Faith Pittsburgh North by IN Community Magazines

FAI H

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. -

M att h e w 9 : 3 7

Pi sburgh North

Rejoice for unto us a child is born

Why Worship? page 4

Hope for Tomorrow page 12

Steelers Defensive Back Will Allen Talks About His Faith page 16

Complete Surrender page 26

Winter 2013

Jesus Came To Give Abundant Life. Real Life Begins at 40! WPCB-TV

• Discover ways to strengthen your relationships. • Understand how to manage your finances. • Worship the Lord with powerful, uplifting music.

You will be blessed by our daily special features... Hard Questions, At Home, Sister 2 Sister & more! Weekdays at 9 AM LIVE, 1 PM, 8 PM & 1 AM. Watch anytime @ ctvn.org.

Teri Black

Pittsburgh’s Christian Television Station

Don Black CEO

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A master’s degree from Geneva can help you excel toward a more promising future with greater understanding, elite professional skills, and meaningful service. Choose from seven, high-demand advanced professional degrees that can equip you for principled and wise Christian service to your organization and the world. MBA, Organizational Leadership and Counseling classes now in Cranberry.

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FAI H PUBLISHER Wayne Dollard

Editor’s Page

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

Winter, the holidays and the annual plunge in the mercury have officially arrived and you are no doubt dashing

OFFICE MANAGER Leo Vighetti l.vighetti@icmags.com

about, as am I, in an attempt to find the perfect Christmas gifts for your family and friends. As this Christmas

AD PLACEMENT COORDINATOR Debbie Mountain d.mountain@icmags.com

season is upon us, I implore you to remember why we celebrate this precious day. Without the sacrifice made by Jesus the Christ on the

At home with my

wife, Dina, and da ughter, Gabriella .

cross, we would be denied eternal life spent with our Creator in the Kingdom of Heaven. Each day, I am struck by the realization that we serve an amazing God; I see the doors He opens, the blessings He has conferred upon my family and me, and the incredible manner in which He uses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things. My deepest desire is that Faith Pittsburgh be used as a tool to bring glory to God’s Kingdom. As we journey through this season — from a day of Thanksgiving when we must ponder all we have to be thankful for, to the celebration of the birth of our Savior, and culminating with the renewal that comes as we begin a new year — please accept my warmest greetings to each and every reader and your families. I wish you a wonderful and safe holiday season. Finally, thank you for your continued support of Faith Pittsburgh. You have our heartfelt gratitude for taking the time to read each page. I also ask that if you have a chance, please support our advertisers through the use of their services.

Art Director Melissa St. Giles GENERAL SALES MANAGER Tamara Myers ❘ t.myers@icmags.com SALES MANAGER Brian McKee ❘ b.mckee@icmags.com ADVERTISING SALES Sophia Alfaras Matt Amoroso Pamela Arder Jennifer Dahlem Julie Graff Robin Guest Aimee Nicolia Connie McDaniel Gabriel Negri Vincent Sabatini Michael Silvert RJ Vighetti ICM PRINTING SALES MANAGER Tom Poljak ❘ t.poljak@icmags.com ©2013 by IN Community Magazines. All rights reserved. Reproduction or reuse of any part of this publication is prohibited without the written permission of the publisher. Direct all inquiries, letters to the editor and press releases to:

Sincerely, Michael Granovitz

Faith Pittsburgh c/o IN Community Magazines 603 East McMurray Road McMurray, PA 15317 724.942.0940; Fax: 724/942-0968 www.faithpittsburgh.com icmags.com Please recycle this magazine when you are through enjoying it.

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In this Issue WINTER 2013

The God Who Doubles Our Sins?

Letting More of the Son Shine Out

Coming Full Circle

Faith Event Calendar

FAITH Media

Who Said That? New Testament Quiz

16 Features

Book Review

The Disappearance of God

Movie Review

‘Taken by Grace’

Church Spotlight

Why Worship?

Hakuna Matata!

Behold the Lamb

Hope for Tomorrow: ACJ Prison Ministry

Up Close & Personal With Will Allen

Straight Talk

You Don’t Really Want Me to be Tolerant, Do You?

These Three Words

Complete Surrender

My FBO* Jesus

Worth the Price: The True Value of a Christian College Education

Faith United Methodist Church

Bible Study

Faith Pittsburgh Bible Study

TODAY’s SCRIPTURE

Luke 1:38

FAITH BASED NEWS

News

KIDS CORNER

42 A True Act of Kindness A Children’s Story

Crossword

NonProfit Focus

20 Urban Impact: Changing Lives

sponsored content Business Spotlights 29

Brightpeak Financial Together We Rise to the Occasion

Industry Insight 19 Office Pride Biblical Principles Complement Business Practices

Janney Montgomery Scott, LLC 2013 Year-End Tax Planning Basics

FAITH Pittsburgh North | Winter 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 3

Why Worship? By JENNIFER HARRIS CLAYTON

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The truth is simple:

So many things compete for our time and attention: work, family, video games, sports, and the constant dings of your smartphone, just to name a few. If your family includes children, then you can add a million more things to that list. What happens when you add faith and church to that list? From my experience in church, it’s often the first thing to be given up when it conflicts with other options. It seems that the pastor is much more understanding about missing a day in church than the soccer coach is about missing a practice.

No community outside of the church can take the place of the church. No other place exists for the sole reason of building up people of faith. Other things take your energy, time and money, and give back little in return. In God’s economy, however, we are promised to be blessed far beyond our initial gift or sacrifice. Additionally, that investment in our spiritual health brings a lasting return of peace, joy and love, far beyond that which we could produce on our own. Why go to church? It seems archaic, old-fashioned, and irrelevant. So, I offer you a different question: why worship? That’s the purpose of those who gather in church—to offer their energy, time and money to God as an expression of thanks and praise for who he is and what he has done for us. That is worship. The reason we gather in a church is to acknowledge that God is “other” than us, and we have a special place set apart for meeting with God. That’s not to say we don’t meet God in other places, for God is everywhere, but to gather in a special place as a community of faith, as believers in Christ Jesus, is to say that God is present in a special way when we gather together. When we gather together, something special happens in our midst. First, we are reminded of who God is, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. As we retell and remember God’s story through Scripture and song, we remind each other that God is faithful to his people, and that he will continue his faithfulness to all generations (Lamentations 3). We remember his love and mercy, most evident in the gift of Jesus Christ, our Savior, whose death and resurrection bought our redemption (Colossians 1, Romans 3), and whose ascension into Heaven carried our very humanity into the presence of Almighty God (Ephesians 4, Luke 24, Hebrews 4). We remember that Christ is even now at the right hand of God the Father, praying for us, and as we worship, he works among us to perfect and elevate our worship up to the throne of God (Hebrews 8). We remember that he has given us his Holy Spirit to live in us and work in and through us to bring the glory of God wherever we go ( John 14). We remember that we are ambassadors of God, empowered by the Holy Spirit to tell other people that there is good news in this world: the Good News of Jesus Christ’s Gospel, which is that the kingdom of God came near to us ( John 1). ›

FAITH Pittsburgh North | Winter 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 5

God’s eternal purpose is to draw all people to himself, so that through Christ, all can be brought into his eternal kingdom. Second, we hear God speak to us through his Word, and through each other. In a world of noise and chaos, we need to hear that Word of peace, of hope, of freedom. In a world of noise and chaos, we need to work hard to find time to be quiet and still before God in order to hear his voice speaking to us. In this world of noise and chaos, we need to remove ourselves from it in order to hear another Voice, speaking softly in the midst of a hundred others shouting at us, a Voice that calls us to remember who we are. We are in the midst of God’s story at work in the world. We are no longer slaves to sin, but slaves to righteousness (Romans 6). We are no longer aliens and strangers, but those who have been brought near and are at peace with God (Ephesians 6). We are not people of fear and anxiety, but have been given love, power and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1). We are not alone, but are part of God’s family ( John 1, 1 John 3). We are blessed, chosen, holy, loved, adopted, redeemed, forgiven, shown grace, saved, a part of God’s plan, included in Christ, and marked with the seal of the Holy Spirit, which guarantees our inheritance in Christ (Ephesians 1). Our inheritance in Christ is abundant life on earth and eternal life in heaven, to the glory of God the Father, amen! Third, after remembering who God is, and who we are in him, we remember that we have a purpose. We have been created with special gifts and talents that fit into God’s plans on earth. God’s eternal purpose is to draw all people to him, so that through Christ, all can be brought into his eternal kingdom. As

followers of Christ, we are participants in that mission of God (Matthew 28, 2 Corinthians 5). We were not created to simply mark time until we die, and then enjoy God’s presence forever. We are not called to sit on our hands, but rather to get our hands dirty doing whatever it is God has called us to do for his kingdom purposes. You might be called to be a priest, a plumber, a teacher or a toilet scrubber, yet God redeems all these things into his eternal purposes, and when done for his glory, we participate in telling his story on earth. It’s an exciting and awesome gift. Therefore, my answer to the question, “Why worship?” is simply to ask, “Why not?” With so many distractions during the week that divert our focus from Jesus, and other choices that beguile us to doubt or ignore our divine identity and calling that comes

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from our faith and hope in Christ, why not take an hour to refocus? Why not take an hour to strengthen our doubting hearts or ease our fearful, troubled minds? Why not take an hour to recharge the batteries of our faith? Why not let our children hear the same words of promise? Why not worship? In a world where so many choices make it hard to choose, I can promise you that you won’t regret that choice. Why worship? Why not?! † JENNIFER HARRIS CLAYTON Director of Worship and Music Elfinwild Presbyterian Church 3200 Mt. Royal Blvd. Glenshaw, PA 15116

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Biblical Principles Complement Business Practices

t can be difficult for Christians to put their faith into action and serve passionately as Disciples of Christ, especially outside of the church walls and beyond the routine of Sunday worship. Through Bible study, prayer, mission work and other practices, many Christians succeed in following Christ during their private, personal and family lives. However, actively practicing one’s beliefs in our professional and business activities is often much more challenging. Christians are often told that we need to hide our faith for fear of offending others. In fact, any outward display of one’s religious beliefs can be discouraged – if not outright disallowed – in many work environments. Although we should always strive to work in such a way that would honor God, many work situations prevent us from allowing our “light to shine before others.” Furthermore, many businesses and corporate environments value profit alone, while sacrificing relationships, integrity, fairness and business ethics. Fortunately, there are several corporations that openly operate according to Christian principles. Hobby Lobby, Chick-fil-A, the trucking company Covenant Transport and the clothing store Forever 21 all function as Christian-based operations. These companies offer fulfilling work opportunities for their employees. For some, however, an ideal opportunity would be to own and operate a business that openly practices Christian principles. Office Pride Commercial Cleaning Services is a faith-based commercial cleaning franchise that exists to equip people to build profitable businesses that honor and glorify God. Our franchisees provide top-quality janitorial services through a commitment to honesty, integrity and hard work. Christian values are the backbone of our business so everyone – from customers and vendors to employees and franchisees – is treated with the same courtesy and respect. Office Pride recently announced that it is actively seeking new franchisees throughout the

Pittsburgh region. This is truly a unique and exciting opportunity for those who want to own a business whose core beliefs and values are boldly Biblical, while also being encouraged to apply Christ’s teachings into business activities. Even so, there are no faith requirements at Office Pride. Our franchisees represent a wide range of denominations and faith traditions, as well as non believers. In fact, many of our franchisees and employees have come to know Christ through their work with Office Pride. Yet, all of us share a commitment to Office Pride’s Core Values and Beliefs*. Commercial cleaning is a $100 billion a year industry in the United States, and Office Pride has created a complete turnkey business package that works. In fact, the Office Pride franchise model has proven to be highly successful, within both the Pittsburgh and national markets. Office Pride has earned several local and national awards for operations, customer retention, and franchisee satisfaction, among others. Office Pride’s proven system helps franchisees establish valuable relationships that ensure repeat business. Even in an economic downturn, commercial cleaning has a strong customer base with unlimited earning potential. Commercial cleaning is a great business to get into because there is little overhead, and therefore low risk. For an initial investment of $14,900 to $59,000, you can own your own business! Office Pride will provide you with comprehensive training, ongoing and localized support, and everything you need to build a successful commercial cleaning enterprise. In addition, franchisees enjoy the pumped-up buying power that comes from being a part of more than 100 locations, receiving heavily discounted pricing on cleaning supplies, equipment and even business services like payroll. This gives Office Pride business owners a huge competitive advantage over the “mom-and-pop” operations that are so common in the industry. Office Pride stands with its franchisees every step of the way. Franchise owners receive ongoing

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Our fOundatiOn Verse Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3

promotional marketing support with effective target-market strategies and powerful marketing and sales materials. Office Pride also takes care of invoicing and collections so franchisees can focus on building better businesses. Franchisees need a net worth of $50,000 and a minimum liquidity of $15,000, making Office Pride a great first-time business venture for the right candidate. Some people get into business for the bottom line. Others want to own a business so they can help make the world a better place. At Office Pride, you can accomplish both goals at once with a low-entry, high-yield business that creates meaningful jobs for others. If you are tired of keeping your faith to yourself while you work to make someone else rich, Office Pride could be the right opportunity for you. For more information about Office Pride franchise opportunities now available in the Pittsburgh region, contact Area Developer Wally Jenkins at 412-715-7303, or visit www. OfficePrideFranchise.com to download a free informational package.

FAITH Pittsburgh North | Winter 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 19

Nonprofit Focus

Changing lives one person, one family, one block at a time

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rban Impact traces its roots back to 1995 when Rev. Dr. Ed Glover, then the outreach pastor at Allegheny Center Alliance Church, felt called to begin a ministry that would not only meet their spiritual needs for salvation but also provide young people with the skills they needed to grow in their walk with the Lord. He recognized that youth could not read their Bibles because they struggled overall to read. He also noted that the ministry needed to provide recreation to help meet physical needs and teach them how to build healthy relationships to help meet their emotional and social needs. Pastor Ed also decided he needed to live in the community he served in order to reach the people who lived there; i.e. build an incarnational ministry. Pastor Ed knew that he would need to start a nonprofit to get the much needed funding that would allow him to serve the kids holistically. It was out of this need and desire that Urban Impact was founded. The mission has remained unchanged through the years; the leaders focus on doing their part in fulfilling Christ’s Great Commission by investing in the lives of at-risk children, youth, and their families. Their goal is to see lives transformed that, in turn, can make a powerful impact locally and globally for Christ. Urban Impact uses a holistic approach focusing on three key areas.

Body It creates a safe place for the kids where they can escape from the sometimes chaotic life in the city. Mind It fosters a loving atmosphere where the kids can learn to respect others, themselves, and authority. This helps to build character and help kids improve socially. Spirit At Urban Impact staff members know unequivocally that the transformation of lives is possible through the Gospel. That is why they routinely share the Gospel and give students multiple chances to respond to it. Urban Impact uses a tiered method to accomplish their part in the Great Commission and build disciples. Starting with the curious they initiate relationships and win them through outreach programs. As relationships grow, they provide opportunities and pro-

grams to build them up and help them to grow (e.g. mentoring, Bible studies), they equip them to develop post high school plans and equip them to also become disciple makers. They multiply through leadership development, encouraging youth to serve as volunteers or interns in Urban Impact programs. Lastly they are sent out into the world (college, trade school, jobs, military and ministry) where they too can impact untold lives. What makes Urban Impact different from many other organizations is the fact that it is mission focused and everything that the staff does is based upon their faith and Biblical principles. Pastor Ed and his wife Tammy have multiplied themselves through staff members — urban missionaries — that reside in the community to reach and transform the lives of young people. In the beginning the primary tool used to reach the youth was athletics. While sports are still a powerful mechanism being used for outreach purposes, there is so much more now; including the performing arts academy which offers choir, instruments, acting, and dance. They also have a newly formed education department that works with the kids through the local schools during the school year and through an 8-week summer day camp in summer months. Some of the biggest challenges are reaching out to the families of the children involved, helping the urban missionaries to raise their financial support, finding sufficient volunteers and donors, and transportation for the kids to and from the programs. For the first 15 years of this ministry leaders focused on the individual, but that has since changed to a much greater emphasis being placed on the entire family. In the past year, Urban Impact has touched the lives of 1,500 kids, utilized 320 volunteers,

served over 26,000 meals, and been blessed and rewarded by 325 students responding to the Gospel. Think about that exponentially; if the 1,820 people that those figures represent go out and touch the lives of two other people due to their experiences at Urban Impact that brings the total number of lives affected to over 5,000. There are several ways in which those interested can become involved and help to make a difference in the lives of children: 1) Volunteer — there are a variety of different volunteer opportunities available all of which offer ample training; 2) Give — invest your dollars in changing lives through the ministries of Urban Impact; 3) Pray — commit to praying for Urban Impact, for without prayer nothing will ever be successful. †

FAITH Pittsburgh North | Winter 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 21

You Don’t Really Want Me to be Tolerant, Do You? By Dan Turney

Tolerance, I was once told by one of my church members, was my biggest deficit as a pastor. This accompanied with our cultural stress on tolerance drove me to assess my own tolerance level and whether or not I really did need an adjustment as suggested. Several days and much thinking later, I was able to respond with the statement, “I don’t think you want me to be tolerant.” Our culture begs for tolerance in an effort to “feel good” about everyone’s chosen path of belief. Exclusive declarations like Christ’s “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life” are met with resistance from a world that desperately wants to believe that all roads lead to heaven and that, in the end, all will be included. Tolerance, however, is the wrong vehicle to get us to where our culture so desperately wants us to be. Compared to what the Bible offers, tolerance is found to be weak and powerless in providing a better way than standing up for what we, as Christians, believe. Not only is it weak to provide a real solution to man’s need for a savior, but it’s a cop-out – an easy way out from really seeking the truth on matters of God, life, death and what really matters. To be quite frank, tolerance belittles not just my beliefs as a Christian, but also the beliefs of any religion at all. So consider for a moment what it truly is that we find in the pages of the Bible that competes with this request to embrace tolerance. I’ve found it, and I’m blown away by its power to dwarf tolerance and completely bury it in the dust. I’ve found that love trumps tolerance. Take what is probably the most wellknown verse in the Bible, John 3:16. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 does not fit with our modern worldview built on tolerance. It is an exclusive offer to believe in Jesus and be preserved for

something greater. The power of John 3:16 is centered on the word “love.” “For God so loved…” Now replace the word love with our culture’s buzzword, tolerance. “For God so tolerated the world.” You get the picture, don’t you? You want a practical test of love versus tolerance? Try this same exchange of words with your spouse tonight. Instead of your typical “I love you,” toss him/her an “I tolerate you.” Ridiculous, isn’t it? Despite the fact that our culture believes us to be more open and kind should we adopt an approach to our world that is laced with tolerance, the reality is that tolerance still means “I’ll put up with you.” I really don’t think that’s what we should be striving for in our churches, at home, in our workplaces or in society as a whole. In fact, tolerance should not be used in terms of people at all. Tolerance is better suited for things like stink bugs, road construction and the Cleveland Browns. Here’s what is really incredible about this whole subject. God cannot tolerate us. Sounds horrible and harsh, but it’s completely true. God is holy, unique and set apart in perfection. He cannot tolerate sin, and therefore he cannot tolerate us. This is

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what makes the Gospel of Jesus Christ so incredibly wonderful. A God who cannot possibly tolerate us did something outrageous and unexpected. He loved us. You read it right. He went well beyond a meager attempt to just put up with us. He actually loved us… still loves us. He proved this love in sending his Son to die for us. The Son of God on the cross for us is the greatest display of love the world will ever know. So ask yourself which is greater, tolerance or love? Please do not ask me to be tolerant of sin, of you or of a culture that resists Jesus as the only way, the only truth and the only life; but please, I beg of you, let me love you. Let me love you like God loves you. Let us put away the weaker trait of tolerance. Let us stop “putting up with” one another, and let us love one another as God has loved us in Christ Jesus. † Dan Turney Pastor, Christian Community Church 5719 N. Montour Rd., Gibsonia, PA 15044 www.cccofmars.org

Launch EvEnt Join us as we launch the Three Rivers Festival of Hope— a regionwide evangelistic outreach.

Thursday, January 16, 12–2 p.m. Grand Ballroom, Marriott City Center 112 Washington Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Bring your ministry team for a complimentary lunch and learn how you can build church unity and growth as we reach our region with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Next year’s Festival of Hope with Franklin Graham will combine a strong presentation of the Gospel with stirring music from well-known Christian artists and personal testimonies. Come and see God do amazing things around the Greater Pittsburgh area as we partner together. NoT Too laTe! RSVP with your name, church, and how many will attend by January 6 at threeriversfestival@bgea.org. For more information, please visit ThreeRiversHope.org. Always Good News. ©2013 BGEA

three these

WORDS by Sarah Catherine Howard

was riding the elevator to the sixth floor. Concern had not even crossed my selfish, 16-year-old mind. I had no clue what walking off that elevator would do to the next year of my life. As I stepped onto the floor, I instantly felt tension. Continuing on to room 604, I now reflect with a clear memory. The room was situated on the right of the hall. When you walked through the door, to the right was a very tiny restroom. In the center of the room was the bed. Right of the bed was a sink, a mirror and some cabinets. To the left, a chair and a window seat area. The television hung from the ceiling. Next to the bed was a little nightstand. On this nightstand were some “get well soon” flowers. I walked over to the bed and plopped down on the end, thankful to finally rest my feet after a long day of standing. My two little sisters sat next to me. My mom was reclining, with her hair pulled up in her normal ponytail, and a nightgown on while donning those little hospital socks. I always noticed when she wore them … I don’t know why. She looked at me and asked, “How did the homecoming parade go?” “It went well and it was pretty fun,” I replied. As I continued to pour out the details, I noticed my mother’s eyes filling with tears. I immediately stopped my story and nervously asked, “What’s wrong, Mom?” Up to this point she had dealt with major back pain issues and had her gall bladder removed a couple weeks earlier. What could have been so wrong now? She turned to my dad asking, “Mike, can you take Abigail to the waiting room?” He carried my youngest sister out of the room and took her to watch

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some cartoons. Left in the room were my mother, my little sister Elizabeth, our friend Tammy, with her daughter Olivia, and myself. Silence abounded and my mom started getting a little choked up. “Well girls, we got some bad news today.” She began to cry.

“They found a tumor, and

I have cancer.”

Pittsburgh theological seminary Your partner in ministry since 1794 • • • • •

In that moment … with these three words … time froze for me. There were too many thoughts on my mind to even think of speaking back. My only response was a scream. Crying would not even describe my reaction. I was sobbing, wailing out in heartbreak. A flood of emotions took over me. I was shocked, confused, upset, angry, hurt, torn to pieces, but mostly I felt hopeless. It felt as if someone had robbed me of my hope and was running away with it; running so fast I could not catch up! I truly did not know how to handle this or even what my future would hold. How long would I have my mom in my life? What about graduation, college, even marriage someday? I felt angry, longing to take this demon of cancer away from my mom, so she would not have to endure the anguishing journey ahead. I did not understand how all of this could be happening, especially to MY mom. The thoughts going through my head were insane. And then she spoke! “This is what I want you to know. I WILL NOT ask why. You refuse to ask why, too. Instead you ask ‘Why NOT me?’ God is in control, and he knows what he’s doing.” As time went on these words helped me discover who my mother truly was: a woman of great faith. As this gruesome journey forged ahead, she continued to bring others to God, witnessing to everyone she met about “her” Lord Jesus. This was HER cross to bear. Throughout the next year, she helped me learn to appreciate every little blessing God has given me. Her journey has brought me closer in my faith. I did not know how my family would get through everything. We did know one thing as a family though: no matter what, God is in control. If it is God’s will, then so be it. As my mother began her first treatment of chemo, it truly was hard to watch. I would, however, spend as much time with her as I could. I wanted to skip my homecoming dance and stay with her, but of course, she would not hear of it. I just loved being around her. Even with her first round of chemo, she was still my awesome, super mom. We would read devotionals, the Bible, talk about different topics, watch television together, and pray. Any time she had visitors, she would tell them how it’s God’s will, and she would beat her cancer and give the glory to God. She was a woman of undeniable faith, and no cancer could take that away from her. It can’t take my faith away either! †

•

Kelso Museum of Near Eastern Archaeology, free museum Barbour Library, theological and historical resources Continuing Education, for pastors and lay persons Metro-Urban Institute, certificate in Christian leadership World Mission Initiative, education for missional churches Non-degree evening courses, for those interested in a class or two 616 N. Highland Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15206 412-362-5610 www.pts.edu

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(Editor’s Note: God called Amy Howard (wife of Mike Howard, Word FM) home to Him on July 11, 2013 … 9 days after her 25th wedding anniversary, and one day after her 50th birthday. She HAD finally defeated cancer in the end! Sarah has now turned 17 and is eagerly awaiting the start of college next year majoring in Pre-med/Oncology.) FAITH Pittsburgh North | Winter 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 25

Surrender Complete

What does it mean to surrender to God? What does complete surrender look like? What is God after deep within our hearts? By Melissa Pearce

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urrender is learning to take up your own cross and follow after Christ Jesus. Surrender is to trust God and walk in obedience to His ways even when we may not know or understand the outcome. Surrender, above all, is revering the Living God. When we decide to relinquish our lives to God, we learn to trust who He is and what He has for our lives. Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” Yet, why do we find ourselves struggling internally to let go? Why do we battle abandoning our own agendas and wills? Is it out of fear? Or perhaps it is out of insecurity. Until we come to truly revere Him as God, the Omniscient One, we will not walk down the road of complete surrender to Him. To revere God means to honor and worship Him. One of the highest forms of worship we can demonstrate toward God is our act of obedience to His directions and ways. Every part of our being says, “Not my will Lord, but yours.” I’m reminded of the life of Abraham. Abraham and his wife, Sarah, were promised a child by God. Abraham was 100 years old when God finally delivered His promise. Abraham loved his son, Isaac, dearly. Yet, a time had come when God would test Abraham’s heart. Genesis 22 gives the account of how God tested him: “Then God said, take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.” (v2) Had life’s possessions become Abraham’s obsession? Did Abraham worship his son? Or was the test a revelation of Abraham’s allegiance? Would Abraham trust and walk in obedience to God even though he could not understand the final outcome? How many times do we allow life’s possessions to become our obsession? What item, person or position are we worshiping other than God? Or what item, person or position are we placing before God? The reality is that we do it more than we realize. We can fall into the trap of worshiping our homes, our kids, our spouses, possessions, and even our jobs. Yet, the question becomes, do we love the Lord our God more than those

things? If He asked us to walk away from our jobs and go in a different direction, would we be as obedient to Him as Abraham was? Or if God asked us to give up our home, would we? Further down in verse 12, the Lord commands, “Do not lay a hand on the boy, he said. Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” The heart of the matter is that God is looking for complete surrender of the heart. Do we fear Him, like Abraham did? Will we respond to God’s direction when given? Was the situation difficult? Yes. Do I think Abraham struggled internally – emotionally, and spiritually? Yes, Abraham was human. He was not Superman. Yet, Abraham’s heart was completely surrendered to the Living God. Abraham revered God. His actions of obedience displayed honor and worship. Abraham’s relationship with God was his true possession. Abraham withheld nothing from God, not even his precious son. He desired God’s will to be done, not his own. How about you? Is God your true possession? Are you willing to withhold nothing from the Lord in your life? Are your uttering the words, “Yes, Lord, Your will be done, not my own.” Surrender is not only revering the Living God, but it is heart trusting in the One and Only. Just as Abraham had to trust God during his trial, we too will have to trust – lean on, believe and know within our hearts that God will not fail us. Hebrews 11:17-19 “By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, ‘It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.’ Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.” Abraham by faith, in other words by belief and trust, believed God and obeyed. God’s desire is for us to walk by faith with Him. Walking by faith is trusting in the One even when we don’t have all the details ahead of time. Walking by faith is relinquishing control over our lives and knowing that God will work all things to the good of those who love Him, according to Romans 8:28. You see, it was Abraham’s faith in God to work out all the details. So let me ask you, what is God asking you to trust Him with? And will

you? Beloved, walk in faith and believe God to work out the details. Trust me; He’s big enough to handle any situation you may be enduring. Finally, surrender is not only revering the Living God, trusting in Him, but it also is learning to take up your own cross and follow after Christ Jesus. Mark 8:34 “Then he called the crowd to him along with the disciples and said: ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.’” What does this mean? It is ceasing to make one’s own self the center of life. We come to realize it – “It’s really not about me!” It’s about bringing glory and honor to the One who paid the ultimate price for our freedom. Jesus displayed a heart of complete surrender to God the Father. He literally took up His Cross to walk in obedience to the Father’s will. Just as the Cross led to His death for our sins, we will symbolically carry our own cross, meaning total commitment to Christ Jesus no matter the cost. What areas within your life have you not fully committed to Christ Jesus? Is it your need to be in control? Or is it brokenness that needs healing? Or is it an addiction to alcohol, drugs or even pornography? Listen beloved, just as Christ Jesus took the Cross for our ultimate freedom in Him, He too will require for us to bear our own cross to walk in the liberality He has designed for us. We have to trust God – completely. So perhaps God is using this teaching to have you reflect upon your own commitment level toward Him. Let me ask you, “Do you have a ‘yes attitude’ toward God?” Is God asking you to trust Him in a particular circumstance even though you may not have all the details or even understand the outcome? Does your heart reflect, “Lord, Your will be done”? Or perhaps He is asking you to walk in His example so you can be free. 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, Inc. Enduring Hope Ministries, Inc. PO Box 194, Murrysville, PA 15668-0194 724.519.7554 contact@enduringhopeministries.com

www.enduringhopeministries.com

FAITH Pittsburgh North | Winter 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 27

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 your daily lives.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 (ESV)

Meaning – This verse when taken in conjunction with John 1:1 provide incontrovertible proof of the eternal Godhead (divinity) of Jesus Christ, spoken of in verse 14 as the Word and then looking back at verse 1 we see: 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God - John 1:1 (ESV) From these verses we know that Jesus was there in the beginning with God, he was God. We also know from these verses that he became flesh and dwelt among us as the perfect embodiment of the Godhead. When you read various commentaries regarding these verses and the use of Word to represent Jesus I am going to do something I never do and share with you verbatim what is written in Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary: 28 724.942.0940 to advertise | FAITH Pittsburgh North

The plainest reason why the Son of God is called the Word seems to be that as our words explain our minds to others, so was the Son of God sent in order to reveal his Father’s mind to the world. I think this is a very good and accurate explanation for why Jesus was called the Word in these verses and as such I wanted to share it with you. Application – The most important thing we can take away from this is the knowledge that Jesus became flesh and walked among man sharing God’s grace and truth, which should inspire us to live our faith in the world, but not of it. This verse also can be a starting point for an amazing journey back through the Old Testament to the time of creation looking for the myriad of explicit and implicit references to Jesus, knowing now that he has always been there. †

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FAITH Pittsburgh North | Winter 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 29

My FBO* Jesus (*Facebook Official) Jesus has a Facebook page!

Did you know? Just go here: www.facebook.com/jesuschristthesonofgod

Awesome, right? I’m not so sure… let me share why. by Marvin Nelson

any people have shared how Facebook is dangerous for our teens and young adults, causing them to have a distant, non-personal relationship with others—all while thinking they are connected. In this sense, I think we as an Evangelical culture have had a “Facebook Official” relationship with Jesus much longer than Facebook has even existed. We teach that one must read the Bible, one must memorize Scripture and that this memorizing is actually what the Bible calls “putting God’s word in your heart.” We teach that one must learn all one can about God, follow His commands, do the things he says to do and avoid the things he says not to do. We teach and live a model of learning about God, but rarely get to teaching and living a life dedicated to seeking to truly knowing Him.

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I can creep all over someone’s Facebook page and learn all there is to know about someone: who he/she likes, doesn’t like, shows watched, books read, where the person spends most of the time, his/ her flavor of religion, name of girlfriend/boyfriend/wife/husband, and everything else. We can know almost everything there is to know…and still miss the person’s self. Also, thinking about Facebook, when we post our stuff on there it’s usually the best stuff. As someone said to me today, “We don’t post ‘selfies’ of us just waking up; we post the best pictures we’ve got!” I fear we do this with God as well, where we portray the best of ourselves to the God of the universe and pretend everything is OK when it really isn’t. So, we are simply knowing “about” God and only portraying our best to God; we don’t actually know each other at all… even though it looks like we know each other well. This, my friends, is what many “millennials” are reacting against. We need to seek to experience the God of the universe, not just educate our minds about Him. We need to seek a deep, rich, real, honest relationship with Him and not just be “Facebook Official” with Him. Many young people state they don’t feel or experience God in church, so they seek to experience Him in many different (and sometimes wrong) places. Some people (as in A.W. Tozer’s day) are afraid of the words “Experience God” because it seems like we are lifting the “experience” above God. However, this isn’t true at all. When I go to coffee with a person, I don’t just have a conversation, I am having a real live experience of that person. I am experiencing his/her passions, personality, humor (or lack thereof), distastes and manner of relating to me. We don’t just meet people, we experience them. For too long, we’ve put the “knowing about God” above knowing God. Reading the Bible, praying and all of those things are GREAT, but if it is simply an educational task or a checklist of something you “should” do, then we’ve missed the point entirely and have hindered ourselves rather than helping ourselves. God’s word is “written on our hearts” when we naturally do what it says…not just blankly repeat it word for word. His Word is transformative as well as educational…it’s not just something for our heads…it’s for our very lives! This generation needs to see, meet and speak to Jesus; and God has given us His Spirit to be that very thing to this world. Let us no longer perpetuate a Facebook relationship with Jesus, but rather a real one. May we stop (as Brennan Manning calls it) “shoulding” on people but rather show them God by our actions, our love for one another and our surrender to His power…rather than trying to do it all on our own. Rachel Held Evans, in her blog on “Why Millennials are Leaving the Church,” said:

Pastor Marvin Nelson Young Adults and Church Planting Pastor

“We want to be challenged to live lives of holiness, not only when it comes to sex, but also when it comes to living simply, caring for the poor and oppressed, pursuing reconciliation, engaging in creation care and becoming peacemakers. You can’t hand us a latte and then go about business as usual, and expect us to stick around. We’re not leaving the church because we don’t find the cool factor there; we’re leaving the church because we don’t find Jesus there.” To me, that was her strongest point: they (we, because I am one) don’t see a lot of Jesus in the church. Instead of Disciples of Jesus who know Him and are known by Him, many of our churches are full of Facebook Friends of Jesus. I know as a lover of His Bride that many people are well intentioned and really desire to know God but are simply only taught how to be Facebook friends with Jesus and so miss out on the deeper reality of actually experiencing Him. When we see Scriptures challenging us to do incredible things, knowing God and relying on His Spirit to empower us is truly the only way we can actually do any of it! So, let’s shut down our Facebook accounts with Jesus and sit down and have a coffee with Him…so we can experience Him in real life! †

Allegheny Center Alliance Church 250 East Ohio Street Pittsburgh Pa. 15212

412-321-4333 www.marvnelson.com

FAITH Pittsburgh North | Winter 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 31

Worth the Price: The True Value of a Christian College Education By Kenneth A. Smith, PhD

Christians who are planning to pursue an academic degree face some difficult questions, not the least of which is “Can I afford to attend a Christian college?” Many factors influence college selection—choice of major, location, reputation—but, along with academic quality, the deciding factor is often affordability. Christian schools are often believed to have higher tuition costs than some public institution options, but research shows that secular colleges and universities can sometimes charge the highest price of all—the loss of a student’s commitment to the Christian faith. The most important question for students and their families then becomes, “Is the savings worth the cost?”

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“Unless they are at a Christian college, they may find themselves in an environment that is not conducive to providing supportive answers.” Pressure from peers is part of the problem, of course, but so too is pressure from faculty.

New Year’s Resolution #1 … RUN FOR A CAUSE The college years are a period of transition, when young people form their own personal identity and values. This is a natural time for young adults to examine and question the beliefs handed down by their families as they progress toward an owned and personal faith. But the fact that students raised in Christian homes attending secular schools often abandon their faith during these years is especially troubling because research indicates that these changes in religious values will remain into adulthood. Steve Henderson, the president of Christian Counseling for Colleges and Ministries, Inc., conducted a study of 16,000 students from 133 institutions and, according to his research, more than half of Christian students who attend a public or private secular university will no longer profess their faith four years later. For Christian families, this is quite a sobering statistic. After all, they have spent nearly two decades teaching their children to love and serve the Lord, only to find everything undone in four short years. So why do Christian students at secular schools walk away from their convictions in such large numbers? “College students are asking deep questions about their faith,” says Henderson. “Unless they are at a Christian college, they may find themselves in an environment that is not conducive to providing supportive answers.” Pressure from peers is part of the problem, of course, but so too is pressure from faculty. In the March 29, 2005, Washington Post article “Study Finds College Faculties a Most Liberal Lot,” author Howard Kurtz reveals that 72 percent of professors at American colleges identify themselves as liberal. Additionally, 51 percent of faculty members at these schools attend religious services rarely or not at all. Students tend to view their professors as mentors, and these statistics show that some faculty members at public institutions may not support traditional Christian values. The good news is that Henderson’s research provides confirmation that students attending Christian institutions, particularly schools that are members of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU), become significantly more committed to their faith. He says, “Attending a CCCU school is clearly

correlated to increases in nearly all measures of religious commitment. “The differences in choosing a CCCU school versus a non-CCCU school are dramatic: one-fourth the drop in church attendance, one-seventh the drop in prayer and meditation, and nearly five times the increase in overall religious commitment,” Henderson continued. Member institutions of the CCCU are intentionally Christian colleges and universities that aim to “transform lives by faithfully relating scholarship and service to biblical truth.” They are committed to hiring only believers, so students are continually challenged by professing Christians to grow in their faith as opposed to having their faith challenged by others. Campus programs at CCCU schools are designed to support Christian principles, and students are exposed to chapel and other worship experiences as well as a full integration of faith and learning in the classroom. Perhaps most importantly, students spend these critical years of transition living in a community of believers who endorse and strengthen Christian values. Not every student who attends a secular school abandons their faith, just as not every student at a Christian school maintains it. However, the numbers clearly show the positive impact of enrolling in a CCCU college or university. And there are ways to make a Christian education more financially affordable, like need-based funds from federal and state government sources, merit scholarships, private grants, and institutional funds. I encourage everyone facing this challenging decision to seek the Lord’s guidance. Some families opt for the lower sticker price at a public college—but remember, the total price paid by over half of those students includes walking away from their faith, and that is a cost not worth any amount of savings. † Dr. Kenneth A. Smith President of Geneva College 3200 College Avenue Beaver Falls, PA 15010 www.geneva.edu 1.800.847.8255

Sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with children, youth and families living on Pittsburgh’s North Side.

Every good action deserves a reaction. Nonprofits receive free advertising space in Faith Pittsburgh through our nonprofit partnership program. Your nonprofit organization can receive up to two free pages each quarter. Program guidelines apply.

For more details call

Mike Granovitz at 412.779.6733.

FAITH Pittsburgh North | Winter 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 33

The God Who

Doubles Our Sins? By Rock Dillaman

Isaiah 40: 1-11

Key Verse Speak kindly to Jerusalem; and call out to her, that her warfare has ended, that her iniquity has been removed, that she has received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. (Isaiah 40:2)

Devotional At first glance the second verse of Isaiah 40 appears to be rather schizophrenic! God opens by speaking of kindness and the removal of sin. But then He promises His hearers will receive double for all their sins! It sounds like big-time divine payback, like sowing to the wind and reaping a whirlwind! But seeing as how God is not the author of confusion and never changes, it can’t be both. So which is it; and why the apparent contradiction? The truth is there is no contradiction. The second promise enlarges the first rather than negates it! The key to recognizing that is found in Hebrew culture. When people were in such deep financial debt they could see no possible way out, they declared their bankruptcy in a unique fashion. It was also a means whereby they could humbly seek assistance. They openly wrote a listing of their debts on a piece of parchment, nailing it to the outside wall of their home for all to see. Why? Because there were wealthy benefactors in Israel who delighted in helping such cases. If one of them looked at the record and felt he/she wanted to lift the debtor out of the financial pit, the benefactor would double the piece of parchment, then return it to its place, signing his/her name on the outside. This was a signal to creditors and the person in debt that a generous heart was intervening in an impossible need. Everything would be covered! So you see God’s words through Isaiah aren’t a study in confusing contradiction. Just the opposite; every Hebrew would have known that God was promising to do an awesome, liberating thing. And

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we now know how He pulled it off. Through His death our promised Messiah removed the debt we could never have repaid. Seeing our need He signed His incredible name to our impossible debt. No wonder this chapter opens with the word “Comfort!” As you prepare to celebrate Messiah’s arrival I’d like to suggest you take a few moments and make a partial list of all the moral debt once posted over your life. Then double the paper and write Jesus’ name on the outside. Then throw it away, for Christmas means all iniquity has been removed for those who trust in Messiah. †

Prayer Our gracious Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus our Messiah to offer us the double for our sins. And help us to never re-post what has been doubled. Help us to rest in His name written over our debt. Amen.

Rock Dillaman Senior Pastor Allegheny Center Alliance Church 250 E. Ohio St., Pittsburgh, PA 15212 412.321.4333 / www.acac.net

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) By faith believe Jesus and accept Him. Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household. (Acts 16:31)

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. Please write to Faith Pittsburgh and let us know about your choice and if there is anything we can do to help you.

FAITH Pittsburgh North | Winter 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 35

letting more of the

Son Shine O By Kerry S. Doyal

et’s be honest: sometimes it can be satisfying, yes, even fun, to gripe and argue. Call it venting, letting off steam, or even an occasional grouse or grump, we all gripe at times. So too with arguing: friendly debates, a spirited dialogue or a vigorous exchange of ideas can be quite satisfying and invigorating. Yet, when complaining and arguing become a way of life, become habits, character traits, done in the wrong ways, with the wrong people, at the wrong time, one is in trouble. For followers of Jesus, it is like putting a dark shade on a bright bulb. Complaining and arguing keep us from shining as brightly as we ought to in our dark, depraved world. Read what God’s word says about this matter: “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.” (Phil. 2:14-16 NIV) Ever known a Christian who seemed to derive pleasure from his/her displeasure, was happy to be unhappy? Hardly a fun person to

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Out be around. More significantly, these Christians hardly shine forth the love and life of Jesus to those who desperately need it. Some sour saints seem to work at being contrary. You say tomato, they say pineapple; and after a while, you want to call the whole thing off. Regular Hatfields and McCoys, they have no idea why they are feuding, but are ready to die or kill over the matter – whatever it was. They hardly shine like stars. Black holes might best describe them. Again, poor examples of Jesus. Tragically, some believers are just contentious. Though they say they are contending for the faith, taking a stand, fighting for truth, the reality is they just love having a good verbal scrap or intellectually one-upping others. Out of habit – a sinfully bad habit – they, as the old saying goes, would dispute with the devil himself. Yet, as the text makes clear, Jesus’ disciples are to be people who are not cantankerous or contentious. As such, we can show that we are God’s blameless and pure kids, sent out amongst a crooked and perverse populace. Living such makes us shine like stars as we share God’s truth, His wonderful words of life. Grouches and disputers can make their spiritual mentors wonder if they wasted their

time on them. If you are always grumbling about something or verbally sparring with others, the person who helped you grow up in Jesus may feel he/she has labored in vain over you. A sobering and sad thought to consider. There could hardly be a richer theological context for this command against petty quibbling and quarreling than Phil. 2:1-11. Also highlighting the importance of this exhortation, note that it is the first specific application after the admonition for us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling since God is at work in us (vs. 12-13). Stopping our whining and pointless debating is no small matter to God. How big a deal is this? In 1 Corinthians 10 we read that God laid low (read: killed) many Jews in the wilderness due to their ongoing grumbling, among other heinous sins: idolatry, immorality. Referring to the wilderness-wandering Jews just rescued from Egypt and on their way to the Promised Land, Paul warned the Corinthians about their own grumbling: “Let them be a lesson to ya.” (See 1 Corin. 10:6-14.) Pride is a key component behind these ugly traits. Feeling you deserve better or always know better betrays a misguided, inflated sense of worth. Must things always suit me? Can I not possibly be wrong or even just partially correct about some things? It is easy to admit imperfections in the abstract, but specific shortcomings are harder to own up to – unless they are in others. Does this mean we are to always be a “Susie Sunshine,” sweet as pie, bright, beaming and, yes, seemingly as phony as a three-dollar bill? No. But, what is your attitude when you share your struggles and life’s undeniable difficulties? Where is your focus? Are we to be mindlessly compliant and endlessly agreeable, spineless “yes men”? Again, I think not. It can be godly to disagree with others, if one seeks to not be disagreeable in demeanor. Remember: it is not “da meaner

da better.” For example, it is OK to send back bad food in a restaurant—done graciously without taking it out on the server. Shining as bright as you ought? If you are a gripper and verbal grappler, you may be more dimly lit than you know. Your methods of standing for truth or high standards may be smearing the name and message of Jesus. We often seek ways to be a better witness for Jesus. Here in this letter to the Philippian church, which Paul wrote from prison, we find two practical means to pull up the shades and let more of the light of God shine through us. A song from my youth says “Boom, boom, out go the lights.” While not high poetry or good theology, it serves to remind—better yet, rebuke—me that when I murmur, bicker, dispute and whine, I shade God’s light. While we cannot put out the light (He is the source and the one true light), we can diffuse it, distort, refract, and tint it so that it bears little resemblance to its original source. As a child, I was diagnosed with a small heart murmur. Through the years I have tried to remember that far worse than any physical heart issue are spiritual ones. While thankfully my heart murmur has never been a problem, my murmuring heart has been at times. Has yours? If we are to shine as we ought, as Jesus intended us to, we need to replace complaining with contentment and thankfulness. Disputing should be evicted so that humility, patience, teachability and graciousness can move into its old haunts. Such people shine forth Jesus like twinkling stars in an otherwise black sky. †

Kerry S. Doyal Pastor, Christ Community Fellowship Sarver, PA Phone: 724.353.1001 160 Singleton Road, Sarver PA 16055 Email: ccf@ccffriends.org http://www.ccffriends.org

FAITH Pittsburgh North | Winter 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 37

Who said that?

FAITH Media

New Testament Quiz

1.) “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” King Herod King Agrippa Saul Ponteus Pilate

5.) “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Peter Jesus Satan John the Baptist

9.) “Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water” Simon Peter James Matthew Timothy

2.) “Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.” Joseph Mark Zacharias Peter

6.) “Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Simon Peter a publican a Sadducee a rich ruler

10.) “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” Peter King Herod Jesus Paul

3.) “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire....” Matthew John the Baptist James Peter

7.) “Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.” one of the thieves that was crucified with Jesus Martha Lazarus a Samaritan

4.) “If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.” a Pharisee Satan a Samaritan a Sadducee

8.) “Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.” the good Samaritan the Samaritan woman at the well Mary Magdalene Andrew

Book review

Source – religionresourcesonline.org

See page 48 for answers

Review By: Robert Driskell

Dr. R. Albert Mohler is president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. I have read several of his books and would recommend them to any Christian wanting to bolster his or her apologetic knowledge. Dr. Mohler does a wonderful job of explaining the difference between the “modern” era and the “postmodern” era. He very clearly describes how the church must interact with the postmodern culture if we are to make a difference. He goes to great lengths (rightly so, in my opinion) to stress that we must not change, or water down, the biblical message in order to connect with our culture. Christians must be pure conduits of the Bible’s message, especially the Gospel. We are not helping anyone

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by presenting them with a less-than-true version of the Gospel message. Dr. Mohler tackles subjects such as the existence of hell, the Christian vision of beauty, the Emerging Church movement, Open Theism, the demise of church discipline, the importance of being evangelistic, and the urgency of biblical, expository preaching. I highly recommend this book to every Christian concerned with the declining moral climate of our nation and world. Dr. Mohler challenges Christians to resist the pull of the secular culture in which we live and to live out the holiness that is ours through our relationship with Jesus.

movie Review

Thessalonians

Find the words in the grid. When you are done, the unused letters in the grid will spell out a hidden message. Pick themout fromleft to right, top line to bottomline. Words can go horizontally, vertically and diagonally in all eight directions.

Taken By Grace Starring: Angus Macfadyen, Haylie Duff and Kevin Downes Director: Brett Divine Rated: NR Dove approved 12yrs + Runtime: 105 minutes Release Date: Aug. 20th, 2013 Studio: Pure Flix Entertainment

Faith Word Search H

Thessalonians

The movie begins with Lucas Blackstone, (Angus Macfadyen, Braveheart) having just been released L P F G D S from prison, breaking into a house and stealing a revolver and bottle of whiskey while ignoring the many valuables there. A short time later Lucas comes upon www.WordSearchMaker.com the campsite of Shawn and Carrie Everett, (Bradley Dorsey and Haylie Duff) a young couple trying to work out the problems in their marriage. alive Lucas kidnaps the couple and forces them to drive him to a neighboring town. Throughout the movie, Taken archangel By Grace keeps you involved and wanting to know what happens next. With some very surprising twists you will benediction not be disappointed. Angus Macfayden steals the show, father he is excellent throughout the movie, and he makes the pain his character feels a palpable thing. glory As the story unfolds and we learn of the troubles that Shawn and Carrie are facing in their marriage as grace well as the whole story and reason behind Lucasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s journey, a clear and powerful message of forgiveness greeting and grace emerges. By the end of the film we learn that sometimes the most difficult person to forgive is holiness ourselves, but to truly begin the healing process that is what must be done. idleness Taken By Grace is definitely a worthwhile film to watch with a strong message that is presented well by Jesus the writers and director.

Judea judgement kingdom

lawlessness ministry Paul peace pray thanks See page 48 for answers

FAITH Pittsburgh North | Winter 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 39

Coming Full Circle On December 19, 2012, the board of directors at CornerStone Network voted unanimously to select Donald Black as the new president of the 34-year-old ministry. by Michael Granovitz

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I have been very fortunate to be afforded the opportunity to spend some time with Don Black, and to be able to give all of our readers a glimpse at what the future holds for CornerStone TV as well as an introduction to its new president. Faith Pittsburgh: Please share with us your background. Donald Black: Since 1984, when I began working at CBN (Christian Broadcasting Network), I have been involved in Christian broadcast ministry. I worked at CBN while finishing my graduate degree at Regent University in Virginia Beach. After leaving CBN I went to the Inspiration Network, working with David Cerullo as vice president of sales and development. I was then recruited by Dr. Charles Stanley’s In Touch ministry in Atlanta, Georgia. I worked with Charles for eight years; we worked all around the world using television and internet to make disciples in what we liked to call a Great Commission Ministry. We tried to help people realize and develop their personal gifts so that their lives could have an eternal impact. That was my last assignment before coming here, so I’ve had the privilege of being in Christian ministry for almost 30 years. I read in another interview that by returning to the Pittsburgh area, you felt that you had come full circle. Why is that? DB: I was born in Washington, Pennsylvania, but we moved around a lot because my father was involved in the coal industry; he was a UMWA member. We spent a good deal of time in Pennsylvania, in fact in Ebensburg is where I received Jesus as my Savior, watching Billy Graham on television. I was an eight-year-old young man watching TV and Billy Graham came on (back in those days you didn’t have remote controls for the television). We had three stations and had to get up to change the channel and the antenna, so when he came on I didn’t want to change the channel. I was watching by myself and he was preaching about accepting Jesus as your Savior, and he challenged the viewers to pray with him and I prayed the sinners prayer with him, even though I grew up in a Catholic home (my mother was a devout Catholic). He said, “I want you to do three things: go tell someone what you did, I want you to be baptized and then I want you to find a home church.” I remember clearly walking into the kitchen, looking at my mom and telling her I want to be baptized. When she told me that I had already been christened as a baby, I said, “No I want to be baptized like the man on TV said.”

To my mom’s credit, after I had pestered her over a period of time she took me to a Baptist church and I got baptized. And that all happened in Ebensburg, Pennsylvania, so I came to know the Lord there under those unusual circumstances and he has brought me back to carry on in ministry. In addition to that, my wife Teri was born and raised in Butler so it is a homecoming for both of us. So in a spiritual and physical way, it all started here. For those who aren’t familiar with the network, please tell us about CornerStone Network. DB: CornerStone Network was founded 35 years ago this coming April by Russ and Norma Bixler. Norma, during a visit to CBN, was given the vision to start a Christian television station back in Pittsburgh. The call to her was clear, and after many months and amazing revelations Russ came to share the conviction. God spoke to Norma and she listened, although it took 10 years of struggle from the concept to the birth of the CTVN. From the very beginning CTVN has broadcast Christian shows, and has been used to bring great revivals to this area. Since its inception CTVN has really grown, broadcasting across the United States reaching 6 million homes. There is a lot of original programming including programs from 45 different national ministries that through the internet can be seen around the world. CTVN is a very dynamic ministry and one of the aspects that we are proudest of is our prayer ministry, which includes a 24/7 line that received 80,000 calls last year. People call for many different reasons seeking someone to pray for them. So you have television, prayer and the third part of the equation that makes up CTVN is outreach; we take 10% of all money that comes in and use it in our outreach ministry. We support 15 different outreach programs around the world; we start right here in Pittsburgh and work out from there. All of these programs are gospel centered and focused on helping people. What is the mission of CTVN? DB: The mission has not changed in 35 years: to share the gospel of Jesus with as many people as possible as quickly and effectively as possible and to support the local church. We are not a church—our job is to support the church; the church is ground zero for God’s kingdom. What is your vision for CTVN going forward? DB: We are looking to create more high-quality original programming, which must be made as

good as possible to have maximum impact and reflect upon our God. We are also looking to increase our distribution from 6 million to 10-20 million. To increase local programs and our connections within the Christian community in Pittsburgh. Can you give us a preview of what you have in store for us? DB: We have a new flagship program, “Real Life,” which debuted September 9 at 9 p.m. “Real Life” is a show that teaches, inspires and helps people grow in their faith with music, testimonies and special features and segments. An example of one of the special segments is called Sister to Sister and features four or five Christian women, who share a belief in Jesus but have different doctrinal perspectives, discussing relevant topics based upon their personal viewpoints. We have movies, music and we are working on a Christian reality show. CTVN has new kids programming, special events in the area that are designed to draw people together, and we are committed to growing our prayer line. It is truly an exciting time to be part of this ministry and seeing people’s hearts and lives transformed. You have a very successful background. Is there one achievement that stands out from the rest? DB: When I look back and see the successes, I also see the challenges that went along with them: I can say without any doubt that God has been at work every step of the way, and the success has been His blessing to the various ministries. I know that the best part is yet to come. What would your prayer request be if you were asking others to pray for you? DB: We put together a prayer team here made up of 22 people who pray for the ministry, the city and the leadership to make wise choices. I also would ask for prayer that I might know the best way to please God as a servant, husband, father, brother, son and minister. It was a pleasure spending time with Don and I sincerely hope that the future will bring many occasions to work alongside him. For many Christians in the Pittsburgh area, CTVN has been a pillar within the community and I have no doubt under the leadership of Don Black that will continue for many years to come. I know that all of us are very busy and never seem to have time to do all that we would like, but I ask that you make it a priority to take advantage of the blessing that is CornerStone Network. †

FAITH Pittsburgh North | Winter 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 41

KIDS CORNER

A True Act

of Kindness By Charlotte Hopkins

It was a chilly Saturday evening and Justin was going to Fuzzy’s, the corner store in Glassport, with his mom and his sister, Megan. They wanted to pick up snacks, juice, and the famous Fuzzy’s hoagies. They were planning a movie night at home. There was a kind elderly woman in line when they got there. She had $5 and was trying to see how much lunch meat she could get and if she would have enough left over for bread. When the cashier, Amy, was ringing up the food, Justin and Megan listened closely as the woman was now trying to see if she could also get cheese. His mom knelt down and said to Justin and Megan, “I think we should help her, what do you think?” They smiled big and said “yes!” Mom took Amy aside, handed her $20 and said, “This is for her, let her get all the lunch meat she can but don’t tell her until we leave.”

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When they left the store Megan was giggling and Justin happily said, “Now she can get lots of meat and cheese.” Then Justin asked, “How come you wanted us to leave first?” His mom said that sometimes people are too embarrassed to take help from others. She did not want the woman to turn the money down, and if they are not there, then she cannot give it back or say “no, thanks.” His mom then said, “remember, a true act of kindness is one that’s done anonymously.” Justin and Megan probably heard their mom say a million times that, “A true act of kindness is one that’s done anonymously.” Justin knew it meant something about being kind to others. He was not too sure about the “anonymously” part. A few days later, they went back to Fuzzy’s. Amy was working and reminded them of the little old lady that they helped. Amy said that the woman was so happy to learn that someone left $20 for her that she almost cried. The woman said “she knew” that there must have been an “angel” in the store that day. Megan giggled to hear that the lady thought her mom was an angel. A few weeks went by from that afternoon at Fuzzy’s. Justin and Megan often thought about the little old lady and wondered how she was doing. Their mom arrived at school one afternoon to take them home and she talked with the other parents as she waited outside for the bell to ring. Megan came out first and was telling her mom all about the poster contest the school was having. The theme was, “Suddenly I turned around and saw ___.” Megan already had

ideas of what to draw. Fifteen minutes had gone by and almost everyone had left the school, except for Justin’s class. When Justin and his class finally came out, Justin had a story of his own to tell his mom. His teacher, Mr. Kristen, was angry and held the class back. It was a good day, up until the end. Mr. Kristen was so glad with how well everyone behaved that day that he passed out new pencils as a reward. There was one pencil left over that he kept for himself. After he passed out the pencils, he left the class for a few minutes. But while he was gone someone stole Mr. Kristen’s pencil off his desk. He was pretty hurt and angry. He demanded to know who took it but no one confessed. He waited ten more minutes, hoping the guilty person would speak up but no one did. Justin told his mom that Mr. Kristen told the students how disappointed he was that someone would steal off of him after he did something nice for them. His mom agreed that it was mean for that student to steal from Mr. Kristen. Justin happily looked up at her and said, “Yea, but guess what I did?” Justin giggled and said, “When we were leaving the room I put my pencil on Mr. Kristen’s desk.” She asked Justin why he would give Mr. Kristen his pencil. He said, “Because someone stole his pencil and I wanted him to have one.” She repeated, “So you gave him your pencil?” Justin said, “Yes, and he didn’t even see me.” Then she asked Justin if he at least told Mr. Kristen that he did that? Justin stopped, looked up at his mom and said, “No, remember, a true act of kindness is one that’s done anonymously!” Charlotte is a local mom of two, who lives in Elizabeth.

Mr. Kristin

FAITH Pittsburgh North | Winter 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 43

KIDS CORNER

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

Creation 1

Matt 22:37 ESV

10 3

Creation Creation

www.CrosswordWeaver.com

ACROSS

www.CrosswordWeaver.com

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7 9 10

from 4 woman was created 6 man's _______ 5 he was the first man 8 7 the story of creation is in what book of the Bible 9 the devil became what animal 10 she was the first woman

4 woman was created from man's _______ 5 he was the first man 7 the story of creation is in what book of the Bible the devil became appeared as what animal what animal 9 the devil 10 she was the first woman DOWN 1 God saw what he had done and it was _______ 2 Adam and Eve lived in the _______ of Eden 3 we are created in God's ________ 6 God said let there be ________ 8 Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of ______ 9 God created the world in _________ days See page 48 for answers

www.CrosswordWeaver.com

44 724.942.0940 to advertise | ACROSS

DOWN

FAITH Pittsburgh North

DOWN

1 God saw wh it was _____ 2 Adam and E _______ of E 3 we are creat ________ 6 God said let 8 Adam and E Garden of __ 9 God created _________ d

Today’s Scripture

Luke 1:38

And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

What’s it mean to me:

Mary is saying that she is the submissive and obedient servant of the Lord, and as such stands ready to implicitly obey the Lord’s commands. Each and every Christian should strive to be as Mary was, obedient, submissive, and desiring the Lord’s will to be done in our lives. It is then, as the life of Mary exemplifies, that the Lord can perform amazing works through us.

FAITH Pittsburgh North | Winter 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 45

Faith Based News

21st Annual Mercy Parish Nurse and Health Ministry Symposium:

“Weaving Prayer and Presence in Health Ministry” By Amy B. Armanious, RN, DNP, MSOL, FCN

The Mercy Parish Nurse and Health Ministry Program, part of Pittsburgh Mercy Health System and CHE Trinity Health, in the tradition of the Sisters of Mercy, hosted its 21st Annual Mercy Parish Nurse and Health Ministry Symposium on Saturday, October 26, 2013, at UPMC Mercy in Uptown Pittsburgh. The theme of this year’s symposium, “Weaving Prayer and Presence in Health Ministry,” was based on the scripture Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God.” “The symposium was a great success in helping participants to take a fresh look at their faith community nurse and health ministry programs in which they serve daily to glorify God,” stated health ministry specialist and symposium coordinator Amy Armanious, RN, DNP, MSOL, FCN. Seventy-one community participants attended and were refreshed with the wonderful teaching and storytelling of keynote speaker, Faith Roberts, RN, MSN, FCN. Faith is the director of the Magnet/ Professional Practice Program, Parish Nursing, and Obstetrical Services at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, Illinois.

This special time together was full of learning and fellowship as Faith brought enthusiasm and encouragement in the vision of parish nursing/faith community nursing and health ministry in the present time and for the future. Faith emphasized that faith community nurses, health ministers, clergy, and volunteers are not to forget that the spiritual dimension is central to all that we do to help others. Lastly, Faith encouraged all participants to draw closer to God and reflect upon His grace for our lives and service to Him and others. To learn more about faith community nursing and health ministry, or to learn more about educational opportunities and resources that are available to faith community nurses and health ministers in Southwestern Pennsylvania, visit www.pmhs.org/parishnurse-program. Call 412.232.5815, or email ParishNurse@mercy.pmhs.org. The author, Amy B. Armanious ,RN, DNP, MSOL, FCN, is a health ministry specialist with the Mercy Parish Nurse and Health Ministry Program.

Projecting Hope From October 25th until the 27th Hope could be found free of charge at the Waterworks Theaters in Fox Chapel. Celebrating its 11th anniversary the Projecting Hope Film Festival again provided inspirational, faith based films at no cost to local audiences. Over the course of the weekend the festival featured 21 free screenings, inclusive of 13 different titles. Over 4,000 tickets were distributed, resulting in many of the shows being sold-out. Once again the festival provided films running the gamut from cartoons (Veggie Tales) to serious dramas (Unconditional, Kings Faith, and Return to the Hiding Place) that delivered powerful messages and inspirational stories through what has become the storytelling medium of our generation, film. The film festival was born out of the desire to bring light to an industry that was all too often thought of adversely by many Christians. “At the time, the church was doing a lot of

boycotting and crying foul at Hollywood, but was doing very little to get our voice heard in cinema” related Scott Anderson, Director and Founder of the Projecting Hope Film Festival. Scott went on to say “The film industry is truly a marketplace of ideas. Instead of cursing the darkness, we decided we wanted to try and light a candle. We kind of learned as we went, but it’s really not hard to get folks to support something that offers hope and is free of charge. The first event was held in my hometown of Dubois. From there, it grew to include Altoona, then Pittsburgh, and now a film festival in North Carolina as well.” Along the way the festival has been extraordinarily blessed with wonderful sponsors that make it all possible. If you didn’t make it to this year’s event the tentative dates for next year are October 10th-12th. The festival is a wonderful way, to get the family out of the house and be treated to a movie, or two that will make you laugh, cry, and inspire you.

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Women of Faith October 4, 2013 at the Petersen Events Center, Pittsburgh welcomed the return for a third year of the Women of Faith, with this year’s focus being was Believe God Can Do Anything. More than 5,000 people attended this year’s event; the attendees were inspired, educated, and entertained with great music from Third Day. The inspiration and education came from a gifted group of speakers, which this year included Holly Wagner, Sheryl Brady, Mark Lowry, CeCe Winans, Sheila Walsh, and Tullian Tchividjian. Women of Faith is based in Plano, Texas, and is one of the largest producers of inspirational events in the world. The mission of the events is to empower women with the love of Christ and to ensure that they know that God loves them unconditionally. This is the 17th year of the Women of Faith events, with some of the event cities changing each year, next year the closest event will be held in Columbus Ohio. Much of what is accomplished each year is due to the sponsors that help support this thriving ministry and the amazing staff and volunteers that make the events as successful as they are. If you would like more information about the organization, upcoming events, or how you can get involved please go to the Women Of Faith website www.womenof aith.com.

Faith Pittsburgh CALENDAR

H FAI FPiAIsburg Hh f e w. - M aT T h e w 9 : 3 7 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

Listen Up Speaker Series

Jase Robertson from Duck Dynasty Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Scottish Rite Cathedral 110 East Lincoln Avenue New Castle, PA 16101

“Daughters of the King Women’s Retreat” with True View Ministries ‘The Castle’- Franklin, PA May 16-18, 2014. Go to the events tab at www.trueviewministries.org To register or call 248.931.8807

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faith

Matters of the Heart

Following and the

page 12

Purpose Ques t page 16

Raising Up Young Leaders Following Jesus on page 30 the Job page 22

Built

Matters of the Heart page 30

Word of God on the

To Everything a Season

page 34

page 7

Ignite Conference Location: Seton Hill University Date: Saturday, April 12, 2014 Time: 9:00am -4:30pm Who Should Attend: Young ladies in their 20s to early 30s For more information visit www.enduringhopeministries.com

We Won’t Be Shaken Tour

Building 429 Family Force 5, Hawk Nelson Beaver Falls, PA February 21, 2014 06:30 PM For more info call: 724.847.6644

From This Day Forward

A Marriage Renewal Weekend

Friday, Feb 28, 2014 9:00am to 7:00pm Sheraton Hotel (Station Square) Pittsburgh, PA Coming in February is an event you don’t want to miss. Whether you are blissfully, happily married or are struggling in your marriage. You will learn why the “pinnacle” of marriage centers on the love of Christ. Featured speaker will be Dan Seaborn, founder of winningathome.com and author of “The Necessary Nine.”

Winter Jam

Gotta have Faith!

10 bands for $10 Consol Energy Center March 21, 2014 www.jamtour.com

Festival Of Hope Franklin Graham Aug. 15-17, 2014 Consol Energy Center

Food Pantry Brunch Challenge Saturday January 25th 11am – 1pm New Hazlett Theater Pittsburgh’s Northside Allegheny Center Tickets 25.00 Call ASAP Event Sold Out Last Year

Open House

For Families of Perspective Students St. Bonaventure School 2001 Mt. Royal Blvd. Glenshaw, PA 15116 Call: 412-721-6868

If you would like free copies of Faith Pittsburgh for your church, nonprofit, or any other group check the website www.faithpittsburgh.com for distribution sites or contact us at 724.942.0940. At any of our distribution sites you are free to take as many copies as you would like. If your church or group needs 300 or more copies please contact us and we can arrange delivery to you. If you would like copies for an event please contact Mike Granovitz at 412.779.6733.

FAITH Pittsburgh North | Winter 2013 | faithpittsburgh.com 47

FAITH Crossword Solution

Different Kind of

Prayer Author unknown

Heavenly Father, help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night is a single mother who worked nine hours that day and was rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children. Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make change correctly is a worried 19-yearold college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester. Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day (who really ought to get a job!), is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares. Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress are savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together. Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest of these is love. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear. Open our hearts not just to those who are close to us but to all humanity. Let us be slow to judgment and quick to forgive, with patience, compassion and love.

AMEN

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FAITH Media Quiz Answers 1 King Agrippa / Acts 26:28 2 Zacharias / Luke 1:8 3 John the Baptist / Matthew 3:11 4 Satan / Matthew 4:3 5 Jesus / Matthew 4:19 6 Rich ruler / Luke 18:18 7 One of the thieves crucified with Jesus / Luke 23:40 8 The Samaritan woman at the well / John 4:15 9 Simon Peter / Matthew 14:28 10 Jesus / Matthew 23:37

Kids Corner

Puzzle Answer Solution:

Creation

G O O I A D A M A G E S N A K E I E X

48 724.942.0940 to advertise | FAITH Pittsburgh North

G A R I B D E N E S D V E N

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Discover your options Meet employers who might be looking for someone just like you! February 5, 2014 (11:00 AM to 3:00 PM) Doubletree Green Tree, 500 Mansfield Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15205

The WORD-FM Job Fair

Are you a recent grad? Reentering the workforce? Changing careers? Join us at the Job Fair for the 30-minute presentation:

“10 Ways to Make LinkedIn Work for You” Meghan Speer, WORD-FM’s Director of Social Media, will share helpful tips on maximizing LinkedIn for your job search.

FAI H

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724.942.0940 www.faithpittsburgh.com

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Reach the Customers

who need to reach you

If you are a Christian business owner, nonprofit organization, Christian school, or if churches are one of your customers, Faith Pittsburgh can be a valuable tool for you to reach your target audience. We will be publishing Faith Pittsburgh quarterly in regional editions (South, North, East, West). Each full-color non-denominational issue will have 25,000 copies distributed through a large network (300+) of both secular and religious locations within each region. If you are interested in scheduling a personal appointment to discuss the advertising opportunities available to your organization within the pages of Faith Pittsburgh please contact us.

Join the Faith Pittsburgh Community 603 McMurray Rd. McMurray, PA. 15317 Attn. Mike Granovitz Emai: m.granovitz@faithpittsburgh.com • Phone: 724.942.0940 • Cell : 412.779.6733