Woodward Park Baptist News February 2O16
Worship with us Sundays at 1O:30am | SW corner Maple & Teague, Fresno CA
298-7087 | woodwardpark.org
beginning
Church Family Spotlight
Jaime Cunningham
J
aime Cunningham was born on June 13 in Fresno, and has been attending WPBC steadily since June 2013. She’s the “baby” of two siblings, an older brother, Scott, and a sister, Suzanne, who were reared in a Christian home, attending church every Sunday. Jaime’s late father, Jerry Fleming, was a non-denominational minister. Growing up in church, she often found herself tagging along with her dad, visiting people in convalescent homes. Her fondest memory is of her dad teaching her how to read using the Bible as text. “I remember making the choice to follow Christ when I was 5 years old,” she said. Today, Jaime’s the proud mother of two children: Benjamin, 13 and Brooke, 12. Ben attends Kastner middle school and plays golf, while his sister’s at Fort Washington, playing a mean game of basketball. Jaime said her children are her most important earthly possession. But as a mom, new business owner, and follower of Christ, she must be intentional about maintaining balance. Just this year, she switched careers from a drug and alcohol counselor to becoming a full-time Farmer’s insurance agent. “This has been a new adjustment for our family and I’m working to not let that overwhelm or disrupt our family’s life too much,” she said. “I work hard at maintaining a coparenting relationship with my kids’ father, Marc,” she added. Marc has been a regular attender of WPBC since last summer, and he is
also growing in his walk with Christ. “Our goal is to uplift these children through single parenthood as much as possible,” said Jaime. Her most difficult season of life was when her dad passed away in September 2007. Feeling scared and alone, she confessed that her relationship with God was shaken. “When I lost my dad, I lost my best friend. I was a single mom that looked for direction and answers from him,” she said. “We’d call each other almost daily to discuss my children and my life, or any question I had about life.” When her dad passed away, Jaime believed she’d never recover or be able to live a life of joy. “Over time, the Lord has grown me through this process, and my relationship with the Him is a hundred times stronger than it was before. And I now have the confidence through Christ to take care of myself and my family.” Jaime’s favorite mission project so far was volunteering at the Juvenile Hall Christmas party, engaging with the incarcerated youth, playing games with them, singing Christmas carols, and serving them home-made goodies. Jaime is currently helping secure donations for the youth Trivia Night silent auction (coming up Friday, March 11). “I’m excited to see how that will turn out!” she said. Jaime’s also volunteering on the Frontlines Ministry team, emailing out weekly serve reminders to our church family. See
Jaime, inside
Feb21
Join us for a powerful 8-week journey of transformation that will equip you with tools on how to have a deep interior life with Christ.
Sundays
1O:3Oam
2/21 Identifying the Problem 2/28 Knowing God through Honesty 3/6 Going Back to Move Forward 3/13 Breaking through the Wall 3/20 Dare to Believe (Palm Sunday) 3/25 Get Ready for a Miracle (Good Friday, 7pm) 3/27 The Greatest Miracle Ever (EASTER) 4/3 4/10 4/17 4/24
Growing through Grief and Loss Discovering Healthy Rhythms Growing into Maturity Developing a “Rule of Life”
then group discussions at
6:OOpm
With programming for children and students!
Sign-up for a
Although you may not have seen her around church lately, missionary
table group on Sundays!
Whitney Keep
is part of our WPBC family!
Whitney Keep with her gingerbread house.
You will also need these resources.** Cost: $25 for all three ($10 for each additional workbook)
Questions? Email Ryan Mejia at
[email protected] Trivia Night
Jaime, continued from page 1 She’ll also be attending a related training out of town this May. If that were not enough, she completed a Boundaries class last fall, helps with Children’s Church on some Sundays, and attends a women’s discipleship group that meets weekly. Last December, Ben dedicated his life to Christ (along with fellow WPBC student Keano Carrasco) at the Ignition youth conference in Sacramento. Jaime did not realize the positive impact this good news would have on her. “[Ben’s decision] has re-energized my walk with Christ, and has empowered me to become a better spiritual leader in my family.” For fun, Jaime loves going to the beach, relaxing, and listening to the roar of the ocean waves.
“I actually prefer to go in colder weather and take in all the beauty, including the sunsets!” Some day, she’d like to jet over the Atlantic Ocean to explore the country of Italy. Few people know Jaime knows the lyrics to popular songs from bands from the 80s and 90s, including: Outfield, Journey, Tears for Fears, and Hall & Oats. “If I hear a song a few times, the lyrics will just stay in my head!” Jaime is grateful for all that God has done in and through her life, stating: “This church has helped change my life!” “I had walked away from Christ for several years and I was lost and hurting. Today, I am receiving healing through biblical counseling, serving others, and being the best mom to my kids.”
Missionary Report from Central Asia
T
he holidays have come and gone and it’s weird to think that this has been my second passing through them, and my last to come. It was a bitter sweet time, being away from family and the birth of my first nephew, but was abundantly blessed to have been able to celebrate with “family” here. Thanksgiving and Christmas were filled with great food, amazing people, games and laughter, and above all, joy and love. I was able to have a few local friends over and share some of our holiday traditions: building gingerbread houses (see photo above), listening to Christmas songs, and telling about advent. This semester I started a women’s beginning English class and have become friends with my students.
They are Central Asian women studying to become doctors and are extremely nice, but super busy. Please lift up that we would be able to meet outside of class and there would be opportunities to share Truth with them. Other things to lift up in prayer... With less than 7 months left, please lift up that I would be “all here” and would take every opportunity to share Truth with my friends Language is still difficult, and even more so when I know my term is coming to a close. Please lift up perseverance and motivation in continuing to learn the language. Determination and boldness to share Truth and have spiritual conversations. That my friends would be open to hear Truth and our Father would draw their hearts near. Thank you!
Giving Summary through January 31, 2016 Fiscal Year January - December Monthly General Budget Offerings Weekly Giving 1/3 $23,184.35 1/10 $9,439.00 1/17 $8,810.00 1/24 $5,854.21 1/31 $12,746.20 Monthly Total $60,033.76
Monthly Offering Objective Offerings Over to Objective
$56,666.67 $3,367.09
Budget Operations as of 1/31/2016 Monthly Operations' Surplus $5,375.05 YTD Operations' Surplus $5,375.05
Year To Date Analysis Offerings Received YTD Budget Required thru January 31 YTD Budget Percentage Achieved Amount over to YTD Budget
$60,033.76 $56,666.67 105.94% $3,367.09
SPECIAL MISSIONS' OFFERINGS YEAR TO DATE California Mission Offering $200.00 Lottie Moom Christmas Offering $425.00 Annie Armstrong Easter Offering $0.00 Touching Eternity Building Fund Missions' Fund
$539,267.75 $64,468.49
Left to right: Michelle Cesar, Norma Ingle, Sue Avila
Kid’s Ministry Summit a Huge Success
A group of about 20 volunteers gathered together Saturday, January 23, for an inspirational time of training and ministry alignment. The day was packed full of connecting, breakout sessions, vision-casting, and of course fun!
kids in our community with biblical truth to build a Christ centered foundation for a transformative life of discipleship.”
Leading up to the event, the Kid’s leadership team breathed new life With new momentum and purpose, the Kid’s ministry voluninto this ministry with a new purpose, and new values. teers forge ahead in 2016 looking forward to creatively engaging The new ministry purpose was evident in each aspect of the day more kids with the good news of and is, ”To creatively engage the Jesus!
The Support Blue Fresno campaign aims to:
· Foster trust and confidence between our officers and the community they serve.
· Provide opportunity for our community to visibly show their support for law enforcement.
· Educate our youth to enhance relationships and understanding with officers.
Support Blue Run 2O16 at Woodward Park
Feb 27 @ 8:15am
5K Run/Walk cost: $37/adult run pkg. ; $20/child run pkg. 1OK Run cost: $45/participant
Sign-up at supportbluefresno.com Registration forms are also at the Welcome Center
TNL (Thursday Night Life) kicks off with a special two-week Bible study for students and parents!
WorkDay
Just Show Up
9 am Feb14 Sign up on your Connection Card
Women : join us every
Thurs 9am-11
4OO Rooms
Aug 8
Sat
Sat
Feb27 8-12 8-12pm
pm
WPBC Volunteers Sort
Sat
Mar5
34O3 E. Central Ave. | 8 to 11 Sign-up to sort and pack!
every Tuesday @ 6 am | Prayer Room
Call Frances Blum @ 322-7372
2 1 b e F Friendship 6:30pm
Banquet
All student ministry families are invited to join us for dinner @ 6:30pm in the Worship Center. We will be challenged to live out our identity in Christ and our students will make their sexual purity commitments before the church. It will be a night of great fellowship and encouragement! Parents: Please bring a dessert to share. Sign-up with Joyce Black (
[email protected])
For dinner, please RSVP by February 1O to Vanessa Oviedo:
[email protected] Silent Auction,
6:OO pm
Trivia & Dessert Auction, 6:3O pm
Join us for a Night of fun trivia
that will help us send students to Oaxaca, Mexico and summer camp!
Start
M arch 11
by creating your team of 8 people (we can help create your team). Bring your own FOOD to share with your table. Drinks, desserts and snacks will be available for purchase at our cafe. This is a GREAT event to invite friends and family to. For every guest you bring, your team receives 2OO bonus points each !
Cost: $1O/ticket To donate items for silent auction, please see Jaime Cunningham, or email her at:
[email protected]. Other questions? See Vanessa Oviedo or call 298-7087.
Are you a 7-12 grader? Sunday Night Discipleship classes begin Feb 21 @ 6pm DVD study
Follow the rules. Stay inside the lines. Try harder. For many people, this is the mindset of Christianity. But there’s a difference between rules-based religion and an intimate
relationship with Jesus Christ. Religion leaves us empty and unsatisfied.
Jesus gives us life and unconditional love. Jesus isn’t about religion, but about the freedom and joy found only in His grace. Come join us for 8 weeks of discovering Jesus and not religion!
Summer Mission Trip Oaxaca, Mexico
July 17-24 Students: Join us for a week of experiencing God in a new and fresh way as we serve others in His name. We’ll be working with local churches in southern Mexico to reach out to their community through sports camps, English camps, and block parties. This will strengthen the ministry they are already doing to reach
people with the love of Jesus, and change Oaxaca. This will be a trip that will change you from the inside out! Cost:$1,45O per person (includes transportation, housing, meals, materials).
Please RSVP by March 6 with a $100 deposit and filled-out registration form. If you have any questions please contact Vanessa Ovideo @ 298-7087.