horizons magazine march 2013
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
MARCH 2013Horizons
editorial
Did God Really Call Usto be a Pinball Wizard?Reggie
Hundley
Editor, HORIZONS andExecutive Director,Mission ServicesAssociaiton
I confess that this question is a bit revealing. Yes, I am a child of the rock and roll days! I listened to rock music then and continue to listen to the “oldies” stations whenever and wherever possible! For those wondering, I am harkening back to the song “Pinball Wizard” released in 1969 by The Who. The lyrics describe a “deaf dumb and blind kid” who became one with the pinball machine and, by feel and intuition, could keep the steel ball bouncing! If you are not familiar with the song (or want to hear it again), it may be found on YouTube. What does this have to do with ministry and missions? Stay with me!
Having been involved in local church and missions parachurch ministry for more than forty years, I have often thought that the role of leadership is to keep the flippers flipping, keep the steel ball bouncing, keep the bells ringing, and never (no never) let the game come to an end without a new record score! Still wondering about this?
Is a successful church one with an ever increasing physical plant and number of services? Is the successful congregation one with an attendance chart that bears a striking resemblance to the compound interest curve? Do our ministry descriptions present an image of the successful leader as one who avoids all the distractions while attending all the meetings, preparing to lead all the necessary groups, and keeping the various age and gender groups involved in spite of their widely disparate preferences while simultaneously being a fully devoted family member? Have ministry leaders created a success model for ourselves that require well written blogs that are always up to date, that include the active and effective use of every iteration
We welcome your letters to the editor. Letters no longer than one typewritten page are more likely to be published. Include your name and address on all correspondence. Only signed letters can be printed. Letters may be edited for the sake of length and clarity.
E-mail: [email protected]__________________________________________________________________________________2 / HORIZONS
Horizonsof social media, that include being up to date on every new show, song, movie, book, blog, podcast and message board in order for OUR messages, classes, Facebook posts, tweets, discussions and blog posts to be relevant to the moment?
In moments of greater sanity, when I allow myself to think about being a follower of Jesus, I realize that God did not call us to be “pinball wizards.” Jesus is not impressed with the size of our mission, the programs we have created, the number on our staff or even the number of churches we have planted. The heart of Jesus for the life of every believer is that we follow in His footsteps and depend upon Him for our life and our future.
I have heard that we can tell what is really at the “heart” of our life by noting that for which we pray. With that in mind, consider Matthew 6:9-13. What is the heart of Jesus? A) His purpose is to be our desire (v.9b-10). B) His provision is to be our dependence (v.11-12). C) His honor is to be our devotion (v.13). There is peace, liberty, freedom and encouragement when we learn that our success does not depend on our talent alone! God intends to do things beyond all our dreams and aspirations, but He does NOT call us to “Play a mean pinball.” You think about that!
March 2013No. 1184 • Vol. 62, No. 3
HORIZONS is a mission-oriented maga-zine of the undenominational fellowship of the Christian Churches and Churches of Christ. Mission Services, as publisher of HORIZONS magazine, publishes ar-ticles written by field missionaries rather than staff writers. We believe this offers a clear image of the variety of opinions that exists between missionaries within the historical Restoration Movement.Editor: Reggie HundleyEditorial Assistant: Carol HundleyGraphic Design: Cheryl ElliottPressman: Bill TopleyBookkeeper/Treasurer: Georgia SharpePublisher: Mission Services AssociationAddress: 2004 E. Magnolia Avenue Knoxville, TN 37917Phone: 1-800-655-8524Outside USA: 865-525-7010Fax: 865-525-7012E-mail: [email protected] Site: www.missionservices.orgU.S. Subscriptions: $20.00 for 1 year $36.00 for 2 yearsBundle rates: 5 copies @ $95.00/year 10 copies @ $170.00/year 15 copies @ $220.00/year Additional copies: $14.00 eachCall MSA for Forward in Faith items, the Missionary Directory, missionary contact information, and displays for MSA.
__________________________________________________________________________________ MARCH 2013 / 3
__________________________________________________________________________________4 / HORIZONS
contents
6 Blazing New TrailsRiverwood. On an average morning, everyone begins the
process of getting up just like your average household. Some are happy and excited about getting to work and some would rather stay in bed. As breakfast is being prepared, the sleepy eyes are beginning to clear and before you know it, the van is ready to take some of God’s special people to work. That is a quick depiction of how our day begins; amazingly similar to yours. Does it always go without a hitch? Does yours?
We are the Christian Churches Disability Ministry . . . a home, not an “institution.” The people who live here are loved -- first by God and then by those who work with them.
n articles 2 Did God Really Call Us to be a Pinball Wizard?
n spotlights 5 Coming Events
12 Prayer Needs & Praises
14 News Brief: CRAM Worldwide, Inc.
n advertisements 15 Korea Christian Gospel Mission -- Yoon Kwon Chae
__________________________________________________________________________________ MARCH 2013 / 5
coming events
2013May 20-21 Eubanks Institute for Missions (EIM) Conference Johnson University, Knoxville, Tennessee Focus: Bible Translation Contact information: Gerald Mattingly 865-251-2349 / [email protected]
JULY 9-12 North American Christian Convention Louisville, Kentucky Theme: “Victorious” President: Matt Proctor Contact information: North American Christian Convention 513-772-9970 / www.gotonacc.org
JULY 21-27 2013 Lake James School of Missions Angola, Indiana Contact information: Kent Shady, Program Chairman 260-824-2132 / [email protected]
NOVEMBER 14-17 International Conference on Missions Kansas City Contact information: David Empson 317-539-4231 / [email protected]
NOVEMBER 15-17 Eastern Christian Conference Hershey Convention Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania President: Ben Cachiaras Contact information: Eastern Christian Conference 410-836-6102 / [email protected] www.easterncc.com
byGarySpangler
~ExecutiveDirector,ChristianChurchesDisabilityMinistry
__________________________________________________________________________________6 / HORIZONS
focus
Blazing New Trails
__________________________________________________________________________________6 / HORIZONS
You plan a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gon-dolas in Venice. You learn some handy phrases in Italian. It’s all very exciting.
After months of eager anticipa-tion, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, “Welcome to Holland.”
“Holland?!?” you say. “What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I’m supposed to be in Italy. All my life I’ve dreamed of going to Italy.” But there’s been a change in the flight plan. They’ve landed in Holland and there you must stay. The important thing is that they haven’t taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It’s just a different place.
So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met. It’s just a different place. It’s slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you’ve been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.
But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they’re all bragging about what a wonderful time
Headed to Rome . . .
__________________________________________________________________________________ MARCH 2013 / 7
they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say “Yes, that’s where I was supposed to go. That’s what I had planned.” And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a very sig-nificant loss. But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn’t get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.
That is one explanation of what it feels like to be a parent of one with a disability by Emily Perl Kingsley.
Welcome to our Holland – Riverwood. On an average morn-ing, everyone begins the process of getting up just like your average household. Some are happy and excited about getting to work and some would rather stay in bed. As breakfast is being prepared, the sleepy eyes are beginning to clear and before you know it, the van is ready to take some of God’s spe-cial people to work. That is a quick
depiction of how our day begins; amazingly similar to yours. Does it always go without a hitch? Does yours?
We are the Christian Churches Disability Ministry. In September of 1981, Sam Stone was editing Christian Standard magazine at Standard Publish-ing in Cincinnati, Ohio. His parents lived next door at a church-sponsored retirement facility, Mount Healthy Christian Home. On most days he would walk across the wide yard on his lunch break and visit a while with his parents.
One morning while he was at Mount Healthy, he spoke to another resi-dent in the hall --Marjorie Broxon. She had cerebral palsy and was in a wheelchair. Marjorie spoke slowly and with difficulty; she was often hard to understand. They chatted for a few minutes as usual, and he started to go on to see his parents.
Then she said, “You know, I like it here. There are good folks operating the home. But all of the other residents here are a lot older than me and I
. . . but landed in Holland
__________________________________________________________________________________8 / HORIZONS
Left: Early article by Sam Stone.
Below: Dr. Pierson training at the 1984 NACC.
don’t have a chance to do many things I’m able to do and want to do. I wish our churches provided a home to help handicapped people.”
“Well, yes, that would be nice,” Sam agreed, “but you know it would take a lot of money to build a facility like that.”
Without hesitation she responded, “It took a lot of money to build Mount Healthy Home, too.” At that point, CCDM began. Yes, it took some time to raise money and to find Dr. Jim Pierson to lead the ministry, but that was the beginning, and now, almost 31 years later, we are still here providing residential care for adults with developmental disabilities.
When Jim laid out how this ministry would operate, he said this place would be a home not an “institution.” The people who live here would be loved - first by God and then by those who work with them. I am very proud to say, that goal is accomplished daily.
But we now come to a new path. I know I am a “type A” personality, and I am usually a “just the facts” kind of guy. Since I began leading this min-istry in January 2009, I have learned to let God lead like never before. But there is always that voice inside of me saying (and praying), “What next?”
It is true that every now and then I get the urge for change, a new jour-ney if you will. Someone said, “If you are not moving forward, you are mov-ing backward.” Many have taken credit for that saying, but I am not sure who really said it first. I just hope it was not someone with a crazy agenda.
__________________________________________________________________________________ MARCH 2013 / 9
With that said, the past four years of my ministry at CCDM has been nothing but moving forward. In 2009, we were battling the economic crisis. Auto companies were about to go under, jobs were being lost at a very high rate, the home industry was fall-ing off the cliff, and we had to make some drastic decisions to get our finances under control. With a grin, our dear friend and former Board member, the late Don Jeanes, told my predecessor he had picked the perfect time to retire. While we were plowing through the eco-nomic field, another friend of mine, Eugene DePorter, gave me some wise advice. “Pick out the one thing you need to do, perfect it and then move to a next step.” Incredible advice even though my 30 years at Delta was telling me to multi-task as many actionable items as possible. “Thank you, Eu-gene.” We put all of our focus on the residential services and that was the right thing to do. I thank God and give Him all the glory as He directed us in making the correct decisions that enabled us to rise up and succeed. It took us about two years, but we finally had a good handle on the operational and financial side of our ministry.
The third year we were able to build a brand new facility with the financial help of many and the hard work of the Jack Ballard Church Builders. As we concluded my fourth year, we were able to pay off all our debts and
we saw 15 groups with more than 300 people come to Riverwood to work on our facility and build relationships with our residents.
All of this brings us to 2013. I must admit, there was a time in late 2012 that I was befuddled on what to do next. Where was God directing this min-istry? How did He want me to lead? What was He telling me to do to con-tinue this great work? I called one of our Directors who lives not far from Riverwood and we met, prayed, and sought some answers. We talked about
Pick out the one thing you need to do, perfect it and
then move to a next step.”
-- Eugene DePorter
New facility in Louisville, Tennessee
__________________________________________________________________________________10 / HORIZONS
the history of our ministry and how we were founded. We talked about Sam Stone and how his encounter stirred his emotion. And even today Sam cannot talk about the impact that encounter had for this ministry without a tear trickling down his cheek. I really believed this ministry would be more than a facility; it was about building “relationship.”
Clockwise, top to bottom:
Christy enjoying the Prom of the Stars
Kim is also having a wonderful evening
Our friend, Frank, looking like the Godfather
Roller coaster kings at Dolly-wood
Sunday morning at Grandview
__________________________________________________________________________________ MARCH 2013 / 11
We are going to recapture that dream and raise the awareness for people to reach out to those with disabilities. There are two very important ideas that we will bring to fruition in 2013.
First, we will create an environment conducive to understanding Dis-ability Ministry and embrace the opportunity to help churches explore their options. I can’t help but think about the parent who wanted to start a special needs Bible study and the leadership at her church said they were not “good working with people who have disabilities so don’t expect our help.” We will hold retreats on our campus to provide lay leaders with the information they need to reach out to their disability community. The United States government does a better job at reaching out to people with disabilities than most of our churches today. Quoting my friend Palmer, “that’s just crazy!” We have the right message and our heart should be in the right place to reach out.
Second, we want to take advantage of the power of “online community.” There are parents who are on the front line without the tools to under-stand what they can expect from the healthcare industry or educational op-portunities. CCDM will create online support groups and monthly webinars to help families serving those with special needs.
The truth is we currently have the financial support to remain effective in our mission to provide residential care, but my heart longs for the opportunity to do more and our dreams require so much more. God has richly blessed us with years of knowledge and we need to share that knowledge with others.
My friend and board member, Roy Row, is helping us blaze new trails to raise awareness and resources by hiking the Appalachian Trail. He will begin his journey on April 3, taking a brief stop to visit the North American Christian Convention Victorious and then continue through the rest of the summer. You can show Roy your support by contacting him at [email protected]. To find out more and to watch Roy’s progress, go to our website at www.ccdmonline.org.
Our journey in “Holland” is great but we are truly “Blazing New Trails”! Come join us, there is plenty of room.
Blazing New Trails fordisability ministry
__________________________________________________________________________________12 / HORIZONS
focus on
Prayer Needs & PraisesAfrica• Give praise with Marc & Tina
Gebhard (PBT-Guinea) as they see God’s Word for the Lele people come into being. 2013 will see Luke refined, Acts translated, and people learning to read them.
• Marc & Tina also request prayer for Pastor J as he contin-ues to rough draft the book of Acts. Marc will soon begin the task of back-translating and exegetical checking.
• Pray for Beth Ramos (PBT- Guinea) as she works in the
area of literacy and is in the process of overseeing housing construction for herself and future mission workers in the village.
• Sudan African Mission requests prayer for the well drilling
project in the village of Maluai Bai.
• Sudan African Mission also requests prayer for a future church plant in Aweil Town.
Asia• Harvey & Nancy Bacus (Jordan)
requests prayer for King Abdullah II as he deals with over 400,000 Syrians who have sought refuge in the
country.
• Please pray for Janeece England as she travels to India to work with
the Kulpahar Mission for a short time.
• From CRAM Worldwide, Inc:
-- Pray for Kenneth Bae, a Korean American Missionary who was arrested in Rajin North Korea. He is a friend of Dr. C.Y. and Patricia Kim.
-- Continue prayers for the completion of the discipleship building and Home.
-- Pray for health concerns for founder, Dr. C.Y. Kim, and his wife, Patricia Kim.
-- Praise God that Sangho and Lisa Kim have returned to China to work alongside Dr. C.Y. Kim, after completing 6 months of training at Point University in Georgia.
__________________________________________________________________________________ MARCH 2013 / 13
Global• Pray as Good News Productions begins
to translate The Global Gospel Project into the top 25 languages of the world by the year 2015. This is a series of 88 sto-ries on the life of Christ. (To view these, go to www.themissionsnetwork.com)
South Pacific• PBT-PNG request prayer as the NT in the Tay language is scheduled to be completed this year, with the Mborena
Kam, Waran, and Apal New Testaments following soon after. Pray that God will protect the people and resources
involved in finishing these translations.
• Jesse & Karie Pryor (Papua New Guinea) give praise that several of their locally trained teachers have been accepted into the Papuan New Guinea Education Institute for more formal government training.
• The Pryors also give praise that workers were recently able to reopen the air strip so their village can get critical patients out to the provincial healthcare centers.
U.S.• Be in prayer for Wayne Murphy as he
officially retires as Executive Director of Polish Christian Ministries. Also pray for the new Director, David Hatfield, who
assumed responsibilities March 1st.
Team Expansion• Pray for Casey & Molly Bell
(Taiwan) as they adjust to homeschooling routines and settle into their culture.
• Ask God to bless John Bliffen with open doors to share Christ with Spaniards as well as serving as region-al mobilizer and on staff at Mid-South Christian College.
• Pray for Mike Bukta as he leads a new team in Santo Domingo, Ecuador.
• Shawn Delehoy (Mongolia) requests prayer for health, guidance, and for the salvation of the Mongolian people.
• Pray for a good transition for ED from International Services to a new field in North Africa.
• Chad & Alicia Edwards (Taiwan) request prayer as they serve a people who have a strong allegiance to local temples and bondage to traditional ancestor and idol worship.
• Join Andrea & Heather Gentile (Italy) as they
launch a new church plant.
CRAM Worldwide Inc., serving the peoples of Asia
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress.” James 1:27
“In their distress.” What is the distress of orphans and widows? What do they need? They need love; physically in the form of food, shelter, clothing, and warmth. Mentally and emotionally the orphan needs to be taught, held, and led. Ironically, the widow needs to teach, hold and lead. Spiritually all people need Jesus.
With this in mind CRAM World-wide Inc. has begun construc-tion on a 3000 meter square building called “Yang Pao - Or-phanage and Ole Folks Home.” The construction is scheduled to be complete by year-end. Of course meeting this goal is de-pendent on availability of funds.
An orphanage and an Ole Folks home all under one roof. What a concept! The first floor will house disabled orphaned children. The second will house elderly people (often disabled) whose families are unable to care for them.
Our concept is that the elderly will teach the Chinese customs to these young chil-dren as they hold, stroke and love them. The children will provide energy, smiles and laughter to the elderly. CRAM’s presence on site will provide an opportunity for the Gospel. For the young; as they experience Jesus, China’s future could be forever changed. For the elderly hearing about the hope of heaven as they enter their final days will bring assurance of eternal life. Of course ministering in a Com-munist country the mode by which the gospel is spread is as Dr. CY Kim often says “wet eyes, bent knee and broken heart.” It is truly the Good News of the Gospel lived out.
If you would like to be a part of this marvelous work, or to hear more of the project please contact our office in Bedford, Indiana at 800-455-6476 or visit our website at cramwinc.org.
news brief
CRAM WORLDWIDE, INC • 601 Lincoln Avenue • Bedford IN 47421 __________________________________________________________________________________14 / HORIZONS
__________________________________________________________________________________ MARCH 2013 / 15
KOREA CHRISTIANGOSPEL MISSION
Dr. Yoon Kwon Chae, DirectorYoido, P.O. Box 876
Seoul, Korea 150-010website: www.kcgm.org
email: [email protected]
- - Chae’s latest book - - - - -
Books by Yoon Kwon Chae:
*Chae’s Last Letters .......................................................$10.00 *Every Life is a Miracle in CHRIST ......................................... $10.00 *Praise Through Pain ................................................................ $10.00 *Great Big Father ........................................................................ $7.00 *The World is Hungry for The Gospel ........................................ $7.00 *Love is Immortal ....................................................................... $7.00 *My Dear American Friends IV .................................................. $5.00 *Yours Because of Calvary ......................................................... $5.00 *History of Korean Christian Churches ...................................... $5.00
About These Books: Experiences and inspirational stories of over 45 years of ministry among refugees, orphans, and forgotten lives in Korea and in the de-serted areas of the world. You will laugh and cry with the author.
About The Author: A graduate of San Jose Christian College and Lincoln Chris-tian Seminary. Founder of Korea Christian Gospel Mission, Seoul Christian Univer-sity, Geon Christian Children’s Home, Braille Christian School, Radio and Prison Ministry.
Order books from:Jean Morgan
56 Yukon River Dr.Brownsville, TX 78520-9576
(956) [email protected]
TreasurerMike SchmidtP.O. Box 9384
Fresno, CA 93792-9384(559) 275-2033
PAID ADVERTISEMENT
Non
Pro
fit O
rg.
U.S
. Pos
tage
Pai
dK
noxv
ille,
TN
Per
mit
#374
Bef
ore
you
mov
e, p
leas
e se
nd th
e m
ailin
g la
bel w
ith a
cop
y of
you
r ne
w a
ddre
ss to
MIS
SIO
N S
ER
VIC
ES
AS
SO
CIA
TIO
N, 2
004
E. M
agno
lia A
venu
e, K
noxv
ille,
TN
379
17.
Non
Pro
fit O
rg.
U.S
. Pos
tage
Pai
dK
noxv
ille,
TN
Per
mit
#374
Mis
sion
Ser
vice
s A
ssoc
iatio
n20
04 E
. Mag
nolia
Ave
nue
Kno
xvill
e, T
N 3
7917
Ret
urn
Ser
vice
Req
uest
ed
Add
ress
2004
E. M
agno
lia A
ve.
Kno
xvill
e, T
N 3
7917
Pho
ne N
umbe
rs1-
800-
655-
8524
(US
A)
865-
525-
7010
(Out
side
US
A)
E-M
ail
msa
@m
issi
onse
rvic
es.o
rg
Web
ww
w.m
issi
onse
rvic
es.o
rgw
ww
.them
issi
onsn
etw
ork.
com
Mission
Services