WITNESS: May 1, 2007

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Presbyterian Church in America

G reat P raise

pcpc Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!

Serve the Lord with gladness!

Come into His presence with singing!

Know that the Lord, He is God! It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise!

Give thanks to Him; bless His name!

For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations. ­—Psalm 100

INSIDE Digital Day reveals Arts Festival gems

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Men relate impact of Men’s Fraternity

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Maturity has come early for this 15-year-old 6 Churches join hands to sponsor Lauren Winner

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New Counseling Ministry setting sail

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Middle schoolers get eyes opened in Austin

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Senio///it the ice

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Fruitful m///y of UGM con//ues

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Hispa///mmunity welc//g Cristo Rey

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Vol. XVII, No. 1 • Park Cities Presbyterian Church • MAY 2007

“Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised…splendor and majesty are before Him; strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.” Psalm 96:4, 6

In June 2005, we shipped our old pipe organ off to a Palmetto Hills PCA church in South Carolina. Last April the antiphonal organ was installed in the balcony, and beginning the third week of February work was begun on the “big organ” up front in the chancel area.

Schoenstein & Co. Organ Builders brought the first shipment of the main organ from their shop in San Francisco on February 19.

More trucks followed, and for eight weeks afterwards pieces of the instrument slowly migrated from piles spread throughout the Sanctuary into their final places behind the choir. By Palm Sunday, when we first got to hear some of the organ, all

of the mechanical parts and about 30% of the pipes had been installed. Besides the obvious thousands of pipes that fill the organ chamber, there are innumerable wires, tubes, keys, valves, frames, boxes, springs, bellows, wheels, pegs, handles, lids, rods, panels, screws, knobs, ropes, rungs, hooks, grooves, panels, ladders, washers, nuts, bolts, pins, sheaths, microchips, semiconductors, ribbons, cords, plugs, bulbs, switches, brackets, hinges, pulleys, latches, and even strings tied neatly in bows.

The smallest pipe is the size of a pencil. The largest weighs four hundred pounds and measures 32 feet long. “Longer doesn’t

mean louder, it means lower,” Director of Music and Arts Colin Howland emphasizes.

The size of our organ gives it a vast range of dynamics and voices. It can shake the pews with the congregation, or it can hum quietly underneath our youngest choirs.

Historical perspective Our instrument is an heir of the great symphonic American school of organ building in the early 1900s, which in turn was inspired by French and English organs developed in the 1800s.

Before the end of the 1800s, every part of the organ was mechanical. Levers operated valves underneath the pipes when the keys continued on page 2

New organ continued from page 1 were played. (Our chapel organ operates this way.) The keys were manipulated physically, so larger instruments took more strength to play. With the invention of the pneumatic “Barker” lever in 1832, it became possible to build larger and larger instruments, with tonal pallets imitating the size and scope of the symphony orchestra.

As a result, composers began writing organ symphonies the same length as orchestral symphonies. In America, in the early 1900s, organists would play these pieces or transcriptions of symphonic works for 10-20,000 people in theaters and civic auditoriums.

A special (and large) instrument Colin grew up playing weekly on the world’s largest organ, built for the St. Louis World’s Fair and later installed in the John Wanamaker department store in Philadelphia. That organ has 6 keyboards and over 30,000 pipes! Our organ is not that grand (4 keyboards and approximately 5500 pipes), but it is eight ranks larger than the Meyerson Symphony Center’s organ. It also has a custom voice called the symphonic piccolo.

George Mimms of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston and Colin Howland both requested this voice at about the same time. Since St. Martin’s organ was completed first, they got the prototype and ours is the second ever made to these specifications!

Our organ console is camouflaged to match the attractive woodwork in the chancel. It will usually stand in front of the choir and behind the pulpit, but it has wheels and can be easily moved by one person.

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Once the physical installation is complete in early May, several weeks of tonal work and tuning remain to be done. The tones of the organ are finely matched to one another and the acoustics of the room to achieve an absolutely first-rate result. Colin was able to play part of the new organ in worship for the first time on Palm Sunday.

A high purpose Stephen Nielson, an elder and the cochair of the organ committee, sees this organ as a tool for praise and prayer.

“Now,” he says, “we ... offer up to our Creator worship in music produced by the ‘king of instruments.’ I can tell you that you will not believe the magnificent sounds and colors of this grand instrument in the skilled hands of our incredibly gifted musicians.”

Colin also speaks of the organ’s music as an offering: “It’s one way of saying to the Lord that we love Him and that we care very deeply about how we show that.”

This answers the question of why our church has decided to spend $2 million on an organ. By choosing this form of worship, the church models what it believes: God is worthy of our best and highest praise.

Colin is inspired by King David’s example. In 1 Chronicles 22:5, David said, “the house that is to be built for the Lord must be exceedingly magnificent, of fame and glory throughout all lands.”

David exclaims in Psalm 145:3, “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and His greatness is unsearchable.”

Praising properly With this in mind, Colin says we must be careful not to admire the organ simply as a model of human ingenuity. His greatest praise for the instrument is that it accompanies the singing of the people of God. Singing, to Colin, is a wonderful gift from the Lord, because it allows us to worship with our full being.

“When you sing, you’re worshiping the Lord with your heart, mind, soul, and strength. Everything is active,” he says. God has also made it a means by which His Word may be planted deeply into our hearts as Colossians 3:16 teaches, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one

another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” Colin distinguishes between the concert hall, where an audience adores the music and the musician, and the church, where “the organ is there to support what the people are doing.

They’re there to adore God.” “Because of its sheer size and scope, the organ has a unique ability among instruments to convey ideas like grandeur and majesty, which, in the context of worship, help us to direct our thoughts toward the contemplation of the One who is supremely majestic, the Lord Himself!”, Colin says. In his book Themes and Variations on a Christian Doxology, Reformed worship scholar Hughes Oliphant Old explains that instrumental music in worship is best understood as being part of worship as proclamation of who God is. Old says this about organ music, “It is the function of preludes to claim our attention for a momentous event. In the same way, it is the function of a postlude to affirm the surpassing importance of the worship that has just been celebrated.”

A gift to the future The organ is a symphony of instruments that takes one instrumentalist— and it lasts for centuries. European churches still use 400- to 500-year-old organs. “We really are invested in the worship lives of our great-great-greatgrandchildren. It’s a gift to future generations,” Colin says.

Investing in an organ is not only providing a resource for our grandchildren; it teaches them something as well. As they sing the ancient hymns of the church, they’ll share the very same experience as their grandparents. “They won’t have to imagine it; they’ll hear it,” Colin says.

“The Lord is worthy to receive all power and honor and glory and blessing,” Colin continues. “Christ Himself has made the only offering worthy of God’s attention. So the question for us is, if Christ out of love for His Father humbled Himself from His eternal glory to be made sin for us and our salvation, is there any limit to what we should offer the Lord in worship?”

—Stephanie Barker MAY 2007

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In the fall of 2006, several church members gathered for a meeting to discuss the possibility of PCPC doing an Arts Festival. We knew very little then about what this “small project” would entail. Many of us on the steering committee for the Arts Festival are not artists and have never worked in the art world before. It was with great confidence in the Lord and with no clue of how the journey would unfold that we began our preparations for this year’s show.

PCPC

our doors seemed better than the last. Each expressed a different aspect of God and that individual artist’s journey with God. I realized that I have much to learn from just viewing this art. We registered over 200 pieces of art for the show with the help of seven volunteers and eight PCPC staff. Many thanks go all of them, especially to photographer Larry Sengbush, who brought in two additional photographers to assist the artists. They worked tirelessly to get all the art registered for our show.

2007 Digital Day provides preview

On FebruMay 4-12 ary 16, as Our goal as a Daily noon-7:00 pm artists committee is to Now we are upon the opening of our Fridays until 9:00 pm arrived long-awaited Festival. The Lord has touch the lives with of the artists done exceedingly abundantly more Oak Lawn West their in the Dalthan we could ask or imagine. Now free to the public work las area with we have over 300 pieces of art selected groups welcome (call 214-224-2744) in Christ’s love. for our exhibit. Several artists requesthand, To do this, we ed Bibles to read Psalm 23, our theme Questions? 214-224-2813 or we began need to meet artpassage. One artist of a different faith www.pcpcartsfestival.org to realize ists, interact with has come to us requesting counselhow much this them, and serve them. ing. Almost every artist has requested Festival is blessIn November we hosted 15-20 invitations to the show to give to ing us non-artists. We get to Demo Day, when all Dallas area arttheir friends! God has done and is dostand in awe of the God-given talent ists were invited to come hear about ing great things! Please stop by to see these artists have to visually express our show, watch live art demonstrathe exhibit. You will be encouraged! their faith. Each piece that entered tions, and ask questions. This was our —Sarah Bagby first “touch” with the artists; our first chance to talk to and encourage the Festival Committee Chairman Ka Cotter helps an artist register her work online. artists to participate.

As we further sought to serve the artists, in February we hosted Digital Day. Artists brought their finished art pieces to PCPC to be professionally photographed free of charge. We also offered assistance with the online registration for the show. I received phone call after phone call in the weeks prior to Digital Day from artists thanking us for providing them with this service.

Most art shows require digital photos but do not offer assistance, especially not free assistance. We offered these services to show Christ’s love to the artists.

MAY 2007

PCPC WITNESS • 3

Real Sex: The Naked Truth About Chastity Lauren F. Winner

A book review by Shannon B. Geiger

As created male and female, all of us are sexual beings with various seasons of sexual expression. Whether single, married, divorced, widowed, sick, healthy, young or old, all of us are to engage in chastity as a spiritual discipline over the course of our lives. According to the number of singles in my counseling office, the contemporary Church appears to be more mime than mentor on the subject, the image of a blind mute stumbling across a roaring highway of sexual banter, where even the tire flaps on freight trucks have more to say with their silhouettes of naked women.

A few years ago, Lauren F. Winner wrote honestly about her sexual activity as a single person for Beliefnet.com. She was a recent convert from Judaism to Christianity, and though she had degrees from Columbia and Cambridge, she could not connect Jesus’s salvation with saving sex for marriage.

She was demoted from senior editor at Christianity Today to staff writer, and after being criticized in print by World Magazine, she responded that Christian singles should be able to admit their desire for sexual relationships, “and in the context of rich church tradition and in the company of older Christians, try to figure out what we can do about it.”

Her third book to date, Real Sex­­­— the Naked Truth about Chastity, includes discussion questions at the end of the paperback edition and is the worthwhile fruit of her figuring. Winner’s high view of the Church, scripture, sacraments, and spiritual disciplines make a rich backdrop for addressing sexuality, pornography, masturbation, marriage, community, Gnostic views on bad bodies, and chastity. Most helpfully, she points out that all personal transformation happens ultimately by the grace and power of Christ, and not by moralistic pronouncements such as 4 • PCPC WITNESS

“True Love Waits,” which tend to be communicated as reasonable assumptions one physically attains out of sheer will.

Winner briefly reviews dismal statistics about abstinence, where the majority of students break a virginity pledge before college ends.

LAUREN WINNER May 10, 7:00 pm PCPC Sanctuary

The erstatz vs. the real Using both the Bible and Augustine’s high view of marriage, Winner eloquently demonstrates why sex, according to God, belongs only there in order to be real. “Faux sex” is something that happens outside of marriage and is a distorted imitation, “…as Walt Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort is only a simulation of real wilderness. The danger is when we spend too much time in the simulations, we lose the capacity to distinguish between the ersatz and the real,” (p.38).

Real Sex is the result of research and spiritual discipline exercised amid sexual longing and personal baggage, which Winner candidly and tastefully shares. She met her husband while working on the book. In chapter 6, they heed the advice of a friend, who was also RUF’s campus minister at

the University of Virginia: “Don’t do anything sexual you wouldn’t feel comfortable doing on the steps of the Rotunda.” Winner says this wisely combined the public and private, “The question for unmarried couples is not How far can we go? but how do we maintain the integrity of our sexual relationship while at this point is only public?” (p. 106).

For me, the Rotunda boundary highlights the role of community but hides the nature of societal sin. I live in a city where some sexual acts take place at Starbucks or underneath trees in the park. Telling people to “only go as far as what’s acceptable in public,” lets the cultural conscience point us down a seared path. Our guide, ultimately, is scripture and the interpretation and practice of the Spirit-indwelled body of believers. As history proves, communities will always sway between licentiousness and legalism.

The weaknesses of the book are mostly what it leaves out. It doesn’t provide a helpful guide for singles or the “single-again” who have been chaste for years and are looking for encouragement and examples. It doesn’t deal with motives leading to premarital sex, nor does it mention the prevalence of sexual abuse and its fallout.

Winner also leaves out any substantive discussion on God’s wrath and judgment for sexual immorality, and she doesn’t guide readers through meaty biblical exegesis on forgiveness, which follows confession. Winner rightly points people to the embrace the story of Christ’s forgiveness. She just doesn’t show them the passages of the cross where this gets worked out.

One of the many strengths of Winner’s book is her goal for Christian readers to relearn their basic story as the biblical story of creation-fall-redemption and to work out their salvation within the Christian community.

Then and only then can one understand his or her identity in Christ and God’s “Good News” about chastity.

This alone makes Real Sex a unique, contemporary treasure and a necessary group study for any church.

MAY 2007

Care and Counseling Ministry Takes Shape The Pastoral Care and Counseling Ministry at PCPC was born last September when Director Jeff White joined the church staff. Sharing his observations about the church from the last few months, Jeff remarks that “we have a lot more hurting people than many people would have thought.

We have a lot of hurting marriages.

What we have to do is respond to that.”

Our church is developing “a comprehensive model of care and counseling,” according to Jeff. “My role is to come here and create and coordinate a system where people can get the help they need and connect them to the resources in the church and in the community. We have a real opportunity to minister and model Christ’s love to His people.”

at church and urges couples to seek counseling before a crisis occurs that makes the relationship harder to repair. Likewise for individuals: “Come in when you’re lonely, not just when you’re depressed,” he says.

Several ministries at PCPC currently endeavor to build community and small groups. At this point, Jeff says, “There are a large number of people who are not really involved. We do need a sense of one-anothering, and that happens for a lot of people, but I’m not sure that happens for most people.”

His passion is to create a sense of family unity that expresses Christ’s love within the church. “I want to encourage the congregation to expect God to work in this congregation in such a way that hurting individuals are comforted, hurting marriages are reconciled, and families are more nurturing and more loving.”

“We have a lot more

hurting people than many people would have thought.”

—Jeff White

Jeff and the Care and Counseling Steering Committee developed four main areas that the ministry will focus on. Upcoming summer publications and the church newsletter will explain these four areas.

Short-term pastoral counseling is the first area of focus, with services provided by Jeff or another counselor on the church staff.

He encourages hurting people to become involved in a small group

Looking at the ministry’s progress so far, Jeff is hopeful. “People are actually asking for help,” he says. “One problem is that they’re showing up late in the process, but there’s a place now for people to come. We have a way for people to begin the process.”

Jeff encourages individuals, couples, and families who would like counseling or care to contact Caty Coffey, 214224-2683, for an appointment.

—Stephanie Barker

Developing partnerships with Christian counselors and other local treatment centers or ministries constitutes the second area.

This affiliation with outside professionals provides for long-term Christian counseling and continued care.

Training the congregation to approach significant relationships, such as marriages, parenting, and friendships, in a godly manner is the third area of focus.

Jeff calls this ministry among laypeople “one-anothering.”

Seveloping recovery ministries for the congregation and the community is the fourth area.

MAY 2007

PCPC’s Counseling Ministry is here to serve: front (l to r), Caty Coffey, Shannon Geiger, Amanda Owens, Kari Stainback.

Back, Laurie Butterfield and Jeff White PCPC WITNESS • 5

NOT ON MY OWN

The testimony of Matthew O’Hearn

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In 1991 a young married couple became pregnant with their second child. The doctors wanted to run several tests, but the couple refused them if the purpose was to encourage an abortion. The mother delivered the child and, sure enough, their son had numerous medical issues including orthopedic and cardiac complications.

I was that child. The doctors told my parents that I would likely not survive.

It was three or four days after my birth before anyone congratulated my dad on having a new son. It was a dad who had a son with Down Syndrome and knew the blessing of children with special needs.

Within two weeks it became clear that I would need extensive openheart surgery to live. The surgeon, Dr. Hisashi Nikaidoh, had been warned by an associate that he should not perform the surgery, as it would only give my family false hope of my survival.

Dr. Nikaidoh said, “Mr. O’Hearn, we may have to decide what is best to do for Matthew as opposed to do to him.” My father replied “My wife and I are Christians, and we believe that God has a plan for Matthew’s life. We don’t know whether he will live seven days, seven years, or seventy years.

That’s in God’s hands. But we understand that we may have to let him go.”

Dr. Nikaidoh quietly got up to leave.

As he reached the door, he turned back and said, “I Christian, too.”

One evening my parents were told that the surgeons didn’t expect me to live through the night. My condition was quickly deteriorating. The doctors let them hold me that night, thinking it was my last night.

The following day PCPC member David Newman came to visit and pray with my dad as he had almost every day for the previous two weeks. He asked my dad if the night before had been particularly tough. Tears welled in my dad’s eyes at the question. The

friend explained that the night before he was woken up around midnight and realized that the Lord wanted him to pray for me and my family. Obviously, I survived that night!

A couple of years ago, our family saw the doctor who had advised against my surgery. He said, “In all my years of working with Dr. Nikaidoh, only once have I questioned his medical judgment, and that was with your son.” Within weeks of that conversation, Dr. Nikaidoh lost his own son in an elevator accident. After his son’s memorial service, Dr. Nikaidoh spoke the same words to my family. “In all my years with Dr Leonard, only once has he questioned my medical judgment, and that was with your son.” My father replied, “That was a decision made by God.” A very hearty “amen” was Dr. Nikaidoh’s response.

I was nearly two years old before I spent more time at home than I spent in the hospital in Dallas or in Houston. By the time I was six, I had another open-heart surgery along with two heart catheter procedures and 10 other surgeries on my lower body. The doctors told my family many times that I would not survive. However, God said otherwise. Several times the doctors told my family that I would never walk.

Again, God had other plans. Over the years the Lord revealed that His will, not the odds given by the doctors, would prevail.

“The doctors told my family many times that I would not survive.

However, God said otherwise.”

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straight. My legs had become “wind swept” and turned towards the right, and the surgeon feared this would put my back at risk of serious injury in the years ahead.

While I lay in my hospital bed, my orthopedic surgeon wanted me to lie on one side for awhile and then switch to the other side to help me with the pain. I did not want to do this as I believed it would make my pain all the worse. One of our PCPC pastors, Sinclair Ferguson, told me that I provided an example of how we must work ourselves through the pain and lean on Christ. He said that if he ever used such an example in a sermon or book he would call it the “Matthew Principle.”

During my recovery, I had to spend 10 weeks in a wheelchair to protect my healing legs. The Lord used this period to keep me in His Word as I memorized the book of Philippians.

Through this memorization I learned how Paul rejoiced in his trials because he recognized the Lord using his situation to bring the gospel to others.

Paul tells us in Philippians 2:17 that “If I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.” His concern for the Philippian believers’ faith and walk with Christ outweighed the magnitude of his suffering. The apostle understood that through our suffering we become partakers in the sufferings of Christ (Phil. 3:10). Paul also wrote in Romans 8:18: “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

I saw in Philippians 4:11-13 that Paul’s example was for me, that he “learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

I know both how to be abased and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

I have had to learn through these trials to be content with the position

“I have seen the hand of the Lord shaping me into the man that He wants me to be.”

A final surgery After 14 surgeries and procedures as a child I did not have another surgery for almost nine years. However, last year I had another surgery—breaking femur bones near my hips as well as breaking my right ankle to set them

MAY 2007

in which the Lord has placed me. He sovereignly places us where he wants us and provides for all of our needs.

Discontent with the Lord’s provision essentially says to Him that He cannot provide for our needs.

Seven weeks after the surgery I underwent a second procedure to remove several metal pins from my ankle. Later in the afternoon I stood for the first time in seven weeks. I endured immense pain in my hips from the lack of usage and quickly laid back in the wheelchair. Beginning with the following morning, every day I would have to stand and work to bring my legs back to full strength.

Typically, my father would take me out on the sidewalk early in the morning before leaving for work. I would walk with a walker from one end of the street to the other. Again in the middle of the day, I would walk with my mom. When my father arrived home from work in the evening, we would continue the routine. Over the next few weeks, my strength and ability to walk improved. However, it exhausted me. I often wanted to stop, yet my parents wouldn’t let me.

I learned we cannot endure trials on our own. Christ upholds us in the palm of His hand. He carries us through the fire. He helps us stand when we have no strength of our own with His invisible arms and hands wrapped strongly around us—those same hands that healed the blind and the deaf—that voluntarily became outstretched on the wood of a cruel cross—that will welcome His children when they arrive safely home. Christ has conquered the sorrows of our life. Our Victor gains our own victory through His blood shed on our behalf.

I learned a lot from our good family friend Bob Simmons, who battled cancer for three years. He passed into glory in 2005. When he underwent treatment, he was always joyful, no matter how sick he felt. His doctors and nurses asked him how he could keep a happy face in the midst of such pain. He answered, “It’s not what I have, it’s who has me.”

Walking in faith After 14 years of orthopedic operations, I no longer require braces on MAY 2007

my legs, a lift on the shoe of my left much pain I will experience at any foot, or the services of my orthopedic given time. He knows my limits and surgeon. The days of countless doctor the frailty of my heart. He alone gives appointments and operations have me the power to stand when my body ended. Only the Lord could bring such says I cannot. I know that He allows a miraculous feat. me to suffer that which I cannot stand My next goal is to walk without in order that His name might reign crutches, something the doctors said over all other names, and that in my would never happen. I have learned to weakness His strength is displayed in never rule out anything with God. The my simple endurance. doctors, surgeons, and medical experts I have seen the hand of the Lord can say what they will; however, if shaping me into the man that He God says otherwise, all the medical wants me to be. He has given me expertise in the world cannot thwart the joy of walking through the fire His plan. As Matthew 19:26 most acwithout allowing me to suffer burn. curately words it: “With God all things He has granted me His grace to walk are possible.” through the deep waters of sorrow Recently my sister Kaitlin was diwithout drowning. While I must still agnosed with multiple sclerosis. This go through the waters, I no longer fear came as a great shock! Rarely does them because I know that He will hold such a diagnosis occur at the young me up. He has walked through the age of 18. Many people have come to same waters and fire. This fire and waus and expressed their sorrow over the ter do not harm, but rather refine. He diagnosis. In fact, many have respond- has done all this that His name should ed with words such be glorified over as “This isn’t right. all other names You don’t need and that I might another sick child. grow closer to Him This shouldn’t hapin my relationpen to your family.” ship with His Son. One family friend I know that my prayed, “Lord, how present suffering much can this famdoes not compare ily take?” to the glory that But we know we will experience that God has in heaven. I know brought this trial that my suffering into our lives. He’s is for only a while, sovereign over all but the joy of things, and evheaven is eternal. erything that He With this hope in decrees works for mind, I long with His glory and our Paul, “waiting for Kaitlin and Matthew O’Hearn ultimate good, even the adoption, to wit, if it entails suffering the redemption of our and pain. We have no right to tell the body.” (Romans 8:23) Lord that He does not know what best God loves us. He wants us to know to do for us.

Him. He wants to train us into whom God knows our weaknesses and He would have us be and to partake in stands in when we cannot. We only the glory of Christ. have to gaze at the cross to know this If we will quiet our hearts, humble truth. We could never endure God’s ourselves before the Lord, and listen to just punishment for our sins. What we His voice, we will recognize His mercy could not do, Christ Jesus did for us. and grace—as it has been before us the I have learned that the Lord draws whole time. We will see the ultimate near to the afflicted. He has taught end of our suffering. We will see the me that when I suffer, he stays there truth behind His promise: “My grace is with me. He has not, nor will He ever, sufficient for thee: for My strength is made forsake me. The Lord controls how perfect in thy weakness!” (2 Cor. 12:9a).

PCPC WITNESS • 7

Men’s Fraternity wraps up second year God used Men’s Fraternity to put specific and tangible meaning to the scripture in Ephesians which says “Walk in step with the Spirit.” I am amazed at the propensity I possess for listening to sermons (or preaching them for that matter) while mired in inertia. After spending the past two years unpacking my past, honestly evaluating my current situation, and planning for the future; hope rings clear in my soul. In the fall of 2006, when thinking about my past, I heard myself saying, “Oh, that was not that big of a deal, Tim. Just overlook the past and move on.” The problem was that I didn’t move on! Besides saying I am sorry, memorizing more scripture, and praying harder (all of which is well and good), there was no clarion path to follow toward mature Christian manhood.

It is exciting to break new ground in relationship with Christ and with others.

The thrill of seeing hundreds of men doing the same—wow!—what a blessing from the Lord! I cannot wait until the fall season starts. The guys who desperately need Men’s Fraternity are the very men who lack the initiative and strength to attend, so please pray for a miraculous working of the Spirit to bring men from all over the Metroplex when we resume in September. Our focus next year will be “Winning at Work and at Home” It doesn’t get more practical than that! Newcomers are welcome, and many of us returning men will be bringing our friends to extend the transforming power of Christ.

—Tim Tinsley

Here are comments from others who attended this year:

PCPC WITNESS WITNESS 88 •• PCPC

Aside from God leading me to Texas this past year, Men’s Fraternity has been one of the most significant steps I have taken for myself. The hour drive I make to meet with you and my small group every Monday morning has been an incredible blessing to me.

Though nothing can compare to a person’s experience receiving Christ as Lord, Savior, and Life, the principles learned in Men’s Fraternity have made it one of the most significant involvements of my life. What I’ve learned has been more crucial to my development of manhood and personal identity than high school, undergraduate studies, and medical school combined. The cost of all this education just mentioned was approximately $120,000, not including living expenses, in contrast to the $10 Men’s Fraternity manual.

One of my favorite quotes from Tim this year was “The blame/victim card tears up the manhood card every time.” The wisdom behind this adage has helped place a check upon my tendency to blame others about events that occurred decades ago. Since then, I’ve learned that to blame another person is to be enslaved to him. This leads to weakness and dependence upon others, rather than dependence upon God to meet our needs for love, significance, security, and identity. Once this dependence is in place, others’ treatment of me has become less important. Paul also helped me to see these truths dramatically in 2 Timothy 4, where the mistreatment and desertion of him by others left him unaltered in his devotion to God and His plan.

I had just come off of one of my most difficult years of feeling very lukewarm and really needed this iron sharpening of iron opportunity. Men’s Fraternity got me focused again on this and has helped me focus on spiritually guiding my own family to a degree I had never reached. I look

forward to the next years ahead in our small group of brothers that has developed this past year!

In the fall of 2000, I learned what the word “encephalitis” meant; I experienced it first hand. The illness removed a large portion of my memory. My wife stuck with me 100%, being encouraging and supportive and knowing life would get better. God used that experience to bring us both to Him. We’ve been there every since.

I started in the second half of this program. After a few weeks I began having discussions with my wife about the changes I was experiencing. She reminded me that I was like that when we met. The experience I mentioned above softened my family leadership desire and skills. This program has brought me back, reminding me of my purpose as a husband and a dad. My wife has shown full support and love throughout the trials of our life together. And recently she thanked me for being back, back in charge. This has been a powerful class. I will definitely return in the fall for the next two phases.

Starting off the week at 6:30 am is easier than I ever imagined—on a Monday, no less! The program, for me, is invaluable.

Each section speaks directly to some portion of my life and my pursuit/call to be a Godly man.

For my wife, I’m always grateful for the reminders about how she should be treated/viewed/cherished. In a family with kids, “alone time” is a scarcity.

Since November of last year, we have been waking up at 6:00 am every weekday to share a cup of coffee in bed and talk and pray before the “rugrats” overtake the day. I start each day showing her that I am a servant to her and a leader of our spiritual life (even though she’s better than MAY MAY 2007 2007

I am!). This has been my greatest lifestyle change in years!

For my kids, I expect that they will see changes in my behavior that will allow them to avoid some of my mistakes and take advantage of the life God has intended for them. We’ve completed purity weekends for the two older kids and I have been surprised by the effect those sessions have had with regard to my relationship with Jesus.

As is the case with many things, the amount of work that I need to do is overwhelming but the benefits of chipping away at the pile have been tremendous.

Men’s Fraternity has been a true blessing! God placed me in your arms while I was going through a difficult divorce.

Men’s Fraternity has specifically done the following for me: • Helped me to understand the responsibility I have in my failed marriage • Helped me to understand how a godly husband acts • Revealed to me the most successful model of marriage • Taught me the importance of honestly analyzing my life no matter how difficult it may be • Given me the confidence (via a roadmap) to handle life as a true man as I age.

Men’s Fraternity has brought to my immediate attention the need to be very deliberate in the discipleship of my children. I have been convicted and burdened to ensure that my children know with certainty why our family believes what it believes. I have been seeking out specific one-on-one time with my children and I have been spending more time to give them the scripture

references t h a t back-up our beliefs and value s y s tems.

T h e y are all Christians a n d strong in their faith, but I want them to hear from me God’s truths to equip them for the temptations they will face as they get older. I can’t wait for next fall’s curriculum!

MF has been a fantastic experience. It has helped me personally grapple with a past failed relationship, which ended in divorce. I realize now that I was passive and gave up the leadership position in the family. In fact, I can identify the exact moment that I abdicated my leadership role. So I better understand my flawed role in the relationship, the causal factor behind the divorce, and how this has impacted my children.

Also, MF has caused a great deal of thought about my past and my father, who died when I was 10. Growing up without a father created a wound in my life that I am now addressing. As for the present, MF has been a great blessing, and a wonderful conversation piece with my wife, helping me heal from the past, and live for the future as a stronger man. God brought a prayerful wife to me who wholeheartedly supports my leadership role and desire for God’s reward in our lives. In fact, she was the one who encouraged me to attend MF. Thank God for godly women!

As a result of Men’s Fraternity and my 100% commitment to attend and be engaged, I have felt empowered by the Holy Spirit to become the leader of my marriage and family. I find myself, almost effortlessly and without burden, initiating activities, engaging in deeper conversations and delighting in each of my family members. This change in my attitude and perspective has made life incredibly fuller in our house. I actually feel like I am finally living the abundant life that Christ promised me when He came into my life 30+ years ago. My wife has been overjoyed with the significant change!

What has Men’s Fraternity meant to you and your family this year? Oh boy, where should I begin. Men’s Fraternity has saved my marriage and given me the blueprint to be a loving, supportive husband to my wife and son. I did not grow up with a strong example of a “authentic manhood” father. In fact my father died at an early age due to poor lifestyle choices and my stepfather was an abusive alcoholic for a period of time. Now, I know what it means to be a authentic man—one who rejects passivity, accepts responsibility, leads courageosly and expects the greater reward. I know how to communicate with my wife and I better understand where she is coming from.

I also now know how to go about becoming the father to my son that God wants me to be. It’s truly exciting times in my life and at PCPC! Far left, hugs come easy at Men’s Fraternity (Henry Morgan and Tim) Left, Tim leads the men in a closing benediction Above, small groups are vital to the ministry

MAY2007 2007 MAY

WITNESS PCPC PCPC WITNESS • 9 • 9

Free to serve

Middle schoolers apply lessons from Galatians in Austin

O

n our Spring Break trip to Austin in March we served others, putting them above us, and shared with them the love of Christ like we are called to do. It was amazing to see all of the lives that we impacted and to see our lives changed, too.

Thirteen middle schoolers and 4 adult chaperones made this trip, the 6th trip from PCPC in as many years.

On Saturday morning we partnered with New Start Ministries in Austin and went to a section of town known as St. John’s, — where crime, teenage pregnancy, and prostitution rates in Austin are the highest and income rates the lowest.

We met in a cul-de-sac which was surrounded by three apartment complexes and just went up and knocked on doors looking for kids to play with us. Then we served them lunch. We got to show kids from age one to sixteen the love of Christ by loving and playing with them.

restaurants like the Oasis and County Line, went to a UT baseball game and made great memories playing games and hanging out together.

““I was so impressed with the way the kids lived in the moment, served out of love, and genuinely cared for one another.””

Ben Leonard, PCPC Youth Intern

Sunday was a day to remember. We went to Church Under the Bridge. We walked around and talked to homeless women and men trying to share the gospel with them. We also played with the kids and shared our evangelism cubes with them. Some of the kids accepted Christ which showed us that He can Leaders Emily Leonard work in anyone’s and Jessica-Rose Mayer life.

Not only did we get to minister to others, we studied Galatians and learned things that will change our lives—like living by the Spirit, freedom in Christ, and the fruit of the Spirit. Every morning we would wake up and have an hour to read, journal, and pray. We read the whole book of Galatians every morning and then we discussed two chapters each night, family style. The trip was an eye-opening time.

—Catherine Ward PCPC 7th grader

(l to r) Kelesa Riddick, Catherine Ward, and Mary Ellen Denman

On Monday we went to Westminster Manor Nursing Home to visit the elderly.

Our youth group made gospel bead bracelets with them, sang fun songs, and heard about their lives.

The next day we went to El Buen, a ministry that helps people get back on their feet and have a better life.

While were there we helped out in the food pantry, cleaned the church, and played with the kids in daycare.

The trip wasn’t all work. We swam in Barton Springs, ate at fun Austin 10 • PCPC WITNESS

MAY 2007

Real faith = real action Women break away to West Dallas

O

ne of the great privileges of the Christian faith is that God invites us to be His ambassadors, the very hands and feet of Christ, working together as a body to accomplish His will. On February 2324, 2007, the women of PCPC did just that. Despite a howling windstorm, a metroplex-wide power outage, and a thick haze of dust that eerily clouded the entire Dallas skyline, 75 women put their faith into action in West Dallas for the 2007 PCPC Women’s Breakaway Retreat.

The weekend kicked off on Friday night with a dinner and guest speaker Dr. Julian Russell, who came to us from New Beginnings Community Church in Memphis, Tennessee. Russell, a PCA pastor originally from Bermuda, inspired the group by preaching on the importance of putting faith into action with a biblically based theology of good works. His talk was not only great motivation for a weekend of service, but also served as an enticing “sneak preview” of the blessing PCPC has received, as Dr. Russell joined our church staff shortly thereafter on April 1.

Women were given their work team assignments that evening and got to make some new friends as they sat together to enjoy the delicious meal and take on the challenge of some team competition afterward. Each woman left armed with a bright orange visor, instructions for the next morning, and

motivation to share the love of Christ with the thriving West Dallas ministries that PCPC supports.

Early Saturday morning, the women gathered in West Dallas for a brief time of fellowship and prayer before dividing into their smaller teams for specific tasks. The responsibilities included organizing, cleaning, praying, fixing, cooking, painting, and gardening at three different locations: West Dallas Community School (WDCS), Voice of Hope, and Mercy Street.

I served on the cleaning committee at WDCS, and it was a delight to pray for the specific needs of each child as I scrubbed and cleaned the individual desks in the classroom. I was also particularly inspired by one of my team members, Pat Reeves, a dear lady in her 80s, who was an extremely hard worker and ever-willing to serve. Her beautiful smile and cheerful can-do attitude was with her for the duration of our time at WDCS. At one point I even saw her cleaning an entire classroom by herself with only the slight help of her daughter, Donna Hamm.

By 4:00 pm on Saturday afternoon, the work was complete.

While it was extremely rewarding to see the physical transformation of the WDCS, Voice of Hope,

(l to r) front: Angela Thomas, ??????????????,/>?????????

MAY 2007 back Kari Stainback, ????????? Denise Nixon, Carroll Turpin, Laurie Butterfield

and Mercy Street, equally important was the transformation that took place within the hearts of the women.

Surely not a single woman left that day without the feeling of deep joy and satisfaction that comes from serving God and serving others. Indeed, what a privilege it was to come together to be ambassadors of Christ!

—Sarah Monning Top, Mollie Halpin and ?????????????? apply the team concept to a heavy bag of top soil on the Mercy Street lawn.

Above, Nancy Rudd, Carol Mason, and ??/////////?? work intently on the team competition to build the highest structure out of pipe cleaners and assorted objects.

PCPC WITNESS • 11

South India PCPC’s Newest World 50 Church Planting Partnership

Paul Billy Arnold The project’s national director and overseeing church planter is the Rev.

•

Why Church Plant in Nager-

coil First The first church plant, led by Pastor

Paul Billy Arnold, an Indian national

Sanil Jagan, is located in Nagercoil.

well known to the PCA and Mission to

Why?

the World. Paul Billy is Senior Pastor

•

The Tsunami of December 26,

of Bangalore Presbyterian Church and

2004 hit the coast area about 15 kilo-

has an MDiv and ThM from Covenant

meters from Nagercoil and brought

Seminary. He is married to Shirley

huge damage to property and took

a church which will reach 100 fami-

(MATS from Covenant) and they have

the live of many. Much relief work

lies and 300 to 400 people. And, then I

three children. The Arnolds’ mission

through MTW, the PCA, Bangalore

see three daughter churches along the

agency is Presbyterian Mission Inter-

Presbyterian Church and other minis-

coast.”

national (PMI) which is affiliated with

tries has paved the way for the Gospel

Pastor Sunil Jagan, August 2006

Covenant Seminary in St. Louis.

of grace to be planted in these people’s

A great vision, right? The chal-

Approach

“God willing, I feel called to plant

hearts. lenge is that the pastor is talking about

Each of the five church plants will

•

Nagercoil has an estimated

population of 210,000 and is rapidly

a section of Nagercoil, India which is

be accomplished utilizing a church

growing. A church in Nagercoil will

100% Hindu!

planting team of a lead pastor/church

provide an excellent base for devel-

planter and an assistant. It is hoped

oping a growing ministry along the

uated at the south end of India. Sunil

that the assistant will develop into a

coast.

Jagan is a quiet, humble 27-year old

church planter also. PCPC’s funding is

man with a big heart and strong, quite

for both of these men.

Nagercoil is a beautiful town sit-

•

A native of Nagercoil, God

has prepared Sunil Jagan to minister

determination. He grew up in Nager-

We are planning that each new

coil. He knows the people, has worked

church will have a PCPC prayer team

so badly shaken. He is a graduate of

hard over his life, has made sacrifices

supporting the new work and church

the Presbyterian Theological Seminary

for his family, and has been persecut-

planters.

in North India. He has secured a meet-

ed for his faith. But, he feels God’s call

The church planting team will

to these coast people whose lives were

ing place for Sundays and Wednesday

to return to his home to spread the

start with Bible studies, local contact

nights and has already started initial

Good News of the Gospel.

activities, youth events, mercy and

Bible studies and youth meetings.

educational services, etc. Contact will

•

Nagercoil will be a key

South India Church Planting

be made with local religious leaders,

location for PCPC to send short-term

Partnership

including Catholics, Muslims, Hindus,

teams. The ministry is already being

and any evangelicals that may be pres-

supported through MTW with teams

church in PCPC’s latest World 50

ent. Government contacts will also be

coming to help with medical services

Church Planting Partnership. We are

established. Each church is intended to

and tsunami-related construction. The

partnering with Presbyterian Mission

have mercy ministry components and,

goal is to witness to people using the

International (PMI) and Mission to

in time, to plant 2-3 daughter church-

means that God is providing through

the World (MTW) in a ten-year effort

es. For example, in Bangalore, the

the new homes given to them.

to plant 5 churches who will in turn

mercy ministry component is planned

plant two or three daughter churches

to include the Street Children’s work

each. The result could be 15 to 20 total

now being developed at Bangalore PC

church plants in South India.

in cooperation with MTW.

Sunil Jagan has started the first

12 • PCPC WITNESS

Why Focus on Bangalore While PCPC’s first South India church plant has begun in Nagercoil, MAY 2007

the next church plants will concentrate

will provide

on the key city of Bangalore. Banga-

an important

lore is the fastest growing high tech

synergy for

hub in India and is drawing interest

additional

from all parts of the world. World-

churches in

wide call centers are located in this

the city and

influential city of 7.5 million people.

in South

Bangalore is India’s 5 largest city and

India.

th

has become a center for professionals who impact not only the city, but all

Short-term

of India. Bangalore can become the

trips

base for a South India church planting

As with

movement. Bangalore Presbyterian

all World 50

Church has already been started and,

Projects, the

along with Paul Billy Arnold, is al-

South India

ready impacting evangelical growth in

project will

South India. Bangalore has produced

provide many

the highest number of Indian profes-

short-term

sionals in the USA. Almost 60 percent

missions opportunities. Some exam-

of Indian population abroad is from

ples:

Bangalore. Adding to its uniqueness is

•

Outreach activities – sports, music, business •

Med-

ical services and teaching • Teaching/ preaching • Retreats with church planters and families •

VBS-

type minis-

Please Pray!

We are excited to begin this first PCPC venture into the dynamic and needy country of India. Join us by praying for:

•

Sunil Jagan as he works to es-

tablish a body of believers in a Hindu community

•

Paul Billy Arnold who is over

seeing this and several strategic ministries in South India

•

The development of PCPC

short-term team strategies and initial efforts

•

How YOU will become in-

volved!

tries the fact that Bangalore was founded in

•

the 2nd Century, but still has the same

homes)

Construction (tsunami area

infrastructure drainage and sanitary systems!

Prayerfully, this project’s goal of three or four key church plants in Bangalore (along the strategic Ring road) MAY 2007

PCPC WITNESS • 13

I could never do that!

How our new Missions Director got here “Do you have any needles?” my friend asked the store clerk?

“Yes we do, right over here?” the helper replied.

“Do you have this particular kind?”

“No, I’m sorry, we have none.”

This was the fourth time we had this conversation, and we were running out of pharmacies. My friend Sheri and I were in the capital city of an Asian country, and we needed needles for her to give herself insulin shots. The needles needed to measure the insulin in a certain way in order for her to make the best calculations on the amount she would need at any given time.

Unsuccessful in our search, we met another friend and sought comfort in the familiar confines of an Outback Steakhouse! Yum! During our meal, our recent needle hunt drifted back into the conversation, and Sheri mentioned something about her diabetes. She said, “You know what really bugs me about diabetes?” My other friend I shrugged our shoulders unable to take a guess.

She said, “It is when people see me giving myself injections and they say, ‘I could never do that if I had diabetes.’” We sat there silent trying to understand how that would bug her so much, and then she continued, “The reason that statement bugs me so much is because they could do it because if they didn’t then they would die!” Silence followed again.

D

night with a cold sweat. I don’t feel I’m living in fear; but I am more aware of her words in other areas of my life.

Several months after our meal together, I volunteered to help in-country with the PCPC trip to Asia. Moments after I boarded one of the two buses filled with the youth, I received a phone call from Curt Dobbs. He was calling from America. Right there and then Curt informed me that Jerry Gibson was following a call to serve in public education, and Curt wanted to see if I would be interested in being a candidate for Jerry’s position. I held the phone and paused to take in what he just said. In the back of my mind, I said, “I could never do that.”

A couple of months passed by, and I continued to pursue the opportunity at the church. Things were looking great.

Not only was it good to find employment when coming off the field and reentering into the American culture, but also it was incredible to see how the job description truly resonated with various experiences, burdens, and skills that God has given to me. Such a scenario was so unexpected. However, even though the role looked great, I kept hearing in my mind, “I could never do that,” because the job was the biggest set of responsibilities I’ve taken on in my life. I was never aware of how this phrase was so prevalent in my life.

Obviously I felt I could do the job because I’m writing this article as PCPC’s Director of World Missions. My journey to accept the position took several steps. First, I realized that my heart

brought a certain fear into the picture, “I could never do that.” Second, I realized that the matter was more than whether I can or cannot do something; the issue was about obedience and God’s leading. Third, I trusted in the Lord through the counsel of others, through the reading of the Word, and through praying for His peace and for the Spirit’s leading.

The consequence for Sheri not to inject herself with insulin was a matter of physical death. My decision to take this job was not about physical death; rather it was about delighting in obedience and trusting the Lord.

The Bible (not just bumper stickers and bookmarks) says: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones” (Proverbs 3:5-8).

Whenever I begin to think, “I could never do that,” I am reminded that the decision is not about whether I can or cannot; rather this decision is about following a living God with whom I have been brought into a living relationship. Trusting and acknowledging God not only straightens my path, but also proves to be the direction and location where I find healing and refreshment. There is no place better to be than in the Father’s hands.

Is God placing a burden or conviction on your heart to which you answer, “I could never do that?”

—Corey Young

Ever since that night’s conversation her words have haunted me. No, I don’t wake up in the middle of the

14 • PCPC WITNESS

MAY 2007

“If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need, but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth.” 1 John 3:17 – 18 Love with Action and Truth Action demonstrates love…. Applying this principle pleases the Lord ....and is tremendously satisfying to the soul!

PCPC’s relationship with the Center of Hope is a wonderful opportunity to offer love in action to homeless women and children in our area. This PCPC Urban Ministry seeks to meet the spiritual and physical needs of residents by providing food, clothing, shelter, child care, Bible Study, daily chapel and transitional support.

The Center of Hope offers a unique discipleship program which distinguishes it from other Dallas shelters.

The five phased program is an intensive Bible centered study designed to develop a new foundation for maturity in Christ. Disciples are offered job training and life skills which help transition them towards independence.

Volunteering for this special ministry gives PCPC members a glimpse of the Holy Spirit at work in many precious lives and in many amazing ways. One example is Barbara’s story: Meet Barbara My name is Barbara. God has used the Center of Hope to reveal His perfect plan for me through His word. I was first introduced to a life of drugs and alcohol at the age of 13.

I continued on a destructive path and at 17 was in a car accident that killed everyone involved except me. At 20, I was shot 5 times and God still had his arms around me. After living a life of disobedience and poor choices, I found myself a single mother of six unable to support my family on a fast food manager’s income. I was tired, unhappy and in a very desperate situation. Although I had recovered from substance abuse, I still wasn’t living my life for Christ. I prayed a very sincere prayer, asking God to help me get MAY 2007

right with Him and to empower me to walk the straight and narrow path.

God answered my prayers, and a few days later I was lead to the Center of Hope. Through God’s word, I was forced to recognize and confront my own rebellion.

My Bible and God gave me 1 Corinthians 1:27, “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise.” His truth hit me as if I had been slapped in the face. God spoke to me, “Give up these worldly things.

Humble yourself before me, and I will take care of you.”

The same day a Christian co-worker offered me the same verse and God’s message to me was confirmed.

I believed the Lord was saying, “You say you want to get right with me and walk the path of righteousness. Here is your opportunity.”

Empowered by the Lord, I persevered through the intensive disciple program and gained peace and understanding from God’s word. Through the Center of Hope staff and volunteers, I learned how to be a Godly parent. They provided me with loving childcare for my 6 children while I worked, went to school and studied the Bible. Chaplains Linda (who went home to Jesus) and Ireney taught me how to walk in obedience. Donors to the Center of Hope funded my educational training, and now I am an employed, licensed, certified nurse’s aid. (Working hard to demonstrate my gratitude, I graduated Valedictorian of my class!) It was no coincidence that the affordable housing I applied for much earlier, materialized right after I completed the Discipleship program.

The children and I have just moved into our new home, and continue to look to God as we embark on a new chapter of our lives. Praise be to God and thank you PCPC!

You Can Make a Difference The Center needs child care helpers, children’s bible leaders, children’s art and music teachers, web masters (special projects), photographers (special projects), library assistants, meal servers, exercise leaders, support families for occasional outings or dinners for program graduates (as need arises), Christmas shoppers and / or gift wrappers. (Many positions only require once a month or on call commitments.) Their “wish list” includes some furniture (for Barbara’s home), a working lawn mower, baby furniture/accessories, potential employers for qualified program grads, digital camera/printer for summer programs, selected Christian DVDs and books, gently used treadmills, funds for playground resurfacing project and funds for educational/training programs.

For more information, and other ways you may offer “love with action” contact ministry coordinator Melody Dockery at 214-353-9838 or msdockery@sbcglobal.net.

“Nearly 500 women and children have come to faith in Jesus Christ through the ministry of UGM-Center of Hope. These new Christians are the product of the ‘love link’ between PCPC and the Union Gospel Mission. Together we are making an eternal difference in the lives of homeless people.” -William Thompson, Executive Director of Union Gospel Mission

PCPC WITNESS • 15

Providence Presbyterian Church is sent out

Hundreds of people worship God every Sunday morning at Dallas’s Franklin Middle School. Who are these people praising God in a public school auditorium and classrooms? They are people sent out by PCPC to minister to North Dallas as a new church and those who have joined them. They are the congregation of the newly particularized Providence Presbyterian Church.

Sunday evening, January 21, 2007, Providence Presbyterian Church transitioned from its status of mission church to particular church during a special service at PCPC. The Rev. David Rea, RUF Campus Minister at SMU for seven years, was installed as the pastor. He, along with ruling elders Wes Boyd, Chris Floyd, Andrew Graham, and Andy Turner, make up the session of the new church. It was an exciting evening that was the culmination of the effort of many people and the providential hand of our Lord.

It also marked the beginning of a greater journey.

The first meeting of the group that would become Providence was held one year earlier at PCPC on January 22, 2006, as a Sunday school class.

From the beginning, David Rea’s sound teaching and winsome way attracted people to the gospel—so much so that the space at Oak Lawn West couldn’t hold all the people and a wall had to be removed to enlarge the meeting space! With Alyson Averitt in place as Ministry Coordinator, ac-

tivities and opportunities for ministry were available from the start. Dinners for eight, various committees, several Bible studies, moms’ playgroups, and an annual Providence picnic were just some of the activities of the young church in its first several months.

September was a pivotal month in the life of the young church, for it was then that Providence began meeting at Franklin Middle School (next to Hillcrest High School at the intersection of Hillcrest and Meadow) for worship.

Committed members became involved in children’s Christian education, set-up crews, ushering, communion table preparation (every Lord’s Day), hospitality, and other ministries to the new, but ever growing church. Daniel Killian joined the staff as a pastoral intern focusing his efforts on the youth of the church. And Jill Smith is now the accompanist for the worship service.

pcpc MAY 2007 • Vol. XVII, No. 1 Park Cities Presbyterian Church 4124 Oak Lawn Dallas, Texas 75219 www.pcpc.org

The Lord has continued to mightily bless the congregation in its worship, fellowship, service, and ministries.

There are now over 300 people in regular attendance on Sunday mornings with about 230 adults as communing members. With these growing numbers, the session recently hired an assistant pastor, Carlton Wynne, who will join the staff at Providence this summer. Plans for finding a more permanent facility are being prayerfully considered as the church looks forward to a bright and exciting future.

It is a blessing to see once again the 2020 Vision of PCPC to plant 100 churches by the year 2020 come to life as God’s glory is being revealed and His truth is preached, expanding His Kingdom in Dallas and the world!

—Mike Dobbs

Periodical Postage Paid at Dallas, Texas