Director's Message

Welcome to the Park Center

Dear friends, participants, constituents of the Fran Park Center,

As we review a year of remarkable programming, learning experiences, and excited vision casting, I remember the passion of our namesake, the late Rev. Fran Park. The high point of Fran’s ministry was several years as Pastor of Faith Presbyterian Church in Sun City, Arizona. Aware of the lack of strong theological education and pastoral training in the Southwest, he established a direct church-seminary link for training in ministry for the unique setting of his senior adults community. During his nine years on the staff at Pinnacle, he brought the same passion--but with an even larger vision. Not just the church, but the whole community is stronger through education, he insisted. And this our gift, and our call, in mission. Pinnacle is the place, and now is the time, he would insist. And so now, these several years later, we work earnestly to fulfill that vision—shaped for the new time we’re living in.

This past year we’ve made significant progress in strengthening our four pillars of programming, even as we’ve put new stakes in the ground for an overarching vision. You’ll see account of this in these pages. I remain amazed at how much is accomplished by a small group of people. Kelly McGinn’s work is without peer. Mike Hegeman and Allen Hilton continue to provide extraordinary teaching and challenge to us, even though both are part-time with the Center. And our volunteer pool, including so many, add value every day. Tech support comes from in-house staff like Dan Chaney and outside consultants, marketing and graphic support from Shirley Norris, and the whole Pinnacle staff helps assure success. And what we envisioned begins to become reality, by Grace, as people from around the Valley participate in our programs. New folks join Pinnacle Presbyterian because of their contact with Park Center programming. Our reputation spreads nationally as we are contacted by others to learn about the Center, the number of churches involved goes up, and appreciation grows.

The challenges are not little, but the opportunity remains great. As we move into 2020, our priorities shift to concentrate on sustaining the program longterm (financially, administratively, technologically), enhancing our online and production capabilities, developing a strong youth-oriented aspect of our work, expanding our base through marketing, and developing the leadership training aspect of our work.

Please take time in this report, share your own thoughts, assist where you can, learn with us, tell others, and watch with us as the Park vision grows.

With gratitude,