M M Missionary Messenger FALL 2 019 / Volume 8
FEEDING THE MIND, SPIRIT, & BODY
Loaves &
LOAVES & FISHES
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Fishes Offering By Kristi Lounsbury
FEEDING THE MIND, SPIRIT, AND BODY OF OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. Deuteronomy 10:18 (NIV) Throughout scripture God calls people to help others. Numerous scriptures call upon us to help our brothers and sisters by clothing the naked and feeding the hungry. This is not a simple request. It is a demand from God. Just like those in the scriptures, our congregations and our denomination are being called to feed the mind, spirit and body of others. As those who have been blessed beyond measure, the Church has the opportunity to reach out to others, to extend the hand of holy hospitality, and, with no expectation of return, share the love of Christ and the grace of God with those needing to be fed.
Experiencing hunger, whether it be physical, spiritual, or emotional, can be a desperate situation. It is an epidemic throughout the world. We have children starving. We have people who don’t yet know God. We have those struggling with mental illness. People are hungry and desperate. There is an epidemic that needs to be addressed. The Loaves & Fishes Offering is an avenue to address these issues. The funds given to the offering will help the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and partnering organizations to reach into their communities (and beyond) to those who are desperate and in despair and in need of hope and healing. Project Vida, Coalition of Appalachian Ministries, and Beth-el Farmworker Ministry all have varying missions and touch different sectors of people, yet, still have the same goal—to provide resources to those who are in need. We, as people of God, are called to respond to the scriptures and help others in need. Here is an opportunity to spread the love of God through our collective resources. Funds given through the Loaves & Fishes Offering will be distributed equally among the three organizations to help “defend the cause of the fatherless and the widow, to love the foreigner residing among us, and give food and clothing.” God has called upon us. Let us all join together, in this endeavor to help those who are hurting, to heal the brokenhearted, to feed the hungry and to clothe the naked. MM FA L L 2 019 M I S S I O N A R Y M E S S E N G E R 1
Contents 4 Perspectives 5 General Assembly Actions 6 Theological Underpinnings For Pioneering Worshiping Communities 8 Bible Study 10 Hunger in the United States? How Come? 14 The Symposium 17 2019 Convention
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PERSPECTIVES by Milton L. Ortiz
ORPHANS, WIDOWS, AND FOREIGNERS
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“He doesn’t play favorites, takes no bribes, makes sure orphans and widows are treated fairly, takes loving care of foreigners by seeing that they get food and clothing.” (Deuteronomy 10:18 MSG). This issue of the Missionary Messenger’s Bible Study emphasizes how, in the midst of people lacking parents, a beloved spouse, or their home country, God is present to care and provide for their needs. As Christians, God has given us enough resources to serve and help others, especially those in need. This year’s Loaves & Fishes Offering will be distributed equally among Project Vida, Coalition of Appalachian Ministries, and BethEl Farmworker Ministry. The article, “Hunger in the United States? How Come?” explains how hunger is affecting hundreds of millions of people around the world, including the United States. Many of these people in the United States are farmworkers. Beth-El Farmworker Ministry was started by the Cumberland Presbyterian Church to provide support to families in poverty and help them reach a level of self-sufficiency. Project Vida identifies the community’s vision for its future and helps to develop community based structures and programs to implement that vision in light of the needs and direction of the wider society. The Coalition of Appalachian Ministries hopes to explore options to help with food insecurity among the economically challenged people of Appalachia. This issue also includes a theological understanding for Pioneering Worship Communities. The early generations of Christians began meeting in homes, in synagogues, and in public spaces to worship and celebrate the presence of Jesus Christ and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. You will also find an invitation to attend a threeday conference, The Symposium: Coming Together In Ministry, designated to help our ministries and encourage us with ideas and guidance; as well as an invitation to the Americas Youth Gathering of Cumberland Presbyterians to represent the United States and to support internationals who will need financial help with scholarships. You also will read about the Cumberland Presbyterian Women’s Convention, offerings and scholarship. May the Lord bless you as you read this issue of the Missionary Messenger and consider the different ways you can support God’s Kingdom. MM 4 M I S S I O N A R Y M E S S E N G E R FA L L 2 019
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MISSIONS MINISTRY TEAM OF THE CUMBERL AND PRESBY TERIAN CHURCH
ART DIRECTOR Sowgand Sheikholeslami ext:211
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Milton Ortiz ext:234
PUBLICATIONS MANAGER Matthew Gore ext:221
ASSOCIATE EDITOR Jinger Ellis ext:230
CONTRIBUTORS Johan Daza ext:202 Cardelia Howell-Diamond ext:264 Kiristi Lounsbury ext:263 T.J. Malinoski ext:232 Milton Ortiz ext:234 Lynn Thomas ext:261
8207 Traditional Place Cor dova, T N 38016-7414 phone 901.276.4572 fa x 901.276.4578 messenger @cumber land.org VISIT US ON THE WEB
ht tp://cpcmc.o rg/m m To read the previous issues of The Missionary Messenger visit us at
http://cpcmc.org/mm/mm-archives MEMBER • Associated Church Press
189TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
· Requested presbyteries to call upon both lay and ordained Cumberland Presbyterians to start new communities of faith in their homes, neighborhoods, towns, cities, and local settings with the encouragement and support of their church session, presbyterial board of missions, presbytery, synod, and MMT for the purpose of extending the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For more information contact Rev. T. J. Malinoski at TMalinoski@cumberland.org or 901-276-4572 ext. 232 or Rev. Johan Daza at JDaza@cumberland.org or 901-276-4572 ext. 202. · Requested presbyteries to promote and encourage all congregations to consider Beth-El Farmworker Ministry as a mission field for Cumberland Presbyterian church groups looking for short mission trip opportunities and experiences For more information contact Rev. Johan Daza at JDaza@cumberland.org or 901-276-4572 ext. 202 or Rev. Kristi Lounsbury at KLounsbury@cumberland.org or 901-276-4572 ext. 263. · Prayed for our missionaries, and that God would continue to call churches and individuals to support them. For more information contact Rev. Lynn Thomas at lynndont@ gmail.com or 901-276-4572 ext. 261.
The Missions Ministry Team would like to bring your attention to some of this year’s actions of the General Assembly.
· Called upon presbyteries to encourage all congregations to engage, promote, support, and participate in opportunities to grow the Kingdom of God in denominational ministries through the following: explore denominational resources for Small Group Studies, Children and Youth Ministry, and Adult Bible Study; pray for and support our missionaries through the Stott-Wallace Missionary Offering; visit and advocate for our ministry partners, Beth-El Farmworker Ministry, Project Vida, Coalition of Appalachian Ministries, and National Farm Workers Ministry; encourage students to attend Bethel University, Memphis Theological Seminary, and the Program of Alternate Studies; and support global and local mission opportunities. For more information contact Rev. Kristi Lounsbury at KLounsbury@cumberland.org or 901-276-4572 ext. 263. · Approved a memorial calling for a Denominational Day of Prayer and Fasting be set and observed on Ash Wednesday by all members of the CPC at every level and in every nation to renew and revitalize us to bear witness to God’s mighty act of reconciling love accomplished in Jesus Christ by which the sins of the world are forgiven. For more information contact Rev. T. J. Malinoski at TMalinoski@cumberland.org or 901-276-4572 ext. 232. The General Assemblies of the CPCA and CPC adopted the proposed Plan For Union and approved forwarding the Plan For Union to all presbyteries for approval during the 20192020 year. The complete list of actions of the General Assembly will be found in the General Assembly Minutes. For more information visit www.cumberland.org/gao. MM FA L L 2 019 M I S S I O N A R Y M E S S E N G E R 5
THEOLOGICAL UNDERPINNINGS FOR PIONEERING WORSHIPING COMMUNITIES By T. J. Malinoski
W ha t li fe ha ve you i f you ha ve not li fe t oget her? Ther e is no li fe t ha t is not in commu nit y. A nd no commu nit y not lived in p r aise o f God. —T. S. Eliot “Choruses from ‘The Rock’”
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In the 2019 summer issue of the Missionary Messenger I wrote an article about pioneering Cumberland Presbyterian worshiping communities. A worshiping community is essentially three things: a community for those who do not know Christ, a community for those who want to know Christ, and a community for those who already know Christ but need a community with which to worship. Reflecting on the writing of that particular article, I realized that theological underpinnings are missing. I will begin by stating that pioneering worshiping communities is not about denominational and institutional survival, nor is new church development. I
would argue that neither is missions. When we make denominational and institutional survival our motivation for doing ministry then we have misunderstood our motivation for announcing the coming of the Kingdom of God. The root and purpose of pioneering a worshiping community can be found in the Hebrew Scriptures. From the book of Genesis onward we find people gathering together and forming communities in response to God’s intervention in their lives. From Abraham to the escape from Egypt we study a people seeking freedom to worship God. The house of God, the temple being built, rebuilt, and rebuilt again emphasizing the need
for a space for a community to gather in God’s name to worship, fellowship, and study. At the core, we find our biblical ancestors forming communities after experiencing the deliverance of a gracious and caring God. The human experience and need for a worshiping community continues in the first generations of Christians. The first followers of Jesus recognize God actively working in and through Jesus’ life in a world fraught with sickness, government occupation and control, violence, self-preservation, and selfrighteousness. As we read through the gospels we find the disciples are an average group of devotees. We discover true human wavering as the disciples contend with cultural and societal norms by embracing the proclamation of the good news which provides free access to God. They argue over who is the greatest until they hear God’s reign belongs to servants. They push aside children until they are encouraged to see God’s reign as through the eyes of a child. They wrestle with doubt and succumb to skepticism, betrayal, and denial. Through it all, Jesus points the first followers beyond their structure of understanding and their perception of the world through the lens of faith, hope, and love. In a real sense, a community is being shaped. It is community of regular people encouraged to view all things and all creation from the perspective of God’s reign enabling them to sort out what is important from what is inconsequential, to discover what shackles them, and likewise what sets them free.
The early generations of Christians began meeting in homes, in synagogues and public spaces to worship and celebrate the presence of Jesus Christ and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. They were creating worshiping communities for those who did not know Christ, who wanted to know Christ, and for those who were already followers and in search of a community in which to worship. The experience of being called into community by the gracious initiative of God spans the history of the Christian Church. Many of us will find comfort, guidance, and fulfillment through serving and participating in an already established faith community. However, as human history demonstrates, this is not the case for everyone all of the time. As Cumberland Presbyterians, we historically and presently yearn for God’s initiative in doing a new thing. This “new thing” is our response to God’s initiative on our human behalf. And, for this reason, a worshiping community can begin to complement the ministries of the church of which you are already a part. A worshiping community can also be completely separate from the life of the congregation where we worship. As the biblical examples given to us of the formation of worshiping communities in both testaments, training, education, and institutional structures always come secondary to our witness of God manifest in Jesus’ life, ministry, death, and resurrection.
The act of pioneering a worshiping community is grounded in biblical roots and our Cumberland Presbyterian heritage. The need for creating a community for those who do not know Christ, a community for those who want to know Christ, and a community for those who already know Christ but need a community with which to worship is essential to our witness and proclamation of God’s reign. To announce and carry the gospel of Jesus Christ beyond ourselves and our own little circles may appear to be a daunting task. We may very well want to fall back and wait for a ready-made method or structure or mechanism that will lay out particular steps and a plan to create a worshiping community for us. Where is the pioneering spirit in that? Where does a real sense of an authentic community come from if it is prescribed by a scheduled format? Where does the sense of need rank if the motivation is denominational and institutional survival? The answers are rooted in the deep need of receiving God’s graciousness and our response to it. Regardless of our age, gender, or educational background, a Christian in the Cumberland Presbyterian family can pioneer a worshiping community in their neighborhood, region, or any location. MM
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Bible Study/Devotion
By Johan Daza
QUESTIONS?
He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing.
After reading this Bible text, I was curious about how many times the words fatherless (orphan), widow (widower), foreigner (alien) appear in the Bible and this is what I found from the NIV: fatherless - 41 times, orphan - 4 times; widow - 103 times; foreigner - 146 times and alien- 5 times. It is very interesting that these groups of people are mentioned so many times in Scripture, the total combined of 299 times. As one of my seminary professors said, “if a word is repeated several times in the Bible, it is important and we need to pay attention.�
Deuteronomy 10:18 (NIV) QUESTION What images come to mind when you hear the words fatherless/orphans, widows, and foreigners/ immigrants? (Write responses on newspaper or a board.) Unfortunately, I personally know by name, people experiencing these types of realities today in the 21st century. What captures my attention the most is that these three groups of people have something in common. They are lacking something. The first group of people lack parents, the second lack a beloved spouse, and the third lack their home country. In the midst of those needs, God is present to care and provide for them. The text says, God is there to defend, love, and give. God is inviting us to do the same. 8 M I S S I O N A R Y M E S S E N G E R FA L L 2 019
The orphans, widows, and foreigners/immigrants are all members of our communities today. In the Old Testament, it would be shameful for a community not to care for these vulnerable people. Today we are called to defend their cause; we are called to love them, and we are called to provide for their basic needs of food and clothing. It may be difficult to admit that the persons named in this text are still vulnerable people in our society today. However, there are some facts and Bible references that can help us to better understand these realities and how we can take actions in obedience to God. There is compelling data that challenges Christians to respond to this vulnerable population with love and mercy. ORPHANS According to UNICEF, today there are more than 150 million orphan children worldwide; 26 million of those are living without both parents. By 2011, there were almost three million children living without either parent in the United States, and around 20 million living with only one parent. 2.7 million children have a parent behind bars.1 And about 691,000 children were in foster care in 2017. 2 More Bible references: Psalm 10:14, 18; 68:5; 82:3; Exodus 22:22; Deuteronomy 16:14; Job 22:1-11; Zachariah 7:10; John 14:18; James 1:27. Action: Encourage your church and church groups to donate to and serve as volunteers at the Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home. For more information about this ministry, please visit https://www. cpch.org/. The Children’s Home Sunday is on March 15, 2020 and you are encouraged to give a special offering to support this CP ministry.
WIDOWS According to the World Widows Report,3 by 2015 the global population affected included 258 million widows struggling due to armed conflict, violation of widow´s human rights, sexual abuse, and other factors. Around 38 million widows live in extreme poverty in which basic needs go unmet. More Bible references: Exodus 22:22; Deuteronomy 14:29; 16:11, 14; 26:13; 27:19; Job 24: 18-25; Psalm 146:9; Isaiah 1:17, 23; Mark 12: Luke 4:26; Luke 18:1-8; Acts 6:1; James 1:27. Action: Did you know there is an International Widows Day? It is on June 23 each year. https://www.un. org/en/events/widowsday/. As a church or church group commemorate this day by praying for the widows in your congregation and around the world. FOREIGN/IMMIGRANT FARMWORKERS Today there are many migrant farmworkers in the United States living below the line of poverty. It is ironic that they grow and provide the food we eat on a daily basis, while they are 400% more likely than the general public to lack the consistent ability to meet their daily food needs (Kiehne and Mendoza, 2015). It is even more interesting to think that according to the US Department of Labor around 73% of farmworkers in 2013-2014 were foreign born. More Bible references: Genesis 21:23; Exodus 20:10; 22:21; Leviticus 19:10, 33, 34; Psalm 146: 9; Isaiah 14:1; Jeremiah 22:3; Luke 17:18; Ephesians 2:19; Hebrews 11:13. Action: Beth-El Farmworker Ministry was started by Cumberland Presbyterians to support the farmworker community in Wimauma, Florida. This year the 189th General
Assembly encouraged all Cumberland Presbyterian churches to consider Beth-El as a destination for short mission trips. You can also donate to their ministry to feed the minds, spirits, and bodies of the migrant workers and others in suffering. When we help those whom God cares for, we say to the Lord “I have removed my house the sacred portion and have given it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow, according to all you commanded. I have not turned aside from your commands nor have I forgotten any of them.” Deuteronomy 26:13 (NIV) As Christians, God has given us resources to serve and help others, especially those in need. As the Missions Ministry Team our invitation is for all Cumberland Presbyterians to pray for those who are suffering and to support the Cumberland Presbyterian organizations and partners caring for those in need. We are called to serve and minister to those who are suffering as a way to walk in obedience to God for our own good. When praying, please pray for the CP Children´s Home; the CP nursing home, Hogar Samaria, in Cali, Colombia; Project Vida; Coalition for Appalachian Ministry; Beth-El Farmworker Ministry; National Farmworker Ministry; and the Missions Ministry Team’s Loaves & Fishes Offering. MM
1 http://www.theorphansociety.org/facts/ 2 https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/resource/ trends-in-foster-care-and-adoption 3 https://www.theloombafoundation.org/sites/ default/files/2019-06/WWR.pdf Kiehne, E., & Mendoza, N. (2015). Migrant and seasonal farmworker food insecurity: Prevalence, impact, risk factors, and coping strategies. Social Work in Public Health, 30(5), 397-409. https://doi.org/10.1080/19371918.2015.1019 173 United States Department of Labor, 2013-2014. FA L L 2 019 M I S S I O N A R Y M E S S E N G E R 9
HUNGER IN THE UNITED STATES? HOW COME? By Johan Daza
We often think of the Missions Ministry Team’s Loaves & Fishes Offering as a way to support different Cumberland Presbyterian hot lunch programs and ministries outside the United States where poverty, hunger, and other social issues are very alarming realities. However, for the first time in many years, the 2019 Loaves & Fishes Offering is focused within the United States. It is not a secret that hunger is one of the social issues affecting hundreds of millions of people around the world. The United States does not escape this reality. According to UNICEF, FAO, IFAD, WHP, and WHO near to 821 million people around the world were undernourished by 2017. That is seventeen million more people than 2016 (804 million). Many international and domestic development organizations, including Christian ones, have fought to reduce this problem to zero. However, there are still warning factors that hunger as an ongoing problem. According to Feeding America, hunger and food insecurity are affecting around “40 million people, including twelve million children in the United States.”1 Hunger is affecting the physical, emotional, and spiritual health of entire households, children, youth, and adults around the nation. Children are more likely to face food insecurity than any other group in the United States. In addition, although difficult to believe, one of the groups affected by hunger in the United States is the migrant and seasonal farmworker community throughout the nation. Those hard laborers who work on fields sowing, growing, and reaping the food we enjoy on our tables on a daily basis face hunger. By 2010, the individual median farmworker income was $2,500-$5,000.
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Three-fourths earned less than $10,000 per year. The average hours worked are: in fields-51 hours per week; fruit-47 hours per week; horticulture-38 hours per week; vegetables-50 hours per week; and miscellaneous-42 hours per week. Historically, many farm workers have been paid a piece rate based on how much they pick. According to the Administration and Department of Labor, 78% of all farm workers do not have access to health insurance.2 In other words, according to a social work on public health study, migrant and seasonal farmworkers (MSFWs) are “400% more likely than the general public to lack the consistent ability to meet food needs.”3 The good news is that those numbers are changing for the better. The Cumberland Presbyterian Church has, for over 40 years, contributed to feeding the “Mind, Spirit, and Body” of farm-working families in Wimauma, Florida to help reduce those numbers. The Missions Ministry Team wants to invite all Cumberland Presbyterians to continue God’s holistic plan of spiritual, material, social, and emotional transformation of human beings. The restoration of broken relationships with God, our neighbors, creation, and us is possible because of God’s redemptive love in Jesus Christ. Today we are the ones called to work and serve God through serving others. For that reason, as Cumberland Presbyterians, this year’s Loaves & Fishes Offering will support Beth-El Farmworker Ministry along with other partners in ministries that are stepping out to help the hungry in the United States. Please join us in this endeavor with service, love, and thanksgiving offerings. To learn more about the Loaves & Fishes Offering, please visit our webpage www.cpcmc.org/mmt/loaves/ or contact us at MMT@cumberland.org. MM
Beth-El Farmworker Ministry By Rev. Kathleen Dain, Executive Director
Rain or shine, every Tuesday morning you will find Don Lupé first in line for the Beth-El Farmworker Ministry food pantry. Now in his 80’s, no one at the mission is exactly sure how long Don Lupé has been coming to the Tuesday pantry, only that he is always first in line. Every week nearly 600 families receive resources through the Beth-El food pantry. In raw numbers that works out to about seven tons of food and other needed resources distributed every week. The pantry is one of the many ways Beth-El lives into its mission of feeding mind, spirit and body through hunger relief, education, healthcare and spiritual development. Beth-El Farmworker Ministry began in 1976 as a mission of the Board of Missions (now Missions Ministry Team) of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Today, the mission provides support annually to over 20,000 families living in poverty. Most of our families are part of the farmworking community in Wimauma. It is hard to imagine that the very people who pick the produce for our tables are unable to provide for their own. The goal of Beth-El is to help farm workers reach a level of self-sufficiency. This is not an easy task since the work done by farmworkers is both labor intensive and economically challenging. Most farmworkers work only seven to nine months of the year, following the crops with the seasons. The work is highly demanding, working long hours, frequently in inclement conditions where one storm or flood can not only wipe out a crop, but your entire source of income. Almost all of the crops in Florida are picked by hand. Oranges, tomatoes, strawberries, and peppers, to name a few, all require the individual touch of a farm worker. However, unlike a minimum wage earner, most farmworkers are paid for the quantity they can pick. For example, a worker picking strawberries will earn about $3.50 for picking 32 pounds of berries. On average a farm working family will earn less than $15,000 a year. Many have had little or no education making other avenues of employment practically impossible. Nearly half of the population surrounding the mission lives below national poverty guidelines, and few have access to health or other social services. Education is the key, not only to providing new career pathways, but also to developing healthier lifestyles.
In 2015 the mission began introducing fresh produce into its weekly pantry. Along with the fresh fruits and vegetables, the mission provides healthy recipes and tasting samples for recipients to try. It is just one of many ways Beth-El works to support opportunities for healthy living. For those unable to travel to the mission’s pantry because of work or lack of transportation, Beth-El delivers directly to farms within a 20-mile radius of the mission. Still, many farmworkers require services beyond hunger relief. In 2017, Beth-El began a four-year initiative to transform part of its campus into a health and wellness center with free access to medical, dental and legal services. Patients have arrived as early as 3 a.m. to wait for services at the monthly dental clinic. Many of the mission’s recipients are also part of the worshiping community of Nuevo Camino – a new church development under the leadership of the Rev. Tamara Leonard Lara. Long term, education is the key. The mission’s Step Up for Success mentorship program helps students and adults with the necessary resources needed to obtain a more stable income. Feeding Mind, Spirit, and Body, are more than just words—they are who we are. Our prayer is that Beth-El Farmworker Ministry will continue to be faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ in all we do. To learn more about Beth-El Farmworker Ministry and how you can become involved, visit their webpage at www. beth-el.org. MM
Project VIDA By Kristi Lounsbury
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Project Vida begins with the understanding that communities, like people, are living organisms. Children and adults, businesses and schools, churches and public systems, interact to form an identity and a lifestyle. Project Vida takes seriously the life of the community and the individual as a whole. Project Vida is located in the center of El Paso, three blocks north of the Rio Grande border with MÊxico. The neighborhood is one of the most impoverished in the United States. Project Vida’s programs emerge from an ongoing community dialogue; those programs have spread to other areas of El Paso County and adjoining Hudspeth County. The mission of Project Vida is to identify the comprehensive vision of the community for its future and to develop communitybased structures and programs to implement that vision mindful of the needs and direction of the wider society. Project Vida began in 1991, in a small adobe home in the Chamizal neighborhood of south-central El Paso. Community congresses were held to help determine the needs of the area. From those events, it was determined that the community wanted to address education, healthcare, affordable housing, gang prevention, and, later,
the needs of small business owners. Since those early days, Project Vida has addressed all of these issues by building affordable low-income rental housing, building clinics to provide high-quality low cost healthcare, creating a homelessness prevention and recovery program, developing a best practice curriculumbased early childhood education program, offering dynamic afterschool enrichment, and providing microenterprise technical assistance and support. One of the programs centering on personal health and wellness is a class on diabetes management. Through education and awareness, Project Vida provides the necessary tools for adequate diabetes self-management and prevention of complications. The Diabetes Self-Management Program helps improve the quality of life for people with diabetes as well as those at risk of developing the disease. A free glucometer is provided to every participant completing the course of seven two-hour weekly classes. A second class offered through Project Vida is in Healthy Cooking. The Healthy Cooking classes are a community-based program guided by a community member with the purpose of sharing and discussing healthy alternatives to traditional food preparation. The group meets two hours once a week to learn and taste new recipes with a variety of ingredients but without preservatives. The main objective is to substitute healthy meals for traditional meals in an easier manner. Your support through the Loaves & Fishes Offering will help continue these vital classes in one of the poorest communities in the United States. MM
FEEDING THE HUNGRY IN THE APPALACHIAN REGION By Kristi Lounsbury The mission of the Coalition for Appalachian Ministry (CAM) is to make a positive impact wherever Reformed tradition and Appalachian culture come together by networking with church and community to provide educational and service opportunities. We affirm with hope, joy, and trust that Appalachia belongs to the loving God whom we know in Christ. His presence is made visible through those local and regional communities of faith when they: • stand with those pushed to the margins of society. • assist people as they develop economic independence. • care for creation. One in eight Americans (42 million people) still struggles to get enough to eat and, while that number has gone down recently, hunger appears to be getting worse in economically distressed areas, especially in rural communities. It is a well-known fact the Appalachian region often experiences the effects of economic depression. CAM is helping to relieve some of these effects by offering those living in the area the ability to showcase their crafts to those who visit the Smoky Mountains. Unfortunately, this is not always enough for a family in economic crisis. A survey conducted on the Appalachian State University campus during the 2017-2018 school year states, “62 percent of students surveyed experienced some aspect of food
insecurity. Coping practices included securing one or more meals from discarded sources like trash or dumpsters.” “According to Feeding America, ‘food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food which meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. Food insecurity exists when people do not have adequate physical, social or economic access to food.’” According to Feeding America’s website, one in five children in West Virginia suffers from hunger. Over 50% of children in the public school system receive free lunches. This assures children of a hot meal during the school year. It is a proven that children perform differently in school when hunger is an issue. Unfortunately, the school lunch program does not take care of those same children during the summer months when they are at home, miles from the nearest food bank and grocery store, with parents who may be unemployed,. The struggle for adequate food in this area is real. It is our hope that the Coalition for Appalachian Ministry, along with the newly appointed intern, Maddie Taylor, will be able to explore options to help with food insecurity among the people of Appalachia. Being able to distribute food and funds into an economically challenged area will help feed the “Mind, Spirit, and Body of people who desperately need to see the love of God through economic help. MM FA L L 2 019 M I S S I O N A R Y M E S S E N G E R 13
HEBREWS 10:24
“And let us consider each other carefully for the purpose of sparking love and good deeds.” (CEB) Whether we are a minister or elder, lead a Bible study class, youth group, or a men’s or women’s ministry, we are always looking for new ideas to help give guidance to our leadership. We search the internet for resources, read books for insight, and talk with peers to see what they are doing. Even with these efforts, it doesn’t take much to get discouraged and frustrated without finding what may help our congregation or group grow spiritually. Our Ministry Council is aware of these difficulties and has organized a three day conference called The Symposium for anyone wanting to improve their ministry or begin a new one. From Thursday, November 7, to Saturday, November 9, workshops and sessions have been designed to help our ministries and encourage us with ideas and guidance. Each workshop and session will be led by Cumberland Presbyterians with unique insight and knowledge. The Symposium will be held at 14 M I S S I O N A R Y M E S S E N G E R FA L L 2 019
Brenthaven Cumberland Presbyterian Church just outside of Nashville, Tennessee. The cost is $100 per participant; however, discounts are available for multiple participants from the same congregation. Lodging at a discounted rate is also available for those who need it. Below is a list of workshops and sessions organized by the Missions Ministry Team. These workshops and sessions are oriented towards missions but this list is not exhaustive. There are workshops and sessions on Christian education, pastoral development, technology, and communication. For more workshops and sessions, registration, schedule, lodging and additional information, check out the website: www.cpcmc.org/ the-symposium. While at the website, go ahead and register yourself as well as others from your congregation. You will be on your way towards new ideas to help improving and starting new ministries.
MISSIONS MINISTRY TEAM WORKSHOPS My Life as a Missionary in Colombia – Patrick Wilkerson
THE SYMPOSIUM SCHEDULE
Patrick Wilkerson will share his daily experiences as a missionary in Colombia. Learn from him as he relates strategies and key points that can be applied to stateside churches. (Thursday 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. & Friday 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.)
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2019 1:00-2:30 p.m.
Intercultural Outreach Ministry: Take a Look Around You – Johan Daza
2:30-3:00 p.m.
Break
3:00-4:00 p.m.
Workshops
4:00-4:30 p.m.
Break
4:30-6:00 p.m.
Breakout Sessions
6:00-7:00 p.m.
Dinner
7:00-8:30 p.m.
Evening Worship
Learn the dynamics of working cross-culturally in your community. Take away new intercultural skills to help relate better to those in your community and integrate your local church. (Thursday 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. & Friday 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.) How to Survive and Thrive as a Church without an Ordained Minister – Victory Moore Many churches have productive ministry without the leadership of a pastor. Experience ways to help your church from those who have implemented plans to not only survive but thrive. (Friday 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. & 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.) Pioneering for the CP Church: I am a Pathfinder – T. J. Malinoski A workshop for equipping bi-vocational leaders, lay leaders, young adults and young at heart who are seeking creative ways to do “church” providing different scopes for faith communities. (Friday 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. & Saturday 8:30 – 9:30 a.m.) Wonder Women: Women’s Ministry in the CP Church – Cardelia Howell-Diamond What does it mean to do ministry as a woman? How did it start? Where is it now? What does the future look like? Ideas and implementations. (Thursday 4:30 – 6:00 p.m.) Missions Ministry Team Break-out Sessions We want to go on a Mission Trip. Now what? – Milton Ortiz & Lynn Thomas Using the experience and expertise of those who have a passion for missions, learn effective and efficient ways to plan a mission trip. (Friday 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.) Big Churches, Little Churches: Similarities and Differences – Pathway Cumberland Presbyterian Church Acquire key approaches from presenters who are experiencing large church growth in the churches they are pastoring. What makes them unique? What makes them just like your church? (Saturday 9:45 – 11:00 a.m.)
Opening Worship
Communion
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2019 7:45-8:15 a.m.
Devotional
8:15-8:30 a.m.
Break
8:30-9:30 a.m.
Workshops
9:30-10:00 a.m.
Break
10:00-11:30 a.m.
Breakout Sessions
11:30-1:00 p.m.
Lunch
1:00-2:00 p.m. Workshops 2:00-2:30 p.m.
Break
2:30-3:30 p.m.
Workshops
3:30-7:00 p.m.
Optional Activity/
Free Time
7:00-8:30 p.m.
Evening Worship
8:30–10:00 p.m.
Symposium
Showcase –
Local Talent
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2019 7:45-8:15 a.m. Worship 8:15-8:30 a.m. Break 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Workshops
9:30-9:45 a.m.
Break
9:45-11:00 a.m.
Ministry Teams/
Breakout Sessions
FA L L 2 019 M I S S I O N A R Y M E S S E N G E R 15
By: Cardelia Howell-Diamond
CONVENTION
From left to right: Judi Truitt, President and Cathy Littlefield, Past President
I
will admit to being anxious about Convention 2019. I knew things had been planned meticulously by Jo Ann Shugart, Acting Coordinator of Women’s Ministry, and the Executive Council: Faith Parra (Past President 2018-1019), Cathy Littleton (President 2018-2019), Judi Truitt (President Elect 2018-1019), Patti Needham (Secretary 2018-2019), and Robin Hughes
16 M I S S I O N A R Y M E S S E N G E R FA L L 2 019
(Secretary Elect 2018-2019). I knew the theme, Walk in Love, was going to be wonderful. But, I was still nervous, not because of anything anyone else was doing but because of what I was doing. Convention 2019 marked my first Convention as Coordinator of Women’s Ministry for the Cumberland Presbyterian denomination, and I didn’t want to fall on my face!
2019 O
f course, all those fears and anxieties were beyond unnecessary. God’s hand was all over Convention 2019. While Convention didn’t officially begin until Tuesday June 11th, our Regional Council got underway at lunch on Monday. We met to choose which projects we would be recommending to the Convention as projects to be supported in 2019-2020. We had so many wonderful ones to choose from and honestly wished we could have supported them all. We also voted on the slate of officers to be installed during Convention. This behind the scenes work is just some of what is necessary to help Women’s Ministry live out its calling in the church and in the kingdom of God. Monday night we were blessed to fellowship with the National Missionary Society of the CPCA. This is the women’s organization of the CPCA denomination. We spent time singing hymns together, raising our joined voices to praise the Lord. We then heard a wonderful message from Yyvonne Frierson who spoke to us about the work of women throughout the scriptures and reminded us that women would be a big part of the success of unification of our denominations. We then heard from the National Children’s Advocacy Center’s director of development, Cynthia Parker. She talked to us about the NCAC’s mission to help report and prevent child sexual abuse. As a group we made pillows and scarves for the children who will enter the NCAC this year to have physical exams and to be treated for sexual abuse. What a blessing it was to do even a small task for the “least of these.” Tuesday morning Convention officially began with praise and worship led by Sarah Reyes and the Reverend Steven Howell-Diamond. I was blessed to be able to lead our opening worship and communion service with my mother, the Reverend Linda Howell. We have not led a worship service together before and I found the experience to be a bit overwhelming. Linda sang “Love in Any Language” with Hannah Alderson accompanying her in sign language. We ended the service with the serving of communion, telling each woman that “this is the body of Christ broken for you” and “this is the cup of Christ poured out for you.”
2019-2020 Officers: Judi Truitt, President; Judy Miller-McGee, President-Elect; Cathy Littlefield, Past President; Robin Hughes, Secretary; Lynn Hughes, Secretary-Elect
After a brief break of more praise and worship music, we began our business meeting by accepting the Regional Council’s report. We elected our officers for 2019-2020 unanimously. Past President-Cathy Littleton, President-Judi Truitt, President Elect-Judy Miller-McGee, Secretary-Robin Hughes, and Secretary Elect-Lynn Bray. These women will be amazing servant leaders for the Women’s Ministry this year! (Continued on page 18) FA L L 2 019 M I S S I O N A R Y M E S S E N G E R 17
in as missionaries. Our missionaries go to the mission field with suitcases and are expected to buy furniture for their homes when they arrive. This project proposal is asking for $6,500 in donations to help the Lopez family buy basic furnishings, refrigerator, washer, dryer, and beds for their home in Spain on the mission field.
We also selected our Convention offering for 2020 as well as our projects for 2019-2020. Our Convention offering will go to Sacred Sparks Ministry. Sacred Sparks Ministry is a ministry of Nashville Presbytery that provides outreach and pastoral care to men and women experiencing homelessness and extreme poverty. The ministry allows people of all ages an opportunity to serve and be in relationship with a community of people who they may have never had the opportunity to know and serve. As we celebrated our five year anniversary serving God’s people through this ministry, the weekly Laundry & Lunch program has become their largest focus. The community served by Sacred Sparks has grown to rely on this weekly resource and time of fellowship.
• Weekly budget for Laundry & Lunch program $350 (laundry, laundry supplies, transportation, lunch/lunch supplies).
• Weekly budget for day shelter $50 (transportation, lunch/supplies).
Our projects for 2019-2020 Our fall project will be Furniture for our Missionaries to Spain. We have a new missionary family, Reverends Wilson and Diana Lopez (and their two daughters, Marcela and Valery) who will be deployed to the mission field in late 2019 or early 2020. Their deployment date depends on deputation (fundraising) and visa approval by the countries they will work 18 M I S S I O N A R Y M E S S E N G E R FA L L 2 019
Our spring project will be the Stott-Wallace Missionary Offering. This project will give CP Women’s Ministry an opportunity to collectively raise financial support for the Stott-Wallace Missionary Offering. This will be a standing project from year to year. Women’s Ministry has a history of supporting missionaries. In fact, the very first act of the newly organized Woman’s Board of Foreign Missions (1880) was to fund two young female missionaries to Japan (Alice Orr and Julia Leavitt). While Women’s Ministry has supported various mission projects and offerings during recent years, we have not collectively supported a missionary. This project will give Women’s Ministry an opportunity to once again collectively support missionaries in the CP Church. We were blessed to meet our new missionary family on Tuesday afternoon, Rev. Wilson and Rev. Diana Lopez, and their two daughters, Marcela and Valery. They spoke with us about their calling to work with existing ministries in Spain and France, as well as developing new worshiping communities in these countries. We are excited to help support them in their calling. Reverend Micaiah Tanck, pastor at Scottsboro Cumberland Presbyterian Church led Convention in a Bible study. Reverend Tanck spoke with us about Walking in Love not being limited to the New Testament but being rooted in the Old Testament book of Leviticus. The whole purpose of the book of Leviticus was to teach people howto Walk in Love of God and neighbor. We learned what an awesome undertaking this is for us, but through Christ, we can Walk in Love together. Wednesday afternoon we had the option of attending the Soul Shop presentation or going off site to help at the National Children’s Advocacy Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
The Soul Shop presentation was about recognizing signs of suicidal thoughts and behaviors and helping respond and prevent such things. It was a powerful presentation. At the National Children’s Advocacy Center we learned more about signs and statistics of child sexual abuse in the United States. We helped make weighted comfort bears for children to hold while in therapy to help recover from trauma. We finished the pillows we had made for children to hold during medical exams. We also helped them send out a mailing of 10,000 pieces to help with their funding efforts. Thursday morning gave us the opportunity to hear from Courtney Banatoski, President and CEO of the Children’s Home in Denton, Texas. She shared about the programs and resources the Children’s Home must use to help assist children and single parents. She also invited all of us to come alongside the Children’s Home to help in any way, from mission trips, to letters, or financial contributions. We then received greetings from the past president of the National Missionary Society, Yyvonne Frierson. She spoke to us once again about walking in love as the women of two unifying bodies. “Women will lead the way.” She proclaimed. We were blessed to give and receive many memberships at this year’s convention. Specifically, we honored Jo Ann Shugart with a Silver Patron Membership for 25 years of service in Women’s Ministry. We closed our meetings Thursday morning with a beautiful and meaningful worship service led by Jo Ann Shugart and Sarah Reyes. We were encouraged to look within and see what might get in the way of walking in love. We confessed our sins before God and one another and received the assurance of our forgiveness through Christ. Convention was celebrated at our annual Cumberland Presbyterian Women’s Luncheon, where over 160 people joined us for food, fellowship and faith-sharing. Our lunch music was provided by the Reverend Steven Diamond on jazz guitar. Our program was given by Jacque Reeves. She told us wonderful stories about churches in the local area with unique Cumberland Presbyterian connections. We capped off the luncheon with “Go Light the World,” Rachel Graham, soloist & Brenna Truitt, dancer, both granddaughters of President Judi Truitt. Convention 2019 was an amazing experience and a wonderful way to start off our 2019-2020 theme “Walk in Love!” Throughout the year we encourage you to take pictures of your women’s ministry events and share them online with the hashtag #CPWMWalkinlove2019 so that everyone can see how you are living out this vision on the local and regional level. Thank you so much for allowing me to be the Coordinator of Women’s Ministries. I cannot wait to see what God will do with the women of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church next! MM
CP Women’s Ministry Bethel University Scholarship 2019 Winner Is Anna Martino I am a seventh generation Cumberland Presbyterian and second generation Bethel student. At only six years old, I accepted Christ as my Savior. Although I was very young, I had a strong feeling in my heart and had many dreams where I felt the Lord was speaking to me. I continually study His Word and seek out His calling in my life. I became a member of the McKenzie Cumberland Presbyterian Church in 2009, and was an active part of the youth. As a member of the youth group, I served on multiple mission trips including ones in our local community, West Tennessee, and even one in Louisiana. In May this year I took my first mission trip out of the country to Colombia through Global Studies at Bethel. I have also attended Cumberland Presbyterian Youth Conference (CPYC) since I was in ninth grade, church camp at Camp Clark Williamson since I was nine, and I was a part of many Youth Sundays. When I was in youth, I held a very important role in our youth session. Currently, as a sophomore at Bethel, I am a manager for the women’s soccer team, a member of the Lambda Sigma Sorority, and am seeking an opportunity to be a student ambassador. Outside of Bethel, I am active in several Bible studies including a group called Young Life. I am majoring in fitness and wellness with a minor in pre-professional health and plan to attend graduate school to become either a physical therapist or a chiropractor. I have always felt my calling was to help people. I believe sometimes in order to reach someone spiritually you first must meet their physical needs. I live with my parents and sister on an old Amish farm. I enjoy spending time with family, friends, and our animals on the farm. Some of my hobbies include traveling, camping, star gazing, doodling, soccer, riding roller coasters, and many other outdoor activities. I want to thank my family, friends, and church for being encouraging and supportive to get me where I am now. Thank you to the Cumberland Presbyterian Women’s Ministry for the support of this scholarship.
MM
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The Americas Youth Gathering JULY 9-12, 2020 MEDELLIN, COLOMBIA
The
idea of the Cumberland Presbyterian Americas Youth Gathering is not new. It is based on a model used by the Cumberland Presbyterian Asia Mission Forum throughout the last fifteen years focused on convoking and gathering in a specific location youth from the different countries in Asia where the Cumberland Presbyterian Church is present. When we think of the Americas Youth Gathering, we recognize that twenty years ago the Cumberland Presbyterian Church was only present in two countries in the Americas. Today, the Cumberland Presbyterian Church is present in the United States, Mexico, Guatemala, Cuba, Haiti, Colombia, and Brazil. The Missions and Discipleship Ministry Teams prayerfully request your help to convoke and gather Cumberland Presbyterian youth and young adults from these different countries in the Americas and from Spain to come together for one event in Medellin, Colombia. Our goal is to have around 200 participants from all the different countries of the Americas where the CP Church is present as well as Spain. We are inviting youth from the United States to represent their presbyteries during this event and we have an online registration form for that purpose at https://cpcmc.org/ayg2020/. We want to raise $20,000 for scholarships, especially for youth traveling from the international council of churches or presbyteries outside Colombia and the United States. Donations by check can be sent to the Missions Ministry Team, 8207 Traditional Pl., Cordova TN with the memo “Americas YG 2020 offering.� If you want to learn more about the CP Americas Youth Gathering, please contact Rev. Nathan Wheeler, Coordinator for Youth and Young Adult Ministry at Nwheeler@ cumberland.org, Rev. Johan Daza, Cross-Culture Ministries USA Program Director at Jdaza@ cumberland.org, or Rev. Patrick Wilkerson, Missionary to Colombia in Emaus Presbytery at patrickwilkerson3@gmail.com. 2 0 M I S S I O N A R Y M E S S E N G E R FA L L 2 019
GI V I NG N EWS Second Mile Project for Missions
Missionary Cars Project #34041 The Missions Ministry Team has new missionaries to Brazil, they just arrived. We plan to deploy new missionaries to Spain in early 2020. We are also working with another missionary couple that will deploy to Guatemala early in 2020. One of the benefits we provide new missionaries is a safe car. Sometimes they are new cars, but often they are good used cars. Our missionaries need a car in order to fulfill the church planting and ministry responsibilities that they have on the mission field. We are asking Cumberland Presbyterians to help us with this Second Mile offering. We know this is an ambitious project. At the same time, it reflects the exciting reality that we will be deploying three new missionary families within a twelve month period. As you prayerfully consider this Second Mile project please pray for these three families that will be using these cars: Rev. and Mrs. Josue Guerrero and daughter (Brazil), Rev. Wilson and Rev. Diana Lopez and two daughters (Spain), and a missionary couple we are not ready to announce by name at this time (Guatemala).
FINANCIAL DATA: Amount needed from Second Mile: $42,000 Amount received to date: $4,950
CONTRIBUTIONS: Please make check payable to the Missions Ministry Team indicating for project #34041 and mail to 8207 Traditional Place, Cordova, TN 38016-7414. For more information about all of these projects go to cpcmc.org/missions/2nd-mile.
Fishes Offering Feeding The Mind, Spirit, & Body Of Our Brothers & Sisters
He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. Deuteronomy 10:18 (NIV)
CU M BE R L AND PR ES BY TE R IAN CHURCH
MISSIONS MINISTRY TEAM
Coalition of Appalacian Ministries
8207 TR ADITIONAL PL ACE • CORDOVA , TN 38016 -7414 901.276.4572 F or more infor mat ion and resources visi t our websi te at http : // cpcmc.org /mmt /
POLICY: THE MISSIONARY MESSENGER is published for the Cumberland Presbyterian Church by the Missions Ministry Team. Opinions expressed by the individual writers are not necessarily those of the publisher or the editors. THE MISSIONARY MESSENGER does not accept advertising. ADDRESS CHANGE: send new address and label from a recent newspaper to the Circulation Secretary at the address below. THE MISSIONARY MESSENGER (ISSN 08868344), (Publication permit number: PE14376) is published quarterly by the Missions Ministry Team of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,8207 Traditional Place, Cordova, TN 38016-7414. Periodicals postage paid at Memphis, Tenn. The magazine is sent free of charge to each household in the denomination. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: THE MISSIONARY MESSENGER, 8207 Traditional Place, Cordova, TN 38016-7414.
Thursday, Nov. 7 to Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019
Nashville, Tennessee This event made possible in part by your tithe to Our United Outreach.
