Sagemont Baptist Church11300 S. Sam Houston Pkwy E.

Houston, TX 77089

Also visitwww.sagemontchurch.org

Or call us at281.481.8770

M-F 8:00 am - 4:30 pm

Periodical Postage

PAID

Houston, TX

September 2013Vol. 35, No. 9

www.facebook.com/SagemontChurch

He must INCREASE,

but i must

decrease.

John 3:30

All-NEW Wednesday Night for ChildrenBEGINS SEPTEMBER 11

6:00 - 7:30 pm

Pre-K (4’s and 5’s) Our preschoolers will enjoy learning scripture through Cubbies and having fun in Music and Movement each week.

Kindergarten - 4th Grade Our grade school children will have three separate opportunities each week including Bible curriculum and fun-filled electives.

5th & 6th Grade - All-New Preteen MinistryOur preteen students will have a place that is designed just for them to hang out and CONNECT through Bible Study, Worship, Fellowship, and Games. Our goal is for them to come and to bring their friends to MiDWAY MiX each Wednesday night.

Inside This Issue:

Taking the Gospel (and Music) to Kenya and Tanzania

AWANA Citation Award Winner

Leading Worship in SpanishDirigiendo la Alabanza en Español

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from our pastor...

September 8 • 6:00 - 8:15 pmSeptember 9-10 • 7:00 - 9:15 pm

WC 1113

Taught by Senior Pastor John Morgan

Register online (no charge)

F INANCIAL FREEDOM SEMINAR

Childcare provided for children birth through sixth grade. Contact Tracy Cox at 281.481.8770, ext. 2632 or at tracy.cox@sagemontchurch.org for childcare reservations.

God is always looking for people to bless if they are willing to allow the received blessing from God to flow through them to others.

“Freely you have received, freely give.” Matthew 10:8

I pray you have been the recipient of multiple blessings this summer and that you will look for ways to serve and bless others as we move forward into the challenges and opportunities of the fall. Read every page of Sagemont life and see who and what the Lord is blessing.

Your Pastor,

Citation Award Winner2013Seth Pratt

You’re not at Sagemont Church long before you begin to see families with the desire to strengthen their relationship with God and with each other. AWANA is the program

that has ministered to them as well as made quite an impact on millions of children over the past 60 years. More than two million children from ages 2-18 participate in AWANA worldwide. More than 1.1 million children of that number participate in 102 countries outside the United States. As our AWANA year ended in May, Sagemont’s Senior Pastor, Dr. John Morgan, personally presented a prestigious award to one of our high school students who spent the last 10 years committing to memory 836 Bible verses! Our pastor shared with the parent-filled audience that one of the greatest things Christians can do is to “hide God’s words in their hearts”! “I didn’t know I was going to get the Citation Award from Bro. John himself! I thought that was really cool! I got to even shake

his hand!” Seth Pratt, 18, recalled that special night, “As I was going off stage, Bro. John said to me, ‘Seth, God is going to use you for some really great things throughout your life.’ His words were really meaningful to me!” Seth’s mom, Becky, shared her thoughts about his receiving the Citation Award, “There is pride in seeing your son walk across that stage and get recognized, but the pride comes in day by day just seeing how he lives out his faith”. She went on to say, “There’s so many activities you can get your kids involved in like football, Boy Scouts and piano...but what they are going to use all their lives is God’s Word! They need that as a tool in their lives as they face life’s battles.” Seth’s dad, Ron, added, “We know how much work Seth put into getting this award. The Citation Award is a great thing, but it’s just a representation of what he learned. What I am most proud of is the amount of time and dedication he put in to doing that.”

by Mikelle Challenger

3 4

Seth began his journey in the AWANA program as a three-year-old Cubbie, learning basic concepts like: ‘God is love’ and ‘God loved us and sent his Son’ (1 John 4:10). He recalled, “I remember sitting down with my parents back then and them saying to me, ‘Ok, what is your verse this week?’ and I would repeat it back to them, it just became second nature to me!” Seth started his first AWANA handbook when he entered third grade. The children receive awards when they complete age-appropriate AWANA books, which are filled with Bible verses for memorization and service activities. It is the vehicle clubbers use to become the embodiment of 2 Timothy 2:15...Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed. From ages 8 to 18, Seth earned awards for completing all 10 of the AWANA handbooks and manuals. Over the years, Seth completed numerous activities concerned with missions, witnessing, patriotism, prayer and creation, as well as reading and summarizing all 66 books of the Bible. Seth said, “By the time I was in high school, I would use my AWANA book basically as a devotional.” In 2003, a few days after his ninth birthday, Seth remembered talking about the story of Paul and Silas in prison with his older brother, Zeke. He recalled, “I was amazed that these two guys, who were imprisoned and had just been beaten, were still able to sing praises to God! They even affected their jailor. Zeke was already saved at that point. We decided that is what we wanted to do with our lives...to have that kind of influence on others to share Christ. That is the day I decided to accept Jesus into my heart. I went to my Dad and prayed with him.” Seth also met with his pastor at the time, who explained everything. Seth recalled, “The pastor made sure that I knew what it meant to trust in Christ as my Savior. A week later, I was baptized.” The Pratt family joined Sagemont Church in 2011 after moving to Houston from Minneapolis. Seth, the third oldest child of seven, is also the third person in his family to receive this coveted award! Zeke (21) and their sister,

Johanna (20) have previously received the Citation Award. Seth’s next sister, Veronica (17), is on track to get the Citation Award next year! The next two children, Jessica (14) and Nate (10), are busy earning their patches and awards by completing the books for their ages in AWANA. Ron and Becky have been serving as AWANA leaders for the last 17 years. Together they shared, “Micah is now a 3rd grader and is starting his first book this fall. We have made the decision that we are going to go through all the books with him!” Becky was quick to point out that their entire family is working toward completing the ultimate goal of earning the Citation Award. She said, “We are not going to force all of our children to do that, but we are encouraging them. Nothing would delight us more than if ALL of us reached the goal…not because of the award, but because of all the time that is spent in God’s Word!” She smiled at Seth when she added, “I have seen the fruit in our oldest son and daughter and now Seth. I see the joy and love for the Lord that’s been stirred in their hearts. I want all our children to have that...not just a plaque on the wall, but that love in their hearts for the Word of God.”

Now, with 836 verses of the Bible hidden in his heart, Seth is ready to begin his adult life, beginning with classes at Alvin Community College this fall. His goal is to earn a degree in Computer Science so that he can one day become a computer software engineer/programmer. Seth, who embodies at least two of Sagemont’s core values, Excellence and Authority of Scripture, shared his final thoughts, “I know that I could lose this award or it could break. It could scratch or end up in a box over the years. I know that one day this Citation Award, that I worked so hard for, is just going to sit there collecting dust, but the stuff that I have learned is never going to collect dust, because I am going to be using this knowledge for the rest of my life! The verse that comes to mind now is, ‘God’s word never comes back void, it always comes back producing fruit. (Isaiah 55:11)’”.

Sagemont’s AdventureLand has always offered fun, inviting and spiritually targeted programs for our children. Triple A has been the arts program on Sunday nights and AWANA has been the scripture memory program on Wednesday nights for the last several years. This spring, Sagemont’s Minister to Children, Rhonda Black, announced an exciting new adventure for our children on Wednesday nights starting September 11th. This year the Adventureland team has combined both programs to occur with a creative twist on the same night. MiDWAY is Sagemont’s new discipleship and Bible memorization ministry for boys and girls, ages four years old through sixth grade. MiDWAY allows them to choose AWANA or The Arts with Bible study and hands-on application. “We took the best of both Triple A and AWANA programs and built what we believe will be a powerful night of ministry and spiritual growth.” Rhonda shared, “For example, our preschoolers who are AWANA cubbies will get an added element of Triple A Music and Movement. Kindergarten through fourth grade will be introduced to Bible Study, with an added choice to ‘Hide God’s Word in their Heart’, which is the traditional AWANA curriculum with emphasis on

scripture memorization, or to ‘Seek God with all their Heart’, which is a Bible Application curriculum with hands-on learning.” The final and third part of the night will allow these students to choose one elective per semester such as Legos, Robotics, Drama, Choir, Scrapbooking, Art, etc. Pre-teens (fifth and sixth graders) who attend MiDWAY MiX on Wednesday nights will have the chance to experience a deeper Bible study, grow through small groups and build lasting friendships with their peers and mentors in a fun atmosphere at ‘The Strand’. Junior High and High school students attending AWANA Youth are continuing to meet on Wednesday nights to focus on the AWANA Trek and Journey programs. For registration and information check the Sagemont Student webpage for updated information: http://www.sagemontchurch.org/connect/students/. Therefore, all MiDWAY MiX preteens and AWANA Youth Junior High and High School students will still have the option of following the AWANA books and continue striving toward earning their very own Citation award!

“We are so proud of Seth and impressed with every student that dedicates years in God’s Word. Every family is challenged to decide how to impress God’s commands upon their children… Deuteronomy 6:5-7 says to ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your heart. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.’” -Rhonda Black, Minister to Children

Pratt Siblings L-R: Seth, Jessica, Micah, Johanna, Nate, and Veronica

Pictured L-R:Becky (Mother), Seth & Ron (Father) Pratt

PRAISE HIM WITH STRINGED INSTRUMENTS

Praise the LORD! Praise Him in His mighty firmament! Praise Him for His mighty acts;

Praise Him according to His excellent greatness! Praise Him with the sound of the

trumpet; Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments

and flutes! Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals! Let

everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD! Psalm 150

by Sharon Rigsby

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Lessons available for children and adults in Piano, Violin, Guitar, Drums and Art!

NEW! For 2013-14Choir for 4th-6th Grade Students

Tuesdays 6:00 - 7:15 pm • Directed by Lisa SchneiderMinimum 25 students required. Find more information online or in the CFA brochure.

Classes/lessons begin September 3Space is limited! Register today for best selection of

available times and teachers!

Register online or pick up a Centre for the Arts brochure and return with first payment to the Worship & Praise Ministry office.

baptism @ the crossseptember 15, 2013

7:30 pm

This is the final baptism service scheduled at The Cross for 2013.

If you would like to be baptized at The Cross or in the Worship Center, please call 281.481.8770 or email johnmark.benson@sagemontchurch.org

Living Truth TV Program Airing on KTXH, Channel 20!

9:00 am SundaysBeginning September 8

Sagemont’s television program, Living Truth, features inspiring stories of God working in and through people, followed by a message from God’s Word presented by Pastor John Morgan. Beginning September 8, Living Truth will be braadcast on Fox affiliate KTXH, Channel 20 in Houston Sunday mornings at 9! The show will also continue to air on KUBE TV, Channel 57, at 9 am Sundays.

About three years ago, I was blessed to write a story for this magazine about the great joy my husband, Frank, and I had to take our grandson, Stephen Ash, who was

17 at the time, on a mission trip with us to Nairobi, Kenya. Most of that trip was spent ministering at the Limuru Tea Plantation Baptist Church, where Stephen preached the Word on Sunday and during the week, and we evangelized door-to-door. We were greatly blessed and proud of him.

Frank and I have been blessed again. Our 15-year-old granddaughter, Sarah Ash, who has been patiently waiting her turn, went with us on a mission trip to Kenya and Tanzania this summer. Sarah has the classically trained voice of an angel. She sang at every opportunity she had as we ministered to people. We could always tell by the expressions on their faces that they were truly enjoying what they were hearing and that it was an unexpected blessing from one so young. Frank and I were especially blessed.

This mission trip was led by Buddy Griffin. We reconnected with our friends at New Hope Church and School in the slums of Kibera, Kenya, to teach music and evangelize through our Ukulele Band. We then traveled to Arusha, Tanzania, to work with our missionary friends, Vernon and Mary Smith, at the Olorein School where the group introduced the students to the ukulele and conducted other activities.

The mission team consisted of 16 members: Buddy and Sandy Griffin, Jacob Arnold, Sarah Ash, Josh Bivens, James Camper, Stanley Fontenot, Diane Peter, Nathan and Jennie Kimbrough, Kyle McKee, Gabby Morris, Frank and Sharon Rigsby, Shari Roberson and Abby Sinclair.

The team spent two days teaching the students at the New Hope School in Kibera how to play the ukulele. We divided up into groups of four, teaching four classrooms at the same time. Each group taught two classes in the morning and two in the afternoon on both days. The children were taught several chords and several songs using these chords. They were attentive, eager to learn, and respectful of the ukuleles.

We were honored to get to visit with the Biashira ladies who make beautiful jewelry to sell. Karen Baird of New Hope Initiative is their mentor. Karen’s husband, Sandy, directed all our activities in Kenya. Both are members of Sagemont Church.We spent Saturday morning rehearsing for the program the students would present for their parents on Sunday morning. They were excited in anticipation of performing for the whole church the next morning.

After the morning rehearsals, we were about to walk up the slight hill to the new church building when we were informed that we would be taking a walk through Kibera. I have been on a short walk through Kibera twice before on previous trips, but nothing had prepared me for what I was about to experience. We were told not to take pictures unless we could make it look like we were taking pictures of each other. We walked through what seemed like the entire length of the slum. It took a really long time. The walk included what could be described as a “downtown” area containing booths with items and food for sale, all in extremely unsanitary conditions. Raw sewage ran in ruts down the middle of the walkways. We even passed a pig eating out of one of these ruts. All the homes are connected, separated by only a sheet if they have one. Filth is everywhere. The paths are so narrow that we could touch the walls on each side. As I write this, I can hardly contain the emotions I still feel. No picture

can really show what it is really like. I write this story because I want you, dear reader, to realize that when you hear the name Kibera you will realize that, yes, it really is as bad as people say it is. Actually, it is worse. And people are stuck living there. They have nothing and no means of getting out.

At the church a short distance away, many of the school children had gathered in a long line outside of the building. After going in, we began to open the suitcases we had brought that were full of dresses made by the ladies of the Sew Fine Ministry at Sagemont. Several of us took armfuls of dresses in various sizes and were ready when they opened the gates to the area between the church and a row of classrooms. The female students came in a very orderly manner and graciously accepted the dresses that were offered to them. Not one girl said she wanted another color or pattern. Each thankfully took what she was given. We gave away 312 dresses that afternoon. The boys were not left out. They received 210 pairs of new tennis shoes. Later in Arusha, Tanzania, we gave 162 dresses to the teachers at the Olorein School to distribute among the students.

After the distribution of the dresses and shoes, each team member spent time mentoring one or two of the older students, encouraging them and answering questions. The students at the New Hope School in Kibera are very serious about their studies. They have very high expectations. If you ask them what they want to be, they will say doctors and lawyers. But after grade 8, public education ends for them. All they can hope for after that is for someone to offer them a scholarship of $500 a year to continue their education until graduation, and in Kibera, that possibility is pretty hopeless for most of them.

Sunday morning was full of excitement. The students performed a song they had learned on the ukulele for their parents. Our team performed two songs on the ukulele. Our granddaughter, Sarah, and Abby Sinclair sang. Stanley Fontenot played the bagpipes. Several other groups performed, and then Brother Buddy Griffin preached with a translator. It was then one o’clock and our time in Kenya came to an end. We left the ukuleles with the school for the teachers to continue a music program with the children.

Kenya / Tanzania Mission Team:Back Row L-R: Buddy Griffin, Diane Peter, Jennie Kimbrough, Nathan Kimbrough, Jacob Arnold, James Camper, Kyle McKee, Frank Rigsby, Stanley Fontenot.

Front Row L-R: Gabby Morris, Sandy Griffin, Abby Sinclair, Shari Roberson, Sarah Ash, Sharon Rigsby, Josh Bivens

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After church, the team boarded the bus and headed to Arusha, Tanzania. It took five hours on a very dusty, partly paved road, and the part that wasn’t paved was very bumpy. Even so, we had fun on the bus trip.

The team had a time of rest at Ngorogoro Crater where we experienced the glorious beauty of God’s creations.

We then traveled to a remote Masai village where we experienced an awesome worship service. Sarah sang a song in Swahili about the birth of Jesus, Stanley played the bagpipes and Frank preached with missionary Vernon Smith translating.For the next three days, we taught the students at the Olorein School in Arusha how to play the ukulele. We met in the assembly room in which the church. Brother Buddy taught each group of children. We had two groups in the morning and two groups in the afternoon. After Buddy gave the lesson, we separated the big group into many smaller groups, and two of us helped the students individually work on the chords that had been taught that class. It was a very efficient system.

We spent part of Friday moving the students through four different stations: Bible Story, where they heard the story of David and Goliath and then acted it out; Craft Activities: Music Fun; and Games. They also spent part of Friday afternoon practicing the song they would perform for their parents on the ukulele.Every evening from about 4:30 until 6:30 the team would returned to the schoolyard where young people from the community played basketball, volleyball and enjoyed the playground equipment. It is a really good way to minister to the community and show the people that the church is a good place to feel welcome and encourage them to feel that they want to be a part of it.

Sunday morning was absolutely incredible. Vernon Smith told us that on a normal high attendance Sunday the count is 250. That Sunday’s attendance was 680! Not all of the students at the school are members of the church. We hoped that the students’ performances would be an outreach for the church, and they certainly were. Once again, as in Kibera, the team performed two songs on the ukulele, Sarah sang, Abby sang, Stanley played bagpipes, other groups performed, choirs performed, the congregation sang, Diane Peter and James Camper gave their testimonies and the preacher gave his sermon. It was all so amazing.

We left ukuleles at the school in Arusha for the teachers to continue a music program there like we did in Kibera.

We then took the five-hour bus trip to Nairobi for an evening departure flight for home. I still find myself talking and thinking as if I am still there. Sometimes in my mind, I still am. You should try a trip like this yourself. You will see what I mean.

MEET DANE

You first see this little 4’10” Puerto Rican girl walking around the church and you think to yourself, “She looks like she’s 16 years old.” You introduce yourself to her, and

in a tiny little voice she says her name is Daneysa Berdejo, the new Spanish Worship Leader and part-time secretary. You may wonder, “Hmm, how is that going to work out?” Then you see her up on the stage holding a microphone, and when she starts singing, you are blown away! “Dane” is a ton of talent wrapped up in a little frame.

Born in Puerto Rico, Dane (pronounced Dannie) grew up in a Christian home and was raised in church by her mother and father, greatly influenced by her maternal grandmother (Abuelin) and grandfather (Abuelo). Abuelin sang to Dane as she was growing up and taught her the joy of music and singing. At the age of three she was the youngest and tiniest member of the children’s church choir. She has photos of herself holding up her music book, albeit upside-down, during a performance for the congregation.

When she started school, she immediately skipped kindergarten and went into the first grade, where she made good grades, and like our Pastor, Brother John, can still remember the names of all her teachers. During the third grade, at age seven, a tragic event occurred. The water heater in her house was broken, and her mother told all the children to stay in the living room while she boiled water on the stove to prepare their bath. Dane disobeyed and went into her bedroom. As she walked out of her room into the hallway, she and her mother collided, and the boiling water spilled on Dane. It missed her head and face, but poured over her chest. (Her mother said she had a dream in which an Angel put his hands over Dane’s face to protect her.) During the grueling treatments she endured in the burn unit and while others around

Conozca a Dane. La primera vez que uno ve a esta pequeña puertorriqueña de 4’10” de altura, caminando por la iglesia, dice, “parece que tiene 16 años.” Te

presentas y ella te dice con una pequeña vocecita que su nombre es Daneysa Berdejo, la nueva Lider de Alabanza en español y secretaria de medio tiempo. Por ahí te preguntes ¿cómo va a funcionar eso? Pero entonces la ves en el escenario sosteniendo el micrófono y en cuanto empieza a cantar quedas ¡anonadado! Dane es una tonelada de talento en un pequeño paquete.

Nacida en Puerto Rico, Dane (que se pronuncia Dany) creció en un hogar Cristiano y fue criada en la iglesia por su madre y padre, con gran influencia de parte de su abuela materna (Abuelín) y su abuelo (Abuelo). A medida que Dane crecía, Abuelin le cantaba y le enseñaba el gozo de la música y de cantar. A la edad de tres años ella era la miembro más joven y pequeña del coro de niños de la iglesia. Ella tiene fotos de sí misma durante un concierto en su congregación donde se ve sosteniendo (aunque al revés) su libro de música.

Cuando comenzó la escuela, ella paso inmediatamente al primer grado salteando el kínder. Allí tuvo buenas notas y al igual que nuestro Pastor, el Hermano John, todavía puede acordarse el nombre de todos sus maestros. A la edad de siete años, cuando estaba en el tercer grado, le ocurrió algo trágico. Se había roto el calentador de agua en su casa y su madre les había dicho a todos los niños de la casa, que se quedaran en el living mientras que ella calentaba agua en la cocina para bañarlos. Dane no le hizo caso a su madre y se fue a su dormitorio. Al salir de su cuarto, ella chocó con su madre, y el agua hirviendo que traía su madre se derramó sobre Dane. No le cayó ni en la cabeza, ni en su cara, pero sí cayó sobre su

by BJ Massa

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the kids there. Other directors from Canzion were going, so she felt comfortable joining them. The Coordinator job was only part-time, so she found another part-time job as receptionist at Grace Community Church. Pastor Gowan eventually moved her to assist him in the (English) Adult Ministry, and she also attended the Hispanic service where she quickly became the Spanish Worship and Choir Director. She again filled her life with too many commitments, and hit what she describes as a “rough patch.” Dane took three months off, went back to Puerto Rico, and concentrated on God and his love for her. She began to regain her focus on WHAT she was doing, and WHY she was doing it. She learned it is more important to OBEY God than to work for him. As she understood this, she started a blog called “Determined” (it is a Spanish blog), and as she wrote, she realized that God wanted to have all of her.

In January of 2012, Dane came back to the USA with a new core value: to obey more and to work less. She now values and treasures her Sabbath. Dane says “You can break God’s law, but God’s law will eventually break you.” She determined that she would not go back to what she was before. She found a counselor with whom she still speaks to keep her accountable and help her stay on track. She went back to Grace and to teaching at the Canzion Institute part-time. She says her life and her relationship with God have really turned around. She started eating healthy food, working out, and limited her church activities. She says, “I want not just to be efficient, but to be effective in what I do.”

Here’s the happy ending! She met a handsome man named Juan Carlos. They began dating, and then with her family’s approval, they married in April of 2013. Daneysa says the decision to love Juan Carlos is the second most important decision she will ever make, the first being her decision to follow Jesus. Dane ecstatically says, “God took me through a process and he built me. Each stage trained me. My vision is so limited, but God saw my future and prepared me for it.”

Dane says being the Spanish Worship Leader is her “dream job.” She gets to “lead in worship, work with the Spanish leadership team, help with all the admin stuff, and be creative. It’s not just my job; it’s a passion and a ministry!”

her cried, she sang songs to God. She remembered what her Abuelin had taught her and just continued to sing and sing to get past the pain. One man in the burn unit actually came to know the Lord because of her testimony. She was supposed to be in the hospital for two months, but she miraculously left in just 13 days.

Dane still has scars on her chest, but she says she is not sorry for the accident, for it helped her mature. As she was growing up, her mother

taught her not to cover up her scars. Her mother said she could look in Dane’s eyes, and see her true value - not the scars on her body - but what Jesus had made her to be. Her mother showed her that she could use that accident to talk to others about Jesus and about how God can protect.

Once Dane completed the eighth grade, she took a test and again was asked to skip a grade. She went straight to the tenth grade, where she participated in gymnastics, but really liked the arts, math club, library club, choir, and music theater. Her life was extremely busy with school, extracurricular activities, and, of course, church. At age 15, she graduated from high school, and she says two other things happened simultaneously. She began to fully realize why God had made her and she began to write songs about it. She then gave her life completely over to the Lord, and was inspired to write even more. She wrote and performed her first song on stage with her three siblings, and hasn’t stopped since.

Dane went to the University of Puerto Rico, but heeded well-intentioned advice from many that if you are an artist, you will starve. So instead of taking music, she studied the Natural Sciences and thought she would become a podiatrist. She didn’t like the sciences, was really too young to be in college, and just felt lost. She wanted everyone in her family circle to be happy with her, so she decided to major in teaching ESL to high school students. She always knew she would go to America, so she believed that skill would help her later in life. She graduated from college but didn’t pursue the teaching job. Instead, she worked full-time at a jewelry store and became even more involved in her church commitments: service planning, worship team and local mission trips. She was also part of the youth leadership team. A year later, after much prayer and thought, she enrolled in the Canzion Institute of Music. It was a two-year program, and she also taught gymnastics, ballet and tap to three-year-olds to make ends meet. On Saturdays she taught Bible classes. She was losing control of her life, but every event she was involved in was a “good” thing, so how could it not turn out all right?

During her last semester in Canzion Institute, she was offered the chance to go Houston and become a Program Coordinator for

Juan Carlos and Daneysa Berdejo

pecho. (Su madre cuenta que había tenido un sueño en el que un Ángel le cubría la cara a Dane para protegerla). Durante los tiempos en que recibió tratamientos intensivos en la unidad de quemados, donde otros lloraban de dolor, ella cantaba canciones a Dios. Se acordaba de lo que le había enseñado su Abuelín, y cantaba y cantaba para soportar el dolor. Un hombre en la unidad de quemados conoció al Señor gracias a su testimonio. Ella estaba supuesta a pasar tres meses en el hospital, pero milagrosamente pudo salir a los 13 días.

Dane aun tiene cicatrices en su pecho, pero dice que no se lamenta del accidente, ya que siente que le ayudó a madurar. A medida que fue creciendo su madre le enseñó a no cubrirse las cicatrices. Su madre decía que podía mirar en los ojos de Dane, y ver su verdadero valor, no las cicatrices en su cuerpo, pero lo que Jesús había hecho con ella. Su madre le mostro que podría usar el accidente para hablar con otros sobre Jesús y como Dios puede protegernos.

Una vez que Dane terminó el octavo grado, ella tomó un examen y una vez más le permitieron saltear un grado. De ahí fue directo al decimo grado en donde participó en gimnasia, pero más le gustaba arte, el club de matemáticas, el club de biblioteca, el coro y el teatro musical. Su vida estaba llena de actividades, entre la escuela, actividades extracurriculares y por supuesto la iglesia. A la edad de 15 años, se graduó del secundario y cuenta que le pasaron dos cosas más al mismo tiempo. Comenzó a comprender por qué Dios la había hecho y empezó a escribir canciones sobre eso. Entonces entregó su vida completamente al Señor, y fue inspirada a escribir aun más. Escribió su primera canción y la cantó junto con sus hermanos en un escenario, y desde entonces no ha parado.

Dane fue a la Universidad de Puerto Rico, pero escuchó los buenos consejos de muchos que le decían que no sobreviviría como una artista. Por eso, en vez de estudiar música, estudió Ciencias Naturales y pensaba que sería podóloga. No le gustó la Ciencia, era demasiado joven para estar en la Universidad y simplemente se encontraba perdida. Quería que todos en su círculo familiar estuvieran contentos con ella, entonces decidió estudiar para enseñar Inglés a estudiantes en la escuela secundaria. Siempre supo que vendría a Estados Unidos, así que pensó que esa experiencia la ayudaría más tarde en su vida. Se graduó de la universidad pero no se dedicó a enseñar. Se dedicó a trabajar en una joyería y empezó a involucrarse más en la iglesia, al planear los servicios, equipo de alabanza y viajes misioneros locales. También era miembro del equipo de liderazgo de la juventud. Un año más tarde, después de mucho orar y pensar se anotó en el Instituto de Música CanZión. Era un programa de dos años, y mientras tanto, para ayudar con sus finanzas les enseñaba gimnasia y ballet a niños de tres años. Los sábados enseñaba estudios Bíblicos. Ella estaba perdiendo el control de su vida. Pero ¿cómo podría ser? si todo en lo que estaba involucrada era “bueno” así que todo saldría bien, ¿no?

En su último semestre en el Instituto CanZión, le ofrecieron venir a Houston y ser la Coordinadora de niños ahí. Como iban otros directores de CanZión, ella se sintió cómoda al ir con ellos. El trabajo de Coordinadora era solo de medio tiempo, entonces encontró otro trabajo de medio tiempo como recepcionista en

Grace Community Church. Con el tiempo, el Pastor Gowan la llevó a asistirle a él en el Ministerio de Adultos en Inglés, mientras que ella atendía los servicios en español, donde pronto se convirtió en la Directora del coro y alabanza. Una vez más había llenado su vida de muchas obligaciones y llego a lo que ella describe como “una mala racha.” Dane se tomó tres meses de descanso, volvió a Puerto Rico y se concentró en Dios y su amor por ella. Empezó a re-enfocarse en QUÉ estaba haciendo y PORQUÉ lo estaba haciendo. Aprendió que era

más importante OBEDECER a Dios que trabajar para Él. A medida que fue entendiendo esto, ella empezó a escribir un blog llamado “Determined” en Español, y a medida que escribía se empezó a dar cuenta que Dios quería todo de ella.

En enero del 2012, Dane volvió a Estados Unidos con un valor fundamental nuevo: el de obedecer más y trabajar menos. Ahora valora y atesora su Sabático. Dane dice: “Puedes romper la ley de Dios, pero la ley de Dios eventualmente te romperá a ti.” Ella determinó que no volvería a lo que era antes. Encontró un consejero con quien aun se habla y que la ayuda a mantenerse centrada y enfocada. Volvió a Grace y a enseñar

en el Instituto CanZión medio tiempo. Dice que su vida y su relación con Dios en verdad han cambiado. Comenzó a comer comida sana, a hacer gimnasia y limitó sus actividades en la iglesia. Ella dice, “No quiero sólo ser eficiente, pero quiero ser efectiva en lo que hago.”

Y ¡aquí está el final feliz! Conoció a un hombre buen mozo que se llama Juan Carlos. Comenzaron a salir y con la aprobación de su familia, se casaron en Abril del 2013. Daneysa dice que la decisión de amar a Juan Carlos es la segunda decisión más importante que ha hecho, siendo la decisión de seguir a Jesús la primera. Dane dice con mucha emoción “Dios me llevó a través de un proceso y me construyó. Cada fase me entrenó. Mi visión es limitada, pero Dios vio mi futuro y me preparó para ello.”

Dane dice que el ser la Líder de Alabanza en Español es su sueño. Ella tiene la oportunidad de liderar en la alabanza, trabajar con el equipo de liderazgo en Español, ayudar con la administración y usar su creatividad. “¡No es sólo mi trabajo, es una pasión y un ministerio!”

Daneysa Berdejo in Spanish Worship with Jonathan Reyna

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Wednesday Night Dinner

Serving lines open 4:15 - 5:50 pm

September 4 - Ernie’sSpecial Price: $5 per meal for everyone!Your Choice: Hamburger or 2 Hot Dogs, Chips, Drink, Ice Cream

September 11 - Luby’sBaked Chicken or Spaghetti, Corn, Fresh Green Beans, Roll, Salad Bar, Cake

September 18 - Ernie’sChicken Fried Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Salad Bar, Roll, Cobbler

September 25 - Andy’s Hawg Wild Bar-B-QueSliced Beef & Sausage, Potato Salad, Pinto Beans, Banana Pudding

September Staff AnniversariesCongratulations to the following friends and co-workers who celebrate an employment anniversary with Sagemont Church during the month of September.

Ms. Tammy Fort 32 YearsAdministrative Assistant/iCONNECT Ministries Mr. Steve Jeter 20 YearsPrinter Rev. Mike Schumacher 12 YearsAssociate Pastor/Counseling Ministry Mrs. Judi Caudill Eight YearsPastoral Care Ministry Secretary Mrs. Patricia Daniels Five YearsHuman Resources Director

Preparations for the 2013 Christmas Festival

Are UnderwayOn December 6-8, Sagemont Church will present “Hope Is Born,” a dramatic musical on the life of Jesus Christ. This encore presentation of the 2012 program has been refreshed with new scenes, new music and new elements that will make this an even more powerful presentation of the life of Christ and the hope he brings to our lost world.

We have a place for you to help make this labor of love happen. It takes hundreds of people to make this production possible. Some tasks are easy, some are more involved, but all are a lot of fun and very important.

Here are some of the ways you can help in Christmas Festival this year:

Actors/Singers Men (ages 18-50) especially are still needed to participate on stage.

Most roles to be filled are minor, but all are vital!SeamstressesSet BuildersStage Crew

Ticket SellersGreeters/Ticket Takers

Some of these areas will only be needed at the shows or in the weeks just preceding the festival. Others will be needed almost immediately as rehearsals begin THIS MONTH! If you can help in any of these areas, please let us know now! Call Jan at 281.481.7124 or email at jan.hart@sagemontchurch.org today!

Fall Bible Studies

Tuesdays, 6:30 - 9:00 pmSeptember 17 - October 22

West Wing • $15Beth Moore’s

The Law of Love: Lessons from the Pages of Deuteronomy

Tuesdays, 9:00 - 11:30 amSeptember 10 - October 29Children’s Building • $25

Focus on the Family’sExperiencing Spiritual Growth

Tuesdays, 9:00 - 11:30 amSeptember 17 - October 29

West Wing • $25Lysa TerKeurst’s

Unglued

Register for any of these online or at the Women’s Ministry Booth!

Various Days & TimesBeginning Week of

September 15 • $20In Area Homes

Kelly Minter’sNehemiah

STAGE CREW NEEDEDIf you have the gift of helps and can do some lifting, consider giving just

a few hours a month to be a part of our stage crew. This wonderful group of volunteers are vital to making transitions during worship services as well as constructing sets for worship services and special events. All serve on a

rotation system that fits with each person’s schedule.

If this is something you can do to serve the Lord and our church, email jesse.maricelli@sagemontchurch.org or call 281.481.7124 today!

7th - 12th Grade

Starts September 4!

6:00 - 7:30 pm Wednesday nights

Room 201 • $25 per student ($75 family max)

Register online

THIS WEEK

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Simply go to www.sagemontchurch.org. Scroll to the bottom of the home page and click on the Sagemont Life This Week box on the right corner. Follow the instructions there and you’ll start receiving Sagemont Life This Week with the next update.

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