Cornerstone by Covenant Presbyterian Church

CORNERSTONE COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH | APRIL 2013 The Senior Pastor Nominating Committee needs your help! Please fill out the survey in the middle of this issue and return it to Covenant by April 28.

High school students will visit Daytona Beach in July to attend a conference featuring Louie Giglio, Chris Tomlin and Brett Younker.

ABOUT CORNERS CORNERSTONE CONTRIBUTORS INTERIM SENIOR PASTOR PAUL PARSONS

Cornerstone is the bimonthly publication of Covenant Presbyterian Church. Cornerstone provides in-depth articles on the events that take place on and off campus and the people who make them happen.

CLERK OF SESSION JOY DURRANT BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR DUANE DUBE EDITOR STEPHANIE SCHULTZ DESIGN AND LAYOUT

Content includes the Pastor’s letter, Session news, member and staff spotlights, and a calendar of upcoming events. Find more information on the events online and in Covenant Matters. Download the paper version of Cornerstone online at covenant.org/publications. We will update the Cornerstone blog as we receive content at blog.covenant.org.

AARON ARNOLD

We need you! CONTRIBUTING WRITERS JACO BOTES, MELISSA GASKILL, GAYLA STUART PHOTOGRAPHY AARON ARNOLD, BETH BISHOP, JACO BOTES, PATRICIA CAROOM, TERRY COLE, STEPHANIE SCHULTZ SPECIAL THANKS TO KAY AUSTIN, PAUL MOWRY, BRIAN SPARKS, JAN VANDERPOOL

To make Cornerstone better, we need your help! The content will be more interesting and more fun with more writers. If you have something you want to write about or want us to write, let us know. While we can’t promise that every submitted article will appear in the printed version of Cornerstone, we will publish all appropriate stories on the blog. We also need photos of events. If you have suggestions for Cornerstone, email us at publications@covenant.org or stop by the office in Covenant Hall.

STONE 2

DEAR FRIENDS

Focus is the key to reach our dreams 3

IT TAKES A TEAM

Jaco Botes’ new perspective on Zambia 12

Find out what it takes to run Student Ministries 5

BAND OF BROTHERS

GREAT RELATIONSHIPS

CHILDREN IN WORSHIP

SUMMER FUN FOR KIDS

EVERY MEMBER IN MISSION

Missions Committee shares a new Mission Policy

CLERK’S CORNER

Joy reports on Session’s busy winter 16

Covenant kids to get royal treatment this summer 9

MERCY FLOWS AT SYM

Get inspired to volunteer for street youth

Covenant encourages parents to bring their kids 8

SUDAN MISSION TRIPS

Don’t miss out on this meaningful journey

Nathan teaches positive relationship building 7

EYE-OPENING PARTNERSHIP

There’s a pastor shortage in Cuba!

Unique group shares strong foundation 6

LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE

FINANCE REPORT

For the period ended February 28, 2013 17

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

See what’s coming up this spring/summer

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1

DEAR FRIENDS When I lived in Kansas City, I helped develop a ministry for men and boys in which we climbed some of the highest peaks in Colorado. Our mission was to pursue a summit as a means of building community among men, developing healthier lifestyles, learning mountaineering skills and entering into a deep relationship with Jesus Christ. Over seven summers together, we helped fulfill the dreams of some 200 men and boys to climb a Colorado “14er.” One of these men was a beloved young dad named Alan. He liked the experience of these trips enough that he kept coming back year after year, accumulating knowledge and skill, but always being confronted by his fear of falling. On one perfect August day, he accompanied me and five other men up Wetterhorn Peak. The approach to Wetterhorn’s summit is challenging. But the crux of that climb is the last 130 feet, which feels steeper than it actually is. As I went up first, the other five men moved with me, but Alan sat frozen in place below us. After making sure the other men were safely on the summit, I down-climbed and sat on a ledge about 60 feet above Alan, coaxing him to take this risk. And finally I said something my climbing mentor had said to me, at exactly this same spot, 15 years earlier: “Alan, you know everything you need to know to reach this summit. You already have made every move that this short stretch will require of you. All you have to do to reach your dream is to stay focused on one move at a time.” That’s true for Covenant Presbyterian Church, as well. As we approach the end of this interim transition, it is time to dream about things that two years ago were impossible. I have watched you come to 2

a greater peace with a diversity in this congregation that threatened to tear you apart, and with your sometimes painful past in parting with former leaders. You have wrestled with Covenant’s identity, articulating three beautiful values that mark you as His own: family of God, mission(s), and corporate worship. These 20 months have witnessed the raising up of a host of new leaders and an improved relationship with our presbytery. Presently your Session is pursuing the dream of a healthier staff, to say nothing of embracing God’s call to articulate His vision for Covenant. The Stewardship Committee has an exciting dream for vision-based budgeting and for helping create a culture of generosity. An Interim Associate Pastor Search Team is interviewing candidates for one pastoral position, while our Senior Pastor Nominating Committee is being

approved for an all-out search for your next Senior Pastor. All of these are the right moves. At last, Alan made his first tentative move on the rock wall. He found good handholds, placed his feet carefully, deliberately and soon he was 10 feet closer to me. I found ample means for affirming him; he was doing so well and he began to build momentum. Within moments we were side by side, staying focused on one move at a time. He really did know everything he needed to know; he just needed someone to help him believe it. And in less than five minutes, I held back and watched him go over the lip above us, as he scrambled the last few feet to the summit. I will not forget looking up at Alan in His glory, reaching his dream, weeping for joy.

So, let me say it again. You have everything you need to reach the summit. You already have made every move that this short stretch will require of you. All you must do to reach your dream is to stay focused on one move at a time. That’s where we’re going, side by side, until it’s time for you to scramble ahead of me and become all you’re meant to be.

IT TAKES A TEAM With 70 kids attending Covenant Student Ministries’ Disciple Now (D*Now) weekend and more than 20 in Covenant’s Stand confirmation class, the Student Ministries program is hitting its stride. Just what makes such a program successful? In a mid-February sermon, Paul Parsons spoke of a youth program that he ran in Washington state where everything turned to gold. Conversely, during his tenure as a youth pastor in California, everything turned to dust. Is success sheer luck? Is it parental support? Maybe it’s peer influence? 3

For Covenant Student Ministry Director William Leonhardt, Covenant’s program is successful due to a fantastic and brilliant team of people that includes staff, volunteers and mentors. “Volunteers are the lifeblood, the heart of our program. Without volunteers, we could run programs, but we couldn’t have a life-impacting ministry on a student-by-student level,” William explained. “We recognize that a couple of paid staff can’t reach all 80 students in a meaningful way. Our volunteers make the program so much more meaningful to each individual student.”

Student Ministry by the Book Student Ministries meets two times a week. On Wednesday, the seventh through twelfth graders meet together for a group lesson and worship songs led by song leader Jerry Wise. On Sunday morning, the teens break into D*Groups, meeting with others of the same age and gender. These D*Groups are led by a volunteer who ideally stays with them as they grow older, becoming not only a teacher, but also a friend and mentor. William appreciates the mentormentee relationship; he himself has a mentor within the church 4

family, an important relationship that has had a profound impact on William’s faith and personal life. “My mentor helps me to rethink and refine things about myself. I really value his honesty and I am so thankful for his strong example of godliness.” Covenant’s D*Groups are mentorships, William explained. “Through D*Groups, we put our kids in that same sort of setting and provide a mentor. We give them an influential senior sponsor or supporter, someone they can emulate in the way they follow Christ.”

Sharing Jesus’ Hope A bigger part of the joy for William is sharing with students the hope that Jesus brings. “Students are young and at a stage of life where they are open and hungry to learn what it looks like to live as the Bible says. “I love watching God work in the students’ lives and being able to watch renewing life change happen. I see God’s grace enter their lives in a way that puts them on a new path,” William said.

Teen Challenges William, who has been at his job for four years, says that working

with teens is challenging because once he figures out what they like and how to communicate with them, the culture changes. “This challenge is also one of the reasons why I love it,” William said. “The culture is vibrant and energetic; it keeps adapting and finding new ways to express itself. There’s something really fun about being a part of that. Our goal is to figure out how to express Christ to students and their friends in their changing culture and help them learn how to live out their faith.” William and the Student Ministry staff and volunteers keep up with kids not only through church activities, but also by attending their games and dances and having lunch with them at school. “Our goal is to build a sustainable ministry at Covenant that has a deep impact on students’ lives. We hope that through caring and loving adults, they come to know Jesus better. Ultimately, we want to be a place that invites people to trust Jesus,” William said.

BAND OF BROTHERS Mike, Jack, Brian and Billy laughed with their D*Group Leaders Joe Muck and Erich Plondke. “What’s the story?!” one of the boys bleated. The question, later described by all as “just another inside joke,” was met with more laughter. These four boys are high school seniors and part of this Student Ministries D*Group that has been together for seven years. The easy banter and obvious camaraderie, and the gaggle of inside jokes that the group shares when they get together at least twice a week will end next fall when the four have graduated and gone their separate ways. All say they will take with them a piece of these special friendships. “We’ve all grown up spiritually, mentally and physically,” Jack Harper III said. “Who we are, our whole personalities have been made better because of this group,” said Brian Crawley, a Westwood High School student. Student Ministries Director William Leonhardt noted about 10 boys usually attend this group. On this particular Sunday, however, the small group, after sharing how the week went, read John 8:1–11, which led to a thoughtful discussion. Joe asked: “Do you get grace and mercy from this group?” The boys reflected on some of the things that have happened, some less popular moves and group consequences. “Did it ever occur to you to tell someone to stop coming to this group?” Joe asked, challenging the boys to relate their actions to the Scripture. “We’re never gonna toss anybody out,” Jack said. “That might happen other places, but I think we’re

doing things better than they are doing them out in the rest of the world.” “We’re a bunch of teenage guys who are part of a church, a family, even a brotherhood,” Brian said.

What Happens at the Ranch… While the boys often share profound thoughts, they find lots of time for fun! Many favorite stories happened at McCallum High School senior Michael Ruwwe’s family ranch a few hours south of Austin. While the group has traveled there as a whole or in parts several times, a cold camping trip in 2011 was quite memorable. Despite a forecast predicting near freezing temperatures, Michael and William insisted that the group sleep outside, under the stars. “We woke up the next morning in a sheet of ice,” said McCallum senior Billy Won. “And Michael and William were nowhere to be found.” Michael quickly changed the subject. “Remember the time a cow charged Brian?” “What about the Thanksgiving sodas?” Billy said. 5

“Plondke and I brought those sodas to meeting when you guys were in middle school,” Joe laughed. “Twelve courses of the thanksgiving meal in sodas.”

better. “The last D*Now was the best,” Billy said and the group agreed. “It’s a lot easier being around all guys in terms of opening up.”

“The blueberry pie soda was good,” Michael said, “but not the turkey and the mashed potatoes soda!”

“Our common experiences definitely make us closer,” said Brian, “and we’ll take that with us wherever we go next year.”

The group also talked about a sophomore year ski trip, lots of gaga (It’s like dodge ball on steroids, according to Jack.) and simply hanging out together. On a more serious note, the boys agreed that a game played at the D*Now weekend called “cross the line” has helped them to know each other

Michael laughed. “We’ll end up with people we don’t know, making one of our jokes and no one will know why it is so funny. “ “Until the summer,” said Jack, “when we come back and hang out.”

GREAT RELATIONSHIPS God designs great relationships! Covenant students recently participated in a four-week series in which they learned that relationships are designed to bring them closer to God. The series is part of the curriculum followed by the Student Ministries team. Nathan Richards, Associate Director of Student Ministries for Middle School, said Philippians 4:8 helped guide the lectures and discussion. “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. “(NIV) 6

“We wanted to meet our students where they are so we planned this series around Valentine’s Day,” Nathan said. One topic they discussed at length was physical boundaries. “We didn’t give students a list of things that they shouldn’t do, rather examples of good things. In other words, not what we are called away from, but what we are called to.” Through television and Facebook and other forms of media, kids are bombarded with poor relationship images. Nathan said, “We have to constantly counteract that negative relationship noise and let kids know that it’s going to feel weird to go against the popular tide.”

Nathan said class response was positive. “The biggest thing for students is knowing how to approach the subject. They are open to the topic, and every week they ask more questions.” (The

students are able to ask anonymously through a write-in.) The series culminated with Student Ministries Administrative Assistant Whitney Bell and her husband Andrew providing their real-life story about living God’s plan. The two met while in college and were friends for a long time. “It took the Lord, a couple years and a new wardrobe before I would consider a relationship with Andrew,” Whitney laughed. “The kids liked to hear our story because we were friends first and we both loved Jesus. Let’s face it, not all relationships look like a Nicholas Sparks novel. God developed ours into something

more. Our prior friendship made the transition into a relationship that much easier.” The kids asked the Bells questions about romantic relationships and also friendships. Whitney pointed out that often people stay in all sorts of relationships because of fear. “One girl told me she has a friend who is not good for her. We talked about what it means to have honest, direct communication with friends, family – everyone, and how that leads to healthy relationships. “And by direct communication, I mean face-to-face. No texts, no emails; have a conversation using your voice. That’s what we were

created to do. That’s how we are supposed to communicate.” “God has something better than what we can come up with. Whitney and Andrew are a great example,” Nathan said. “The kids may not have thought about surrendering that part of their lives to God. We cast that vision.” In the future, Nathan would like to run the class simultaneously with a similar offering for parents. “We’re figuring out that approach. We’d like parents to have a Sunday school class that would reflect some of the things we discuss with their kids.”

CHILDREN IN WORSHIP John Westerhoff, a leading Christian educator, says children are necessary in worship. Westerhoff believes that faith is “caught” not “taught” and what better way for children to know what faith is all about than to be a part of a full community – a community that includes attending worship!?

(9:30 or 11 a.m.) and worship another. They can always pick up a kid-friendly worship bag and special bulletin that follow along with the sermon each week so they stay engaged.

At Covenant Presbyterian Church, it is our strong desire for children to join their parents in worship and have a family experience worshiping God. While the appropriate age varies based on the child, we highly encourage that by the third grade, kids are attending worship with their families. This means that they could attend Sunday school one hour

• Relax! God put the wiggle in children. Don’t feel you have to suppress it in His house.

Things to keep in mind when worshiping with kids:

• Use a gentle touch: An arm around your child’s shoulder to give reassurance and appropriate attention. • Help your child find the pages in the hymn book.

• Do not be distressed if your child does not find the proper page. • Sing the hymns, pray and voice the responses. Children learn good behaviors by copying what you do. • Always remember that the way we welcome children in church directly affects the way they respond to church, God and Jesus. Let them know that they are at home in this liturgy of praise and thanksgiving.

My door is open if you would like to discuss this or have further questions. We are honored to walk alongside you as you parent these young disciples. Remember: Tell them; they forget. Show them; they may remember. Involve them; they will understand. “Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.” –Luke 9:48 SUBMITTED BY GAYLA STUART

SUMMER FUN FOR KIDS VBS: Kingdom Rock The Covenant Children and Preteen Staff is working hard to make this year’s Vacation Bible School (VBS) another rockin’ year of filling kids’ senses with God. VBS 2013 “Kingdom Rock” will run from June 17–21 from 9 a.m. to noon each day. As in year’s past, VBS will offer Covenant children and their friends the opportunity to learn the daily Bible lesson through taste, touch, sight and sound. “We love VBS,” said Covenant Director of Children and Preteen Ministries Gayla Stuart. “This year, kids will walk through our royal entry and be welcomed with blaring trumpets, miniature horses and a bouncy castle.” “Who doesn’t love a castle theme?” Associate Director Stacey Grooms said. “The boys can flex their muscles with our “stand strong for God” motto. The music is super energetic and really fits the theme.”

Covenant expects to have 500 kids, parents and volunteers of all ages flock to campus to celebrate Jesus Christ. To register online, visit covenant.org/vbs. For more information, contact Gayla at gstuart@covenant.org.

Middle and High School Summer Trips Our older kids have much to look forward to this summer! They will embark on journeys that will take them west and east. Those students entering

seventh and eighth grade are invited to travel to Gunnison, Colo., for the Great Escape. This six-day trip starts June 22. Kids will whitewater raft, hike and learn about God while enjoying the great (and much cooler) outdoors.

Brett Younker from July 7–12. More than 6,500 kids from around the country will enjoy a week of sun, sand and worship at this Florida beach. To learn more about our Student Ministry summer camps and conferences, visit corestudentministries.org or contact Whitney Bell, wbell@covenant.org.

Meanwhile, Covenant high school students will go east, returning to Daytona Beach for a Student Life conference featuring Louie Giglio, Chris Tomlin and

EVERY MEMBER IN MISSION The Covenant Mission Committee recently rewrote our Mission Policy to emphasize the participation of every member at Covenant in mission experience. We believe that mission experience transforms lives, both those of the people doing mission service and those being served. To create opportunities for meaningful member involvement, the policy calls for the committee to establish relationships with and provide support to mission organizations and individuals who provide accessible, appropriate ways for members to participate. We believe that God is a missionary God and that his Word, from Genesis to Revelation, is a missionary Word. A number of key scriptures motivate our dedication to mission at Covenant,

including Isaiah 61:1–2: “the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor . . .,” and Matthew 28:19–20: “… go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” We plan to concentrate Covenant’s resources of time, talents and money on those who proclaim the gospel by word, while taking seriously the ethical imperative to feed the hungry, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, care for the sick and visit the prisoner (Matthew 25:36).

The policy specifically states that the committee will develop and direct our mission vision, educate the congregation about mission, oversee care for missionaries, encourage long-term and shortterm participation of members in mission, oversee mission trips and projects, serve as liaisons between the church and its related agencies, and administer the church mission budget. Led by prayer and thoughtful consideration, committee members will appropriately and efficiently direct mission funds in accordance with the goal of every member in mission, Covenant’s stated mission and policies, and financial guidelines included in the policy. The committee will also seek to provide opportunities to inform the congregation about God’s missionary purpose, mission 9

activities at Covenant and in the global church, and education and training opportunities provided by others, and to encourage church member participation in such activities. We will also endeavor to help Covenant members understand vital issues around the world that deserve our attention and voice, and to identify opportunities to connect mission work supported by Covenant with these wider issues and efforts to advance God’s kingdom in the world. Finally, we will endeavor to use all available and appropriate means to communicate mission activity, opportunity and issues to the congregation.

The policy also specifies committee structure, including member selection and terms, the function of subcommittees and detailed financial policies. Members are welcome to review the policy found at covenant.org/ mission-committee. Essentially, the mission committee serves as a catalyst for the congregation to join with God in blessing people physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually; and advocating for a just society in accord with kingdom values wherever we are called. We believe God wants each and every one of us to be His mission workers in some way. In the

LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE The boy looked six years old. He stared as we walked down the winding path to a cluster of huts. The initial terror of seeing strangers turned friendly as he realized we were not there to steal and eat children (as was the rumor). He ran inside and came back smiling, clutching a few things in his hand, excited to show off his worldly possessions. Everyone noticed his tattered clothes, bare feet, dusty face and the buzzing flies. The boy proudly showed us a stick, rock and broken toy. The team learns he is 12. Years of malnutrition and poverty have taken their toll. His name could be Joseph, Innocence or Happy. (Children do not get named 10

coming months, look for information about ways you can be involved with our missions and missionaries. We ask you to prayerfully consider where and how God is calling you to have a mission experience – be it a few hours of office work or a mission trip to Africa. Contact Mission Committee chair Jaco Botes (jacobotes@gmail.com) or Jill Williams (jwilliams@covenant. org) or if you’d like to discuss mission opportunities. We’re excited to see how God will transform lives this year, here and around the world. SUBMITTED BY MELISSA GASKILL

when they are babies because so few survive. Later, their names typically reflect an emotion.)

people. We stayed in accommodations that many Americans would simply deem unacceptable.

An older woman trekked a mile with a 10-gallon water bucket on her head after she pumped it at the well. Because it is the dry season, she did not wake at 3 a.m. to tend the fields. She walks bent over. Though she looks 60, she is 45 and the boy’s grandmother. His parents died from the scourge of AIDS ravaging Zambia. She milled corn by hand with a stomping stick and wooden bowl, working all day to make a simple meal. There is no electricity, no plumbing. The family uses an outhouse pit latrine.

Our daily work followed a pattern. After breakfast, we headed to the villages. Since it was the dry season, the smoke from brush and grass fires raging everywhere would hang in the air. (There are no fire departments, so the fires basically go unchecked.) I had four bars on my iPhone all the time so I usually updated our U.S.-based communications team before the clinic bus arrived.

The woman’s cell phone rings. On the horizon, a blinking light on the huge white and red cell tower is a reminder of the technology that exists even here. It is almost the only electrical illumination at night. Everywhere else, people read, visit and have dinner next to fires and paraffin lamps. Her cell phone battery is nearly dead. She will charge it with the village elder’s small solar panel, paying him a few kwacha. This is a glimpse of what awaited our team as we traveled to Zambia last summer, the seventh year that Covenant and e3 Partners sent a team of medical professionals and evangelists. I joined the trip as “crowd control” for the medical team. (I’m sure my size and voice had something to do with it.) Our teams work with local folks who set up and prepare the villages so the clinics run with relative ease. This mission trip was a truly grounding experience. I grew up in South Africa and lived there until age 30. I was exposed to many things I saw in Zambia. The difference was that this time, I could not get in my car and drive to the relative safety of a city and close the barbed-wire, electrical fence that surrounded my yard. We were there to serve

Each village – Bambwa, Namusonde, Kabulamwanda and Niko – was a cluster of huts around a school. The main road to Lusaka passed through these villages. Little man-made structures selling everything imaginable lined both sides of the road, with pre-paid cellphones the biggest seller. When we arrived in the village, we identified the largest tree so the triage group could set up under shade. Curious villagers lined up; many traveled miles to see the doctors. Zambia has basic healthcare, but the presence of foreign doctors or aid groups always brings a crowd. Life expectancy in Zambia is 35 years. In some villages the HIVpositive rate is more than 66 percent; higher in some remote locations. The medical staff saw around 200 people each day. We had pediatricians, EMTs, ENTs, dentists, pharmacists and optometrists. These folks gave their services for free to serve on the trip. Some closed their practices for two weeks and kept paying the staff and bills. After four emotionally draining clinic days, we and our local partners reflected on the trip and donated leftover medicines to local clinics. (Each of us checked a bag of drugs to dispense on the trip. 11

Dealing with customs issues and paperwork is a story on its own.) From beginning to end, the trip was a truly unique experience. I would do it again in a heartbeat. This year, the Zambia trip is June 27 to July 13. We need workers for church planting, medical and dental

clinics, and much prayer and support. For more information about the trip and to volunteer, contact Larry Rieber at rieberco@gmail.com or Dr. Cheryl Banks at csebesta@austin.rr.com. SUBMITTED BY JACO BOTES

EYE-OPENING PARTNERSHIP Pastor Daniel Izquierdo Hernàndez, Moderator of the Presbyterian Reformed Church of Cuba, was on the Covenant campus for several days in January. Daniel, who was installed at our sister church in Luyanó in September, spoke at several venues during his visit, sharing insights and experiences that he’s had as a pastor in Cuba. While it has become easier to be Christian in Cuba, with the end of communism and a more open government under Raúl Castro, the exodus of many pastors has challenged the church. According to Daniel, the 49 branches of the Presbyterian Church are served by just 22 pastors. This situation has affected his vocation. “Being a pastor in Cuba is a lot of work for a little pay,” Daniel said.

Growing up Christian in Cuba Daniel’s Christian roots run deep. His grandfather was a Presbyterian pastor in the 1930s when most churches were run by missionaries. Daniel’s grandfather

had a different point of view. “My grandfather had his own Cuban style way of doing things,” Daniel said. “He was a revolutionary, a pioneer doing social outreach to Cubans in need.”

Anchored by his grandfather’s strong faith, Daniel grew up in a committed Christian family. His father was a lay leader who taught many Bible studies. When Daniel told his dad he wanted to preach, his dad encouraged him. “I delivered my first sermon when I was 10,” he said. But Daniel did not rush into becoming a pastor. Instead, he studied architecture and loved his career. When he moved to Santa Clara to take care of his grandfather, he began to feel that God was calling him to be a pastor. “I wanted to be sure,” Daniel said. “’God, let me know,’ I prayed. ‘I want to be faithful to Your voice, but I need to hear it.’” After two years of prayer and discernment, Daniel went to seminary, was ordained and quickly called to San Antonio where he was the preacher for 11 years with no plans to move on. “There was so much going on in San Antonio when I was called to Luyanó,” he said. “But they told me that the hiring team was considering three people for the post and that each ranked me as their first choice.” Convinced that the unanimous vote was a sign about the next chapter in his life, Daniel made plans to move to Luyanó.

Making a Difference in Luyanó When Cuba was taken under communist rule in 1959, the people’s reaction was fear. Half of the church’s membership left and only 15 pastors remained to serve 30 congregations. In 1967, the Presbyterian Reformed Church of Cuba was formed. Daniel said during the long years of Communist rule, two things prompted Cuban Christians to gain optimism. First, in 1984, Jesse Jackson visited the country and invited Castro to church. “For the first time in my whole life, I saw Fidel attending church.” That was quickly followed by the 1985 publishing of Fidel and Religion, a book that Cubans lined up to purchase. “Everybody wanted to see what Fidel had to say about religion,” Daniel said. In the late 1980s, the church was growing. “I think Castro realized he needed unity within the country, and in April 1990, he met with 70 Christian leaders. The several hours long meeting was broadcast live. Today, 80 percent of church members are new Christians, Daniel said, but explained that the church is growing through church houses. “People who don’t feel at ease in church are more

comfortable going to a house. Eventually many relax enough to visit an actual church.” The church in Cuba faces many challenges. “We must teach newcomers about Christian faith, and determine how to best present the Gospel, a task often led by lay leaders,” Daniel said. “We also need to find funding sources to create sustainable projects, and we need to train new pastors.” At the same time, the church is working to meet the physical needs of many. Together with a Presbyterian church in Minneapolis, Luyanó and Covenant volunteers have created a system to filter water for Cubans. The Luyanó church offers exercise programs for the elderly and various food programs for many. “Most of the land is owned by the state, but they will give you plots for growing food. A food program is an example of something sustainable that the church can manage on its own.” Much of the activity at Luyanó, according to Daniel, is the result of friendships with Covenant members. “Our partnership with Covenant has opened our eyes to things that we can do,” he said.

SUDAN MISSION TRIPS The Toposa people of South Sudan, an unreached group, are 99.9 percent illiterate. e3 Partner mission teams are reaching them with the gospel using solar-powered recorders, telling the Bible story with translators and training new believers to be leaders of new churches. We have two trips coming up. Is God calling you to participate in one of them? June 4–13 is Bible Story Telling and “Finding Persons of Peace.” We’ll camp part of the time in tribal villages, worshiping under the stars and equipping new believers to become leaders of Bible storytelling circles that will become churches. Bible storytelling training and curriculum will be taught before departure. Cost of the trip is $4,400. From Oct. 18–28, we will take a veterinary trip. We need veterinarians, vet helpers and Bible storytellers. A Kenyan missionary vet will lead the trip. We also need helpers to reach the children, women and

men who gather. We expect 100 new men leaders to hear the Gospel for the first time each day. We’ll be camping in the villages. The cost to go is $4,400. If you are interested in finding out more about these trips, contact Patricia Caroom, at patricia.caroom@e3partners.org. SUBMITTED BY MELISSA GASKILL

MERCY FLOWS AT SYM Street Youth Ministry (SYM), a local mission effort Covenant supports, builds volunteer teams by asking people to learn about and pray for SYM, and to get involved. This starts by signing up for newsletters at StreetYouthMinistry.com. Each newsletter contains a ministry story through which subscribers see all aspects of our ministry: 14

faith issues, drug counseling, education, emotional healing, simple compassion and more. Once a month we send a prayer letter with an overview of the issues our clients face: poverty, insobriety, anger at God and distrust of churches. We ask our prayer team to choose an item to focus on. We also send a oncea-month email with same-day

prayer requests. It’s been nothing short of miraculous how God responds when clients and prayer team members pray together.

Finally, we ask volunteers to prepare food and come sit with us for our weekly events. We always need sandwiches, breakfast casseroles and breakfast tacos for our freezer. (Find instructions for how to make them in our new volunteer notebook at streetyouthministry.org/volunteers. Does it really matter? Here’s a story to inspire and challenge:

the street; we encouraged him to expect more for himself and to stay safe. He readily accepted our sandwiches. We gave his dog, Gonzo, his best friend, food and a saddle pack to carry his own supplies while they walked, hitch-hiked and “hopped trains” together. We offered Corey drug counseling and took his prayer requests for friends, family and self.

Corey’s mom called us Thursday morning. Her son, our client for more than a year, had died the previous Sunday in New Orleans. We had supplied him with prayer, sandwiches and dog supplies when he passed through Austin. Corey was a smart, sweet kid. We never really knew why he was on

We still lost Corey to a drug overdose in New Orleans. Through the ministry that our volunteers support we were able to know, love and serve Corey. When the time came, we were able to reach out to his mother, brother and sister, and share that Corey was sweet and not overtaken by drug

addiction, that his morals were intact and he didn’t habitually lie, cheat or steal. We shared that he was still charming and intelligent. Praise God, we don’t always lose clients! Many are no longer on the street and work at jobs, go to college and make great parents. Our volunteers support these great accomplishmrents. And our volunteers help make possible the simple mercy of knowing a mother’s son, being able to comfort his family at a terrible time. Prayerfully consider how you can be a part of this important and powerful local ministry. SUBMITTED BY MELISSA GASKILL

CLERK’S CORNER Session has had a busy few months. Early this year, we welcomed Covenant’s new COO and Administrator Duane Dube. We also approved the Administration Committee’s request for the construction of a Memorial Wall to be built in conjunction with the Columbarium. Thanks to Dave Mead for his dedication to this project, prompted by ushering at so many memorial services. Session has begun to implement some of the changes suggested by consultants Batts, Morrison, Wales and Lee. The consultants conducted an administrative and organizational review of leadership and staff, and made recommendations to increase 15

efficiency. Session is still discussing, deliberating and praying about the report and its follow-up. Thank you for attending the congregational meetings on Jan. 13 and Feb. 17. We elected officers and approved a change to our bylaws that our congregational meeting occur before May. That congregational meeting will be April 7 at noon. In February, Session approved the Church Information Form (CIF) written by the Senior Pastor Nominating Committee. The Mission Presbytery’s Committee on Ministries approved our CIF at its March 4 meeting. Session also passed the 2013 Operating Budget. The budget’s revenue projection is just under $2.9 million. The Building Fund will convert to permanent financing on Aug. 2, when our lender requires that the principal mortgage loan balance be less than or equal to $7.3 million. As of Feb. 14, the loan balance must be reduced by $190,253. Your annual pledge keeps the lights on and staff paid; a Building Fund contribution pays our mortgage. Prayerfully consider a Building Fund contribution.

Here’s a rundown of business accomplished at the two-day meeting: We heard presentations of Presbytery committees and missions. The Pension Board reported that the Pension Fund is fully funded, although the Medical Fund faces challenges. A new church development group from Georgetown offered thanks for support in establishing San Gabriel Presbyterian Church. A slate of nominees for Presbytery committees passed. Covenant’s June Briney was elected to the Committee on Ministry, class of 2014. Many simple amendments to the Book of Order passed, and the Plan for the Future of the Synod of the Sun was unanimously approved.

JOYFULLY PRAISING GOD WITH YOU,

JOY DURRANT CLERK OF SESSION

FINANCE REPORT

Clerk-Elect Melanie Williamson attended the Mission Presbytery meeting in Austin, and provided this report about it: On Friday, we participated in a group exercise on healthy congregations. Mission Presbytery will aggregate that information to determine how it can best support its congregations. The day concluded with the honorable retirement of three Teaching Elders, including Tom Mitchell. 16

CALENDAR OF EVENTS SENIOR ACTIVITIES DAY

NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER

April 2 at 10 a.m.in FE 200 Movie: Argo

May 2 at 11:30 a.m. at the Capitol Building Bring a sacked lunch

ARMCHAIR TRAVELERS

April 4 at 7 p.m. in FE 200 Bill and Ginny DeGinder share photos of the Ozarks

May 2 at 7 p.m. in FE 200 Marv Hackert presents his trip to New England

CWU – ARE THE STARS ALIGNED TO CHANGE?

CHILDREN’S MUSICAL: RESCUE IN THE NIGHT

April 5 at 9:30 a.m. at St. John’s United Methodist Speakers will discuss restorative justice

May 4 at 6 p.m. and again on May 8 at 4:30 p.m. ALL-CHURCH PICNIC

PW SPRING GATHERING

May 5 at 4 p.m. at the Skaggs Ranch

April 5 at 3 p.m. to April 7 at 11:30 a.m. at Mo-Ranch SENIOR ACTIVITIES DAY EXPLORE MEMBERSHIP TWO-NIGHT CLASS

April 8 and 9 from 6 to 8 p.m. Contact Maureen at mcrawley@covenant.org

May 7 at 10 a.m. in FE 200 Movie: Parental Guidance STUDENT MINISTRIES SENIOR CELEBRATION

CAREER TRANSITIONS

May 11 at 7 p.m. in FE 400

April 4 to May 9 on Thursdays at 7 p.m. in FE 100 Contact Kay at kaustin@covenant.org

GOSPEL NIGHT

May 23 at 7:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary WALKING THE MOURNER’S PATH

April 11 to May 30 on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. Contact Kay at kaustin@covenant.org COVENANT PRAYER VIGIL

PRESCHOOL OPENINGS

April 12 at 7 a.m. to April 13 at 1 p.m. Sign up on the patio between services

Covenant’s Preschool and Child’s Day Out programs have space for 2013–2014. Openings are available for

YOUTH MUSICAL: REASON TO REJOICE

children ages 9 months to 23 months by Sept. 1 and for

April 21 at 5 p.m. in the Sanctuary

the five-year-old class which, starting this fall, will meet five days a week Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to

YOUTH SUNDAY

1 p.m. Application fee is $75. Contact Christy Milam at

April 28 at 9:30 a.m. Traditional and 11 a.m. Contemporary services

cmilam@covenant.org or 454-8370 to enroll.

3003 Northland Drive Austin, TX 78757

OFFICERS AND STAFF OF COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH DEACONS

ELDERS

CLASS OF 2013

CLASS OF 2014

CLASS OF 2015

CLASS OF 2013

CLASS OF 2014

CLASS OF 2015

Breece Adams Ursula Alley Mike Austin June Beck Nancy Bissell Deatra Boese Amanda Cowan Jane Crowe Peggy Cuevas Kay Davenport Bonnie Hartmann Fred Hartmann Abby Hemphill Susan Hutchison Tammy Linn Steve Martens Ken Moore Sarah Ott Ryan Palm LaTrelle Peterson Megan Poore Charles Ridings Jim Robinson Jim Rumbo Nancy Rumbo Lynn Smith Shannon Windham

Marilyn Adams Matt Bair Donna Barksdale Lynn Bell Steve Bissell Julie Bou Allen Carmichael Lynda Chapman Jay Corder Cara Cotham Jim Foster Jacquez “Joc” Gaines Bretna Hackert Elizabeth Hilton Barbara Knisely Bill Mange Lacy Ruwwe Carol Sheppard Lisa Sledge Sharon Smith Tom Smith Brent Stover Diane Swanson Beth Voorhees

Susan Ashton Jill Baumhover Wendell Bell Sylvia Betts Rusty Burnett Carolyn Carmichael Steve Caskey Allison Crutchfield Dianne Erlewine Pansy Flick Jane Gamel Keith Ging Garrett Hall Patti Hansen Elizabeth Harrell Bill Hawkins Shannon Knisely Jack Kriens Loretta Kriens Larry Loessin Tom Magruder James Marroquin Emily McGinnis Gwen Morton Patrick Schmidt Gary Vliet Becky Wells Sharyn Westmoreland Paul Wynkoop

Christy Green Tom Hutchison JoAnne McIntosh Joe Muck Tom Sunstrom

Joy Durrant Jeff Horn Jan Skaggs Laura Tuma Clark Weatherby

Don Davis Evangeline Herring Chuck Ruesink Melanie Williamson Cindy Young

FOUNDATION TRUSTEES CLASS OF 2013

CLASS OF 2014

CLASS OF 2015

Noel Durrant Doug Hartman Tana Taylor

Dianne Erlewine

Dave Ferguson Jack Kern Mary Teeple

PROGRAM STAFF Paul Parsons, Interim Senior Pastor Beth Bishop, Director of Lay Ministries Thomas W. Brown, Director of Music Ministry Duane Dube, Director of Administration William Leonhardt, Director of Student Ministries Christy Milam, Director of Preschool John Schmidt, Organist Stephanie Schultz, Director of Communications Gayla Stuart, Director of Children’s and Preteen Ministries Jill Williams, Associate Pastor for Congregational Care Ministries