears out is the purest form of evil that I have ever seen.” Shivler notes that this fight for human dignity and justice is of epic proportion and that his team’s prayers are of the magnitude of Joshua asking God to make the sun stand still. Near the end of our interview, he summed up the situation, “We are clearly the underdogs in this fight. The men and women who operate the sex trade industry in America have millions of dollars in resources at their disposal. They are focused, intentional and are masters at using modern-day tools like the Internet, Facebook, Twitter and other social media vehicles to locate prospective buyers and search for volatile young girls. the United Nations now reports that The United States now holds the ‘distinction’ of being the world’s largest producer of child pornography.” Resolution Hope launched its 13A Movement on New Year’s Eve 2012 with a concert and live 2-hour television broadcast detailing the sex trafficking situation in America. In closing, Shivler discussed the hope that fuels his team’s fire. “God has been faithful to us through the launch of this campaign. He has given us an amazing team and continues to connect us with people and organizations who are choosing to stand with us in this fight. Individuals, business owners, corporations, colleges and churches are stepping up by helping to spread the word and provide financial resources. Our hope remains in the Lord. It’s really been a tremendous inspiration to see how God has gone before us to prepare Americans’ hearts to stand together for justice and freedom.” †

4. Stay In The Game & Protect Your Family by going to the Resolution Hope website and educating yourself about trafficking lure techniques. Like us on Facebook and follow our Twitter feed so that you can stay informed about missing children and know how to recognize and report a trafficking victim. www.13acampaign.org. 5. Host An Educational Forum at your church, school or organization to help keep children safe and learn how to respond to a trafficking situation.

For more information You can get more information about Resolution Hope and the 13A Movement at 13acampaign.org or by calling the Pittsburgh office at 724.272.8555.

If you are interested in your non-profit being featured in the nonprofit spotlight of future issues please contact: Faith Pittsburgh, 603 McMurray Rd ., McMurray, PA 15317 Attn. Mike Granovitz. Office 724.942.0940 Cell 412.779.6733 Email m.granovitz@faithpittsburgh.com

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Attention: Faith Pittsburgh

Today’s Scripture

James 1:2-4 (ESV)

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,

for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

What’s it mean to me:

As believers we will be faced with difficulties in our lives that test our faith; we will be tempted to blame God for allowing the problems that we have in our lives. The other mistake that many people make is looking to worldly sources for answers to the adversity that they face. From these we learn verses that we should face these trials with joy and see them as an opportunity to grow in our faith. The solutions and direction that we seek can be found in the Lord’s word and through prayer. FAITH Pittsburgh North | Summer 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 41

A Family

Reality Check By Dr. Kurt Bjorklund Senior Pastor, Orchard Hill Church

ummer is here. With children out of school and the tradition of summer vacations, there is more opportunity for time with family. As a parent, every day and every interaction with each child presents an opportunity to have an impact. Sometimes we are not always aware of why we do what we do when it comes to our interactions with our children. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been said that when you leave your family of origin, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like you are taking a suitcase packed with life experiences. It takes years to unpack the suitcase. Our family experiences have left a mark on us, just as our parents were marked by their parents. In order to leave a good mark on our own children, we need to first understand what we have in our suitcase and how it has put a mark on our own behavior. Take some time to read the family dynamics of Isaac and Rebekah with their sons Jacob and Esau in Genesis 27. Also read the account of Jacob and his sons, found in Genesis 37-45. There are several lessons we can learn about the dynamics found in this family that continue to play out in families today. There is a continuum of love that can range from the extremes of disconnected to overly enmeshed. There is a continuum of structure that can range from authoritarian to overly permissive. The sweet spot is in the middle, though that is often not the experience.

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Authoritarian

Dominating

Manipulative

Isaac/Jacob

Rebekah/Jacob

Parent: Boundaries Without Love

Parent: Meaning Found in Child

Child: Feels Conditional Love

Child: Feels Pressure

Result: Seeks Approval

Result: Rebellion or Conformity

Enmeshed

Disconnected

Indulgent

Jacob/ 11 sons

Jacob/ Joseph

Parent: Can’t Meet Child’s Needs

Parent: No Boundaries

Child: Feels Unseen

Child: Feels Entitled or Over-Responsible

Result: Extreme Behavior or Withdrawal

Result: Self-Focused/Everything Up to Me

Permissive We are all marked by our family of origin – by our experiences because of this continuum. God desires to heal the negative ways we have been marked: • Healing from domination by offering unconditional love: But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 • Healing from disconnection by offering intimacy: For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. Psalm 139:13 • Healing from manipulation by offering right standing with God: Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:16-17 • Healing from indulgence by offering the model of servanthood: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant... Philippians 2:6-7 And knowledge that we are accepted not by what we’ve done, but by what He’s done for us: For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:23-25 Consider the ways you have been marked. Embrace the healing that comes through the grace of Jesus Christ. † By Dr. Kurt Bjorklund, Senior Pastor, Orchard Hill Church

FAITH Pittsburgh North | Summer 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 43

To Those Who are

Troubled by Ms Sequeira

Dear Friend, I am sorry for the predicament you are in and feel for you. I too have faced many challenges and endured many trials. My faith’s been tested often at the shattering of my life. I may not have experienced the trials you are facing, but know that the cup is bitter. I too wondered where was God and why did He allow these afflictions to come upon me? I looked at the face of darkness trying to devour me and panicked often. I’m now very grateful for all the afflictions, because I found God through them. I found Him to be my beloved Savior, Father and friend. He remained trustworthy and reliable. He upheld me, when I could not stand. I found Him to be everything I desired and even more. God brought me to a place of complete reliance on Him. He took away all earthly security and became my only security – bless His Holy Name! He taught me how powerful and great He is, and that He is more than enough for me. I had to read the Word often to believe His truth and renounce the lies of the enemy. Every work of the devil that was sent to afflict me turned around to my benefit. In God, I am strong and victorious. It’s like an unbelievable dream. I FOUND THE LIVING GOD! WOW! Friend, God never abandoned me and will NEVER abandon you. THIS IS A FACT, no matter what is going on in your life. He parted the waters of the Red Sea and can part the waters before you. He can make a way, where there is no way. He can deliver you of many afflictions and has the strength to carry you and uphold you through the storms of life. He is your mighty Deliverer and can break the strongholds that have gripped you. He can set you free of every temptation, vice and addiction.

God can work in an instant or gently lead you step by step. Please trust that He knows you through and through and has your best intention in mind. He made you and loves you dearly. Will you give Him a chance to step in and change things for you? Will you allow yourself to trust Him, even if the mountain’s huge and there is only chaos all around? Will you allow His light to permeate your darkness? Will you be willing to give Him a chance to help you? If so, please say, “Living and loving God, I am ready to believe and need your help. My faith’s weak and I desire many breakthroughs. I am tired of these struggles and want to be set free – help me please. Send me Your Holy Spirit and comfort me. Deliver me from all evil and keep me strong O Lord. Break the power of the enemy in all the areas of affliction and renew my faith and trust in You (keep talking to Him and unfold all your burdens).” I encourage you to get a book on the promises of the Bible and read it often and claim them. I am reading one called God’s Promises for Your Every Need – Thomas Nelson Inc. I also recommend you read and hear the Bible as often as you can. Pray and talk to God during the day. If you feel the need to call and talk to someone, I suggest first talk to God about it. You do not have to lift the phone or call out to Him, for He is near you. If you cannot pray, just sit and let your tears or your sighs and groans be a prayer to Him. Try to spend time hearing songs of praise and worship when you feel low or hopeless; it will comfort you. Songs of praise also defeat the enemy and bring us to a closer union with God. I love to also chat with a friend when I’m in trouble, but recently after reading a spiritual book, I was encouraged to go to God first with

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my need. So one day, when things were very tough and I wanted to call out to a friend to share my burden and pray together, I went to my bedroom instead and put on some gentle instrumental worship music. I started talking to God and unloaded all my burdens to Him. I opened the Bible and read some of it and some other spiritual books for a long time. Peace came upon me as my soul was fed in His company. Faith started to rise and fear departed. This experience encouraged me to always go to God first. Friend, there are many good sermons online and many good spiritual books around to guide and uplift you. Some good books that I’ve been reading recently and find helpful are Lead me, Holy Spirit by Stormie Omartian, Crafted Prayers by Graham Cooke and Healing the Sick by TL Osborn. The church is always at hand for God’s Spirit to touch you. There is a world of support ready for you and it’s His divine providence for you. Please open your heart and allow Him to take over your life. Miracles are in His hand and ready to be sent your way. Like a flower that turns toward the sun, please turn toward the Son of God and heavenly Father and continually seek His help. He will wipe all your tears and wash you clean. He will hold and comfort you and show you His goodness and love. Take care! “O my Lord God, I uphold all who will read this and ask You to bless them in a special way today. Be with them, their family and their friends and shine Your divine light on them and grant them peace. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Faith Based News

ManUp Pittsburgh June 13 at Orchard Hill Church in Wexford 700 men came together to be raised up and learn how better to be Godly fathers and men. This landmark event was years in the making and made possible through the efforts of the many volunteers led by the Urban Impact staff who worked tirelessly to make the event the success that it was. The inspiration for the event began years ago at a leadership conference when Rev. Ed Glover (founder and director of Urban Impact) talked to Tony Dungy and discussed the possibility of working together on a project to impact urban kids. After giving more thought to all that would be involved in starting a new project like this Rev. Glover “pulled a Jonah,” unable to get past how busy he already was and how much time it would take to start a project like this. The call kept coming and it became abundantly clear that “God wasn’t asking -he was telling me this was what needed to be done.” Rev. Glover approached Pittsburgh Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin about being involved in a men’s event for Pittsburgh and he answered with an unequivocal yes he would be willing to be part of a men’s event. The focus for the event became clear through prayer and the realization that “the greatest problem facing the country is missing or unengaged fathers, when you look at the statistics you see that a huge majority of problems facing our society can be traced back to not having fathers in the lives of our children”. This is a problem that is in every community, city, and state that crosses all cultural and ethnic barriers. The vision for ManUp Pittsburgh was fourfold: to build up men to be Godly fathers and leaders in their own homes, to up men’s game and enable them to reach fatherless children in their communities, to provide men with resources to impact the fatherless in Pittsburgh, and to influence other men to take action as well in an effort to exponentially increase the effect of the event. Several local pastors from different churches came together to lead breakout sessions: John Guest, Rock Dillaman, Kurt Bjorklund, Ron Moore, Bill Glaze, Craig Giles, Wayne Younger, Scott Stevens, and Matt Kaltenberger. Very generous sponsors donated sufficient resources so that all the proceeds from the event were able to go to Urban Impact and will have a very real effect in Pittsburgh and surrounding communities. After the event when some leaders and volunteers gathered to share a moment of prayer and thanks, Rev. Glover talked of the far reaching impact of the day’s event and how the 700 men who came out would be able to affect thousands of lives going forward.

For those who were not able to attend the event there are still ways to become involved: commit to the 30-day online devotional at www.manuppittsburghdevotional.com, support Urban Impacts various ministries which can be found at www.urbanimpactpittsburgh.org, and make sure you don’t miss next year’s event scheduled for June 7, 2014.

Statistics on effects of a missing or disengaged father: • 43% of US children live without their father. [US Department of Census] • 90% of homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes. [US D.H.H.S., Bureau of the Census] • 71% of pregnant teenagers lack a father. [U.S. Department of Health and Human Services press release, Friday, March 26, 1999] • 63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes. [US D.H.H.S., Bureau of the Census] • 85% of children who exhibit behavioral disorders come from fatherless homes. [Center for Disease Control] • 71% of high school dropouts come from fatherless homes. [National Principals Association Report on the State of High Schools] • 75% of adolescent patients in chemical abuse centers come from fatherless homes. [Rainbows for all God’s Children] • 70% of juveniles in state operated institutions have no father. [US Department of Justice, Special Report, Sept. 1988] • 85% of youths in prisons grew up in a fatherless home. [Fulton County Georgia jail populations, Texas Department of Corrections, 1992]

FAITH Pittsburgh North | Summer 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 45

Faith Based News

Tunch and Wolf ’s Walk for the Homeless The weather started out without much promise but the rain stopped in time and held off while the walk was underway. May 11, 2013, was the 11th annual Walk For The Homeless hosted by sports broadcasters Tunch Ilkin and Craig Wolfley. The proceeds from the event went to benefit Light of Life Rescue Mission on the north side of Pittsburgh. Founded in 1952 the ongoing mission of Light of Life is to be a ministry of Jesus Christ, provide a home for the homeless, food for the hungry, and build disciples for the Kingdom of God among the poor, addicted, abused and needy. This year’s event attained both the largest attendance as well as the most money ever raised in the 11-year history of the walk. There were 900 people who came out to walk and over $110,000 was raised. During the event Tunch recalled the first Walk for the Homeless 11-years ago when 12 people showed up for the event. What an amazing testament to all involved when you see how far this ministry and event have come since their inception. In the Pittsburgh area there are 2,400 registered homeless which is a low number for a metropolitan area but the actual number, when you take into consideration the many homeless who don’t go to the shelters and aren’t involved in any of the

available programs, is most assuredly much higher. If you were unable to be part of the walk there are still ways that you can make a difference. You can go to www.lightoflife.org and get a lot more information about what the staff are doing as well as how you can volunteer with them and personally make a difference or make a donation and help others to make a difference. They can also be reached at 412.258.6100 if you would like more information.

Faith Based News

“Paying it Forward”

New Community Church Challenges Congregation with Kingdom Assignment “Paying it forward” is an expression meaning to perform a good deed or service for someone with only the expectation that the person receiving the gift will perform a good deed for someone else. Our world would definitely be a better place if everyone subscribed to this philosophy. The clergy of New Community Church on Wexford Road decided to make paying it forward a reality by challenging the congregation to take on “The Kingdom Assignment.” Reverend Mark Bolton, senior pastor, Reverend Hollis Haff, senior pastor emeritus, and Vicki Carlson, director of connection, along with other organizers implemented the plan which was originated by Reverend Denny Bellesi in 2000 in Aliso Viejo, Calif. Since that time, The Kingdom Assignment has been embraced by hundreds of churches across the United States. While preparing a message on stewardship for his congregation of Coast Hills Community Church, Bellesi allotted $10,000 from the church missions fund. He handed out $100 each to 100 volunteers of the congregation, reminding them that the money was not theirs, but God’s money. He challenged them to do something extraordinary for the Kingdom. The volunteers came back with many success stories including helping homeless people and battered women. For New Community Church, the idea to take on The Kingdom Assignment was proposed during a church meeting at Panera Bread. “Betsy Sicher, a member and volunteer at our church, first [approached] us about it. She asked if we had $10,000 in our budget,” said Haff, laughing over the dollar amount. “We had heard about the assignment before and there was so much enthusiasm about it, and it went over so well at other churches. We knew that we would be able to raise the money.” “Hollis said it was the easiest $10,000 that we ever raised,” said Bolton. “He went to 10 individuals and immediately, when they heard the story, they wanted to support this.” Both ministers then introduced the project to their 750-member congregation at two Sunday morning services. They gave each volunteer a $100 bill and 90 days to report back after “doing something outside the walls

of the church to further His kingdom.” “There was a touch of the miraculous from the beginning because we didn’t know if we were going to have enough $100 bills to give out,” said Bolton. “As we gave them out, we had just the right number.” The assignments that the volunteers created showcased ordinary people doing extraordinary things, from hosting a spaghetti dinner for poor residents of Appalachia to collecting money for the Mooncrest Children’s Program in Moon Township. Some even used their businesses as a tool to help them complete their assignments. “Rick Wise, our facilities manager, owns Wise Guys for Fun in Saxonburg where he sells ice cream, has batting cages and miniature golf,” said Bolton. “He decided to make the last day of the season a nocost, donation-only day to fund his project, Hoodies for the Homeless. He was able to raise over $1,300 and got a store to provide 136 nice, quality hoodies at cost. Then he hooked up with Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community, which is a ministry on the South Side that does a lot of work with homeless people. The stories were pretty remarkable. They met people who lived under bridges and provided them with hoodies. All 136 hoodies went to homeless people through various missions and ministries in the city.” Haff ’s daughter was also one of the volunteers. “Part of the pitch was to have that experience of praying and listening until God made something clear to the volunteers and my daughter was struggling with that,” said Haff. “One night she woke up and had this idea. She had read a quote by Mother Teresa that said, ‘Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.’ She took her $100 and bought 10 gift cards from McDonald’s to give to homeless people, whom she encounters a lot in her work traveling to big cities. “She was excited about doing that and then she put it on her Facebook page and asked friends to help. She ended up with $15,000! She then went to a Steelers game to distribute the cards to homeless people outside the stadium. It was also interesting for her to see the contrast between the homeless people and

Rev. Mark Bolton, Senior Pastor, Rev. Hollis Haff, Senior Pastor Emeritus, and Vicki Carlson, Director of Connection, at New Community Church

the people tailgating.” Others reignited their faith through performing the assignment. “We were hoping for people to experience God and got more than we ever expected,” said Bolton. “I got an email from a [recent high school graduate] and although her faith had waned, she made one more visit to our church before she headed off to college. Although she didn’t participate in The Kingdom Assignment, she told God that, when she went to work that evening as a server at a Mexican restaurant in Cranberry, if she made $100 in tips, she would use that as her Kingdom Assignment. Seven hours into an eight-hour shift she had only made $70 and had just one table left. She was sure that she would not be able to make her $100 goal. Imagine her surprise when she saw that the couple at that table left her a $50 tip for a $30 meal! She was so flabbergasted that she looked for them in the parking lot to see if it was a mistake. It wasn’t. She felt that there was no other explanation but God intervening.” “The Kingdom Assignment created this explosion of energy in the church,” said Haff. “When you look back and see the range of human need that was represented and the diversity of human talent to meet those needs, you think, ‘This is what the church is supposed to be.’” More information about The Kingdom Assignment can be found on the New Community Church website at www.nccinwexford.org.

FAITH Pittsburgh North | Summer 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 47

ways speaking l a is By Pastor Marvin Nelson Young Adults and Church Planting Pastor

“A man may say, ‘These words (talking about the Bible) are addressed to me,’ and yet in his heart not feel and know they are. He is the victim of a divided psychology. He tries to think of God as mute everywhere else and vocal only in a book.” - A.W. Tozer

I sometimes forget that God is an active, ever speaking God and am the man that Tozer here discusses as being a victim of a divided psychology. God’s nature is to speak and to reveal. He calls us into a relationship and that infers discussion, conversation and speech on His part. Too often I relegate His speech to the Bible and find myself missing His voice throughout the day. I sometimes think the only time I can hear from God is in my evening devotional time (mornings are tough for me with the little kiddos), so I may tune out the possibility of hearing Him the rest of the day. Yet, God is always speaking. I may be the only one in this but I allow the noise of my circumstances, my busy-ness, even my ministry to clog my spiritual ears from hearing His voice. Sometimes quite frankly I like the excuse that I was too busy to hear Him because I know what he’s going to say and if I hear Him, I will have to obey the voice. So, if I conveniently don’t hear it, I can’t be held responsible, right?

Even when it’s an unintentional thing, I still flood my ears with noise. Shutting everything out is hard for me. Setting my phone, iPad, and my computer aside is challenge enough. I feel as if I need to be tethered to these lines of communication, as if somehow while taking time to be silent before God and hear His voice I may miss something important. The sad thing in all of this is he speaks not just in those times of solitude, but through nature, through others’ writings, through art, through the voices of others but even then I bypass His words to me because I’m busy and need to move on. When I sit down to think about this reality, I am forced to ask: “What have I missed? What blessed Word did He desire to speak to me that I neglected to allow its intended impact into my heart and life? Who have I missed blessing?” I don’t mean to say I am in some spiraleddown pity party here but the fact is, I know I’ve missed a lot of stuff He’s intended for me. Even when reading the Bible I have missed it. The Scriptures too are alive and are

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continuously speaking life, truth and words for today. Too often in my life, I’ve approached the Scriptures as an educational exercise to feed only my mind so I can arrogantly walk about pretending I know all that’s in the Bible simply because I can parrot what it says. In many ways, those times of study have produced no real fruit in my life because I didn’t allow the everspeaking Voice to transform my heart and life. Have you suffered from missing God’s voice? God is always speaking. Will I do a better job of trying to pay attention everywhere? I hope so. Will you? † Pastor Marvin Nelson Young Adults and Church Planting Pastor www.marvnelson.com Allegheny Center Alliance Church 250 East Ohio St. Pittsburgh, PA 15212 412.321.4333

Faith Pittsburgh CALENDAR

August 17

August 23 & 25

Yinz like to run, n’at?

Aletheia College

Grab yer Terrible Tahls, sammitches and worsh rags and dress in yer oldest Still City uhtire aht’ll represent da burgh best to yinself.

Welcome BBQ - August 23rd, Schenley Park 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Join us for the Yinzer 5K. Takes place at North Park. Registration is at 8 a.m. and the run at 9 a.m. Registration is $35. Early bird special: Register before July 17 and the fee is $25.

Service Kickoff - August 25th, Frick Fine Arts Auditorium @ 11 a.m.!

Proceeds benefit Light of Life Rescue Mission, a nonprofit organization providing life changing recovery programs and food and shelter for Pittsburghs poor and homeless on Pittsburghs North Side since 1952.

August 30

Wexford Starlite Car Cruise 5:30 - 9:30 p.m. Every Friday through August 30 EVERYONE WELCOME!

September 13-14 Enduring Hope Ministries “Breathe” Conference Join Enduring Hope Ministries for two life-changing days of teaching & fellowship focusing on encouraging & empowering women in the word of God! Monroeville Convention Center 209 Mall Boulevard, Monroeville, PA 15146 For more information visit: www.enduringhopeministries.com.

FAITH Media Quiz Answers 1 Adam 2 Eve 3 Noah 4 Moses 5 Cain 6 Esau 7 Jacob 8 Joseph 9 Joshua 10 Samson 11 Daniel 12 Daniel

FAITH Media Romans Crossword Answers 1

H O P E 2 O G 3 4 L R B S 5 Y B E L I E V E R S I 6 H E A R T S A L X 8 7 P T I N N O C E N T I L E O E 9 S L A V E R Y O V T E 10 P I V E H N 12 11 A C C O U N T A B L E D I U L N L I G V E

Kids’ Corner

Puzzle Answer 1

E 6

H O M A

N O

A 8

H E

H A

E 14

S E

A 9

G A

K K

FAI H

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