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Published by: J.O.Y. Ministries Gateway Church of the Nazarene
Murrieta, CA
Volume X—Issue III FROM THEFROM THE
MAY-JUNE 2010
But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. Matthew 14:27-29
Our God is big enough to walk with you where you have never walked before! The Bible is all about faith, dreaming dreams and seeing visions! We are challenged over and over to step out into areas where God can work miracles! We have not because we ask not! As we approach a new
Pastor Bill Grigory
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Betty Little
Dan Little
Elsie Pittam
Nelson Sheets, Sr.
JohnMark Wood
Doris Shackleton March 1922-March 2010
church year this challenge to ―stretch‖ is resonating in my heart
and the hearts of your church board. God is doing new things at
Gateway Church and for that we give Him all the glory!
God is opening new doors and we believe God is going to
help Christians, marriages, families, to walk where they have
never walked before. God wants to take each of us to levels
we never dreamed possible before! If God can help a man like
Peter to walk on water, God can help us as a church to walk
on the circumstances that surround the Church today. That is
how BIG our God is!
Like the disciples, we hear Jesus calling to us and our re-
sponse is to be afraid. Right now it seems everyone is afraid
of the economy and the financial crisis in our state and coun-
try. People are afraid of the direction our country is going and
fear that we may never recover what we are losing. People are
afraid to risk in any way! That fear is a tool of the enemy to
cause us to stay in the boat. With a new vision of how great
our God is, fear can come down and faith can come up!
Two things God is committed to doing for you and me:
first, God is committed to our spiritual growth and develop-
ment. God will use everything to help us grow our faith and
deepen our walk with Him. Second, God is committed to re-
vealing to the world the greatness of His Father’s glory
through us! He wants us to be His witnesses. God wants to
use us to bring the Father great glory. (John 15:8) God wants
us to Share the Blessing with a lost world! If God can get it
through you, He’ll get it to you!
In January there was a leadership summit where the church
board and I worked through evaluating and assessing where
we are as a church and then worked to establish a strategy and
plan for the future. It was an exciting time to hear God and set
goals worthy of the Lord! The goals we believe God gave us
are:
Community – Connecting in love for each other
Personal Growth – Discipleship in love for Christ
Relevance – Application in love for God’s Truth
Replication – Reaching out in love for others
Facility Expansion – Building in love of our Vision
These are the goals we have set for the foreseeable future.
We will not be happy staying in the boat. We are called to get
out of the boat and walk where we have never walked before!
What are we waiting for? God is still God and He is as BIG as
He ever was!
What we need from everyone at Gateway is to believe in
these goals and support them with all our hearts! These goals
have to move from ideas set on paper to a passion filling our
hearts. They have to become the DNA of Gateway Church of
the Nazarene. On Sunday, April 18, I shared all the details
about this strategy and plan. Pray that the Holy Spirit will
keep our hearts on fire and increase our faith! God is so BIG
He can help us walk where we’ve never walked before. To
God be the Glory!
Pastor Bill
ELECTION RESULTS May 2010-April 2011 Church Board
Jim Carlton
Steve Ellis
Michael Haight
Joe Harrison
Dave Jones
NMI President: Jennifer Wood
NYI President: Rod Amstutz
Sunday School Superintendent: Peggy Webb
NMI Council
Jennifer Wood, President
Sherry Balthazor
Lisa Corral
Candy Haight
Michael Haight
Martin Jackson
Sunday School Ministries Board
Peggy Webb, Superintendent
Lisa Amstutz
Jan McCracken
Renee Swartz
Lois Yoder
JohnMark Wood
Steve Webb
DISTRICT ASSEMBLY: will open
June 2, at 7 p.m. at Hemet Church of
the Nazarene. Business sessions will
be held June 3 at 8:30 a.m. For more
i n f o r m a t i o n p l e a s e g o t o
www.socalnaz.com/district_assembly.
Delegates from Gateway are Maggie
Bailey, Burdette Barth, Lee Beaty,
Sandy Beaty Marlene Bowman, Char-
lene Goble, Candy Haight, Elsie Pit-
tam, Adrian Yoder, Lois Yoder plus
ex-officio Rod Amstutz, NYI Presi-
dent; Jennifer Wood, NMI President;
Peggie Webb, Sunday school Superin-
tendent. Alternates Lew Downs,
Dottie Barth, Joe Harrison.
NMI CONVENTION will be held
June 2 at the Hemet Church 8:30 a.m.-
3:30 p.m For more information go to
www.socalnaz.com/district_assembly.
Delegates are Rod Amstutz, Maggie
Bailey, Burdett Barth, Dottie Barth,
Lee Beaty, Sandy Beaty, Marlene
Bowman; Lisa Corral, Charlene
Goble, Candy Haight, Nichole Haight,
Betty Little, Dan Little, Marian Paige,
Terry Paige, Nelson Sheets, Sr., Ruth
Sheets, Adrian Yoder, Lois Yoder.
Jennifer wood as NMI Pres…… Al-
ternates are Marissa Cloud, Jarry
Cloud, Bob Stoops
Randy Lovett
Joel Rogers
Gary Tacket
Kelli Wise
At 16 years of age, Doris went to Anderson College in Indiana. There she participated in a traveling trio, where she met Frederick Shackleton. They married in 1943. He was a musician and minister and Doris served in children's ministry with him in several churches for 9 years, then she became a public school teacher, first in music, then in teaching children to read. She raised 3 children, Martin, Fredda and Linda. Doris loved the Lord Jesus Christ with all of her heart, and wanted to serve and please Him in every area of her life.
Margaret Jilbert August 1925 to March 2010 Raised in a Nazarene parsonage,
Margaret attended Trevecca Nazarene College then Eastern Nazarene College. Called to nursing, she finished training in Glendale, at White Memorial Hospital. While playing the piano at Huntington Park Church of the Nazarene, a young red haired boy named Kenneth Jilbert spotted her. Romance blossomed, and they were married in 1951. For most of her career she was a surgical nurse at Torrance Memorial Hospital, and served her church as missionary president, Sunday school teacher, choir member, church pianist, etc. She and her husband Ken moved to Murrieta in 2005 and became members of Gateway. She is survived by their 4 children, 2 sisters and 1 brother, David Jones, also a member of Gateway.
http://www.socalnaz.com/district_assemblyhttp://www.socalnaz.com/district_assembly
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Dr. Roger Bowman J.O.Y. Pastor,
Managing Editor
Second Wind People
As Gateway Church moves into the summer and a new church year (May 1, 2010
-April 30, 2011), are we as senior adults ready to embrace a new beginning? Dr.
Charles Arn, Director of the Institute for America Church Growth, in his book, The
New Senior caught my attention as he wrote about second wind people. Do we need
to catch our second wind? The dictionary defines a second wind as ―renewed
strength or energy, as during a competition.‖ Some of you might be saying to
yourselves, ―it’s too late. I’ve been in the race for a long time and need some rest.‖
Do you really mean seniors getting their second wind? Yes, I do. Have you
forgotten – the Christian life is a marathon, not a one- mile run?
You might feel like the marathon runner whose every muscle aches, whose breath
comes in short pants, and the finish line seems unreachable. The temptation is to
give up the race, and then it happens. You get your second wind and are able to
finish strong. That’s right! ―Just Older Youth‖ like you and me must continue to
―press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus‖ (Phil.
3:14). The Apostle Paul caught his second wind on his second missionary journey
and planted the church in Philippi. The JOY of the Lord gave him renewed strength
to hold on. At our age we need a second wind just to get out of the house and get to
church on Sunday, not to mention Wednesday. I believe second wind people must
guard against looking back and embracing the past when there are so many
opportunities ahead. Second wind people will either find greater joy and purpose in
living dependently on the Lord or will become increasingly frustrated and depressed
because the loss of control is exposed as the imposter it is. The wind of the Holy
Spirit will re-energize us to reach new goals even in these jars of clay in which God
has placed the treasure of His Spirit.
There are many examples of second wind people who got refired instead of
retired. Missionary Albert Schweitzer practiced medicine well into his 90’s. Chester
Mulder kept in the race until his late 90’s also. Winston Churchill became Prime
Minister of England at the age of 65 and served off and on in that position until he
was 81. Without looking back, Joshua, that 85 year old hero of the faith, without
complaining about his age was appointed as a servant of Moses to cross over the
Jordan. So what’s your problem? What’s holding you back? Knees? Hips? Feet?
Arthritis? James T. Noland encourages us to stay in the race in spite of obstacles:
When your crinkles turn to wrinkles and your wrinkles turn to seams,
When your nicely rounded bottom is a widely flattened beam,
When you see your outsides changing while your insides stay the same,
So old age won’t overtake you, KEEP ON RUNNING! That’s the game.
I picked up a statement the author of which I do not know. It made sense to me
and perhaps will to you as well. It says, ―There are many things in life that we
cannot control. They happen, but the way we respond to them and work in and
through them can make all the difference between living and putting in time.‖
That’s a second winder’s thought, I believe. As Yogi Berra said, ―The future ain’t
what it used to be.‖ Is it possible that we need the fresh wind and fresh fire of the
Holy Spirit to help us reach the lost, the lonely, and the least for the Kingdom?
Dr. Mel Kimble wrote, ―People created in the image of God do not diminish in
worth or sanctity as they move through the aging process…‖ God isn’t finished with
us yet. I pray that Gateway seniors will catch their second wind and embrace
whatever it takes to bring people to Christ and the church this new year.
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Tidbits from the
Murrieta Hot Springs
Three District Prime
Time Retreat, April, 2010 Dr. James Diehl, recently retired
General Superintendent for the Church of
the Nazarene, was the principle speaker for
the retreat. He shared from his heart,
bringing a renewed joy in the Spirit as we
considered the wisdom earned from his
own experiences and suffering.
If we feed our souls on the junk of the world, that is what we will become. We
must feed on the Word of God! (Phil.
4:8)
When the Lord’s on the scene, age doesn’t make any difference!
Attitude makes all the difference in the world. In victory or defeat, it’s not
ability, not money or age—it’s attitude!
The Jesus Attitude—(Phil. 2:5) is not
automatic. We have to seek it every day.
The devil’s work is to bring on confusion; to bring on discouragement
(Nehemiah). What are we to do? 1) Go
to prayer; 2) identify the problem, and
set a watch against it; 3) feed them faith;
4) armed, go back to work!
God doesn’t save us so we can sit! It is a relationship, a journey.
―You have given Me your sins; now give Me yourself! Be holy in all your
conduct‖—Jesus.
Response—―Take my all, make me holy, help me love people Lord, take me, make
me Christlike; make me the Christian
You want me to be.‖
District Superintendent John Denney’s challenge to us:
Q. ―What would you give for your children
to know Christ?‖
A. ―Oh, I’d give my life for my children to
know the Lord!‖
Q. ―That is our answer, is it not, but would
you listen to their music…?‖
Dr. Ward Tannenberg, CASA Director:
Every new ―elder‖ must understand the
search for meaning changes at midlife! To
find meaning in the second half of life,
create a work, do a deed, experience
something or someone; turn tragedy into
triumph. The tools? Optimism; humor;
psychological detachment….
Darrell Rotz told a little about
courting Leah—ask him why
they love moonshine—?
The next Prime Time Retreat will be at
Murrieta Hot Springs on April 18-21, 2011.
In my next article I want to
address what Dr. Arn identifies as
―Common Characteristics of
Second Wind People.‖
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By Dee Patten The aftermath of the Haitian, Chile and other recent
earthquakes will be with us for a long time. Questions come
into our minds: why? Why didn’t God do something? Why
do His people suffer so from such things as this, and—why
does He allow them? Will it be that bad here some day? On
and on, if we permit it, our minds will bring up questions we
can hardly stand to entertain.
My first experience with an earthquake came in March
1934. A couple of months before, I had seen the movie,
―Frisco Jennie,‖ a story built around the San Francisco
earthquake—and the scenes came vividly to mind as our
house began to shake. Suddenly it became very strong,
accompanied by a loud roar, and our twin beds began to
rotate back and forth while I beat a hasty retreat from the
bedroom. Still it continued as my parents decided what was
best to do, whether to chance tiles falling on us from the roof
as we fled, to wait it out, or run out the back way? By that
time it had subsided, but smaller ones kept reoccurring, some
stronger than others.
It was decided I would sleep in the car that night with my
baby sister in the back seat; my parents would sleep in their
bedroom nearby with my 3 year old brother between them.
Some of our neighbors spread blankets on their lawns,
refusing to stay in their own beds. But the next night we were
back in our own homes—they had held up, but there were
many badly damaged homes and businesses in Long Beach,
about 30 miles away. The familiar roar accompanied the after
-quakes for months, until earth quieted down finally, and
Californians set about learning how to build our structures so
that such tragedies could be overcome.
I was blessed recently by reading Mark Ritter’s article in
the Californian, ―Don’t be mad at Earth for its Quakes.‖ He
explains that the earth ―is designed in such a way that events
such as Haiti’s earthquake have happened countless times
before, they will happen again this year, and they will happen
plenty more in our future….‖ Yet he argues, ―The process
that shakes our surface is the same process that makes this
such a beautiful place to live. You will recall that our planet
has a thin, thin layer of solid rock—just miles thick—on top
of gooey innards. This thin layer, our crust, is broken into a
couple of dozen plates which float about very slowly across
the top of the planet. As the plates slide into and by and away
from each other, there is, of course, a whole lot of shaking
going on….The same thing happens when plates crash
together head-on or split apart.‖
The tsunami that killed so many in the Indian Ocean in
2004 started from the slipping of 2 plates, he says. Yet the
movement of plates ―provides us with separated continents,
high mountains and islands and oceans. With no uplifting
forces, our planet would have eroded down to a smooth
sphere long ago and we would be completely covered in
water. Plate tectonics have also been involved in the steady
removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere over the
History is HIS Story—
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eons, helping to ensure we would not end up like
Venus….Earthquakes, volcanoes hurricanes and floods are all
byproducts of the design of this awe-inspiring planet, and we
can live through them if we are prepared….‖
―Byproducts of the design‖—and we know who the
Designer is, don’t we? To keep His earth functioning the way
it is supposed to, the Designer does not interfere. We are to
learn His lessons—build our houses on solid rock! Be wise!
Learn how to help one another survive.
The Bible talks about earthquakes that have been—and
earthquakes that will come. Amos predicts an earthquake in 2
years (Am. 1:1); Zechariah speaks of the same quake—―You
will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of
Uzziah…‖ (Zech. 14:5). In the last days there will be quakes
in ―divers places‖ (Mark 13:8, Luke 21:11). As always, we
need to be ready—to meet our Lord, to serve our Lord, and to
build our lives on the solid Rock.
WHY EARTHQUAKES?
A Word from the
WORD By Theresa Grigory
―…God has said, ―Never will I leave you;
Never will I forsake you.‖
Hebrews 13:5b
When Bill and I were planting the church in Junction
City, Oregon, we met in a Grange Hall and my husband’s
office was in our home. One day I put our girls down for
their naps and told Bill I had to run to the store for just a
few minutes to pick up something. He would be there in
his office studying while I was gone. As I pulled out of the
driveway, I saw a sleepy-eyed Shannon looking out the
picture window. I waved and drove off, knowing she was
in capable hands.
Just a little later when I returned, I found Shannon still
standing at the picture window with her hands pressed
against it and tears running down her face! I ran in and
immediately wrapped my arms around her sobbing
shoulders and comforted her. Then I took her to her
Daddy’s office and told her, ―Shannon, you weren’t alone!
Your Daddy was here all the time. You only needed to call
out to him!”
God has made this same promise to us! Too often we
despair because we feel all alone and don’t know what to
do. But God is with you, loving you, and has the answers
you need. You only need to call out to Him!
WHAT’S NEWS?
The Next Storm Game is scheduled for May 14. See Roger
Bowman or Pat Korieth for tickets.
The next Christmas luncheon will be held Friday, Dec. 3, at
Gateway Church. The Gobles will be in charge.
World Missions funds: About 95% of World Missions
money is raised in North America. In other places giving may
come in kind as God has blessed—produce, chickens, grain.
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Which class is right for me? INTRODUCTION TO
SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES In the January-February issue we discussed
the Friendship Class. Today we will introduce
another, younger class, which contains some
folks who have “graduated” into J.O.Y.
Ministries or are “in training” to become one
with us. Let’s welcome them with open arms.
The CIA Class (Christians in Action)
meets during the first service with the
social "hour" at 9:00 a.m. and an official
start time at 9:15 a.m. It is comprised of
(age-wise) ―40-50 somethings,‖ people
who definitely like to discuss our various
class topics.
We have two teachers, Renee Swartz
and Ken Baruth. Karen Baruth opens the
class with announcements, praise reports,
prayer requests and an occasional random
discussion question pulled out of the air.
Our class consists of many who are
serving the first service in the music
team, teaching or greeting. At this time,
Ken Baruth is beginning a new study
based on the book, 10 Dumb Things
Smart Christians Believe, by Larry
Osborne, followed by a study of James by
Bill Hybels. Ken Baruth usually teaches
from a book, some recent studies have
been Heaven by Randy Alcorn, Prayer
and The Jesus I Never Knew, both by
Phillip Yancey, and When the Game is
Over It All Goes Back in the Box by John
Ortberg.
Renee Swartz recently taught "Tactics
In Defending Our Faith," put out by
STAND TO REASON, with founder
Gregory Koukl, located at str.org. In the
past she has taught about the Mormon
and Muslim faiths and Apologetics.
We try to have class lunches on a
monthly basis after church with an
occasional class party here and there. —Karen Baruth
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IN THE KITCHEN with Joan
As most of you already know, my comfort food is Mexican food.
I love it! A week without homemade tacos is not complete. Our
family also likes the New Mexico style flat enchiladas. Joe used
to have an old fashioned soda fountain in his store in Roswell,
New Mexico. The cook made these every week and it was truly a challenge to eat
them. She made them hotter and hotter each week, but there was always a line
waiting to try them. I’ve cut back on the heat but I still like them. One friend’s
son could eat a stack six high. He was a growing boy!
FLAT ENCHILIDAS
For 2 hungry people
6 corn tortillas
1/2 pound ground turkey or
hamburger, cooked
½ diced sweet onion
1 - 7 oz can diced chilies
1 - 7 oz can sliced olives
1 medium diced tomato
Monterey Jack and cheddar cheese
shredded (to your own taste)
1 28 oz can (mild or hot) enchilada
sauce
2 eggs (Optional – but if once you
try it you will be hooked)
Soften the tortillas in water. Soften
one at a time and put on plate.
Layer consists of: enchilada sauce,
meat, onions, chilies, olives and
cheese. Put another tortilla on top
and more of the good stuff listed
above. Pour enchilada sauce on
top of tortilla stack. Cover with
shredded cheese. Microwave to
melt cheese. Soft fry an egg in
water and put on top. Serve
immediately. These enchiladas are
made one stack at a time but it’s
worth the extra work.
BEAN LAYER DIP
2 cans Frito jalapeno bean dip
1 jar Picante sauce
3 avocados, smashed and sprinkled
with lemon juice
1 pint sour cream
cheddar cheese, grated
2 tomatoes, diced
1 7 oz can of sliced black olives
1 bunch green onions, chopped
Layer all ingredients in a glass bowl
in the same order as the recipe. Grab
some corn chips and have a feast!
Got this recipe
at a company
pot luck from
a lady named
Gail. There
are several
recipes for this
dip but this one is the best.
ALL ABOUT J.O.Y. (Just Older Youth) Q. Who belongs to J.O.Y. (Just Older Youth)?
A. Well, YOU do, if you don’t mind admitting to being over 50 years old, and like
to fellowship with us.
Q. Do we all have to be in the same Sunday school class?
A. No, we have J.O.Y. people in several classes mixed in with others of varying
ages. The class we feature in this issue meets at 9 a.m., while others meet at
10:45.
Q. What is the purpose of J.O.Y. and how do I participate?
A. Roger Bowman is the leader of J.O.Y. Ministries, and the purpose is:
To Know...Jesus Christ
To Grow...In His Word
To Show...Christ’s Love
You will find items in your church bulletin that refer to happenings among the
J.O.Y. people, just show up and be one of us. Talk to Roger about any interests you
may have that you’d like to be involved in. Be sure to get your copy of The Hawk’s
Perch when it comes out (every other month), which also contains coming events.
And, when you feel ready, you can tell Roger you want to volunteer to help where
needed.
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Charlene volunteers with MOPS, and shares
with us her appreciation of this worthy
organization in our Church. We appreciate her
and all J.O.Y. volunteers who serve the Lord in
so many ways at Gateway!
No, MOPS is not what we use to wash our kitchen floors!
It is an outreach to young mothers in the Temecula Valley
area. MOPS (Mothers Of Pre-Schoolers) International exists
to encourage, equip and develop every mother of preschoolers
to realize her potential as a woman, mother and leader in the
name of Jesus Christ. MOPS is a Christian non-profit
organization that believes in working with local Christian
churches/organizations to maximize ministry opportunities for
God’s Kingdom.
On March 31, the Gateway MOPS sponsored a fund raiser
at Murrieta Chick-Fil-A for the family of one of our MOPS
mothers, Melissa Bowman (her husband suffered a brain
aneurysm a few months ago). Immediately, I thought of how
our local MOPS group was practicing the Great
Commission—several MOPS ladies had already been
ministering to Melissa on their own. We have had several
fundraisers for this family and we continue to pray for them
as they adjust to their situation.
Gateway MOPS is made up of mostly young mothers from
the community. MOPS is a great outreach into our
community! It was chartered in January 2006 with MOPS
International, which means we have programming, literature
support, speaker resources and access to regional and
international conventions and gatherings. This is more than a
social group. It is where young women can have two hours
of child care, adult conversation, mentoring and a word from
the Lord through devotions and gifted speakers. Mentor
moms present Scriptures and applications to life at these
times. From time to time we have special speakers to inspire
us all on relationships and parenting.
Shaun Sheets is our leader extraordinaire. She is creative,
fervent and dedicated to this ministry, plus rearing her own
little ones. Another key person is Candy Haight, our
MOPPETS leader, she feels that it is part of her responsibility
as Children’s Ministry Director. This has been, by far, one of
the greatest blessings for Murrieta MOPS! She has created a
great program for the children, takes on the responsibility of
finding and training our volunteers, and it is all done on a
volunteer basis! Gateway has the only MOPS group in the
valley that has the privilege of volunteers, thus keeping the
cost affordable for our young mothers. We thank our
volunteers regularly in various ways for their help to make it
possible.
We enlist your prayers for this group of young women,
their families, and MOPS leaders as we seek God’s guidance
with this outreach. When you see these little ones in the
hallways of our church, please remember to pray, along with
us, for our young families. They are the future of the church!
WHAT IS ―MOPS‖? by Charlene Goble
DUSTIN AND AMANDA JOHNSON
OUR NEW YOUTH PASTORS
Dustin and Amanda married over two and a half years ago in Nampa Idaho. Amanda spent her entire life in Nampa until the move to Murrieta. She attended Nampa Christian School from preschool till high school graduation. During school Amanda was part of several clubs including the cheer squad. Dustin and Amanda met at church in their early high school years. They began dating and have been together for most of the time since. Dustin spent the first 14 years of his life in Eugene, Oregon until his dad, Daryl, became the senior pastor at col-lege Church in Nampa. There he attended Skyview High School then attended Northwest Nazarene University. Dustin graduated in December of 2009 with his bachelor's degree in Philosophy and Religion with a theological focus. During his college career he worked at College Church as an intern, first as Skate Board Supervisior, then worked with retreats and other activities for youth. He taught Sunday school and Wednesday nights he worked with youth activities.. Dustin is a relaxed, congenial person who has an infec-tious sense of humor. He loves to talk to people, so feel free to kindly share your thoughts with him. He and Roger will be talking about future opportunities for our youth to mingle with other aged groups in the church.
PRISON REPORT by Sherry Knupp During Easter Week, Monday, March 29, April and I went
to unit 1. There were ten boys, one dog and two guards. We
team-taught on the Last Supper and the meaning of
Communion—why we do it and how we are instructed to
partake. We emphasized the seriousness of Communion, and
the boys really caught it. We then shared in Communion with
them—it was a very special time. Only one boy chose not to
partake. There were a couple of new boys to the unit. We
prayed with them, and they all gave their requests—for court
dates, family, staff and peers.
On Thursday, April 1, Robert and I went to unit 2. There
were fifteen boys and two guards. We did the same teaching
as Monday night so the boys could share in Communion. We
talked about the meaning of this Holy Week, the Last Supper
and Communion. We had the boys read from the accounts in
the parallel Gospels as we did on Monday. Robert gave the
historical background of Passover and taught how we are to
partake of it from 1 Corinthians. These boys really
participated reverently and genuinely. Matthew opened with
prayer and asked the Holy Spirit to come on us. He shared
that in the trial that he, Leo & Alberto (in unit 1) went
through the week before, his lawyers told him they were 75%
sure he and Leo would be released on parole—so he said he is
asking for God to take care of the other 25%— I agreed with
him on that prayer. Court sentencing was to be April 5. Later
we found that Alberto was released—Matt & Leo still are
waiting for their sentencing date. They have put Matt in unit
1 to help mentor the new inmates.
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Page 7
TRAVEL CORNER
A ―WISE‖ CHOICE—
Visiting Ridley Creek State Park Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The photos on our cover and on this page are from Doug and Kelli
Wise’s collection, taken during trips ―back home‖ to where he was
raised. Doug is a runner, and the Ridley Creek State Park is one of his
favorite running areas because of its great beauty. He says that, ―My
daily morning prayer, though started in my motel room, concludes
during my jog through one of the Lord's great and beautiful creations. It
is so inspirational to be able to commune with Him in what He has
created and given to us.
―The park is in Suburban Philadelphia, about 20 minutes from the
airport, 3 minutes from a mall (Granite Run), and 2 minutes from Tylor
Arboretum (a tree preserve). Incidentally,‖ he adds, ―when a tree falls,
they just leave it – to provide a site for new growth and 'homes' for the
local animal and plant fauna.‖
Imagine being in this lush beauty with a mall only 3 minutes away!
The following information is from the Wikipedia article and official
website of Ridley Creek Park.
Ridley Creek State Park encompasses over 2,606 acres of
Delaware County woodlands and meadows. The gently rolling terrain
of the park, bisected by Ridley Creek, is only 16 miles from the center
of Philadelphia. Its recreational opportunities include hiking (12 miles
of trails), biking, horseback riding (a 4.7 mile trail), picnicking, fishing
(the creek is stocked with trout, partly catch-and-release), and
organized group tent camping that can accommodate up to 120 persons.
The Mill: Within the park boundaries was a small 18th century
village, which grew up around the site of a mill. Now known as
Sycamore Mills, the area had been previously named Bishop’s Mill and
Providence Mill. The miller’s house, the office and library, and several
small mill workers’ dwellings are currently used as private residences.
The Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation provides visitors with an
accurate picture of life on a Delaware County farm prior to the
American Revolution. The
Plantation has been a working
farm for over 300 years. It is
restored to a late 18th century
appearance complete with
animals typical of the period
and authentically clothed
historical interpreters. On
weekends, from April to
November, visitors can observe
the farm family cooking over
the open hearth, preserving
foods, processing textiles,
tending field crops and
performing other chores
necessary to survival in the 18th
century world. (Closed during
the winter months.) There are also formal gardens and landscaping by the park office. The mansion ballroom is popular for weddings and events.
7
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J.O.Y. MINISTRIES:
Roger and Marlene
Bowman
Roger Bowman,
Managing Editor
Dee Patten
Submissions Editor
951-677-4898
Ken Calderwood
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Dee Patten
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Nelson Sheets
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Church of the Nazarene
ADVISORY COUNCIL:
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NEWSLETTER STAFF:
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Walking — B. Grigory 1& 2
Election Results/Passings 2
Conference Tidbits
Second Wind People— Bowman 3
A Word from the Word—T Grigory
History-Earthquakes — Patten 4
What Class? — Baruth
All About J.O.Y
In the Kitchen — Harrison 5
What is MOPS? — Goble
Meet the Johnson’s
Prison Ministry 6
Travel Corner—Wise 7
Affirmation of Faith– Tracy 8
The Hawks Perch
May/June 2010
Wow, what a statement! “The power of God for the salvation of EVERYONE who believes!” There is no mention of having to live up to my expectations or conform to my rules. Simply believe the Gospel and then…forgiveness, freedom, liberty, adventure, growth, learning and enjoying fellowship with Christ. Now that is something to think on! I know it makes me think. I am not ashamed of the gospel…why should I be, for it is life transforming. I am not ashamed of the gospel…it brings hope, positive newness and excitement. I am not ashamed of the gospel…it gives confidence in the face of a questioning world. I am not ashamed of the gospel…it offers stability in a morally shifting culture. I am not ashamed of the gospel. No, I’m not arrogant or naïve in the face of the devil’s power but I have been given grace and confi-dence through the presence of the Holy Spirit of Christ. I am not ashamed of the gospel…because it is what it is, the power of God to lift believers above the world and its allure to a relationship with Him! These are just some thoughts. Maybe you will have some too—maybe much better. I wouldn’t be surprised.
AN AFFIRMATION OF FAITH By Jim Tracy
“ I am not
ashamed of the
Gospel because it
is the power of
God for salvation
of everyone who
believes…”
Romans 1:16