What is 4Tucson?

The mission of 4Tucson is to partner with every sector and domain of society based on common love, common goals and the common good to make Tucson one of the most livable cities in the world, allowing each partner to determine what part it should play.

We see the Christian church engaged in the needs and dreams of Tucson, serving as a catalyst to bring about spiritual and societal transformation for the prosperity of the entire community.

Visit 4Tucson.com to see our statement of faith.

What are domains?

Our society illustrates change through one of three primary sectors: public, private, or social. 4Tucson has taken those three sectors and identified 12 specific areas of influence within our city. Those areas of influence we call domains.

Our city is made up of groups of people within these domains who have expertise and unique knowledge in a variety of subjects. Each person will tend to view a specific problem from his or her own perspective. For example, if the specific problem were homelessness, a teacher in the Education Domain may believe the solution is more education. A professional in the Healthcare Domain may believe the solution revolves around dealing with mental illness, while a leader in the Business Domain may see the problem as a lack of motivation or opportunity. Individually, these views are not the solution to the problem of homelessness—but collectively, each holds a piece of the answer to discovering a real and sustainable solution.

Our purpose is to identify difficult problems within the city and bring the expertise of people from a wide variety of backgrounds to focus together and discover and implement long-term solutions.

Each domain has a director who coordinates the programs and projects that help create solutions to problems encountered within that domain. Visit 4Tucson.com to see a full listing and detail on each domain director.

Your Piece in the Puzzle4Tucson Orientations show how you can make a difference

Making the Church RelevantNew initiative to connect churches to families affected by DCS

Impassioned Leader Heads Justice Domain Holt hopes to reverse inequality and injustice

The Road to Joyful GenerosityPhilanthropy luncheon identifies domain’s mission and strategy

Inspiring Awareness and Action Claire Morgan’s free Constitution classes inform and engage

Students Encouraging Other Students in FaithGraduation Senior Blessing Ceremony coming soon

Sparking Spiritual Renewal First ever Tres Dias Weekends draw closer

Be Part of the Bigger PictureHelping Christians see their part in Tucson’s story

Desert City On A HillTucson’s bright Christian past told to light future ahead

City Psalms Two A movement to create songs of prayer for Tucson continues

Artists Inspired by Tucson’s Spiritual HistoryDiverse artwork and original music to be showcased at gallery

Opportunities for Collaboration and Fellowship Morfin discusses Pastors’ Prayer Summit and Spanish Tucson Ministry Alliance

What’s Your Metanarrative? Understanding your story as part of God’s bigger story

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4Tucson Magazine Spring 2016Editor: Adam ColwellAssistant Editor: Meg VillanuevaContributing Writers: Suzette Howe, Rachel Lunsford, Janis Van Keuren, Emily Pearson, Kathy Watson, Lily WinchesterGraphic Design: Caryn MetcalfPrinting: Arizona LithographersProject Management and Production: Adam Colwell’s WriteWorks

4Tucson Magazine is published quarterly and distributed free of charge online at 4Tucson.com and in print. Copyright 2016, all rights reserved. No part of this mag-azine may be reproduced or transmitted by any means without consent of 4Tucson. No unsolicited material is accepted for publication. 4Tucson is located at 5151 E. Broadway Blvd., Suite 1600, Tucson, AZ 85711.2 4Tucson Magazine

Your Piece in the Puzzle4Tucson Orientations show how you can make a difference

by Kathy Watson

Have you ever gone to Google Maps and looked at an aerial view of Tucson? If you were to take that one step further and pinpoint ev-ery place you typically visit in the city, you would be amazed at your sphere of influence. Each step you take has a plan and a purpose, according to 4Tucson Church Domain Director Dave Drum, and when you become intentional about those steps for Christ, you can truly impact the city.

Drum explained at the monthly 4Tucson Orientation in January that individuals have come together to influence the city for the bet-ter. “Our job at 4Tucson is to meet the needs of our city by serving and building relationships in our area of expertise. One of the main points of the orientation is showing the national and local statistics of where Tucson is as a city. The punch line is, ‘Though the city’s ills may not be our fault, they are our responsibility.’ Every day I hear phenomenal stories of what is happening.”

Every Tucsonan, Drum says, has a piece of the puzzle that has made Tucson what it is today and what it will become tomorrow. “A one-thousand-piece jigsaw puzzle is a great example of how vital each piece is. You can get overwhelmed when the puzzle is strung out on the table. However, when you sort out the similarities, you

can begin to work out each part and eventually the picture is com-plete.” So it is, he says, with 4Tucson’s goal to reach each sector of the city: one person meeting one need at a time, making the city as a whole stronger and a better place to live.

When he was a pastor, Drum used to tell his congregation that they were building bridges. “There has been such a divide between the church and the culture. The church has withdrawn over the years and the culture has pushed,” he said. “Service is the bridge that connects one side to the other. As believers, we become noticeable again by serving the needs of our community. As we connect our unconditional love with all twelve domains of life the chasm will be bridged.”

During each orientation, Drum shares the need, city statistics, the vision, the strategy, and the history of where 4Tucson came from as well as stories of its progress. “We then give an invitation. You now have a piece of the picture. If you don’t put your piece in the puzzle, it won’t be as strong. How can you jump in?”

4Tucson Orientations occur every third Thursday of the month from 7:00pm-8:30pm. Locations are posted at www.4tucson.com.

Kathy Watson is a freelance writer who lives in Vail, Arizona.

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Photo by Chloe Carlson.

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by Lily Winchester

Today in Arizona, more than 18,657 children are in foster care and nearly 3,500 of those are in Tucson, according to reports from the Department of Child Safety (DCS). With that number growing exponentially and not enough foster homes available, a new initia-tive is being introduced to develop relationships between churches and families to help keep children from entering the system and therefore alleviate pressure on the state to house them.

CarePortal is a division of the Global Orphan Project, an international ministry that works with at-risk families, children and youth, and operates nationally in several states. Through the efforts of Sue Baird, CarePortal Regional Manager in Pima County, and with help from 4Tucson, the ministry launched its technolo-gy for Tucson churches with DCS needs in December and has 23 churches participating thus far.

“They were considering four other counties in the nation to start this CarePortal initiative,” said J. Michael Davis, Social Services Domain Director. “After considering our relationship with DCS, they chose Tucson to be the next launch for CarePortal. So we are the proving ground for Arizona.”

Prior to joining the CarePortal network, 4Tucson, several local churches and DCS had already formed the DCS-Church Partner-ship that has been flourishing now for the past year or so. Davis said that CarePortal will eventually become one aspect of that relationship with its goal being to connect local churches with families that are involved with DCS. The process starts with DCS evaluating the needs of a family or at-risk child. Those needs are then submitted via email to local churches that are enrolled in the program. The churches can then decide individually or collabo-ratively if they are able to help that specific family based on the resources they have available.

“There has been a lot of collaboration,” said Baird. “That was one thing that I really wasn’t expecting that’s been amazing and wonderful to see.”

According to Baird, the goal is to enroll about 100 churches in CarePortal over the next 12 to 18 months.

“The idea of CarePortal is every church doing a little,” Baird said. “We suggest that churches support CarePortal at one hundred dollars per month to help with overhead expenses for the technol-ogy, staff and so forth. Some churches won’t be able to do anything and some churches will be able to do more, but it will all average out. We are trusting God to meet the needs that we have so that we can be sustainable here.”

The program operates in three tiers starting with meeting the physical needs of families. The next tier of involvement offers help in areas such as mentoring, tutoring, babysitting and inviting people to participate in groups the church may already offer such as addiction recovery and parenting. The third tier opens the door for churches members to become more directly involved in foster care and adoption. Davis adds that “prayer is a big thing. It is a huge help that a church can do if they are not able to meet a need for that family.” “For so many people in Tucson the church is irrelevant and doesn’t have any effect on their lives,” Davis said. “4Tucson helps the church become relevant so it can have a part in transforming Tucson into a better place. Care Portal is one of those ways.” For more information, go to www.CarePortal.org.

Lily Winchester is a third-generation Arizona Wildcat, graduating in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Her passion is to inform people with the truth. She is also very involved in her church and its ministries.

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by Janis Van Keuren

“I’m just a servant of the Lord,” says 41-year-old D’Amond Holt, the new 4Tucson Justice Domain Director. His community involvement and plans for the domain paint the picture of a wholly dedicated and determined servant.

Senior Pastor at Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church, Holt is the single father of two pre-adolescent children and president of the Inter-Denomination Ministerial Alliance (IMA). He also sits on vari-ous committees including the Citizen’s Police Advisory Board and the Steering Committee of the Pima County Juvenile Court Community Collaborative.

Holt’s passion is to reform Tucson’s criminal justice system. He hopes to reverse the inequality and injustice among poor Americans of all ethnicities. Holt’s ability to envision programs that provide hope for impoverished and formerly incarcerated citizens caught the attention of 4Tucson Church Domain Leader Dave Drum at an IMA meeting. Drum invited Holt to stop by the 4Tucson offices and talk with him.

“I didn’t know I was being interviewed for a position,” said Holt. “I thought we were just talking about my projects on justice reform.” Holt has many projects that tug at his heart. Finding justice for low-income individuals, creating more job re-entry programs for newly released offenders, and clearing the records of those who have spent time in jail are just a few of his causes.

“The justice system is not cordial to low-income Americans,” said Holt. “This happens because they cannot afford an independent attor-ney. If you’re poor, you have a public defender, and most public defend-ers are going to plea, which means a guilty verdict and time in jail.”

When a person has charges on their record and jail time, they have a difficult time getting employment, housing, public assistance, food stamps or welfare, according to Holt.“That’s why we are seeing an increase in recidivism—people being freed from prison who then wind up back there,” said Holt. “We don’t have enough re-entry job training programs.”

This is an arena where 4Tucson’s mission plays out, serving as a catalyst to engage Christians in bringing about spiritual and societal transformation for the city’s prosperity.

“We have huge numbers of people coming out of incarceration,” said Holt. “We need more places where programs can be held. Churches could hold re-entry programs in their multi-purpose rooms or work with 4Tucson’s community partners and hold job fairs. Con-gregants can mentor juveniles.”

Holt is working on two programs to help lower-income Tucsonans who have been incarcerated.The first is Second-chance Scholarships to help pay court fines and fees. The second is an Expungement Program Workshop to reduce the negative impacts on the lives of former criminals.

“The first program will help previous inmates pay their fines and fees so warrants can be removed from their record and drivers licens-es reinstated,” said Holt. “This is a major issue, as one fee builds on another because one court system does not talk to the other.” 4Tucson has agreed to be the non-profit through which donations for this program could be made. As a scholarship program, attorneys and probation officers will have to advocate for their clients to be part of the program.

The second program would set aside former inmates’ records, making it easier for them to get housing and employment. “Interested persons would fill out an application to go through the process,” said Holt. “I’m working with lawyers, public defenders, and prosecutors to facilitate this. These officials will be working with the Justice Domain to develop a sound program.”

Holt’s major project is planning a regional justice conference this fall that will bring together all parties who are involved in the criminal process. Issues along with creative and practical solutions on how to improve the system will be discussed. Invitations for the conference will be extended to those in city and county positions from the chief of police to the county attorney; from those in the court systems to civil rights and faith leaders.

“You can’t conquer something you’re not willing to confront,” said Holt. “First you have to confront the problem, then you can conquer it.”

Janis Van Keuren is a freelance writer who has authored stories and devotionals appearing in Christian publications and an anthology. She also writes her own blog, “Heart-Filled Moments” at heartfilledmo-ments.com.

Impassioned Leader Heads Justice DomainHolt hopes to reverse inequality and injustice

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by Rachel Lunsford

4Tucson’s Philanthropy Domain, led by Domain Director Linda Goode, held its first monthly luncheon of 2016 at the Viscount Suites Hotel in January. Goode opened the event by stating the domain’s mission: to move people from poverty to stability to generosity. During the lunch, Goode and three other speakers ad-dressed each aspect of this mission.

Rosalva Zimmerman, Southern Region Community Outreach Director for the Arizona Department of Eco-nomic Security, began on the topic of poverty, informing the group of some key changes made to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) welfare program. These changes will affect 300 families in Pima County on July 1 of this year. The program offers families an average of $195 per month. Since 2011, the lifetime limit for TANF assistance was 24 months, but in July it will be reduced to a 12-month cut off, taking into account any TANF assistance received since October 1, 2002.

Many people have opposed this change, saying 12 months is not enough time to become stable in society. Zimmerman acknowledges these statements, but stresses that everyone affected by this change has had advance notice, DES offers job readiness and educational support to TANF recipients, and there are still various exemptions in effect that will enable many people in the program to maintain their TANF support.

On the other end of the spectrum, co-founders of the Kingdom Investment Foundation (KIF), Becky Nissen and Judy Davidson spoke on generosity and KIF. The organization, Davidson says, is comprised of 30 to 50 members who give $1,000 each year. These funds are then disbursed to appropriate charities upon submission, review and selection of the organizations’ grant requests. To ensure that all donations go to charities, each member pays a small fee to cover bookkeeping and supplies. Davidson said they select approx-imately three to five proposals to be funded each year. Since its be-ginning in 2007, KIF has given over $300,000 to charities across the United States and overseas. KIF has funded several groups in Tucson such as Teen Challenge of Arizona and Young Life, says Nissen, though Davidson notes that their grant requests have primarily come from outside the city.

Davidson enjoys working with KIF because of the fellowship with “believing women who share the vision of generosity” and its ability “to bless charities that share the gospel in a greater way.” Davidson also appreciates the exposure to ministries around the world and seeing the dedication and sacrifice of the missionaries. “It’s exciting to hear what they’re doing,” Davidson says, “and it really makes you look at yourself and ask: what are you doing? Are you stepping out of your comfort zone?”

KIF funds a variety of ministries, Nissen said. One of the most poignant grants she recalls funded the purchase of surveillance equipment to help a ministry in Thailand save women from human trafficking.

Next, Goode addressed 4Tucson’s part in the domain’s mission. She summarized two class opportunities to learn about financial responsibility: a $15, six-week class through 4Tucson, and a $100, nine-week course through Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace Universi-ty (FPU). 4Tucson has two goals for those who take the FPU route: a money back guarantee program for those TANF families who need budgeting assistance, and a Financial Assistance Support Team (FAST) for FPU graduates. Goode says FAST will offer a multi-fac-eted support system, and the money-back guarantee will empower people to take action that will enrich their lives and help them transition from poverty to stability to generosity.

This inaugural Philanthropy luncheon was sponsored by Ottmar Wischki, Financial Representative at Thrivent Financial. Wischki hopes attenders will have a better sense of how they can serve their community, and be encouraged to become more generous in their giving. “The biggest thing holding people back from generosity is the belief that they don’t have enough money,” Wischki said. “But the truth is it’s not always about the money; you can be generous with your time.”

To find out more about opportunities for daily generosity, or information regarding the Philanthropy Domain’s monthly lun-cheons, please contact Linda Goode at Linda@4Tucson.com or visit www.4tucson.com

Rachel Lunsford is a writer, artist, and owner of The Write Palette writing and editing services.

The Road to Joyful GenerosityPhilanthropy luncheon identifies domain’s mission and strategy

(L to R) Rosalva Zimmerman, Linda Goode, Judy Davidson and Becky Nissen. Photo by Sue Johnson

Inspiring Awareness and ActionClaire Morgan’s free Constitution classes inform and engageby Rachel Lunsford

Claire Morgan, teacher at Ironwood Hills Christian School, is passionate about civic responsibility in government affairs. Morgan pursued history in college, but the intensity of her study of the Con-stitution came later. Morgan says that she reached a turning point in 2009 after observing “a disconnect between what the Constitution says and the kind of people we’re putting in the office.” After this, she launched a frenzy of research into the Constitution of the United States.

Morgan began teaching what she learned in June of that year, structuring the classes into a set of four weeks with one session per week. Morgan gives an introductory lesson that teaches out of the Declaration of Independence and shows its influence on the govern-ment structure described in the Constitution. After this session, the class topics span the Presidency, Electoral College, the composition and role of the Judiciary, and more. These classes, Morgan says, are usually small, open to any who wish to join, and are completely free of charge. Since 2009, Morgan has taught Constitution classes in Tubac, Palominas, Sonoita, San Simon, Benson, and across Tucson.

Morgan has partnered with 4Tucson’s Government Domain Director, Paul Parisi, to offer these classes twice a year for the last several years. She completed a class in January and she anticipates

another in August.

“The benefit I see from the classes,” Morgan says, “is that it stirs people up to realize how important it is that you pay attention to what is going on in government.” Morgan realizes that keeping track of multiple levels of government is exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, for one person alone. So she says citizens have to work together to share information and to let each other know what is going on—on the school board, Tucson City Council, Pima County Board of Supervisors, and other levels of government. Only then, she says, Tucson’s citizens have a positive impact.

Often, Morgan says, Christians will tell her that they should not be involved in politics because it’s “dirty,” but Morgan says the Bible doesn’t teach that. Instead, Morgan refers to Exodus 18:21 and Deuteronomy 1:13 where God points out what types of leaders we should be electing. She says this indicates that we should be involved in the appointing of leaders. “If you aren’t paying attention to who is running for office,” Morgan says, “and therefore can’t measure them against the yardstick God has given us, you’re not going to know who to vote for.” Awareness is key to our involvement, Morgan be-lieves, and she stresses that we as Christians are to vote and to pray.

Rachel Lunsford is a writer, artist, and owner of The Write Palette writing and editing services.

4Tucson Magazine 7

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by Suzette Howe

Senior graduation is an amazing time in a student’s life and many believe that should still be celebrated in faith-based expres-sion.

The Second Annual Senior Blessing Ceremony “encourages kids in their faith as they transition from high school, into a career or college, into adulthood,” 4Tucson Education Domain Director Bernadette Gruber said, “and to remember God has a purpose for them, they aren’t on their own, and they have a God who cares and wants to order their steps.”

Gruber recalls the celebration of Baccalaureates years ago. “A prayer and blessing was given over all the students, meant to be a special celebration transition into their future, and something of faith to encourage students into adulthood. In the mid-nineties, however, guidelines came down from the Department of Educa-tion stating schools could no longer sponsor this kind of event,” said Gruber. “The event could still take place, but it had to be student led and student run, so they just disappeared.”

Gruber and others in her domain wanted to see this kind of event resurrected and last year a group of students from Young

Life and Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) began asking about ceremonies. “We shared what used to be done, and they got excited because it was outreach to their classmates who were maybe waning in their faith or students who didn’t have faith but would like to be a part of it,” she said. “They could have a blessing before they go off to college and they were really excited about the opportunity.”

In last year’s inaugural event, a student committee picked a youth pastor to be the keynote speaker, and students from all dif-ferent churches performed worship. They put together a worship band strictly for that event and picked the music and scripture verses they wanted to highlight. Twenty-one students from six different schools and 150 family and friends attended.

For information on the date and time of this year’s ceremony, contact Bernadette Gruber at Bernadette@4tucson.com or 520-745-4404.

Suzette Howe enjoys developing marketing and graphic materials, digital strategies plus writing content through ShowUhow2.com. She is a native Tucsonan, committed to our community, married, and has three children.

Students Encourage Each Other in FaithGraduation Senior Blessing Ceremony coming soon

by Dave Drum, 4Tucson Church Domain Director

This summer is shaping up to be the hottest ever—but thermometers won’t even notice. The building blocks are already in place, growing prayer through the city is the fuel, and brand new spiri-tual renewal weekends could very well be the next spark.

Dave Strong, member at Desert Hope Lutheran Church, is the leader putting Tucson’s first Tres Dias Weekend retreats together. “My prayer is that our first John 17 Tres Dias Weekends in July will be used by God to bless our city through the lighting of a fire to bring about trans-formation, revival, and Christian unity,” Strong said.

While these weekends are firsts for Tucson, Tres Dias and other three day weekend movements have a 70+ year history of igniting people’s love for Christ and others. Originally started to engage congregational members whose faith had never been fully activated, these three-day weekends are now in multiple countries around the globe with millions of people empowered to make a differ-ence in their world for Christ.

Recently retired Tucson pastor Dan Johnson hasn’t attended a weekend yet, but is excited enough about the potential to invest his time in making it happen. “There are two conversions needed in every life,” he said. “One is from the world to Christ. The other is from Christ to the world. The first is a heart transformed by the love of God—realizing that one is forgiven, accepted, and free from accusation. The second is the conversion of discipleship—one’s heart is drawn to people, and one joins Jesus in searching for the con-fused and brokenhearted. Both conversions are vital, and they occur through Tres Dias.”

Many expressions of the weekends are tailored to particular denominations, but Tres Dias is non-denominational by design, emphasizing the essentials while encouraging respect and love in the areas of difference. Add in the multicultural intentionality of the Tucson weekends, and the potential impact is huge. “Tres Dias is one of God’s tools that He uses to shape and inspire us to be Chris-tian leaders in our environments; that is, wherever we find ourselves in our day to day lives,” says Jim Langdal, a recently retired comput-

er engineer from Phoenix who’s volunteering his time to make the first men’s weekend happen. Kelly Fuhst, an administrative assistant from Phoenix, is helping lead the women’s weekend. “It is an honor for me to be a part of this venture of bringing people together in unity.”

By the time participants finish the weekend, they will have expe-rienced the love of Jesus in powerful ways, grown tangibly in their love for their brothers and sisters in Christ from a wide variety of backgrounds and cultures throughout the Tucson area, and been trained on how to positively influence their environments for Christ.

The first John 17 Tres Dias Weekend will be held on the campus of St Andrews Presbyterian Church, with the men’s event July 7-10 and the women’s event July 14-17. Cost is $25 and includes meals and sleeping quarters. Contact dave@4tucson.com, Dave Strong at daver-uns100s@msn.com or 520-760-3075, or visit www.4tucson.com.

Sparking Spiritual RenewalFirst ever Tres Dias Weekends draw closer

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by Lily Winchester

As Christians, it’s normal to seek God’s plan and will, but it’s usually only on an individual level. To see positive changes made in the city, Tucson Christians should seek God’s will for themselves within their church and then His will for their church within the city. They will be given the opportunity to see their part in the bigger picture God has for Tucson at United for Tucson, the National Day of Prayer event on May 5.

The event is a unified effort of 4Tucson, the National Day of Prayer Task Force, and many congregations throughout the city. 4Tucson Prayer Domain Director Brian Goodall said the driving force behind the event is bring people together to celebrate how God has moved in our city in the past and seek Him in prayer for Tucson’s future.

“We really want it to be more about the room than about the stage,” Goodall said. “We want people to be coming because they want to seek God for our city. It would be easy to bring in a big name speaker or a big name band, but we believe in the principle that what you win

people with, you win people to, and we want to win people to seeking God for our city.”

Scheduled to premiere at United for Tucson is a documentary that tells the spiritual history of Tucson. Some of the people mentioned in the film will include Father Kino, Archbishop John Baptist Salpointe, Josephine B. Hughes, Oliver Comstock and Harold Bell Wright. Good-all said that these men and women of faith, as well as many others, are responsible for the many blessings Tucson has received.

“Hearing that information, being reminded—that’s the celebration side of things,” Goodall said. “That’s what we build on when we pray for our future. We can’t pray for how we want to see God move in our future until we understand how it links to how He’s moved in the past. You can’t separate the two.”

Goodall said he hopes the documentary will promote a culture of storytelling and inspire people to share more stories of people who said “yes” to God and as a result impacted the city. He adds that Tucson’s story does not end with these godly men and women, but emphasized

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Be Part of the Bigger PictureHelping Christians see their part in Tucson’s story

4Tucson Magazine 11

that there is still a narrative to be written. It is up to Christians to come together and allow God to write it.

“This next chapter could be the best,” Goodall said, “but it won’t be our greatest unless we all see our individual part in that big plan, and what God wants to do in Tucson, and what part each of us plays in the bigger story.”

Other aspects of the event will include a time of worship led by City Psalms; performing songs of prayer written specifical-ly for Tucson. There will also be a time of corporate repen-tance led by city pastors. Goodall stressed that there will be no entrance or parking fees and no offering will be taken, all with the goal of eliminating any obstacles that could keep people away. The event will be in the Tucson Convention Center Arena and doors will open at 5:00pm. A time of prayer and worship will follow. The actual program will begin at 7:00pm and conclude at 9:00pm.

“This will be a really meaningful meeting,” Goodall said. “Those coming will feel and experience what it’s like to be a part of a larger body and to know that they’re a part of a bigger story.”

Lily Winchester is a third-generation Arizona Wildcat, graduat-ing in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Her passion is to inform people with the truth. She is also very involved in her church and its ministries.

“We really want it [United for Tucson] to be more about the room than about the stage. We want people to be coming be-cause they want to seek God for our city.

- Brian Goodall, 4Tucson Prayer Domain Director

Introducing the 4Tucson 2016 Gala

This is YOUR OPPORTUNITY to invest in the Kingdom of God right here in Tucson!

We want to invite you to be part of our 2016 Gala. Through an online Catalog, we will share with you the many programs and projects of 4Tucson and stories of lives being changed right here in our city. Some of these programs and projects you may already be familiar with, others you may not. During the Gala, you will have an opportunity to see what God is doing and join Him in it.

Begin praying now! Ask God where you can join Him to make the biggest difference for His Kingdom.

The Gala will crescendo at the United for Tucson event at the TCC on May 5th. We are expecting over 6,000 people to attend as we join the rest of the nation on the National Day of Prayer.

Watch for more details soon. You don’t want to miss this!

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by Emily Pearson

God lives in Tucson, Arizona. To many who have felt God’s pres-ence here, Tucson is a sacred place.

Its spiritual heritage is going to be showcased through City Psalms’ newest project: A City and a Church Rise Together. Two companion pieces, a film and a book, will both document the area’s past.

Adam Colwell, President at Adam Colwell’s WriteWorks, is authoring the book and will contribute to the film’s script. He was approached by 4Tucson’s Prayer Domain Director Brian Goodall to investigate the Christian history of Tucson and the Santa Cruz Valley.

“We’re operating from the conviction that God has a story He [is developing],” says Goodall. “A plan to bless the people of Tucson.” Goodall was motivated to record Tucson’s spiritual heritage in order to learn about, and share, God’s story.

“You can’t seek Him for your future without knowing where you’ve been,” says Goodall.

The book focuses on Tucson from the 1500s to the present day. Colwell has been interviewing residents with historian backgrounds to discover the city’s unique narrative. According to Colwell, writ-ings from the Papago peoples (now Tohono O’odham) call the area God-blessed and God-sent. He says that, over the centuries, Catho-lic and Protestant beliefs were brought to Tucson to create a diverse mix of Christian faith expression. Despite practicing Christianity in different ways, they were able to coexist and rely on each other—and still do.

Interviews with living individuals who have played important roles in the growth and expression of Christianity in Tucson are featured in the book. Colwell hopes they will “inspire the Tucson Christian community to work together and get involved in initia-tives in the name of Jesus.”

Meg Villanueva, a local teacher, writer and editor, is also con-tributing content to the book. Villanueva and Colwell have been working on the project for over a year. A release date for the book is still to be determined.

Evan Grae Davis, a freelance filmmaker and activist, is directing the film. He was also approached by Goodall due to his passion for documentaries that connect people with their community. “This is a campaign to introduce the community to our past and inspire Christians today,” says Davis.

The film will tell Tucson’s story through the eyes of local artists. The artists will choose an influential person and “somehow capture the spirit of these historic figures through their work,” explains Davis. “They will be creating pieces of art that will explain how that person inspired them.”

Although the film tells the same story as the book, the artworks allow the narrative to be told in a visual and expressive manner. “Art is very good at capturing and expressing ideas, affecting culture, and communicating emotions,” says Davis.

Davis will interview the artists, film their creative processes, and weave the narrative through their work. (See related story in this issue, “Artist’s Inspired by Tucson’s Spiritual History.”) The film is slated to premiere on May 5, the National Day of Prayer, at the Unit-ed for Tucson event at the Tucson Convention Center.

“So many people from so many different faiths can come togeth-er to celebrate those from our past,” says Davis. He hopes the film and the book will ignite today’s Christians to impact the future of Tucson.

Emily Pearson is a student at the University of Arizona.

The Iron Gate at Mission San Xavier del Bac. Photo by Jay Yuan / Shutterstock.com

Desert City On A HillTucson’s bright Christian past told to light future ahead

4Tucson Magazine 13

by Shawn Over

City Psalms began with a heart cry. 4Tucson Prayer Domain Director Brian Goodall, along with Cameron Hood and Mike Almeroth, had a vision to foster prayer for and service to Tucson. From that came the first-ever CD of worship music written specifically with Tucson in mind.

This summer, the group is releasing City Psalms Two. While their creative process has grown, Almeroth, Hood and Goodall have deep-ened their understanding of what God wants to achieve through these psalms. They are meant to inspire prayer, but also to unify the body of Christ and invite non-believers to share their heart with God. Each one of the trio has had a hand in the writing process, endeavoring to make something new lyrically that can easily cross over into a worship service.

Almeroth says he’s frustrated with the lack of creativity in modern Christian music. He believes that, for the most part, the music played over the radio fails to reflect God’s creativity. “There’s a huge need,” he said, “for people to take musical risks and purposefully not say the same hundred words because those words have lost their meaning. Most songs we write, we quite purposefully don’t say things the way that they’re said in other songs.”

Hood has an equally passionate appeal to Christians to share the grace of God with those who do not intimately know Him. He makes a great effort, he says, to write music that reflects the love of God for everyone. “The main thing I think needs to happen is a deep experience of radical grace. If and when we get hold of that, there’s this love and service and forgiveness that overflows. That enables me to actually do the kind of service that City Psalms has in mind, loving and blessing and caring for every part of the city.”

Each member of the trio says they pour their hearts into the lyrics they write and the music they play, and then they let their work be scru-tinized by the others. They say that means being completely vulnerable and constantly sharpening each other’s work. They feel they have struck the balance of candor and courtesy when it comes to sharing their thoughts and opinions. “The most meaningful thing for me,” Almeroth said, “has been when I find out that someone from a local church has been playing the songs because they connected with that same despera-tion to see God do something new in our city. There’s solidarity in it.”

City Psalms Two will be released during the United for Tucson event May 5. “It’s not about the writers or the band,” Goodall says. “It’s a movement. We’ve always said since the beginning if somebody else catches the idea and they write better songs, it’s a win because we want to foster an idea. We want the songs of our city to be songs of prayer.”

Shawn Over is an intern with the 4Tucson Marketing Department.

City Psalms TwoA movement to create songs of prayer for Tucson continues

14 4Tucson Magazine

by Janis Van Keuren

The works of several Tucson songwriters, singers, painters, and other artists will be displayed at the 4Tucson Art Gallery Project from April 1 to the beginning of May. The purpose of the project is to capture the spiritual history of the city and establish a culture of prayer, said 4Tucson Prayer Domain Director Brian Goodall.

“As the artists were inspired by the stories of different influential founders from the city’s history, their works created expressions of prayer for Tucson’s future motivated by how God has moved in the past,” Goodall said.

Evan Grae Davis, one of the team members involved in recruiting and coordinating the search for local artists, created a documentary film that followed the artists’ works. “We have a number of Tucson artists who will capture the stories that resonate with them and manifest that through several different media,” Davis said. The idea for a gallery was prompted through the process of producing Davis’ documentary film. Portraying concepts of the founders’ stories required a more visual media and art became the key.

“The idea came up to involve local artists and present these historical stories through their art,” Davis said. “We could connect

people to the stories in a more personal way. It seemed like a perfect fit in the visual concept we had for the film.”

All of the artists on display are Christians and have chosen to create a work that brings to life one of the six founders’ stories which inspired them. Grace Bailey, a graffiti painter and a member of the search team, was captured by Oliver Comstock’s story, which she will recreate on a large sheet of metal. Her work will be displayed in the galley or there will be photos of her inspired creation. Comstock left his home and business in the early 1900s to come to Tucson and work with the city’s most desperate tuberculosis victims, considered outcasts. He started Mercy Emergency Hospital, the city’s first charity hospital.

Another artist, songwriter and musician Brian Gottshall, worked with local songwriter Micah Saldivar from Elements Church to create at least one musical score that embodies the work of Bishop Salpointe. Gottshall, also a member of the search team, cre-ated a mellow piece for acoustical guitar.

“The music will be worshipful,” said Gottshall, “not specifical-ly congregational-type of worship songs, but they will be like a prayer to highlight what was done in the past and how that will affect what is done in the future.”

Some of the artists who will participate in the Art Gallery Proj-ect are painters Lonny Davis, Rebecca Lieberman, Elizabeth Sikula von Isser, Manda Frazier-O’Brien, and Denise Harris Purvis. In addition, the project will include a piece by spoken word artist Mayra Duron.

The 4Tucson Art Gallery will have an open house with refresh-ments on April 1 from 6:00pm-9:00pm at Mo’s Gallery and Fine Framing, 3650 E. Ft. Lowell Road. Individuals may visit the Art Gallery Project Monday through Friday from 10:00am-6:00pm and on Saturday from 10:00am-5:00pm throughout the month of April.

Janis Van Keuren is a freelance writer who has authored stories and devotionals appearing in Christian publications and an anthology. She also writes her own blog, “Heart-Filled Moments” at heartfilled-moments.com.

Spiritual History

Artists Inspired by Tucson’s

Diverse artwork and original music to be

showcased at gallery

4Tucson Magazine 1515-CCC-0585 JewishPost R04_OL.indd 1 3/30/15 12:04 PM

by Rachel Lunsford

Angel Morfin, Pastor of Tucson’s Peniel Church of Jesus Christ (Iglesia de Jesucristo Peniel), is involved in two opportunities designed to unite pastors and leaders across the city. The first, the annual Pastors’ Prayer Summit, is for all pastors across any denom-ination. The second, the Spanish Tucson Ministry Alliance (TMA), is for multidenominational pastors and ministry leaders. Morfin encourages participation in each, emphasizing the powerful impact of fellowship and unification.

4Tucson Church Domain Director Dave Drum says the Prayer Summit began in 2009, launched by a small group of local pastors. From its initial attendance of about 20, it has grown to about 50 in 2015. Each year, Dennis Fuqua, Director of International Renew-al Ministries, has facilitated the time of fellowship and worship through song and prayer. According to Drum, Fuqua will do so again for this year’s Summit April 18-20. Attendance costs $195 to cover food and lodging, and scholarships are available.

Morfin had only positive remarks about the Summit and its impact. He encourages pastors to give themselves the opportunity to participate. “It’s a mind-changing, transforming time. You feel appreciated by other pastors because of the passion when they pray for you,” Morfin says. “At the end of every day, it’s a different taste of experience with God. It’s like you don’t want to go to sleep. You just want to stay gathered together.” The whole event, Morfin adds, helps pastors connect and realize they are not alone.

Another opportunity for connection is the Spanish TMA launched in January. This event, Morfin says, is intended to provide Hispanic ministries with the same opportunity that the original TMA provides. “TMA is catalytic,” Drum says. “We provide a place for people to meet, collaborate and work together to change the city one issue at a time. We want to grow in relationship with other pastors and ministry leaders in the city, grow in information about key issues and challenges in our city, and grow in opportunities to make a transformational difference in our city.” Morfin has attended TMA’s monthly meetings for a while now and for the last two years has envisioned a Spanish counterpart.

Morfin encourages people to attend the Spanish TMA. “We need to get to know each other, and the ministries people are involved in. We benefit from sharing information, connecting and learning from each other.” These meetings offer exposure and connection, Morfin says, and “with this exposure and connection, we can improve our impact.”

The Spanish TMA, Morfin says, will meet at various locations around the city on the last Thursday of each month from 6:30pm-8:30 pm. The cost to attend is $10, which covers a catered dinner.

Each meeting is organized by a board of seven pastors, including Drum and Morfin himself. They would invite all Spanish-speaking pastors and leaders across Tucson to join in the meetings.

Rachel Lunsford is a writer, artist, and owner of The Write Palette writing and editing services.

Opportunities for Collaboration and FellowshipMorfin discusses Prayer Summit and Spanish Tucson Ministry Alliance

16 4Tucson Magazine

Organizational PartnersBusinesses

Airtronics |airtronicsinc.comAllegra Of Tucson | allegratucson.comAnother Man’s Treasure Of Tucson | www.amttucson.comBekki A. Harper | bekkiharper.comCornerstone Communities, LLC | azsmartliving.comCrest Insurance Group |crestins.comCristobal Enterprises, Inc.Doug Newborn, AttorneyFalcon PropertiesFellowship Square Tucson | fellowshipsquaretucson.orgGarment Graphics, LLC | garmentgraphics.netGood News Radio Broadcasting | goodnewscommunications.comJim Click Automotive Team | jimclick.comLee Hancock & AssociatesLegacy Business PropertiesPalo Verde Behavioral Health | paloverdebh.comPaukune Family DentistryRobert E Hinske CPA, PC | hinskecpapc.comSandbrook Benefits Group, LLC | sandbrookbenefits.comSeeds of the HeartSheila Goetz, CPASouthern Arizona Home Builders Association | sahba.orgTerry L Cropp, State Farm Insurance | terrylcropp.comThrivent Financial | thrivent.comTucson Presidio Rotary Club | tucsonpresidiorotary.orgWhole Hearted Productions | wholeheartedpro.comYour Guidance Office | yourguidanceoffice.org

Churches

Abiding Savior Free Lutheran | abidingsaviorfreelutheranchurch.orgAgape Christian Church International | agapecci.orgBeth Sar Shalom | shalomtucson.orgBook Of Life | bookoflifecc.org

Casa de Adoracion Tucson | cdatucson.orgCatalina Heights Central City Assembly Of God | centralcityonline.orgChrist Community Church | ccctucson.orgChrist Lutheran Vail Church | christlutheranvail.orgChurch of Jesus Christ Peniel Church on the Street, Tucson | cotstucson.orgDesert Hope Lutheran Church | deserthope.orgDesert Son Community Church | desertson.orgDesert Streams Fellowship Dios Es Bueno International Eastside Covenant Church | ecctucson.orgEnchanted Hills Baptist Church | enchantedhills.orgFaith Community Church | faithtucson.orgFellowship Bible Church | tucsonfbc.orgFuente de Vida Grace Community Church | gracetucson.orgGrace Temple Baptist Church | gracetemplembc.comGreater Faith | gfctucson.orgHope Community Church | hopetucson.comIglesia de Dios Tiempos Profeticos Ironwood Hills Church | ihcaz.orgJoy in the Spirit FellowshipLegacy Church | legacychurchtucson.comLight the Way Lutheran | ltwchurch.comNeighborhood Church |nctucson.comNew Destiny Church International | dci.nuNew Life Community Church of the Nazarene | nlccnaz.orgNorthminster Presbyterian Church | npctucson.orgOasis at Rita Ranch | oasisritaranch.comPantano Christian Church | pccwired.orgRedemption Church | tucson.redemptionaz.comRestoration Community Worship Center Restoring Wholeness Ministries | restoringwholeness.orgRevolution Church | tucsonrevolution.comRichland Lutheran Church | richland-lutheran.org

4Tucson Magazine 17

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Rising Star Baptist Church |risingstarbaptist.orgSaguaro Canyon Evangelical Free Church | saguarocanyon.orgSt. Andrews Presbyterian | sapctucson.orgSunshine Ministries Inc. The Gate Church | thegatechurch.comThe Journey | journeyefc.orgThe Oasis Church | theoasischurch.netTucson Church International | tucsonchurch.orgTucson Desert Valley 7th Day Adventist | dvadventist.comVictory Outreach Church | votucson.comVictory Worship Center | vwcaz.orgVineyard Christian Community | vineyardcc.net

Non-Profit Ministries

Anointed Horn MinistriesAnswers for Life Pregnancy Center | www.afltucson.comArizona Baptist Children`s Services | abcs.orgChristian Family Care| cfcare.org

Community Renewal | transformingtucson.orgDeeply Rooted Ministries Depression Support Alliance | dbsatucson.orgGAP Ministries | gapmin.comGod’s Vast Resources | gvrconnect.orgGospel Rescue Mission | grmtucson.comHands of Hope | handsofhopetucson.comHelping Hands for Single Moms Tucson | helpinghandsforsinglemoms.orgHope of Glory Ministries | tucsonhope.orgInjoy Thrift Stores | injoythriftstores.comInstitute for Better Education | Ibescholarships.orgLove Everlasting Ministries | loveeverlastingministries.comMinistry Resources Intl. | ministryprep.comTucson Refugee Ministry | tucsonrefugeeministry.comTucson Teen Challenge | azteenchallenge.orgWayland Baptist University | wbe.edu

18 4Tucson Magazine

by Mark Harris, 4Tucson Executive Director

A reporter was sent to do a story on a recently captured, ruthlessly vicious criminal. He had been in and out of prison several times, but this time he was facing the death penalty. He had broken into a house, and mercilessly murdered a husband, wife, and two adolescent girls while they slept. Nothing in the house had been taken. It was a sense-less act of violence. The story was buzzing throughout the community. What kind of person would do such a thing?

When asked by the reporter about his upbringing, the criminal recalled several examples of his childhood under the tyrannical hand of his brutal father. His mother died at an early age and he lived in constant terror of his father’s drunken rages. This boy endured extreme cruelty until his father had a massive heart attack the year the boy dropped out of high school. After his father’s death, he moved to another city and survived on the streets by his wits, stealing and telling his sad story to any passerby he thought was a soft touch for an occasional handout. When asked if he had any living relatives, he mentioned to the reporter that he had a brother, but he had not seen his brother since the father’s funeral.

The reporter searched for the missing brother. He was surprised to discover a well-respected, successful businessman who had devel-oped a reputation for investing in the lives of people who seemed to be down on their luck. The brother had graduated from a university, married his high school sweetheart, and taught Sunday School for teenage boys at his church.

While interviewing the criminal’s brother to complete the news report, the brother recounted similar stories of the cruelty of his childhood and the many times the boys were severely beaten. Yet the reporter was startled when he received a word-for-word answer to one particular question: “How did you get to this point in your life?” The two brothers’ answers were identical: “With a father like mine, how could I be any different?”

A metanarrative is the bigger story into which our personal life stories fit. Metanarratives provide the framework for how we under-stand meaning, purpose, and ultimately, why we make the choices we do. The first son’s metanarrative was, “With a father like mine, my life is worthless and I will have to take whatever I want in life by whatever means necessary.” The second son’s metanarrative was, “With a father like mine, I will treat people with the dignity and respect that I wish I had received.”

The Bible is the biggest metanarrative in history. In it, God declares that there is an overarching story of His purposeful plan for all hu-manity and a very specific call for humanity to participate in His plan. Regardless of the circumstances by which we came into this world, the nature of our upbringing, or the way we have been treated by oth-ers—understanding your story as part of God’s bigger story is key to making a positive difference in the world. When you link your story with the story of other Christians in our city, your life is exponentially more powerful. If you want your life to make the most impact for the Kingdom of God, we invite you to join other Christians working together through 4Tucson.

What’s Your Metanarrative?Understanding your story as part of God’s bigger story

Regina is a young lady who lived in our SPLASH Houses for foster youth. SPLASH is an acronym for Spirit Powered

Love Aggressively Shaping Hearts. Each of GAP’s 14 houses has a live-in house parent couple, missionaries with the desire to show God’s love to the children in their care.

Can you really make

a difference?

“I was in 2 group homes before GAP. Those houses had staff and it was just really unstable for me. I really did not make any connections with anyone because I felt like they just considered their time at the group home as simply a job. GAP gave me more stability. Since (my house parents) were literally accessible 24/7 I felt emotionally safer to share even personal things with them. We saw each other at our best and our worst times, which really made us see each other in a more human way.When people ask me, ‘What is home to me?’ I never talk about a specific place. It ’s always an individual’s presence. This past year I visited the GAP office for the graduation party and I was surrounded by so many familiar faces and so many non-familiar faces, but I felt like it was a family reunion. I walked around the office so tall. I introduced my husband to all the people I knew and pointed out pictures on the walls. I wanted to take off my shoes and shove my face with food and laugh and cry. That’s home.”

Regina graduated from Northern Arizona University May 2015, and is working on her master’s degree in  social work  at the University of Washington. She met her husband at NAU when the two were involved with a program to help foster kids navigate college. At their wedding this past spring, her “dads” from two of her former SPLASH Houses walked

her down the aisle.

These are the stories that keep us doing what we do. We hope they inspire you to do what you

can do. Join us by volunteering, praying, and financially supporting the work of GAP Ministries

FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN BE PART OF HAPPY ENDINGS AT GAPMIN.COM

Th ank you fr om th e ch i ld r e n whos e l i ve s you h ave i mp ac t ed!

520.877.8077

4Tucson Orientations: April 21, May 19, and June 164Tucson Strategy Banquet: September 27

FOR DETAILS, VISIT WWW.4TUCSON.COM