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THE 30/60 ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF EASTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
F R I D AY, N O V E M B E R 1 0 , 2 0 1 7 Welcome and Prayer
Rev. Dr. Stan Van Den Berg Senior Pastor
The Impact of Eastminster
Dr. Don Davis
Across Generations: A History of Eastminster Introduction Message Closing Prayer
Rev. Dick Gorham Associate Pastor Emeritus Rev. Dr. Doug Pratt Rev. Dr. Stan Van Den Berg
SPEAKERS Dr. Don Davis | Founder and Director, The Urban Ministry Institute World Impact’s TUMI is a research and training center dedicated to equipping leadership and empowering movements for the urban church, especially among the poor, to advance the Kingdom of God in the city. He also serves as World Impact’s Senior Vice President of Church and Leadership Development, overseeing the training of urban missionaries, church planters, and city pastors, and and training for urban Christian workers in evangelism, church growth, and pioneer missions.
Rev. Dr. Doug Pratt | Senior Pastor, First Presbyterian Church of Bonita Springs, Former Eastminster Executive Pastor
A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Dr. Pratt has been an ordained Presbyterian minister since 1979, with degrees from Allegheny College, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and Fuller Theological Seminary. He is the author of two books, “A Replica of Greatness” (2000) and “Words of Hope” (2014), and co-editor of a collection of Frank Kik’s sermons titled “CrossRoads” (2010). He and his wife, Jeanne, have been married 42 years.
“ T H E Y A R E T H E S H O O T I H AV E P L A N T E D , T H E W O R K O F M Y H A N D S , F O R T H E D I S P L AY O F M Y S P L E N D O R . THE LEAST OF YOU WILL BECOME A THOUSAND, T H E S M A L L E S T A M I G H T Y N AT I O N . ” I S A I A H 6 0 : 2 1 - 2 2 I was not here 60 years ago. Not many of us were. But as I have reflected on the history of Eastminster, several things have struck me.
Stan Van Den Berg, Senior Pastor
One is, the Lord planted Eastminster. Isaiah 60 came to mind. “They are the shoot I have planted, the work of my hands, for the display of my splendor. The least of you will become a thousand, the smallest a mighty nation. The Lord planted us to make an impact on Wichita and the Nations. He did this to display his own splendor. Our focus must always be on God’s purposes and his splendor. Not our own comforts or wants, nor the glory of our past. Our focus is always the Lord’s renown.
The other thing that struck me is that Eastminster is at its best when it fearlessly, sacrificially and with great faith obeys what the Lord speaks to the church. This was true with Project Light. Some would call what the church did “outrageous.” But the Lord often calls his people to outrageous things, things that can only be done if God is with them. It stands out to me that the church grew and prospered when it fearlessly pursued the vision God had given it. Some thought it “crazy“ to move the church to the “middle of nowhere” on North Webb Rd. But, God put the vision in the heart of people who sought him and the church reaped the harvest of faith. God blesses faith and obedience. Another thing that struck me is our faithfulness to the Great Commission. We rightly see that we do not exist for ourselves but for Wichita and the Nations. Over the years, our city and many nations have been impacted by the energy and generosity of our church. I cannot help but think God planted us for this purpose. If this is God’s purpose for us, then this purpose must always remain close to our hearts. Many churches have reached the end of their life cycle upon their 60th anniversary; comfort, playing it safe, not adapting to the times, not having a heart for those outside, catches up with them and they settle into complacency and a slow slide of attrition. Eastminster is at its best when it is concerned with God’s splendor, when it is fearless, sacrificial, moved by faith, when it fervently pursues the vision God has given it, and when its heart beats for the city and the Nations. These things are our DNA. Our future and purpose are fulfilled when this DNA resonates deeply in us. Let us exist for his calling and his splendor. If we shall, then 60 years from now, the next generation will consider us faithful and God will be praised for his glory. - Pastor Stan
• The 9th and Armour church building (left) • Children’s Sunday school (right) • Kos Harris Elementary School, first meeting place (below left) • John and Suzanne Moody’s wedding, 1963 (below right)
• 142 people gathered for the first worship service at 9th and Armour on July 14, 1957 (left, right and below left) • More than 80 children attended Vacation Bible school in June of 1958 (below right)
GENERATION TO
50s 60s
GENERATION
• Top row: The annual church picnic • Left: The 9th and Armour building after expansion • Third row: A gathering in a member’s home; the 9th and Armour Sanctuary stained glass • Fourth row: The 9th and Armour Sanctuary prior to the addition • Fifth row: Jeanne and Doug Pratt at his ordination; members gather in homes
GENERATION TO
70s
GENERATION
• First and second rows: Project Light (see article) • Third row: A worship gathering; a student retreat at Westminster Woods • Fourth and fith rows: A costume party; ladies from the church serve refreshments; student retreat
• Top row and left: The annual church picnic • Below left: Cooking for Eastminster’s 25th anniversary • Below: A holiday gathering • Below right: The 9th and Armour exterior
• Right: Fun at a women’s event • Below: The 1987 class of deacons • Below right: A missions team prepares to leave to serve in Arizona • Below far right: Sixth grade girls at VBS 1984
GENERATION TO
80s
GENERATION
• Top two rows: R.C. Sproul teaches as resident theologian • Below right: Eastminster uses Sproul video tapes for ministry in homes and at the church
• Third row: A team visits church partners in Guatemala following Project Light; The 1981 Chancel Choir • Fourth row: The choir gathers for the first practice in the Webb Rd. Sanctuary in 1987; Rev. Frank Kik laughs with Chuck Colson, the speaker at the dedication service for the Webb Rd. Sanctuary
BUILDING WEBB RD. • First and second rows: Presenting the architectural plans to the congregation • Right: A 1985 aerial view of the property • Below: Ground breaking ceremony • Below (black and white): Construction walk throughs • Below (color): The building in various stages of completion
• Top left: Boy Scouts in Canada, 1996 • Top right: Missions fair • Left: Eva Nichol, who served in the nursery for more than 30 years • Third row: VBS in the mid-90s
• Right: The Single Direction ski trip • Below: Eastminster’s staff, early 90s • Below right: The children’s choir at Christmas
GENERATION TO
90s
GENERATION
• Top row: The worship gathering and service day for Serve & Celebrate 2008 • Right: The Chapel under construction in 2002 • Below: Christmas Eve ‘08 • Below center: A missions team serving Slidell, LA, following Hurricane Katrina
GENERATION TO
00s
GENERATION
• Fourth row: Eastminster’s 50th anniversary celebration, held at Koch Arena • Far left: The annual Deacon’s Cup golf tournament • Left: Dick and Marilynn Gorham at Dick’s retirement dinner, 2003
• Top left: Marilyn Griggs leads the preschool class • Top right: The Truth Project creates more than 50 small groups • Left: The Sunday evening worship service ekklesia, 2009 • Below left: Cal Thomas speaks during the Town Hall series
• Left: The Family Retreat at Rock Springs • Below left: A group prays before LOVE Wichita • Below right: Randy Storms speaks to the 242 young adults group
• Above: Rev. Paul Bammel is ordained and installed • Right: Thanksgiving Food Box packing • Below left: Operation Christmas Child yields more than 1,000 boxes • Below right: Numana food packing 2013 • Bottom right: Pastors and elders cheer after joining the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, November 2012
• Above: Middle School Retreat “Life in Color”; a missions team in Nicaragua • Left: Daddy Daughter Dance • Below lfet: Pastors and elders serve WSU students
• Right: Trunk or Treat grows to 4,000 in attendance by 2016 • Below: Snow fall on Easter morning 2016
GENERATION TO
10s
GENERATION
MILESTONES 1957 – Eastminster chartered as a United Presbyterian Church congregation 1966 – New Sancturary dedicated 1976 – Project Light commenced 1987 – First worship service held at the Webb Rd. campus 2000 – Millenium Campaign commenced 2011 – Congregation votes by 97% margin to leave PC (USA) and affiliate with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church 2017 – 30/60 anniversary celebration
EASTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 1958 N. Webb Rd. | Wichita, KS | 67206 316.634.0337 | eastminster.org