PCPC WITNESS • NOVEMBER 2015
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n a glorious Saturday morning in September, PCPC Women gathered to love, connect with, and serve the women at Exodus Ministries, where mothers who are re-entering society after incarceration are given a chance to change their future by giving them and their children housing, childcare, and job preparation while completing ministry requirements. It was our prayer that we would not be Exodus women or PCPC women—we were all just broken women in need of a Savior. We began the day gathered together in the courtyard of the Exodus Ministries apartment complex to sing “Amazing Grace” and “In Christ Alone.” Our worship reminded us of the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and that we were all once slaves and children of wrath. Yet, now because of Christ’s sacrifice, we are all free children of God.
Utilizing different gifts
PCPC women had three different ways to serve—those with the “gift of gab” joined the women from Exodus for a trip to the Arboretum; the ones who enjoy bringing beauty and 2
order to things cleaned the women’s apartments; and the women who love holding babies, playing with kids, and doing crafts helped out with the children. Each PCPC woman was able to serve in the area best suited to her gifts. It was truly a taste of heaven to see the Body of Christ functioning with different gifts with unity toward one goal. Several PCPC women wrote about their experiences:
A Different Kind of Cleansing
Because of God’s grace in both their lives and my life, I found myself at Exodus Ministries that Saturday. My husband was having a garage sale, and I would rather do anything than sit on the front lawn all day pawning my junk. So I signed up for the noble cause of helping to reach out to the residents of Exodus, former convicts now expressing faith in Christ and looking to reunite with their children and start a new life. My fear of spending time with people I might not relate to led me to join the cleaning team. I cleaned hard for them. I prayed for these women and their children as I cleaned. I prayed for me and my
children. I scrubbed and scrubbed. An oven. And a bathtub. Four times I scrubbed that bathtub with Comet, and it almost came clean. The picture was too obvious. I was scrubbing the darkness with all my strength yet powerless to make it come clean. Thinking I could avoid it, I ended up face-to-face with my sin of judgment, false humility, and self-sufficiency. When the residents and our ladies returned from the Arboretum, light of heart and looking for ways to get together again, I realized I had chosen the wrong assignment. The ladies who spent time side-by-side, weaving their lives together, had offered each other the grace I couldn’t find in the bathroom. I needed some of that grace from these women I thought I couldn’t relate to. They are not running from their fears but to their Savior’s open arms. —Ashley Flowers
A Different Kind of Kid
I did not expect to see what I saw at Exodus. I signed up to help with the children, and I expected to see unruly, troubled children. What I saw instead were loving, kind, well-behaved children. Of course, their mothers’
NOVEMBER 2015 • PCPC WITNESS
incarceration had negatively impacted them—they have deep wounds—but they were not hopeless. Instead, their trials had produced some character qualities that were wonderful. They were kind, gracious, and tenderhearted. It reminded me that God has these children in the palm of His hand and is caring for them. The experience made me think of Romans 5:3-5, “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” The children had suffered, but God had redeemed that suffering by producing character and hope! I expected my time with the children to be exhausting, but instead, God used that time to refresh my soul, and I left recharged! —Amy Tassos
A Different Kind of Event
Several days before I attended the Exodus event, I passed out fliers to advertise it at our Thursday Morning Bible Study—really, not thinking too much about it. Yet, at the last minute, I decided to attend with my daughter, Cassie. We formed our own little cleaning team for the mothers’ apartments. Once there, we got meet Courtney Starr, a graduate of Exodus’ program who is now in charge of the residents. Courtney insisted she did not need to have her apartment cleaned, but we gently persuaded her to let us give it a good scrub. In the process of cleaning, I realized that it was Courtney’s picture on all of those fliers I had passed out. I was so touched that God would allow me to clean this particular apartment, especially having seen her face so many times on the fliers. Courtney came in from time to time to check on us, and every time she entered, her eyes filled with tears. Courtney couldn’t
left page: the Arboretum group this page: left, Emma Vandercook helps with childcare. right, Skylar Evans and Caroline Cooper on the cleaning crew
have been more appreciative that we would serve her and honor her and her work at Exodus in this way. I’m so grateful for God’s nudge to attend the event and for His grace that I followed that prompting. —Claire Baker
A Lasting Joy
The joy of the day for me was watching new relationships form with our new friends at Exodus and to see so many PCPC women working together. As we picnicked at the Arboretum, it was so evident that God picked just the right groups to surround our Exodus friends. We share many common struggles, especially around raising children. How beautiful that some of the experienced moms could walk beside these younger moms to encourage and to make suggestions to them. It was such fun to return to Exodus after our outing and see the children happily playing in the bounce houses and to see the pumpkin crafts that the children created for their moms. I loved hearing the squeals of delight as our Exodus friends opened their apartment doors and found them so beautifully cleaned. The “thank you’s” we heard were heartfelt. —Tracey Humphreys There are many opportunities for continuing relationships with our Exodus friends. Each weeknight, the women attend classes. These classes focus on Bible studies, money management, parenting or completing GED requirements. Exodus needs teachers, Bible study leaders, and mentors for these residents; and childcare is always a need. —Claire Manigold
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2015 ANNUAL REPORT The Lord was pleased to bless PCPC during the fiscal year of 2014-15 by providing all the resources needed to accomplish His purposes for us through gifts of vision, time, energy, and funds from our body. Several PCPC ministries have reported just some of the ways the Lord has allowed His resources to be translated into Kingdom-extending work in the hearts of our members, in the city of Dallas, and to the world.
FAMILY MINISTRY
PCPC welcomed 565 little “tourists” to VBS’s W.I.L.D. Kingdom the week of June 8. The children were in awe of the various African villages and scenes that took over Fellowship Hall and other areas of PCPC. More importantly, they were in wonder of the stories, worship, and fellowship centered on Colossians 1:13-14, “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the Kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” We partnered with Arise Africa and hosted a team of five men and women who traveled from Zambia to minister to the group. The kids thoroughly enjoyed hearing the Arise Africa team’s songs and stories, and it was neat for the children to hear firsthand how God’s work is being done and shared in Africa. Also, ESL participants joined in at VBS. While ESL adults spent the week studying English using the VBS curriculum, their kiddos were learning the same material in VBS. VBS was manned by 305 dedicated adult and youth “tour guides” (a/k/a volunteers).
PCPC’s Family Ministry, consisting of Children’s, Youth, and Marriage ministries, has had a very active year. First, it saw numerous staff positions filled! Children’s and Youth Ministries added key staff people, including Bill Bogart as PCPC’s first Interim Marriage Director. In early April, the Family Ministry hosted all of its children and youth volunteers to an appreciation dinner. The Youth staff orchestrated a spot-on skit illustrating the “Life of a Volunteer” in each ministry. Various scenes on stage—spitting-up babies, talkative toddlers, disruptive middle schoolers, over-scheduled high schoolers— brought lots of laughter. In mid-April, the Family Ministry hosted two events: SafeKids: Equipping Parents on Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Seminar and the Rodeo Roundup at the Mesquite Rodeo Arena for some boot-stompin’, rope-slingin’ fun!
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
This has been an exciting year for the Children’s Ministry, with lots of activity and bustle happening from Nursery through Elementary ages. After several months of searching, the Children’s Ministry finally secured a new Director, Austin Ariail. Shortly thereafter, Kim Heflin accepted the role of Senior Administrative Assistant and Matt Statham was hired as the Elementary Coordinator.
WORSHIP AND THE ARTS
Worship is the priority as well as the backdrop for all the resource use at PCPC. Sunday morning services, Vespers, choirs for all ages from kindergarten up, the Performing Arts Series, Musikgarten, PCPC Players, and special events during our highlight seasons of Easter and Christmas were all overseen by our dedicated staff under the direction of recently departed and much-loved Colin Howland. J. Marty Cope continues the tradition of gifted artistic and theological leadership to our many opportunities to lift high the name of Christ in worship. 4
The Preschool and Elementary Ministries began a new, unified curriculum in September allowing children ages two to fourth grade and their families to share in the same lesson and story. In December we had a blast with kids acting out the Nativity story, making ornaments, and drinking hot chocolate at our Family Advent Service.
YOUTH MINISTRY
One of the highlights this year was Palm Sunday, where we were able to pause and remember Christ’s entrance into Jerusalem. Children waved palm fronds and heard about Christ’s obedience to the Father for the rescuing of souls. Palm Sunday was followed by Easter Song and Story hosted by the Preschool Ministry. This rich time was led by Megan Manley with songs, Chad Scruggs reading stories, and even Kermit the Frog making an appearance! Also in April, the Elementary and Middle School Ministries hosted Transitions, where the promotion of fourth graders to fifth grade in Middle School allowed a lot of attention for parents, students, volunteers, and staff to prepare for a big change.
The Lord has been good and blessed our Youth Ministry with a fun and fruitful year. Last fall, we hired a new Middle School Ministry Leader, Danny Stimson. His gifting and energy have been a blessing to our staff and our students. With this change, we moved into a new structure for Middle School small groups. Fifth-eighth graders now gather on Wednesday nights for The Point, a time that allows for fun and fellowship through skits and games, large group teaching, and a time for small group sharing. Early this year our part-time volunteer coordinator, Christen Nutter, was brought up to full-time hours. Christen has been a gift to the ministry through her ability to love and equip our many invaluable youth volun-
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teers. With the increasing number of volunteers and equipping opportunities for them, we are reaching more students and families. Small groups led by our youth volunteers and interns continue to be the primary means of discipleship to our high school students. Currently, 20 small groups are being held weekly at various times in homes in the area and are reaching approximately 300 students each week.
students. Twelve of those students then travelled to Dallas as part of the exchange program in late July to continue the English program. This allowed us an opportunity to invite them further into our lives and share the Gospel more explicitly. The Lord continues to move and do a great work through all of our trips and events. We are thankful to be a part of what He is doing here in Dallas and in other parts of the world.
Our Communicant classes have grown this past year. Not only did we have two large classes of Middle School students join this past year, but we now have a growing demand for High School Communicant classes. We are excited to see an increased desire in our students to join and truly be a part of our church body, not just the youth group.
MARRIAGE MINISTRY
In the midst of a lot of change we stayed steady when it came to our most popular trips. Middle School took almost 60 kids to Sky Ranch last October for their annual Fall Retreat. This continues to be a great launching point for getting students involved in the ministry and fellowshipping with other believers. High School took another recordbreaking number of students to Florida this year with 267 students in attendance. Of those students, 164 of them are involved in small groups at PCPC this fall. A few weeks following the Florida trip, a team of 30 people (20 students and 10 leaders) traveled to East Asia to teach English and spread the Gospel to over 160
The Marriage Ministry was formally organized in July but had a great running start thanks to a strong volunteer leadership team of 10 couples that has been in place since the beginning of the year. Bill Bogart joined the staff as PCPC’s first Interim Marriage Director. Strategies are underway to strengthen newly marrieds and to build restorative ministries to strengthen mature marriages. The Marriage Class entered its second year as an offering during MidWeek and met in both the spring and fall sessions. About 40 couples participated in the class, which included both instruction and small group time with the goal of reengaging marriages to better reflect Christ to spouses, children, and the world. The hallmarks of the class were the small groups that helped build community and relational transparency. The class also challenged couples to strengthen their relationship through serving in “marital mission” together. Union, the class for engaged and seriously dating couples, was also held during both spring and fall MidWeek
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sessions. The class trained 25 couples over an eight-week curriculum including the meaning of marriage, biblical roles of husband and wife, money, leaving/cleaving/in-laws, communication, conflict resolution, and intimacy. Experienced couples acted as table leaders to dive deeply into each topic to create dialogue and understanding. Many of our newly married couples participated in small group communi-
ties in homes throughout each week. These couples studied a varied menu of topics including Dan Allender’s Intimate Mystery series, Tim Keller’s Meaning of Marriage, and Crown Ministries MoneyLife course. The Marriage Ministry will focus to increase the number of these groups and provide curriculum to successfully prepare these couples for life together.
COLLEGE MINISTRY
In the summer of 2015, the PCPC College Ministry had a sweet time of growing deeper with college students. Dozens of students preparing for college, returning from college, or working in Dallas were part of our community. In the College Class we worked through a series on the fruit of the Spirit and focused on what it really means to have a Spirit-transformed heart. In our summer large group, we enjoyed teaching and discussion about “The Fight of Our Lives,” a series based in Scripture and in C.S. Lewis’ Screwtape Letters. Through regular worship, fellowship, teaching, and service, college students continue to grow in the Lord, invest in his church, and engage in his mission. continued on page 6
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YOUNG ADULTS
caught the vision for being on mission in Japan. It started with a small group of three led by Jerry Gibson in January to see how the Young Adult ministry could participate in Japan. From that vision trip we felt God calling us to serve with our home-sent missionaries, and in August we took 17 young adults to serve in Nagoya, Japan. Most of these folks had never experienced anything like it, and we believe this new partnership will be a annual highlight for our ministry on mission in Japan. (See page 20.)
ADULT MINISTRY
Addressing the particular settings for adults who are transitioning to empty nesting and even retirement, this ministry kicked off with an event, “The Church and You after 50,” in November 2014, with guest speaker Tim Tinsley. Pat Hobin leads these members and friends in a variety of ways, including Counseling 101 classes, personal counseling, activities with Sunday School classes, and outreach.
PCPC WOMEN sees nearly 500 women in eight different Bible studies every year. We hosted our second annual , JUST RUN, a two-mile walk/ run in our neighborhood ending with food, fun, and fellowship-all benefiting the Daughters of Cambodia and New Friends New Life ministries. Two separate times in the fall and spring women filled a member’s home to attend The Bridge, where they have dinner and hear the testimony, the story of rescue, of a godly woman. In May, Kari Stainback led 27 women in the Restore Retreat, a semi-silent held at Montserrat in Lake Dallas. Women were led in devotional teaching and had extended times of quiet time in the Word and in prayer. In May and June, over 150 women attended weekly summer Bible studies.
MEN’S MINISTRY
began its well received Tuesday Morning Bible Study in September, 2014, and it has continued to meet with Mark Davis, Chad Scruggs, and Paul Goebel as 6 6
sweet fellowship. These studies are times for our seniors to grow in their faith and their love for one another and to make available opportunities to bring friends and loved ones who may not know the Savior.
teachers. Several small groups have developed within that study for prayer and discussion together, and others have taken silent retreats for deeper meditation on God’s Word and uninterrupted time with Him.
SENIOR ADULTS
Too often when we study a subject for years we may actually come to the place where there is just nothing more to learn about that particular subject. Not so with knowing God’s Word and knowing The God of the Word. No matter how old we are or how long we have studied, there is always more… much more. We cannot exhaust the eternal glory and knowledge of the one true God and His Word! The Senior Adult Ministry’s goal is to assist and encourage our seniors do just that... go deeper and wider with the Lord through rich Bible study, great music of the church, and the sweet fellowship of believers. One of the highlights of our year is the annual Bible Conference held during the month of July. In 2014, Ron Williams filled those four Thursdays with a great study of The Renewed Mind: The influence of Isaac Watts. We threw in a megadose of Watts’ great hymns of the faith with the help of Stephen Nielson, and, finally, our time together was topped off with good food and
The ministry also offers much information and instruction for our seniors and their families on end-of-life issues. Aging With Grace topics for 2014 were: Aging and the Bible, Cancer: When the Biopsy is Bad, How to Minister to a Family in Crisis, Heading Off Heart Problems, Wills and Other Important Documents, and Dementia & Alzheimer’s. The subjects are presented through the lens of Scripture and the Christian faith. Those who teach these classes are both experts in their fields and men and women who know and love the Lord. Another important and ongoing part of the ministry is caring for the homebound. We attempt to keep a list of our members and, sometimes, the parents of our members who are no longer able to attend church. Through our amazing volunteers and our deacons and elders, these folk are visited and/or called on a regular basis.
URBAN MISSIONS
Through Urban Missions, PCPC partners with four commissioned home-church missionary families and 17 ministries planted in west, east, and south Dallas and minister in specialties like homelessness, community development, human trafficking, and justice issues. PCPC seeks to transform the city on behalf of the Gospel through loving our neighbors, providing financial coaching, mentoring, prayer walks, cleaning, and developing authentic cross-cultural relationships. In its eighth year, more than 1,600 enthusiastic volunteers showed up on December 6 to pack over 8,200 boxes for 2014 BOXES OF BLESSING. The following week Urban Missions partners, small affiliate churches, and nonprofit friends collected their boxes from the warehouse and distributed them to support community relationships in loving and thoughtful ways.
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viduals or families (mentees) to share known resources, knowledge, values, skills, perspectives, support, and encouragement. Mentors equip mentees so they are able to acquire life skills and knowledge and retain confidence while achieving their goals of self-sufficiency. This past year, $80,325 was used to minister to 17 families—approximately 50 people including children.
MISSIONS & CHURCH PLANTING
On May 31 and August 16 respectively, Urban Missions hosted CHURCH IN THE CITY lunches providing a panel of experts to address the topics of educational challenges and homelessness in Dallas. Urban Missions is eager to educate and equip our members to participate in the solutions. Approximately 180 members attended each of these after-church lunches, indicating a strong desire to engage in city issues from a Gospel perspective. The GOOD SAMARITAN MINISTRY reaches out to non-members who need help. Assistance is based on mercy and compassion and is not something that must be earned. The financial gifts are exclusively for the purpose of sharing the love of Christ—both financially and with the Gospel. Last year, the seven-person committee received 135 applications and approved $63,055 in assistance for 106 families. EQUIP is a ministry focused on assisting individuals or families in crisis, preventing family homelessness, and promoting self-sufficiency through faith-based mentoring—a relationship-building strategy where church volunteers (mentors) meet with indi-
There are two kinds of people—those who like numbers and people who prefer stories. Here are some numbers that summarize our year, for those who prefer them: one new missionary house, three friends visited from Zambia for VBS, four Hispanic men training for Gospel ministry, eight businesses started in West Africa, 15 short-term mission teams sent out, 14 Reformed University Fellowship chapters formed, 18 countries served, over 20 member units serving on the mission field as home church missionaries, 25 mission agency partners, 26 Missionary Links,
66 lay leaders, 100 international students ministered to regularly, over 130 churches now planted in the U.S. and overseas, 200 neighbors taking ESL weekly at PCPC, 346 prayer warriors, 1,727 participating in a PCPC shortterm mission trip. Four thousand, five hundred, seventy three members have now served in missions at PCPC.
If stories capture your heart, here are two that paint a picture of how the Lord is at work. Her English name is Peter. Yes, HER English name is Peter. That’s a long, fascinating story on its own. Peter came to Dallas this summer as one of the teacher chaperones for the International Cultural Exchange (ICE) program with students from East Asia. About 100 PCPC families are involved with this program every year. Two PCPC families in particular got to know Peter. They loved her well as she stayed in their home. Peter came to Dallas with no religion at all. She surprised everyone at the closing ceremony of ICE when she publicly professed her deep change of heart toward Christianity. Our friends in Asia are now following up with her. Please pray for Peter. Phon came to PCPC through an unexpected set of circumstances. Her journey started when she first came to the United States as a refugee in the early 1980s. She had no idea until a few months ago that PCPC ministers to Asian refugees (mostly from Laos) like her each and every Sunday. Phon had
never been exposed to Christianity before coming to PCPC. She sat amazed through the worship service and Bible studies as she learned about Jesus and that PCPC has faithfully cared for her people in Dallas for 24 years. Phon encountered Jesus at PCPC. Please pray for all of our Southeast Asian members to grow strong, spiritual roots in deep, nutritious soil.
continued on page 8
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2015 ANNUAL REPORT
Membership as of June 30, 2015
DFW Communing Members Out-of-town Members Covenant Children Total members
3,185 434 1,181 4,800
Total member households
Total households who give •Member households who give •Non-member households who give
2,105 1,509 1,216 293
Giving and Revenue for July, 2014 - June, 2015
$12,762,818
Given by members Given by non-members, trusts, foundations Other revenue (interest, etc.)
$11,984,755 $729,659 $48,404
2014– 2015 INCOME & EXPENSE REPORT Operating Budget for July, 2014 – June, 2015 Total Giving & Income Total Expenses
Worship, Music & Arts Spiritual Life Outreach Ministry Support & Facilities PCA Support Leadership & Administration PCPC Foundation Support
Operating Budget for July, 2015 – June, 2016
12,762,818 12,658,939 $713,038 $3,475,304 $3,512,189 $3,659,150 $387,260 $781,998 $130,000
Net 2015 – 2016 OPERATING BUDGET
$13,100,000
$103,879 $13,300,000
Worship, Music & Arts $731,036 Spiritual Life $3,788,074 Outreach $3,500,531 Ministry Support & Facilities $3,778,001 PCA Support $394,768 Leadership & Administration $794,423 Anticipated Outreach Funds** $200,000 PCPC Foundation Support $113,167 ** Funds are anticipated to be used for Outreach projects if contributions reach anticipated levels 8
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t was Skip Ryan who first spoke of “the hidden jewel” of Park Cities Presbyterian Church. That metaphor might elicit thoughts of secret symbols or artifacts from The Da Vinci Code, but the reference is something far more significant and, ironically, far more ordinary. According to Skip, the hidden jewel is Vespers. For nearly two decades, Vespers (Latin for evening) has been one of PCPC’s weekly worship services. While there are a growing number of people who treasure this evening prayer service on a regular basis, it can rightly be called “hidden” because the majority of our congregation is not very familiar with it. The Vespers service is just 30 minutes long, but it includes several rich elements: congregational singing, a short meditation from a pastor, a confession of sin, and communion. During the spring and fall, Vespers is the anchor for PCPC’s MidWeek activities. Theologically, it is the anchor because the corporate worship of God is the central and unending calling of the Christian life and is God’s regular means of shaping us as disciples of Jesus Christ. Practically, this plays out each Wednesday evening as Vespers launches us into our fellowship meal, choir rehearsals, and classes.
that it can be challenging in many ways, both practically and spiritually. External changes in life regularly create spiritual disorientation in our hearts, and my transition to Dallas was no exception. It was a great adventure to explore life in a new big city, but at times I felt profoundly out of place and even out of touch with God. In God’s grace, it was during this time that I gained a new and deep appreciation for corporate worship. Gathering with God’s people to sing, pray, and meditate on Scripture became something precious to me as God made His presence, truth, beauty, and comfort both known and felt. Worship was a dependable rhythm in a life that sometimes seemed out of time, because it was there that God most clearly met with, spoke to, and comforted me with the Gospel. As a result, I was more eager to go to worship than ever before. So in addition to going to worship on Sunday mornings, I began
Vespers: the hidden jewel But Vespers is more than a tradition, and it does something more important than bring coherence to our church’s MidWeek activities. Vespers is a powerful and uniquely personal means of God’s grace to us who are in desperate, daily need of it. In his influential book, Worship: Reformed According to Scripture, Hughes Oliphant Old suggests that evening prayer services like Vespers have more to do with grace than piety. In other words, such services are primarily about God meeting us in our weakness, not us pleasing Him with our strength. Because they are rooted in the pattern of morning and evening sacrifices in temple worship, the daily prayer services of the Christian Church have historically emphasized the sin and neediness of the worshipper, and the grace and provision God has offered in Jesus Christ. This is seen most clearly in the prayers of confession and the celebration of communion, which proclaims Jesus Christ’s perfect, permanent sacrifice for our sin. In our Vespers service, these truths are embodied in powerful and personal ways as the congregation kneels together in confession in the pews, and stands together in communion at the front of the Chapel. Long before I considered this aspect of Vespers as a pastor, I experienced it as a church member during a particularly hard season of my life. One month before I began my junior year of high school, my family moved from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, to Dallas. If you’ve ever moved to a new city, you understand
attending Vespers on Wednesday evenings. During my senior year of high school, some of my friends and I had a brief but sweet tradition: we’d go to Vespers, and then we’d go to El Fenix for the Wednesday night enchilada special. And while we probably ate way too many baskets of chips and salsa, the net effect of this tradition was life-giving for us as Christians and as friends. Whether it is a Sunday morning service or a Vespers service, God is always faithful to use times of corporate worship to align His grace with our condition and our circumstances. We may enter a worship service eager to receive and celebrate God’s grace, or we may enter forgetting, doubting, or abusing it. But time and again, God is faithful to use His means to do His work in His people. Wherever has God you in this season of life, I urge you to participate as often as possible in in our church’s worship services, including Vespers. And Lord willing, we’ll come up with a new metaphor for Vespers one day as it becomes a less hidden and more treasured part of our church. —Matt Fray, Assistant Pastor of Spiritual Formation *Vespers is held every Wednesday, 5:30-6:00 pm, in the Chapel.
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e gather at the church on Sundays, and then we scatter across the Metroplex on Monday through Friday every week. It is our desire to see our city and world transformed as our members seek to honor God in the various
Through a variety of programs PCPC@ WORK will equip Christ’s followers to develop a theological vision for the relationship between faith and work. This will support them to imaginatively apply the Gospel in every aspect of their lives. These programs include:
Certificate Series: Taught by Bill
work environments in which He has strategically placed them. PCPC@WORK is a ministry designed to equip us to work toward fulfilling this goal on a daily basis.
Speaker Series: Featuring the stories of men and women who have faithfully attempted to integrate their faith and their work. We recently completed our inaugural speaker series, four weeks of discussion about whether our work
offering in the six-week PCPC@WORK Certificate Series and is a prerequisite to the following courses: Workplace Ethics, Workplace Evangelism, and Kingdom Economics. Classes will take place again January 20-February 17 and March 30-May 4.
PCPC@WORK strives to prepare our people to think biblically about their work, to reflect with other believers about how to best serve God in and through their work, and to act strategically as God’s ambassadors in their public lives.
Gotham Fellows: An intensive nine-month theological and spiritual development program designed to equip Christians for Gospel leadership in the world. This year, 30 Fellows convene on a weekly basis to learn about how the Lord redeems their respective workplaces and plan for strategic action in this knowledge.
This new ministry platform is driven by the PCPC Mission Statement; Park Cities Presbyterian Church exists to extend the transforming presence of the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ in Dallas and to the world. It also recognizes the strategic importance of the marketplace as a primary context in and through which the engagement of this mission should be prominent. As men and women in the marketplace align their work with their faith, they become faithful stewards of the Creation/Cultural Mandate, the Great Commandment, and the Great Commission. Through PCPC@WORK, we are connecting members of our community in a way that focuses on the impact God can have through us as we go into our vocations.
THINK BIBLICALLY Help us to trust you, oh Lord, that our work matters—that You are pleased with the work of our hands when it is offered to You as a gift. 10
Lamberth, this class has been held on Wednesday evenings during MidWeek this fall, focusing on how our work matters to God and answer other questions regarding the integration of our faith and our work. It is the first
REFLECT CORPORATELY Help us, oh God, to love our colleagues, our patients, our customers, and our employers. God has sovereignly called our people to honor Him and to love our neighbors as they reflect His glory and character in the specific work contexts to which He has called them. PCPC@WORK seeks to connect and encourage Christians who experience similar opportunities and challenges within their work. Our new Vocational Groups are regular meetings open to all who want a community to discuss the issues they face in their respective fields. matters to God, how our vocational efforts contribute to God’s purposes in the world, and how God uses our work to shape us into the people He would have us be.
ACT STRATEGICALLY Help us to trust You in the midst of the brokenness of our work. To trust that our work is neither the measure of our worth, nor the hope of our lives, but that belongs exclusively to You. NOVEMBER 2015 • PCPC WITNESS
The marketplace is a strategic venue that enables Christians to have considerable influence in every aspect of our city. We desire to free Christians to see the work of their hands as an act of worship in itself, develop a sense of calling in the marketplace, and mobilize
Tell us about your family. My wife, Julia (Flowers) grew up at PCPC, and we met in the airport on our way to Wake Forest as freshmen. We were married eight years ago at PCPC. We would describe our life together as extremely blessed. Marriage has been so much fun.
Julia, Margaret, and Blake Schwarz (before the arrival of new daughter, Alice). Blake is the new director of the PCPC@WORK and Gothem Fellows.
the church to be an agent of shalom in Dallas. We will address:
INTRODUCING BLAKE SCHWARZ
I never know how to answer the question “How many kids do you have?” We lost our oldest child to a rare genetic disease in 2013 when he was only eight months old. This was the most difficult experience of our lives, but it was also strangely good and serves as a reminder of the blessing of friends and family. A beautiful two-year-old girl, Margaret, currently runs our household. Our third child, Alice, was just born October 15, and we are so excited to have her here! And tired!
Tell us a little about your background, how you came to know the Lord, and about your relationship with Him. I grew up in Houston with a Jewish father and a Christian mother. For the first ten years of my life I thought I was, and that it was possible to be, half Jewish and half Christian as someone can be half French and half Italian.
After eight years on the east coast, Julia and I moved back to Texas so that I could serve as a dean at The Cambridge School of Dallas. During my five years there I oversaw everything from student life to all academic affairs. I absolutely love the liberal arts, and my understanding of them continues to expand my understanding of God and his grace.
I came to faith as my parents were going through a divorce the summer before my freshman year of high school at a Christian camp that I attended by a strange providence. My best friend from elementary school had moved abroad and his mom made him attend the camp to get to know some local kids when he moved back to America. He said he would only attend if I join him; so I did.
What is your vision for the PCPC@WORK ministry? Our immediate goal is to help people see that all life is sacred and can be a means of extending the transforming presence of the kingdom of God whether it be in schools, hospitals, businesses or art studios. Our deeper desire is to create opportunities for and support to Christians who want to use their professional skills for the glory of God. We hope to leverage the experiences and talents of our church to strategically extend the kingdom in our city. Where that goes and what that looks like will depend a great deal on who gets involved.
Calling: Understanding how God has uniquely gifted and placed us as His ambassadors in our places of work, Personal Strategic Planning: Developing a culturally sensitive plan that weaves together the values of excellence, ethics, evangelism, and economics, and Business As Mission: Enabling those on the margins of society to find sustainable business or employment opportunities. Bill Lamberth serves as the Assistant Pastor to this new ministry, alongside Blake Schwarz, Director of PCPC@WORK and Gotham Fellows. We are excited to see how the Lord will continue to use PCPC@WORK to equip us to be His people as he sends us into the workplace to do His work. We invite you to participate and learn with us, and to invite colleagues from your workplace as well. To stay informed on happenings in the PCPC@WORK ministry, please let us know you who are. Sign up at pcpc.formstack.com/forms/ atwork. For information on upcoming events, visit www.pcpc.org/ at-work.
At each stage of my Christian life I have been blessed with fabulous mentors. I owe a great debt to my high school Young Life leader, RUF campus minister, the seminary professor I lived with, and my past employers. Each of these men have helped me grow in depth and insight whether it be teaching me to read the Bible on my own, refining my theological perspective, or giving me the freedom and opportunity to left page: top, speaker Albert Erisman below, Ka Cotter and Bill Bogart chat with apply the Gospel in everyday life. luncheon speaker Gloria Nelund (center).
PCPC PCPC WITNESS WITNESS •• NOVEMBER NOVEMBER 2015 2015
What do you like to do in your free time? My free time is currently consumed by my family, and I would not have it any other way. I cannot wait for my daughters to grow up so that I can introduce them to my favorite hobbies of fly-fishing and traveling to new and interesting places. 11 11
NEW URBAN MISSIONS PARTNERS JOIN TEAM
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arlier this year, PCPC’s Urban Missions Executive Committee approved the addition of two new partners: Behind Every Door and H.I.S. BridgeBuilders. Both of these ministries are working to transform lives and communities in South and East Dallas.
was because of white people. So, I thought white people were against me, and that is why I had something against white people.
BEHIND EVERY DOOR, led
When I moved near Willow Pond, I went over to the Community Center and I met Ms. Suzanne and Mr. Rickey. Ms. Suzanne and Mr. Rickey are both white, so I was pretty skeptical. But, they had a Christmas party I went to and I had fun, so I started to hang out with Ms. Suzanne. Hanging out with Ms. Suzanne was tough at first. Kind of uncomfortable. But, I got to know her, and I started to have more fun. The same thing happened with Mr. Rickey. As we got closer, I wanted to know about God because He was important to both Ms. Suzanne and Mr. Rickey.
by PCPC member Will Dowell and his staff, exists to bring about the “fullness of the love of Jesus” and to transform the lives in underserved communities in two large apartment complexes, Village Oaks, in South Oak Cliff, and Willow Pond, in East Dallas, Will’s staff invests time building relationships as they get to know the stories and people behind every apartment door. The team focuses on seven key areas of a healthy community: safety, education, housing, employment, emotional and physical health, spiritual health, and community involvement. This part of South Oak Cliff was a tough neighborhood. Today residents are choosing to make their home at Village Oaks.
Neisha’s story in her own words I was brought up with a single mom and two siblings. We moved from house, to house, to house. Nothing ever felt very stable. I had a horrible attitude, and I always got kicked out of school. I think I have been kicked out of 27 schools. It was hard to stay in school because there were so many white people. I didn’t like white people for nothing. I couldn’t stand them. I thought that the reason I didn’t have a daddy 12
Don’t get me wrong, I went to church and I knew about God. But, I really only went to church because of the candy! I wasn’t learning about God at all. So, when Ms. Suzanne taught me about who God really is, I kept wanting to know more. And, when I got to know who God is, I actually wanted to live my life differently. I actually wanted to do better in life, and I started to get mad at myself when I wasn’t doing better. Now I am trying to start over. Just because I had an attitude in the past doesn’t mean I have an attitude now. I have known Ms. Suzanne and Mr. Rickey for five years now. I got tired of getting kicked out of schools and moving around. Things are getting better and my attitude is improving. I
am doing better in school. I am playing sports. I want to go to college. I know it sounds crazy, but I live with Ms. Suzanne now! I call her “Mom” and Mr. Rickey “Brother.” I want to show people that just because I have a reputation of being a horrible person, I am actually God’s child. Ms. Suzanne has taught me that God fights my battles for me, and I don’t have to fight those battles. So, that is what I am trying to do now. At Willow Pond, Rickey, his staff, and volunteers provide an after-school program with emphasis on improving literacy. Additionally, homework assistance is a priority, and they teach social skills and conduct Bible studies for the 53 children attending. Many events occur at both complexes including backto-school parties, fall festivals, and basketball tournaments. NOVEMBER 2015 • PCPC WITNESS
H.I.S. BRIDGEBUILDERS,
an urban missionary organization, offers a time-tested and theologically grounded approach to poverty alleviation and community restoration by establishing a relational presence and offering a tangible expression of the Gospel in the communities where it serves. It works to restore people’s broken relationships with God, self, others, and creation—the roots of material poverty. BridgeBuilders provides vocational training, a life skills program, and counseling for its students, while staff and volunteers walk alongside them in a discipleship relationship. Bonton Farms, a BridgeBuilders mission, is another tangible expression of the mission in South Dallas, where drugs and crime have ruled. The Bonton area of South Dallas is a food desert, where access to healthy food is a minimum 90 minutes away by bus. The farm, started in May 2014, is yielding produce including tomatoes, peppers, onions, okra, and arugula. Eggs and honey are also “fruits of the farm.” BridgeBuilders staff live in Bonton conducting Bible studies and oversee the farm. Lives are being transformed, and Dallas is seeing the fruit of changed lives.
Patrick’s story Over a year ago, when the staff of BridgeBuilders met Patrick Wright in Bonton, he was on drugs, didn’t have a job, was searching for God in Islam, and admittedly had no purpose in life.
Whether you take I-45 south to Overton Blvd., Northwest Highway east to Skillman, or US-175 east toward Kaufman, you will find God at work in and through His people. --Charlotte Medley
His life began to change the day he met Daron Babcock, the leader of BridgeBuilders urban missionaries. Patrick began volunteering at the farm in Bonton. He gave up the drugs that were ruining his life, found a job on the farm, and ended his search for God when he met the Lord Jesus. Today, Patrick’s life is full of purpose and hope. He’s been reunited with his eightyear-old daughter Jessie, and he is being the father to her that he’s always wanted to be. Additionally, he’s now the farm manager specializing in animals. Two Saturdays a month 100+ volunteers gather to tend the farm, weeding, planting, mulching. and harvesting. Bible studies take place during the week, and an after-school program began this fall.
left page: left, Cedric Robertson and his friend; above, Will Dowell with Ms. Cera and Ms. G below, Suzanne Wallace and Patricia Beggiato this page: above, Patrick Wright cares for the goats below, some crops at Bonton Farms
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FACING HOMELESSNESS Panelists Wayne Walker, Keith Price, Kimberly Williams, and Bill Thompson
On August 31, Urban Missions host-
ed a Church in the City discussion for over 175 attendees to learn from a panel of experts addressing homelessness from a variety of angles.
A FAMILIAR FACE
To kick off the discussion, Lee Jackson, Sports Director at Mercy Street, shared his story of homelessness. At age 13, his father was in jail, his mother didn’t work, they were kicked out of their apartment, and he found himself homeless in Cleveland. He felt others judged him as worthless by what he wore—t-shirt and sweat pants which he carried around in a backpack. He went out on his own, spent a night with a friend or a cousin whenever possible, and played sports to escape life in a shelter with his mother and sisters. He described himself as nervous, scared, angry, mad and frustrated, “lost, in a broken world, in the dark…” where he was not safe. He reminded us that God provides and protects; He gives you a story and a testimony. He changes lives. Homeless for two and a half years, he finally moved into a condemned 14
Lee Jackson
BEHIND THE FACE
apartment building with his mother where he lived day-by-day, sometimes meal to meal. In inclement weather, he would sit in a bus stop shelter, never being asked if he needed a ride or a place to stay. He found himself sleeping between buildings next to guys he didn’t know. People ignored Lee, but God didn’t. He put people in his life. A coach believed in him and said, “Lee, I won’t give up on you.” This coach gave him food, rides, and place to sleep in the basement of his family’s home.
Following Lee’s story a panel discussion featured Bill Thompson, Union Gospel Mission; Kimberly Williams, Interfaith Housing Coalition; Wayne Walker, Our Calling; and Keith Price, Focus on Teens. Panelists shared their views on and experiences with homelessness before answering questions about what’s working, what is the solution, and how can they get involved. The panelists emphasized that the solution to homelessness is not just a roof over your head; access to personal relationships provides vital support. The final take-away was: “Assistance without accountability creates an avalanche.”
Today that once homeless boy is a young man with a family, an education, and a testimony to share. He is providing hope and opportunities for other young people at Mercy Street through several sports. He also shares the Gospel—at one Cleveland football camp 77 kids came to know Christ. Lee reminded us that you will never know someone’s story if you just look at the outward appearance. If you take the risk, you will have the chance to know Christ, share Christ, and develop a significant relationship with someone who may become part of your family.
Feedback from one respondent stated, “The panel addressed a comprehensive set of causes, both systemic and poor choices. Also, they addressed a comprehensive set of ways to approach solutions. It was the best short seminar on homelessness I could have expected. It addressed the real complexity of the issue without flinching.” Urban Missions is planning follow up seminars to equip the saints with practical ways of serving the homeless. Be prepared to be part of the solution! —Charlotte Medley
NOVEMBER 2015 • PCPC WITNESS
Did you call to begin a relationship with Jesus Christ?” D id you know that sharing the Gospel can be as simple as picking up the phone? “Hello, this is the Billy Graham Telephone Center. My name is _________. Did you call to begin a relationship with Jesus Christ?” The Billy Graham Classics programs, video tapes of Billy Graham Crusades, are shown on TBN Network, and this is the typical reception the caller will receive when he/she is prompted by the Holy Spirit to call the toll-free number that scrolls across the TV screen.
ed group of volunteers committed to this ministry, and we could use more volunteers. Every time there is a broadcast some calls go unanswered because there are not enough volunteers to take all the calls. We have taken calls from callers ages 6 to well passed 90, from all walks of life, from across the country and Canada, and even from a remote Eskimo village in Alaska. Surprisingly, we have also taken calls from Jamaica and Trinidad. As we take these calls from the lonely, hurting, suffering and the lost, we experience an amazing presence of the Holy Spirit as He matches the caller with just the right volunteer. Here is how this ministry has touched the lives of the volunteers: “Praying for people here at the ministry has been a tremendous gift to me that I can serve and be obedient to the calling in reference to Luke 10:2 and Proverbs 11:30. We call this “low hanging fruit.” Those who have a hunger for the things of God are calling us. I find this work for the Lord to be most satisfying.” —Jeff Roye
Shirley Quine
When PCPC first joined Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) TV Telephone Ministry (TVTM) 11 years ago, there were only 11 call centers. We volunteered every Wednesday and Saturday. Now there are almost 40 call centers nationwide taking hundreds of calls every week. PCPC is unique, in that it is the only Presbyterian church that participates in this ministry. With BGEA TVTM’s amazing growth, PCPC now only takes calls twice a month on Wednesdays. We meet in prayer and take calls from 6:15- 7:30 pm. Afterwards, we devote time to sharing and reflecting on the calls that really touched our hearts. Jesus commands us in Matthew 28:19. This ministry is the easiest way to do just that. We have a small devot-
“I have had the pleasure of being involved with the Call Center for about three years, and it is without a doubt one of the most rewarding and fulfilling ministries I have ever been involved with. I joined in order to learn to better share my faith. I have learned that and so much more. It is a wonderful opportunity to be a part of expanding God’s Kingdom.” —Houston Hunt When I assess the last command from our risen Holy Mediator to His disciples, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19), I realize that the Lord of the Harvest will hold me accountable if I employ the excuse of lacking the gift of evangelism. The BGEA provides a streamlined extension to day-to-day evangelism. —Joanne
PCPC WITNESS • NOVEMBER 2015
I can’t think of anything more satisfying in this life than praying with someone to receive Christ as Lord and Saviour. In Matthew 16:26 Jesus said, “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?” In God’s economy, the value of a single soul is worth more than the value of the whole world. There is no higher privilege than to be an instrument the Lord uses to pray with a person His Holy Spirit is convicting of sin and the need for salvation through Jesus’ death and resurrection. Volunteering in the Call Center is an easy way to be obedient to the Great Commission—in human terms, Billy Graham is the one doing the “heavy lifting” and at the Call Center we are able to reap what he has sown. It is a real joy to be able to conclude a call with, “Though I may never meet you here on earth, Susan, now that you have prayed to receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, I look forward to when, in God’s time, we get to know each other at the foot of His throne.” —Diann Addison Since I first became a Christian, it has given me joy to be able to share my faith in Christ with someone who is contemplating the meaning of the true spiritual life. But it seems to me to be harder and more challenging all the time to come into contact with people who are wondering about spiritual things. However, this is not the case when answering the phone calls coming in to the Call Center at PCPC. When I answer the phone I am immediately speaking with someone whose heart is hungry to come into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit has done the preparation and in most cases it is a simple matter of reading to them how they can begin a walk with Christ by faith. —Shirley Quine Would you like to help lead people to Jesus Christ? Then prayerfully consider being a part of BGEA TV Telephone Ministry. For more information, contact Julia Lawrence, 214-224-2750, or Myrna Dunn (drdmtd@gmail.com). —Myrna Dunn 15
What’s the POINT?
What does Plinko (the old Price is Right game), a shaving cream hairdo, and God’s Word have in common?! They all are moving parts in a new Middle School program called The Point. “What’s the Point?!” one might ask. The Point is the new gathering of fifth-eighth grade students launched on Wednesday nights where middle school youth come together for fellowship, games, skits, worship, and the study of the Bible in small groups! The Point was born out of a desire to bring greater unity to the middle school students at PCPC and give them each an identity as members of this local church. With four interns, 16 adult and high school student volunteers, and lots of prayer and preparation, we are halfway through our first semester, and we are having a blast! We are studying the Doctrines of Grace, helping kids to study and know the nuts and bolts of their salvation. The best thing about doing Middle School ministry is you get the best questions, which help both challenge us as leaders to know our stuff as well communicate these truths in a tangible way for the youth in our small groups. At the end of the day, the point of the Point is for kids to know and love Jesus more in the context of the local church and to go out into their schools and homes to hopefully proclaim and live out the Gospel. And we will continue to pray to that end. —Danny Stimson left, Mack Duval arm wrestles Collin Aufhammer for his prize. right, Carson Reichert prepares to take a volunteer leader trust fall. background: Collin Aufhammer leads Plinko.
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PROMOTION SUNDAY,
sometimes called Commotion Sunday, was a blast this year. On August 30, the Children’s Ministry promoted children to their next class for the school year. It is such a treat to see families and children excited about the next year of learning God’s Word, seeing friends, having fun, and deepening their relationships with Christ and each other. The 2015 Promotion Sunday was a special one as the Children’s Ministry began several new initiatives. Starting this year every preschooler and elementary-aged student will learn the same lesson each Sunday with slight modifications to
Commotion Sunday ensure age-appropriate lessons. The curriculum started in Genesis and for the next four years will work its way through the entire Bible, discovering Christ at the center of each story.
Not only has the curriculum begun anew, but also the Scripture memory and Catechism’s pieces for our children. Scripture memory will follow along with the chosen verses found in the Sanctuary Order of Worship, and the Catechism pieces are broken down incrementally throughout the year so children will learn selected portions each month. Also, this fall the Children’s Ministry is fully staffed in each of the three ministries. Gale Emerson continues to faithfully lead the Nursery and Childcare Ministry, Kiki Pennington courageously cares and nurtures the
Preschool ministry, and the newest edition to the Children’s team, Matt Statham, has answered the call to lead the Elementary Ministry.
We are anticipating great and exciting things from the Lord this year. One reminder we would love to keep before every child, parent, and family this year is from Paul’s letter to the church in Rome, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39). Absolutely nothing can separate us from the love of God found in Christ Jesus. No depth, width, height, no one and nothing can keep us from God’s never stopping, never giving up, unbreaking, and always forever love. —Austin Ariail
Austin Ariail leads the Elementary children in prayer PCPC WITNESS • NOVEMBER 2015
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AJUST REVERSE MISSION TRIP OPEN YOUR DOOR
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received a phone call Tuesday afternoon from a member of the PCPC missions staff. Huan*, one of our exchange students, was not feeling well. Cheryl and I were both a long way from home. I received a message a few minutes later that the PCPC staff was going to take Huan and Jiao to the Hensons’— their second host family’s house. It made logical sense. Cheryl and I were not available. It was the night that Huan and Jiao* were supposed to switch host families. I immediately had a rush of feelings. No! These are my girls! It isn’t supposed to happen this way! Take them to my house and I will be there in 20 minutes.
The days that followed were very sweet. A day at the circus. Church on Sunday. Bowl and Barrel, Snuffers, and a vicious game of Monopoly until midnight. Lots of time together and lots of wonderful conversations about life in East Asia, life in Dallas, and some discussion about Jesus when the opportunity presented itself. In East Asia, Huan and Jiao are in classes at their boarding school from 7:00 am to almost 10:00 pm! Saturday was mostly spent with tutors at home. I could tell that they were having fun just being able to relax, play, and not worry about their hypercompetitive lifestyle at home.
ied in their phones. I called an audible and had everyone sit down in the family room to reflect on our last five days. As we began to talk, both Jiao and Huan started to cry. They were so sad to be leaving us. I know my whole family was sad also, and I was really feeling it. How could we become so close in just a few days? How could I love these girls like my own family in such a short time? The Bible is replete with stories about people opening their houses to strangers—sojourners in a foreign land. God used something as simple as a room in our house and our hospitality to show His love to these girls. At the same time, He used the same means to open our hearts to the needs of these wonderful girls. They were not poor or poorly educated. They spoke pretty good English and really didn’t need English classes. What they needed was to see the love of God in action. They needed to see that they were loved not for what they achieved or what they knew but that they were loved because they were Huan and Jiao. They needed to be nothing but themselves to experience our love and His love for them.
USA
My family had met Huan and Jiao only the previous Friday night. Our children Jamie (16), Tatum (16), and Willy (7) bonded immediately over hamburgers and milkshakes at Beck’s Prime. Jiao was soft spoken, smiling, and serious. She told us she wanted to be an attorney. She used to play the Zither—a beautiful instrument that kind of looks like a steel guitar, but the pressures of high school in East Asia left no time to play. Huan was louder, tall, and skinny, very funny, and ate everything in sight. She was going to be a businesswoman. We had a good first night of getting to know each other. (l to r) Huan, Cheryl, Larry, and Jiao
By the time Tuesday rolled around, these were our girls. We were sad at the thought of having to hand them off to another host family that night. I got home and Jiao and Huan were dropped off at our house. I immediately went into daddy doctor mode. What did I need to do to help Huan? Well, suffice it to say, it was a problem that most dads are ill equipped to do anything about. I could do nothing. Luckily, Jiao and Tatum tended to Huan and after several hours she felt better. That evening, it was about an hour before we needed to leave to take Jiao and Huan to the Hensons’ house. I could feel that something wasn’t right. The girls were bur-
Since Huan and Jiao left Dallas, we have stayed in touch by text message, Facebook, and Instagram. We look forward to visiting them in East Asia someday, and they both want to go to college in the United States. We hope for these things, but our ultimate hope is to be reunited with them in heaven. It is a wonderful thing for us to pray by name for the souls and wellbeing of these sweet girls who live halfway around the world .—Larry Patterson *not their real names
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BRIGHT LIGHTS REAL PROFITS
be completely frank, I had no idea what I was getting into when I signed up for the East Asia trip. I had never been on a trip like this where some of the people we would be meeting may have never even heard the name of Jesus. After hearing stories from my friends who had taken this trip in previous years, I formed in my mind the idea that I would arrive at the school where we would be teaching, immediately form close connections with the students, and in a bold and profoundly effective way, I would share the Gospel with them, thus changing their lives. So I began to be frustrated a few days into the trip when other team members were telling me about how they had been given amazing opportunities to share their faith with kids. Instead of rejoicing with them, I felt confused as to why God hadn’t let me have some sort of huge impact on these kids.
EAST ASIA
Then, halfway through the week, one of the other team members and I got to do a homestay, where we would eat dinner and do activities with the families of one of our students. We were assigned to one of my girls whom I had not previously gotten to know very well in class. At the end of the night, when we were walking home from dinner, I felt God urging me to talk to her about her beliefs. I discovered that while she was very confused about what she believed to be true, she did think that there was some sort of creator. This small idea in her gave me and my friend the chance to discuss our faith in God, the one true Creator, and how He made each and every one of us. Through broken English, she managed to ask us a few simple questions about the beginning of the world and Jesus, we answered as best we could, and that was that. We never delved into the depths of salvation or explored her personal need for a Savior, yet those few simple words planted seeds of curiosity in her heart. Throughout the rest of the week, multiple team members recognized this girl’s growing earnestness to learn more about our faith, and were able to further explain God’s truths to her. At the end of our time, we were able to give her a Bible written in her own language so that she could learn more for herself and understand it. I challenged her to search for answers to her numerous questions there, and told her that she could message me after we left so that I could continue to try to help her. I was bummed that I didn’t have more time with her, but prayed fervently for God to continue to reveal Himself to her. Only a few days after we arrived back in Dallas, I received messages from her saying that she had read the Bible and wanted to attend church, because she was now a child of God. To say I cried in joy would be a bit of an understatement, since I could barely catch my breath through my tears of sheer happiness. I realized that not only would I now see this precious friend in heaven one day, but that God had used me in a completely different way than I expected. I had entered the trip anticipating some mega-God experience in which the power of Jesus would somehow fill me in an overwhelming, spiritual movement, and I would see His hand explicitly moving in the hearts of large numbers of students. Instead, I was reminded that He often comes in a still small voice. He chose to remind me of how each individual is just as precious and loved by Him, using me in the life of one in a way that I had never expected. —Sarah Grace Zandstra
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his past September, a group of us from PCPC traveled to West Africa to complete Phase III of the Business as Mission (BAM) trip through Videre. Each morning, we broke up into groups according to language to teach through our curriculum which incorporated biblical principles as applied to sustaining a business. Through the use of translators, we were able to use the story of Joseph to illustrate the importance of planning for a “time of famine” by saving profits to carry the business through slow times or unforeseen expenses.
SENEGAL
THE TRUE CREATOR OPEN YOUR HEART
Since the goal of Videre is for the business owners to use their businesses as a light to the community, we also discussed relationships between people and how one can be a witness as a Christian. One day, we used role playing, having the students engage each other as a salesman and customer. This helped us uncover cultural differences. Walking through difficult scenarios made learning fun. We spent time one-on-one going over the numbers and verifying that the hard work done from prior trainings was still current. We were able to explain concepts relating to cash flow. Expected profits were used to create a budget to fulfill tithing, business expenses, loan payments, salary, reinvestments, and savings. Not all of the participants received loans, as the business plans needed to be viable as assessed by a committee. So it was back to the drawing board for some. Our final day included prayer and singing to the Lord as well as an award ceremony for those who ompleted the training. We all wait in expectation of success for the participants in the coming years! The people were kind and we learned from each other. We shared testimonies and each person had their own difficult journey to know Christ. The people were friendly. I could not help but notice the hand of God assembling this group of people with different backgrounds. In a sense, we were reversing the disarray that happened at the Tower of Babel. One of the women we had the pleasure of meeting was baptized in the weeks since our return. Sacrificial love toward each other provided more than we expected as we returned back to our lives back home. Isn’t the Lord a majestic King! He loves and cares for His children in the most remote places on earth. Thank you Lord for letting us serve the people of West Africa! —Walter Sullivan 1919
CURIOSITY ADDRESSED
Periodical Postage Paid at Dallas, Texas
Vol. XXV, No. 4 • NOVEMBER 2015 PARK CITIES PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 4124 OAK LAWN, DALLAS, TX 75219 WWW.PCPC.ORG
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apan was a life changing experience. My perspective of the world always changes when I get to experience a different culture, but this trip was much different from any other trip. The Spirit kept moving inside me. He kept my eyes open to my surroundings, and exposed my heart to the devastation that lives in Japan. My heart was heavy. I cried a lot for the brokenness that I saw and darkness that I heard about. I also cried many tears of joy because God kept reminding me of His grace in the sweetest ways. In the midst of darkness, I was clothed with the Light of my Savior. The Japanese view Christianity as a cultural practice, not a religion to which you surrender your life. We heard about a Japanese student who studied abroad in America and was exposed to the Gospel. She believed in Jesus Christ, and when she told her family back at home that she had become a Christian, they were happy for her, because they thought she was just embracing the culture. But when she came home to Japan, and continued to worship Jesus, her family was furious. To be a Christian in Japan, you have to be willing to give things up, even your own family’s respect. You have to be all in. The Japanese Christians that we were able to meet had the most faithful devotion to God’s Word that I have ever seen, because they know that God is better than anything they seek after. They are accepted just as they are, because God wants them just as they are. On the flip side, if you are a Westerner visiting Japan, you’re probably viewed as a Christian. The Japanese people will likely respond to you positively because they’re curious. They are fascinated about Christianity and want to hear more about it. I had a lot of mixed feelings while trying to understand this, one being pressure—“I have to act perfectly and always say the right thing and
make sure people are viewing the right Gospel through my every step and breath.” I’m not God. I’m a sinner. But God is gracious and loves me perfectly, so He sent Jesus to die for the sinners, so that we could live with a babbling tongues, imperfect steps, and staggering breath and still live under the Light and expose His glory by the grace of the Spirit. That’s the Gospel. My imperfections reveal the perfection of my God. Also, I felt His faithful presence—By really knowing my God, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and trusting The Spirit to work through my brokenness and failure, peace overcomes fear. He uses the weak to shame the strong. He uses the tongue-tied to lead a nation. (Ex. 3)
I wouldn’t have been able to go to Japan at all without my family’s and friends’ support. I am so humbled by the way God makes His Kingdom grow through world missions and how He provides everything that is needed. Right down to the dollar. I am so grateful that He has blessed PCPC with the resources to send the Gospel to one of the least reached countries in the world! My heart was exposed to so many hardships and so many triumphs. Seeing God’s power and glory being unveiled through the teary eyes of His children in Japan made me fall so much more in love with Him! Thank you for helping me get overseas and for fighting the spiritual warfare as you prayed during my time there. I am so grateful for your willingness, generosity, and love for me to make His Story known across the world. —Elise McClure
JAPAN
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Our team did ministry with a church in Nagoya planted by MTW missionaries. We built relationships with the missionaries and their families and helped them with different ministry opportunities that they have weekly or monthly. The week was packed, but the Spirit kept us moving and serving.
Top: this Japan team was drawn from the Young Adults Ministry Inset: Elise McClure with her new friend, Akiko, who is interested in the Gospel now and loves the story of redemption and grace.
NOVEMBER 2015 • PCPC WITNESS