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A P U B L I C A T I O N O F T H E P B C W O M E N ’ S M I N I S T R I E S

P S A L M S : Prayerful, Poetic Words ---Pointing to God’s WaysNew Fall & Spring Women’s StudyP A G E 2

E V E N T C A L E N D A R P A G E 3

P R A Y E R F O C U S :Hearts for the MilitaryP A G E 1 1

T R A V E L I N G T O I R E L A N D :A Visit with the Thomas FamilyP A G E S 4 , 5

G O D L Y G O A L S A N D A C A D E M I C S U C C E S S :The Cespedes FamilyP A G E S 6 , 7 , 1 1

W E S T A F R I C A N M I S S I O N A R Y J A N C A R S O NFacing Challanges and Serving GodP A G E S 8 - 1 0

T H E R E C I P E B O X : Rosemary CornbreadP A G E 1 2

P S A L M 4 2 : 7 - 8

“Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.” -Psalm 86:11

When it came to selecting a book of the Bible for the new fall women’s study, last spring’s popular lessons from “Feelings and Faith,” by author Brian Borgman, seemed to point directly to the Psalms.

“The Psalms are where feelings are often expressed in Scripture,” said Carolyn McGuire, head of PBC’s women’s ministries. “We found the last study very practical and insightful, because ‘feelings’ are often minimized or discouraged in our Christian culture. We were encouraged to pay attention to our feelings so that they are transformed and guided by God’s truth. This is where the Psalms come in. David’s expressions to the Lord,” she explained, “are examples to guide our own expressions.

“This Psalms study points us to God’s ways,” Carolyn said. “I like this idea of ‘ways;’ there are ways of God and the ways he relates to his people. Jesus said, ‘I am the way…’ Psalm 1 begins by contrasting the way of the righteous with the way of the wicked. God’s ways lead to life, and our own way leads to destruction.”

Jenny Lotz, the new Spiritual Growth Branch leader this year, is organizing the study with Jen Avila and Lisa Quirin. The Psalms workbooks by Dr. Kathleen Nielsen come highly recommended, with Jenny noting that missionary Jenny Thomas in Ireland is also leading women in the series (see Jenny’s story on her recent trip to Ireland, page 4). PBC’s spring 2015 study will feature the second workbook in Psalms, Volume 2.

In the introduction to the workbook, the author makes three observations about the Psalms regarding the ways of God , the ways of words and the ways of prayer. “In the Psalms,” Nielsen writes, “we are following after our Creator when we follow the power and beauty of these words he inspired. To dig deep into the Psalms, we must dig with relish into their poetic language…these psalms are the prayers of God’s people, written by them under his inspiration and then used by them for centuries. We make only feeble excuses concerning our inability to pray, when we have such words at our disposal to incorporate into our own prayers.”

The workbook features five days of homework in preparation for Tuesday’s study, Carolyn said, with a different leader facilitating the discussion each week. There will also be time for fellowship and prayer at each table. “Our Psalms study will have a tremendous additional resource,” Carolyn added. All the PBC Sunday school lessons on the Psalms, prepared by Master’s Seminary O.T. Professor and Elder Chair, Dr. Bill Barrick, are available online.

As Carolyn prepares introductory lessons for the upcoming study starting September 9th, she is reminded how much God’s Word has been a blessing in her life. “I have always loved the Psalms. They bring great comfort and encouragement.”

R E F L E C T I O N S

A publication of the Women's Ministry of Placerita Baptist Church, with Fall, Winter, and Spring/Summer editions.

The editors and staff welcome comments, questions, and story ideas; please direct them to the Managing Editor by email. The publication is also available online at www.placeritachurch.com, under Women's Ministries.

REFLECTIONS is not copyrighted, and may be reproduced freely.

Senior Editor Carolyn McGuire

Managing EditorKaren Long karen@kappastudios.com

Associate Editor Katherine Drumm

DesignerKatherine Long

PhotographyAnna Converse Katherine DrummJoanne Pio

Cover Photo Art: Anna ConverseCover Model: Brianna TejadaModel Recipe: Katherine Long S I G N - U P S S U N D A Y , A U G U S T 1 7 , 2 4 and 3 1

C O S T O F C L A S S ,

I N C L U D I N G B O O K : $ 1 5

PSALMS (Volume 1) by Kathleen Buswell Nielson

T U E S D A Y M O R N I N G S

September 9 - November 18, 20149:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.Childcare provided

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N E W F A L L & S P R I N G S T U D Y

P R A Y E R F U L , P O E T I C W O R D S

P O I N T I N G T O G O D ’ S W A Y S

E V E N T C A L E N D A R

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Please look for additional events and updates, as they become available, in the PBC Sunday bulletin and on the extended calendar online at www.placeritachurch.com

S E P T E M B E RT U E S D A Y, S E P T . 2 , 9 : 3 0 A . M . , Bible Study/Table Leaders’ Meeting, Lisa Quirin’s home

S U N D A Y, S E P T . 7 “Fall Kick-off ,” two morning ser vices resume with the evening ser vice T U E S D A Y, S E P T . 9 , 9 : 3 0 A . M . – 1 1 : 3 0 A . M . , Modular 1 , PSALMS Women’s Study begins

S A T U R D A Y, S E P T . 1 3 , 8 A . M . , Men’s Breakfast in the sanctuar y

S a t u r d a y, S e p t . 2 7 , 1 2 n o o n – 2 p. m . , “FIRST LOVE” Singles Fellowship Luncheon“First Love” is a new PBC ministry for single women. Organizers Carol Kenney and Betty Intagliata are bringing women together to encourage one another in their relationship with Jesus Christ, as they also look for ways to love and serve the body. Learn more at the luncheon by sharing a meal, fellowship and a special time of prayer.Location: Carol’s home at 15900 Mill Meadow Rd., Canyon Country, 91387Questions? Please contact Carol at: caroljkenney@msn.com

O C T O B E RM O N D A Y, O C T . 6 – 8 , ACBC Conference, “ The Gospel and Mental Health ,” at GCC

T H U R S D A Y, O C T . 1 6 , 6 P. M . Women’s Ministr y Council leaders’ meeting

F R I D A Y, O C T . 1 7 – 1 9 , MAN CA MP (men’s retreat)

S A T U R D A Y, O C T . 1 8 , Santa Clarita Valley Pregnancy Center “ Walk For Life”

S U N D A Y, O C T . 2 6 , 6 P. M . S E R V I C E , Baptisms/Right Hand of Fellowship for new members

N O V E M B E RS U N D A Y, N O V . 9 , M O R N I N G S E R V I C E S , Baby dedications

T U E S D A Y, N O V . 1 8 , 9 : 3 0 A . M . Final women’s PSALMS Vol . 1 Study/Potluck

S U N D A Y, N O V . 2 3 , 6 P. M . , Turkeys, Tar ts & Testimonies

T H U R S D A Y, N O V . 2 7 – T H A N K S G I V I N G D A Y – Men’s Turkey Bowl

D E C E M B E RS A T U R D A Y E V E N I N G , D E C . 6 “GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY!” The popular pre-Christmas women’s outreach event. Plan ahead now to invite friends!5 p.m. - 8:30 p.m., in the PBC sanctuary. Includes dinner, dessert, and a fun craft

S U N D A Y, D E C . 7 , Annual business meeting; fol lows one ser vice at 9 :30 a .m .

W E D N E S D A Y, D E C . 2 4 , 5 P. M . , Christmas Eve ser vice

Hindsight. Such a peculiar sounding word. I am fascinated with hindsight. It is delightful to look back and see how God has worked in bringing strangers together, forging new friendships, making memories, even changing lives. It’s surprising to think I married my Jr. High youth pastor. If you looked at Doug when he was 20 while I was 12, one word would come to mind: illegal. However, at 18 and 26, seated on a bus headed for Mexico, we chatted about the Lord and the rest is history. Each of us meet people everyday that could potentially be our next “best friends.”

As I think about our recent spring trip to the Emerald Isle to visit the Thomas family, I remember it all began back in the summer of 2011. Jeff and Jenny and their four children were returning to California from their missions work in Portugal. Our family was asked to help prepare their furlough home, and we memorized the names of their children as we decorated rooms, hung pictures, and arranged furniture. We were soon graciously invited over for a delicious lunch, and we learned all about their hearts for the lost and their lives as missionaries. This couple was real! They spoke openly and honestly of the joys and challenges that they faced on the field. We learned of their love for musicals, Disneyland, and an expertly made cup of espresso. During their furlough, we enjoyed a double date to see “Wicked” and then feasted on chicken and waffles. I will have a forever memory of talking with Jenny in her backyard as we both cried and begged the Lord to preserve PBC through its time of transition.

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Kelly, our daughter, and Maddie also hit it off and became fast friends. They had that bond that you just knew would last. The girls spent their next birthdays together. Kelly was wrapped up in a box to surprise Maddie on her 9th birthday. For Kelly ’s 9th birthday, she drove with Maddie to LAX for hugs and to wish her well on her new adventures in Ireland. As moms, we wiped away tears from our daughters’ eyes and looked forward to pursuing our friendships through Skype, Facebook, and email.

After Skyping last fall with Maddie, Kelly asked Doug if she could visit Maddie for her 10th birthday. She thought it would be sooooo fun to surprise her. Well, the Lord thought so too, and with His provisions and planning, Doug, Kelly, and I boarded a plane headed for London that made its final destination in Dublin. The great reunion of 2014 had begun. The clouds were celebrating with heavy rain when we arrived. We drove about an hour to Jeff and Jenny’s adorable little colonial home in the town of Knockcroghery. The girls ran to greet each other with hugs as we arrived.

Jeff, Jenny, Noah, Ellen, Maddie, and Elizabeth are thriving in Ireland. They have been uniquely prepared for this ministry that God planned for them. Like all faithful missionaries, they are diligently studying the history of their new home, the people, the culture, and the traditions. How adorable it was to hear the slight accents that were forming among the Thomas clan. We had such a lovely time meeting with the Walsh family, too, and hearing about the church they planted where Jeff is now serving.

Ireland can be a very difficult place for missionaries. The people are friendly yet skeptical, and it takes time before they trust you. Regardless, God is definitely working mightily in Ireland and the passion for the gospel in the people at Grace Community Church, Roscommon, is contagious. A local pub is being transformed into a church, fitted with a bookstore that welcomes the community for a “cuppa” tea. Jeff regularly preaches and teaches and is faithfully ministering to equip the saints of his church. Jenny is a diligent keeper of her home and spends her days with Elizabeth while the kids are at school. She knows the best places to shop and can get around her town, on the opposite side of the road, like a local.

Doug and I are both Irish and loved seeing the land of our ancestors. We did not hear the distant sound of a bagpipe playing in the wind---something that reportedly happens when the Irish return home (a bit of blarney from our friendly Trader Joe’s cashier). But it was all quite breathtaking. We enjoyed a night of traditional dance, music, and food. We toured Dublin on a double-decker bus. We explored mountains, monasteries, and weathered castles. And we celebrated Maddie’s 10th birthday!

One of our favorite memories from our visit was sitting in the Thomas kitchen, over tea and biscuits, sharing with Jeff and Jenny the great joy that the Lord had answered our prayers from two years ago. PBC is now flourishing. The Lord is supplying the needs of our local body in Santa Clarita, California, just as He is providing across the Atlantic for Grace Community Church, in Roscommon, Ireland.

l e f t : M A D D I E T H O M A S & K E L LY L O T Z

a b o v e : D O U G , J E N N Y & K E L LY L O T Z ,

J E F F A N D J E N N Y , E L L E N , M A D D I E ,

E L I Z A B E T H & N O A H T H O M A S

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How do you define true success? Is it a feeling of accomplishment? Perhaps the accolades of friends and family? Or maybe it ’s reaching some standard where you believe God will think more highly of you? For PBC’s Jan and Vicki Cespedes, the accelerated academic successes of their daughters are simply, by God’s grace, the surprising byproducts of greater godly goals motivated by their pursuit of Christ.

Jan and Vicki have five daughters; from Ivana, the eldest at 18, to little Eliana, the youngest at age three. They graciously agreed to share their educational philosophy and practices, with insights from Vicki’s heart in the ongoing discipleship of their children.

Long before they were married, Jan attended private grade school and received a Catholic high school education. Vicki attended public schools until she transferred to the same Catholic school in 11th grade. At ages 31 and 23 , respectively, they earned masters degrees in college. Yet even with these higher degrees, they ended their formal education believing much time had been wasted, and feeling inadequately prepared for life.

As they began thinking about educating their children, Jan and Vicki decided they wanted something

different for their family. They had the conviction to raise their girls up in the “discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4), and slowly developed what would become their self-proclaimed “simplistic” approach to schooling.

As first generation followers of Christ, Jan and Vicki sought God’s wisdom through prayer. “We had to beg the Lord to give us wisdom in every area of our life, most especially in this area of parenting and discipleship of our girls,” Vicki said. Their one goal, she explained, was “honoring God in this great stewardship of precious souls He had entrusted to us.

“More than anything, we wanted to equip our girls, if possible, to explore and develop skills that would allow them to serve the body of Christ. We created a discipleship-oriented, self-paced, academics-plus-skills-building approach to home education,” Vicki said.

“We just kept our goals really simple. We wanted to abide by the requirements of the California State Board of Education, but also wanted to be true to our convictions, that education was really simple discipleship—teaching our daughters about God, His Word, and ultimately the gospel. Subjects such as history, math, English, and science . . . were all opportunities to teach them about

the character and works of God! I treasured the freedom I had to use the Bible as our primary text for all subjects, and the ability to choose the information that I would be investing into their little hearts.”

The family had school year-round and enjoyed the liberty of breaking when there were opportunities to serve, travel, meet needs, or just have fun on fieldtrips or activities with other families. Vicki explained, “We wanted our girls to be in the habit of prioritizing loving God and loving others.”

From the beginning, the Cespedeses viewed education as the pursuit of Christ. Their entire motivation in educating their daughters was to teach them to know and love Jesus. The ability to share biblical truth, mother to daughter, as well as planting seeds of salvation personally with each girl, are some of Vicki’s favorite moments. She has had the joy of watching her girls grow into godly young women, and has delighted in the relationships the entire family has built over the years.

“I am grateful,” she even said, “for all the sin we see in each other and how God has used each of us as a tool of sanctification in the lives of one another—as agents of rescue, helping each other remember how sinful we are, and how desperately we need Jesus.”

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While readily acknowledging sin in all their lives, Vicki confesses her own struggles and weaknesses. “This constant, purposeful discipleship is difficult and draining. Some days I was tempted to simply ‘do school’—do the lessons for the day and take a break from correction, proactive training times, discipline, taking time to draw out a heart, taking time to confront sin, taking time to show mercy, and share the gospel with my child.

“The overwhelming battle,” she says, “is in trying to counter ‘self ’—in dying to self and demonstrating my love for Christ by not letting up, in staying gospel-centered, Christ centered, purposeful, redeeming the time moment-by-moment during this journey. My strength comes from Christ alone. I need Him desperately each day, every moment, and I need to live in the reality that He is there, never leaving nor forsaking me and is with me every moment of my day.”

In this simple, Christ-centered atmosphere, with humble motivation from the Lord, the Cespedes children achieved major academic successes much earlier in life than most of their peers. Ivana, 18, is an accomplished pianist who serves with the PBC worship team. She received a bachelor’s degree at age 17 and is currently in a masters program. Belicia, 17, received a bachelor’s degree at 16, and recently passed the rigorous four-part Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam. Briana, 15 , also received a bachelor’s this year. Giana, now 14 , graduated high school at age 11. Three-year-old Eliana, already learning much from her parents and older sisters, is an eager young evangelist.

The Cespedeses believe that young people are much more capable than they are often given credit for, and have encouraged their daughters to consider themselves women at the age of 13 . Jan and Vicki taught their daughters to recognize their potential and the abilities God gave them and to redeem their time, as 1 Timothy 4:12 encourages, by being examples to all believers even though they are young.

As the older girls were growing and learning their potential and abilities, Vicki explained they did school at their own pace. On New Year’s Day they individually wrote out goals for the New Year, with parental review. Throughout the year the girls would seek Biblical principles for wisdom, follow Jan as the family ’s spiritual leader, pray, and rest in God’s providence. Sometimes individual goals were added or adjusted as the year progressed.

W h i l e w o r k i n g t o w a r d scholastic goals, the girls w e r e r e q u i r e d t o s h o w proficiency in a subject before they could move on, but they could progress as quickly or as slowly as they wanted. Each week they had the opportunity to present what they were learning in their studies with the rest of the family.

J a n l e a d s t h i s w e e k l y family t ime they cal l Book

Night. “Each person has the opportunity to stand and share something they have read or have learned that week. It could be an application from a sermon message, a summary of a good book they read, or something of interest from their studies. We get to praise God for things He has done that week, share prayer requests, ask for forgiveness from each other if needed, and go over our individual and family schedules for the coming week. We end our time with Jan teaching us from God’s Word. It gives us all a chance to check in with each other, hear each other’s hearts, deal with sin we commit or we experience. We are reminded of Jan’s role as the leader of our home and the blessing it is that he desires to lead, teach, and guide us in such a practical way.”

Even with such purposeful planning and application, Vicki confessed, “I remember fearing that my girls would not know enough, that they wouldn’t test well, that they would have major gaps in t hei r academ ic educat ion that would hurt them in some way. In the end, my girls don’t know enough, they sometimes have not tested wel l , and they do have major gaps in

many areas of their academic education. But God is faithful and He is able to do a work in their hearts and lives in spite of all those things—in spite of all my weaknesses.”

Following the Lord’s plan for their lives has been the focus all along. Jan and Vicki encourage their girls that the goal of education—of life, really—is to get a Ph.D. in Christ. Vicki adds, “That is the supreme goal of our lives—knowing, loving, serving, abiding in, rejoicing in Christ and Him alone. I believe that the girls think that their degrees or accomplishments are just stepping stones to gaining skills in order to serve and increase in usefulness for Christ.”

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an Carson has faced many trials in her life, but perhaps none so frighten-ing as her experience in West Africa among militant Islamic terrorists.

Called as missionaries to the country of Mali in the mid-1960s, Don and Jan Carson served in four different regions until 1990. Over the years they returned to the U.S. for extended stays, even coming back for the weddings of their three children, all married at PBC. Following the ceremonies they returned to Menaka, in Mali, not knowing it would be their final assignment in their beloved Africa.

“Things started heating up there,” Jan remembers. “Islamic militants, Arabs known as Tuaregs, were coming in from Libya and worrying the African pastor.” Jan remembers the night their town was attacked by terrorists wielding AK-47s.

“We were sleeping outside, and awakened to the sound of them banging and shooting things up at 4 a.m. We ran back inside our home with its thick mud walls, two-feet thick, about five or six feet high. We quickly got dressed. We thought we could be taken captive, so we grabbed our medicines. At least we’ll have these,” Jan remembers thinking.

Tuaregs from the Menaka prison came to their home, Jan said, to get something to eat. They knew the Carsons because of their prison ministry, and by God’s grace, Jan and Don were not taken captive during that night of violence. A woman working with World Vision was abducted, however, and later released.

It was a scary time, Jan said, “the Tuaregs wandering around with rifles wanting to shoot you!” The Carsons

were ordered out by the U.S. Embassy, and traveled a distance in a World Vision vehicle to safety, with two other missionary families.

As they fled, the families also feared the fire power of the Mali military. “We feared they might mistake us for Tuaregs out to slaughter and steal!” They waited in a distant city for many months before deciding to finally return to the U.S.

Long before becoming a missionary, Jan began loving and serving the Lord when she was only seven years old. “I remember raising my hand in the Good News Club and singing, come into my heart Lord Jesus. I became a zealous evangelist,” she said, “babysitting and evangelizing one and three year olds.”

The oldest child in a family of seven, Jan was raised in a Christian home in Tacoma WA. She attended Western Baptist Bible College, now Corbin University in Salem, Oregon, where she met her husband Don. She was majoring in missions and music; Don was three years older, had left the military and was pursing a ministry degree.

Jan and Don married and had two children, Kathy and Christopher, before they launched their missionary career with 18 months in Paris, France (1965-66) to learn French. Their youngest, Kayleen, was born in Paris. “She’s our “Paris-site,” Jan laughs, explaining that the family left France shortly after Kayleen’s birth for the small town of Niafunke, on the Niger River in central Mali.

In addition to French, the official government language, the Carsons began learning the regional language

of Songhay as they joined another missionary couple to do evangelism through Sunday school classes, Bible services, and home teaching.

After two years in Mali, however, Jan became ill, and they returned home. They would return to Mali in seven years, this time to Timbuktu. They spent the next five years there, with Jan home schooling the children until each transferred to dorms at Ivory Coast Academy, a Christian high school, about 1,000 miles south. Don and Jan would visit the kids on their spring breaks, and Jan remembers “snakes--- BIG, poisonous snakes --- as round as saucers. The kids would drive over them at night like speed bumps.”

All three children returned from Africa after high school to attend the Master’s College and PBC, living with Dr. George Howe’s family. Kayleen Todd, their youngest daughter, still attends PBC with her husband Mark and their children, Kendra, Benjamin and Cami.

Jan began to learn a second regional language of the Muslim nomads, and became the language director for new missionaries coming to West Africa. Jan recalled an African pastor’s wife, “Fati,” chosen for him by his father. God used Jan to help lead her to saving faith in Christ.

“At that time the Lord called a lot of missionaries,” Jan recalls, “fourteen couples came, learning the languages, building relationships, and leading many people to the Lord.” Jan is grateful for the work God began and now multiplies in Mali. “Those new believers went on to become pastors and leaders among their people.”

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Just a few months ago, Jan Carson’s cancer specialist said she would be gone by August. Yet September is nearly here, and by God’s grace, so is Jan. The 76-year-old former West African missionary is still very much alive---and smiling at the future.

The petite mother of three, grandmother of five, was diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer which spread to the lining of her intestines. She started her fourth year of chemotherapy with a new treatment that had been slowing the cancer to a crawl. Recent tests, however, indicate her cancer count is up and climbing again.

Jan first received her diagnosis when she was working at Valencia’s Magic Mountain theme park, training new hires in the entertainment department. “I was busy, fully involved there, but feeling crummy,” she said. “I realized then I’m never going back to work. I expected to die in four months.”

“ T H A T I M A Y K N O W H I M A N D T H E

P O W E R O F H I S R E S U R R E C T I O N A N D T H E

F E L L O W S H I P O F H I S S U F F E R I N G S , B E I N G

C O N F O R M E D T O H I S D E A T H . ” (Phil 3:10)

- Jan’s life verse

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Yet God persevered Jan through several years of chemo, sickness

and hair loss. When she’s able to go to church, she likes to dress---putting on a stylish hat, if needed, and always wearing a surprising smile. “I’ve always been a smiley person, saying funny things,”

Jan said. She makes funny observations, too, even about

people who want to encourage her but don’t quite know what to say.

She often hears, “Jan, you’re looking goooood!”

“About six months ago I was really struggling with depression. I know the feeling of being down in the pit, and you can’t get up the side. I thought, what ’s the point? I’m not doing anything.” I knew the cancer was getting worse. I wanted to die. But then I started to preach to myself---you can still call people on the phone. You can still smile at people!”

Once a devoted missionary in the West African country of Mali, Jan finds this new calling with cancer a daily journey into the unknown. “First thing I say in the morning, ‘Lord, it ’s a new day. I don’t know if I can do this, but I know you can. You can give me the strength to get up, get the pills down, wait to eat, and get dressed.’ If I get to 10 a.m., I know I’ve made it.”

As the day progresses, Jan often loses strength and feels dizzy, using a cane to avoid falling. Her sleep has changed---she now wakes during the night. But she always prays, “Lord, give me

grace to live a life that will bring glory to You today. I don’t know how I am going to be of help to anybody, but Lord, here I am.”

Does Jan ever wonder if God has forgotten her? “I know better than that. I know he loves me. ‘Whys’ are not the answers we’re looking for. There’s a song on the Bill Gaither tapes we listen to at night, sometimes for an hour. There’s a woman who sings, I love the way You hold me. This is what people are looking for. The God who says, I love you, and you’re worth something.”

Through it all, Jan’s husband Don is there. “He waits on me. Spoils me rotten. Cooks for me. Often it ’s frozen dinners…but we’re still here. And I’m still ‘ looking gooooood!’”

At a recent evening service, Jan was asked to give an update on her health. She said she was reading Joni Eareckson Tada’s memoir, The God I Love, about her childhood and later life as a quadriplegic. “If Joni can do it, with all that she’s endured, then I can, too.” Jan has now read the 368-page inspirational book seven times, reading and re-reading it since she discovered it on the Bookfest summer schedule.

When Jan first learned of the cancer, Judy Severance also gave her Joni’s book on suffering, When God Weeps. “These books are so helpful,” Jan said, “analyzing how you look at suffering from the Lord’s view point. Even if you can’t get up, even if your strength won’t last working in the nursery, there are still ways the Lord wants to use you. I’m not a vegetable. When do you get to the point that you’re of no use to God? Joni’s books give the answer: there is no point. I’m still alive, and He’s got me here for a reason.”

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The Carsons with their daughter Kayleen Todd, (right) her husband Mark, and Benjamin, Cami and Kendra Todd1 0

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H E A R T S F O R T H E M I L I T A R Y“First of all , then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and

thanksgivings be made for all people” (1 Timothy 2:1)

When we first came to PBC several years ago, one of the first things we learned in the membership class was our church’s mission statement: “PBC commits its pulpit, its leadership, its people, its programs, and its resources to Word-centered teaching for equipping the saints for the work of ministry in love and excellence to the building up and maturing of the Body of Christ into the fullness of Christ.”

One way we build up the body of Christ is through our ministry, Hearts for the Military. We are committed to encouraging men and women in the United Stated Armed Forces as well as their families as an outpouring of love that overflows from hearts devoted to serving Christ. We are committed to praying for church members and close relatives who currently serve in the military in any rank, including civilian employees, the National Guard and Reserves.

Additionally, several times throughout the year, we send care packages to service personnel that include an audio copy of a sermon, a book on Christian living, a card handmade by our church children, and a note of encouragement from the church. We hope that our military families feel loved and also grow in Christ amidst the unique and difficult circumstances that surround them.

If you would like to add a name to our military prayer and support list please contact me at audra.trujillo@gmail.com. In addition, if you would like to minister to our service personnel through prayer, please pick up a copy of our current military list in the foyer.

A U D R A T R U J I L L O h e a r t s f o r t h e m i l i t a r y

P R AY E R F O C U S :

Lord, you are Sovereign over all the nations, and you are intimately acquainted with all our ways. Lord, you are the light that keeps us safe, and our protector, that we have no fear. Even in the day of trouble, you will hide us in your shelter; you are the rock we can run to for protection (Ps. 27). You are lovingkindness, our fortress, our high tower, deliverer, the shield in whom we take refuge, and the One who gives salvation to kings (Ps. 144:2, 10).

Lord, we pray on behalf of our military personnel who are believers in Christ, that you may grant them safety and purity during their deployments. As they serve alongside others, may they be a faithful witness for you. Please keep them strong, Lord, steadfast in their walk, and help them to be faithful in gathering with other believers to pray and to seek you through your Word. We ask that you would keep their families strong, and that they will have joy in you. Bless their children, Lord, and please protect them. Give them special grace with a deployed and absent parent. May they look to you, their heavenly Father, at an early age. Draw them closely to you, Lord, and grant them repentance that leads to salvation.

Lord we also pray for salvation for those in the service who do not know you. We thank you for the grace, strength, and protection you give to our military in their time of need. We also pray for our government officials as they lead the nation in this turbulent world. Please guide and direct them, give them great wisdom in making decisions, and grant them salvation. We ask these in the matchless name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

B E T T Y I N T A G L I A T A o u t r e a c h b r a n c h

UNITED STATES MILITARY AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS

“Our girls may have finished particular programs from a particular institution, but learning and growing is lifelong. We hope they will continue to do what they have been doing—pursuing that Ph.D. in Christ and along the way acquiring any skills that can benefit and bless others—particularly the body of Christ, their present family, and their future families. We think it is a wonderful thing that they have time to study God’s Word more, to be free to serve when needed, to develop expertise in desired areas, and to spend time with godly women and learn from them.”

As they reflect on their daughters’ scholastic careers, Jan and Vicki never expected they would accomplish the things they’ve achieved so far. “We thought that our girls might not even go to college, but rather seek discipleship and building vocational skills in the homes of other ladies. Formal education and degree attainment were not the goal. “It ’s funny,” Vicki muses, “just how the Lord works!”

It is a blessing to see how He has worked in the Cespedes girls’ lives. All four older girls have accomplished incredible academic achievements, yet by God’s grace they remain humble. They conduct themselves as godly women and are brilliant examples of what it means to love Jesus and others as they pursue their “Ph.D. in Christ,” being motivated by simply Christ and Him alone. This is true success.

K A T H E R I N E D R U M M a s s o c i a t e e d i t o r

G O D L Y G O A L S c o n t i n u e d f r o m p a g e 7

T H E R E C I P E B O X

time: 10 minutes prep, 30 mins baking time.M A K E S 2 (8 ” B Y 4 ”) L O AV E S

(O N E F O R Y O U R F R I E N D , O N E F O R Y O U !)

I N G R E D I E N T S :

2 C U P S F L O U R

1 C U P S U G A R

1 C U P C O R N M E A L

2 T E A S P O O N S B A K I N G P O W D E R

2 TA B L E S P O O N S C H O P P E D F R E S H R O S E M A R Y

1 /4 T E A S P O O N K O S H E R S A LT

1 / 2 C U P H A L F A N D H A L F

2 / 3 C U P S W H O L E M I L K

2 L A R G E E G G S

1 . 5 S T I C K (3/4 C U P) B U T T E R , M E LT E D

R O S E M A R Y C O R N B R E A D

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease two (8” by 4”) loaf pans, and set aside.

Whisk the dry ingredients. Whisk the wet ingredients together in a different bowl. Take your

wet ingredients, and slowly add them to the dry ingredients. Stir together until well blended.

Distribute the batter evenly into the two pans, place your rosemary on the top, and pop it in the oven!

Bake until the bread is light brown around the edges and slightly cracking in the center- 30 to 35 minutes.

L O R I W E L L O N SS p e c i a l E v e n t s

B E T T Y I N T A G L I A T AO u t r e a c h

J E N N Y L O T ZS p i r i t u a l G r o w t h

R E B E C C A R E Y E SS u p p o r t & E n c o u r a g e m n t

C A R O L Y N M C G U I R EW M C C o o r d i n a t o r

6 6 1 - 2 5 0 - 1 6 2 1c a r o l y n m c a v @ a o l . c o m

P A M S O J K AW M C A s s t . C o o r d i n a t o r

6 6 1 - 2 5 5 - 8 6 2 6p j s o j k a @ g m a i l . c o m

w o m e n ' s m i n i s t r y c o u n C I L

a d v i s o r y b o a r d

C A R O L K E N N E Y

J U D Y S E V E R A N C E

K A R E N L O N GC o m m u n i c a t i o n s

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