PINNACLE
PINNACLE
LIFE TOGETHER
At PCJH you’ve likely seen the words 'Life Together' on slides, campaigns, and Pinnacle covers. This phrase reflects a year-long vision process where leaders and members sought to clarify who we are and where God is leading us. Guided by Leighton Ford Ministries, we released a vision report this spring highlighting five priorities to help us live into our vision: to see lives being transformed in Jesus Christ. In this Pinnacle, we celebrate how God has worked, is working, and will continue to work among us in the coming years. We hope you join us in our mission... and feel inspired. LIFE TOGETHER: Rooted in Christ, Reaching out in Love.
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” ~ Ephesians 3:20-21
WEDNESDAYS
A VISION, FOR OUR NEXT SEASON
~ Rev. Ben Pascal
If you’ve ever stood on the top of the Bridger Gondola for Easter sunrise, or paused on a trail in Grand Teton National Park to take in the sweeping valley below, you know what it means to be caught up in awe. The view takes your breath away, and suddenly life feels bigger, fuller, and more connected to God’s grandeur.
That’s how I feel as we step into this next chapter together at PCJH. Over the past year, our Session, staff, and congregation have been prayerfully discerning the heart of who we are and who God is calling us to be. We’ve listened to one another, leaned into Scripture, and sought the leading of the Holy Spirit. Out of this process, we have articulated a clear vision, mission, and set of values—anchored in the gospel of Jesus Christ—that will guide us for years to come.
And like standing on a mountain peak, when we see the view of where God is leading us, we can’t help but be filled with hope, wonder, and anticipation.
OUR VISION: LIVES TRANSFORMED IN JESUS CHRIST
At the core of it all, our vision is simple yet profound: to see lives being transformed in Jesus Christ.
Transformation is not just about incremental change; it is about resurrection power. As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:17: “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
We’ve seen glimpses of this already at PCJH—people finding faith for the first time, families being strengthened, neighbors experiencing Christ’s love through service, and individuals discovering healing and hope. This vision calls us to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, trusting that He is still in the business of transforming lives in Jackson Hole and beyond.
OUR MISSION: LIFE TOGETHER
Vision gives us the “why.” Mission gives us the “how.” At PCJH, our mission is this: Life Together: Rooted in Christ, Reaching Out in Love. Life together is not optional in the Christian journey—it is essential. Jesus called individual disciples to form a community bound together by love. Like the aspen groves in our valley, which appear as many trees but share one root system, we are deeply connected in Christ.
Being rooted in Christ means grounding our lives in his Word, his presence, and his Spirit. It means our identity and stability come not from culture, wealth, or success but from a relationship with the living God. And reaching out in love means that faith is never just about us. Just as the Snake River flows outward, nourishing all it touches, so must our lives in Christ flow outward with generosity, service, and compassion.
OUR VALUES: ANCHORS FOR THE JOURNEY
To support this vision and mission, we have identified four core values—anchors that will shape who we are becoming:
• Spirit-Filled Worship: Worship that draws us into God’s presence and gives Him glory.
• Christ-Centered Discipleship: Equipping one another through Scripture, prayer, stewardship, and community.
• Life-Giving Relationships: Hospitality, unity, and care that create a welcoming and supportive family.
• Outward-Focused Mission: Sharing Christ’s hope with neighbors near and far through love in action. These values are not abstract ideals. They are the lifeblood of our community, the markers of a healthy church, and the practices by which we embody the love of Jesus in Jackson Hole.
STRATEGIC FOCUS: FIVE PATHWAYS FORWARD
A vision without action is just a dream. That is why we have also identified five strategic focus areas that will help us live into our calling in tangible, Spirit-led ways.
1. Worship: Enhancing Engagement & Impact
Worship is the heartbeat of our life together. Just as the peaks of the Tetons rise above the valley, worship lifts our eyes beyond ourselves to the majesty of God.
We are committed to developing Spirit-filled, participatory worship that resonates with all generations. This includes ensuring we have the staff and volunteers needed to lead the way, strengthening music and technology, incorporating storytelling and testimonies, and expanding worship beyond Sunday mornings—through outdoor services, midweek gatherings, and digital offerings.
We want worship at PCJH to reflect God’s excellence, draw people into His presence, and inspire transformation.
2. Discipleship: Creating a Culture of Growth
In Jackson Hole, people train rigorously for ski season, trail runs, or mountain climbs. In the same way, discipleship is training in godliness (1 Timothy 4:7–8). It takes intentionality and discipline.
Our goal is to make discipleship accessible and engaging for all stages of life. This means creating a clear pathway—from worship, a new discipilieship path to Rooted 101, to small groups, to leadership opportunities. It means expanding small group options, launching mentorship programs, better engaging men and young adults in ways that connect with our valley’s culture, and offering hybrid learning opportunities for our busy, mobile community.
We want to cultivate a church where spiritual growth is expected, celebrated, and shared.
3. Families: Strengthening Multi-Generational Connections
Families are the backbone of any community. In a valley where many parents juggle demanding work schedules, seasonal employment, and the high cost of living, supporting families in faith is vital.
We envision PCJH as a place where children, youth, parents, and grandparents thrive together. This includes expanding childcare and youth programs, supporting parents with resources and prayer, offering family fellowship opportunities, and creating intergenerational worship.
We also recognize the need to reach out to single parents, offering respite and support. Our goal is to strengthen the faith of the next generation while building bonds that span across generations.
4. Wilderness Ministry: Connecting Faith & Nature
Few places on earth reveal God’s glory through creation like Jackson Hole. Psalm 19 declares: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
Our wilderness ministry will invite people to encounter God through the beauty of creation—whether on a guided hike, a camping retreat, or an adventure discipleship experience. By offering opportunities for all skill levels, training leaders, and partnering with local parks, we can help people grow in faith while exploring the mountains, rivers, and trails of our valley.
This ministry will not only connect people to God through nature but also create deep relationships forged in the shared wonder of His creation.
5. Partnerships: Strengthening Community Collaboration
Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden” (Matthew 5:14). Our light shines brighter when we partner with others.
PCJH is committed to deepening our collaboration with local organizations, with our Spanish-speaking brothers and sisters at Centro De Vida Cristiana, and with other community leaders and organizations. Together, we can address pressing needs like housing, mental health, childcare, and food insecurity.
One key initiative in this area is The Home+Sted Project, which will provide housing for PCJH staff and possibly others outside our church family with similiar values. In a valley where housing is one of the greatest barriers to ministry, this project is both visionary and practical. By ensuring our leaders can live where they serve, we strengthen our church’s future and witness to the community.
Looking Ahead: A Call to Prayer and Participation
Friends, this vision and strategy are not just ideas on paper. They are a call to action. A call to trust God for more than we can imagine. A call to offer our gifts, time, prayers, and resources so that lives may be transformed in Jesus Christ.
Standing at the top of the tram at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, you can see miles in every direction—the Snake River winding through the valley, the Tetons piercing the sky, the world stretching out in beauty and possibility. That’s how I see our future together. God has given us a breathtaking view of what can be. Now he invites us to step forward in faith.
Will you join me in praying for PCJH? Will you join me in living out this mission— Life Together: Rooted in Christ, Reaching Out in Love? Together, let’s trust that God, who began a good work among us, will carry it on to completion (Philippians 1:6).
The best is yet to come.
With hope in Christ, ✝
REV. BEN PASCAL
is the Senior Pastor of PCJH and father to Nina, Graham, and Naomi
A VISION SHAPED BY LISTENING, LED BY VALUES
~ Rich Hurst
ON A WINTER MORNING WHEN I’M IN Jackson Hole, there’s nothing I enjoy more than hiking up Snow King. There’s something about that early light reflecting off the snow, the quiet breath of trees, and the rhythmic sound of boots climbing that creates space to listen, not just to the wind, but to God. There have been times when my friend and PCJH member Jeff Hussey has helped me reach the top by carrying not only his skis but mine as well. At the summit, when skis clip in and I look back down the trail, I feel so grateful for the climb. PCJH is on a similar path upward, sometimes challenging, rarely predictable, but guided by shared purpose and grace-filled momentum. Vision, like climbing, isn’t about speed; it’s about moving forward together, sometimes on your own, sometimes with help from others.
Every climb begins with a decision to step forward into something challenging but full of promise. That’s how PCJH’s visioning process started: with intentional listening. The first step was to conduct a survey, inviting everyone interested to share their input on fifteen key areas within the church, including the current vision, worship services, leadership, finances, outreach, relationships, biblical education, innovation, and willingness to change. This act of listening was crucial; it didn’t assume answers but created space for discovery. Just as a climber doesn’t rush the ascent without first surveying the path and preparing for the journey, PCJH took time to gather voices, longtime members, new families, staff, and ministry partners. Through listening groups, staff reflections, and community conversations, a pattern appeared. Beneath the programs and ministries was a longing: to live out our faith more clearly, courageously, and together.
Like cresting a ridge and glimpsing the summit ahead, what emerged from this process or effort is what we now call PCJH’s True North: a clarified mission and vision, a renewed set of core
values, and five strategic priorities that will guide us through the next season. The vision is centered around a powerful phrase: Life Together. That phrase now defines our calling in this place. It’s more than a slogan; it’s a theological stance and a relational invitation to become the kind of church that mirrors Christ’s body: unified, diverse, honest, and faithful. Life Together urges us to resist isolation, consumerism, and fragmentation. Instead, we embrace a deeper sense of belonging, cultivated through worship, service, and community.
The first retreat was like setting our boots at the trailhead, looking at where we’ve come from, and reaffirming the footing we stand on. During this gathering, we explored the core values of PCJH, not as abstract ideals but as lived expressions of who we are when we’re at our best. Through storytelling exercises, we unearthed themes of Spirit-filled worship, Christ-centered discipleship, life-giving relationships, and an outward-focused mission. These values aren’t new, they’ve long been part of PCJH’s DNA, but in reaffirming them together, we gained clarity and energy for the journey ahead. In climbing terms, we located our basecamp.
In the second retreat, we turned our eyes upward and asked: where is God leading us? We reaffirmed our vision and mission statements, rediscovering our telos, our compelling future. “To see lives being transformed in Jesus Christ” became not only a destination but a measure of the journey itself. And our mission, “Rooted in Christ, Reaching out in Love”, reminded us that strength and service must go hand-in-hand. This retreat helped PCJH name what matters most and realign around our purpose.
By the third retreat, we were ready to begin climbing. This time, we identified five strategic priorities, our routes forward, and began to consider how to affirm current teams and assemble Leadership Implementation Teams (LITs) for the new areas to
“Like cresting a ridge and glimpsing the summit ahead, what emerged from this season is what we now call PCJH’s True North"
guide the way. These priorities, worship, discipleship, relationships, families, and mission, represent trail segments we’ll walk together. Each team takes responsibility for dreaming, planning, and building short-term goals that support the long-term vision. This final retreat didn’t mark the end of the journey, but the beginning of faithful movement. Like any good climb, it required courage, cooperation, and trust in God’s sustaining strength.
Life Together also reminds us that the church is not a product we consume but a people we become. In a world increasingly shaped by division, polarization, and distraction, the local church can become a rare place of unity, presence, and purpose. It’s where children and elders bless one another, where hard questions are welcomed in love, and where grace is practiced across political, cultural, and generational lines. Life Together is how we witness to the world that there is a better way, a kingdom way, rooted not in fear, but in Christ.
The five strategic priorities: Spirit-filled Worship, Christ-centered Discipleship, Life-giving Relationships, Strengthening Families, and Outward-focused Mission, are not just signposts. They are established routes forward. Each is being stewarded by a session leadership team or a Leadership Implementation Team (LIT), equipped like experienced climbers ready to test footholds, adjust plans, and lead others with wisdom. These teams, which include existing ones and new ones comprising staff, lay leaders, elders, and community partners, are discerning, experimenting, and leading the way in turning vision into reality. With a 12-month focus and rhythms of reviewing progress, the LIT teams ensure we move with purpose, not pressure.
The LIT process connects strategic priorities to community. Like a group hike where everyone shares the load, each ministry focuses on relational leadership and next steps for action. The Wilderness Ministry team, for example, is planning events that combine nature and spiritual depth, offering not just adventure but transformation. The Worship team is trying out formats to make services both reverent and welcoming. The Discipleship team is developing accessible, engaging pathways for growth. And our Partnerships team is building stronger connections with organizations like Centro de Vida. Throughout all this, we’re not climbing alone; we find joy in the shared journey.
What makes this journey different is the spirit behind it. This isn’t a climb motivated by fear of decline; it’s driven by spiritual vitality. We’ve focused not on doing more but on becoming more, more faithful, more courageous, more connected. Staff alignment around the values of worship, discipleship, relationships, and mission has transformed the atmosphere we breathe. Like a climbing team learning to move with one heartbeat, the
staff and congregation are growing toward unity, not uniformity, but deep, Spirit-led agreement.
This Pinnacle issue outlines the plan, but the path forward will be built through acts of faith. Life Together isn’t just a concept; it’s a discipline, a rhythm of shared journeying. Like the Snow King trail, the path ahead is filled with switchbacks and peaks, pauses and pushes. But as we climb, step by step, with joy and determination, we become a community shaped by grace, rooted in Scripture, and united in Christ. Vision isn’t about forecasting the future. It’s about recognizing what God is already developing among us and choosing to move forward together.
As someone who has walked alongside your leadership team, I see a church not only full of history and faithfulness, but also potential. You are a people who know the value of place, beauty, and community. And you are also a people willing to grow, to climb. Vision is a gift, but living it takes courage. And I see that courage among you. May this season be one not only of strategy but of deep spiritual renewal, where each person finds their step in the ascent.
The Apostle Paul’s words in Ephesians 3:20–21 capture this hope perfectly: "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen." These verses remind us that our vision is never limited to what we can plan or predict. Our job is not to control outcomes but to trust the God who does immeasurably more, more grace, more transformation, more unity than we dare dream.
When we walk forward in Life Together, we are not simply implementing strategies; we are joining in the generational story of God’s faithfulness. Paul reminds us that God's glory is seen through the church, not just in one moment, but throughout all generations.' This isn’t just our climb, it’s our turn in the relay of faith. We walk paths forged by those before us, and we now blaze trails for those to come.
And ultimately, it’s not about our strength, cleverness, or resources. It’s about 'his power at work within us.' That power doesn’t just help us climb; it transforms us along the way. It opens our imaginations, shapes our desires, and gives us the courage to keep ascending, even when the weather turns or the path gets steep. Our job is to keep stepping. God’s promise is to meet us and lead us every step of the way. ✝
RICH HURST is a Ministry Architect. With decades of experience in pastoral leadership, church consulting, and coaching, Rich helps leaders bring clarity to their calling and structure to their vision.
THE HEART OF WORSHIP
OUR RECENT CONGREGATIONAL SURVEY
revealed that more than half of our members cited worship as an area of concern for PCJH. Your Worship Committee has taken this concern very seriously and has been prayerfully and thoughtfully addressing how we can renew the worship experience to engage our congregants in a more participatory, meaningful, and spiritually transformative way. Already we have moved forward with a number of steps that have been well received.
Chief among these are physical changes. First, rearranging the seating in the sanctuary. By moving seats to face each other around a center pulpit, we have created a more intimate shared space, engendering a greater feeling of togetherness and being part of the service. Further, dimming the lights as the service begins has inspired a more worshipful atmosphere and draws us into the presence of God. Both of these actions generated immediate enthusiasm and widespread endorsement.
Next we have set out to balance contemporary and traditional music by including well known hymns along with recent gospel songs. We have expanded the music offerings with classical performers, a choir, and more instruments. In the future we hope to welcome talented outside musicians to incorporate jazz, country, and bluegrass special music offerings into our worship.
We also have experimented with various ways to streamline and improve the flow of the service such as making
BECKY KIMMEL believes that good leadership is a team sport. She credits smart people on her team with inspiring her walk with Christ on a daily basis. She currently serves as Elder of Worship.
announcements at the beginning and expanding the passing of the peace to welcome guests and allow more congregational interaction. Our prayer requests have become more interactive. We also are setting up systems to allow us to live stream classes and other church activities in addition to Sunday sanctuary services.
A major new worship endeavor that was successfully launched this summer is the Wilderness Worship Fellowship in which we venture into the bountiful natural beauty of our geography to find God’s revelation around us. Taking advantage of the splendor of God’s handiwork in our backyard leads us to a profound understanding of our Creator, why we worship our God, and our responsibility as stewards to care for the earth.
We still have other Worship dreams to fulfill. PCJH wishes to recruit a full-time Worship Leader & Producer who will oversee PCJH worship and enhance the experience for each of us. Included in these responsibilities will be creating Worship Nights with music, guests, and high energy events to engage younger generations and new attendees.
Lasty, we plan to establish a Worship Review Team to debrief on Monday mornings to gather weekly feedback and recommend ideas and innovations for future services.
It is our profound hope to create Spirit-filled worship where people feel God’s presence deeply and are motivated and equipped to glorify Him with all of their hearts. We welcome you to share your thoughts and dreams with us. ✝
JOIN THE WORSHIP TEAM: Becky Kimmel (Elder), Todd Harris, Deb Keenan, Bill Klyn, Debbie Schlinger, Larry VanGenderen, Laura Huckin and Ben Pascal.
~ Becky Kimmel
CREATING A CULTURE OF GROWTH THROUGH DISCIPLESHIP
~ Rev. Dr. Tamara Mitchell
“The person who loves their dream of community will destroy community, but the person who loves those around them will create community.” ~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together
WE WERE NEVER MEANT TO FOLLOW JESUS alone. From the beginning, God has called a people— not just individuals—to live in covenant relationship with God and one another. Yet in today’s fast-paced and hyper-individualized world, Christian formation is often treated as a private, internal matter.
As missiologist Darrell Guder notes, the church is frequently viewed as a “vendor of religious goods and services”—a place where individuals come to consume something spiritual, rather than a community in which we are formed as followers of Jesus. Why commit to a local congregation when I can stream a sermon or podcast on my own time and terms?
Truthfully, I struggle with the same pressures. We live in a culture where spiritual resources are prolific and instantly accessible. Often discipleship opportunities become just one more activity to squeeze into an already overloaded and packed schedule. Still, Jesus’ commission in Matthew 28 remains clear—and deeply communal: “Go and make disciples of all nations… teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” He does not say, “Go and learn about me,” or “Go and attend church.” His call is to make disciples—people shaped by the life, teachings, and presence of Jesus within the faith community. This tension lies at the heart of my doctoral research. I explored how the rhythms and practices of faithful discipleship might be reclaimed within the local church—especially in a culture that prizes autonomy, speed, and self-sufficiency. Again and again, I found that we grow not merely through information, but through formation—formation that is relational, consistent, and shared.
Dr. Joseph Small, one of my advisors and a contemporary Reformed theologian, puts it plainly: “We are not saved to be solitary saints, but to be a people of God.” Yet many North American churches treat discipleship as a private choice, disconnected from the communal life of faith. We need a renewed vision of what it means to belong—to be shaped together through Word, Sacrament, mutual care, and mission.
One particularly effective way to embody this vision is through small groups—relational environments that foster spiritual growth. Worship and preaching are essential, but transformation often happens most powerfully when we are known, when we belong, and when we walk alongside others in shared
rhythms of prayer, study, accountability, and service.
This vision was affirmed in a recent report from Leighton Ford Ministries, which calls us to develop discipleship pathways that are clear, relational, and responsive. That challenge has become a priority at PCJH. We are working toward cultivating a culture of growth through small groups, intentional leadership development, and creative discipleship offerings—including hybrid learning opportunities. We see these not as programs; they are pathways for formation.
Dallas Willard put it this way: “Discipleship is the process of becoming who Jesus would be if he were you.” That process requires time, trust, and a context of mutual encouragement. Small groups provide just that. They are micro-communities of the larger body—where faith becomes tangible, stories are shared, and transformation is nurtured. Will you consider joining a PCJH small group as part of your spiritual journey?
Many churches treat small groups as optional. But when they move from the margins to the center of congregational life, everything begins to change. People stop asking, “What do I get from church?” and begin asking, “Who am I becoming in Christ—and who is walking with me on that journey?”
In my experience, three elements are essential to cultivating this kind of culture:
• Intentionality – Discipleship doesn’t happen by accident. It requires courage, leadership, and encouragement for people to take the next step of faith.
• Relational Depth – Transformation happens in relationship. Jesus didn’t just teach the crowds—he lived closely with a small group of disciples, modeling covenantal love.
• Missional Focus – Healthy groups are not holy huddles but launching pads for Christ’s love in action. Creating a culture of growth takes time. Yet when we invest in meaningful relationships and nurture discipleship together, we become the Church Jesus intended—deeply rooted, lovingly connected, and boldly sent. ✝
REV. DR. TAMARA MITCHELL
Serves as PCJH Associate Pastor. She has two married daughters, and a dog named Charlie
"One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts". ~ Psalm 145:4
~ Megan Walker
MULTIGENERATIONAL CONNECTIONS
WE ARE A MULTIGENERATIONAL CHURCH !
From programs and services, to the staff and congregants, here at PCJH we believe that community is meant to be built by ALL of God's people. One of the strategic areas of focus, last years' vision process brought forward was family ministries and how we can strengthen multigenerational connections as a church. We see this as an essential value for us to strengthen at PCJH as we look at the life of Jesus. When Jesus came on the scene, he broke down barriers that divided people by race, gender, ethnicity, and even religion. Jesus re-defined what it means to be one of “God’s chosen people” as he brought together men, women, Jew, non-Jew, young and old. The disciples were young people. He empowered women and the marginalized, he commanded others to care for the poor, sick, elderly; and he reminds us still today that ALL are to be brought into the fold of his family. Our continued and refreshed focus on families and multigenerational connections is vital as we imagine the
MEGAN WALKER is in charge of all things youth & Ascent (20's & 30's) at PCJH! She loves the summer and is sad to see it go, but always looks forward to the changing of the seasons, both figuratively and LITERALLY!
church both now and in the future. Investing in relationships with children, youth, and families enrich our lives and give us hope for the future! Our staff, leadership, and vision team quickly identified the importance of discipleship of families and the need to have them integrated into our congregation with more intentionality. Our congregation always provides the warmth of welcome. It's one of the things I love the most about this place. It is such a gift to know that this current and aspirational value of PCJH will be received with such enthusiasm because of the openness and value that is already present when it comes to youth, children, and families! We hope to continue providing a warm and welcoming space to engage all generations on Sundays as an effort to build bridges between people of any age. As a part of our children and youth programs, it is a priority to help equip and encourage parents with resources to discuss faith and life with their children. We want parents to know that they are not alone and hope that providing opportunities to engage with other parents, as well as a community of Christ-followers to continue growing in their own personal faith.
The inspired Word of God, from Ephesians chapter 3, says “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” This exhortation is essential because we are reminded that it is Christ Jesus who does the work, through His power, in us. We work in partnership with Jesus as the Church, but it is He who sees and knows all the work that has to be done, and who brings it to completion. We are all a work in progress. As individuals, members of the community of this area, and as this local church, we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and know our need for his power to fuel our mission.
To see lives being transformed means all lives, young and old! Regardless of age or the quantity of life experiences, we want to be a church, God’s created people, who celebrate one another because of the different life perspectives we bring to the body of Christ. ✝
FAITH & NATURE
~ Aaron Nydam
THIS PAST JULY, MY BROTHER AND I HEADED up into Garnet Canyon with his son and my daughter to attempt a climb up the Grand. Both were 14 years old, preparing to begin high school. And, despite great uncertainty and trepidation, both were willing to give it a go. We framed the experience as a “rite of passage” of sorts or the classic use of “wilderness as metaphor”. As often applied in outdoor education, we attempt to draw transferable meaning from an experience. In this case, climbing the Grand stretched into a metaphor for life’s journey; the experience served as an opportunity for all of us to experience challenges with determination and face discomfort with resilience in the effort to achieve a goal. In success or failure, growth and transferable lessons are taken back into the “real world”, (high school, in this case). This was the idea.
Yet, something profound happens when we step into wilderness, often beyond and despite our intentions. We may not be fully aware of it either, at least not initially; the profound can be subtle, even subconscious. In wilderness, we leave behind the business of our lives as our fears, obsessions, and insecurities fade into the background. Upon these moments, you might find me in awe, on my knees with the great awareness of a loving creator God. He becomes real, and my connections direct.
While it is debated in education, I don't question the use of the outdoors and wilderness experiences as pathways to gain greater life lessons and build character. I even ascribe to Walt Whitman's assertion, “Now I see the secret of making the best person: it is to grow in the open air and to eat and sleep with the earth.”
But, what I learned again this summer with my brother, daughter, and nephew was that there is something much more profound at work above our goals and intentions. Climbing into the Tetons provided an opportunity to come into the presence of God together. By stepping away from our manufactured lives - the stresses, the comfort and conveniences, the entertainment, the concerns - we made ourselves available to God’s revelation. Up amongst the granite, we could experience God together in an authentic and profound manner. We could worship, pray, and even consider the questions that aren't always easy to ask back home. In both our awe and fatigue, wilderness created the setting to become more vulnerable with ourselves, each other, and with God (I could even belt out the first few verses of the timeless hymn, ‘How Great Though Art’, without embarrassing my daughter).
Oh Lord, my God
When I, in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout the universe displayed
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Throughout biblical history, God used wilderness as a meaningful place for spiritual transformation and leadership development. Abraham, Sarah, Moses, Ruth, Jacob, David, Peter, James, John, and Paul were all profoundly called and shaped by God in wilderness. Jesus also modeled for His disciples a rhythm of deep engagement in his ministry and then retreating for rest, reflection, and renewal in wilderness. We at PCJH can also follow His model.
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” – Psalm 19:1
Through our recent vision process at PCJH, we initiated a wilderness ministry program entitled " Wilderness Together".
The purpose is to worship God together through activity in awe-inspiring natural beauty , where creation reveals His glory. As a church, this summer we took initial steps to offer a variety of outdoor faith-based excursions with different activities, settings, and skill levels. A handful of eager volunteers facilitated mountain bike rides, a hike around the Laurance Rockefeller Preserve, fly-fishing lessons, a paddle board excursion on String Lake, and even a hay ride on a cattle ranch up in Buffalo Valley. Our prayer is to leverage Jackson Hole’s natural beauty to deepen our faith and relationships at PCJH beyond the occasional Sunday morning greetings.
Looking to the future, our “Wilderness Together” ministry aims to bring us together in the presence of God, help build a vibrant and trusting church family, and cultivate spiritual leadership among our members. Over time, “Wilderness Together” will provide beginner to advanced faith-based wilderness opportunities, ensuring that individuals from all backgrounds and levels of experience can participate. By developing outdoor leadership training and incorporating faith discussions into wilderness experience, we can establish PCJH as a leader in wilderness discipleship. By promoting awe, reflection, and community through creation, this ministry will serve as an innovative and impactful means to deepen spiritual engagement within our community.
On behalf of the trip leaders, we hope you will join us in "Wilderness Together”. ✝
AARON NYDAM is the husband of Leah and father of three wonderful children who (despite significant resistance at times) get outside to experience God's glory in creation while tolerating their dad's random outburst of hymns.
STRENGTEHING
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
~ Brian Bultema
ASK A HANDFUL OF JACKSON HOLE
residents their impressions of PCJH, and, chances are, many will talk about us being ‘the community church.’
Over the years, we’ve welcomed folks in for countless dinners, community concerts, weddings and memorials, COVID clinics, and much more. Opening our doors has been a part of the DNA of PCJH from its beginning.
This history, in a time when churchgoing was much more common, is laudable. But in 2025, many expectations have changed. Busy families, changes in norms, heightened individualism, and greater economic pressures (and much more) all contribute to the pressing need for churches to go out and engage with those outside their walls. Our doors may be open, but we can’t expect people to simply come to interact with us.
In the vision process last year, the team wisely discerned that we can’t only pay attention to what’s happening within our doors. If we did that, we would risk being siloed off from the greater community. Our Vision Team concluded that deepening and broadening our partnerships in the community should be one of our main priorities the next five years. But this isn’t only strategic.
In the Gospels, we see Jesus consistently stepping beyond the temple, entering homes, streets, and marketplaces to meet with people. He sought out and engaged everyone from the esteemed to Samaritans to Romans and more. And Jesus
makes it clear that we are called upon to do the same. But more than anything, engagement is a form of stewardship. God has placed us in Jackson Hole, this endlessly remarkable place, for a purpose.
The needs of Jackson Hole are both visible and hidden: housing insecurity, isolation, cultural divides, and the ever-present challenge of balancing economic growth with the preservation of creation. When the church steps in, we demonstrate the gospel in action. We become neighbors in the truest sense.
Some of our long-standing missions’ partners, like One22 and Good Samaritan Mission, reach locals in difficult seasons of life – those vulnerable in our community. Other partners, like A Christian Ministry in the National Parks and Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, help form connections with seasonal workers and visitors who, in turn, minister to visitors and fellow coworkers.
Other partners, like Centro de Vida Cristiana, are brothers and sisters in Christ who worship right in our own building who engage, encourage, and strengthen those who worship our Lord in Spanish.
We don’t have to look far for opportunities to engage with our community. But doing so effectively requires intentionality and, more than anything, building relationships. We plan to form a Community Engagement Team to help carry out this vision, but this is the work of all of us. Where do you see God calling you to step out in faith, build a bridge, and act as salt and light? ✝
HOME+STED
~ Barbara Casey
HGuido
and
are also expecting their second child in November. Brian loves any time in nature and will try any podcast once.
ome+Sted, the townhome community for employee housing that will be built and owned by PCJH on the undeveloped site adjacent to the church parking lot at the corner of South Park Loop Road and High Country Drive, has made major strides in recent weeks toward the start of construction. These achievements include:
• Supplied completed architectural and engineering plans to secure building permits from the Town of Jackson. The process is underway with town staff;
• Received four bids from qualified general contractors, completed due diligence on each, and currently negotiating a contract with the company offering the best pricing;
• Working with local banks on a construction bridge loan to be repaid through future pledge payments;
• Received $1.5 million in new pledges, bringing committed donations to $8 million from 80 generous PCJH families;
BRIAN BULTEMA husband of Sandra
Fernandez
father of Milo. Brian and Sandra
STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY ~
Laura Soltau
I’M REFLECTING ON THE MORNINGS SPENT at PCJH with many of you. Each week, as the lights dim and we drive away, from Sunday worship, another congregation begins arriving at 1251 South Park Loop Road. For more than a decade, Centro de Vida Cristiana has been gathering in our church home. They are not simply tenants; they are true partners in Christ.
Centro de Vida is part of an international network of churches spanning Mexico, Spain, Chile, England, and Canada. Like PCJH, they are rooted in Christ and committed to sharing his love in practical, transformative ways. Through their nonprofit arm, Inpavi—“Lending a Hand,
• Secured congregational approval for sale of the 3.7-acre High School Butte property behind the church and a potential sale of up to four of the townhomes if necessary will ensure all costs are covered and the church faces no future financial risk.
The new $1 million gift is contingent on PCJH building 10 townhomes and the Fellowship Cabin. The townhomes will vary in size to accommodate families, individuals and seasonal employees. Planned are 2 one-bedroom units, 5 two-bedroom units and 3 four-bedroom units. Seven of these will have full but unfinished basements. The Fellowship Cabin is key to establishing the intentional community PCJH envisions as well as providing a basement storage area for residents’ bikes, skis, kayaks, etc.
For several years, the high cost and lack of available housing in Teton County have made it exceedingly difficult for PCJH to recruit and retain great staff, jeopardizing our future ministry
Help that Transforms”—they walk alongside over 3,000 families, teaching life skills, building relationships, and offering hope for the future.
During PCJH’s vision conversations this past year, one theme surfaced again and again: our church space is a profound blessing. The way it serves our congregation and our wider community is part of God’s provision. And one of the greatest opportunities before us is deepening our partnership with Centro de Vida- going beyond space to strengthen our community.
Over the years, we’ve taken meaningful steps together— sharing bilingual services, breaking bread at Wednesday dinners, and joining forces in the Big 5 Drive. Yet in many ways, we are only beginning to discover how God might weave our stories together. Imagine the possibilities: collaborating on children’s programs, joining hands in mission projects, worshiping in two languages as one body of Christ.
I often think back to my first mission experiences as a youth and later as a college student traveling to Central America. The joy of worshiping in new places and languages gave me a glimpse of God’s vast kingdom—a reminder that our family of faith stretches far beyond the walls of one church or one culture. I feel that same joy on Sunday mornings at PCJH, knowing that within our very building, believers are lifting their hearts to God in two languages, two services, one Spirit.
As we pursue our vision to strengthen community engagement, I am energized by what lies ahead. My prayer is that we continue building bridges with Centro de Vida, learning from one another, and serving side by side. As Tammy reminded us recently, we are “seen, guarded, and kept” not by our own strength but by the grace of God. May we extend that same assurance to our partners in Christ, so they too feel fully seen as beloved members of this shared community of faith. ✝
to members, congregation and the community. Generous PCJH members have provided some staff housing including homes for our pastors, but we need to control future housing opportunities to continue as a vibrant church. Due to the foresight of church leaders who purchased our campus in the late 90’s, we are fortunate to own three undeveloped acres where we propose to build as well as the High School Butte lot. Owning land is a blessing for us in today’s high-cost environment.
With this progress, the Housing Task Force expects to start construction in February or March. We estimate the first staff move-ins will be summer/fall 2027. ✝
BARBARA CASEY is a member of the Home+Sted Housing Task Force and Capital Campaign Committee. She encourages everyone to join in supporting PCJH staff housing.
LAURA SOLTAU is a mother of two has served PCJH for over a decade as Elder and Missions leader, fostering community through the Big 5 Drive.
SEPTEMBER
01 Peter & Deb Keenan (18)
Liz & Mike Jorgenson (23)
Kris & Tom Thompson (47)
Julie Birrer & Kraig Kobert(30)
03 Louise Deland
William Voge
Barbara & Richard Winter(65)
04
Judy Scarborough
Madelyn Brown
Paula Jorgenson
Billy & Kathy Robertson (49)
Guylan & Robin Evans (20) 05 Caroline Taylor Matt Faupel
08 Ed & Shirley Cheramy (39)
OCTOBER
Pastoral Staff
Rev. Ben Pascal
bpascal@pcjh.org
Senior Pastor x 101
Rev. Dr. Tammy Mitchell tmitchell@pcjh.org
Associate Pastor x 104
Office Staff
Brian Bultema
bbultema@pcjh.org
Church Administrator x107
Cindy
cdahlin@pcjh.org
Church Administrator Assistant x109
Sarah Benko sbenko@pcjh.org
Front Office Administrator x102
Program Staff
Laura Huckin huckin@silverstar.net Worship & Music Coordinator x123
Amanda Lack alack@pcjh.org
Little Lambs Preschool Director x111
Megan Walker mwalker@pcjh.org
Youth & Young Adult Ministry Coordinator x124
Tiffany Tate ttate@pcjh.org
Children's Ministry Coordinator x103
Ruling Elders
2025
Sarah Romorini Mission
Cameron Page Children's Ministry
Sierra Fulton Youth Ministry
John Scott* Finance 2026
Clerk of Session: Ken Blount
Ken Blount Elder-at-Large
Judy Kaelber Adult Ministries
Alan Lund* Personnel
Patty McDonald* Membership & Nominating 2027
Kacy O'Hare Stewardship
Brad Herman Congregational Life
Becky Kimmel* Worship
Karin Unruh Ascent
Teaching Elders: Rev. Ben Pascal & Rev. Dr. Tamara Mitchell
Deacons
Class of 2025
Dorothy Neckels*
Karlene Owens
Danny Weber
Yvette Werner
Class of 2026
Ponteir Sackery*
Brian Bultema*
Sandra Guido Fernandez*
Peter Lori
*Serving second term
Class of 2027
David Troxel
Nancy Fauntleroy
Tom Segerstrom* Nancy Lori*
ESTELLA PEREZ CORDOVA / LEADER
My name is Estela Perez Cordova. I’m originally from Tlaxcala, Mexico. I came to Jackson about 30 years ago, so I consider Jackson my true home now and a place full of opportunities I couldn’t have had back in Mexico.
I’m a single mother of two children. I became a child of God and a member of Centro de Vida Cristiana (CVC) Wyoming when it was just in our minds and hearts. It’s already been 12 years!
CVC Wyoming has been my spiritual home, a place of healing for my heart, my family, and a place where I have learned the word of God. It’s a place where I’ve found real friends. In CVC I have learned to be a disciple, make disciples and point people to the kingdom of God. Since then I have dedicated my time to serve and to help others in following what Mathew 10:8 says, “Freely give what you have received".
When PCJH opened the door for us, a wish came true! We have had a place to worship and serve God in this community. In serving others, I have discovered a passion to serve as a leader in Children's Ministry. We have grown from four children to 20. Having church partners like PCJH, I’ve learned the importance of serving others by participating alongside your members. We’ve cooked meals for PCJH, have translated in different events, like the Big 5 Drive, and other events.
I discovered the opportunity to serve with what I’ve been given, learning from Pastor Abraham Hernandez and his wife Blankis and others. God uses them for his purposes! I’m grateful for the partnership of PCJH to help one another and share the same enthusiasm to serve and help this community to know Christ.
GRECIA SOSA / LEADER
I was raised in Victor, but I’ve have also spent significant time in Jackson, which has allowed me to stay connected to both communities in meaningful ways. Five years ago, I began my relationship with God, and since then I have been continually shaped through both spiritual and professional growth as I serve within the church.
At Centro de Vida Cristiana, I have the privilege of serving in leadership as the leader of a home group, as the youth group leader, and as part of the communications team. In addition, I serve as the Local Coordinator in Wyoming for a non-profit organization, Integration for Life (IN4LIFE). Each of these opportunities has deepened my faith, strengthened my leadership, and taught me the value of walking alongside others in their spiritual journeys.
I have also had the opportunity to serve PCJH through our church’s participation in the free Wednesday Community Dinners, when CVC has had the privilege of cooking and serving.
These experiences have been both humbling and joyful, as they provide a chance to connect with others in the Jackson community through service, hospitality, and love.
When not volunteering, I am usually at work as a spa therapist or enjoying the nature Jackson has to offer with my husband, or spending time with family. Living here has truly been a blessing, as it allows me to combine my love for serving others, my work, and the beauty of creation in everyday life.
