AUGUST 2012 VOL. XXII, NO. 3
Pa r k C ities P r esby ter i an C hur ch
“The Rock, His work is perfect, for all His ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is He.” Deuteronomy 32:4
An informed imagination brings light to the Word
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More than boring manna rains down in Florida
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(Presbyterian Church in America)
ummer may have started out peacefully and quietly at PCPC, but it quickly began to Rock and Roll. On June 11–14, PCPC transformed into a Rocking Tool Shed for 520 children who attended Vacation Bible School. Along with the children of New St. Peter’s and Providence Presbyterian Churches and Voice Of Hope, our children learned how to build their life upon the Rock, Jesus Christ. Each day, a bright yellow frontend loader and giant foam tools greeted our little contractors to the School of Rock.
and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works; my soul knows it well.” Just as God had a big plan when He created our world and everything in it, He has a blueprint for each one of us.
The week centered on Psalm 62:2: “He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.” Bible stories helped illustrate how we need to fully rely on Jesus Christ as our hope and our salvation. To see that God has a plan for us, the story of creation was used. Teachers explained to the children Proverbs 139:14: “I praise you, for I am fearfully
On the third day, the children learned that once we are bolted into Christ, we can never be separated. “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), was used to drive
Tuesday’s lesson focused on bulldozing sin and how we cannot do this on our own. The children were wowed by a video lesson in which our fearless leader, Roc, attempted to tear down a big house with a small hammer. He could not do it alone and eventually a big bulldozer was brought in to do what Roc couldn’t. The story of Noah was also used to show our children our need for Jesus to eradicate the sin in our lives.
Saints gone before us are remembered 8 Do we still obey the Old Testament law?
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PCPC extending Boxes of Blessings year-round 11 Bible study in China lands in unexpected place 12 Help women escape present-day slavery
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Mission team finds Japan opening up to Gospel 14 College students head to Zambia to serve kids 15
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VBS
continued from page 1
this lesson home. VBS wrapped up with a lesson on building our life on the Rock. Through the story of David and Goliath, we taught the children that when they fully trust in Jesus they will not be greatly shaken, not even by scary giants! The VBS team, led by representatives of each church, worked hard to incorporate the lessons into all the activities and have fun with a purpose. Each day, the children made crafts that were tools for their tool belts. They made blueprints to represent God’s big plan for our lives; rulers to demonstrate our need for Jesus, as we cannot measure up on our own accord; crosses made from two pieces of wood bolted together to help them recall that once we are with Christ we cannot be separated; and hammers to help them build their life on the Rock. On Thursday, the children placed all their tools into their tool belt aprons to take home. Willy Nilly
Reinforcement through the morning On Monday, the little contractors used a blueprint to build a tower from blocks and took turns as human bowling balls knocking their towers down. Tuesday’s lesson was reiterated when the children ran a race to dig out sin (aka, moving balled up newspapers from one bin to another). During an obstacle course on the third day, they hammered golf tees into pieces of Styrofoam to exemplify bolting into Christ. Thursday was a much anticipated day of recreating all of their favorite games and activities.
to Roc (James Madden) who led the School of Rock and Willy Nilly (Joshua Keller), a flighty rock-n-roll star whose only desire is to learn how to build a garage so his band will have a place to practice. Each day, Roc showed Willy that we need to take steps to build a life in Jesus, and he taught Willy that God has a big plan to bulldoze sin so we can be bolted in and build our life on the Rock. Once Willy understood what God intended for him, he knelt down in the tool shed and humbly asked Jesus into his very non-perfect, rock-n-roll loving heart.
In Music and Skit time, the leaders taught the children new songs, including a musical version of our theme verse with hand motions. The students were also introduced
In Missions each day D’Ann Moxley and her team taught our children
(Joshua Keller) and Roc (James Madden}
The Missions team
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The Missions team
AUGUST 2012 • PCPC WITNESS
about the importance of Going and Building His Kingdom. Through a series of skits and fun music, the children took a mission trip each day to a country in the 10/40 Window. The kids met people from India (Hindu), China (Buddhism), Africa (Tribal), and Afghanistan (Islam). Julian Russell joined in as a man from Senegal, Africa, who had never heard of Jesus Christ. After the mission team learned of this emergency and quickly told him the Good News, Julian and his wife were happy to pick up a hammer and assist with Building the Kingdom. Our children also participated in a mission project by bringing small school supplies for the Good Samaritan School in Senegal. Preschool students enjoyed their own Music and Skit time in the Library. The Cummins family taught the children lessons through their School of Rock puppet show, and Lynda Fray led them in a special music class.
Pappy and Elmo in the School of Rock puppet show
Hannah and Barrett Ball
VBS culminated with Family Night. Children brought their parents for fun, food, and games, and they sang all the new songs for them. The parents enjoyed a photo slideshow that captured our week perfectly. Pastor Tommy Overton led our families in a time of prayer and thanksgiving for such a Rocking week. Our prayer is that VBS did not end on Thursday but continues at home. Whether it is their tool belt full of their crafts, the CD full of scripture-filled songs, or the DVD with video clips used in the skits and pictures of the memories they made, our 2012 VBS children will have trouble forgetting the lesson they learned—He alone is our Rock and our Salvation! —Barrett Ball PCPC WITNESS • AUGUST 2012
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Michael Card Music artist, writer, and teacher
“Imagination: The power or capacity to form internal images or ideas of objects and situations not actually present to the senses, including remembered objects and situations.” —The Oxford English Dictionary
D
espite my fading college memory (circa 1987), I remember that at the first Michael Card concert I attended, Michael started by saying it was important that the audience know two things: (1) that he was sent out under the authority of his local church in Franklin, Tennessee, and (2) that every song he sang that night would be about Jesus, because Jesus was only thing worth singing about. I’m not sure what I expected, but after the concert, I walked back to my dorm room wondering if I had encountered a music artist, a writer, or a teacher—and the answer was, “All of the above.” Actually I had encountered more than that—I had been confronted with God and the Gospel in a way I had not experienced before. Who would have guessed that someone could sell out a concert on a secular college campus by performing songs about New Testament apostles and Old Testament history! “When God doesn’t give us answers,” Michael said, explaining Job’s suffering, “He gives us Himself.” Michael gives credit for encouraging him to write music for the church to his college professor and mentor, Dr. William Lane. Dr. Lane, who was preaching at a church near Western Kentucky University, asked Michael to compose music to accompany each night’s scripture passage and sermon. 4
At first, Michael didn’t know for certain that music would be his main career, thinking instead he might go through life as an under-the-radar Bible teacher. If his plans had not changed by the time he received the Dove Award for Songwriter of the Year in 1983 (for Amy Grant’s recording of his song, El Shaddai), they soon would. Since that time, he has recorded 31 albums (which have sold more than 4 million copies), written nineteen #1 hits, penned 24 books, and hosted a nationwide radio program.
“When God doesn’t give us answers... He gives us Himself.” The informed biblical imagination: A bridge between mind and heart Michael has always blended teaching into his concerts, typically in the form of five- to ten-minute introductions to songs. “I guess I should stop talking now and sing,” he often says. I came to the concerts looking forward to hearing the songs—but left wishing for more teaching time. That explains my initial interest when I heard about Michael’s Biblical Imagination conferences—a Friday/Saturday teaching
conference followed by a Sunday night concert. The conference schedule also includes time for discussion and interaction. When I first mentioned the name of the conference to a friend, they quizzed me about Michael’s use of the word imagination. Doesn’t imagination imply inventing something that doesn’t otherwise exist? It could, but that isn’t the first definition listed in the Oxford English Dictionary (see above). Isn’t there a chance that using my imagination to interpret scripture could encourage me to create a meaning that’s not intended? Not if you use your informed imagination to listen to the Bible the way Michael is recommending. Is this the “pure imagination” that Gene Wilder sang about at the Chocolate Factory? No, but wasn’t he awesome as Willy Wonka? In Luke: The Gospel of Amazement, the first book in his Biblical Imagination series, Michael relates the story of how Dr. Lane explained his approach to reading God’s Word: “We must read the Bible at the level of the informed imagination” (p. 11). He goes on to explain that the Fall led to the disintegration of the world God created, and that lack of integration is present in the way we approach scripture. AUGUST 2012 • PCPC WITNESS
Jesus is merely a figment. But when the imagination is surrendered along
“With an
uninformed imagination, Jesus is merely a figment. But when the imagination is surrendered
includes a good bit of medical detail, e.g., Peter’s mother’s high fever in Luke 4, and he excludes detail that might reflect negatively on his profession, e.g., in Mark 5, Mark tells us that the woman with the hemorrhage has suffered at the hands of many doctors,
along with the heart and mind, it becomes a unifying bridge that opens up the scriptures in new and exciting ways.”
Listening to scripture with a surrendered mind and heart
Some embrace the Bible with their hearts but neglect the discipline of the mind; others apply top-notch minds to interpreting scripture but ignore the connections to their hearts. Michael asserts that the Holy Spirit uses our imaginations to reconnect our hearts and minds, to reintegrate what the Fall tore apart. To summarize this idea, Michael writes: “When we imagine, what are we actually doing? I don’t pretend to fully understand the mystery of the human heart, but I believe when we imagine, something is taking place in our hearts. Our minds are working with our hearts to create images (hence image-nation). But the heart and mind must work in concert; they must be connected by a bridge. This bridge is the imagination. It connects the heart and mind. It seeks to reintegrate and reconnect the fragmentation brought about by the Fall. An imagination that has been surrendered to God for this process of listening to the scriptures is what I call the ‘biblical imagination’” (pp. 12–13, Mark: The Gospel of Passion). Michael is also careful not to let us forget that our imaginations must be informed. We have to do our homework, studying the resources available to understand the facts. He warns that: “With an uninformed imagination, PCPC WITNESS • AUGUST 2012
with the heart and mind, it becomes a unifying bridge that opens up the scriptures in new and exciting ways” (p. 14, Mark: The Gospel of Passion).
Coming to PCPC: A don’t-miss-it event!
I attended the Biblical Imagination conference on Luke with some friends in the spring of 2011, and we all came away with a growing understanding of Michael’s approach to reading scripture. We learned to listen to the Bible, asking “why?” about the facts we knew to be true. For example, Michael reminded us of the many facts we know about Luke including that he was a doctor (Colossians 4:14) and that he was likely a Gentile (implied from Paul’s grouping of his companions in Colossians 10:10– 17). He didn’t stop there, however. He asked us how those facts help us understand scripture—in effect, what difference do these facts make? What should we expect from a Gospel writer who was a doctor? Luke
but Luke (in Luke 8) conveniently omits that detail. How would a Gentile writer differ from other Gospel writers? While Matthew starts his genealogy of Jesus with Abraham, emphasizing Jesus’ Jewishness. Luke, on the other hand, starts his genealogy of Jesus with Adam. It’s not that Luke is denying Jesus’ Jewish heritage; instead, he is emphasizing that Jesus came to save those outside Israel as well. Simeon sings, in Luke 2:32, that Jesus is “…a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” Even though I could keep going with examples, I won’t—and hopefully you’ve heard enough to be curious. So please consider attending the conference on Friday and Saturday, October 19–20, and also don’t forget the free concert on Sunday night, October 21. If you come, please bring your Bible, your questions, and, last but not least, your informed imagination! I hope to see you there. —Bruce Shaw 5
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found a misplaced NIV children’s Bible the other day. It was delivered with joy (but not, apparently, received with responsibility) on February 16, 1992. I’m sure you know the kind—interspersed with eye-catching inserts depicting the more dramatic moments of the Bible. For example, Moses’ descends from Mount Sinai in a brilliant lightning storm holding the Ten Commandments and looking for all the world like a giant. It contains a wonderful whiff of the solemn significance and holiness of the moment, even if the accuracy is somewhat marred by the random Greek letters and Arabic numbers etched onto the tablets. If you flick through the rest of the pictures you get a sense of the sensationalism: the crossing of the Red Sea, Jonah sinking in the sea with a blue whale lurking in the background, Daniel bravely cuddling the lions in the den, and Paul’s blinding conversion. It’s all big lights and show biz! It makes
God for raining down food on them from nowhere every day? How could you doubt God’s willingness to provide for you when He was literally performing a daily miracle? I have begun to believe that they simply stopped seeing it as significant. We don’t often thank God for the insignificant things. If you stop seeing manna as significant, then you stop thanking God for it. Once you stop thanking God for it, you start wondering why you are eating manna and not pheasant. Then you start complaining to God for keeping delicious pheasant from you, and the rest of the story isn’t pleasant—especially regarding the pheasant. Brent Baker, PCPC’s Youth Pastor, often tells the Youth intern staff to look for God in the insignificant. I think he means to live in a state of thankfulness for what God is doing (even though it might just look like boring old
FINDING GOD in
me wonder how we communicate God’s activity in the world. How could you not look through this Bible and immediately conclude that if God was going to do anything, it would have to be something frighteningly brilliant? He would always have to go around blowing the socks off people and amazing them with His miracles. If it wasn’t significant, then it wasn’t God’s. I am certain that we would all disavow this belief. I know I do. But of course our bold proclamations are often undone by our routine actions. I am quick to pray for significant things, like youth trips to China, Sunday morning worship services, or the health of a friend. But how often do I find myself praying about insignificant things? Do I believe that God really cares where I eat lunch? Does he care how I fill out this form? Is God concerned with that phone call to AT&T (and not just my likely need to repent afterward)? I’ve been thinking about this in relation to the story of God’s provision of manna in the wilderness. I am often bemused by Israel’s grumbling about manna. How did they end up frustrated with 6
manna) and expectation at what God might be about to do through something seemingly insignificant. If you are wondering what this has to do with Florida, well here it is. This annual, end-of-the-school-year trip, perhaps more than any other PCPC high school youth trip, is a careful blend between the significant and insignificant. It is obviously a significant thing to travel to the pristine beaches of Florida for a week. It is significant that Jonathan McIntosh, pastor of Christ City Memphis Church, preached every night on the prodigal sons. It is significant that we had group discussion each night in our cabins. It is undeniably significant that the last night, while the students spent twenty minutes alone on the beach, God revealed Himself in the west through a beautifully terrifying storm flashing and rumbling in the distance, and in the east through the majestic beaming of the moon around translucent clouds. The significance of fourteen new souls confessing Christ as Lord will never be considered insignificant. And yet, despite all this glamour and glory, for AUGUST 2012 • PCPC WITNESS
most of the day on the beach or by the pool or in the cabins, God worked just as faithfully and just as miraculously through what we so poorly call insignificant. I will relate a few that come readily to mind. A quiet conversation about death while watching the consistent crash of the waves. A quick exit from the volleyball tournament so a leader could focus on loving his cabin group. Two friends asking
talk honestly about God. I could go on, but that would only belabor the point. Strangely, as I write these “insignificant” stories, I wonder if I should be writing them. Does anyone really care about a cabin discarding the devotional, when these other students placed faith in Christ? One does seem more significant. But then I think back to the manna. Was not each and every piece of manna significant to God? We only know that it happened. We don’t know how it’s “insignificance” was born into
Above: Christian Estermann and Davis Bateman Right: Kara Davis, Elena Fratteroli, Elizabeth Gatlin, Zoe Olivarri Below: Allison Horn, Caroline Clark, Grace Dieb, Edward Toohey, Ben Hamner, Hank Gowdey, Jack Hitzelberger
forgiveness of each other for inflicting mutual hurts. One student breaking his glasses, which led to a life changing metaphor. A cabin discussion about styles of praise and worship. Two different friends finding out they were experiencing the same pain. One unique leader placed in a cabin that needed the devotional thrown out so they could
praise and thanksgiving or faithfulness in the different lives of God’s people. But He did. He always does, because it is His Kingdom, His children, and His story. So God was working mightily in Florida this year in all His significant ways. I hope you will thank Him for it. —Josh Keller
PCPC WITNESS • AUGUST 2012
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REMEMBER
“And God
shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” —Revelation 21:4
Elle Segrest Brian Piper Nancy Knox
PCPC possesses a strong history of remembering well her saints. In 1998 and 2002, the Chancel Choir hosted musical events to remember, by name, those who had passed away in the proceeding years. With the twentieth anniversary of the church having recently passed, it made sense to pull together these remembrances and culminate the years with a concert in memory, gratefulness, and celebration for the lives of those who have joined the Church Triumphant since PCPC’s inception. Thus the Remember concert was forged into being and took place on Sunday, April 29. The youth and children’s choirs along with symphony orchestra joined the Chancel Choir for this event.
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AUGUST 2012 • PCPC WITNESS
We thought the best hosts would be the pastors that have faithfully led our church during this time: Skip Ryan and Mark Davis. In between movements of the Requiem of Maurice Duruflé, choir anthems, and congregational hymns, they led us in prayers, commentary, and readings of comfort, assurance, and great hope. Among others, the words of Katharina von Schlegel rang out with conviction and comfort:
received the end of their faith, even the salvation of their souls. Especially we call to remembrance Your lovingkindness and Your tender mercies to Your servants who were members of Park Cities Presbyterian Church and our other loved ones who are now resident citizens of this eternal home. For all Your goodness that withheld not their portion in the joys of this earthly life, and for Your guiding hand along the way of their pilgrimage, we give You thanks and praise. Especially we bless You for Your grace that kindled in their hearts the love of Your dear name; that enabled them to fight the good fight, to endure unto the end, and to obtain the victory, yea, to become more than conquerors, through Him who loves us. We magnify Your holy name that, their trials and temptations being ended, sickness and death being passed, with all the dangers and difficulties of this mortal life, their spirits are at home in Your presence, at whose right hand dwells eternal peace. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (liturgy from the concert program) —J. Marty Cope Left, Skip Ryan and Mark Davis host the concert Below, Lynda Fray leading the high school trebles and Covenant Choir
Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on When we shall be forever with the Lord. When disappointment, grief and fear are gone, Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored. Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past All safe and blessed we shall meet at last. O God, who is the Strength of Your saints and who redeems the souls of Your servants: We bless Your name for all those who have died in the Lord, and who now rest from their labors, having PCPC WITNESS • AUGUST 2012
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Making sense
of scripture’s
I
by Tim Keller
‘inconsistency’
But even in the Old Testament, many writers hinted that the sacrifices and the temple worship regulations pointed forward to something beyond them (cf. 1 Sam. 15:21–22; Ps. 50:12–15; 51:17; Hos. 6:6). When Christ appeared He declared all foods clean (Mark 7:19), and He ignored the Old Testament cleanliness laws in other ways, touching lepers and dead bodies.
find it frustrating when I read or hear columnists, pundits, or journalists dismiss Christians as inconsistent because “they pick and choose which of the rules in the Bible to obey.” Most often I hear, “Christians ignore lots of Old Testament texts—about not eating raw meat or pork or shellfish, not executing people for breaking the Sabbath, not wearing garments woven with two kinds of material and so on. Then they condemn homosexuality. Aren’t you just picking and choosing what you want to believe from the Bible?”
The reason is clear. When He died on the cross the veil in the temple tore, showing that He had done away with the need for the entire sacrificial system with all its cleanliness laws. Jesus is the ultimate sacrifice for sin, and now Jesus n short the makes us clean.
I don’t expect everyone to understand that the whole Bible is about Jesus and God’s plan to redeem His people, but I vainly hope that one day someone will access their common sense (or at least talk to an informed theological adviser) before leveling the charge of inconsistency.
“I
,
coming of
Christ
changed how we
The entire book of Hebrews explains that worship but not the Old Testament ceremonial laws were how we live not so much abolished as fulfilled by Christ. Whenever we pray “in Jesus name” we “have confidence to enter First, it’s not only the Old Testament that the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus” has proscriptions about homosexuality. (Heb. 10:19). It would, therefore, be deeply The New Testament has plenty to say inconsistent with the teaching of the Bible about it as well. Even Jesus says, in His as a whole if we continued to follow the discussion of divorce in Matthew 19:3–12, ceremonial laws. that the original design of God was for one man and one woman to be united as aw still binding one flesh, and failing that (v. 12), persons The New Testament gives us further should abstain from marriage and sex. guidance about how to read the Old Testament. Paul makes it clear in places like However, let’s get back to considering Romans 13:8ff that the apostles understood the larger issue of inconsistency regarding the Old Testament moral law to still be things mentioned in the Old Testament no binding on us. In short, the coming of longer practiced by the New Testament Christ changed how we worship, but not people of God. Most Christians don’t how we live. The moral law outlines God’s know what to say when confronted about own character—His integrity, love, and this issue. Here’s a short course on the faithfulness. And so everything the Old relationship of the Old Testament to the Testament says about loving our neighbor, New Testament. caring for the poor, generosity with our possessions, social relationships, and comThe Old Testament devotes a good mitment to our family is still in force. The amount of space to describing the various New Testament continues to forbid killing sacrifices offered in the tabernacle (and or committing adultery, and all the sex ethic later temple) to atone for sin so that worof the Old Testament is re-stated throughshipers could approach a holy God. There out the New Testament (Matt. 5:27–30; was also a complex set of rules for ceremo1 Cor. 6:9–20; 1 Tim. 1:8–11). If the New nial purity and cleanness. You could only Testament has reaffirmed a commandment, approach God in worship if you ate certain then it is still in force for us today. foods and not others, wore certain forms of dress, refrained from touching a variety of The New Testament explains another objects, and so on. This vividly conveyed, change between the testaments. Sins conover and over, that human beings are tinue to be sins—but the penalties change. spiritually unclean and can’t go into God’s In the Old Testament sins like adultery or presence without purification. incest were punishable with civil sanctions
,
.”
L
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like execution. This is because at that time God’s people constituted a nation-state, and so all sins had civil penalties. But in the New Testament the people of God are an assembly of churches all over the world, living under many different governments. The church is not a civil government, and so sins are dealt with by exhortation and, at worst, exclusion from membership. This is how Paul deals with a case of incest in the Corinthian church (1 Cor. 5:1ff. and 2 Cor. 2:7–11). Why this change? Under Christ, the Gospel is not confined to a single nation—it has been released to go into all cultures and peoples. Once you grant the main premise of the Bible—about the surpassing significance of Christ and His salvation—then all the various parts of the Bible make sense. Because of Christ, the ceremonial law is repealed. Because of Christ, the church is no longer a nation-state imposing civil penalties. It all falls into place. However, if you reject the idea of Christ as Son of God and Savior, then, of course, the Bible is at best a mishmash containing some inspiration and wisdom, but most of it would have to be rejected as foolish or erroneous. So where does this leave us? There are only two possibilities. If Christ is God, then this way of reading the Bible makes sense. The other possibility is that you reject Christianity’s basic thesis—you don’t believe Jesus is the resurrected Son of God—and then the Bible is no sure guide for you about much of anything. But you can’t say in fairness that Christians are being inconsistent with their beliefs to follow the moral statements in the Old Testament while not practicing the other ones. One way to respond to the charge of inconsistency may be to ask a counter-question: “Are you asking me to deny the very heart of my Christian beliefs?” If you are asked, “Why do you say that?” you could respond, “If I believe Jesus is the resurrected Son of God, I can’t follow all the ‘clean laws’ of diet and practice, and I can’t offer animal sacrifices. All that would be to deny the power of Christ’s death on the cross. And so those who really believe in Christ must follow some Old Testament texts and not others.” This article originally appeared in Redeemer Presbyterian Church’s monthly Redeemer Report and was posted on thegospelcoalition.org on July 9, 2012.
AUGUST 2012 • PCPC WITNESS
Live out love one snack pack at a time
T
he Heidelberg Catechism, one of the most influential creeds of the Reformation, reviews the Ten Commandments in light of the further revelation of New Testament truth. If something is forbidden, something is also required, and vice versa. The Eighth Commandment forbids stealing*, but what does it require of us? No small thing. “I must promote my neighbor’s good wherever I can and may, deal with him as I would like others to deal with me, and work faithfully so that I may be able to give to those in need” (Q.111).
We will gather again to pack more snacks in September, and we hope that Snacks of Blessings will continue to grow so that each month kids around the city of Dallas who are hungry will be blessed by this ministry. It would be such a joy to have you join us the next time we get together to live out our calling one snack pack at a time. If you are interested in joining us, please contact Imelda Martinez, 214-224-2520 or imelda.martinez@ pcpc.org, or Ben Leonard, 214-2242763 or ben.leonard@pcpc.org. —Ben Leonard
You would have gotten a wonderful picture of what fulfilling this commandment looks like in action if you drove by the BCW Warehouse on Denton Drive around midday on April 28. For three hours, volunteers from PCPC’s Youth Ministry lived out this particular calling of the church by packing snacks for those in need. It was such a joy to see the body of Christ working hard, encouraging one another, and, by the grace of God, packing over 1,500 Snacks of Blessings to be distributed by some of our Urban Ministry partners over the next several months throughout Dallas.
* The Catechism gives a precise definition of stealing as well: 110. Q. What does God forbid in the eighth commandment? A. God forbids not only outright theft and robbery but also such wicked schemes and devices as false weights and measures, deceptive merchandising, counterfeit money, and usury; we must not defraud our neighbor in any way, whether by force or by show of right. In addition God forbids all greed and all abuse or squandering of His gifts.
Snacks of Blessings is a ministry born out of the heart of PCPC member Campbell Williams, who has also helped organize PCPC’s Boxes of Blessings event, a Christmas season event. His desire for Snacks of Blessings is that it will have a more regular presence in the local community throughout the year. Each snack consists of 10 edible items and a reusable water bottle.
Carlton Cornelius, PCPC youth intern
Here is one way the snacks will serve ACT (Advocates for Community Transformation) is partnering with Snacks of Blessings to help facilitate relationships with the community it serves, both with the families, individuals, and community leaders living in West Dallas. Our team of community advocates, comprised of ACT staff, interns, and volunteers, will be going door-to-door in our next target neighborhood to pass out out Snacks of Blessings. As we canvas, we will get to know our neighbors in order to talk to them about the importance of preparing a will at our upcoming Will Clinic. The canvassing will also engage them in ACT’s overall mission of making their neighborhood safer. Passing out Snacks of Blessing will help us come with a blessing in hand and help break the ice for further conversation. Snacks of Blessings is also an avenue for us to work hand-in-hand with community leaders and pastors of local congregations, as well as youth. As we meet together to find creative ways to distribute Snacks of Blessing, we will be developing relationships with these leaders in order to work together for the transformation of the community. To God be the glory and honor forever and ever! —Maria Pacheco
PCPC WITNESS WITNESS • AUGUST 2012 PCPC 11
11 MAY 2012
“So, that’s where that came from!” Do you remember Chengdu?
In the summers of 2005 and 2006, PCPC participated in a student exchange with Yandaojie, an elite private school in Chengdu. The program is called ICE (International Cultural Exchange), and it is underway again this summer. Some of our high school kids and leaders taught English in the Yandaojie classrooms. In return, some of Yandaojie’s students came to Dallas for two weeks. They spent time in the homes of PCPC families where they saw Christianity lived out before them. Some of those students became believers. The Holy Spirit continues to build PCPC relationships in Chengdu, and momentum is building. Curt and I were in that large closed country in February and March. Curt was asked to lead church and leadership workshops for pastors and leaders, and we were both asked to lead marriage workshops. When Curt spoke, everyone took notes. When I spoke I noticed that a lot of women cried. You figure it out! Curt and I were invited to speak at one of the unofficial “home buildings” in Chengdu. It was night when we arrived, and we noticed that everyone was wearing boots, hats, and overcoats. It didn’t take us long to figure out why. It was so cold in that apartment that I thought my toes would break off! But adrenaline covers a multitude of discomforts. We forgot all about how cold we were when we met the people. First we met a lady whose son is getting his master’s degree in electrical engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. Curt and I are both alums, so we had an instant connection with her; because of that, the rest of the group seemed to accept us. 12
The next person I noticed was a man sitting at the corner of the table. Curt and I had the group reading scriptures from all over the Bible. Everyone turned in their Bibles to the designated verses except this man. The others read out loud together. But this guy just seemed to be talking when they read. Well, that seemed rude! But then we figured it out. He was actually reciting all the scripture from memory. I was humbled.
that statement changed everything. I quickly realized that she had no basis for what I had planned to teach about marriage, so I decided to start at the beginning—literally. Knowing that the Holy Spirit was directing me in a totally different direction, I asked the group to turn to Genesis 1. Yi did not know where Genesis was located in her new Bible. The others in the group helped her find it. I thought, this is going to be fun.
So who’s the boss?
Yi had a question for every verse we Then we met Yi. She had been a beread before she translated anything. liever for only two weeks, and she had After 45 minutes, we got to the place been married for only four months. where Adam and Eve had disobeyed Lots of new things were happening in God and He was pronouncing judgher life. Yi was volunteered by the pas- ments on the serpent, Eve, and Adam. tor to be our translator. That’s gutsy, I Yi read Genesis 3:16: “To the woman thought. Obviously, she didn’t know He said, ‘I will surely multiply your pain in childany of bearing; in the “re“Yi did not know where Genesis pain you ligious” shall bring words, was located in her new Bible. forth chilso we The others in the group dren.’” Yi knew helped her find it. exclaimed, this was “So, that’s going I thought, this is where to be a going to be fun.” that came good from!” You learning could see experithe lights going on inside her head. ence for her. But there was more. The (Being with a new believer is like beHoly Spirit was at work. ing with a child for her first Christmas. Curt spoke on leadership in the church Everything is so new and so exciting.) for about an hour, and they took notes. Then Yi read the second part of verse Then he handed the session over to 16, “Your desire shall be for your husband, me to speak on marriage. Before the and he shall rule over you.” I had so meeting, we had agreed that I would much to say about this verse, planning only speak for 10–15 minutes and to take the group to Ephesians 5 where then hand it back over to him, and he would wrap it up with a video. That is I had a lot of “meat” to share with them. I thought I had such an exciting, not what happened. wonderful plan! But that did not happen. One of the ladies in the group (a When Curt told the group that I would speak about what the Bible says more seasoned believer) said, “That is not our way. The women in Chengdu about marriage, Yi said with a great are the bosses.” There were three men big smile on her face, “So, who’s the and seven women in the group. They boss? Me! Right? I’m the boss!” Well, AUGUST 2012 • PCPC WITNESS
all agreed. I was so surprised, I’m sure my mouth dropped open! The men looked helpless. In fact, they had not said anything except for the reading and recitation of scriptures. I asked them what they thought about it. They threw it back to me and asked me what I thought about it. I could tell them only that God’s best plans for us are laid out in His Word; and if He said it, it was the best way for us to go. They accepted that.
Who can turn it around?
Meanwhile I could see that Yi had a million more questions for us, and frankly, so did the rest of the group. Yi was like a sponge soaking up His Word. But we had already been there for three hours, and it was late. We had to leave. There was so much more to tell them. We had only scratched the surface. We would have to leave it with the Holy Spirit. We surely would like to go back. We did leave Yi with something to think about: share this news with your unbelieving husband. It might bring him to Christ. Yi liked that idea. She said she would share everything that night when she got home. Curt, a national believer, and I talked about this situation a few days later. From scripture we knew that God has indeed put men in charge of their households. But if a man abdicates his headship for any number of reasons (laziness, alcohol, drugs, women, Mahjong gambling—pitfalls particular to Chinese men), the women will take over. Someone has to lead. In Chengdu, where there are eight million people in the city and another 8–12 million in the surrounding province, it seems that over the centuries the men have abdicated and the women have taken the headship.
Women Helping Women
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o you wonder what Women’s Ministry and World Missions have in common? It’s a desire to help women both domestically and abroad see God’s hand and purpose for their lives. One way PCPC is striving to make the vision a reality is through the World Justice Shoppe, which originated in the past year with a twofold purpose: 1. To support disadvantaged women by providing a venue to sell products they produce. 2. To raise awareness among women in the church regarding the plight of disadvantaged women and provide practical ways they can help and support these women in other parts of the world. Last month, the U.S. Department of State released its annual report on human trafficking which revealed that up to 27 million people in the world are living in slavery. We know that a large number of these people are women, and our goal is to partner with organizations connected to PCPC and our current ministry partners which are seeking to provide jobs to either protect women from trafficking or provide sources of income for women coming out of slavery. The organizations in each country can provide training and employment, but one of the biggest needs is finding commerce outlets for the items these women produce. That’s where the World Justice Shoppe can help. We are buying goods from organizations in Thailand and India and seeking to expand to Cambodia and Nepal this fall. Here’s where we need your help! Consider purchasing goods from the World Justice Shoppe and support women who are striving to survive outside of the slave trade. Look for opportunities at various events in the coming year. Please contact Anna Graber, anna.graber@pcpc.org or 214-224-2551, or me at catherinejrichards@sbcglobal.net if you are interested in helping with this ministry. —Catherine Richards
Only God could turn something like this around. What will the Holy Spirit do next? I’ll let you know if I find out. —Sue Dobbs PCPC WITNESS • AUGUST 2012
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Bringing Light to the Land of the Rising Sun
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f you had asked me ten years ago if I thought I would go on a short-term mission team to Japan, I would probably have said no. I would have gone on to ask you why God would use someone like me and tell you that there were surely better candidates out there for the team. I would have been really surprised to learn that God would call me to go three times (and hopefully more). God has shown me that He uses the person that I am right now—in this moment—and I have seen that my flaws can be a blessing. He has also shown me that the people of Japan, although they live in a highly technologically advanced and materially comfortable society, need our teams desperately. The Christian population in Japan is less than one percent—that’s about the total population of Austin, TX. Each time I hear those statistics it makes me want to cry, but that’s why our church has been sending teams to Japan for 14 years. Our team got to witness a very exciting time for the church in Japan this year as the Japanese are more open to Christianity than they have been for generations. After last year’s tragic earthquake and tsunami in northern Japan, the church was given an opportunity to show the Japanese the love of God even in devastating times. Summer, 2012 We were split into two smaller teams, one spending most of its time in Chiba and the other in Tokyo. I was a part of the group in Chiba helping a local missionary, Nicholas, with his English classes and handing out flyers. Handing out flyers is definitely not one of my strengths, but it was very rewarding to see the other team members engage in conversations that later resulted in people coming to one of the events that we helped Nicholas host. One of my favorite moments was talking with a lady who comes for English classes and hearing her say that her favorite time during the lesson was reading the Bible; she loved the stories! Another memorable time was getting to do research called an “ethnograph” in another area of Chiba. We learned that when planting a church missionaries will often go out and observe the people with whom they are trying to connect. 14
The other part of our team participated in some similar activities in a part of Tokyo, Toyosu, where another team is hoping to plant a church in a couple of years. They also helped to spruce up a new church location in Toke, where PCPC teams in the past had visited the church’s old, very small location, which the church had outgrown. It’s exciting to see this fruit of God’s labors! The women on that part of the team also got to join a women’s Bible study. I heard that by the end of their time together most of the group was in tears and that they had shared some wonderful stories. The team was also able to rehearse with their gospel choir, and I can tell you from my own experience that it’s amazing to sing with believers halfway around the world. As a full team we went on a prayer walk around Tokyo, passing the business district, the media district, and even the Imperial Palace. One of the pastors described that area as being New York City, Washington D.C., and Los Angeles all rolled into one. He told they were focusing their church’s attention in that area, believing that if the church could open Tokyo’s eyes to the Gospel that the rest of Japan would follow. Our team visited a shrine in Tokyo as well, a sad experience. We heard the sound of coins clinking as they were tossed into collection boxes around the shrine. The people were paying for their prayers to be heard. How blessed we are to know the one true God. When our team left Japan, I know many of us left part of our hearts behind. Hopefully many of us will get to return and continue to help spread God’s love. Please continue to be a part of this ministry and lift Japan up in your prayers. —Emily Wells Above, front row: Kristen King, Ada Denn, Ruby Giese, Deborah Green; second row: Makoto Fukada, Abe Denn, Debra Wagner, Ellen Batchelor, Jamie Haga, Mila Russell; back row: Kyle McCoy, Adam Cowdin, Chris Egoavil, Tricia Schoon, Emily Wells, Jeff Williams, Adam Stapleton
AUGUST 2012 • PCPC WITNESS
Investing in the eternal future of children In January 2012, my wife Ann and I led a team of college students on a mission trip to Lusaka, Zambia. We partnered with Arise Africa to bring the hope of the Gospel to hundreds of orphans in different parts of the city. I had the privilege of watching 20 college students pour themselves out as they shared the love of Christ with the children of Africa. The Lord taught us all so much along the way. The following entry from our trip blog provides a window into the Lord’s work in and through us.
Here’s a little window into camp today. We roll into Destiny School on our big bus, and the kids are already waiting for us—at 7:30 am. They’re waving and hollering, so excited to see us. Some of them even try to get on the bus when the door opens, and we have to tell them to get off so we can file out and greet them. All the Zambian children are looking for their American counselors. We know we’re here to love these kids, but their love for us has moved us all. As we round up kids into groups, the playground at Destiny is full of people talking, laughing, dancing, and playing games. The Zambian children are so excited about memorizing their Bible verse each day that many of them have the verse of the day memorized before we actually introduce it in the large group meeting.
Dear family and friends, It’s Wednesday night in Lusaka. We had another beautiful and surprisingly dry day here in Zambia during the rainy season. The Lord has been kind to give us the best possible atmosphere to love on these kids at camp. We even talked about Noah on Tuesday—and the rains didn’t come! PCPC WITNESS • AUGUST 2012
Everyone files into the Destiny church building (where we worshiped on Sunday). Cheers and songs fill the place. The energy just explodes like a well shaken Coke when it’s opened. We do our best to sing the Zambian songs, and occasionally we get a song or verse in English, which is great! After singing, we share a daily lesson on faith and introduce the memory verse. So far, the kids have memorized Hebrews 11:1–2, Corinthians 5:7, and Romans 10:17. During today’s meeting, a number of students came to the front, recited all three verses, and received great encouragement and applause.
The fun goes on
After the large group meeting, the rest of the morning consists of small group time, outside games, and inside activities like drawing. We take a snack around to the kids during the indoor activities, and we have another large group meeting before lunch full of singing, some fun competitions, and a skit performed by the Zambian leaders. The kids get a real kick out of the skit, but the Americans aren’t really sure what’s going on. The skits are in the language of Nyanja, so we just enjoy the ride! continued on next page
Austin Woodruff has his hands full.
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continued from page 15
During lunch, sitting with PBJs and a nutrient-rich drink, the kids have a chance to hang out and talk more with their leaders about what they are learning. After lunch, the children are excited to get back into their games at Destiny. The play continues until we have to call it a day, and the next challenge is trying to figure out how to say goodbye and shut things down. These kids could play until the sun goes down and not get tired. Our team then breaks into smaller groups to serve in different parts of the city during the afternoon. Today our group went to Grace Community School, where some of our girls read to students in the three-room schoolhouse, and some of the boys played soccer in the small yard. Potholes and other obstacles didn’t slow these little guys down. The Zambian boys ran circles around our guys. We then took a walking tour of the village, with an army of little kids following us the whole way. Many of the children just grabbed an American’s hand and held it the entire time. Two proud little boys took each of my hands and escorted me around their hometown.
Change the future
Our friend Patson runs Grace Community School, and he shared the story of the school with us. Patson told us
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pcpc Vol. XXII, No. 3 • AUGUST 2012 Park Cities Presbyterian Church 4124 Oak Lawn Avenue Dallas, Texas 75219 www.pcpc.org
that he had failed in his education, but that he longed to help others to get an education. About ten years ago he tried to start by helping adults pursue an education. Again, he said he failed. He committed to praying and asking the Lord to show him what he could do. The Lord gave Patson a word. “You can’t change the past, but you can change the future.” Patson turned his attention to the next generation and has been helping children get a better education for eight years. In the most recent term, his school hosted 78 students in its three little rooms. If you think of Patson, pray that God would provide more resources to hire new teachers and pay current ones.
Periodical Postage Paid at Dallas, Texas
He’s doing a great work, and we were encouraged to hear about it. Thursday will be our last “normal” day of camp. Don’t tell the Zambian children, but on Friday, we will bus them to the new Olympic training facility in Lusaka. There we will give them the best field day they could imagine. Many of them have never been more than a mile from their home. Seeing a beautiful turf field and training complex should be quite an experience! I think we’ll have an amazing last day with them. We would all love to give these kids the world, but we know the best we can give them is Jesus. We are so grateful for your prayers. —Robby Higginbottom Go to www.kershawschallenge.com, the outreach of Clayton and Ellen Kershaw, for more information. (It’s a family affair— Ellen is Ann Higginbottom’s sister.) Far left, Mary Ann Burgher sits quietly for a little one’s nap. Left, Allie Fersing high fives a little girl. Left below, the kids dance with joy when the bus arrives. Below, Robby Higginbottom tours the neighborhood with his new friends.
AUGUST 2012 • PCPC WITNESS