WITH DR. DAVID D.

SWANSON

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, gentleness, humility and patience ... and over all these virtues,

put on love ... "

Colossians 3:12,14

I think we could see it coming, but it's still a bit of a shocker.

If we look at cultural trends over the past twenty years, one could easily assume that at some point, we were going to have some negative consequences. You can't show repetitive, graphic violence on television shows and in movies without having some impact. You can't have children playing video games that involve constant killing without some sort of influence. You can't remove personal, face to face, contact from interpersonal relationships without a change in our ability to relate well to others. You can't emphasize self without causing a corresponding decrease in how we value others.

To be sure, such news is discouraging, but I would also say it presents the Christian community with a marvelous opportunity. Jesus' Sermon on the Mount was God's call for His disciples to live differently from the world, and by living differently, to become attractive to that same world. People are attracted to the Gospel precisely because it is so different from how the world lives. Paul's admonition to "clothe" ourselves with things like compassion, kindness, and love stand in stark contrast to a world that is increasingly unable to care about the needs of others or walk in another man's shoes.

Thus, as schools begin this fall and as we return to the basic rhythms and patterns of life, may we be mindful as disciples of Jesus that we are to clothe our hearts differently. We are to treat those around us differently. When we do that, because people experience compassion and love so infrequently, it will cause those we meet to wonder about us, and thus open doors to the Gospel. We are called to be counter-cultural, to be about others instead of self, to be about peace instead of violence, to engage with others instead of isolation. May First Presbyterian

• Empathic concern (feelings of sympathy for others' misfor- Church be that kind of counter-cultural community, such that we

tunes) declined a staggering 48% are clothed with compassion and love, caring about the needs

• Perspective-taking (how people imagine others' points of of others and offering the hope and love of Christ.

Sure enough, our choices are catching up to us. This past May, a University of Michigan study was presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Psychological Science held in Boston. In short, the researchers looked at empathy among college students from 1979 to 2009. Scores in nearly every category (28 in all) declined overall. Most troubling were the following:

view) decreased an astounding 34%

That's what will change the world, one life at a time. Thanks for

Apparently, our youngest generations don't feel much sympa- reading, and I write

thy for what others are going through, nor do they try to imagine

what it might be like to walk in their shoes. Why? Researchers

attributed the changes to a number of social and cultural fac- With fond affection and love for you, tors, but they cited three in particular:

• an increasing emphasis on self

• an overactive media that bombards people with violent images and desensitizes them

• the growth of social media (such as Facebook, texting, Twitter)

21 COLUMNS

David D. Swanson

IN THIS ISSUE:

ON THE COVER:

Student Ministry:

Our students enjoy one last summer get-together. Clockwise, from the top left: Melissa Dukes, Emily Irvine, Romney Beaumont, Kristen England, Bree Fields, Anna Gentry, and their High School Coordinator, Katy Becker. Photo by Todd McLennan

12

What Joy!

A joyful summer of children 5 activities reported by their leaders.

16

2 Down ... 1 To Go

Three Student Ministry leaders anticipate the excitement of a new season.

28

What Does Business Have to Do with Mission?

Igniting a collaboration between business and mission to change the world.

30

Shaping Souls - Intentional Exposure to God's Transforming Word

A Deeper Understanding of God Fall Women's Bible Study: The Major Prophets

To the Ends of the Earth ... and to North Georgia

Are You Young at Heart? People Want to Know That You Care

Walking the Mourner's Path:

Transforming Grief into Joyful Living

Why Isn't It Full?

4 Solitude

6 Hallelujah! Let the Children Come ...

9 15 19

Sing Joyfully Hey Kids!

Heart of the City and REALTO Foundations Donate to ASOM Computer Lab

Evangelism in Tajikistan Engaged and Finding a Common Language

Rooted

Family LIFE: An Interview with Bret Allen

OneByOne Update

21 22

23 24

26

30 31

32

33 34

36

38 39

News & Notices

CONTACT US 407.423.3441

To arrange a baptism Contact Worship x1451

To arrange a wedding Contact Weddings x1453

To arrange a funeral or memorial service Contact Pastoral Care x1455

To donate flowers for worship services Contact Worship x1451

With questions about your pledge, donation, or budget Contact Finance x1479

With a change of address Contact Membership x1471

To purchase a sermon CD or DVD Contact x1438

To join the Chancel Choir Contact x1273

For child care reservations - Early Childhood Contact x2250

To reach the Security Office Contact 407.415.9793

For Weekday School Contact 407.996.5864

To find out about Sunday School classes Contact Spiritual Formation x1463

With questions about the FPCO website or its Columns publication Contact Communications x1467

To reserve a meeting space Contact Special Services x1469

HOSPITAL CALLS:

Hospitals are no longer able to notify us when our members are hospitalized. If you know someone who is in the hospital, please notify the Pastoral Care office at x1455.

PASTORAL EMERGENCIES:

For pastoral emergencies outside of the 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. church office hours, please leave a voicemail message at the main church number. The message center will page the minister on call, who will

reply as soon as possible.

NEED HELP?

Dependency assistance, cancer support group, grief support, divorce care, infertility group, please contact Congregational

Life x1159

twil":l":er

www.twitter.com/fpcorlando

Group: First Presbyterian Church of Orlando

By Dr. David Swanson, Senior Pastor

This past winter, our FPCO leadership team had some interesting conversations about how we might encourage people to a deeper, more meaningful relationship with Christ. One of the books we looked at provided some interesting data. It said that people who described their relationship with God as "satisfying" or "meaningful" had a common theme: they consistently incorporated spiritual disciplines into their lives. Spiritual disciplines are tools that one uses to open up a pathway to a deep inner life; things like worship, prayer, meditation, fasting, service, and confession, to name a few.

41 COLUMNS

Thus, we decided to bring more emphasis to these disciplines, including a "lesson" on one in each .iss.ue. of Columns. For that reason, I write today on the discipline of Solitude. One of my favorite books of the past year has been James Bryan Smith's The Good and Beautiful God. In that book, he talks about how we spend our time. We are so busy - so hurried - that we often have no idea where our time goes. In an average lifetime, we will spend:

• six months sitting at traffic lights

• eight months opening junk mail

• one year searching through desk clutter .

• two years trying to call people who are not In

• three years in meetings (this MUST be low for Presbyterians)

• five years waiting in lines

It makes you think, doesn't it? How are we spending our time? Do we even know and do we have a plan for how we spend it? Do we manage our time or does our time manage us? I think the discipline of solitude is one way we can bring this back under control, one way we can bring some measure of "peace and quiet" back into our routine.

In Mark 1 :35, we find the model of Jesus. Mark writes, "In the morning, while it was still very dark, He got up and went out to a deserted place, and there He prayed." We find Jesus doing this over and over again. Let's not forget: Jesus was a busy man. He was in d~mand. P~opie were clamoring to see Him, and yet solitude - ?el~g alone and quiet before God - was a regular practice In His daily life. It was, I believe, the place from which He drew strength in order to endure the challenges that He faced.

While this sounds like something we want, often, we are afraid of it. We don't want to be alone. Richard Foster writes in his book Celebration of Discipline, "Our fear of being alone drives us to crowds and noise. We keep up a constant stream of words even if they are inane." Because we fear what we might find within us if we ever took the time to look, we just keep increasing life's speed. It's true, but let's think about that. If we need to consider our inner life with God, as He commands, does it not stand to reason that such practice might actually help us? Jesus' life and practice seem to suggest that it would.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote in Life Together, "One who wants fellowship without solitude plunges into the void of words and feelings, and one who seeks solitude without fellowship perishes in the abyss of vanity, self-infatuation, and despair." As disciples of Jesus Christ, we need both. Yes, we need fellowship. We need others, but we also need solitude. Without it, how will we ever hear the voice of God against the constant din and chatter of our world? We won't.

I became so impressed by this truth that I asked our leadership team to build into their schedule one day

per quarter for total silence and solitude: a day ~way from the office in a place where they would not be Interrupted. It has proven a challenge, both to find the time for the day, and then to experience the day itself. The first time I did it, I was amazed. I had blocked out the morning to spend at the Canterbury Retreat Center in Oviedo. I arrived about 8am, found a quiet spot, and started talking to the Lord. After about 90 minutes, I had covered everything I could possibly think of to pray about. The problem was, I still had two-and-a-half hours to go! It was in that next 150 minutes that I really started to slow down and listen. I no longer had "an agenda". Instead, I opened my Bible and listened to what God had to say. I reflected, meditated, journaled, prayed, a~d rested. It was so radically different from my normal life that it took some getting used to, but once I did, I loved it. It was rich time, indeed.

Perhaps you have heard the phrase "quiet time", which people often use to describe a daily ti.me .of p~rsonal devotion with the Lord. In effect, a quiet time IS practicing the discipline of solitude. We can do this daily in small amounts, and we can do it with some regularity on a larger scale. Try it. Don't put any parameters ?r expectations on it. Commit to being quiet for ten minutes a day. Just listen. Block out three hours and go somewhere by yourself. Practice solitude. Be quiet. Like any discipline, you will find the greatest benefit when you practice it over a long period of time.

Here's the thing: If it was central to Jesus' life and ministry, it seems to me that we would be well-served t~.m.a~e it central to ours as well. Thomas Merton wrote, It IS In deep solitude that I find the gentleness with which I can truly love my brothers. The more solitary I am, the more affection I have for them. Solitude and silence teach me to love my brothers for what they are, not for what they say."

So, slow down. Stop talking. Be quiet. Listen. You just might find that God has been speaking all along. Ib

COLUMNS 15

Hallelujah! Letthehil re

- .. ~ '"

By Donna Speer; Director Com e I

of Weekday School •

First Presbyterian Church of Orlando

There is excitement in the air at First Presbyterian Church as precious young children and their families begin a new school year at Weekday School. There is joy in the halls and classrooms as everyone eagerly anticipates all that God has in store for us. We believe that God has placed each child and family here for a reason, and it is our job to do whatever it takes to share His love with them. We are convinced it will be yet another year filled with His grace and goodness. Here are just a few reasons why:

First and foremost, we pray. We pray for the children, their families, our staff, and for this preschool in general. We pray for God's protection, His wisdom, and His guidance in everything we do here. Our teachers pray for children before school begins and our Advisory Board and designated parents pray continually for the needs of our school and the people involved in this ministry.

Second, our staff is working hard to create the very best environment for children to learn and grow in each area of development. Our teachers love the Lord and have a big heart for children. Their dedication and desire to provide the very best for the sake of young children, never fails to amaze me.

Third, the Advisory Board is energized and already busy at work. Our chairman, Cara Batterson, has this group off to a great start. It won't be long before we will see what a vital role these parents play in planning incredible events for this year. Throughout the summer, our Fun Fair and Silent Auction Committees have been brainstorming and implementing new ideas to make this November 6 event the best family day ever.

We believe that God has placed each child and family here for a reason, and it is our job to do whatever it takes to share His love with them.

Fourth, we believe that God has sent many of His precious children our way. They come to us as individuals, each one wonderfully made. We believe the process is more important than the product; the person we are becoming is more important than the person we are. With each child comes a unique personality, temperament, learning style, and set of behaviors. We love them all and desire to help each one grow up to reach his or her God-given potential. As the year progresses, we will witness lives being transformed: children will be changing before our eyes. The quiet child will become more outgoing; the disruptive child will learn about self-control; the unsure child will grow more confident. It is rewarding knowing that we have earned the reputation of excellence in early childhood education and that all of our children grow academically by leaps and bounds!

There is no doubt that God is at work in this place we call Weekday School, and it is an honor to be in your midst and witness all that He has in store for each one of us.

What's Happening at WDS?

Prayer Wallt

During our prayer walk in August many parents, children and staff gathered along with Dr. Case Thorp to dedicate the school year to the glory of God and to pray specifically for all of our children, staff, and parents. We prayed together and individually in our school hallways and beside each classroom for each child and each teacher. What a glorious way to begin each school year.

Fun Fair 2010

Save the Date, November 6, 2010, 10am-2pm, on our FPCO church campus. Weekday School's largest fundraising event with a train ride, moonwalk, great slide, pony ride, face painting, games and prizes, bake sale, music, Chick-Fil-A lunch, and admission to our Silent Auction. This is a family day with fellowship and games designed for preschool-age children. This day also, helps us raise funds for Weekday School's student scholarships and educational materials. For more information, please visit www. fpco.org/funfair. The cost for the day is $12 per person, if purchased before October 27. All tickets thereafter will be $15 per person. iii:

Garrett was in tlie has just graduated

, , .

•

COLUMNS 17

Saturday, November 6 lOam .. 2pm Silent Auction in the King Parlor

Early Bird Special: $3 Discount Per'T.icket Purchased by Oct. 27

Fun Fair on the Great Lawn,

in Lee Fellowship Hall, and under the Angel Wing

All children are musical. All people can be musical, Children create their main foundation of knowledge between what they experience from pre-birth to 7 years of age, and they learn best through the example of their parents. The time to start exposing children fa" music and other arts is while they are in the womb or as soon as possible!

In life, there are natural progressions that everyone goes through to develop knowledge and .skitls. For instance', remember how you were taught math? You started with addition and subtraction, and overtime, extended your knowledge into Algebra, Geometry, Calculus ... That same method applies to how music should be taught.

. .

In the same way, children entering~grade,_ school, are offered general music, recorder, and often, choirs for 4th and 5th graders. After that, the children that are most interested in music move on to either continue singing with their Middle School choir or convert to playing an instrument in the school band .: From there, the number of children maintaining an interest in music decreases and those children move on into their High School's music proqrarn in some fashion. And then - they become adults. The interest in music simplifies to their favorite music on the radio or singing an occasional hymn during worship. Music is a natural, instinctual part of life, but seems to be dissolving.

What happened to the arts being a standard part of culture? What happened to recitals and small performances presented in the home? Music has become entertainment, rather than an art of expression and creativity.

One way of giving our most excellent offering to God is to "sing joyfully to the Lord ... play skillfully, and shout for

Music Opportunities of FPCO

Sb\9 :)o~fu.t~~

By Stephanie Rivera; Coordinator of Childre~"s~ Music

joy" (Psalm 33':1-,.3). In worship, we Sing hymns

).,

and praise songs tim-

idly when we should SHOUT our love and pr.aise to Him. Where do we begin, as the body and as a society, to find our artistic confidence again?

We start with our children. Hungarian music educator, Zoltan Kodaly was asked, "When is the best time to begin a child's music education?" He replied, "Nine months before the birth of the mother!" In short, as soon as possible!

FPCO offers music making opportunities for all ages. Opportunities include: prenatal music classes, children's music classes, choirs, and private lessons. These are for people of all ages to be exposed to and to experience all aspects of music: singing, playing instruments, listening, and movement. The best time to start preparing children to use music as a medium for creativity and expression, is as early as possible. Experiencing children's music classes such as MusikGarten, helps to create neural pathways to form foundational knowledge for small and gross motor skills, language, spatial awareness, social skills, and more. The objective is to provide children the opportunity, throughout their lives, to learn new things with ease. The hopeful result is an uninhibited participation in worship, lifting up the name of God in song and praising him unreservedly.

gene~fs

Review our chart of musical opportunities, find the appropriate age group, and then contact contact Worship Arts to see how you and your family can get involved.

Adult Genesis

Choir (BandNocal)

For more information about prenatal or children's music classes, contact Stephanie Rivera at srill,era@fpco.org or x1186. ;:

High School - High School -

Adult Adult

CluUJI'e~6 ~ Cherub Celestial Seraphim
Choir Choir Singers
4-S K_2"d 3'd _ s»
Grade Grade
Babies Walkers Toddlers BigKids Explorers
Class Class Class Class Class 01usik4L':.fe

Birth - 15 mos - 2 - 3'12 3'12 - 5 5 - 6

14 mos 23 mos yrs yrs yrs

COLUMNS 19

Even if you think you .are not musical, remember to "sing joyfully to the l.ord." God rejoices in you, no matter what your musical ability!

• •
Start exposing your child to
music now! MusikGarten is an
•
• early childhood music program
that provides music classes •
for children birth-5 years. Our

• teachers create a fun envi- •
ronrnent while incorporating •
• •
singing, playing instruments,
• listening, and movement. • • For more information and to •
view the Spring MusikGarten
schedule, visit
• www.fpco.org/childrensmusic. •
Contact: Stephanie Rivera at
srivera@fpco.org or x1186
• •
• 1

f. First Presbyterian .. ..

(,Church of Orlando .. ...

KINGDOM KIDS

A MINISTRY FOltCHILDREN AT

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF ORlANDO

aOyl What thought does it bring to mind? Christmas, a favorite Aunt, a bottle of dish soap? This year at Camp G~neva, with the help of Mr. Mike and Lil Carol, nearly 200 ~hlldren learned the true meaning of joy: that joy is found In an everlasting relationship with God, and that no matter what happens to you, whether it makes you happy or not, ~eca~se .of Christ, you can have joy in your heart. Jesus finds JOY In us and by His death He has the joy of bringing us to His Father.

yve a.lso learned that there are many ways to share that JOY with others, not only through simple gestures, but also thro~gh .stepping out in faith to become part of something that IS bigger than ourselves. We did this by working with Change This World, an organization who partners with Kids Against Hunger. We hand-packed 20,756 meals to be sent to children and their families in Haiti. Along with these meals, we sent a water purification system. You would have thought it was enough to get everyone to actually wear a hair net, but to see children work in an assembly line packing these meals was nothing short of miraculous .

There. was much fun ha.d as well, from paintball target shooting, to tug-of-war In the mud pit, to soda and icecream at the snack bar, to shaving cream and water balloons, to giant inflatable obstacle courses, to the 50 foot slip-n-slide, to the blob, and oh so much more. It was nonstop action. But, when we did slow down a bit, we gathered together in worship that rang out with songs of praise and God's joy revealed.

Through a 15-year partnership with the First Presbyterian Churches of Maitland and Deland, Camp Geneva has brought joy to literally thousands of children-the 200 this year were no exception. When asked what their favorite and most memorable parts of Camp were, Marilyn Waldrop replied, "I liked recreation because we did fun

, games." Olivia Losch said "Worship, because it helped me grow closer to G6d," Justin Hayes commented that watching the videos of the Cabin Inspector (the person who inspects the cabins for cleanliness and tidiness, this year played by a giant bunny) is one of the things that makes camp a unique and great experience.

When asked what they actually learned, c.J. Duchene shared that "Serving someone else, like preparing the meals for Haiti, is actually a really cool thing to do." Olivia ~osch .aweed, saying "While we gave up one of my favorIte.actlvltles from years past (Movie Night), I really enjoyed being a part of helping people in Haiti who had suffered so

h" A I

muc . . s you can see, Camp qeneva is a magical place

where kids come face-to-face with a God who loves them. Through fun and fellowship, they discover a faith that ensures lifelong joy. £:

• • ••• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

ft0~'~ ~iL oran~-t qJraff~~

By Hayley Lundquist, Member

The average third grader is eight years old, excitable, inquisitive, and 4'2". They are neither infants nor adults, but are caught somewhere in that /difficult middle ground. They are well immersed in and influenced by the culture of their peers, and seek desperately to fit in.

This summer at Vacation Bible School, I had the pleasure of teaching the 3rd grade Orange Giraffes.

They are not your average third graders. They ca~ .identify all three members of the Holy Trinity. They comprehend scripture and are able to break down and decipher facets of God's Word that have eluded me for years. They know that when someone is sick, or

"we Have TO GeT inVOlVeD anD inVeSTeD In THeiR Lives anD aCTIVITies."

hurting in a physical or spiritual way; the Christian thing to do is offer your help and your time to take care of them.

While I do not yet have children 'of my own, we as Christians and as members of First Presbyterian Church, have a responsibility to "our" children. We have to get involved and invested in their lives and activities: teach them from our experiences. Show them that God's faithfulness, forgiveness, and grace are always assured. And in return, they

will teach us to trust, to follow, to love, to care, and to share far more than we could ever have predicted.

If you would like to share in Hayley's experience, we a/~ays have volunteer opportunities available. Right now, there are opportunities to serve as Sunday School teachers and worship leaders for September 201O-May 2011. Join us and get involved with "our" children. Contact: Susie Dunlap at sdunlap@fpco.org or x1482.1i:

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

q__e~'~ qr~ar q_,~r-T0~~!h~Le"ntem

.

If you were around the Church from July 12-16, chances are you got swept up in a group of children off to paint a t-shirt, on their way to a music rehearsal, or about to' go work off energy at recreation. Vacation Bible School transformed this campus into Baobab Blast, God's Great Get- Together, an African themed adventure that led the children on a safari through the Bible where they learned to trust God, follow His commands, love and be there for others, and share the Good News. Allen Hall was turned into a jungle, complete with a Baobab tree, paper vines, and a giant stuffed giraffe that greeted visitors as they walked through the building.

"I lOVeD THe FaCT THaT we weRe HelPinG STaRVinG peOPle THaT weRe In a DIFFeRenT COUnTRY. THe paRT THaT I loveD THe mOST was THaT SO many peOPle aRe DOinG STUFF LIKe THIS - HelPinG OTHeRS."

While there weren't any real vines for the First Grade Monkeys to swing from, Evan Rhodes enjoyed another type of physical activity: recreation. "We got to learn and have fun. There was this game with pink yarn and we had to throw it to someone we loved. I tossed it to a girl who had a .cast and we made a web of love." The children also participated in crafts, from designing t-shirts to anklets, and music, where they used instruments like drums and egg shakers to prepare for the closing performance on Friday. Another favorite activity was snack-time, where children created everything from "Bethel Banana Bites" to "Love Heart Sandwiches." Unfortunately leaves weren't on the menu, so Third Grade Giraffe, Stephanie Towle, found another tasty snack to munch and crunch. "I liked the cookies with frosting, because I could make the snack any way I wanted."

Mission projects took on an important role this year, as the children focused on caring and providing for those less fortunate. Fifth Grade Lion, Seth Mason, not only made

over one hundred peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with his classmates for Compassion Corner, he also participated in packing meals for Haiti. The meals were donated through Change This World, an organization that partners with Kids Against Hunger, to provide starving countries with dehydrated meals and water purification systems. "I loved the fact that we were helping

starving people that were in a different country. The part that I loved the most was that so many people are doing stuff like this - helping others. It was a real blast and made me feel great!" Mackenzie Grzesik agreed: "The mission project meant a lot because I was able to help other people."

Sadly, there are no longer toucans and elephants decorating Allen Hall, no longer any children stomping around playing instruments or learning sign language for their musical debut. Something that took months to plan was torn down, boxed up, and put away an hour after the last child left his classroom. Fortunately, the adventure always continues for Children's Ministry. As we learned this year in Psalm 48:14, "This God is our God forever and ever. He will be our guide till the very end.";:;

This year in our summer programs we went out on a limb and took on some mission work like never before .. By working through a local non-profit organi~ation calle? Change This World we assisted one of their non-profit partners, Kids Against Hunger, to provide meals and other necessities to the children and families of Haiti.

Change This World is a local non-profit created by Stuph Clothing founders Steve and Heather Hooper. After a fa~ily mission trip, they felt called to use the resources of their business to literally change this world, thus the name of their organization. By partnering with other non-profits, they provide pathways for greater and more cohesive efforts in mission work. At this time, one of their focus partners is Kids Against Hunger, which is a non-profit humanitarian food-aid organization committed to reducing the number of hungry children in the USA and throughout the world. In 2008, Kids Against Hunger distributed 40 million meals to children and their families.

Ri.9ht now, the focus of the meal provisions is for children in Haiti. It could probably be said that we all have either a direct or indirect relationship with someone affected by the earthquakes in that country. For example, one of our long-time security guards here at First Presbyterian Church

camp Geneva & vacaTion BIBLe SCHOOL 2010

~han~~ thi~ 'W0rL~

: .. --.- ... -

of Orlando, lost family members and continues to have two small children surviving and living with their grandmother in a tent outside of Port-au-Prince. The need continues to be great!

In our church, we have had many children inquiring about how they could help children who still have a great need in Haiti. Our efforts at our summer programs this year have done just that. Working through Change This World, we packed meal packets as a mission activity. We set, and far surpassed, a goal of 30,000 meals for the summer. All the necessary supplies for this effort were provided either by Kids Against Hunger or by private donations. However, another piece of this year's mission puzzle was to help provide simple medical supplies. We asked, as we do every year, that each child bring four mission items with t~em to both Vacation Bible School and Camp Geneva. This year, we asked for band-aids, rolled gauze, ace bandages, and anti-bacterial ointment.

To complete the message we wanted to send, each child wrote personal letters to a Haitian child that will accompany the meals. We have full confidence that our efforts will reach the lives that need them, as one of our longtime church families has a relationship with a Change This World volunteer, who frequently accompanies these items to Haiti. It is through him that each of our children's hearts will travel and share the love of Christ with another child's heart.

If you wish to research either of these organizations further, visit to www.stuphclothing.com and click on the "Change This World" logo. Ii:

Spot the 4 differences in the pictures below.

"WHAT AM I THINKING?" Caption Contest!

Hi everybody my name is Jake! I belong to Miss Carol Welker in the Children's Ministry. She is so lucky she gets to be around fun kids all the time. When I get big I want to have her job. Miss Carol and I are having a contest; can you guess what I am thinking in this picture of me playing ball? Write down your best caption and drop it off to Miss Carol, or email it to cwelker@fpco.org and the winner gets a fun prize!

COLUMNS 115

By Jonathan Christian, Director of Student Ministry Photos by Katy Becker, Ritsy Carpenter, Sara Pate, and Todd McLennan

As I have shared with so many, I believe that God has laid out three seasons for this student ministry. The first season began in the spring where God used a roller coaster of significant ups and downs to draw us closer to Him and to each other. The hope for the second season, this summer, was for God to create a strong foundation that we could confidently build upon during our third season this fall. Which begs the question: "based on this summer, what does the foundation look like going into the fall?" Reading the following quotes from what God did in the lives of our students this summer should answer this question for you:

"I realize that my life was not in a good place and I needed ~~~'_~-~-~-""""'----~~~~~_~~~~JI a change that would last a lifetime, and I think I made that "Before this youth group, I was

everlasting change. I went from having a thick brick wall lost ... now I'm found." +Chandler

between my relationship with Him, to standing so close that I can feel His breath on me." -Carolina

2 Down ... 1 To Go

"I know that even on my worst and most lonely days ever, that the creator of the universe and I are still best friends." -Lindsay

"I can already see a change in the way our group acts with each other and I cannot wait to show that to our high school." -Tori

"I honestly believe that God has really rescued me. I feel a thousand times closer to God and much more at peace with everything in my life." -Alex

God has given us a clear picture Of how we can

"My eyes have been opened to God's pursuit of me in my wandering and lostness. I am leaving my want to control my own life because I now have a peace and trust that, in God, all situations are perfect in His plan." +Ginnie

"My relationship with God is more like falling in love than just something to believe in ... Praise be to God!" +Jen

better align this ministry with His will and desire jar

"Th is summer I found a new family in God and all my new friends from FPCO. I can't wait to get home and start living a new life in Christ and start going to youth group on Wednesday night, instead of going to a party. I want to spread God's love and peace to all of my friends who weren't fortunate enough to be a part of it. II =Gabby

the next season.

"I feel so blessed to have such an

awesome youth group to be a part of. These people are my family and it is so much fun to grow in Christ together." -Kaylee

"l'm the kid who didn't want to go to some 'church camp', but now that everything is said and done, I'm really glad I came ... through the worship I felt a sense of peace that I've never felt before, and I loved it." -Brendan

"I feel like my school will never be the same after everybody opened up and shared their stories with each other about how we can come together as united in Christ." -Walker

"God is continuing to reveal Himself to me and I am so excited to see how He moves in my life." +Olivia

"I feel a calling to share the hope of Jesus with people so I know God is going to use me. I just don't know when or exactly how, but I will trust Him." -Tayler

As we stand on the verge of this third season, we couldn't be more excited about what God has in store for the fall. We believe that, through a lot of prayer and listening to students and parents, God has given us a clear picture of how we can better align this ministry with His will and desire for the next season. As you read this, our staff is looking for ways to better reach out and connect with the families of our students, as well as ways to make our trips more affordable. We are also hoping to develop a small group model that produces quality disciples year

after year, and create a more effective way to minister to our college students.

From improving the aspects that people have come to love about our ministry, to exploring new territory and growing in new ways, we know that these plans to build the ministry will produce some growing pains and will challenge us to transition well. That is exactly why having a summer that provided a solid foundation was so crucial.

Knowing what God has done in the lives of our students in the first two seasons, we all have every reason to be excited and optimistic about what God will do in the third season ... bring it on! E:

Meet Steve Eastwood:

Our New Middle School Coordinator

Todd McLennan: What is going to be your basic responsibility with our Student Ministry?

Steve Eastwood: I'll be in charge of all the Middle School students. Summer's wrapping up, so what we have planned for the school year, is in the works right now. I got to go to Great Escape with the Middle School students and that was an awesome time, but now that the school year's starting, we're really starting to make a plan. We've got a lot of great things in store and we're trying to finalize everything. Some of it will be similar to what we had in the past, with a Middle School group and a High School group meeting up during the week, but I'll be solely in charge of the Middle School students.

TM: Tell us a little bit about your background and how God called you into Student Ministry.

SE: I've been involved with Young Life Orlando for about 10 years as a leader at different high schools. This opportunity at FPCO came about by a few mutual friends, on staff here, telling me about the open position. So, I met up with JC and we had a couple of interviews. I think it just felt right for me and for the church. FPCO was looking for someone fresh and new, and I had a lot of experience working with students. I definitely have a heart for student

ministry and I really felt like God was bringing me to this place. Now that I'm here, it just feels great, and I know that it's right where I should be.

TM: Talk to us about what you would say to a Middle School student who was sitting on the fence, maybe lukewarm in their faith, or maybe who hasn't developed a relationship with God yet. What would you like to say if you were chatting with a 6th, 7th, or 8th grader?

SE: Honestly, if I were speaking to a Middle School student right now, I would tell them that God is crazy about them and that Jesus is pursuing them. I feel that my mission is to be a vessel for God, to do the best that I can to reflect His love for them. So, my first and main concern is to get to know them and to form a relationship with them, in order to build trust with them, so that once we have that friendship, it will allow me to then point them to God. I can tell them of the ways that He's changed my heart, and through that, my hope is that they will be able to learn that it's really God pursuing them and it's Jesus who really has the heart for them. I just get to be in the middle of it. God is just picking me to be the mouthpiece for Him, and to be the silly guy to walk beside them as a friend in their walk to God. I get to walk with them towards Him, so they can discover just how crazy He is about them.

COLUMNS 117

TM: Tell us a bit about your last few years of experience; a little bit of general background.

SE: Well, I got married, two and a half years ago, three years in November. My wife, Amber, is a nurse, has been doing that for a long time and is pregnant-which is kind of the big news! My strengths have always been in youth/ student ministry. I was involved in Student Ministry as an extra curricular activity, when I worked in construction for five years. Although I loved working in construction, I think my heart was longing to be in ministry. Once we found out that there was a baby on the way and we made a decision to be rooted in Orlando; caring for my mother being a serious factor, since she has cancer now and moved here from Ft. Myers. I realized that Orlando is going to be home for quite a while longer, especially with my brother and his wife also being here. God is saying, I'm not only going to let you be here geographically, but I'm going let you ground your roots in by finding a church that you can be a

took for

The Fingerprints

By Katy Becker, High School Coordinator

"A planting of the Lord ... "

Over a year ago, I wrote these words found in Isaiah 61, describing the Lord's work in our student ministry over the 2009 "Rooted" Disciple Now weekend. That weekend, the students dug deep into the meaning of being rooted in Christ; we not only saw incredible transformations that weekend, but also in the weeks after the event. Now over a year later, I think back on all that the Lord did that weekend and say with even more certainty - He turned our student ministry into a "planting of the Lord."

This past spring brought us into a season where those very roots were tried. There is so much that can be said having walked with the students through this season. It was a time when we all had to come face-to-face with sin, loss, disappointment, and confusion. Incredibly though, our students came face-to-face with the deep truths of faith, forgiveness, grace, and hope. One of the gifts of working

All of this is living life in the Spirit, it's following after the God we all so love.

with students that I so cherish, is being able to watch the Lord work in and through their lives. This spring, however, in the middle of what the enemy so hoped would ruin us, I saw the fingerprints of God upon not only the Student Ministry, but upon our students' hearts, more than I ever have. In looking back at Isaiah 61, right after Isaiah speaks of "the planting of the Lord," he goes on to talk about the ruins being built back up and the former devastations

181 COLUMNS

part of. It's really exciting; it feels like we're totally caught up in God!

TM: What are some things that you think are specifically unique to Middle School students and where they are in life.

SE: Our Middle School students are excited! People tend to call them overexcited, or say that they are ADD or ADHD! I think that rambunctiousness is completely God given and completely who they are. Rather than holding them down, I want to join in that rambunctious spirit of "let's go", so I'm always drawn to that excitement. I love watching a Middle School student realize that God likes them crazy. Them being wild and crazy is glorifying to God! I think the root of that is that they're experiencing life in so many ways; everyday they're growing so fast, and now their mind wants to know what does it mean to truly follow God, what does it look like for my life now, and how am I going to make this my own thing? Ii:

being raised. However, I must be honest and say this past season did not bring ruin to our ministry and it did not devastate us. You only have to look into the eyes and hearts of our students. Even last year, as the Lord worked in and among us, He was weaving together hearts and sustaining our student ministry for what should have devastated us, and by His hand alone, did not.

Over the past months, I have witnessed our students all the more wanting to pour into others, to seek those who are lost, and give more of themselves. Their moments together became intentional; in whatever pain they experienced or confusion that riddled them, they not only did not turn away from the Lord, but they came together all the more. With all ofthis, I get so excited with what is going on. The Lord truly must be up to something so grand and fabulous for the enemy to strike as he did. But that should give us all the more hope. All of this is living life in the Spirit, it's following after the God we all love so much. This season has taught us many things, but the biggest lesson of all should be that of the steadfast faith and forgiveness of our students. I am so proud and so humbled to be able to walk with them as they go through life. We should take comfort in the workings of the Lord this past spring and early summer - He protects His Church, His bride, and truly works all things for good and to His glory. The coming months only amplify this promise and should ignite our hearts to continually look for the fingerprints of His greater plan in all things. £:

Mac Lab Opens New Windows To ASOM Students' Studies

Heart of the City Foundation and REALTO Foundation with Greg and Reagan Perkins provided the ASOM kids with a state-of-the-art

HEARTT'flECITY computer lab this year. This allows F 0 U N D A T ION the kids better opportunities for STRATEGIC INVESTORS IN ETERNITY their academic studies, as well as

video and music production, photography, and even web design. Thanks to these two Foundations for making this all possible for the ASOM students!

,

,

To see videos of the students' words of thanks, visit www.fpco.orglasom.

COLUMNS 119

1£"'''£ RECONNECT ,.

TRANSFOR

Life is better when the home crowd is cheering for youl

LI FE

20 I COLUMNS

c o rn rn u n i t u

love God, love one another

II

I

TaJIKlSTan-

EVANGELISM IN

By Dr. Case Thorp, Associate Pastor

for Mission and Evangelism

The faithful givers of our church direction of fellow graduates and church missionaries, Victor family have given $240,000 and Tatiana, who run the church, the young woman teaches through the Immeasurably More a children's Bible study class every day. It is similar to what Campaign to impact the Muslim children at FPCO experience during Sunday School, as an

world for Christ. These monies have outreach program to local children. These local children are E P H E S I A N S 3: 2 0 • 2 1 been given to the Overseas Council typically sent outside by their mothers to play all day long and First Presbyterian Orlando (www.overseas.org)fordistributionarelefttofindlunchontheirownandoccupythemselves.ln

among Christian colleges and theo- response, Victor and Tatiana opened the church to feed these logical seminaries. The desire is to keep future pastors, mis- children and teach them about the Bible, about Jesus' love, sionaries, and church leaders in their own country for ministry and what it means to be a Christian. This opportunity to bless training, if at all possible. Coming West for schooling is ex- the children opens up doors to build relationships with the pensive, hard on one's family, and can be problematic if the families and invite them to worship. Numerous families have student chooses to stay in the West and fails to bless their begun to worship Issa (Jesus) because of this neighborhood home church by returning. So, an investment in indigenous outreach.

colleges and seminaries, an investment in ministry scholarship for local students, is one more step towards building up the church in any given place.

t

IMMEASURABLY

Half of the above mentioned donation has been dedicated to the Central Asian Certificate Program offered through the College of Theology and Education (CTE) in Chisinau, Moldova and in coordination with in-country church denomination's education program. CTE's mission for this program is as follows: working there until Christians have liberty, a possibility to have local theological schools, and until they have people prepared at all levels.

The certificate program is not quite a bachelor's level of education, although aspiring graduates of the certificate program often go to Moldova for a bachelor's and master's degree. The certificate program offers basic education in a variety of topics essential for fruitful ministry. Courses are offered in Bible, theology, church planting, evangelism, missions, and more. The participants mayor may not have a university education, but the church requires their training so that ministry is done well and beliefs remain orthodox.

Currently, there are 325 students representing 30 ethnic groups in certificate programs in five central Asian countries. Our funds support the curriculum, travel costs, professor's time, and other needs that strengthen the reach of this education.

While in Tajikistan, we met a young woman who was a graduate of this certificate program. She will begin her bachelor's degree in Christian Education this fall at CTE in Moldova. In the meantime, with her certificate in hand, she felt the call to serve the church in a city of southern Tajikistan. Under the

To see a video of this teacher's classroom, visit www.fpco.org/

mission.

"WHoever warnmes one OF THese LiTTLe

• •

CHILDren In my name weLComes me ... "

-MarK9:37

On a five-hour journey to a city in southern Tajikistan, just miles from the Afghan border, we stopped for a brief stretch of the legs. Our rest stop sat several thousand feet up in the mountains. The view was magnificent! Tajikistan has the world's tallest dam, the Nurek Dam, at 984 feet. The vast reservoir behind the dam is a picturesque, crystal blue lake that winds among the mountains.

Our rest stop was vacant except for several locals that had set up some tents to sell food and drinks to the many travelers on this remote highway. Sulyman, a deacon with the church there, was traveling with us to conduct the Lord's Supper at another church. Before we got back into our van, Sulyman took it upon himself to distribute evangelism tracts, Bibles, and The Jesus Film DVDs, all offered in Tajik and Russian, to several locals there. I was taken with Sulyman's boldness to offer such materials and with the seeming receptivity. I was encouraged to take advantage of sharing Christ in whatever way possible, for we never know what word we offer, literature we give, or moment of love and compassion, that may later speak to someone's heart.

To see a video of Sulyman distributing materials, visit www. fpco.org/mission. E:

~ ...

; ... ~ .

. \\.J,?!~;\' .

\ \ ~Oll .

" .' \'\ tot" .:

\ -r « ,.

Engaged and Finding a

Common Language

By Or. Case Thorp, Associate Pastor for Mission and Evangelism

I will be officiating the wedding ceremony for Meghan Maroney and William Nash in the Reformation Chapel in March of 2011. They were engaged while attending the First Connections Seminar last spring. While we can't directly correlate the seminar and the marriage, the seminar did help them to find a common language about God and a mutually desired faith community where they could see themselves grow as a couple for many years to come. I recently had the following conversation with Meghan.

Case Thorp: Tell me about your First Connections experience?

Meghan Maroney: It was very welcoming. I liked how they have a table leader who helps to create a sense of community. The discussions at the table allowed us to get to know everyone better. Our table leader, Lacey Gray, emailed me and called, truly taking an interest in us.

There were different people from various segments of the church. We heard from Dr. Swanson, other staff, lay leaders, Sunday School teachers, and more. It helped us get a greater picture of FPCO.

The personal testimonies that were shared by the church leadership were very informative. People were very open about where they came from. Since I was not raised Presbyterian, hearing about people with other denominational affiliations before FPCO, helped me realize that it was ok for me to be here. I wasn't being looked at differently.

At another church where we went through a membership class, I worried that since I wasn't raised in that particular denomination: I wasn't welcome or was a second class citizen. However at First Connections, people were welcoming. It showed more about the desire of FPCO to focus on core of the Gospel, rather than if I fit into their box.

CT: How have you enjoyed FPCO more since First Connections?

MM: When we go to worship or Sunday School, it feels like we know more and more people. We still see our class participants and run into them while coming and going from campus. Kathy Ikonomidis and Carol Hafer have continued to be friends.

Ray Spencer's testimony was powerful, and it ended up that he is in our LIFE Community. It has been nice to go deeper in relationship.

It makes it feel like we are not just going to church and leaving; but we are experiencing a God-centered community that knows and loves us.

221 COLUMNS

CT: You and William were engaged while attending the class. Tell me about your engagement.

MM: When we went through the membership class at another church, I wasn't sure it was a great fit for both of us. William liked it, but I didn't. However, First Connections helped us find a common church home where we both felt at ease. Finding that as a couple affirmed much about what we believe Photo Courtesy of Meghan Maroney about God, the Bible, and William Nash

and a faith community, further showing each other that we were meant to be married.

First Connections is a great place to discern the calling God places on all of us to be part of a faith community. Whether discerning membership or wanting to know more about First Presbyterian Church, come and join us for First Connections this fall, on Sundays, from September 26 - November 7, from 9:30am-10:45am (Childcare available). Register online at www.fpco.org/register. For more information about the seminar, visit www. fpco.orglfirstconnections Iii:

FiRST CONNECTi8NS

First Connections Topics

Week 1 Life in Jesus Christ: Degrees of Commitment

Week 2 Our Role; Your Role

Week 3 How do you spell Presbyterian?

Week 4 Get to know FPCO!

Week 5 Stewardship as a Lifestyle with Dr. David Swanson

Week 6 Living the Life of Discipleship with Rev. Donna McClellan

Week 7 The Next Connection

ED

By Amy Heck, Administrative Assistant for Mission & Evangelism and Member

I have a love/hate relationship with nature. It mostly has to do with the slimy, crawly things which usually accompany it. But I do like plants, as long as they are inside my house or on my porch (i.e. no opportunity for slimy, crawly things to find their way into the pots). Last fall I realized that my plants needed some long-awaited attention; some had outgrown their containers, some needed some serious cutting back and pruning, and some just needed some fresh soil. All of them needed to be watered. After a couple of hours on the porch tending to my plants, I looked around at the heap of leaves, cuttings, dead plant material, and dirt at my feet and realized that in order to take good care of my plants-in order to take good care of the roots-I had to make one big fat mess.

It hit me then, that growth for every living thing is usually messy. Including discipleship-being and growing as a follower of Jesus. I used to think that growing as a Christian meant that I had to add things to my spiritual resume: read that book, have a "quiet time" by reading my Bible and praying every day, journal, be in (or lead) that Bible Study, take that class, or talk to that person about Christ, whether I felt like it or not. Eventually, I realized that, while those were all good things, I was missing something. It took some pretty hard circumstances and me hurting quite a few very good friends to realize that this path of growth and discipleship may look pretty good from the outside, but on the inside, I needed something more. Those things were leaves on my tree. But I was neglecting the roots. All of those things make for a neat and tidy package, but alone they don't go very deep. If real, deep growth happens, it happens with a lot of mess around it.

Growth is not hoop-jumping, it's not mechanical, it doesn't happen overnight. It's more than just taking another class or reading the latest book. Growth is organic, slow, and messy, but beautiful, too. The strongest plants are not the ones you see spring up overnight. They are the ones with roots that, over time, reach down deeper and deeper into the soil and bear fruit, "producing a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown" (Matthew 13:23). They have a lasting beauty, because they are well rooted.

I've come to see that growth isn't only about what you know (your head), or only about your emotional experience (your heart), or only about how you relate to the world in which we live and move (your feet); growth is all about having roots in all three. I've come to love the doctrines of the Bible that help me tie all these things together-to know God in Trinity, to know why it matters that He is three-in-one; to understand sin and how it is that I'm bought with a price; to know how to pray and practice the spiritual disciplines and bring the deepest places of my heart to Him; to have some sort of framework to begin to sort out what is opinion, what is conviction, and what is solid fact; and also to know my place in this world. In essence, I've learned that following Jesus means

putting down roots in a lot of areas of my life, and letting them sink down pretty deep. Paul prayed that we would be "rooted and established" in Christ so that we might know the depths of his love (alonq with our community"all the saints'T), and that we might be "filled to the measure of.all the fullness of God" (Ephesians 3:17-19).

I realized that even though I had grown up in church, there were lots of these things that I just didn't understand. For the last two years I've helped teach the confirmation courses for the children at FPCO. I began to realize that we were teaching them a lot of things that I didn't learn until seminary. And I began to envision a place where adults could explore the basics of the Christian faith-the roots-in a setting where we embraced, not only "head", but "heart" and "feet" also.

In early Winter 2011, we'll be teaching aserninar class called "Rooted" on Sundays, from 9:45-10:50am to explore the roots of our faith and how being a disciple of Jesus impacts our heads, our. hearts, and how we live-our feet. Whether you are new to following Jesus ot whether you have been here your whole life, but feel like you are still asking questions, I invite you to join us as we get Rooted.

For more information about this 8-week seminar, contact Amy Heck at aheck@ fpco.org. Ii:

-~.~,., .-,'./e.. -' ' .. '/ ·l·~~'·':, ,"

-\ :\''X Te take a brief. momanf to/get toknow our newest

'. • .,;V V 'staff member, Bret Allen,' Director of Family LIFE., ." ·,j6in.us in welcoming n"j;;', his effortsin helping our ,ehurch . ,.family" and, S,upp'drtifighim\;in.God's'work., .

<

",' t_ •

t" -';'::First Presbyteria-n Churcli of Orlando: Tell us a bit about your call to ministry and hQw~~ou came to '"FPCO to start

.• i,~ this ministry. ' ,

Bret Allen: I became a Christian in N0vember of 1981 while in college. 'I immediately got involved in church, First Presbyterian Church of Winston-Salem, and because of my, love for kids I got fnvolved with helping with the youth' at our church. My first real calling to' ministry Was when I was introduced to the ministry of Young Life in 1985. The philosophy 'of Youmg Life is to build friendships with kids"

so that you could 'earn the riqht' to share with them the

gospel, which fit y with me. I" was called to love

kids and tell th about Jesus. I did that for 22 years

Life am 'looking forward to doing- the same

inqwith families here.at First Pres.

My family joined FPeO shortly 'after , we moved to Orlando in 2005. David Swanson and I quickly became friends and eventually David served' on the local Young Life board in support of

my ministry ther:e. How l.came to join the staff at FPCO has three an-

swers. First, -I was aware that 'my calling to Young Life, and specifically youth, had changed. Second, because of my dose friendship with David, he was aware of my situation. And. lastly, it had been a part of David's vision at

some point to have a Director 'of Family Life and the timing and interest on my part- matched up.

; Short answer, 'The Lord'! .

_.

FPCO: How did the idea of this new

<t' ft.: ministry come-about? ' ' •

I . B' A' 'Th"d f . . h • Id

: e I ea -0 a position t at wou

- focus on the family was part of David's ~ long-term vision for .the 'church. There" was a sense of awareness, from the leadership of the church, staff, and elders, that this was a need here at FPCO. It's

not a new id~a, but one that was waiting for the right time and the right person,

_-- - -- .. --

.' I

serve' and minister~to'families at First Pres. Part of-that will be to assess what the needs are f of fam1U~s, pasents.

-,I-Aarriages, raisi'rlg children, ",all those thing's{_ .Then ,to find out how we 'can' best address those needs by providing resources, and potentially, opportunities' for parents and marriages

to grow in their relation-" ~.:"". -""!!l!!~":

ships and families. Basically, we really want to

help families as they participate here at First Presbyterian Church and learn how we can best minister to them. We're excited to see how this all works out.

'FPCO: Tell us what is on your heart about/for-families here "-

at FPCO.: -,

BA: My heart is for families to be Christ-centered. ~hat husband and wife, mom and dad, and children would love Jesus and grow to be mature followers of Him. It seems to me thatmost things in.thls world i.e. culture, busyness, materialism, technology, moral decay, etc. work against this. My hope is that FPCO would be a church that would offer

, support, encouraqernent, teaching, resources, and fellowship opportunities to the family.

FCPO: What are .sorne major things that you would like to

accomplish in the first year of this ministry? ' . .,_

, 'r

BA: I would like to personally build friendships with as many families in the church that. I don't already know. In the process of meeting and g~itiQg to know families that' the specific needs of the f1mily would become evident and to work on how the church could help with those needs.

Our plan is to have a church-wide weekend re1reat in 2010/201,1. My job will be too organize and lead this effort ..

~, l~

I would also like to offer periodic church-wide family friend-

ly fellowship opportunities. .

I

Additionally, therewill be two Family Mission trips to Mis- ; sion Emanuel in the Dominican Republic ir: 2011 that I will"

lead. '

""p-' -

FPCO: Forparents, students, ~a~ilies, etc., who 'are 011. tl:)'e'~, fence about what this new ministry can do to hell?,.,th"'" r: ~,'!

what would you say to them? ":~"';:.~ ~ "

~ (,I

BA: I hope that Family LIFE would give all a real sense FPCO: Bret just telf us a bit about the vision of how important this church believes the family is! That for Family LIFE FPCO cares about the family, values the family, and wants

to do everything possible to be a church where families BA: I'm real exci~ed that ~irslt"~resbyt~rian ,are ministered to, I also want.them to know thatthere is a Church has decided torrtove In the direc- . person on the church staff available to them for all issues

tion of discovering how .. we can better regardin'g family. E: -.

.. ~ .. ~;

one

By Kristin Tremba, Executive Director of OneByOne

UPDATE

At this year's Presbyterian Church (USA) General Assembly, team members of OneByOne shared personal testimonies of the blessing that comes from turning our sexuality over to Christ. Hundreds of commissioners, pastors, and young adult delegates heard the message that the Lord heals same-sex attraction and desires His followers to express their sexuality according to God's design.

OneByOne is a Christian ministry that was formed in 1995 by Presbyterian pastors and church members who wanted to see our denomination deal with homosexuality as a ministry and not just as a political controversy. Joe Dallas from Exodus International (the largest national and international Christian ministry to those affected by homosexuality) spoke

. about his personal experience at a Presbyterian church in New York. Out of this event, OneByOne formed as a renewal ministry within the PCUSA.

For the past fifteen years, OneByOne has been a visible presence at the PCUSA General Assembly, hosting luncheons, and providing speakers and testimonies. This year we asked a local Exodus member ministry in Minneapolis to join us, and 15 volunteers shared their testimonies in front of hundreds of commissioners. We also spoke to 200 young adult delegates and hosted a luncheon where we encouraged Presbyterian pastors to join the Exodus Church Association

, .. ~ ..

(exod usch urchassociation. org) and to consider ministering to people in their churches.

As the director of OneByOne and as the daughter and granddaughter of Presbyterian ministers, I shared how God has brought healing into

my life. My husband also shared his testimony, and it was amazing to stand before hundreds of fellow believers, holding our three-monthold daughter, Faith, as a witness of God's power and grace in our lives.

We also promoted a new book to be released by Zondervan this October called Turning Controversy into Church Ministry written by a PCUSA pastor, Bill Campbell and membe-r of the OneByOne Advisory Committee. This excellent resource helps equip churches to understand the issue of homosexuality, why people may struggle with same-sex attraction, and how God can bring healing and wholeness into their lives through the body of Christ.

Many pastors expressed their gratitude to us for sharing our testimonies and providing resources for their churches. Rev. Brad Grammer, a Presbyterian pastor in Indianapolis, encouraged fellow pastors with a powerful and tender message. After twenty years of helping men overcome unwanted same-sex attraction, Brad has seen sexually broken lives put back together through the personal nurturing relationships in the body of Christ. It is in the kindness and concern of these relationships that healing is found - and where genuine ministry is found.

Today, OneByOne and Exodus International have merged ministries, and our office is now located in AI-. tamonte Springs. We merged in order to pool our resources to reach more churches nationally and internationally. OneByOne's mission remains dedicated to renewal in the Presbyterian Church. FPCO - its leaders and members - have been an integral part of the growth of this ministry and we thank you!

For four years, OneByOne was housed at First Presbyterian Church of Orlando, which became the number one supporter of this ministry, and it remains its top supporter today. An amazing couple from First Presbyterian Church hosted a prayer group for OneByOne in their home, and it was in this group that I coincidentally met my husband!

For more information about OneByOne and Exodus International, or if you would like to learn more about how to minister to families and individuals in your church, please contact Kristin Tremba at ktremba@exodusinternational.org or 407.599.0011. Ii:

I call myself a serial er'itrepreneur, and • I have been most of my life, starting up businesses with, family, as an artist having freelance business that sold my art, as a banker lending to start up entrepreneurs, and in advertising helping businesses grow and become more profitable. And now in the context of Bajalia Trading Company starting businesses around the world to ignite local economies, and alleviate poverty.

Over the last 10 years, as I have traveled the world with my company, Bajalia Trading Company, I have, begun to understand more and more that mission has everything to do with

I business and that business has everything to do with mission. Only one miracle of the book of Acts happened , in a church, the rest all happened in the marketplace.

" .. .Th0. most spiritual thing th0y con do ... is to h0!P th0. p00p!0.find ~obs so that, thev (jan support the n'linistry.

I

I recently got to re-process some of my ideas on this subject in the context of my survey tripto Madagascar with Carol Hafer, Director of Mission at First Presbyterian Church of Orlando.

. OVer the years I have come to learn how business and mission are not only related, but collaboration among pri-

vate enterprise, churches, non-profits, and government agencies is crucial to alleviating plagues like poverty, human trafficking, child labor, and violence to women. It takes more than a village; it takes the "body" in its various parts.

We saw first-hand as we interviewed Helivao, an amazing woman, who through her own pain and abusive past has become a voice for the wom-. en of Madaqascar, Due to its low HIV/ AIDS rate', we saw how Madagascar has now become a new destination for predators active in the sex tourism industry. She shared with us how she works with many of these young girls on the coast and in the cities. These young teen girls are often coerced into prostitution to earn money for their struggling families. She shared many stories that' described the' horrors that are happeninq to women, most of. whom are still children. Visionary voices, like, Pastor Heliva'o, need our help being heard and need to receive the training to .do the work for which they' are called. Her vision is to start businesses in Madagascar for the women she rescues: women with whom she has already begun skill training in many cases. She understands-that Madagascar needs business to fight poverty, human trafficking, .and violence to women; she, was one brave' hero we met who could help lead that charge. There were many others.

Madagascar, althouqh unique in people, culture, demographics, and to-

-

with f\1ission?

By Debbie Farah, Baja/ia Trading Company

Photos by Debbie Farah

COME BE P,~RT OF THE STORY

@

Reaiity Sunday

real stories about real people

OCTOBER 3. 2010

pography, has many of the problems of a developing African nation. In past years, Madagascar has received up to

. 70% of their budget from aid. The u.s. and the international community have suspended non-humanitarian aid to Madagascar due to the government takeover, although hard to hear, and even harder to have witnessed, aid alone is not the long-term answer to Madagascar's economy.

Charity is a profoundly human response to all those stories and images that pull o.n .our heartstrings. Aid can alleviate immediate misery, and that is why we love it. But all evidence points to the maddening conclusion that,' in the long run, too much aid

. not only has no positive effect on economic growth, it may even undermine it. I believe ,that although aid has its place in education, health, and disaster relief; it .has not been effective in growing and encouraging developing

--

====~~~~~~~~==~~~.~~'~I--~

•

ask about the work of the American

chamber in Madagascar, as well as the economic develepment opportuni-

ties. We 'also. had the opportunity to.

visit a trade shew in Madagascar to. see

what types of economic development

are geing 0.1'1. I was' asked to. speak

at the Madagascar Chamber of Cornmerce and learned so. much about the economic viability of deing business there. The 'ene thing everyene that

we talked to. agreed en, at every level

of business and society, was that the potential fer Madagascar was great

and that the natural resources are abundant. Yet, having a gevernment

who. took ever illegally has created instability. They all believed the latent . talent in the Malagasy people would

be the required force to. strengthen

their country and bring back a stable qovernment.

ing up trade between the two. ceuntries would support political stability, and that grewth of the ecenemy and fighting terrorism go. hand-in-hand. This is a grim reality of the challenges facing Madagascar.

economies,

Andrew Mewenda, an outspoken Ugandan journalist who. was jailed last year fer criticizing President Museveni, who. lambasted the Western world's "international cocktail of geed intentions" fer rebbing Africa of its future. After all, what country has ever getten rich from aid? What Africa needs

is investment; I would say this is what Madagascar needs - an investment ~nte v= entrepre!leurs of the country

IS an Investment In the future of their country, The only wayan impeverished nation will develop and create wealth is if it can attract fereign capital and trade its qoods en the world market like every ether economically • successful country does,

Aid net only crowds out local entrepreneurship, it makes gevernments lazy and deprives countries of the incentive to. build effective institutions. Public revenue derived from taxes makes gevernments directly responsible to. their citizens. Gevernments become corrupt where there is no. local infrastructure and accountability, making it much easier to. steal aid money, The perverse result is that many of Africa's best and brightest become bureaucrats er NGO workers, when ,they should be scientists er entrepreneurs.

ThC?JreJ,is a biggeJf n~0din rnonv oreos today for mssloncnes wtth ousness ski!!s than with cd-ronced theJo!ogioa!

d II

el.gr;00s ...

I believe the talent of businesspeople here in Orlando, at First Presbyterian Church, combined with the Malagasy people, can change that nation.

In the words of Mother Teresa: "If each ene of you would use the same drive you use in building your business and use it to. help ethers - just think what a force that would be and what a difference you could make fer a better world fer all."

was so. impressed with the entire FJKM church and by Paster Lala, the

head of the church there and friend Collaboration between business and

of FPCO. Their faith and witness to. missions can change the world, ene ~~rist .i~ the midst of this trying time entrepreneur at a time. I'm in, are you?

IS inspiring. Instead of shrinking back, . ' .

our brothers and sisters in Madagas-' Reality Sund~y: en Octebe~ 3, Will iocar have come tegether to. begin . c~s en an excitmc; eppertLfnlty to. sta_nd talking about hew to. strengthen the w/~h (;JU.r bre.ther~ and sisters dUring businesspeeple of the church, and thiS dlff~cult time tn "!1adagas~ar. Th.ey increase business opportunities fer v:'~uld ftke our help I~ laun~~tn.g a Bit» these of their 5000 cengregatiens ftcal Entrepreneurship Initiative .that during this difficult time. We need to. weuld de~e/ep a greup oi tratners stand by them new mere than ever. and a b'!stness develepment fund to.

help train entrepreneurs to. start and

We had an opportunity while in Mada- expand businesses threugheut Madagascar to. visit the U.S. Embassy, and gascar. I::

In the book, The Great Omission, Steven Saint comments about rnissiorrar-

ies planting churches: " The most

spiritual thing they can de is to. help

the people find jobs so. that they can supp~rt the ministry. There is a bigger need In many areas today fer missionaries with business skills than with advanced theelegical degrees ... "

Recently businessmen from Pakistan came to. the United States and said to. a centingency of leaders that "we are seeking trade, net aid, because that's what'S, geing to. really help stimulate our economy." They said that open-

- --

Exposure tQ <God's Transforming Wordl

By Lori Needham, P,rayer ~hd Spiritual Formation Ministry

Here at FPCO we believe that the call to discipleship (the life long process of becoming fully devoted followers of Jesus Ghrist) is for A6:L oelievers and not just a select few. You will often see three words on our publications te describe . our vision and call .. ~SEEI(, SfrlARE, and SERVE. We tal(e trie authority of Scriptare seriously and believe it to be our guide in all of life and ministry.

With that in mind, the Prayer and Spiritual Fosrnation ministry offers biblically based classes. This fall, a variety of adult class offerings are available to fit our busy scnedules! Here's a preview of what's to Gome: '

LOVE AND WAR'( Sunaay 6veningsl SeRtember 12 - November 14;

5'- 0:30pm:

A seven-week Bible study designed for men ana women will offer answers to questions, "Why is life'sblch a battle?", ~'If I suffer, does that mean God doesn't love me?" and "In these unsettled times is there hope for the future?" In this stciay, th,e greatness of, Goa will be re-

"He truly is a patient

and loving God with a

brilliant plan qf

redemption fir all qf

us who believe. ))

30 I COLUMNS

vealed and His desire to be your Victorious Warrior. This course is designed with weekly homework, video lessons and group discussion. Rev. @onna McCI~IICln will facilitate and there is a $20 fee for the individual study guide .

LOVE AND PAMILY (Su day Evenings) Septe7Jber 12 - November; 14;,

S - 6:30pm:

What the Bible Has to Say! - With a great aeal of the media now @iluting what marriage and family has.traditionally looked like, we should be reminded as to what the Bible has to say. In .two different five-week courses, sessions led by the Counseling Ministry of Fp·CO, will offer biblically based practical help in marriage and parenting. The Counselors of FPCO will teash the classes encourag,ing the participants toward a

more spiritual marital relationship and Godly values of parenting. Running simultaneously, participants will be able to take one or both courses throughout the fall discipleship program schedule.

THE PASTOR'S BIBLE STUDY (Wednesday Evenings)

2nd Wednesday of each month, Sep- ~

tember 8 - ApriI13~; 6:30-7:4Spm: '

Join us for this monthly class series that will unpack the basic tenants ofthe ~ Christian faith.

GIFT QUEST WORKSHOP (W.-ednes-

day EveRings) September 29 - NGvember 3; 0:30 - fJpm: 'Fhis.,spipittlal gifts worKshop will reveal your unique desi9n. Learn how God-has _OJ; shaped you to serve Him and others. . ~

wo 3-week workshops offered: ~. ~

• September 29 - October- 13 t~~,"

• 'October 20' - November 3 --.

For' more infGrmation, contact Lori "'>0:

Needham at ineeabam@fpco.org" or " . ~

A Deeper Understanding of God

By Trista Smith, Member

Ihave lived in Florida all of my life, specifically Lake Mary, for 34 out of my 36 years. It would be accurate to say that I have been in a great place of comfort and habit. While I feel fortunate to be close to my family as we raise our three children, I wonder if growth in my faith and character has been stunted. For instance, I think it was a good move when my husband came to Florida 14 years ago. Every time we visit his hometown of Belleville, IL, his high school persona shows up. I still have many friends from my high school years and earlier years. My high school persona might just have been who I was.

I did not feel a need or desire to open my heart and life to others. My cup was overflowing with friends and family. God saw it differently and sparked my interest in joining a women's Bible study on Monday nights here at FPCO. At the time, our children were ages four years old, two years old, and six months old. I didn't think I had time beyond the diapers, meals, baths, housekeeping, and all the other things mothers do. Yet, I was feeling a desire to get out and do more for God. My husband would

come home from Bible study or Jobs Partnership and share his stories. I wanted what he had. He was growing in his faith and building a personal relationship with God. I had only read bits and pieces of the New Testament. He was quoting scripture. Starting this study was the response to that desire. The study is called The Amazing Collection and it is taking us through the entire Bible, five to seven books at a time. I was most excited about getting to know God more intimately. We have now traveled from The Garden of Eden to the poetry of Solomon, the wisest of men. In just these few books I saw many of God's promises come to fruition. I have a deeper understanding of God. He truly is a patient and loving God with a brilliant plan of redemption for all of us who believe. My confidence in His patience and love grew after discussing Genesis through Songs of Solomon with my friends. My new friends opened a space in my heart that I didn't even know I had!

Somehow I still get the diapers, meals, baths, and housekeeping done! It is now done with a more joyful heart because I am filled with the joy spoken of in Galatians 5:22! And now, I can quote some scripture! E:

I •

By Lori Needham, Women's Ministry

Having just concluded the summer study on the book of Revelation, the 170 women participating in that study take a small break and move into the fall with the anticipation of The Amazing Collection study of The Major Prophets.

This next installment will offer lessons of five books in the Old Testament - The Major Prophets. We begin in the book of Isaiah and conclude in Daniel.

This study will offer a glimpse of Israel's promised Messiah through the book of Isaiah, Jerusalem's final judgment in the book of Jeremiah and will study the mourning of Jerusalem's destruction through the book of Lamentations, Israel's eventual restoration in Ezekiel and finally God's supremacy over nations in the book of Daniel.

Plan to join us in September and if you have not been a part of The Amazing Collection study thus far, the design of these installments offers everyone an opportunity to join at any point. As has been our custom, three offerings are once again scheduled. Monday mornings and Thursday mornings offers child care, 9:30- 11 :30am, while the Monday evening groups gather from 6:30-8:30pm. Thursday groups begin on September 9 and conclude on November 11. Monday groups begin September 13 and finish on November 15. This is ten weeks of engaging study!

Register now to attend a study and make a reservation for child care. You can register on-line at www.fpco. org/register or pick up a registration form in the lobby of the Edington Ministry Center. Registration closes on September 7, so don't delay! Questions? Contact Rev. Donna McClellan at dmcclellan@fpco.org or x1488 or Lori Needham at Ineedham@fpco.org or x 1463. E:

HE

INC

-C-O LL E C T 10 N™

The Bible, Book by Book

1

ii'

JI First Presbyterian (,:Church of Orlando

Register by September 7 www.fpco.org/register Cost: $20 fee for materials fpeo.org/women

Contact: Lori Needham 407.423.3441 x1463 or Ineedham@fpco.org

COLUMNS 131

Two years ago Sam Ramsey, then Mayor of Covington, Georgia and Chairman of the Salem Camp Ground [sic] Board of Trustees, gave Dr. David Swanson a phone call. The thick Southern drawl of that phone call was the first hint that the request to come was not your normal invitation to preach. Mayor Ramsey called to invite Dr. Swanson to preach at Salem Camp Meeting, a 182 year-old, uniquely American religious experience, that continues to this day. Mayor Ramsey had one question, "Would you come and preach the Gospel for us?"

Founded in 1828 near a freshwater spring just west of Covington, Georgia, which at the time was larger than Marthasville (now known as Atlanta), Salem Camp Meeting was one of many camp meetings established across the American South and Midwest during the Second Great Awakening (1790-1840). Each year after the harvest was collected a farmer packed up his family, gathered with others to pitch their tents, and settled down for two weeks of open-air revival. Salem Camp Meeting has met continually since 1828, with the exception of the Civil War.

Itinerate preachers, mostly from the Methodist and Southern Baptist traditions, traveled what became known as the saw-dust trail to powerfully preach the Gospel (saw-dust became the flooring of choice) to meet the growing awareness of the Holy Spirit during the Second Great Awakening. Over time, outdoor pavilions were built and the tents soon became wooden cabins. Today, families only gather for one week, many of the cabins have air-conditioning, and a rotation of Methodist, Presbyterian, and Baptist preachers are welcomed, but the experience of old time religion is a unique family worship time, where the Holy Spirit speaks powerfully in people's lives and young people are inspired

321 COLUMNS

To the Ends of the Earth ... and to North Georgia

By Dr. Case Thorp, Associate Pastor for Mission and Evangelism

for a life in mission and ministry.

Dr. Marshall Dendy, First Presbyterian Church of Orlando's pastor in the mid-twentieth century, preached at Salem in 1949 and 1961. Dr. John Melton also preached at Salem in the 1950's. This year Dr. Swanson returned

to continue the legacy and to join a company of pastors that forever keep the unique experience of camp meeting in their hearts.

I grew up attending Salem Camp Meeting, worshiping three times a day, attending Bible class each morning, and running from one youth activity to another. Over the course of my childhood I heard nationally renowned and dynamic preachers like Bill Carl (now president of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary), Tom Long (Emory's Chandler School of Theology and voted by US News and World Report one of America's Top Ten Preachers), Todd Jones (now senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Nashville), and Bishop Bevel Jones (retired Bishop of North Carolina in the United Methodist Church).

It was at Smyrna Presbyterian Camp Meeting, just down the road and my home church, where I heard the call to full time ministry. Six years later I returned to the Smyrna Tabernacle to be ordained as a minister of Word and sacrament. It is with great joy and excitement that our family welcomed Dr. Swanson for this week of dynamic worship, great preaching, tasty Southern food, and long, warm afternoons porch-sitting.

For more information, visit www.salemcampground.org. E:

How can a congregation of more than 4500 members like First Presbyterian Church of Orlando provide long-term care for members going through difficult life challenges? Stephen Ministers extend the ability of pastors to provide quality care for hurting people. They can give focused one-on-one care, week after week, as long as the person needs it. That care makes an immense difference in the lives of their care receivers. I've been a Stephen Ministry Leader since 1996 and our pastoral staff tells me repeatedly that because of Stephen Ministry, we are able to provide the excellent follow-up care that the congregation needs. Our members know that this is care they can count on and frequently refer friends in the community to Stephen Ministry for care. Rev. Sam Knight, Associate Pastor for Congregational Life, says, "It quickly became obvious to me what an incredible asset Stephen Ministry was to the pastoral care of this congregation. The Pastoral Staff of the church does not have an extra one hundred and thirty hours to care for individuals the way that our Stephen Ministers care for their Care Receivers. It just makes sense to me to empower the congregation to support, encourage and care for one another and the community. Didn't Jesus say 'they will know that you are my disciples by your love, one for another.'?"

One of our members was dealing with a difficult health problem and was referred to Stephen Ministry. The member shares: "I had been a member of FPCO for a long time and had heard of Stephen Ministry. But I really didn't understand what it was all about until I agreed to meet with my Stephen Minister." From the first time this member and his Stephen Minister met, he experienced the power of Christian Care. "I know there are reasons why I have this

341 COLUMNS

That You Care

By Tammas Smith, Director of Pastoral Care

illness," he says. "My Stephen Minister always has time to call me, sit with me, listen to me and pray with me." The care receiver shared that Stephen Ministry has brought a spiritual awareness to his situation.

Care receivers aren't the only ones who benefit. Stephen Ministers also grow through these relationships. Answering God's call to Christian care-giving can be a life changing experience. Stephen Minister and Peer Supervision Group facilitator, Alex Hartley says, "Stephen Ministry is the epitome of the Christian walk. The listening skills you learn and develop make a difference in all aspects of your life." Stephen Minister, Judy Kinnard says, "This ministry has given me insight into how to help my own family in certain situations." Each Stephen Minister makes a two year commitment to the ministry, but most stay on far beyond that.

In a disciplined trained and organized manner, our Stephen Ministers do what every Christian is called to do. They care for people who are grieving, for those facing health challenges, divorce, loneliness, spiritual doubt and other life crises. They show Christ's love to a hurting world, one at a time.

Stephen MInistry is the epItome of the Christian walk The listening skills you learn and develop make a dIfference in all aspects of your life

A Stephen Minister never reveals the identity of his or her care receiver or discusses what occurs in the caring relationship with anyone else, even his or her spouse. The only exceptions to confidentiality involve the possibility of suicide, homicide, or abuse. The care receiver is free to tell others about the relationship. Otherwise, the only people who know that a member is receiving care are the Stephen Minister, the Stephen Leader who made the referral assignment, and possibly a pastor.

13 New Stephen Ministers Commissioned

"Come, follow me: Jesus said, 'and I will make you fishers of men.' At once they left their nets and followed him." Matthew 4: 19-20

Sunday, June 6, was a joyous occasion at First Presbyterian Church of Orlando, as we celebrated the commissioning of 13 caring members of our congregation who have heard the call of the Lord and left their nets to follow Him. This rite of commissioning culminates a period of extensive training and preparation for caring ministry through the Stephen Series, a special ministry of care and concern for others. Our Stephen Ministers have studied and practiced skills in such areas as dealing with feelings, crisis intervention, asserting oneself with gentleness and firmness, and numerous other topics to prepare them to help people who are experiencing problems in their lives. After the commissioning, these Stephen Ministers will be assigned to minister in our congregation and community, working with people who are experiencing such life crises as hospitalization, retirement, financial setback, the loss of a loved one, major illness, or any of a number of other difficulties people face in daily living.

2010 Class of Stephen Ministers

• Barbara Baker • Denise Hammond

• Don Batchelor • Michael Hammond

• Kristy Collings • Bill Malfitano

• Tonya Culton • Wally Miller

• Richey Davis • Amy Sinns

• Edith Dixon • Amanda Woodward

• Carole Foote

New Stephen Ministry Leaders are Trained

Debbie Barnhart and Allison Reed have just completed an intense week of training to be Stephen Ministry Leaders. They, along with more than 450 other leaders, attended a seven-day Stephen Series Leader's Training Course. Debbie and Allison have returned to us, charged up and eager to cast the vision for this lay-caring ministry. They bring their gifts of leadership, vision, wisdom, administration, organization discernment, and caring to select and equip those who are Stephen Ministers - lay Christian caregivers - in our congregation. They will join the Stephen Ministry leadership team along with Barbara Brown, Rev. Sam Knight, Linda McCallister, and myself. Join us in thanking God that Debbie and Allison have answered His call for this ministry, and pray for them as they begin this important work of the Lords!

Is God Calling You to Serve as a Stephen Minister?

Here's what one Stephen Minister has to say about Stephen Ministry:

"I was kind of sitting on the sidelines in our congregation. Oh, I came to church every Sunday, but the rest of the week I was focused on myself. Then Stephen Ministry came along. When I said yes to God's call to me for that ministry, I saw a lot of changes in my life. Now I'm committed to caring more about others than I do about myself. And you know what? I'm walking a lot closer with my Lord."

We are currently seeking those who are interested in serving as a Stephen Minister. The demands are high. All of our Stephen Ministers are required to attend fifty hours of training and serve a two year commitment. The training will be January through May and attendance for all classes is required. After commissioning, a Stephen Minister meets with a care receiver for an hour each week. All Stephen Ministers are required to attend bi-monthly meetings with supervision and continuing education. The requirements are high, but the blessings are much higher!

First Presbyterian Church of Orlando will be training another class of Stephen Ministers in January 2011. Stephen Ministers work alongside our pastors to care, encourage, and provide emotional and spiritual support to people who are going through a difficult time, such as: divorce, grief, hospitalization, unemployment, terminal illness, relocation, chronic illness, or loneliness. If you have gifts for caring, encouragement, and listening, please begin to prayerfully consider whether you might want to be part of this exciting ministry. For more information, contact Tammas Smith, tsmith@fpco.org or x1455.E:

Stephen Ministry Day Sunda~October17, 2010

Look for our information tables in the Grand Hallway and under the Angel Wing

COLUMNS 135

WALKING THE MOURNER~S PATH@ Transforming Grief INTO Joyful Living

By Tammas Smith, Director of Congregational Care

ave you, or someone you know, experienced the death of a close relative or friend? If so, you know life after the death of a loved one. Our lives have been changed forever.

I

differs based on who we are, whom we have lost, and how much our day-to-day life by the death. A normal reaction to loss and grief is unique in its impact, course, aning to each of us. Experiencing the loss of a partner, a parent, sibling, or a liferiend, with whom we share history, often has special meaning to us.

king about reactions to the loss of a loved one, we tend to think only of the emoreactions. Yet, people also experience physical and behavioral reactions. The ""Jt-~jn"'·,t ." of grief changes over time and through personal growth. We have a safe to grieve and share our feelings with others, Walking the Mourner's Path. the Mourner's Path is a Christ-centered, eight-week, non-denominational

program.

Grief differs based on who we are, whom we have lost, and how much our day-to-day life is altered by the death.

is program is distinct from many others in that we are Christ-centered and based. Walking the Mourner's Path is not group therapy, but is spirituIly directed. We believe grieving is not a lack of faith, but a natural part of liv. Through the eight-week support group, complete with workbook, mournwill learn ways in which they may honor their loved ones, seek spiritual irection, and discover Christ's promise of comfort. The classes will consist of a series of lessons built on the stages of grieving from denial to acceptance.

A clergy is present at all sessions, which are led by two trained bereavement .. facilitators.

The purpose of the program is to transform grief into joyful living. Walking . the Mourner's Path offers the outstretched hand of Christ, inviting those who have felt the intensity of grief to come into our Lord's loving presence and experience the abundance of His tender mercies. The workbook is based on scripture.

The next session will be held Wednesdays, September 29 through November 17, 2010 and the class meets every Wednesday from 6:30- 8pm. For further details on this program, call Tammas Smith, Director of Pastoral Care at 407.423.3441, x1455. Space is limited and you must be registered to attend. E:

WITH First Presbyterian Church of Orlando Transforming Grief INTOJoyful Living

8- Week Grief Support Program

A Christ-centered bereavement and grief support program with a purpose of helping you transform your grief into joyful living by offering the outstretched hand of Christ during bereavement.

Sessions will meet Wednesdays September 29 - November 17

6:30pm • Space is limited

For more information:

Tammas Smith at 407.423.3441 x1455

~

II First Presbyterian

~Church2f Orlando

Why Isn't It Full?

By Tammas Smith, Director of Pastoral Care

In 2005, 4-year-old Alyson Spradley's grandfather, Bud Banta died. Alyson loved to spend time with her "Papa Bud" and missed those special times when he was gone. One way she remembered him was to visit the church's Columbarium where he was interred. As a Weekday School student and later at The Christ School, she always felt "Papa Bud" was close. She would leave notes and flowers by his niche. One day while visiting, she asked her grandmother, Anne Banta, about the wall where the fountain was bubbling. There were several plaques on the wall and Anne brought her up to the Pastoral Care offices where I explained those were used to remember people who had died. Alyson asked why "Papa Bud's" name wasn't on that wall. She wanted him remembered in both places. A plaque was ordered and Alyson wanted to be present to. help mount it on the Memorial Wall. Now nine years old, she still cherishes the memories of her beloved grandfather. As she mounted the plaque, she asked, "Why isn't it full? Don't a lot of people at the church have people they want to remember?"

The answer is that most people in the church don't know about the Columbarium orthe Memorial Wall.

Located between the Sanctuary and the Edington Ministry Center, the Memorial Garden was built to honor the memories of First Presbyterian members and their families who have

died. The

g a r-

den location offers a quiet place for prayer, meditation, and reflection. On the walls of the buildings are plaques honoring the memories of elders and deacons who have served the church so faithfully.

The Columbarium offers a consecrated place for the remains of our members and families, and will stand as a reminder to us that those who went before us are not forgotten, and they have found peace and rest with God. It is the hope of the members of this church that this will inspire reverence for this life and hope for the life to come. The price of a single niche is $2500 and a double niche is $2900, plus engraving fees.

The Memorial Wall is on the north side of the Columbarium near the front entrance of the Sanctu-

ary. It is a gently arced wall fronted by a bubbling fountain. The wall has bronze plaques honoring and remembering our members and families. The cost for an engraved plaque is $400.

If you, like Alyson, want to remember aloved one on the Memorial Wall or want to find out more about the Co/umbarium, please contact Tammas Smith, Director of Pastoral Care, at 407.423.3441 x1455 or tsmith@fpco.org. E:

Continue Your Child's Education with SONday Times!

Children's Music and Children's Ministry of FPCO team up to create SONday Times this fall! We will meet on Sundays, 4:30pm- 6:30pm, September 12-November 14. Registration starts September 12 in the Allen Yowell Hall Lobby. Additional rehearsals will be held for the Children's Choirs' participation in the Family Christmas Eve services. Children 4 yrs-5th grade are welcome! For more information, visit www.fpco.org/sondaytimes. Contact: Stephanie Rivera at srivera@fpco.org or x1186 or Carol Welker at cwelker@ fpco.org or x1490

Facilitator Training for Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover on September 12

Recruiting all those interested in facilitating "The Total Money Makeover" financial series by national speaker and radio host, Dave Ramsey. FPCO is committed to providing continuous stewardship offerings to help achieve financial fitness with a firm biblical. This fall, September 12 - November 14, on Sunday from 4:30-6:30pm, we will train facilitators in leading a class series that will be offered in 2011. Contact: Lori Needham at Ineedham@fpco.org or x1463

Women's Cancer Support Group Meets September 15

The Women's Cancer Support Group meets on the 3rd Wednesday of every month in EMC-340 Sterchi room from noon-1 pm. Come join us for a light lunch and a comforting place for women to come and share, and get information and help you need while dealing with cancer. We look forward to seeing you! For more information, please contact Linda McCallister/Congregational Life Ministry at 407.423.3441 x1159 or email Imccallister@fpco.org.

Congratulations to:

• Jesse and Katie-Grace Miller, on the birth of their son, Jackson Aaron Miller, born April 8, 2010. The proud grandparents are Curtis and Kathy Grace.

• Tony and Dawn Fiorillo, on the birth of their daughter, Ellie Caroline Fiorillo, born April 27, 2010.

• Chad and Courtney Milam on the birth of their daughter, Charlotte Nell Milam, born May 27, 2010. The proud grandparents are Guy and Dawn Neff.

• Billy and Ashley Palmer, on the birth of their son, Charles Flint Palmer, born March 30, 2010. He joins big brother Luke. The proud grandparents are Peter and Jane Fox.

• Chuck and Melissa Price, on the birth of their daughter, Dixon Louise Price, born June 30, 2010.

• Eric and Tip Bartels, on the birth of their daughter, Emery Stewart Bartels, born June 30, 2010.

• Clint and Maribeth Ball, on the birth of their son, Cooper Robert Ball, born July 7, 2010. The proud grandparents are Robby and Margie Ball. The proud Great-grandmother is Ruth Johnson.

• TR and Christy McDonald, on the birth of their daughter, Mia Danielle McDonald, born July, 21, 2010. The proud grandmother is Nancy McDonald.

• Johanna Hetrick, on the birth of her son, Tristan William Hetrick, born July 23, 2010. The proud grandparents are Larry & Cyndy Hetrick.

• Sean Michael Altenbach and Lydia Beth DeLoach, who were married May 29,2010 in the Reformation Chapel. Lydia is the daughter of David and Jackie DeLoach.

• Austin Davis and Becky Capps were married in Spartanburg, South Carolina on April 24, 2010. Austin is the son of Dick "Richey" and Anne Davis.

• Craig Rhoads Poore and Lauren Elizabeth Boozer, who were married July 30,2010 in the Reformation Chapel.

• Patrick Lyle Mixson and Amy Taylor Dominick, who were married on August 7, 2010, in the Sanctuary. Patrick is the son of Bob and Vicky Mixson and Amy is the daughter of Jay & Deborah Dominick.

• Mel and Pat Kearson, who celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on June 18, 2010.

Sympathy to:

• Kathy Spry, on the death of her mother, Joan Spry, on December 8,2009.

• The family and friends of Dick Stout, who died May 5, 2010.

• Bunny Anderson, on the death of her husband, George Anderson, on May 18, 2010.

• Dr. Malcolm and Pam Henley, on the death of his son, David Henley Davidson, on May 22, 2010.

• Rick and Rebecca Sickles, on the death of his mother, Georgene Sickles, on May 24, 2010.

• Tom Kirkland, on the death of his uncle, Allan Crowson, on May 28,2010.

• Jo Anne Grauberger, on the death of her husband, Harry Grauberger, on June 4, 2010.

• Bob and Doris Williams, on the death of his mother.

• Wes and Karen Wankel man, on the death of her grandmother, Jeannette Guglielmino, on June 7, 2010.

• Kathy Pierson, on the death of her mother, Putty Smith, on June 9,2010.

• Dr. David and Amanda Cowan, on the death of his mother, Rosa Cowan, on June 11, 2010.

• The family and friends of Don Murphy, who died June 18, 2010.

• David and Dorothy Boon, on the death of his father, John Boone, on June 18, 2010.

• The family and friends of Robert M. "Bob" Smith, who died June 18,2010.

• Fred and Beth Saffer, on the death of her father, Beverly Johnson, on June 24, 2010. Mr. Johnson was the grandfather of Amy Saffer Roberts (Jimmy) and the great grandfather of Jimmy, Delaney and Luke Roberts.

• the family and friends of Samuel Hopkins, Jr., who died June 25, 2010.

• Nolan and Pati Carter, on the death of her mother, Celesta Hope Sutton, on June 27, 2010.

• Barbara Brooks, on the death of her husband, Ananias Brooks, on June 27, 2010.

• Blake Deloach, on the death of his father, Bratton Deloach, on

July 3, 2010.

• The family and friends of Patricia Thames, who died July 7,2010.

• The family and friends of Joe Harrison, who died July 8, 2010.

• Steven Burkhalter, on the death of his father, Bill Burkhalter, on July 8, 2010.

• George Huffman on the death of his wife, Isabella Huffman, on July 18, 2010. Isabella was serving as a deacon.

• Brad Staton, on the death of his grandfather, James Bryngelson, on July 24, 2010. Mr. Bryngelson was the great-grandfather of Beau and Sidney Staton.

• George Fender, on the death of his father, G Robert "Bob" Fender on July 23, 2010.

COLUMNS 139

First Presbyterian Church of Orlando 106 E. Church St., Orlando, FL 32801

PERIODICALS RATE US POSTAGE PAID ORLANDO, FL

The First Presbyterian Columns (USPS 604-040) is published once per quarter by the First Presbyterian Church. Circulation: 3300. (3000 by US Mail, 300 by on-campus distribution). Periodicals postage paid at Orlando, Florida. POSTMASTER:

Send address changes to COLUMNS,

106 E. Church St. Orlando, FL 32801-3390.

©2010 First Presbyterian Church of Orlando COLUMNS.

POSTMASTER: Time Sensitive Material Please Deliver by September 1, 2010