2 2015
JOURNEY |
FALL 2015
t the end of Mark’s gospel, when the women return to the tomb looking for Jesus, they find the stone rolled back and the tomb empty. Jesus is not there. When they see a young man in white sitting on the right side of the tomb they are alarmed—terrified. “Do not be alarmed,” the man says, “you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here…he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him…” In this issue of Journey, we are introduced to individuals who have encountered Jesus in Galilee, in the nitty gritty places of life. Whether it was in the wilderness of loneliness after a failed marriage, in the searing loss of a beloved wife, on a mission trip to Malawi or El Salvador, in a coffee shop helping another person start a small business, or eating pizza with a bunch of teenagers, you will read about fellow members who were surprised by joy—the presence of Jesus they discovered out there in Galilee. Take a read. And then enter into Galilee—those everyday places where our Lord is beckoning us to follow him. Perhaps you and I will be surprised as well. Grace and peace,
Interim Senior Pastor
TABLE OF CONTENTS 2
One Clumsy Prayer
By Chip Cooke
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A Ministry of Presence
Featuring Angie Edwards
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A Severe Mercy
By Neal Deaton
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A father’s journey through faith and fatherhood
A woman jumps into youth ministry
Love Builds Up
Falling in love with God’s creation By Rev. Derek Macleod
A Family Finds Grace
Featuring the Hinrichs family
A family finds grace on overseas mission trips
10 Ministry Opportunities
Featuring Tapestry and Bulldogs Matter
By Rev. Julie Hester and Rebecca Bowen
A Light Shines in Grier Heights
The Grier Heights story revisited
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Life and Books
Featuring Rev. Von Clemans
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When Loving Your Neighbors Means Helping Them Start a Small Business
On love and loss
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An inside look at the reading lives of our pastors
How a small busness owner decided to give back
Featuring Helen Burns
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Every Square Inch
Featuring Jen Schubert
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Faithful Leadership
By Rev. Millie Snyder
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Every Member has a Ministry 2.0
Seeing the vocation of motherhood in light of the gospel
How we say it matters just as much as what we say
Find a fit for your passion
If you have comments about this edition of Journey, please contact Mark Casper at mcasper@myersparkpres.org. For questions or more information about Myers Park Presbyterian communications, please contact Bob Davies, communication chair, at candescence@carolina.rr.com.
JOURNEY |
FALL 2015
O N E C L U M S Y P R A Y E R A father’s journey through faith and parenthood BY CHIP COOKE
THE GOSPEL IN ALL OF LIFE
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being lost can be a hell of a thing. I should know–I’ve been there. In hindsight, I probably had no idea how spiritually lost I truly was. But now I see that I had to lose my way before I could find my way here. I suppose that in order to see the top, you really need to be standing at the bottom. The wonderful part of this story is that God saw fit to be with me the whole time–whether I realized it or not. At the turn of the millennium I was recovering from a failed marriage and filling all of my waking hours with work and the normal activities of a young, single man. As a management consultant, my life was consumed by work, and what little spare time I had was spent either with friends or at home alone. There was plenty of time for loathing and self-pity but very little room for faith. Many nights I spent hours asking the question: “Why me?” I had a bit of a gripe with God and felt very confused. Had I not been a good person? Why was I being punished? My path to redemption began one afternoon at home by myself. I decided to write out what I wanted–a crude and clumsy prayer not for enlightenment but for personal relief. I didn’t want to hurt anymore. I didn’t want to remain alone. In my prayer I asked for a wife who would love me and miss me when I was away– someone I could love in return. I asked for a family–a son I could show the wonders of the outdoors and a daughter I could spoil. I carried this small piece of paper around in my wallet for close to a year, reading it when I needed solace. It was a sinner’s first attempt at reconnecting to God.
“MY ROAD TO DAMASCUS CAME NOT WITH A BLINDING MOMENT BUT WITH A SLOW AND STEADY IMMERSION BACK INTO THE LIGHT.”
Easter of 2002 I was visiting friends in Wilmington when I met the most beautiful set of blue eyes I had ever seen. They belonged to a woman named Kathleen, and I was done. As with all wonderful women, she began to make me a better person almost immediately. Kathleen asked if I would go to church with her (Wrightsville Beach Methodist Church). Even though I had been raised in Charlotte at Myers Park Presbyterian, I was far removed from anything even remotely close to faith. I joked that I would attend, but would only be praying for big fish and the ruination of NC State. That’s when it happened. Pastor Tim Russell, the man who would eventually marry us, had a way with sermons. On a number of occasions, even though there were hundreds in attendance, it felt like he was speaking right to me. He preached sermons of forgiveness and healing, the lost being found and promises of resurrection. My road to Damascus came not with a blinding moment but with a slow and steady immersion back into the light. I felt as if a burden was being lifted, and one night I removed the prayer from my wallet and cast it into my fireplace. As far I as was concerned my prayer had been answered. I also had a better understanding of the debt
I owed to Christ – a debt I knew I could never repay. I vowed from that point forward to take my faith more seriously. When Kathleen and I moved back to Charlotte in 2005 we explored a number of churches, but eventually we found our way back to the sanctuary of my childhood. To this day I am hopelessly in love with the stone and the stained glass, the congregation and the choir. After some considerable hardship, we had our sons in 2007 and 2009 and began to look for a new Sunday School class that appealed to both of us. Knowing that raising our children in faith was a top priority, we joined the Living BIG class taught by Todd Cline, Charles Thrift and Jeff Long. After attending the class for several years, God gave me a gentle nudge and a keen desire to try to teach as well. I was welcomed with open arms, and in 2013 I was given the opportunity to lead the Sunday School class that became known as Sparking Faith. It was a decision that literally changed my life. Raising children is undoubtedly the most difficult project this consultant has ever attempted. Kathleen and I, like all parents, experience equal parts joy, pain, anger, exhaustion and boundless pride as we raise our two boys. As parents of faith, we also know how important it is to raise
our children in the light and love of Christ. The Sparking Faith class and Kathleen’s Sprout Outreach ministry have been our two main instruments by which we guide that faith education. It is difficult to describe, but faith almost seems to have a momentum of its own. There is not a time in the week that I feel more focused, self-assured and at peace with myself than when I prepare for the Sparking Faith Class (I have heard the same thing from fellow class facilitators Cliff Smith and Whit Blount). Preparation for the class includes Scripture reading, mindful prayer, and the opportunity to discuss various topics with our spouses–all wonderful reinforcement of our growing commitment to our faith. All of this is given freely by God if we choose to accept His Grace. As I look back on those lonely nights, I can’t keep from smiling. Not only did God not abandon His servant, He was actively preparing a grand adventure–one based around faith and family. Now on every business trip, as the plane gathers speed for takeoff, I say the Lord’s Prayer and commit my life and the lives of my family to God’s care. I pray that He would give us direction on how to best serve Him during this life. And it all started with one clumsy prayer.
MINISTRY SPOTLIGHT: Want to take your faith to the next level?
Tapestry
Visit adults.myersparkpres.org/learn/sunday-school to learn more about our many Sunday School classes.
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JOURNEY |
FALL 2015 to carry our biological child. We were very blessed in that the pregnancy went really smoothly, and Parker (sharing his mother’s maiden name) entered the world on July 5, 2012. I treasure the picture of Carey holding our son for the very first time. She is consumed with awe and amazement.
Q A
For those unfamiliar with the disease, what exactly is cystic fibrosis and how does it progress?
A Severe Mercy Last fall Carey Deaton, a beloved member of our church, died from cystic fibrosis. Her husband, Neal, reflects back on their journey together.
Q A
How did you and your wife Carey meet?
Carey and I originally met in Chapel Hill while in college. I was two classes ahead of her, so we met at some point her freshman year, which was my junior year. While we never dated in college, we basically ran in the same circle and, coincidentally, I dated girls in her sorority and she went out with some of my fraternity brothers. We had a good mutual friend, and he and I went to see Carey act in a play at Playmaker’s Theatre. Carey loved a stage!
Q A
What was Carey like?
Carey was really pretty and vivacious. She had a glowing smile. It was easy to see why she was well-liked because she had a very outgoing personality and a great sense of humor. She also liked sports, particularly UNC basketball.
There was a buzz about certain freshmen girls who were the total package, and she was one of them. Her beauty, energy and love for life impacted many, as did the intensity and depth of her character.
Q
Carey was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF) in her childhood. How did you guys process that as you thought about your future together?
A
Carey always had a very upbeat outlook as it pertained to her health situation and was optimistic (as was I) that we could have a family and a relatively normal life. She actually could have potentially carried a child, but we didn’t want to take undue risk so we decided to explore surrogacy. We were very fortunate when Jamie Denton, a good friend who Carey grew up with in Winston-Salem, expressed an interest in being our surrogate. Obviously, this was a very selfless act for Jamie
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Cystic fibrosis is a life-threatening genetic disease that primarily affects the lungs and digestive system. An estimated 30,000 children and adults in the United States (70,000 worldwide) have CF. In people with CF, a defective gene and its protein product cause the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections. CF hinders individuals from doing many physical activities that you and I often take for granted. It literally feels like you are going to hyperventilate sometimes because you are having so much difficulty taking in air. Unfortunately, those battling CF must endure this terrible “winded” feeling on a regular basis during physical activity due to diminished lung capacity.
Q A
What were the last few years like as a family?
Obviously, our lives were greatly enriched when Parker was born three summers ago. Thankfully, Carey was relatively healthy for the first two years of his life. The excitement she felt in planning his first birthday party was off the charts! The last year of Carey’s life was extremely difficult for us. We were back and forth from Chapel Hill quite frequently as Carey needed to be hospitalized just about every month
that year—on average for about two weeks at a time. This was super tough, as I was in Asheville during the work week for about eight months of that time period. As my sister eloquently wrote in her obituary, “Carey was a gladiator and the embodiment of what it means to live for others, as she tolerated painful treatments and grueling daily regimens to live another day—to be with Neal, to hold her Parker, to help expedite the discovery of a cure for CF. Through her unrelenting spirit and the love of her family and friends, she waged the most valiant of fights—every daunting procedure explored, every risk courageously taken, every pain bravely endured.” Carey’s last true words before her transplant surgery were “my Little Lamb,” her term of endearment for Parker. Thankfully Carey’s spirit lives on in Parker. I can see her in his eyes, in various mannerisms and especially in his smile.
Q A
How did the church serve and love you guys during this incredibly difficult season? With little blood family here in Charlotte and a good number of our closest friends living elsewhere, it was the Myers Park Presbyterian Care Team that was instrumental in us not sinking from what felt like the weight of the world on our backs. The Care Team exemplified the true meaning of outreach and service to one’s “church family.” They were and continue to be caring, dedicated, and loving friends. The irony is that Carey and I didn’t even know that such a “Care Team” existed until a good friend proposed the idea to us. Needless to say, we could not have survived without their unwavering, tireless support. They buoyed us during our darkest hours.
Q A
WHAT TO DO IN A CRISIS What did that mean to you at the time?
We truly could not have made it without the MPPC Care Team. From the countless hours working with Carey early on with all the many projects on our household to-do list, to helping us with the due diligence process in finding a new nanny that could assume more responsibility, to helping complete the extensive healthcare paperwork Carey was required to submit in order to get approved for her lung transplant, to welcoming Parker into their homes when Carey was in the hospital and I was in Asheville for work— they were always there for us without fail, every step of the way during our most daunting days and nights. The fact that they were willing to devote so much of their free time to us took altruism and self-sacrifice to a level I had never witnessed before.
Q A
What has the Lord taught you through this experience?
I think the Lord has taught me the true meaning of patience and perseverance throughout this experience and that everything ultimately is on God’s time. The toughest thing for me to come to grips with during our ordeal was the realization that I needed to pray “God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” rather than my will and our family’s will for Carey (as I had been doing for such a long time). In doing so, I turned everything over to God and truly leaned on God, which granted me not only peace but also a strength I could not have imagined. Simply put, I have greater trust in the Lord. I needed to learn to pray about things and then leave the outcome up to God—to “let go and let God” as my grandmother used to say. I can’t imagine anything more difficult than losing Carey, but, thankfully, our faith and the love and support of our friends and family have enabled us to keep on living.
Life is hard, and sin is real. That’s why our church offers members numerous ministries to help in times of need. Here are a few options.
Caring Teams Get practical, coordinated assistance with the details of life when you are experiencing a health crisis.
Companions in Caregiving Gain valuable support from fellow caregivers.
Parish Nurse Partner with Lauren Smith, RN, to navigate today’s healthcare environment. She can meet with you individually or as a family to provide support, education, advocacy and community resource information.
Pastoral Care and Counseling Gain vital support while undergoing life transitions. Confidential, one-on-one care is available from our pastors, as well as, the licensed pastoral counselors, psychologists and psychiatrists at Presbyterian Psychological Services.
Stephen Ministry Stephen Ministers are members of our congregation who listen, care, encourage, and provide emotional and spiritual support to people who are facing a crisis or going through tough times.
To access any of this support, contact
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care@myersparkpres.org.
JOURNEY |
FALL 2015
A Ministry of Presence It didn’t take long before Angie Edwards found her place in Myers Park Presbyterian Church’s dynamic youth ministry.
this small step of faith has already made an impact in her relationship with Jesus: “My faith has grown by not trying to find my way but listening to where God is calling me. When I came to Myers Park I wanted to get involved in youth ministry, but I didn’t know what that would look like. I was just open to it. So I think that’s how we go forward in our faith—by being open to what God wants us to do.” A native of Charlotte and a dental hygienist for 33 years, Angie first started coming to Myers Park in May of 2013. She was drawn to one of the hallmarks of our church: namely, the vision that every member has a ministry. Having already met Associate Pastor for Youth Michelle Thomas-Bush through PC(USA) youth conferences in Montreat, Angie jumped at the chance to get involved in our church’s thriving youth ministry. Angie’s first involvement with the youth group was a trip to Montreat. Shortly thereafter, she became a youth advisor and began helping with fundraisers, making pies for Thanksgiving, serving on youth council and the welcoming action team. But according to Angie, her ministry has largely been one of patient love and faithful presence: “High school kids are the busiest and most stressed people I know. They
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feel a lot of pressure to do well in a variety of areas. I think it’s important to just be present in their lives, whether it’s coming to a youth group meeting, helping them plan an event or simply showing up to one of their sporting events.” While it may not seem like much, Angie believes that this kind of faithful presence can play a critical role in the spiritual formation of young people: “Wherever they are in their walk of faith, whether they are just beginning or struggling with it, we help the youth understand that their lives matter, that God loves them no matter what, that when they fall and fail and stumble (which we all do), that it’s ok. They need to know that there are people who care about them and want to see them be successful, grow in their faith, and share that faith with the world.” For anyone considering getting involved in youth ministry, Angie has some great advice: “Don’t be afraid of them. Don’t ever feel like you’re too young or too old for youth ministry. They need us, no matter what the age. Even if it’s being involved a little bit, let them know you care about them. Just volunteer to do something. There are just a lot of different ways to serve. It’s not all about staying up late and sleeping on the floor. It’s about meeting them where they are. And that doesn’t take a lot.”
“DON’T EVER FEEL LIKE YOU’RE TOO YOUNG OR TOO OLD FOR YOUTH MINISTR Y... IT’S NOT ALL ABOUT STAYING UP LATE AND SLEEPING ON THE FLOOR. IT’S ABOUT MEETING THEM WHERE THEY ARE. AND THAT DOESN’T TAKE A LOT.”
Want to make an impact in a high school student’s life? Contact Michelle at mthomas-bush@myersparkpres.org or John at jturnball@myersparkpres.org.
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JOURNEY |
FALL 2015
“It takes love for us to be here.” not many board meetings start with such tender words, but at the Embangweni hospital in Northern Malawi, that is how Ishmael, the hospital administrator, greeted memBY DEREK MACLEOD bers of Myers Park. His words reminded us that the challenges Associate Pastor for Outreach of being in partnerships in different countries across cultures takes more than money and dedication. It takes love. This fall, our Outreach ministry is renewing its mission and ministry under the banner: Love Builds Up. Myers Park Presbyterian has long heard God’s call to grow in faith, to go and make disciples and to experience God at work. Through partnerships in Charlotte and around the world, we respond to Jesus’s invitation to love God and love our neighbor as ourselves. Outreach ministry helps us fall in love with God’s world and God’s people. In the early church, as the community struggled to understand how best to live out their lives as followers of Jesus, Paul reminds them in a midst of a dispute that knowledge puffs up, but love builds up (1 Corinthians 8:1). These words were given to the Church as direction in its mission to love the world in the name and through the power of Jesus Christ. Only God’s love can look at what is impossible and see opportunity, life where there is death. It is with and in that love that we as Christ’s disciples at Myers Park seek to serve in God’s good world. Our Outreach ministry has reorganized its partnerships around the following mandates. It is under these banners that we will seek to join in God’s work of loving and redeeming the world.
Love Builds Up a Child A recent study from Harvard showed that upward mobility for children living in poverty is more difficult in Charlotte than any of the country’s 50 largest cities. We at Myers Park know that this is not how life should be. Working through partners like A Child’s Place, The Learning Collaborative, Loaves & Fishes, Charlotte Family Housing, Charlotte bilingual preschool and others, we will join in the work of building up our children by equipping them with what they need to grow and thrive.
Love Builds Up a Home
Love Builds Up a Neighborhood
Love Builds Up the World
On any given night there are approximately 2,014 people, including entire families, experiencing homelessness in Charlotte-Mecklenburg County. Myers Park has long been engaged in helping to make a difference by providing support, relief and assistance to those seeking shelter and a new beginning.
Through CrossRoads Corporation, Myers Park has been ministering in Grier Heights with the hope that the community will be transformed residentially, economically and spiritually. This dynamic ministry has connected our church to Billingsville Leadership Academy, A.G. Middle School, Freedom Schools, Urban Eagles and more.
Myers Park has a vibrant global ministry in five countries. This diverse ministry invites us to establish girls’ schools in the Congo, support churches in Malawi, Hungary and Cuba, build homes in El Salvador with Habitat for Humanity and foster special relationships in El Salvador through World Vision.
We will continue to partner with Crisis Assistance Ministry, Men’s Shelter, Hope Haven, Urban Ministry Center and others to help families reunite and look toward a brighter future.
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We will continue to strive for equality in relationships between Myers Park and Grier Heights residents. By working together, we will seek to strengthen our common bonds and shared faith.
Our ministry joins with PC(USA) initiatives to educate one million children by 2020—a bold goal!
A FAMILY FINDS GRACE Pastor and theologian Henri Nouwen once wrote, “The spiritual life does not remove us from the world but leads us deeper into it.” The Hinrichs family gets this principle. They understand that God does not need them the way an employer needs workers, but rather God, like a loving father with a two-year-old son, invites them to take part in the work of redemption around the world.
greg, his wife kathleen,
and their oldest daughter Abby all said yes to that invitation this past year through two MPPC-sponsored mission trips. From the beginning, they understood acutely that they were fundamentally receiving, not giving. Kathleen, whose most recent trip to Malawi was her third to that country, put it this way: “As much as we’re trying to help them get on track and be successful in their lives, I think they’re doing a lot of things right that we can learn from: the way they live out their faith, the way they find joy in what little they have, the way they are present with you. To be with these people is a gift. It’s just a joy.” Greg and Abby felt this principle even more tangibly in El Salvador as they helped locals build Habitat homes. According to Abby, “they didn’t actually need us. Most of the time we were in the way or doing it wrong,” she said with a laugh. “The masons would come behind us and fix our mistakes. But the fact that we were there and got to talk to them and make them laugh was pretty awesome.” Abby, a rising senior at Charlotte Latin, also realized on her trip how much she took for granted. One experience in particular stood out to her. It was a day when the youth and chaperones took a group of local children to a site of ancient Indian ruins. Abby remembers it vividly: “When we got there, the children were more excited about this huge field of green grass than the ruins themselves. They just ran around in it, laughing and doing cartwheels. Then I realized ‘They don’t have grass.’ If we had gone without them, I would not
have even noticed the grass.” But perhaps one of the greatest gifts the Hinrichs received from their mission trip experience was escaping what they called the Charlotte “bubble.” “There’s so much pressure in the bubble,” Kathleen said, “to have the right stuff and to look a certain way. Mission trips allow you to take a step back and hit the reset button. You remember what’s important and get re-centered on your faith.” The Hinrichs also realized another important principle: there’s a mission field all around us. You don’t have to go to Africa to take part in what God is doing in the world–you can take part here in Charlotte. “The way I look at it is,” Greg said, “God is doing a lot around the world
and invites us to be a participants in it. Like the masons in El Salvador, God doesn’t need us to get things done. But he wants us to be a part of it, and as Christians we should want to do that.”
MINISTRY SPOTLIGHT: Want to take part in what God is doing in Charlotte and around the world?
Tapestry
Email Court at cyoung@myersparkpres.org for more details. and in the U.S., and he invites us to be 09
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JOURNEY |
FALL 2015
I I MNSTRY SPOTLIGHT:
Ministry Spotlight aims to help disciples learn more about the wonderful ministries that are going on at Myers Park Presbyterian Church. This issue we talked to Julie Hester, Associate Pastor for Children & Their Families, about a ministry called Tapestry.
What is Tapestry? Tapestry is our ministry for children and youth with special needs. It began as a task force in 2007 and over time has evolved in different ways to serve the needs of families. It has two major components right now: our Sunday morning ministry and our Movie Night.
Tapestry
for children and youth with special needs during Sunday School and the 11 a.m. worship service. Tapestry Movie Night is a monthly evening of film, fun and fellowship for teens and tweens with special needs. Most participants come from outside our church family. Movie Night allows parents to have some time to themselves while their kids enjoy popcorn and a movie together. We are always looking for more volunteers to help with this.
What is the vision of Tapestry? Our goal is to create a place of belonging where each participant recognizes himself or herself as a child of God and one able to grow in faith. Our Sunday School class currently serves two young men. Our primary helper in this ministry is a student from Queens. She is assisted when needed by childcare workers.
How do disciples serve? Disciples for Movie Night prepare for participants by popping popcorn and pouring drinks, greeting guests and parents, helping with snacks during the movie and enjoying the film. In the past, volunteers for Sundays spent an hour or two on rotating Sunday mornings in the Tapestry classroom, so parents could attend Sunday School and worship. We are using paid caregivers for this right now, along with our Queens student helper.
What are the two major components of Tapestry? The Sunday morning ministry provides an independent classroom space
How can you get involved? We currently need more volunteers for our Friday Movie Nights (usually the first Friday of the month). We also
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need a leadership team to help re-energize our Sunday morning ministry. If we had a leader and some team members passionate about special needs kids, we could really do something amazing.
What days/time/locations are disciples needed? Movie Night volunteers: some Friday nights, from 6:15-8:30 p.m., in D-204. Sunday morning helpers, as needed, in D-202, but also to provide direction to the program. Why should someone get involved? From Stewart Tonissen, Tapestry disciple:
I’ve been a part of the Tapestry Ministry for almost six years, and it has been a blessing in so many ways in my life. I’ve enjoyed getting to know the teens and their families. It’s also a great opportunity for both the teens and parents to enjoy a nice night out away from life’s distractions.
Have a heart for kids with special needs? Want to get involved? Email Julie at jhester@myersparkpres.org for more information.
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opportunities
PARTNER SPOTLIGHT:
Bulldogs Matter Ministry Partner Spotlight aims to help disciples learn more about some of the amazing organizations and programs that our church partners with. This issue we talked to Rebekah Bowen, director of the CrossRoads program called Bulldogs Matter. What is Bulldogs Matter? Bulldogs Matter is an after-school program that involves a collaborative partnership between CrossRoads Corporation and Alexander Graham Middle School to serve students in the community of Grier Heights. What is the mission of Bulldogs Matter? The mission is to improve the academic, emotional, and social readiness of at-risk middle school students in an effort to prepare them for the
high school environment. Our goal is also to help students take ownership of their education and feel pride in academic activities. What is its history? Bulldogs Matter began five years ago in the neighborhood as a partnership between CrossRoads and Grier Heights Presbyterian Church. In the first year the program struggled with enrollment and consistent attendance. CrossRoads later relocated the program to AG Middle and starting employing AG teachers as program tutors. The program has since grown in enrollment each year and has seen a sense of program pride among the students served. How does the program work? First off, we divide the students by grade and gender in order to facilitate small group learning. We then serve the students by giving them snacks, involving them in a recreational activity, and tutoring them in a classroom setting with instructional EOG prep and homework help. Tutors participate in recreational activities either directly or indirectly as an encourager. Tutors are also responsible to help sit with students during the instructional part of the program, as well as help with homework in a small group or one-on-one setting. How does our church partner with Bulldogs Matter? In addition to providing financial support through CrossRoads, MPPC provides afternoon tutors who serve one afternoon a week for at least one school semester.
How can someone get involved? We would love to have more people serve as weekly tutors. Tutors are assigned to a specific grade level and gender (a volunteer might come in once a week and work only with sixth grade girls). We also need one person who can serve as liaison between our program and the church–someone who can help in disciple recruitment and help keep the church informed of needs and updates. What days/times are disciples needed? The program runs from 3:45-5:45 p.m. Monday-Thursday at Alexander Graham Middle School. The tutoring part takes place in individual classrooms, whereas the recreation activities take place around the school campus. The first semester runs typically from September-December. The second semester runs from January-May. Why should someone get involved? Bulldogs Matter is an incredible opportunity to invest in kids and to show them the importance of consistent relationships. Honestly, these kids are used to people being in and out of their lives. I really believe they are waiting for people to give up on them. The most powerful thing in their lives can be someone who shows up every week, remembers their name and details about their life. To have someone come each week and show they care about their academic success, emotional well-being, and their overall future–that can change the trajectory of a kid’s life.
Want to make a difference in a child’s life? Email Rebekah at rebekah.bowen@crossroadscorporation.org for more information.
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JOURNEY |
FALL 2015
A Light Shines in Grier Heights ON A WARM, CLEAR EVENING
in the heart of Grier Heights, one of Charlotte’s poorest neighborhoods, Cori Ray, a 36-year-old real estate agent and member of Myers Park Presbyterian, is shooting hoops with a group of neighborhood kids. The whole scene at 300 Orange Street would turn heads to any who passed by: a large group of mostly African-American inner-city kids hanging out with older, mostly white men and women from Myers Park Presbyterian. But this is what love does—it builds up neighborhoods by throwing block parties. Six years ago, Cori found herself at a Grier Heights Habitat build. She struck up a conversation with a woman involved in CrossRoads Corporation, the nonprofit organization founded by Myers Park Presbyterian to promote Grier Heights’ revitalization. After discovering that Cori had played soccer at UNC-Charlotte, the woman suggested that she get involved with one of the organization’s youth programs.
Despite having no previous experience in urban ministry, Cori jumped in as an afterschool mentor at A.G. Middle School through a CrossRoads program called Bulldogs Matter. (See page 10.) Pretty soon she started to get to know a group of sixth graders, which led her to even more involvement in the neighborhood. “Once you know the kids, it’s hard to say no when any opportunity comes up,” Cori said. From there she went on to coach soccer through Urban Eagles (a youth sports ministry) and basketball through the church. Remarkably, Cori has followed that same group of kids for the past six years. Now that they stand ready to graduate high school, they have more than just a coach and a mentor in Cori—they have a friend. “It’s really all about relationships,” she said, “Whenever I pull into the neighborhood, kids run up to my car and call me ‘Coach Cori.’ We’re not trying to be their mom or dad but just an advocate for them at home, at school, and in the neighborhood.” Cori is one of many Myers Park disciples who have been caught up in the amazing work that God is doing in Grier Heights. Most nights you can find her hanging out with kids in the neighborhood in some way: teaching them, coaching them, loving them. She even brings a group of her Grier Heights friends to church most Sundays. But it hasn’t been a one-way street. “I feel like they’ve taught me a lot more about God and my faith than I’ve taught them,” said Cori.
tion, high crime rate, poor housing stock, and a high concentration of children and youth. “The statistics are astounding,” said Derek Macleod, Associate Pastor of Outreach, “For a black male who doesn’t graduate high school, there’s’ an 85% chance he’ll be incarcerated. That’s not about a character flaw, that’s about a system that’s designed to help him fail.” But don’t let the stats fool you— God is up to something in Grier Heights. “If we’re not careful, we can only see the challenges,” said Derek, “We can only see a neighborhood that is impoverished and economically chal-
relationships are forming between members of Myers Park and residents of Grier Heights. And therein lays the strongest agent of change. “There are homes that need building and repairs that need doing, but ultimately what we’re doing is building relationships,” said Derek. Over the summer, a number of Myers Park disciples formed relationships with Grier Heights residents through a series of block parties. Derek laughs as he looks back on the summer gatherings. “When Myers Park people showed up, it was always, ‘Oh what should we do?’ But that quickly fades as you realize what you do is what you’re doing—you show up. You get to know some names. You share some laughs. You pray together. And when you drive by that neighborhood, suddenly it’s no longer just an economically challenged area—it’s where some of your friends live. God keeps inviting you to be a part of it and help make a difference.”
“IT’S LIKE GOD HAS SHONE A LIGHT ON THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.”
TO BE CLEAR, the challenges in Grier Heights are very real: the neighborhood faces a high poverty level, high unemployment, a lack of educa-
lenged. With all the tensions between cultures, we can get overwhelmed and discouraged. But what I love most about Grier Heights is that it’s like God has shone a light on that neighborhood.” Indeed, through the work of many generous and diligent organizations and people, CrossRoads in particular, God is doing incredible work in Grier Heights, little by little. Homes are being built and refurbished. An abandoned school building has been turned into a community center. A crime-ridden strip mall is being turned into a pre-school. Youth and education programs are thriving. “It’s been a pretty amazing journey,” said Don Gately, director of CrossRoads Corporation, “There have been a lot of improvements, but we still have long way to go.” Perhaps most importantly, 13
THREE YEARS AGO, David Price received an invitation from God in the form of an Angel. At the time, Angel was a fourth-grader at Billingsville Elementary. David, a doctor and member of Myers Park, had just signed up for the school’s Reading Buddy Program. That’s where he first met Angel. “I remember she was funny. She just seemed like a cool person who had her head screwed on straight. This girl, I don’t know what it was about her, but I thought, ‘she’s going to make it,’” he said. So David started paying more attention to Angel. “I felt like God was telling me that’s where I needed to be.” As they got to know each other,
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he became more than just a reading buddy—he became her mentor and friend. “I started saying, ‘Wow, I really think I can make a difference in her life.’ I really cared about her, and I think her parents were excited for her to have a mentor,” said David. But it didn’t stop there. Pretty soon David and his family started getting to know Angel’s family and spending more time with them. Around Thanksgiving last year, Angel’s father lost his job. David and his family prepared and delivered a Thanksgiving meal for them. Angel’s father was incredibly grateful for their act of love and generosity. David said the experience was “powerful” for his family. Since it was Thanksgiving, David started thinking about what he was most thankful for. “Angel was the first thing that came to mind. She’s really changed my life,” he concluded. NO ONE SAID that being in Grier Heights and forming relationships was easy. It’s not. It’s uncomfortable and awkward and downright messy at times. But as C.S. Lewis said, “To love at all is to be vulnerable.” Rev. Macleod echoed the same sentiment: “The world needs us to be honest with ourselves, to be willing to be a little afraid, to be nervous, to adventure into the unknown. That can be a challenge. You really have to leave your comfort zone sometimes.” Derek speaks from experience. At one block party this past summer
he showed up an hour early. “I was the only white guy there. I thought, ‘What am I going to do?’ I got really nervous and felt awkward.” But despite his feelings, Derek started playing basketball with a few kids. After a while, a neighborhood kid nicknamed “Wawa” turned to him and said, “You ain’t so bad.” “I’ll take that,” Derek said with a laugh, “It’s just a matter of pushing through some of those awkward moments.” But what about those who really feel totally unequipped and uncomfortable at the thought of getting in-
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volved somewhere in Grier Heights? Derek had this to say: “You gotta follow Jesus and pay attention to who he hung around with. It was never who people expected. Every page of the gospel has Jesus hanging around someone that surprised and shocked someone else. And yet, that’s where really incredible gospel moments happened. So if you follow Jesus, you may find yourself hanging out in Grier Heights. And know that it’s going to be interesting and life-changing. But you have the ability to do this.”
Want to take part in what God is doing in Grier Heights? Contact Court at cyoung@myersparkpres.org for more info.
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Life & Books WITH VON CLEMANS
Associate Pastor for Adult Education
What’s on your nightstand right now? How to Read the Bible and Still Be a Christian: Struggling with Divine Violence from Genesis through Revelation, by John Dominic Crossan Dear White Christians: For Those Still Longing for Racial Reconciliation, by Jennifer Harvey
Life & Books helps you get to know our pastors through a behind the scences glimpse into their lives as readers. We corresponded with Rev. Von Clemans about what’s on his nightstand, books he re-reads, his favorite fiction, what he’s learning about life and following Jesus, and more.
What books have most profoundly shaped how you serve and lead others for the sake of the gospel? The Heart of Christianity: Rediscovering a life of Faith, by Marcus Borg and Making All Things New, by Henri Nouwen
On Being A Christian, by Hans Küng—early in my ministry this book introduced me to an expansive version of Christianity that went beyond doctrinal beliefs to a faith rooted in the life and ministry of Jesus. The Courage to Teach, by Parker Palmer—a book of deep introspection into the inner life of a teacher which helped add a profound spiritual dimension to my understanding of the teacher’s role.
What are you learning about life and following Jesus? I’m learning that following Jesus is both personal (choosing to make Jesus Lord, 24/7) and political (applying the values of the kingdom of God to every aspect of life–family, community, national political systems and structures).
What are your favorite fiction books and why?
What are some books you regularly re-read and why? Annually at Lent I read The Last Week: What the Gospels Really Teach About Jesus’s Final Days in Jerusalem, by Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan. The Holy Week story is fundamental to our Christian story, and I want to be deeply rooted in it. Each time I re-read it I get new insights into the Scriptures and their relevance for our lives.
What books have most influenced your faith and why?
What books have most helped you teach others about Jesus? Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School, by John Medina Excavating Jesus: Beneath the Stones, Behind the Texts, by John Dominic Crossan and Jonathan Reed
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Techno-espionage thrillers/mysteries by Brad Thor, Jeffery Deaver, Catherine Coulter, Brad Meltzer and Nelson DeMille — I love to escape into different worlds where problems can be solved by the end of the book.
WHEN LOVING YOUR NEIGHBORS MEANS HELPING THEM START A SMALL BUSINESS
It is often thought that a Christian’s “ministry” is simply the activities he/she does through the church or a parachurch organization. Homeless shelters, food banks, youth groups—these are seen as ministry opportunities. And indeed they are (and should not be slighted or disregarded in any way). but what many believers
fail to realize is that the gospel affects all of life—our work, our families, our friendships, our marriages, our parenting, our finances, our hobbies, our vacations, our chores, our mundane moments—not just one piece of it. There is, therefore, no such thing as “sacred” work and “secular” work. As Martin Luther said: “…the works of monks and priests, however holy and arduous they may be, do not differ on whit in the sight of God from the works of the rustic laborer in the field or the woman going about her household tasks…all works are measured before God by faith alone.” In short, ministry is all around us, we just have to have the eyes to see it. Ministry could even come in the form of a cookie. Just ask Helen Burns. For many years Helen, a Knoxville native and member of Myers Park since 2007, dreamed of starting a business in the culinary world. After several years of honing her baking
skills, the avid cook perfected one of America’s favorite desserts: the chocolate chip cookie. In 2008 Helen’s dream became a reality with the launch of Helen’s Kitchen, a food company that specializes in creating delicious cookies. But getting there wasn’t easy. “When I started Helen’s Kitchen I was lost. I had no idea where to start and what to do. I thought, ‘Where do I get a business license? How do I get a tax ID number? Do I need an accountant?’ Needless to say I was clueless,” she said. Thankfully, Helen got some help from some very generous friends and colleagues, something she is thankful for to this day. In fact, it’s what inspired her to pay it forward: “I wanted to provide that kind of support to others. Friends or acquaintances will ask me to help a friend who is trying to start a business. I am more than happy to talk and give them my list of vendors and people who make small businesses like mine possible. Sometimes it’s as simple 17
as sitting down and brainstorming together.” Helen also supports fledgling entrepreneurs by simply sharing her mistakes and what she’s learned from them: “This is a way to use my gift (which I think is gab) to help others achieve their dream. Since I know how hard and confusing it is to start a business, I want to share my experience with others so that they don’t make the same mistakes I did. And let me tell you, I have made mistakes.” Over the years, Helen has helped many people start their own food business, including a cake business called Takes the Cake and a scone business called The Scone Shop. Though it’s not as conspicuous as going on a mission trip or volunteering at a homeless shelter, Helen sees it as a small way of fulfilling what Jesus called the great commandment (Matthew 22:37-39). “The Lord calls us to love, and this is a way I can love my neighbor and help them on their journey.”
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EVERY SQUARE
INCH
Every Square Inch is a new feature of Journey. It aims to help Myers Park disciples see every aspect of their lives, especially their work, under the lordship of Christ. “Every Square Inch” is a reference to Abraham Kuyper’s quote, “there is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, ‘Mine!’” This issue we talk with Jen Schubert, a former corporate and securities lawyer turned stay-at-home-mom.
What is your current job/job title? I have been a mother since October 5, 2003. I was working full-time as a corporate and securities lawyer in Chicago at the time. I left my firm to become a full-time stay-at-home-mom in December 2003, while I was still on maternity leave. How many children do you have and what are their names/ages? I have three children: John, age 11; Sara, age 10; and Luke, age 8. How would you describe your work? What do you do every day? My work varies each day but has a certain rhythm: I am primarily responsible for running the household, which includes everything from packing lunches to paying bills. I do a lot of laundry and spend a considerable amount of time driving around Charlotte to take my children to various activities. Several times a week I volunteer at my children’s school in a number of capacities. I try to take a little time each day to do something for myself, whether it be something creative, exercise or reading/studying the Bible. As an image-bearer of God, how does your work reflect some aspect of God’s work? When I became a mother, I recall being stunned by the immediacy of the change in the focus of my life. You
learn so much as a parent about how to love unconditionally and about seeing, indeed anticipating, the needs of others. Putting those needs ahead of your own is something that you begin to do naturally, almost automatically. That experience gave me a much better understanding of God’s love for us and deepened my faith. As a result, the opportunity I have had to serve as a stay-at-home mom has put me in a much better position to serve others both in my home and outside of it. How does your job give you a unique vantage point into the brokenness of the world? As my children are growing, I am more and more aware of the need we all have to turn and rely on God. As our culture pushes our children to see their value in commercial terms, telling them how they should look, what they should wear, how many “likes” or “friends” they should have, I am so thankful for the strong church family we have at Myers Park. I do my best to strengthen their ties here, through Wednesday night dinners, Vacation Bible School, regular Sunday School attendance and regular worship. My children have so many struggles ahead of them, and a big part of my work is to remind them of the words from Psalm 139: “For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your
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works; that I know very well.” I want my children to know, even when they feel alone and abandoned in this broken world, as they surely will at some point in their lives, that God is with them, always. Jesus commands us to “love our neighbors as ourselves.” How does your work function as an opportunity to love and serve others? The main focus of my work is loving and serving my family, so I have that opportunity every day. It’s not always easy, and my patience is tested on a regular basis, but those moments also give me the chance to practice forgiveness and reconciliation. Staying home also enables me to support my husband in his work, both in his career and his work to further God’s kingdom. I have found that my work has opened my heart to love and serve those outside my home as well: teachers, other parents, children in my community. Once you are a mother, you feel a certain kinship with other mothers, regardless of differences in your circumstances. You can connect to people and begin to focus on commonalities rather than the things that separate us, bringing us a little bit closer to the world that God intended.
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us who say we are disciples of Jesus, living in the way of Jesus in our daily lives is our goal. We try to do the right thing, make the right decision, and espouse the right opinions. But sometimes our process and methodology do not reflect the way God works. However, when we read the stories of Scripture, we learn how God functions as a loving leader:
Faithful Leadership BY MILLIE SNYDER Executive Pastor
“sit down and be quiet so I can teach you that God loves you,” says the Sunday School teacher with a class full of rambunctious preschoolers. What’s wrong with that lesson? I remember a seminary professor using that simple illustration to teach us the power of our implicit teaching to support or to negate our explicit message. When we focus on the content of our message and not on the process of how we deliver that content, we create cognitive dissonance. You might be telling me that God loves me, but you aren’t actually loving me. What will I remember from that lesson? I believe the connection between process and content is the central dilemma for faithful leadership. Our behavior can either contradict our message or support it. For those of
God invites men and women into roles of leadership, calling and empowering them. For example, Moses heard God’s call from the burning bush. After Moses admitted his own weakness at public speaking, God suggested a model of sharing leadership with Aaron. Later when Moses was overwhelmed by governing the people in the wilderness, God offered a plan to use elders in the community with delegated authority (read Exodus 3 and 4). God gives humans free will to make mistakes and to learn from them. God does not micro-manage or control choices. For example, David was chosen by God to lead the nation of Israel as king, but he was far from perfect. He committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband killed deceitfully in battle. Afterwards, the prophet Nathan confronted David about his sin. Psalm 51 is David’s cry for forgiveness and cleansing (read 2 Samuel 11-12 and Psalm 51). God listens when human leaders cry out in anger or critique God’s plan. One example of this is the story of Abraham. When God pronounced judgment on the city of Sodom, Abraham questioned and challenged the Lord to be merciful if there were even ten righteous people
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in the city. God heard his debate and didn’t dismiss him or respond with anger (read Genesis 18:16-33). As we think about applying these lessons to our own leadership (at work, at home, within the church, or in the community), let’s ask ourselves: If we believe that every human being is created in the image of God, how do we supervise our employees or volunteers in a way that recognizes their dignity? If we believe that God knits together communities of people with different gifts, how do we lead a meeting in a way that honors and includes the gifts of everyone? If we believe that God can hear critiques and complaints without retribution, how do we respond to those who criticize our ideas in a way that doesn’t dismiss them or seek revenge? If we believe that Jesus moved toward broken people instead of moving away from them, how will we interact with our customers and clients in a way that doesn’t avoid their problems? If we believe that Jesus befriended the social outcast, who will we sit beside at the next luncheon in a way that reflects the grace of Christ? Jesus told his followers, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). We are called to live in the way of Jesus, acting more and more like him in the way we interact with others. Jesus’ actions were always in line with his message. That’s what faithful leadership looks like.
Every Member Has A Ministry
Let one of our ministry mentors help you narrow down the 100+ options. Whether you have been serving for years and are looking for your next call or this is your first time in ministry, we can help you find a perfect fit for your passion. Select a ministry mentor, then simply go to serve.myersparkpres.org to get started. When you go where God wants you to go, you are in for the ride of your life your life!
MINISTRY MENTORS DAVID Simas
david.simas@wellsfargo.com
ELSIE
Glenn
JANE
Willingham
ROB
CATHERINE
jsglenn.glenn@gmail.com
rob.willingham@wellsfargo.com
cat.collins@bellsouth.net
JOE
SCOTT
Collins
LUCI
Barnhardt
Helweg
Mercer
Heeseman
barnh4@aol.com
serve@myersparkpres.org
smercer@mcgriff.com
luciheeseman@gmail.com
AMY
Peacock
McLawhorn
Kirkland
CHRIS
TOM
apeacock@carolina.rr.com
jamiemclawhorn@gmail.com
csk707@aol.com
tokel@carolina.rr.com
JAMIE
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F A L L Myers 2 0 1 5Park PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
JOURNEY
2501 Oxford Place Charlotte, NC 28207 myersparkpres.org
Myers Park PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
2501 Oxford Place Charlotte, NC 28207 myersparkpres.org