WITNESS November 1, 2007

Presbyterian Church in America

pcpc “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” ­—Revelation 5:12b

Weekend of music fit for a King 2

Vol. XVIII, No. 4 • Park Cities Presbyterian Church • NOVEMBER 2007

Share the wonder of who He is! (see page 3)

Let the children hear the mighty works of God 3 A special family for a special child’s family 4 The Triple-Decker Club: Boomer caregivers 6 Finding healing after. a marriage ends 7 Kaylee Wilson prays in Sunday School

Great truths for godly parents 8 Lao Presbyterian welcomes many

Sanctuary and Organ Dedication Weekend 9

Creative partnership in West Dallas 10 Meet our Missions Conference speaker 11 Obstacles overcome by prayer in Asia 12

ICE creates warm friendships 13 A busy summer of 2007 for missions

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Picnic at the park draws all ages

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Recital lifts hearts to the King of Kings

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Our God is “great and greatly to be praised,” says the Psalmist, and Colin Howland brought great praise and glory to God during the dedication recital of PCPC’s new Schoenstein organ on October 13. Each magnificent piece in the program displayed the organ’s extensive range of symphonic sound (equivalent to an orchestra of 76 musicians). Yet the audience heard even more clearly the gospel of Jesus Christ, which Colin explained in both gentle word and musical mastery. more on page 2

Counterclockwise from left: • Chapel Choir sings from the balcony • J. Marty Cope leads the orchestra • William Park solos in “Be Still My Soul” • The Chancel Choir sings “Thy Will Be Done” • Cellists add rich tones to “Symphony no. 1 for Organ and Orchestra, op. 42 •Robyn Webster, Carol Choir, sings “Come, Christians, Join to Sing”

Organ and Orchestra Fest Andy Kotylo, Guest Organist PCPC Choirs and Symphony Orchestra October 14

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Sharing the wonder

Any given Sunday

hundreds of volunteers

faithfully plant God’s Word in the fertile soil of the hearts of our covenant children. Scripture calls it many things: sowing, faithfulness, obedience, agape.

At PCPC, we also call it “sharing the wonders.”

Sharing the wonders happens when people filled to the brim with the love of Christ can’t help but let it spill over into the lives of those around them. It takes many shapes: rocking a baby, pushing swings on the playground, warbling through a song, strolling with a child in a wheelchair, or gathering little ones around lessons pointing them to Jesus.

It’s the embodiment of a new hymn we’ve started to sing as a congregation: “Let children hear the mighty deeds which God performed of old...

NOVEMBER 2007

which in our younger years we saw, and which our father told.

Thus shall they learn in God alone their hope securely stands, that they may ne’er forget His works, but practice His commands.”

We don’t need volunteers to drill doctrine, spout principles, or list rules. We need— and we have—gracefilled lovers of Christ sharing the wonder of who He is with the next generation of world-changers. We hope that our covenant children forever trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and His power to transform every dimension of their lives. God will decide the extent of the harvest, but we pray that it starts in Dallas and extends to the world.

—Lauren Bell Top, John Bateman tells a lively Bible story Inset, Kathy Smith rocks a sleepy infant Above, Parker Starnes reads to toddlers PCPC WITNESS • 3

C Come ome!!

God’s call to the Florer family was in His usual perfect

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As I look back over our journey of the last three years, God’s providential hand is so clear. It was certainly anything but clear in the beginning.

Back then they were just days in our life; days, we would soon realize, that would change everything.

Symptoms cause concern

Fast forward with me to April, 2005, at John Lawson’s nine-month check-up: “Shouldn’t he be sitting up by now?”

I inquired. “And I have noticed some odd rolling of the eyes,” I continued.

My pediatrician answered, “You need to see a neurologist—this week.”

And so our journey began—or at least it felt like the beginning to me. But our story had really begun long before that day. The Lord had been putting pieces in place so that we might be able to deal with the news we were about to receive. John Lawson had been the way he was since before birth, and the Lord knew it; now it was just the right time to reveal it to us.

“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew John Lawson (3), with older brother Will (6) you; before you were born I set you apart,” I read in Jeremiah 1:5.

It all began in September, 2004, not long after our second son, John One month later we sat in our Lawson, had been born on July 20. neurologist’s office looking at MRI “COME,” my friend Carrie said, to films which showed that 65% of the the Thursday Morning Bible Study. left side of John Lawson’s brain had And I did, with six-week-old John never formed due to a stroke in utero.

Lawson in tow. And then, in October, I remember walking out of the office another friend said, “COME and visit that day, looking at the cars rushing our Sunday school class and go to by on Stemmons as if the world just church with us.” We already had a hadn’t been turned upside down, and church home, but something told us thinking, “Do I really believe what I to “COME,” and so we did. The Lord guided our steps to PCPC about seven say I believe? Do I really believe it?” I absolutely knew from the beginning months before we knew how much that this would be a battle of faith we would come to need this place and versus flesh and of trust versus fear. these people.

And I heard Him say, “COME”… “I 4 • PCPC WITNESS

will guide them along paths they have not known. I will make the darkness become light for them, and the rough ground smooth” (Isaiah 42:16).

The early eye-rolling I had seen developed into full-fledged seizures which got worse over the next seven months, and by December John Lawson was scheduled for brain surgery to disconnect the left side of his brain.

“COME, join our church and become part of the PCPC family,” we heard.

We did so at the 9:30 am service on December 11, 2005. And at our 11:00 Sunday school class, the elders and leaders of the church gathered around John Lawson and our family and laid hands on our baby and prayed over him. “COME”… “Is any one of you sick?

He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with the oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up” (James 5:14-15).

Early the next morning John Lawson was wheeled down the hallway (in his official Children’s Medical Center light orange pajamas with dancing dogs holding balloons) for a seven-hour brain surgery. In that waiting room sat our family, five women from the Thursday Morning Bible Study, Elder David Gowdey and his wife, Mary Margaret, and our Young Families Pastor, Bill Lamberth. I had known none of these people when John Lawson was born!

“COME,” He had said to me that morning, “I will provide you with who and what you need.” The earlier invitations to “COME” suddenly made sense; He had provided a family that we had not had before—His family—the hands and feet of Christ.

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Trusting Him for the future

I thought of the verse from John Lawson’s birth announcement, chosen It has now been almost two years since at an easier time that suddenly seemed that brain surgery. God has been faithso long ago: “He tends His flock like a ful as we move forward day by day shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His in our journey. There have been ups arms and carries them close to His heart; and downs along the way, but John He gently leads those that have young” Lawson continues to make progress (Isaiah 40:11). according to the Lord’s will and tim“COME...“ and I will gather you, ing. He began walking in July of this carry you and lead you through year, about three weeks before his this thing that you canthird birthday. He is not get through on your starting to say some “Funny how much own. COME to the end words, most imporof yourself, the end of tantly “mama” and it takes to teach your control, and the end “papa”! He loves us that we cannot of your resources, and I his brother and his sustain ourselves; it will be there.” For as He school, and he has a promised, “I am He, I am He smile that will light has been a lesson who will sustain you. I have up any room. But well learned.” made you and I will carry I must remember you; I will sustain you and I that it is not the will rescue you” (Isaiah 45:4). outcome that we trust Funny how much it takes to teach us in….he will do what he was made to that we cannot sustain ourselves; it do through the power of the One who has been a lesson well learned. made him. We trust instead in the

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O HOLY SPIRIT,

Give

Suffer Come

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By the Lord’s mercy and grace, we are all invited to COME. We have found through this experience with our son, an experience that we never would have chosen had we been given a vote, that there is no better place to be than resting in Him. “COME”, He says, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your soul. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30) May it ever be so. Amen.

—Gini Florer Ed. note: Gini and her husband, John, are expecting their third boy in December.

Spirit us us Spirit us Sanct Sanct us

s the sun is full of light,

the ocean full of water,

Heaven full of glory, so may my heart be full of Thee. are all divine purposes of love

and the redemption wrought by Jesus except Thou work within, regenerating by Thy power, giving me eyes to see Jesus, showing me the realities of the unseen world. me Thyself without measure,

as an unimpaired fountain,

as inexhaustible riches.

I bewail my coldness, poverty, emptiness,

imperfect vision, languid service,

prayerless prayers, praiseless praises. me not to grieve or resist Thee. as power,

to expel every rebel lust,

to reign supreme and keep me Thine;

Vain

One, and that is enough. “COME”…

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:10-12).

Come

as teacher,

leading me into all truth,

filling me with all understanding; as love,

that I may adore the Father,

and love Him as my all; as joy,

to dwell in me, move in me, animate me; as light,

illuminating the scripture, moulding me in its laws; as sanctifier,

body, soul and spirit wholly Thine; as helper,

with strength to bless and keep,

directing my every step; as beautifier,

bringing order out of confusion,

loveliness out of chaos. to me Thy glory by being magnified in me,

and make me redolent of Thy fragrance.

Come Come Come Come Come Come

Magnify

A Puritan Prayer from The Valley of Vision PCPC WITNESS • • 5 5 PCPC WITNESS

Welcome to the Sandwich Generation

the demanding role of caregiver

“sandwich generation”

midlife tug of war. “ Here are some quotes from the article:

a generation of people who are caring for their aging

You’re rushing to drop the kids at school, bumbling with coats and lunch boxes, when you get the call.

Mom’s had a fall, and she’s in the ER. Your dad is panicked and asking you to come home, now. But “home” is 1,200 miles away, and the lastminute flight, plus the home health aide you’ll have to hire, will set you back $1,500 at least. And, oh yeah, you’re scheduled to give a major presentation to your biggest client this afternoon. You’re worried about your mom, your dad, your kids, your boss and how in the world you’re going to pay for it all.

Function: noun:

parents while supporting their own children.

Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary It’s been a quiet, steady endeavor, but over the last two years PCPC has been sponsoring a caregiver support group for members and anyone else who might have this need. Led by PCPC pastor Ron Williams, we have had monthly lunch meetings for sharing, informing, praying, encouraging, and loving one another. And e-mail has provided a timely and effective conduit for knowing and caring for one another’s needs. We provide the place and opportunity; those who come just pray for one another, love one another, and network with one another. It’s been amazing to watch.

The arrival of the baby boomer generation to senior adult status is beginning to present staggering numbers of adult children needing to care for them. We have discovered, however, that many potential caregivers seem to be in denial or have a “this-won’t-happen-tome” attitude. People are not preparing for the inevitable.

One of the youngest and most active participants in our group has been Julie Miller. Julie has been helping her mom, Nan Bachman, care for her dad, Stewart, whose health has been a bit like a roller coaster this past year and a half. Says Julie, “I was thinking about the baby boomers—the demographics that are so afraid of anything with the 60+ stigma attached—yet that group could so benefit from your seminars and the support of other caregivers.”

In its February, 2007, issue, Money Magazine focused on the issue in “Sandwich Generation: Survive the 6 • PCPC WITNESS

Welcome, boomer. You’re not just part of the sandwich generation —you’re part of a triple-decker club with all the trimmings.

Here are some facts and figures from that article: For the aging workforce, eldercare is replacing childcare as the #1 concern.

• 12% take leaves of absence • 36% miss workdays • 40% rearrange their work schedule

reported that the average woman spends 17 years raising children and 18 years helping aging parents. That latter number will only increase.

PCPC would like to be a help to those of you who are already experiencing these issues and those who will soon be doing so. Over the last two years the 60+ Community has been offering seminars called “Aging with Grace,” to inform, educate, and encourage you all. We have covered topics such as end of life issues, senior housing, Medicare/Medicaid, Alzheimer’s, hospice care, and generational understanding. What would be beneficial to your family and prepare you for this season of life? Let us know. We are here to serve you. Please contact me at 214-224-2771 or jane.beasley@pcpc. org. We would be delighted to get to know you and have the privilege of praying for your needs.

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing” (I Thessalonians 5:11).

More than 25% of American families are involved Caregivers (seated l to r): Lilly Rittelmeyer, with elder/ Sonya Battle and Barbara Farrell parent care.

Standing: Pam Dunn and Marilyn Jayroe In 25 years, there will be 60 million Americans between the ages of 66 and 84, many of them needing fullor part-time care.

In 1990, Newsweek

—Jane Beasley

Left, Nan Bachman and daughter Julie Miller

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DIVORCE

Divorce is one thing no one starts life wanting to experience.

Unfortunately, relational strife is a part of our culture that has found its way into the church and affects almost everyone in some way. More times than anyone wants, it leads to separation or divorce. Some suggest that problems in a marriage start generally six years before either member tries to find help for the relationship. During that time between the start of friction and the time that separation or divorce happens, much damage occurs not just to the relationship, but to the individuals near it.

PCPC has started a ministry to those hurting from experiencing a separation or divorce. It doesn’t matter who is to blame in a marriage breakup; many are wounded and God wants to heal all of them and draw them closer to Himself.

This ministry is open not only to members and attendees of PCPC, but to anyone in the community who wants a safe, confidential place to begin healing. The content of the curriculum is clearly Christ-centered, but the current group consists of folks from several different walks of life and religious backgrounds. All are welcome.

The PCPC DivorceCare support group is designed to provide help, healing, and hope to those who come. Each of the thirteen weeks focuses on healing a different part of us

so we may become whole as God designed. Topics include anger, depres® sion, loneliness, new relationships, financial issues, care of children, singles’ sexuality, forgiveness, reconciliation, moving on, and growing closer to God. Investing time to heal and to establish a closer relationship with God is central to this program. DivorceCare offers the opportunity to face the realities of this devastating experience, take them to the Lord, and let Him redeem them.

If you or anyone you know is facing separation or divorce, please come or invite them to DivorceCare on Wednesdays during MIDWEEK, Oak Lawn West, 7:00-9:00 pm.

New people are welcome anytime during the series except for November 14, when the topic requires understanding from previous weeks.

DivorceCare facilitators are Brenda and Bill Bogart, David Franklin, Barbara Kidd, and Patty and Jim Moody. Each of them has gone through the agony of divorce, and each is committed to walking with those who now face this situation. If you have questions or want more information, please feel free to contact me, 214-224-2742 or barbara. kidd@pcpc.org.

—Barbara Kidd

Helping children heal from the hurt of divorce

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DivorceCare for Kids (DC4K) is a special group to help children heal from the hurt caused by the separation or divorce of their parents. At our weekly DC4K group, kids make friends with other kids who understand how they

feel and the things they are going through because of the divorce of their parents. The Christ-centered community is a safe, fun place where your children will learn to understand their feelings, express their emotions appropriately, feel better about themselves, and develop coping skills through the power of God’s Word.

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DC4K will begin in January, and children ages 5-12 are invited to join the 13-week program at any point in the semester. The ministry is open to church members as well as to members of the community. A parent does not need to be a part of DivorceCare for children to attend DC4K, but the weekly themes for each group do correlate. Amanda Owens and I are the leaders.

The cost is $15, and scholarships are available. Please contact me, 214-224-2683 or counseling@pcpc.org, for more information or if you are interested in becoming a DC4K leader.

—Caty Coffey PCPC PCPCWITNESS WITNESS •• 77

A Parenting Conference cosponsored by PCPC and Providence Presbyterian Church September 15-16

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Six years ago, I was a parent struggling to mold my children, then ages three and five, into puppets of my liking. Perhaps my need for them to be “perfect” was due in part to having recently moved to Dallas and desiring to make a strong first impression. About the same time, though, I began to read a book, Shepherding a Child’s Heart, by Dr. Tedd Tripp. I quickly learned that my behavioral, moralistic approach to parenting was not biblical, nor would it produce the character I desired in my children.

What a gift to have a weekend here in Dallas to sit with 600 other hungry parents from PCPC and sister churches to hear from brothers Tedd and Paul Tripp! They taught powerful and biblical principles that help us understand how to move toward an ultimate parenting goal: pointing our children to Christ. Woven throughout the seven conference sessions was the truth from James 4 that behavior is heart-driven.

We parents also learned that it is not enough simply to expose the idols of our children’s hearts which shape their behaviors. We must be willing to look honestly at the idols of our own hearts as well. Idols such as comfort, appreciation, and control are not easy for me to admit. However, with wit, wisdom, humility, and compassion, the Tripps showed us how to seize the countless opportunities to deepen communication, learn, and grow with our children!

Reflecting back on the conference weekend, perhaps what impacted me most were the reminders that our salvation is of the Lord; and that He calls us and uses us to be His instruments of love and grace with our children. When I take time to peel back the layers and

address what is the root cause of my children’s behavior, I genuinely and humbly point them to the foot of the cross and assure them of our hope in Jesus. By gently guiding them to understand their true condition before a holy God, eternal seeds of truth are planted and the Holy Spirit is invited to do its mighty, transformational, heart-changing job. I can’t think of a better way to say, “I love you.”

—Cheryl Joyner

Above, Paul Tripp explains the need to change hearts as well as behavior.

Below, even grandparents came, like Margaret Kunkel (with granddaughter Chandler) Right, the crowd drinks in the rich teaching.

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A Quick Update: The Southwest Church Planting Network

Only Jesus

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he Southwest Network, which is PCPC’s vehicle for planting new churches and initially funding new RUFs in the Southwest, held its semi-annual meeting at PCPC on September 10 and 11. Representatives came from 50 participating churches in the Southwest region, which consists of four presbyteries in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Arizona. The featured speaker was Rev. Frank Barker, founding pastor of Briarwood Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, AL. His wife, Barbara, met with the wives of our PCPC pastors at the meeting.

The Network now consists of 59 participating PCA churches in the Southwest that collectively fund our church plants and assist in the initial funding of new RUF campus ministries. Since its inception, the Network has played a significant role in starting 36 new PCA churches and has provided funding to eight new RUFs. These churches, coupled with the three churches planted by PCPC before the Network’s inception, puts us well towared meeting PCPC’s goal of planting 50 new churches in the U.S. by the year 2020. It appears that the goal may be too low, even though it loomed awfully big back in 1996 when it was set!

The Southwest Network will be celebrating its tenth anniversary in February 2008, starting with a special worship service on February 17. Ruling Elder Jim Chenoweth is PCPC’s voting representative.

—Brad Bradley Ruling Elder and Executive Director

NOVEMBER 2007

Lao Presbyterian Fellowship unites in Christ

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God continues to work His great purposes through the ministry of PCPC’s Lao Presbyterian Fellowship. On Sunday, August 12, all of the LPF members gathered at Sandy Lake Park for a summer picnic.

Over 50 adults and youth and about 60 children attended. Everyone had a great time singing together and fellowshipping with one another. I knew that God had a special reason for us to gather for this picnic; many new people joined our outing that afternoon!

Top, the LPF group turned out in full strength for the picnic.

Above, singing was a highlight for the group’s fellowship together.

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For our outreach to Lao and Thai people living in Dallas For our Sunday School and worship services

This event was a reflection of the great work the Lord is doing in and through LPF. This year we have Myanmar (Burmese), Lao, Thai, and Cambodian people worshiping with us. We can really see how much God is working in each of our lives and through our ministry. Each Sunday we have about 35-40 people worshiping with us.

All of us at PCPC are God’s children.

We worship the same God and have the same Holy Spirit to guide us. We all believe that no other gods can save us, but only through the name of Jesus Christ can we be saved and forgiven of our sins.

All of us in LPF would like to ask you all to please pray for our ministry, especially for the following requests: • For our membership to be strengthened in the Lord Jesus Christ

Thank you for praying for our ministry and for the support and encouragement you all give us! May God bless you!

—King Sribounheuang Pastor of Lao Presbyterian Fellowship PCPC WITNESS • 9

Urban Ministries

Mercy Street’s Shared Mission

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Mercy Street’s mission is “to glorify God by educating, equipping, and empowering a new generation of leaders by engaging in Christ-honoring, mutually transforming relationships with those who will bring about a positive, permanent change to West Dallas.” I know that is a mouthful, but let’s consider some key points.

First, our work is primarily directed toward children. We are a “regenerational” ministry, hoping to break the poverty cycle by capturing the hearts and minds of the children before they buy into the lies the community and the culture perpetrate. This is not a short-term fix, but a long-term strategy. Change always takes time.

Second, this work is relational. We are called to love our neighbor as ourselves, which implies entering into relationship. God’s intention has always been for those who are blessed with resources to come alongside those who lack them. And because God’s economy is perfect, when we faithfully obey, there is mutual benefit to these loving relationships.

Third, Jesus taught His disciples to pray, “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Christians are God’s ambassadors to the world, called to make Jesus’ sovereign reign known by entering into the dark places of the world, places where suffering exists, and shining the light and hope of Christ there.

When we do this, real and lasting transformation is made possible.

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The primary way we shine the light of Christ in West Dallas is though mentoring relationships with Above, Pinkston footbal players love the food PCPC members bring. kids, and the Below, Bubba (front) and his friend particularly like “his” (Bubba’s) fried first group of chicken that comes every home game. students we started mentoring four years ago is now at L.G.  Prayer partners for every mentor/ Pinkston High School. We are eager student relationship. Our hope is to see how they do compared to the that the prayer partner will regugeneral population, where 65% of the larly pray for God to do a work in students will drop out. Lord willing, both the mentor and child. we will see a difference in our kids.  Christian coaches to provide a fun, Creative ambassadors for Christ safe, structured environment to furThere are many ways you can serve ther instill God’s truth and hope in with us. A group of men from the our sports programs. We currently Shepherds of Souls Sunday school play soccer and baseball. class took the initiative to serve West Dallas kids in a fun and creative way  Bible Club helpers for each of the that actively demonstrates the love of age groups we work with—elemenChrist. It started with a simple questary, middle school, and high school. tion to the Pinkston football coach: “What do you do for a pregame  Mentoring event helpers to setup, meal?” Hearing that he paid out of his serve food, keep order, and clean up pocket to have food prepared, they for our monthly event for our menasked if they could help. Now, every tors and students—a great way for Friday afternoon these men come to a Sunday school class or Bible study serve the team a meal. They are beginto serve together. ning to develop relationships with the coaches and the team. From that, a  Partner school helpers to make group of women offered to serve the teachers and staff feel loved and cheerleaders. From a simple question appreciated. We host luncheons came the means for people to engage for them, make gift bags for teachin relationships they would not have ers near TAKS testing time, and do had otherwise. And from that, Lord school beautification projects. willing, mutual transformation will —Trey Hill occur. It is God’s economy at work.

There are a lot of opportunities to serve I am grateful for the many members the Lord in West Dallas. To find out of PCPC who faithfully serves our more about Mercy Street, West Dallas ministry. We cannot do what we are Community School, and Voice of Hope, called to do without the body of Christ contact Christina Spruill at PCPC Urban coming alongside us. Here are a few Ministries, christina.spruill@pcpc.org or other roles you can fill at Mercy Street: 214-224-2520.

NOVEMBER 2007

Intentional Influence

A devotional by our World Missions Conference speaker, Dr. Ramesh Richard

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I am categorized as a baby boomer

by American demographics, born between 1946 and 1964. A provocative issue among peers is a profound one: “What will I leave behind?” They have built businesses, written books, and raised families, and yet they face the gnawing, and somewhat annoying question of personal legacy.

How can we leave a heritage, not just an inheritance?

My siblings know that our dad is not leaving his kids an inheritance—he and my mom live modestly but will leave a rich heritage of deep confidence in the Lord, long-term integrity, and a sacrificial orientation to ministry.

The apostle Paul likewise did not have many

Dr. Ramesh Richard

earthly goods or leave much of a material inheritance. Yet his personal legacy was in multitudes of lives changed for the Lord Jesus throughout history. For example, he affirms the Corinthians, “You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody.

You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts” (2 Cor. 3:2,3). Changed lives were his earthly legacy.

Recently I had 24 of the finest young pastors from 24 countries in Dallas for three weeks attending our Global Proclamation Academy. At significant cost to them, to RREACH, and to me, they learned much and are making lifelong connections.

This class will change

In 1987, six businessmen in Dallas came together to form RREACH in order to undergird Ramesh’s international ministry.

RREACH is an acronym for Ramesh Richard Evangelism and Church Health.

A global proclamation ministry, the vision of RREACH is to change the way one billion individuals think about and hear the Lord Jesus Christ. Its mission is to implement God’s calling and gifting of Ramesh Richard to promote the Lord Jesus Christ worldwide with a strategic burden for evangelizing opinion leaders and strengthening pastoral leaders, especially those of Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

As founder and president of RREACH, God has extended Ramesh’s itinerant proclamation ministry and expanded the scope of RREACH’s ministry to include major media outreaches and pastoral training seminars worldwide.

Dr. Richard travels throughout the world, clarifying the message of the Bible through lectures and materials.

His audiences range from pre-Christian opinion leaders in world capitals to poor pastors in remote venues,

Watching his father leave a lucrative airline career for the ministry, Ramesh Richard knew as a boy that Christian ministry would become his vocation. While still a teen, Ramesh started publicly presenting news about the Lord Jesus Christ in the crowded open markets of South India.

NOVEMBER 2007

coming January 26-29

INSIDEOUT PCPC World Missions Conference the future of Christianity in countries like Peru and Poland, Syria and Sri Lanka, Jordan and Jamaica, China and Costa Rica. The Spirit of the Living God has written on the tablets of their human hearts. Their changed lives are the result of our ministry, our earthly legacy.

Leaving an inheritance costs as much as leaving a heritage. Both come with a price. Since I have to choose, I intentionally opt for and act on the latter.

To those who stand with me, thanks for fostering your legacy by enabling mine in changing lives for Christ worldwide. With this humble reminder, I invite you to choose your intentional influence (that’s my definition of leadership) on people for Christ as your earthly legacy. It actually affects their eternity.

from private gatherings of a few to throngs of a hundred thousand.

He has spoken to crowds of men in stadiums across the United States about their spiritual responsibilities.

The Lord has given him the opportunity to train thousands of church leaders in more than 75 countries to preach, live, and think biblically.

Dr. Richard serves as a professor at Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS).

DTS has strategically accommodated his academic interests and global initiatives. He teaches courses specializing in expository preaching, the spiritual life, and worldview apologetics. He holds a Doctor of Theology from DTS and a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Delhi.

Ramesh and his wife, Bonnie, have three children, Ryan, Robby, and Sitara, and live in a suburb of Dallas.

PCPC WITNESS • 11

High School ICE Ministry

Hurdling the language barrier with prayer

A student’s view of the trip

At the first meeting designed to prepare us for our East Asia trip, the Lord quickly taught me that this trip was not going to meet my expectations, and that I was going to have to trust Him greatly. I was so excited that I had the opportunity to go halfway around the world to make new friends in another culture, yet there were so many unknowns. I was overwhelmed stepping off the plane and being a minority in a crowd.

It was all a great experience, though! Sure, it was really hot, and there were times when it was hard to keep serving them. But seeing the joy on the kids’ faces and their love for us and having incredible conversations with some of them made everything so worth it!

The greatest thing I learned was a simple truth: there is power in prayer. Our leaders encouraged us before, during, and after the trip to pray, which resulted in the opening of kids’ hearts to the gospel, unity in our team, strength to keep serving with joy, and most importantly, worship and glory to God. Prayer also had a way of humbling me. I was able to share the gospel (along with another team member) with a little boy in my classroom.

Although he was interested in what we were saying, he was unresponsive to the message. My team and I gained such a peace as we prayed afterwards when we admitted that the Lord was in control of the boy’s heart and His will would be done. Many times on the trip I had to place unknowns in the Lord’s hands and trust that His plan is perfect, and that stretched and grew me in ways I have never known before.

—Mary Grace Jarrett

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This summer in East Asia, for the first time in my life, I was confronted with the reality that there are millions of people with real hearts, lives, smiles, stories, and eternities who have never heard the gospel of Jesus Christ.

As our group of high school students and adult leaders traveled to East Asia to teach English to middle school

and high school students, we were indescribably blessed to meet just a few of these millions—students and teachers, and now friends—who had never before heard the gospel of Jesus Christ. In the midst of teaching English, learning Tai Chi, visiting a Buddhist temple and the Panda Park, and staying in their homes, strangers across the ocean became friends. We saw their smiles and pieces of their lives, knew their hearts, heard their stories, and, by God’s grace, impacted their eternities.

Each morning we taught English language basics to students aged 11-17. It was difficult. How were we to share the gospel with these precious kids when it was almost impossible to communicate? But we were reminded day in and day out that our powerful God is infinitely bigger than a language barrier! And by His grace, we were able to proclaim the gospel to many of these students and teachers through word and deed, as we both taught and loved them.

Some of these precious friends indeed called out to Him and were saved! Our God is so good.

The question resonating in my heart and mind as I returned home was simply this, “How will I respond to all I have seen and heard?” If I know one thing, it is that I simply cannot be the same.

I also know that the Lord is calling me and all of us to respond with urgency and zeal in our lives here in Dallas.

All around us every day are real people, most of whom we know and love, with real hearts and lives and smiles and stories and eternities, who have not yet called upon the name of the Lord. It is my prayer that we will not waste a moment of our lives back here in Dallas, but rather live each moment to know our Savior and make Him known!

—Caroline Lamberth

Internation

NOVEMBER 2007

High School ICE Ministry

Illustrating the gospel by living it

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Last year our family encountered ICE Dallas for the first time. A friend invited our daughter Rebecca to help with English Camp. She fell in love with the East Asian students and suggested that we host some students the following year. That sounded like a great way to be involved in missions without ever having to leave town!

What a great experience it was for our entire family. This year our son Jacob volunteered at English Camp while we hosted two very sweet East Asian girls.

Our family took two very important things away from our experience. First, it is amazing how little these kids know about Jesus; they know only what the government allows them to know. Also, in their homeland, it is against the law to talk to people about Jesus; He is against the law! We even had to be careful what we said so as not to endanger anyone we know doing ministry there. It helped us realize what we have and the freedom to worship we take for granted.

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Top left, PCPC summer interns Lawson Hopkins and Rachel Meek ice skate with visiting student ”Skywalker.”

Above, David, Leslie, and John David Newman with their guests at the Mesquite Rodeo

Second, we learned so much about how to show the love of Jesus with these students in spite of communication difficulties. It was hard to give the gospel message verbally in a way they understood. Certain words like “saved” and “sin” are very hard to explain or illustrate! Needless to say, it left us pondering how not just they, but anyone else really see Jesus in us on an everyday basis. How can we model the gospel? It has to boil down to what Jesus told his disciples in John 15:17: “This is my command: Love each other.”

—Arvin, Sabrina, Rebecca, and Jacob Combs

Cultural Exchange

NOVEMBER 2007 2007 NOVEMBER

PCPCWITNESS WITNESS •• 13 13 PCPC

AMAZON OUTREACH

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e’ve just returned from our

second trip to the Amazon. Because of God’s calling and generous support of six PCPC members, our team of 20 Americans were the hands and feet of Christ. Last year’s trip, my first, was a great adventure. It was like an out-of-body experience—almost too much to absorb. However, this year we returned to some of the same villages, and I recognized faces of children and adults, making this a very real experience.

Our first day in Cucuiari, a young lady embraced me with a heartfelt hug as we finished VBS for the day. We sang songs, played with the children, acted out Bible stories, and made crafts such as “I love Jesus” necklaces and paper crosses with a prayer to Jesus in Portuguese.

broke or dislocated toes, and the surgeon was able to keep everyone mobile for the entire trip.

Steve Hufstetler of PCPC helped out with vision testing, where the patients read scripture to determine their prescriptions and doors are opened for sharing the gospel.

—Charlotte Medley

THAO JOURNEY 2007

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e began our mission trip with

the PCPC team to Laos and Thailand (supporting the Thao Project, one of PCPC’s World 50 church planting partnerships) with some apprehension, having never before gone on such a venture. At our age, it was difficult to see how the Lord would use us in the advancing of His Kingdom on the far side of the world. In hindsight, we should have known that He would be with us and is ever faithful to His promise to spread His Kingdom to every tribe, tongue, and nation. We returned greatly blessed to have been able to participate in the spread of the gospel and the joy of fellowshipping with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Mission to Laos Communist Laos was our first stop. Teaching The Amazon medical team treats a little patient.

English in Laos was a Dr. Cal Ramage put out the call for a special blessing. We got to know the team of medical professionals, knowLaotian Christians we were helping, ing the Lord would put together hear their testimonies, and see firstthe group as He saw fit. But Cal did hand how special the church family is wonder why he ended up with three to a body of believers who are essendentists! That might be one too many. tially outcasts by both the Communist A day trip to a New Tribes Mission government and their families (mostly school quickly revealed the Lord’s Buddhists). It reminded us of how it plan. No one there had been to a must have been in the early church, dentist in two to four years. All three with persecution by both the Romans dentists worked over 12 hours, past and the families of Jewish believers.

1:00 am, to meet the dental needs of Their sense of purpose and unity are a the staff and students. model for American churches!

Cal also wondered what the Lord had in mind when an orthopedic surgeon joined the team, but he was greatly useful when three team members NOVEMBER 2007

Mission to Thailand What a sweet fellowship we had with our Thai brethren in Nong Khai, even with another busy schedule. Pastor

Sumran, his wife Kanika, and their team were so hospitable and appreciative of our coming to their country.

The Gennesaret Church (cornerstone church of the Thao Project) is a beautiful structure, but what is more important is the true worship and praise of God we shared on Sunday morning.

It was a privilege and blessing to give our testimonies to these fellow believers. It was also a joy to meet the Compassion International kids (Gennesaret ministers to about 150) and work with their leaders, and we had a great time at a field day with 100 children.

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We believe we were called to this mission, but aren’t we all called to spread the gospel in every area of our lives?

The God we serve loves to bless even His unworthy servants for simply doing what they have been commanded to do. The Thai and Laotian people are part of the plentiful harvest about which Christ spoke. Will you consider joining other PCPC laborers to gather the harvest that Christ has promised is waiting?

—Ron and Sharon Baxter

UKRAINE SEMINAR

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kraine stands at a crossroads,

wondering what the future holds for her as a nation. She is poised between East and West, future and past, freedom and oppression, PCPC WITNESS • 14

to this young man and felt that God had a special purpose for him and his time there at the conference. We struck up a conversation easily—Taras in his slow, deliberate English and I in my best cross-culturally cautious American began to talk about everything under the sun.

The Thao team and friends in Nong Kai

communism and the free market.

Even her capital city, Kiev, is divided by the Dnieper River, as if to say, “I am characterized by contrast, by dividing lines, by left and right.” And her spiritual life is no less filled with disparity.

first mission trip, fulfillment of a lifetime dream. We had bonded quickly as a team, and everyone was pulling his or her own weight. It wasn’t work; it was fun, and fun with an eternal purpose.

On arrival our immediate goal was to lead a marriage seminar. When we arrived at the sanatorium we began to meet with the families who had come to the retreat. I was particularly drawn to several people and found that we had much in common, particularly Victor, a Ukrainian army officer. He and I enjoyed an instant bond due to our military backgrounds, though we came from very different backgrounds and perspectives.

That first afternoon Taras wanted to go swimming, so off we went to the nearby river. We talked about his swimming competitively since he was four years old, his goals for school, and his interests in movies. Eventually the conversation turned to spiritual things, and we came to the question, “Have you ever considered the claims of Jesus Christ?” This one question spurred us on to a discussion of the existence of God, the cause-and-effects seen in nature, intelligent design, and C.S. Lewis’s trilemma: was Jesus liar, lunatic, or Lord?

We picked up that conversation again several times that week. What a privilege and joy to walk beside someone searching for the truth, eager to discuss the deepest and most important issues of life!

term trips Long-term rewards In the home of the Russian Orthodox Church, it is not surprising that 65 percent of Ukrainians belong to one of the Ukrainian Orthodox Patriarchates.

Still another 19 percent belong to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.

Yet, although 70 percent of Ukrainians consider themselves religious, only 40 percent actually belong to denominations; the rest are undecided. And the people, caught in transition from Soviet to modern times, are now faced with many new ideas and choices.

Among these new ideas is that of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ—perhaps the most foreign concept of all.

In July of 2007, six of us flew to Kiev, the capital of Ukraine. This was my NOVEMBER 2007

Everyone also fell in love with Dmitri and Tanya, who, though in their early 20s, had been married more than four years. They had experienced the cultural pressures of living with in-laws and the economic realities of their emerging former Soviet republic.

Before the conference was over, we were asked to return next year; I was ready to return the next week!

I will always treasure the friendships that I found there, the commonality with total strangers, and the love of Christ that bonded us as believers. But most of all, I treasure the opportunity to walk with people like Taras and be used of God to share Christ and His Word with them.

—Mark Casey

Then there was young Taras, a 16- year-old triathlon champion who had come with his parents. I was instantly drawn Thai ladies at Gennesaret Church

PCPC WITNESS • 15

One of two giant bounce houses

great desserts in the shade

Tim Tinsley models authentic manhood

All-Church PICNIC

J.J. and Jackson Pennington

Sunday, September 30 Curtis Park Bounce houses, games, kickball, watermelon, fun for all!

Deacon helpers Richard Berry, Tom McWhorter, Phil Cruz, Brenton Lake, Mark Harrison, Lloyd Denman

pcpc NOV 2007 • Vol. XVIII, No. 4 Park Cities Presbyterian Church 4124 Oak Lawn Dallas, Texas 75219 www.pcpc.org

John Vandercook and his daughter Emma

Periodical Postage Paid at Dallas, Texas