The Centinel - October 2000, Issue 12

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Vision2000

By Doug Turner

God is doing great and amazing things with us and among us at Central! He continues to grab our attention and refocus our vision in new areas and to make some directions clearer and clearer to us.

What am I talking about, you ask? If you've been inside Central's doors much in the past few months, you've probably heard about what's becoming known as Vision2000 (probably should've been named Vision 2001 since 2000 is almost over, but...)

Looking back over the past year, it's easy to see how God has used a number of events and people to make us re-look at how we minister to others, how we structure ourselves as a body of believers to be more effective in carrying out what He has called us to do, how we approach Him in prayer, how we attract people to Him and how we encourage people to serve.

The most recent installment was a fantastic weekend facilitated by Dr. Paul Borden reporting the results of the church survey many of us took last year and challenging us with some ideas for the future.

On Saturday, September 9, over 100 members of Central met together over breakfast to hear about the great things God is doing in churches all across the country right now. We heard about what these churches are doing to go out and greet the world; much like a missionary would when entering a new mission field. We were reminded that unlike life in our culture 30 years ago, most people no longer look to the church as the place to get answers to life's difficult questions. The churches that understand this change are the ones being most effective at reaching the lost world around them.

If we're going to increase our effectiveness in reaching people where we live, our "neighbors," we need to rethink what we're doing, how and why. We need to have a clear picture of what God is calling us to do. After all, isn't our calling to "go and make disciples?"

As part of our own process of "revisioning," we reviewed and celebrated God's successes at Central over the years--the great things God has done, right here! As we shared, the walls were lined with lists of remembrances of God's doings--sending missionaries around the world, 5:19, great evangelistic musicals, before high school breakfasts, Habitat houses, Lois and Leo concerts, the youth filling the first 10 pews on Sundays and dozens more. What a great spiritual heritage and testimony to God's faithfulness and His ability to use regular people to accomplish His purposes. People like us!

And we "blue-skied" about some of our dreams and possibilities for ministry in the future. What could God do through us in the next few years? How 'bout a dynamic college ministry to our neighboring campuses? Three (or four) fantastic worship services each Sunday, 200 new believers, a traveling youth worship group, a sports outreach ministry, church-filled prayer events, being really mobilized to minister according to giftedness and passion, an effective leadership training program, regular "bridging events" to draw unchurched friends, planting a new evangelical church, volley ball courts and much more.

Towards that end, Vision2000 was created to keep us focused on several key areas God is calling us to address now:

• More attention to and reliance on prayer
• A more outward focus
• Better "on-ramps" to ministry at Central
• Biblical financial stewardship
• A new mode of leadership

You will continue to hear more about each of these areas in the coming weeks and months, and about where your gifts can be used. And please... ask an elder or staff person about Vision2000.

We can be sure God is leading us, and that He will equip us and gift us to do what He asks. He is a great God who has done great things, and He will continue to do great things when we're obedient to Him and His calling. Let's join Him in His work!

Pastor's Pen

As I write my first newsletter article to you as Central Presbyterian Church's interim pastor, first let me say for both Ellen and myself, "thank you" for inviting us to serve our Lord with you. We truly wanted to come and serve here again because we knew that we would do so with incredibly gifted staff and lay leadership, to say nothing of good friends from a terrific previous chapter of our lives. The Lord has indeed granted the desire of our hearts. We have felt loved and affirmed every step of the way.

Some questions that might be anticipated or have already come our way may be helpful to answer for everyone, so here goes:

1. "What are we supposed to call you?" If you are 16 years of age or older, George is just fine. If you are younger than 16 or cannot bring yourself to be that informal, "Pastor George" is fine too. It sure beats "The Right Reverend Antonakos."

2. "What does an interim pastor do?" There are a number of answers to that question. The Book of Order answers it this way: "An interim pastor is a minister invited by the session of a church without an installed pastor to preach the Word, administer the Sacraments, and fulfill pastoral duties for a specified period not to exceed 12 months at a time, while the church is seeking a pastor." (G-14.0513)

   Another answer to that question is, "it depends." There are different types of interims, i.e., maintenance - where the purpose is continuity and efficiency in preserving the present program and mission; transitional - where there is a need for adaptation and innovation to prepare for more permanent change by exploring a variety of possibilities; transformational - where the interim is expected to be a catalyst for innovation and make major changes before new leadership arrives; and conflicted - where there is a need for healing, reconciliation and restoration of God's peace and purpose.

   Often the interim pastor does not know which type of interim will be needed until after arriving at the church. A basic issue is whether the interim pastor will be an interim manager, an interim visionary or a combination of both. Through prayer, consultation with staff and session and interaction with members and friends of a congregation the goals and shape of the interim period come into focus.

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3. "How long will Ellen and you be with us?" This depends on God's leading and the timing of the Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC). Usually there is a mission study that is conducted, but so much congregational self-evaluation has been going on at Central we may only need to crystallize current input. I do not sense from the Session we will unduly delay the forming of the PNC, so my best guess is that we will "beat the average," which these days is around 18 months.

   I believe it took about that amount of time the last time Central was in an interim period. There are any number of variables, but one thing is certain, we want to stay as long as it takes and as long as it is beneficial for Central Church. Of course, too long of an interim period is not helpful either, because an interim's style may unduly influence congregational expectations or members may grow too comfortable with the interim.

4. "Can an interim pastor become the next head of staff?" No. The Book of Order is very clear on this. Interims are meant to be interims and any such thinking could destroy the intention of an effective interim period which is to be an objective set of "eyes and ears."

5. "What is your sense of where things are at Central Presbyterian Church, even in your early stage of ministry?" First of all, there is incredible strength in many areas of church life here at Central. Recent consultations have clearly confirmed that fact. My next response to that question is a bit more tentative, but I have shared it with some elders. It may be good to adopt an additional verse of Scripture for this time period, "Desire without knowledge is not good, and one who moves too hurriedly misses the way." (Proverbs 19:2)

   Simply put, I feel there may be a need for collective patience. A bend in the road is not the end of the road, unless we fail to make the turn. If we run faster than God's timing we risk failing to make the turn. Having said that, I am clearly excited and energized by the eagerness I sense from many to take new steps of faith.

So, let's keep praying for each other and trusting God together that the best days for Central Church are still ahead, even though there have been many, many good days already. I look forward to seeing you in worship, perhaps with that unchurched friend you've been thinking of inviting.

Grace and Peace,
George

From the Lone Star State

Well, the Scates are back in the Lone Star State! Our move was a relatively smooth one. The driver of the moving van was named Jesus; he is a believer and his home was about two miles from our old home in San Antonio... so he took extra good care of us. Anne and the twins left before the packers and movers arrived. Andrew and I caught up with them in Memphis and then it was on to Dallas.

The congregation here has really embraced us and has made us feel very welcomed. Soon though, came my baptism by fire. My second day in the office, my predecessor, Clayton Bell died. That meant in the days before my first sermon: meeting with the Bell family and planning a memorial service of national scope, burying Clayton on Saturday, July 8th, and preaching three times on July 9th, the memorial service on July 10th with near 2000 people including the Graham family and media in attendance. All went well, and I had a strange peace and a sense of being carried through the weekend. That was due, I'm sure, to the many prayers of Centralites and Highland Parkers. Thank you for your continued prayers.

Anne is enjoying settling in and decorating the new house. The kids jumped right into summer activities at the church and are hooking up with many new friends on our street. Michael is getting excellent care at the Children's Hospital, a satellite of the Hopkins study of this particular tumor. He is doing well with this much rougher chemo. Please keep him in your prayers for healing and minimal side effects. Andrew and I have attended two Ranger games and have yet to see them lose.

We feel very much at home here (a sign to me that the call was valid), but we miss you and the Body there at Central. Come and visit, especially on Sunday, December 10th when the Redskins are in town.

Stay strong in the Lord,
Ron

P.S. Treat George Antonakos extra, extra good. He's a great man of God!

Building A "Car"

by Chris Smoes

Sometimes our preparation for working with Wycliffe Bible Translators* has felt like building a "car." There are a whole bunch of parts to fit together. Sometimes it has taken a lot of investigation to figure out how just a few pieces go together. Other times it has been a lot of hard, sweaty work. All the time it has been a slow process. But through God's kindness and leading, the "car" is just about built!

Kay and I were married in May of 1998. We worked out with Wycliffe where our assignment would be, and that is Cameroon, West/Central Africa. We both completed Wycliffe's required linguistic training (three semesters' worth). After two years of marriage, Kay has finally received her permanent resident card, "green card." As many of you know, Kay is from Costa Rica. This now gives us the freedom to travel out of the US with some restrictions. The removal of those restrictions is another piece of the "car" which we can't install for a couple years yet.

There are a few more pieces we need to put together, such as getting our house ready to sell. But for the most part, all we need is to be fueled up and be on our way. This fueling up represents something specific: a commitment by enough churches and individuals, back home here, to support us overseas in prayer, practical matters and finances.

God willing, we will be all "fueled up" by the fall of next year, and on our way to the first stage of our assignment, which is intensive French study for Francaphone Cameroon. Meanwhile, I am taking seminary courses, and we are both working part-time. Kay and I are excited and can't wait to "hit the road." We look forward to seeing how God is going to fuel up our "car" this coming year or so. If you would like to hear more details about Wycliffe or this "car" God is building in our lives, please contact us. We'd love to share.

* Wycliffe is assisting in translating the Scriptures into all of the world's over 6,000 languages.

You Won't Believe This...

By Scott Corey

But it is true, and happening here in Baltimore with Central's help. For 40 years the rebirth of a desperately poor, non-functional, inner-city neighborhood has defied billions of federal dollars, hundreds or thousands of programs and the passage of many laws. Conventional wisdom, therefore, says it can't be done.

But it is being done! It has been witnessed by Central's Sandtown Habitat crew over the last seven summers. In 1994, what they saw in the Sandtown Habitat's 12 block area of focus was:

• 200 abandoned homes in a neighborhood of absentee landlords
• Most of the residents were either unemployed or on welfare
• A dozen poor kids, singing weakly for the Lord, who could only look forward to an increasingly poor education

Today, this is what you will see:

• 150 rebuilt homes occupied by owners from the neighborhood
• Many of the 150 mortgage paying homeowners are among the 500 job placements made for neighborhood residents
• The Voices of Hope Children's Choir, an award winning Gospel ensemble which has performed with symphony orchestras from Baltimore to Texas, who attend a Christian charter school where:
  • 97.7 percent of the students are there every day
  • All the 8th graders pass the functional reading test
  • The 2nd graders got the fourth highest score on the State test

Joining the kids in praising the Lord are the 150 homeowners, staff of the various ministries involved, hundreds of volunteers and a growing New Song Community Church.

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Who are the miracle workers? Sandtown Habitat is a part of the ministries of the New Song Community Church which also include: Eden Jobs, New Song Family Health Services, New Song Academy, New Song Arts and Media, etc. The hallmarks of these ministries are interracial leadership and harmony. Three-quarters of the staff come from the community. Volunteers are individuals and churches from Baltimore and beyond.

It is God's work in progress. Would you like to be involved? Call Al Finch, Dick Wallace or Scott Corey.

Love To Sing?

By Beth Lindsey

Whether your voice is big, little, or somewhere in between- Central's Chancel Choir wants you! Join us weekly for the Thursday evening choir rehearsals, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. and at 11:00 am Sunday morning worship services throughout the school year.

An alternative is to become a Christmas concert singer. Practice with the choir every Thursday from 7:30 to 8:30 pm as we prepare for the December 17th Festival of Christmas Brass. Need more information? Please be a part of the fellowship and fun as we share praising God with song.

Contact Carol Corey or Beth Lindsey.

Clearing The Way
Construction Debt Retirement Season

By Dick Wallace
September - November 2000

Debt. It's not the most exciting thing in the world to talk about. Talk about it at most churches and peoples' eyes glaze over. Oh, no. Not again.

But debt is a reality. And, thanks to the faithfulness and generosity of its members, friends and regular attendees of Central, debt is a relatively small reality.

"Beyond These Walls" was the stewardship campaign to pay for the recent "Phase One" addition to the church facilities. Our objectives were to have facilities that would enhance Central's ability to minister within and beyond its old walls and to end with little or no debt.

To date, over $2,703,000 has been raised, far exceeding the original pledges of $1.9 million. Our remaining construction loan balance of $213,500, however, is due to the bank in November.

Some would argue that for a congregation of our size, with the outreach and ministries that Central has, a little debt isn't such a bad thing. Maybe not. Consider the impact even a small mortgage might have. Financing a $213,500 balance, with a conventional five-year loan would take away about $56,000 from each years' ministry.

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This cost might represent a full-time staff position for a new ministry team; a part-time position and a home rebuilt at Sandtown Habitat for Humanity; reduced outreach events; less funds available for domestic and international ministries; postponed repairs and maintenance or ...well, you get the idea.

After the 8:15 worship service last Sunday, a Central member stopped me and told me how timely the Clearing the Way announcement was. Since there wasn't much news lately about Beyond These Walls, she had discontinued her regular giving to the Phase One campaign, as many of us have. After all, the building is complete, right? Almost. The loan balance is small but it's still there.

The Session is asking all members to consider special gifts to eliminate this balance so that Central is clear to do its most for the Lord. Please mark your special gifts during this debt retirement season for "Beyond These Walls."

Central's desire is to serve the Lord by growing new and old believers. Central's ministries, from worship to Christian education to missions, etc., are all growing and need additional financial support. With your continued support, Central can retire the construction loan without carrying debt into the next program year. No debt means no money spent on debt service - more funding available for ministries and programs.

Let's Clear the Way for a debt-free budget in 2001, and Clear the Way for a Phase Two that can be underway in a short time.

Dick Wallace is an elder and chairman of the Finance Committee.

Dominican Republic or Bust

By Linda Hansell

In June, Central youth and adults traveled to Pimentel, in the Dominican Republic, on a 9-day mission trip. God blessed us so much we joked about "no more blessings for today, we have had our fill." We (18 Americans on the trip) were supposed to hold a Vacation Bible School (VBS) in the mornings for 150 kids. God blessed us with 500 and all came by foot!! Talk about being creative to stretch crafts to handle more kids... Gayle Shank and Linda Hansell learned a new meaning to the word FLEXIBILITY as they altered the VBS plans throughout the week. What joy to hear 500 children praising God with their whole being! Dominican teens worked along side us in helping the children with crafts, music and games, as well as helping control the children during the lesson each day.

Kay Smoes was invaluable since her native language is Spanish. She not only led the music, accompanied by Chris Ritchie on the guitar, but she followed up each lesson to be sure the spiritual connections were understood by the children. Kim Roth and Bria Crape used their Spanish in leading some of the Bible lessons. Lee Penno and Katie Castle's Spanish skills also helped us communicate with the Dominicans.

Thanks to Anna Guiles, there was an artistic flair added to many of the lessons. Teri Hansell and Lauren Roth were rarely seen without several children in their laps, enjoying their newly made friends. We were thankful for the servant hearts of Celeste Chubski, Andrew Moorshead and Brandon Parran who were always willing to give a helping hand where needed.

Lunch was served to the children after VBS.... probably the only meal that day for many of the kids. It was amazing to see 500 orderly and patient children waiting to be served a free meal. The missionaries have trained these children in manners and kindness. They put American children to shame in their behavior.

Most of the children in the morning group loved Jesus so our lessons covered growing in Christ. In the afternoon we traveled to a remote area where 100 children, and some parents, gathered to hear about Jesus, many for the first time. Our lessons there focused on Jesus' plan for their lives and salvation. What joy as many prayed to receive Christ on the last day.

We were also blessed by the servant hearts of the Dominicans who helped us all week. The vision of one Dominican pastor, who has been called to reach his city by reaching the children first, amazed us all. It was humbling to see the hearts for God as we worshipped with the Dominicans, who have so little in material wealth. We all came back different people with a different perspective on life in America and the place God deserves to have in our lives.

M&M Kids:
Our Missionaries the Thompsons

By Jeffery M.

Let me tell you about the Thompsons. Neil and Wannee are missionaries in Thailand. They have two boys, Nathan, age 9, and Kevin, age 8. Dr. Neil is a surgeon and hospital director in central Thailand. Wannee was the executive secretary to the hospital director and a counselor with the youth group at their church. They are in the US for about 15 months, and Neil will be working at the VA Hospital in Baltimore. They live in Rodgers Forge so Nathan and Kevin attend Rodgers Forge Elementary School.

NOTE: On September 24th, the M&M Kids hosted a reception for church members to greet the Thompsons.

Missions Celebration

"...Open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest." (John 4:35)

Mark your calendars to join us October 22nd through October 29th for Central's Annual Mission Celebration. There will be a variety of opportunities in which to participate.

Eyes On Southeast Asia

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

Sunday, 10/22

Thai Worship Services
Neil Thompson, preaching

Wednesday, 10/25

Concert of Prayer for Southeast Asia
7:00-8:00 pm

Saturday, 10/28

"Taste & See" All Church Supper
Enjoy a Southeast Asian menu
6:00-8:00 pm, sign-up required

Sunday, 10/29

Cambodian Worship Services
Jerry Cooper, preaching
Combined Adult Sunday School, 9:40-10:40 am

If your small group would like to have one of Central's missionaries join you during October 22-29th, please contact Jill Marbach.

Mark Your Calendar

Be sure to check the bulletin each week for meetings and details.