First Presbyterian Church of Orlando

Fall 2011

Seeking, Sharing, Serving...All to the Glory of God

See How We
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ON THE WAY
As we head into our fall season of ministry, I continue to be enormously encouraged by what I see unfolding among us. Across the wide ministry of this church, there is clear evidence of Gods faithful and gracious hand. With that in mind, I wanted to address two areas specifically. First, as you have already seen by now, SHINE is our new childrens ministry model. It is a fresh, creative vision that will help us teach and train our children in the gospel of Jesus Christ, one that I know will bless families for years to come. If you have not heard about it yet, or seen the changes, please take time to do that. Our website is full of information about this new ministry, and you can drop by the Clayton Life Center to see the renovations any time during our normal business hours. What you see unfolding now represents more than 15 months of faithful work and prayer by our Childrens Ministry Renovation Team, led by Jenie Kolar and Dottie Clendenin. This team of faithful servants traveled to churches all over the southeast, talking to the best and brightest minds in Childrens Ministry, watching particular models in action, surveying various curriculum resources, and assembling a plan and vision that would fit within the ministry structure of our particular church. In my 20 years of ministry, they are the finest, most committed, and energetic group of servants with whom I have ever worked, and I know God will be honored in what is created from their efforts. Indeed, our children are going to SHINE! Second, in regard to the issues we face with our denomination, we continue to make progress. (For a summary, please consult the FAQs found on our website.) The Session voted to take the next step in the Gracious Dismissal process with our Presbytery, leading to the appointment of a Resolution Team. That team is made up of 7 individuals who will work with our church on behalf of the Presbytery for at least the next 90 days. During that time, they will set up opportunities to hear from our congregation as to the issues, and to determine whether or not those issues can be resolved. Rev. Sam Knight and Dianna Morgan will represent FPCO on the Resolution Team. More information about this will be coming forth in the near future. By the time you read this, I will have returned from the first meeting of Fellowship PCUSA, the organization I have worked to create in order to find a new way forward regarding these same issues. I am hopeful that new structures, and a new Reformed Body, can be created such that congregations will find a way forward that allows them to remain faithful in their commitment to Jesus Christ and His Word. During my summer travels, I read a very convicting book entitled Never Silent, by Thaddeus Barnum. It details the same conflicts that unfolded in the United States Episcopal Church several years ago, and the response by Christians around the world, especially
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WITH DR. DAVID D. SWANSON

those in Africa. It was in reading this book that I realized, for the first time, that other denominations are sending missionaries to the United States because of our theological collapse, our willingness to compromise on the historic, Biblical doctrines of the Christian faith. Bishop John Rucyahana, Anglican Missionary to the U.S. from Rwanda, said to one of his American colleagues at that time, I have to tell you a secret. In Africa, we call YOU the dark continent. And they do. Especially in mainline churches, the light of the gospel is dimming because of our unwillingness to stand for Christ. Chuck Colson, quoted in the book, said American Christians of all stripes evangelical as well as liberal no longer take truth seriouslyweve fallen into a mushy ecumenism, believing that doctrines and distinctions make little or no difference. But our forbears, particularly those in the Reformed Tradition, didnt shed their blood for retirement plans, for buildings, or for a cozy sense that everybody is OK. They shed their blood for the truth. When I think of all that was sacrificed by those who came before us, I shudder to think at my own unwillingness to experience hardship for the sake of Christ. We must stand firm. This is not about sexuality, but about the larger issues of what we believe about Scripture and what we believe about the person of Jesus Christ, the very truths on which many have staked their lives in the past. Jesus said in John 14:21, Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. Our determination to stand strongly for the authority of Gods Word and the Lordship of Jesus Christ is born out of our love for Him. Our love for Him compels our obedience, regardless of what the price or cost may be. Let us, each one, count that cost, remembering His cross, that we might bear a faithful witness. Ill do my best to keep you informed as we move forward, but please continue to pray for a spirit of unity, of celebration, and of joy to embrace our church in the days and weeks ahead. With gratitude and love, I remain Yours in His service,

David D. Swanson Senior Pastor

ON THE COVER:
SHINE
Parents and children celebrate an exciting fun-filled kick-off to our newly renovated Childrens Ministry.
Cover Photo by Jason Frazier.

CONTACT US
407.4 2 3 . 3 4 4 1
To arrange a baptism Contact Worship x1451 To arrange a wedding Contact Weddings x1453 To arrange a funeral or memorial service Contact Pastoral Care x1455 To donate flowers for worship services Contact Worship x1451 With questions about your pledge, donation, or budget Contact Finance x1479 With a change of address Contact Membership x1471 To purchase a sermon CD or DVD Contact x1438 To join the Chancel Choir Contact x1273 For child care reservations Early Childhood Contact x2250 To reach the Security Office Contact 407.415.9793

4 See more information about

Shine and more pictures of our kick-off.

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Taste & See: LIFE Community

Discover what LIFE means in the lives of your fellow FPCO members. Find out how you can join us on our Prayer Walk.

For Weekday School Contact 407.996.5864 To find out about Sunday School classes Contact Spiritual Formation x1463 With questions about the FPCO website or its Columns publication Contact Communications x1467 To reserve a meeting space Contact Special Services x1469 HOSPITAL CALLS: Hospitals are no longer able to notify us when our members are hospitalized. If you know someone who is in the hospital, please notify the Pastoral Care office at x1455. PASTORAL EMERGENCIES: For pastoral emergencies outside of the 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. church office hours, please leave a voicemail message at the main church number. The message center will page the minister on call, who will reply as soon as possible. NEED HELP? Dependency assistance, cancer support group, grief support, divorce care, infertility group, please contact Congregational Life x1159

Step Out in Faith!

IN THIS ISSUE:
4 9 11 12 13 14 15 16 Welcome to SHINE Childrens Ministry Renovation Heart of the City Foundation Helps SHINE get started LIFE Community: Living for Christ LIFE Community: Inviting to Jesus LIFE Community: Fellowship in Christ LIFE Community: Engaged with Christ in Extending His Kingdom LIFE Community: FAQs Womens Ministry Fall Bible Study: The Amazing Collection: The New Testament Historical Books Womens Ministry Legacy Principles Young at Heart Luncheons Make Your First Connection Weekday School Testimony: Our Favorite Things HOCF Welcomes New Executive Director, Brad Staton Upward Sports Basketball & Cheerleading Camp 24 26 27 28 30 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 Restoring The Arts - Orlando Community School of the Arts Student Ministry Summer Testimony: Come in Close Womens Cancer Support Group The Impact of the Dominican Republic on the Partlow Family Over 15 Years Serving Inner City Students FaithServes Sunday Serving the Mercy Drive Corridor Initiative Gifted to Serve Student Ministry Mission Testimony: Look Into Their Lives We Move! in Madagascar Biblical Entrepreneurship in Madagascar Fifth Sunday with Heart of Mercy Church News & Notices

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www.twitter.com/fpcorlando

Group: First Presbyterian Church of Orlando

Welcome to Shine!
WHO: children in rising grades K through 5 and their parents (FPCO members and non-members are welcome!) WHERE: Clayton Life Center Gymnasium (temporarily) and Clayton 3rd Floor WHEN: Kids can attend one of our TWO identical worship services -- either at 8:30am or 11am. At 9:45am, during our traditional adult Sunday School hour, our students in grades K thru 5 will meet in their classrooms for a time of learning and music arts. At First Presbyterian Church of Orlando we care about the spiritual formation of our children and want each of them to enter into a personal relationship with Christ. In October 2010, our volunteer-led renovation team set out to learn as much as possible about our congregations needs and hopes for our Childrens Ministry. We conducted focus group sessions, individual interviews, town-hall meetings, and brainstorming sessions, as well as collected data from written surveys and met with staff and parentsall with the goal of determining how best to serve our children. Thanks to your feedback, we have relocated our K-5 Sunday morning experience to the Clayton Life Center. This move provides dedicated classrooms for our children, as well as an exceptional space on the third floor for our children-only worship service, ShineTime. The space engages the senses, is educationally effective, and is age appropriate.
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We have studied best practices for childrens worship and designed a multi-sensory, high-energy, child-friendly worship service, and we have reassessed our curriculum and to make a selection that is biblically sound. We have evaluated our volunteer needs and created a brand new structure that will be the driving force behind Shine. We have implemented modern communication methods to keep you well informed through email and Facebook. We have restructured the Sunday morning schedule for our children: 8:30am or 11:00am ShineTime: a childrenonly worship service for children in grades K-5 held in CLC-Rm 305. Select the worship service that works best for your family. 9:45am Shineday School: 30 minutes of Bible teaching and 30 minutes of music instruction in percussion, Orff instruments , and singing. All children in grades K-5 and their parents are invited to attend. If you dont have children this age, please invite your friends and neighbors! Members and non-members are welcome! Shine is designed to excite, engage, and equip our children to become contagious Christians. Dont miss out on all God has in store for the children at FPCO. Enroll your child today and join us each week. We cant wait to shine with you!

I hope that Shine is fun!

www.fpco.org/register

ENROLL NOW!

Everyone who was in attendance for our August 21 kick-off would agree, Shine is lots of fun! The use of music, games, skits, and high energy activities will help your children look forward to Shine every week. Who would expect to see confetti canons and flying footballs in Church?!

FPCOs newly renovated Childrens Ministry!

Our children have put a lot of thought into what Shine should be like
I hope we have our own space for Shine. I hope that Shine is interesting!

I hope that Shine teaches me about Jesus.

We have reassessed our curriculum and made a selection that is biblically sound with exciting lessons. Every child will be taught through the full Bible twice during the 6 years they are involved in Shine. Our goal is that every child will develop a strong relationship with Jesus, and then mature into a contagious Christian.

The facilities are already amazing and they are only halfway done. Our children will experience an environment designed thoughtfully and dynamically for their worship and small group experience. Come tour the new space in Clayton Life Center 1st and 3rd floors.

We will continue to reinforce Bret Allens message to the parents at the Kick-off, It is a sin to bore a kid with the gospel. Shine will continue to use humour, music, high energy programming, and a focused but relevant message.

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SHINE KICK-OFF
PHOTOS BY JASON AND ANGIE FRAZIER, MEREDITH CLAYTON, AND TODD MCLENNAN

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SUPPORT OUR NEXT GENERATION

Shine is designed to excite, engage, and equip our children to become contagious Christians.
Last year, a team of members prayed and identified an opportunity for improvement and effectiveness of the ministry provided to the children of FPCO. The objective was to research best practices and find ways to improve the ministry and music opportunities provided to our children a mission field right beneath our feet. While our children and families felt Gods outpouring at the kick-off of our plan, we are proceeding with the expectation that the funding will follow. Most importantly, the lives and hearts of our children will be transformed by the knowledge and introduction to JESUS himself. The 5 components of the New Shine Ministry include Designated Space in the Clayton Life Center, Enhanced Sunday Morning Structure, Focused Discipleship Path, Recruiting and Training Volunteers and Brand Redesign. In order to accomplish these changes, the Capital needs are in excess of $500,000 $100,000 was graciously granted by Heart of the City Foundation, therefore reducing our needs to $400,000. Come tour the Clayton Life Center to see how this beautiful facility is designed to minister to our children, better than ever. Please prayerfully consider how you can support in the next generation of Christian leaders at FPCO. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16 For online giving, go to www.fpco.org/shine Drop donations to Finance Office in EMC, in the offering plate, or mail to First Presbyterian Church of Orlando, Attn: Finance 106 E. Church St., Orlando, FL 32801

USE YOUR GIFTS TO BLESS OUR CHILDREN!

Volunteering and Giving Opportunities: God has blessed us with an abundant number of children in our first two weeks and we have an urgent need for more volunteers! Shine Time Leaders Sunday Morning Greeter Sunday Morning Shepherd Shineday Substitute Music Ensemble Baking At-Home Projects Vacation Bible School Missions Camp Geneva Special Events

Please contact Susie Dunlap at sdunlap@fpco.org or x1482

Childrens Ministry Renovation Project Grant

By Brad Staton, Executive Director - Heart of the City Foundation

ecently Jennie Kolar and Dottie Clendenin set up an appointment to come see me at my office. If youve been on the First Presbyterian Church of Orlando (FPCO) campus during the week lately youve probably seen one or both of them scurrying around. They, and the rest of the Childrens Ministry Renovation Team, have been up to something. Something very, very good. I became more and more excited as they made their presentation for an overhaul of the Clayton Life Center to maximize its usefulness in Childrens Ministry. I have three children: Beau (11), Sydney (9) and Caroline (4), so a striving for excellence in the Childrens Ministry gets my attention. At the end of the meeting they made their pitch. To do this renovation the right way they would need a sum of money that well exceeded what was available in the budget. They understood a few things well: (1) that the Heart of the City Foundation (HOCF) had already funded the consulting work that served as the impetus for the renovation in two separate grants over the last yearso we were already invested, and (2) HOCF exists to extend and support the ministry of First Presbyterian Church of Orlando. Special, one-time projects like this are exactly the kind of thing we are excited to support. God often calls us to step out in faith and take radical steps of obedience in many different areas. Sometimes, that radical step of faith is in the area of generosity and estate planning. On June 9, 1970, former FPCO member Ms. Mabelle ONeal took a step of faith in radical generosity. Mabelles father, Mr. William Russell ONeal, had been a leading figure in Orlando in the roaring 20s and 30s. Among his many roles Mr. ONeal had been Orlando School Board chairman, acting Orlando mayor and President of the City Council. Mr. ONeal had also served as Sunday School Superintendant, so he had a special concern for Bible education. Upon his death, Mr. ONeal left his estate to Mabelle (who Im sure he still thought of as his little girl). In thinking through her own legacy Mabelle decided that she would leave First Presbyterian Church of Orlando half of her estate in order that the William Russell ONeal

PHOTOS BY MEREDITH CLAYTON

Bible School Endowment might be formed (which occurred when Mabelles estate was liquidated in 2008). The money from her estate was placed in the Heart of the City Foundation where it is now known as the ONeal Fund. Because of the radical step of obedience Ms. ONeal took on June 9, 1970, HOCF is able to provide the lead gift for the Childrens Ministry Renovation. Because of this radical step of obedience, our children will hear the Gospel in new and fresh ways. Children will put their faith in Jesus as their Lord and Saviorwhat is more important than that? Because Ms. ONeal listened to the Lord, faced her mortality with courage and took the time to think through her legacy, our church is blessed, Christ is exalted, and the memory of her father is honored. All this because she listened to the Lord and took the steps He asked her to take. HOCF was able to provide this grant from the earnings on her initial estate gift. Why is this important? Because when funds are endowed, the money is invested, and as it grows, there is more money to award in grants. This means HOCF will be able to give another grant from the ONeal Fund next year. And the year after that, and the year after that. Christ will be exalted, again and again and again. Is God leading you to think through the legacy you want to leave behind? The Lord calls us to be good stewards of His gifts. If He is leading you in this way, please do not hesitate to contact me about how HOCF can partner with you and your family as you leave a legacy for future generations. Our endowment is an instrument that Christ uses to advance His Kingdom. If He is leading you toward radical generosity, I hope youll listen. Youll be glad you did - and so will future generations.

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By Kent Sterchi and Hailey Domeck, LIFE Community Ministry

ver the past few years, youve heard a lot about LIFE Community Groups (LCGs): the intergenerational, Scripture-reading, neighborhood-based, service-focused small groups of First Presbyterian Church of Orlando. Well, get ready to hear A WHOLE LOT MORE! New developments and understandings have shaped and altered the process of forming LCGs, and we are shifting gears to create a new way for you to get plugged in. We want to invite everyone to taste and see what a LIFE Community Group is all about, by offering a nine-week experience where you and your family can discover how the L, I, F, and E of LIFE are lived out in the context of Christ-centered community. Beginning in January of 2012, we will launch dozens of new LCGs across Orlando, including areas where there are no LCGs currently meeting. Since the vision of First Presbyterian Church of Orlando is to live out our lives in community, we want to encourage everyone to consider getting involved with a LCG in your neighborhood. After all, this isnt just another program or Bible study...its a way of life! So, if the new LIFE Community Groups begin to meet in January 2012, why are we talking about it in the September Columns? The answer is all in logistics: in order to join a new LCG, you need to sign up this fall! The fall registration period begins on September 25 and ends on November 20, which will give us ample time to form the many groups we hope God will start! If youd like to contact us, please email Kent Sterchi at ksterchi@fpco.org or Hailey Domeck at hdomeck@fpco.org or call 407.423.3441 x1497.

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Living for Christ

By David Wooten and Kelly Holland, Members

s new members of First Presbyterian Church of Orlando, Kelly and I learned of LIFE Community Groups (LCGs) through our First Connections class. Joining a LCG has been a tremendous overall experience, and it has made us feel more integrated with the church since, we are able to spend time with members outside of Sunday mornings. There are many aspects of LIFE Community that we love, but the one that we have found extremely rewarding is found in the L of LIFE. The L represents the practice of Bible study, spending time each week to read the Bible, and talk about Gods Word and how routine Gospel conversation can shape our lives to be more Christ-like.
McLENNA N Our LCG meets on Wednesday nights. I recall one particular Wednesday evening, when a bad storm came through and only a few people were able to attend. At that point in time, our LCG hadnt started a Bible study, and we could have easily used the storm as an excuse to simply catch up and skip the L of LIFE Community. Instead, we utilized the African Bible Study method to dive into Scripture. We read one passage of Romans three separate times, focusing first on words or phrases that stood out to us, second on what applied directly to our lives that day, and third on how God was calling us to respond to His Word. Between each reading, all of us candidly shared our response, and we grew closer to one another that night. This study method was a unique, insightful, and impactful way to connect with Gods Word, and it was something neither Kelly nor I had ever done before. PHOTO BY TODD

...our LCG has greatly benefited us as we travel this journey with Christ together.
Every Wednesday night, we take time in our LCG to listen to each others perspective. We respect everyones opinions, even if we may not interpret it the same way. Even though we are united by our common faith in Christ, our LCG has people from all walks of life with varying levels of experience and familiarity with Scripture. Many times we have lively discussions in response to what we are studying. Kelly and I always walk away from time spent with our LCG feeling inspired, challenged, and gratified, especially in relation to our deeper understanding of Gods Word. The immediate impact of studying Scripture in our LCG every week emerges through our discussions of how to apply it to our daily lives. In the short time that we have been living in community with our LCG, the lessons have already opened our eyes and hearts to being more Christ-like in different situations. The continued pursuit of studying the Lord through the wondrous passages found in the Bible is an important part of our LIFE Community experience, and the bottom line is that our LCG has greatly benefited us as we travel this journey with Christ together.

Inviting to Jesus
By Brad Staton, Member

hate goodbyes; I really do. I dont like anything about them. Not one thing. God made us for community, and goodbye means a break in community. But I do love to see things grow, multiply, and extend the glory of God. Two years ago, I joined the first Turbo Group of the newly formed LIFE Community ministry at First Pres. The group was made up of five couples that I did not know previously and me, the single father of two. We began meeting in 2009, and over the course of a year, we shared many meals, failures, and triumphs as we told our stories; we studied Scripture, and we prayed. We took the risk to know and to be knownand we were just thatknown. Yet once we were made known to one another, we were reminded that it was time to multiply.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BRAD STATON

The I of LIFE Community stands for Inviting to Jesus and means that LCGs should have an open chair, where new people can be readily welcomed into the fold. This value of LIFE Community also suggests that when LCGs grow too large or when there is a need, they will multiply. Thus, when the time came, all of us in that first Turbo Group honored that vital aspect of LIFE Community and went out to start our own LCGs. Surprisingly, the goodbye wasnt that hard, because I still see these folks most every Sunday, and they will probably be some of my closest friends at First Pres for the rest of my life. When my Turbo Group divided into multiple LCGs, I was living in College Park and my newly formed group was based in that neighborhood. It was a great group of people, and we practiced the open chair value of LIFE Community Groups. We added Lindsey Staton, after she and I got married, and then we invited another person soon after. This LCG met for over a year, and the folks in this group are very dear to my heart; I am so thankful for them.

So, when we multiply do we have to say goodbye?

On the night that Lindsey and I moved from College Park to Delaney Park, our LCG brought us dinner and prayed for us as we unpacked boxes. After a few months of our new living situation and making the commute between neighborhoods (albeit minimal), both Lindsey and I began to feel a tug to start something new in Delaney Park. When Gods call was clear, we shared with our LCG how the Lord was leading us to leave them in order to start a new group. We prayed about it and with the bittersweet blessings of love and support from our College Park LCG, we began a new LCG in Delaney Park. The needle on the Kingdom moved just a little more.

Lindsey and I have already had our first meeting with our new LIFE Community Group in our home, and I believe that in the years to come, these new people will grow into a community of trust and hope, a place where people know and are known. So, when we multiply do we have to say goodbye? Not really. Plus, if I had held on to that Turbo Group two years ago, I would have 10 really wonderful friends I met through this ministry. But because we lived out the I of LIFE Community, I now have 22, with 8 more on the way!

Fellowship in Christ
By Erin and Lars Linblad, Members

phesians 4:16 states From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. This passage truly embodies what we have come to learn and treasure in our LIFE Community Group. It was every supporting ligament that gave us the strength to get through a challenging and emotional time in our life. We have been married for seven-and-a-half years and have been members of FPCO for three years. We knew after our first few visits here that we wanted to get plugged in. We joined a Sunday school class, Bible studies, went to the marriage retreat, and participated in Dave Ramseys Total Money Makeover. We talked about joining a LCG, but werent really sure how we could make it work with our busy schedules. One day we got a call asking us to join a group in our area, and we couldnt turn down the opportunity!

PHOTO BY TODD McLENNAN

Although we only knew our group for a few weeks, we felt led to share our year-and-a-half long challenge with infertility. They prayed for us and lifted us up. Amazingly, in a few days, we found out that we were pregnant! A short time later, however, our doctors told us that initial test results raised concerns and the likelihood of a successful pregnancy was very low. We brought those concerns to our LCG when we were too hurt and broken to pray ourselves. The prayer and support we received during our emotional and anxiety-filled roller coaster was so uplifting and priceless. We were scheduled for an ultrasound that would determine if we were truly pregnant. We prayed with our group a few days before our appointment and everyone marked their calendars. The morning arrived, and so did the texts and emails. Im praying for you this morning, Lars and Erin are at their appointment right now, lets pray for them, Im praying for you right now, Be still, Hes got this and, while we were in the waiting room, Praying for a heartbeat.

The prayer and support we received during our emotional and anxiety-filled roller coaster was so uplifting and priceless.

At 12:30pm, we saw our babys heartbeat! It was the most amazing moment of our life. After we picked ourselves up off the floor, we walked out of the office and began calling all the people who had been through this journey with us. We sent an email to the whole group so we could all rejoice together in Gods faithfulness and answered prayers. Later that night, we stopped by our LCG leaders (Bret and Kim Allen) home to share the news. They rejoiced with us and prayed with us. It was amazing. That day is a day we will never forget. We realized that all the prayers, the support, the love - THAT is what LIFE Community is all about. Its about praying for someone when they cant; its about supporting and loving people when they need it; and its about rejoicing together in Gods answered prayers and faithfulness. Its only through Christ that this can happen in such a short period of time. We are so thankful God blessed us with a group of people to support us in both our joys and our sorrows. We cant imagine life without them.

Engaged with Christ in Extending His Kingdom

By Mike Zizmer, Member

few months ago, I was asked to lead the Rock Orlando project on ServeDay. Rock Orlando is an inner-city bus ministry that serves at-risk children and weary travelers. I readily agreed, because I have a passion for Rock Orlando and because I strongly believe in FPCOs vision of having Life Community Groups serve Orlando as a unified church. On Saturday morning of the FPCO ServeDay, I arrived to meet the team who would be going to the Rock. Before we began our work at the Rock, we were presented with several ways to serve: prepare lunch for 100 kids, organize a thrift sale, landscape, or walk the streets of Paramore and evangelize. Almost all of the FPCO volunteers chose go into Paramore, and I knew that God wanted me to get out of my comfort zone to walk the streets of one of the most challenging places I had ever been. As we evangelized door to door that morning, I was inspired by the compassion our group demonstrated. When we approached the final house, we found two men sitting on their front porch. We asked if we could pray for them, and the older gentleman, PHOTO COURTESY OF MIKE ZIZMER Uncle Ned, said yes because his nephew Tommy had been released from prison the prior week and was in need of prayer. When I introduced myself to Tommy, I immediately liked him. In fact, I gave him my phone number so he could call me if he wanted me to connect him with various resources. My encounter with Tommy continued to lift my spirits over the next few days, and I knew deep down that it was a divine connection God had orchestrated. I just felt like the story was special and not yet complete. It wasnt. The following Wednesday morning, Tommy called me. He said, Mike, I want your prayers to help me endure in turning my life around. He then told me that he was incarcerated when he was 18, and now at 31, he did not really know how to do life outside of prison. As he told me his life story over the phone, I began praying for him immediately. It was a very powerful time for both of us. I then connected him with the mens ministry of Rock Orlando and arranged for him to begin participating in their Wednesday and Saturday outreach programs. After I hung up the phone, another amazing thing happened: Mr. Burrell, who runs a shoe-shine business, knocked on my office door. He is a man after Gods heart, so I told him the story of Tommy. He wanted to meet Tommy, and I dialed up my new friend and gave him the phone. Within five minutes, Mr. Burrell found out that Tommy ran the prisons shoe shine and repair department, and he offered Tommy a job on the spot! As of today, Tommy is shining shoes downtown.

I have benefited as much or more...

A lot has happened since my initial encounter with Tommy, and the two of us have grown closer as we take time each week to talk about life, what it means to be a great dad, and how to grow closer to Jesus. The crazy thing about my encounter with Tommy is that I have benefited as much or more than Tommy. When I got out of my comfort zone and extended compassion to Tommy, I also began a deeper, more exciting walk with God. I want to thank the team who went to serve at the Rock with me. I would not have met Tommy if it were not for us locking arms and serving together. I would also like to thank Tommy for taking a risk and entering into a relationship with me. God used Tommy to open my eyes to the fact that God does not care about our comfort, only our character.

FAQs About LCGs

HOW DO I SIGN UP?
Starting on September 25, you can sign up for a LIFE Community Group (LCG) by going to www.fpco.org/taste&see. Also, you can fill out a registration form in the LIFE Community Living Room under the Angel Wing on Sunday mornings throughout the fall months. preaching a sermon series entitled The Church Alive, which will focus on the mission of the church in respect to living in community.

WHAT DO I DO WITH MY KIDS?

THIS EXPERIENCE IS APPEALING BUT HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT? HOW WILL NEW GROUPS BE FORMED?

If you want to taste and see, please sign up by November 20, which is the registration deadline. LIFE Community is designed to bring people together who live in close geographic proximity as a way to encourage LCG members to serve their local community, share Gods love with neighbors, and even walk to their LCG gatherings! New LCGs will be formed after the registration period ends on November 20.

Children are a part of our lives, and thus, we desire for kids to be a part of each LIFE Community Group. Before you begin to meet, discuss with your hosts and other group members how you all want to include and care for your children. There are a multitude of options, so please contact us if you have additional questions regarding how children can be incorporated into LIFE Community.

WHAT ARE MY RESPONSIBILITIES IF I SIGN UP FOR A LCG THIS FALL?

CAN MY NEIGHBORS AND I START OUR OWN LCG AND SIGN-UP TOGETHER?

Once you sign up, you will be expected to attend the designated weekly meeting for the 9-week experience. We highly encourage taking time during the week to think about the study before your group discusses it. Your group may take turns in hosting the group in your homes and bringing snacks, refreshments, or desserts.

Yes. When you complete a registration card or sign up online, please indicate with whom you would like to be grouped on the specified line.

WHAT IF I JOIN A LIFE COMMUNITY GROUP AND DECIDE I DONT WANT TO PARTICIPATE ANY LONGER?

WHEN WILL I KNOW WHO IS IN MY LIFE COMMUNITY GROUP?

Once all of the groups have been formed in December, the hosts of the new LCGs will then contact everyone in their group by the beginning of January 2012.

We realize that this is an opportunity for people to give LIFE Community a try, and we understand that some people may decide that they can not participate further. If you are unable to commit after the end of the 9 weeks, then you do not have to stay in the group. Nevertheless, we hope that everyone will enjoy their experience and choose to continue journeying in faith together.

WHEN WILL MY LIFE COMMUNITY GROUP START MEETING?

CAN I BE A LIFE COMMUNITY GROUP HOST?

New LCGs will begin meeting the week of January 8 to share a meal and meet everyone before the study begins.

WHAT WILL MY LIFE COMMUNITY GROUP STUDY?

Yes, please! Contact Hailey Domeck (hdomeck@fpco.org or x 1497) immediately if you are interested in being a LIFE Community Host. We are offering online leader training, which will conveniently fit your schedule and will give you the necessary skills, tips, and confidence to be a great LCG Host.

All LCGs will follow a sermon-based study, and we will all explore what it means to be the church gathered on Sundays and scattered during the week. Dr. David Swanson will be

AN INVITATION TO HOST
WHAT IS A LIFE COMMUNITY GROUP HOST? Do you Have a heart for others? Are you willing to Open up your home? Can you Set group expectations? Do you love to Talk about Jesus? If you said yes to these questions, then you could be a LCG HOST! Vision and comprehensive training will be provided this fall. Please contact Kent Sterchi at ksterchi@fpco.org or x1458 OR Hailey Domeck at hdomeck@fpco.org or x1497 today.

WOMENS MINISTRY FALL BIBLE STUDY The Amazing Collections New Testament

eginning September 8 and 12, Womens Ministry will once again offer three study sessions for women of all ages and all levels of spiritual maturity to join in as we journey through the first five books of the New Testament. Known as the historical books, we will study the four Gospels and the book of Acts. This ten-week series will offer glimpses of the life of Jesus Christ, our Messiah, and the messages He had for the people then, and messages He has for us now. The book of Acts is the rich beginning of the Christian church, a story that continues with us! Register for the class that accommodates your schedule. Pick up a registration form in the lobby of the Edington Ministry Center or on-line at www.fpco.org/register. Child care is available with a reservation for the Thursday and Monday morning sessions.

For additional information or if you have questions, contact Rev. Donna McClellan at x1488 or dmcclellan@fpco.org or Lori Needham, x1463 or lneedham@fpco.org

Partnering with Womens Ministry

Offers 2011-2012 Season September 13

By Lori Needham, Womens Ministry

Legacy

PRINCIPLES

e are pleased to inform you that our partnership with Linda Werner of Legacy Principles continues with a fresh study season of opportunities for women of all ages to engage in monthly fellowship and Bible teaching through the Dinner Club Conversations and new this year, Going Deeper Conversations. This years season theme, Leading Yourself, Loving Others and Leaving a Legacy will offer women to register for the monthly Dinner Club Conversations on the second Tuesday of each month beginning September, concluding May, 2012. Another new option this year, designed for smaller groups is the Going Deeper Conversations. You must participate in the monthly dinner club in order to be active in this small group session. For complete details on these offerings for the 2011-2012 Season, I Believe,Therefore, I Choose! go to www.legacyprinciples.com.

Your decisions today will shape your story tomorrow. ~Linda Werner
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STEPout in Faith!
J
oin the Prayer Ministry as we PRAYER WALK the campus of First Presbyterian Church. On September 21, we will be walking and praying for our church. What is PRAYER WALKING? Prayer Walking has been defined by Steve Hawthorne and Graham Kendrick as praying on-site with insight. Our Prayer Ministry feels called to pray for our church. The primary purpose of a prayer walk is intercessory prayer on location. We will be interceding for the church leaders and ministries that are represented by each building. Dan Crawford says prayer walking is intercession on location, with information, in cooperation, against opposition, for glorification. The Bible calls us to make intercession a priority. 1 Timothy 2:1 says, I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone. Intercession is prayer to God on behalf of another. Prayer walking is a type of intercessory prayer where you pray in the very place in which you seek God to work. Matthew 18:19-20 says, Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there I am with them. When we prayer walk, we will gather together in small groups and pray together on our church campus, believing Gods word and seeking His will for our church and its leaders and ministries. Praying scripture is a powerful way to use the sword of the Spirit to bring victory in the places we are praying. As 2 Cor. 10:3-4 says, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We stand strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. (Eph. 6:10) As we prayer walk, we are seeking to glorify God and praying that His will be done at First Presbyterian Church. Come join us as we pray and walk together on behalf of our church!

SAVE THE DATE!

Wednesday, December 7 Come with your Life Community Group, friends, family, neighbors, or co-workers for a time of prayer and reflection on the Advent season, Comfort and Joy: What Will We Bring? Reformation Chapel, 6:30 7:30pm More details to follow! Contact Lori Needham at lneedham@fpco.org or x1463

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Young at Heart
By Kay Pricher, Member and Linda McCallister, Congregational Life

LUNCHEONS

ts that time of year again when we look forward to gathering together for some FUN, LAUGHTER, & FELLOWSHIP shared with cherished old friends and valued new friends you meet at Young at Heart!! Dont keep this best kept secret to yourselves...bring a friend and experience great entertainment and a delicious lunch. God has certainly transformed all our lives as we spend time with those folks who may have retired from their day-to-day careers, we are still energetically living out productive lives and enjoying the opportunity to gather together and reflect on the days gone by, current and future community, church and world events, and most importantly, sharing our love for each other.

We value our friends and the opportunities to serve and grow at FPCO. Through the years, weve belonged to six different Presbyterian Churches, and each one has enriched our faith. We love our Church and pray for it daily. ~June and Jim Wieland We always know there will be good conversations shared, enjoy a delicious meal together, be informed about health issues, which have caused us to think healthier, be entertained by story tellers, honor our veterans, be exposed to intellectual and artistic pursuits, and lift our voices in hymns of praise and thanksgiving to the glory of God! ~Retha Underwood Young at Heart means something to look forward to each month. It provides opportunities for Christian fellowship, devotion, love, a sense of belonging, fun, service and entertainment. It lifts the spirits of our older adults and brings a more spiritual fulfillment into their lives. ~Dede Neusaenger
The Young at Heart Council has a wonderful program lined up for 2011-2012 and we cant wait to hear these amazing speakers and enjoy the fun and fellowship each month at First Presbyterian Church of Orlando. Take a look at the guest speakers lined upwe know you will be excited too! October 7, 2011 Deborah German, Dean of the University of Central Florida College of Medicine, will talk about the UCF Medical School - we want to be this centurys premier medical school. Buckie Allen will review his new book 50 Lawyers of Orange County (many are members of FPCO) Rev. Sam Knight and Celtic Singer, Rev. Stacy Chandler will present A Childs Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas. Dann Pottinger will talk about Historic Orlando. Dr. Thames will discuss current trends in health issues. Heritage Celebration hosted by Heart of the City Foundation we will be honoring those individuals who have been members of FPCO for 50+ years. Reggie Kidd, Reformed Theological Seminary, Professor of Worship. Thomas Tart speaking on Heros from Florida during WWII.

November 4, 2011 December 2, 2011 January 6, 2012 February 3, 2012 March 2, 2012 April 13, 2012 May 4, 2012

Mark your calendars and remember to make your reservation with Linda McCallister at 407.423.3441 x1159 the Monday before the Friday luncheon date. Bus transportation is provided for Westminster Towers residents with pick-up time at 10:15am.
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DONT MISS OUTCOME & JOIN US!

Make Your

CONNECTION
First Connections was a wonderful way to learn about all of the ministries that First Pres has to offer. The information helped me to understand the role of the Presbyterian Church. I made a lot of new friends. Carl Stokes To connect, to be known, to belong, thats what my heart yearned for. That longing was met when I took First Connections. I went from feeling like a number, lost in the crowd, to one who was recognized and delighted in. First Connections not only teaches you about First Pres and the Church at large, but also paves the way for you to build life-long relationships that matter, for now and eternity. The class has meant so much to me, that now I help run it. Take the step; join the class. Youll be glad you did. I was and still am! Kathy Ikonomidis We thoroughly enjoyed the First Connections Seminar. It was not only an excellent way to meet new prospective members, but also a better way to enjoy fellowship at First Pres and broaden our approach of ways to plug into ministries here. We gained a better understanding of the doctrinal positions, learned about the Sunday School classes, and had the privilege to meet a number of the staff. We highly recommend it! Tom and Jayne Sittema

FIRST

There are few crash courses that get you plugged into a body of believers like First Connections. Very early in our walk at First Pres (during Genesis), my wife Jo and I found out that there were newbie classes to dive deeper within the church and we were quickly hooked. It was exactly what we needed! We thoroughly enjoyed connecting to our small group (very first FPCO friends) and with our different leaders as well as the different ministries on-campus. Plus, the weekly breakfast and gifts were awesome: all of which we have put to use! Miguel Riveros

Experience what it means to Seek, Share, and Serve by joining us for our First Connections Seminar from September 25 to November 6, 2011.
Breakfast Fellowship each Sunday Sit at a table with 6-8 others and take this journey together A Walking Tour of the FPCO Campus featuring FPCO History Group Service Projects with Heart of Mercy Church of the Nazarene and Compassion Corners Good News Breakfast Closing Worship with Communion in the Reformation Chapel LIFE Together Pot Luck Supper with Kent Sterchi, Director of LIFE Communities

Registration Now Open at www.fpco.org/register For more information, go to www.fpco.org/firstconnections Contact: Dr. Case Thorp at cthorp@fpco.org or x1474
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our

FAVORITEthings

By Angie Frazier, Member

If you ask my boys what their favorite things are about Weekday School (WDS), thats their answer. Teachers. Staff. Administration. If you ask me what my favorite things are, thats my answer. Its all one and the same. I know Jack and Calvin wouldnt love to go to school and play on the monkey bars if it wasnt for the wonderful teachers that provide so much love and support. In our four years with WDS, its been amazing to observe the servant leadership of the staff. Ill never forget Jacks first year in 2-dayit was another freezing morning in the carpool, and director Donna Speer was there to lead the children to their classroom. This didnt

Monkey bars. Music. Movement.

strike me because it was the first time, but because it was a regular occurrence. The director of WDS takes time from her busy schedule to lead the children to the classroom, not just on beautiful mornings, but even the freezing ones when someone else would choose their warm office.

What a wonderful example of love and commitment to the well-being of the students.
My husband and I have also had the pleasure of taking photos of all the wonderful children at WDS. This is always a treat since the school has an uncanny group of the most beautiful children! But once again, its always amazing to see their interactions with the teachers. I always kind of assumed that when the students played at the playground, the teachers might use that time as a sort of break and talk with each other and just relaxkeep an eye on the kids, of course, but just kind of step back. After spending a week perpetually on the playground taking photos of the kids, I saw just the opposite. The teachers are playing with the kids the whole time. And the kids just love it. What a wonderful example of love and commitment to the well-being of the students. It tells the kids, I like you. I like to play with you. You are important to me. As parents, we send our children to preschool to learn the basics of learning and how to interact with other kids and adults. And there sure are a whole lot of options out there to get those things. But, Weekday School will always have a special place in my heart because they go above and beyond the basic duty of a preschool. Its not a money making machine. Its not a competition for the most prestigious school with the most advanced children. Its a place where the teachers and staff show children (and parents) that they are loved, valued, and important. And with those most basic of emotional needs met, comes the love of learning and playing that makes Weekday School an extra special place to play and learn. Calvin swears its the monkey bars!

FUN FAIR & SILENT AUCTION 2011

Dont Miss this fun filled day! On Saturday, November 5, the campus of First Presbyterian Church will be transformed into a wonderful fair designed with the preschool child in mind. Everyone is welcome to come. To purchase tickets at a reduced rate, please contact the Weekday School office, or you may purchase tickets for $15.00 the day of the event. The Silent Auction is an incredible shopping experience for each and every one of you! You may check out the items on line at www.fpco.org/funfair after Monday, October 31. Contact the Weekday School Office for a bid number. In addition, you are welcome to attend the Silent Auction without purchasing a Fun Fair ticket, just designate your desire when you arrive.

PHOTO BY JASON FRAZIER

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HOCF Welcomes New Executive Director-

Brad Staton
TODD McLENNAN: Tell us your name and your family status. BRAD STATON: My name is Brad Staton and Im married to the beautiful Lindsey Staton. I have 3 children, Beau is eleven, Sydney is nine, and Caroline is four. Herschel, our bulldog is almost four but he looks 75. TODD: Youve recently been appointed as Executive Director. The people who led up to this point were also the people who chose you. Explain how that transpired. BRAD: Well I am so grateful to our Chairman, Kevin Taylor, our former Interim Executive Director, Ralph Veerman, and the members of the Board of Trustees for entrusting me with this responsibility. My commitment is to do the best job I possibly can, with integrity and to the glory of God. TODD: Besides your new role as Executive Director of the Heart of the City Foundation (HOCF) can you tell us a little bit about how your background has built a base that is going to be a natural progression from your Pastoral Care role at FPCO? BRAD: Before seminary, my undergrad degree was in business administration from the University of Georgia (UGA) with a focus on finance. After seminary and after serving as Associate Pastor at two churches, I moved to central Florida to lay the groundwork for a new church plant in the role as lead pastor. I was able to learn fund raising and development strategies at two church planting training centers. I hope to be able to serve our church by helping members to give generously in this way. If you call somebody to give, if you put out a good option to give to, youre actually enabling them, and setting them up to be faithful to the Lord. From this perspective it is pastoral in nature. I came to First Pres in a pastoral care role and I built relationships over the past couple of years, primarily through hospital visitation and by leading regularly in worship. When HOCF began the search for a full-time Executive Director I became in22 | COLUMNS

terested when I realized that it would enable me to continue FPCO relationships built over the last few years of pastoral ministry. TODD: What are some of the things you imagine for the future of the foundation? BRAD: First, that the congregation knows what HOCF is and what our purpose is. Second is the growth of the endowment. The bigger the endowment the more grants we are able to give away each yearthats how it works. I want us to make a differencethat Orlando is better off because we are here. We will seek creative ways to make a difference in these and other areas that bring glory to the Lord. Very soon we will be rolling out the HOCF Legacy Societyif you have remembered HOCF or FPCO in your will/ estate planning you are eligible for membership in the Legacy Society. I always want to make clear that our goal and desire would be that the giving to the foundation be over and above a church members tithe to FPCO. I never want us to compete for that. But from an estate giving standpoint, and legacy giving, HOCF is uniquely positioned to handle those and to handle charitable remainder trusts, wills, and those kinds of things. TODD: The HOCF mission has been divided into four areas that people can support. What are those four areas, for those who dont know? BRAD: We have four areas of emphasis. One, everyone already knows about, is Scholarships. We are very proud of our history of providing college and seminary scholarships to deserving members of FPCO. Second is our facilities areawe help fund ongoing repair and upgrades of FPCO buildings and property . Third, on-campus Christian educationthis is the primary area we drew from for the SHINE lead grant. Fourth is Mission/Faithservessupporting local and global ministries that we view as minisrty partners. Those are all areas we want to see grow. So, if you have a heart for one of those particular areas, we can help you design your estate so that it strengthens one of

those particular areas, for the purpose of leaving a legacy for the next generation. TODD: Someone may ask, Well hey, why cant the church budget just facilitate those things. Youve articulated that theres a reason that the supplementary money is so critical. Will you speak to that? BRAD: I would say the church budget can and does do all those things, but the foundation comes in to support the ministry thats already going on. For instance, I mentioned the SHINE renovation projectthe church budget does a great job of maintaining the Childrens Ministry, but with the SHINE renovation project there needed to be a sizable infusion of capital to make a big step forward. HOCF was able to help with that and were grateful to honor the legacy and wishes of the donor, in this case Miss Mabelle ONeal, in doing so. TODD: So the subtext I hear is that it helps to advance the ministry of the Kingdom, and not just maintain status quo. BRAD: Thats exactly right. TODD: How would one get involved; whats the next step? BRAD: They can easily call me and set up an appointment to come here and chat or Ill be more than happy to come to them. The direct line to HOCF is (407) 956-5814. I would love to talk to them about how they can get involved. Well sit down and begin the discussion of how HOCF can come alongside them and their family and help them in their plan for leaving a legacy for future generations. For more information, contact Brad Staton at bstaton@fpco.org.

Upward Basketball & Cheerleading Camp

By Angela F. Brown, Sports Coordinator of Recreation Ministry

Summertime brings happiness to many childrens lives. This years Upward Basketball and Cheerleading Camp was huge success! We had 100 basketball players and 26 cheerleaders ages K-5 that worked hard, made new friends, and learned the life changing message of Jesus Christ in a fun creative sports environment. Camp leaders engaged the campers in a variety of activities that include skill building, personal growth, development of life management skills, and much more. All campers received a camp t-shirt, water bottles, pom-poms, and basketballs. A special Camper of the Week award, an autographed basketball from the Miami Heat, was given to Gabe Dunn. Gabe exhibited a balance of the five factors of success: vision, teamwork, balance, hard work, and perseverance. As Sports Coordinator, Im so proud to say that we were able to award scholarships to 10 deserving children for the summer camp. I am currently planning next years camp, which will be held here at FPCOs gym. I strongly believe that there is an energy level at the camp that your child must experience! I plan to take next year to another level, so do not be left out. I must say, I am sad to see that the summer camp had to come to an end, however, it is rewarding to know that a little time out of my day made a big difference in some childrens lives.

PHOTOS BY SHALYCE D. JACKSON

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Restoring
G

By Leigha Pace, Director of Arts and Orlando School of the Arts

od has opened the door for an exciting new ministry at FPCO. The Orlando Community School of the Arts (OCSA) is an outreach to our church and the local community. The mission of OCSA is to enrich the lives of people by providing the highest quality music and arts experiences and learning opportunities delivered in a Christian environment, from a biblical worldview, through private and group study. OCSA will be housed in the Worship Arts Suite of the Edington Ministry Center. In scripture, we learn that the arts are given by God to lead in worship. We read in Psalm 150: Praise the Lord. Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty heavens. Praise Him for His acts of power; Praise Him for His surpassing greatness. Praise Him with the sounding of the trumpet. Praise Him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise Him with the harp and lyre, Praise Him with the tambourine and dancing, praise Him with the strings and flute, praise Him with the clash of cymbals, praise Him with the resounding cymbals. Let everything that have breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. Trumpets, harps, guitars, tambourines, singing, dancing, violins, cellos, pianos, flutes, cymbalsGod gives these artistic gifts to lead in worship and to enjoy in concert! Psalm 33:3 also instructs us to play skillfully with a shout of joy! We are made to worship and glorify God. Music, song and dance remain central ways to express our love for Him. Music and song have been long-standing elements within our Western liturgical traditions. Historically, the church was the center of the finest education. In The Next Christians, Gabe Lyons reminds us that: The church used to occupy the center of culture in the WestHouses of worship were also places of great artistic and musical innovation. Many of historys greatest creative minds birthed their monolithic works within these hallowed confines. With this history in mind, FPCO and OCSA are committed to restoring this amazing legacy by providing a place where music, dance, and art, can be studied. By definition, when we restore, we create something new that has a striking resemblance to the past. Rather than being stuck in the present, restorers run back to the other end of the timeline and focus on what once was-and what should be again. Then they create. Thus, the Orlando Community School of the Arts is born!

the Arts

FPCO Associate Pastors Dr. Case Thorp and Rev. Sam Knight share the impact of the Arts in their lives. The private study of music enabled me to exercise a part of my brain and soul that never would have otherwise been shaped. I learned to listen to another language, if you will, and to read another language, the language of music. Ill forever have a music language that enriches my life. As it pertains to my faith, I think I instinctively grew the internal organs necessary to appreciate that which isnt so black and white and plainly displayed before my eyes. I sometimes wonder if creativity is a key component to ones make-up in order to understand God and imagine the many ways He works in Creation. Theologically, creativity isnt necessary, but I find that it helps, and my musical education helped me to live a life of faith more deeply. Dr. Case Thorp Ever since I can remember music has been part of my familys life. Both my parents are very musical, both are excellent singers and my mother was operatically trained and for a period taught voice. We were encouraged to use our voices and learn musical instruments. I took violin lessons from an early age and discovered a particular talent. I could pluck the strings of the violin better than any other student and regularly refused to play any other way. My teacher suggested the bass guitar, maybe as a way of getting rid of me, but whatever the motive he was right. My father (a former educator) first gave me guidance on the rudimentary aspects of the instrument and spent many hours teaching me notation. At school I was encouraged to further my potential talents by developing skills. Each lesson I received took me further down the road toward mastering the instrument. By the time I was 12 years of age I played every Sunday in the church worship band and in the school jazz band. Those that taught me were determined that I could do better with more practice and shared with me an infectious passion for music that remains to this day. Rev. Sam Knight The Orlando Community School of the Arts started its debut season this August. We hope you will explore our offerings for you and your children. We have invited the finest teaching faculty in Orlando to host their studios on our campus. All of our instructors have also shared their faith journey and love for Jesus Christ. Listen to your heartinvite your children, yourself even, to explore the gifts Creator God has given us in the arts. For a full listing of music and art lessons and more information, contact Leigha Pace at 407.956.5869 or lpace@fpco.org or visit www.musicandartsorlando.com.

Let everything that hath breath, praise the Lord!

Psalm 150:6
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Come In C lose
By Sara Pate, Student

ts funny how when God wakes you up to all that He is doing around you, all you want to do is shout about it from the top of your lungs, but somehow no words seem to fully encompass the amazing encounter that youve experienced. How can you put into words what its like to watch little Dominican children run into the open arms of so many FPCO middle school and high school students? Our students were sharing with the Dominican children a love that doesnt just exist in a moment, but a love that has been forever and will be forever, Christs love!

How do you express the joy that consumes your heart when you watch hundreds of middle school students at The Great Escape spread out on the lawn of Western Carolina University as they quiet their hearts and ask our God to come and meet with them? There are no words to describe what its like to watch the light bulb flip on in a middle school students mind as he or she begins to grasp that following and trusting Jesus should be the greatest privilege of our lives. Gods presence is undeniable when you see the desires of a student begin to change as he or she starts to truly believe that Christ really is more appealing than anything else this world has to offer. When I think back on all the crazy adventures, silly skits, late night slumber parties, soulful worship, and divine encounters with Christ that have happened this summer, I am reminded of a familiar tune that has been so close to my heart. Come in close, come in close and speak. Come in close, come closer to me. I cant think of a better way to describe all that God has been doing in this Student Ministry than by sharing with you that this has been the prayer of our hearts and God has answered in a mighty way!

To contact Student Ministries, email raldrich@fpco.org or call x2350

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PHOTOS BY STEVE EASTWOOD

Womens Cancer Support Group

By Diana Larsen, Member

was diagnosed five years ago with a very unusual form of breast cancer, and I didnt know a soul who had been through cancer. We had just studied The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren in a small group, and I took the message of that book to heart: that God had called me through this challenge for a reason and that was to help others. I had a cancer that was a triple negative receptor, and I was at Stage 4. According to the oncologist, it could have easily come back with a vengeance in the last couple of years. I feel very blessed that I am still alive, and I know God wants me to help others through their challenges with cancer. There are several other women in the group who feel the same way I do. The Womens Cancer Support Group exists to give support to those individuals. We all want to pay it forward. The other evening I was speaking with a young woman who has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and is now going through chemotherapy. She had many questions and just needed to talk. That is one aspect of what we do at the Womens Cancer Support Group at First Presbyterian Church of Orlando. We are there for women who have been diagnosed and need to speak with someone who has been through the journey they are about to take to validate their feelings and let them know how to cope with those challenges to remind them that God is there to support them to pray for their strength and healing to get through the battle We send a card to them every week for six months while they undergo treatment and remind them that they are in our thoughts and prayers. Those cards, with Bible verses and notes, are just what they need to pick them up on a day when they have no energy at all and to give them the strength to keep going. Quite often, that card opens the door and eventually leads these ladies to attend a meeting where they can share, ask questions, and pray. The Womens Cancer Support Group meets the third Wednesday of the month at 12noon, with a light lunch served in the Edington Ministry Center/3rd floor Sterchi room. There is often a guest speaker on nutrition, lymphatic massage, herbs, etc. These topics provide useful information, not only to those going through chemotherapy, but also to those dealing with the effects of its aftermath. If you know of a woman who has been diagnosed with cancer, please let us know so we can invite her to attend our meetings or add her to our card ministry. For more information, please contact Linda McCallister at lmccallister@fpco.org or x1159.

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DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
on the P ARTLOW F AMIL Y
Interview by Bret Allen, Director of Family Life

The IMP ACT of the

BRET ALLEN: This trip was quite a commitment: its expensive, its hard work, you have to travel to another country, would you say it was worth all that trouble and commitment? PETER PARTLOW, Member: Absolutely; for a number of reasons! Actually it was a difficult decision to go because we were trying to balance out the cost for the trip, versus just making a donation and where that money would go, where it would be best utilized. I had talked to Bret Kreider. I told him my dilemma and what I was debating. He came back and said you are really making an investment in your family. The one thing I will guarantee is that you will not regret that investment. After thinking about that and praying about it, we discussed it, we decided to go ahead and do it. It is absolutely the case. It is worth every penny of the investment you are making, not only in the lives of the people we were serving, but in the lives of our family. BRET: How has this trip impacted your family? PETER: I think it has brought us closer together. It has made us more aware of those in need and that our purpose in building Gods kingdom is to serve others. One of the things we discussed that was impactful was the call to serve the poor and to be with the poornot only has permeated our family, but has also

permeated my business and what we do as our community service project. It has made us stop and look at opportunities to reach out and further serve the poor. It has helped our family and our professional life as well. BRET: I assume, if your family is like mine, every summer you start to think about which family vacations you are going to take. How did going to the DR, and working and serving, compare to other vacations you have taken. PETER: Before we went down there, I was very keyed-up, very stressed at work. I told Terri when we got back, that being down there, serving, being totally unplugged, and invested in that community was the most relaxing and rewarding vacation Ive ever had in my life. It was incredible! BRET: Terri, being the mother of 3 children and going to a foreign country, thinking: How are the accommodations going to be? Hows the food going to be? Are my children going to safe, healthy? Talk about your experience with these thoughts. TERRI PARTLOW, Member: Weve done a lot of traveling, so I knew we were up for being in a different country. My concerns were more for health and safety, and I knew that Mission Emmanuel was very well established. In talking with other people, I

had a sense of comfort. As far as food safety, I just didnt really have many concerns. I had a sense of peace that many people had already been down there BRET: So now that youve been down there, were you right in having that level of comfort-was it true? TERRI: It was very true. It surpassed what I had first imagined. I felt very safe within our group and the community we worked with. I felt very comfortable with my children playing with other children. I had no hesitation at all. BRET: What difference has this trip to the DR made on your family? TERRI: I think the best thing that has come out of going to the DR for our family has been seeing each other work as a group in serving others. That has not only

...the call to serve the poor and to be with the poor, not only has permeated our family, but has also permeated my business...
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- PETER P ARTLOW

...seeing each other work as a group in serving others. That has helped bring us closer...
- TERRI P ARTLOW

made a card for Liza and brought it down to her, and she was really happy about it. And this girl named Araina, we were building a house for her. BRET: Now that you are back home, what is something you really miss about being in the DR? SAVANNAH: Going out and serving and helping others and just laying blocks. BRET: Clayton, Tell me about what it was like to, as a family, go to a place and work together on the same house. What was it like to work alongside your mom, dad, brother, and sister? CLAYTON: I think it was better than working by myself. I had some people there with me, and that made it better. It was more fun to do. BRET: Whats one of your favorite memories about the trip down there? CLAYTON: I liked the Haitian church, where the people were all singing and praying for us. And it was pretty cool seeing them all do it together. BRET: Did you understand anything they were saying? CLAYTON: No. BRET: Savannah, life is very different there, but what do you miss about the DR? SAVANNAH: Going out and seeing the kids in the street and they all want to play with you. BRET: Any closing thoughts? PETER: Theres something about the group going out there together, and the camaraderie of a group there thats single-minded, thats totally removed, being focused on that! We only knew one family that was there. Everybody else was new to us, but that camaraderie as a groupit was almost like a little fraternity for a short period of time, and the bonds you make were pretty strong considering we were only there a week together. I feel like we actually developed and cultivated friendships that I believe will last longer than that one week of time we spent together. TERRI: To add to that, one of the best things was to see my children and my husband take the initiative to reach out and serve others, and it was done in such a heartfelt way. It was so great seeing our kids serve each other. To serve in the DR, contact Bret Allen at ballen@fpco.org.
COLUMNS | 29

helped bring us closer, but its helped me realize my kids are individuals, and they are ready to learn these things, to go out and serve others and to do things, even independent of their mother and father. BRET: What would you say to another mom or family thats considering going to the DR next summer? TERRI: Its a wonderful experience! I wish every family could have the opportunity to go away and serve in the capacity that we did - in a totally different place, with totally different people, to see how they worship, to see their love for God, even though what they have is minimal, especially compared to us in the United States. I would say, theres nothing better than to serve others with your family amongst people who are in such need. PETER: One of the things I had considered when we were discussing this, was the cost. I was thinking, why do we have to go 750 miles when we have needs right in our backyard? After going and making that decision and commitmentbeing totally unplugged, being totally removed, being totally out of our element, makes a big big difference to us by allowing us to be able to totally commit to that service. It makes us more effective to be able to come back and replicate the same thing here. I almost think its the pre-cursor to being involved in the local community. It really energizes us, and gives us that sense of serving. BRET: Jackson, I understand the Partlow family adopted, or is sponsoring, a child down there. Tell me about how that happened, how you chose somebody to sponsor, and what that means. JACKSON PARTLOW: Our family was looking for the child who had the most needs. My sister picked one girl and I picked a boy. Savannahs child had more needs, so we tried to find them, but they had moved out of the place and gone somewhere else. So then we picked my child. BRET: Did you get to meet the boy you

are sponsoring? Whats his name? How old is he? JACKSON: Yes, his name is Darling. He is six. We help him pay for school. BRET: Whats one of your best memories from your trip to the DR? JACKSON: I remember laying block a lot and I liked it. BRET: Clayton, on one of the days, we went to a leprosarium. Tell us what that is and what that was like, seeing those people. CLAYTON PARTLOW: A leprosarium is a place where lepers live, and it was different going there. Ive never really been to any place like that before, it was new experience. I was a little nervous.

I liked the Haitian church, where the people were all singing and praying for us.
- CLAYTON P ARTLOW
PETER: I was very apprehensive about going; Probably mostly out of ignorance. Then Jack Larson made a very compelling presentation that the basic human need for companionship and being seen as being worthy of somebody visiting. There were two people who stuck out to me: Roberto and Nicholas. They said we werent to be afraid of touching them, and that bothered me. But, I got over my fear, and it was very moving having that conversation. Seeing them as real people with real needs versus just some folks who have that disease was very impactful. That perspective really changed my view on people with needs. BRET: Savannah, tell me about some of the friends you met down there. SAVANNAH PARTLOW: Well I met lots of friends, and one of them was Liza. I

Over 15 Years
Serving Inner City Students
By Jenny Arrison, Director of FOUR12

f youve been a part of First Presbyterian Church of Orlando (FPCO) for any length of time, you have probably heard of our After School OutASOM IN 1996 reach Ministry or ASOM. For over 15 years, this church has been serving inner city students in our community through tutoring and mentoring programs. The program was originally created to fill a need at Howard Middle School. A group of concerned church members (many of whom were teachers) felt compelled to help failing students pass to the next grade level through their own summer school program provided right here at FPCO. The ministry is still thriving today, and has grown and changed in several ways. First, and most recognizable, is its name changeFOUR12. From the scripture 1Timothy 4:12, the name gives identity to its participants. Dont let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. It is a charge to students to stand up and stand out, and to be leaders and trend-setters instead of trend-followers. FOUR12 still offers tutoring after school, but the program now exists five days per week instead of four. We expanded the program in 2009 to include Fridays in order to keep students off the streets and also to build in a day of fun - Fun Fridays! Fridays serve a unique purposerelationship building. It is often easier to bond with a student while shooting hoops than it is while solving a math problem go figure (pardon the pun)! Everyday at FOUR12 is important and serves a greater purpose discipling and equipping students to succeed in school and in the community. FOUR12 has also expanded to serve high school students. We now offer a Student Leadership program for interested and eligible high schoolers. We feel that high school is too crucial a time to ignore. It is a time of transition into adulthood and a time when students are often faced with some of lifes hardest choices. FOUR12 had grown deeper as well. We offer Bible Studies, one-on-one mentoring, retreats, camps, and many other Christcentered programs. All of our students are expected to give back to the community as well. Service projects are a regular part of FOUR12. FOUR12 needs your help! We need high school mentors from 3:00-5:00pm, Monday through Friday and middle school mentors from 4:006:00pm, Monday through Friday. (Most volunteers choose one day per week to servei.e. every Tuesday.) Another way to serve is by providing healthy snacks for approximately 30 students. We also have a list of other service opportunities on our website www.fpco.org/four12. That list includes everything from books to socks and flash drives to flashlights. Monetary donations are also welcome! Should you wish to make a monetary donation, please make checks payable to FPCO, note FOUR12 in the memo line, and address it to the attention of FOUR12.

FOUR12 TODAY

To get more information, contact Jenny Arrison at jarrison@fpco.org

30 | COLUMNS

Provides mentoring, tutoring, and year-round programs for inner city teens: giving students opportunities to grow spiritually and academically, and offering the tools necessary to increase students coping and problemsolving skills.

SERVE AS:
Mentors Tutors Guest speakers Career counselors Event coordinators Performing arts volunteers Snack providers Drivers Material donors Financial donors

For service opportunities, visit www.fpco.org/four12 Contact: Jenny Arrison at jarrison@fpco.org or x2306

Most of the kids simply play out in the church yard while the parents worship. The portable will also be used for their after school program, Jobs Partnership Childcare, Grace Medical Home diabetes testing, and much more. During a recent visit to Heart of Mercy Community Church, Pastor William Andrews showed us where the new portable classroom would be located. He broke into one of his huge smiles as he thanked us in advance for our help: This classroom will help more than we can imagine, as our kids will have a place to worship, instead of in the lobby and out in the yard. We are so grateful for your help. Our FaithServes Sunday special offering will help build the classroom and fund other improvements on the Heart of Mercy Community Church church campus. Please pray and prepare for how you can participate in this special partnership, no matter how big or small your gift is, together it makes a huge difference. Donations will be collected during all church services on FaithServes Sunday, October 9.

FAITHSERVES SUNDAY
O

Ocotber 9, 2011 Sunday Services

Building Mercy Together- Portable Classroom Project

ur sister church, Heart Of Mercy Community Church of Nazarene, is in dire need of more space for their children. Their Sunday School room (shown in photo above) is approximately 10 x 10 feet, yet they have approximately 50 to 60 children every week and sometimes closer to 100! To help meet this need, First Presbyterian Church of Orlando will fund a portable classroom building to solve the space crisis and overcrowding for these children.

FaithServes Update 2011

ServeDay COMING SOON

November 19 from 8:30am12:30pm

Over 300 people stepped up for a joyous day of serving last spring: lets eclipse that mark for the next exciting ServeDay! We will gather once again to make a kingdom impact on our community and for each person that we serve. Block out the day and bring your family, friends, and neighbors. Team leaders and volunteers are needed. Contact FaithServes at rboyd@ fpco.org or x1474 Job Sign-ups begin soon at

www.faithserves.com

MERCY DRIVE
C O R R I D O R
I N I T I A T I V E
By Cleat Simmons, Member

SERVING THE

he Mercy Drive Corridor Initiative is a partnership between First Presbyterian Church of Orlando and Heart of Mercy Community Church, intended to encourage participation by the members of both churches in various volunteer opportunities to help transform the community around Mercy Drive. Many members of First Presbyterian Church of Orlandohave participated in the Mercy Corridor Initiative by volunteering for Jobs Partnership. But, there are other volunteer opportunities as well. One particularly pressing volunteer opportunity is the Mercy Drive Achievers Club, which is offered by Mercy Drive Ministries as the community outreach arm of Heart of Mercy Community Church. The Mercy Drive Achievers Club provides an array of academic, cultural and recreational activities to students in the Mercy Drive community that are designed to motivate and encourage the students who come from a culturally and racially diverse low-income population, to reach their full potential. Working in partnership with families, the local elementary school, churches, and other community agencies, the Mercy Drive Achievers Club program serves students of varying academic abilities throughout their childhood and adolescence.

As of August 22, the students in the Mercy Drive Achievers Club have been at Heart of Mercy Community Church five days a week, doing homework and participating in other educational activities, interspersed with recreational activities to capture, and keep their interests. Volunteers are needed, on a regular and recurring basis, to meet with the students at Heart of Mercy Church at least one time a week, for 1 1/2 hours, to assist them in their educational development. By volunteering just 1 1/2 hours per week this fall, you can make a permanent difference in a childs life, that childs family, that childs community and ultimately the City of Orlando and beyond. You do not need to be a teacher, you just need to have a heart for children and be willing to give of your time to make a lasting difference. Additionally, you can assist Mercy Drive Ministries in accomplishing its mission by contributing school supplies, snacks, and age appropriate learning games and books. For more information or to volunteer, contact Eyma Charles at eyma999@hotmail.com or 786.285.5963, or Cleat Simmons at cleat116@gmail.com or 407.256.7416.

Mercy Drive Ministries is committed to the positive development of each child...

Mercy Drive Ministries is committed to the positive development of each child and provides services that build academic skills, develop awareness of community responsibility, teach respect for oneself and others, and encourage a life-long interest in learning.

COLUMNS | 33

Spiritual Gift Workshop...Register Now!

By Lori Needham, Prayer & Spiritual Formation Ministry

Gifted Serve
TO

id you serve with us on Serve Day in May or are you planning to participate at the next Serve Day in November? Have you had thoughts about where or how you should serveto do something you felt offered a contribution or something of value to those you desired to help? Is your Life Community struggling to know how the entire group can serve together and how should that work?

Have you had thoughts about where or how you should serve
We can help you discover how God has gifted you to serve Him and others and how to best apply your gifts, talents, abilities and passions to glorify Him and benefit those you serve!

We can help you discover how God has gifted you to serve Him and others
Attend the next Gifted to Serve Spiritual Gift Workshop this fall. Well gather on three consecutive Tuesday evenings beginning September 20. Join us from 6:008:00pm for a fun time of learning your unique design while engaging in individual exercises and assessments that will validate your desire to help you understand why you do what you do! Knowing and exercising your motivation is vital to spiritual maturity. As spiritual people, it is our desire to know God personally and understanding our unique design will help us on this journey. Self-assessment and discovery should always lead to obedience and a deeper walk with the Lord. Register on-line at www.fpco.org/register or contact Lori Needham at lneedham@fpco.org or x1463. Child care is available with a reservation. Cost of the workshop is $10 to cover the assessment material. Dont delay you wont be disappointed.

Self assessment and discovery should always lead to obedience and a deeper walk with the Lord.

34 | COLUMNS

Illustration by Karen Mills

Look Into Their Lives

By Katy Becker, High School Coordinator

do not know if I first started tracing the finger prints of our Lord, on the student ministry this summer, in observing the simple movements of our students arms swinging cement blocks down a line closer to the house, which they were slowly piecing together, as their laughter lifted up the hill toward Mission Emanuel, or if it was in watching our students talk hand-in-hand with the men and women at the leper colony, or when their voices traced those sweet prints upon my heart while worshiping in Spanish with their newfound brothers and sisters. Regardless of when I first noticed, I can tell you the Lord truly has done great things for us and we are filled with joy. During summers like this, I have to pinch myself to believe that this is my job! I was blessed to take students to the Dominican Republic and then high school students to Fun In The Son (FITS) in Jekyll Island. From watching students share their hearts and lives with the people of Mission Emanuel in the Dominican to seeing them worship the Lord completely unhindered in the worship sessions of FITS for a week, my own life has been so deeply touched and ministered to by the very students Ive been entrusted to lead for this season. If only those of us in the day-to-day monotony of life in Orlando could love the strangers around us in such a way that they become brothers and sisters and if only we could worship as a lifestyle not only would we be changed, but we would change the very city around us. There is just something so precious about the faithful love of a child; for truly theirs is the kingdom of God. We only have to look at the lives of our students and our own hearts will become more child-like. The Lords hand has truly made a mark on our student ministry this summer, not only in the students lives, but in their leaders as well.
PHOTOS BY KATY BECKER

PHOTO BY BRET ALLEN

COLUMNS | 35

Ministries Rescuing the Women of Madagascar

By Todd McLennan

We Move! Pastor Helivaos

P

astor Helivao sets the standard for living flatout for Christ. From the day our team arrived in Madagascar, to the day we left (and all 14 days in between), she was in top gear for the kingdom and we had the joy of riding shotgun. When typical people observe others in need, they may comment with empathy, or they may even stroke a check to help out. Pastor Helivao drops everything and rushes to their aid, forming a new ministry each time God moves her. Carol Hafer starts ticking off her ministries: Girls School, Orphanage, Food Pantry, Sexual Slavery Ministry, Prostitution Rescue, etc. until we run out of fingers to count them on. Its amazing to witness the drive that God has given her for His people.. She is often referred to as the Mother Teresa of Madagascar; and from what I see, she moves more like the Road Runner. As our tasks of service are complete and she senses that there are others to tend to, she smiles wryly: Todd my brudder, we move. That is our cue to get back in the car and press on to the next ministry. Primarily focusing on saving women from prostitution, sexual slavery, and myriad other abuses that are prevalent in third world countries, she seems to stoop into the pit of hell and literally drag destitute souls out on her back, one at a time. As we drive through the downtown Antananarivo capital she leans to the glass groaning dare (sic) is one of My Sisters as we pass a prostitute targeting the high-end hotels. Her demeanor exudes strength and confidence, boldly reclaiming Gods children as if there is no other choice. Danger is just part of the calling: she dismisses her bravery and quickly redirects all the glory to her heavenly father. I was trying to

save a boy from slavery and the father said I would have to give a limb in exchange: an antiquated mindset that still exists in Malagasy culture. As if she has no other options, she matter-of-factly describes So I take the blood thinners and tie a tourniquet around my left hand, so when he cuts it off I can still write with my other hand. I put my arm out and said go ahead. But God saved my hand and gave me the boy to help. Her Centre Lumiere is located in the beaches of Isle St Marie, where Europeans and other well-heeled tourists bath in beachfront luxury. As the sun sets on this Idyllic setting, the local young women and men become entangled in the ugly underbelly of economic depressionbecoming sexual slaves for, sometimes, as long as two months per client. Parents sell their own children or arrange sham marriages to circumvent the few laws that protect minors. Underground exploitation grows exponentially as the economy suffers under the oppression of the current regime. Taking over in a coup in 2009 displaced the previous Christian President in what has unwound an already tenuous economy at an alarming rate. The GDP has declined rapidly, crime has risen 300% in three years and the people are still shell-shocked as to how it all happened. In an unconscionable paradox of turning the other cheek, this alleged government of the people gives no more than lip service to enforce the illegal nature of this lucrative sexual tourism industry. Thats when Helivao gets really angry: They must be shown a different way or the pressure to survive will cause them to give in. I have become friends with so many incredible people inside of Helivaos ministries. One girl named Felatiana (pictured above with embroidery) exuded toughness the first day or two, but then showed her true sparkle as teammate Allison Beck and I got to know her. I would high five her and called her Mon Amie (French for my friend) each time we arrived. The last day there, she agreed to be interviewed, revealing why the hardshell exterior had taken a while to soften. I have no parents and am an orphan. I had a baby when I was young. Someday I dream of opening my own school so I can help other girls. I inquire, whats one thing youd like to tell the people of our church when they see this. She pauses, choking back the tears I wish that they could be my mother and father so I would not be an orphan Her eyes well up and the room is filled with a palpable silence. Pastor Helivao is the next best thing for now. To learn more about serving, contact Carol Hafer at chafer@fpco.org.

I was trying to save a boy from slavery and the father said I would have to give a limb in exchange
-Pastor Helivao
36 | COLUMNS

Howon The Red Island to Fish

Biblical Entrepreneurship in Madagascar
By Todd McLennan

Teaching the People

astor Lala, the President of our partner FJKM church in Madagascar explained an all too familiar dichotomy in their church of 3.5 million members: There is a wall in the minds of our people between what they do on Sunday at worship, and how they behave at work during the week. The principles of Biblical Entrepreneurship (BE) will reinforce that we must rebuild our country Gods way Pastor Hubert, the point person for the BE initiative in Madagascar elaborates, We are earnestly seeking God way in our personal lives, but now we need to find the way God is leading us in our business lives- to rebuild our country from His word.

The BE training that we are providing is literally a lifeline for survival. By partnering with Pastor Hubert and FJKM leadership we pray that we can help our brothers and sisters provide food and sustainable jobs to people who are struggling to survive. The FPCO team led by Carol Hafer and BE founder Patrice Tsague spent two weeks this summer equipping and encouraging the church leaders and business leaders of the FJKM church on how to rebuild their devastated economy one family, one business, one church, one village at a time. With over 4,000 churches,

This beautiful island nation has suffered mightily since the existing regime seized power in a Coup in 2009. Our director of Mission, Carol Hafer saw the crisis evolve right before her eyes.I was there during the rioting in 2009 as the Coup was developing. There were fires all over the capitol of Antananarivo. My hosts quickly relocated me to their seminary in the countryside to ensure my safety. I dont believe anyone fully comprehended what was happening. These are wonderful mild-mannered people: they were caught quite off-guard. Looking back two years later, there probably would have been more resistance if they knew the toll this would take on the economy and the peoples freedom. The High Transition Authority (HAT), has surreptitiously squashed free speech and freedom to worship by systematically shutting down over 80 radio stations and arbitrarily arresting FJKMs and other Church leaders under false pretense. They arrested Ms. Tantely Rakotoarivony and at least six other people have been detained in connection with the alleged seizure of Radionny Gasy, an unlicensed radio station in Madagascars capital, Antananarivo. Tantely is the Director of TOPAZA, the orphanage operated by FJKM. The HAT claims to have discovered broadcasting equipment at the orphanage the same day that the regime blocked the return to Madagascar of the democratically elected President, Marc Ravalomanana, who has been in exile in South Africa for nearly two years. Since the Crisis as it is commonly called, the economy has declined precipitously, most recently landing it on the top of the Forbes list of the Worlds Worst Economies in 2011. Crime has skyrocketed over 300% in the last 3 years as people become desperate to afford basic food and shelter.

a strong infrastructure, and almost 19% of the Malagasy citizens attending their churches, they are uniquely positioned to make this happen. One pastor of a small village church in Tomasino expressed the desperate need for their leadership: We believe that this is our calling- that God wants to bring development to our nation through the church BE I, II, and III classes laid the foundation for over 120 leaders to spread the word, and with our return trips already planned, First Pres is in this for the long haul. God can use each of you, and this nation can be transformed Patrice has laid down the challenge. Every leader who we ministered to has the passion and ability to bring Madagascar back to stability using the Bible as the road map. Pastor Huberts gratitude is exceeded only by his determination: God WILL bring us back to stability using Christian Biblical Entrepreneurship. We are so thankful to our friends at FPCO for helping us learn the way.

Enroll now in Biblical Entrepreneurship I Classes at FPCO September 29-30, 2011 or October 13-14, 2011
Sign up at www.beorlando.com or contact Taylor Mace at tmace@fpco.org. To become involved in Biblical Entrepreneurship and the Madagascar trips, contact Carol Hafer at chafer@fpco.org or x1460.
COLUMNS | 37

FAMILY
FUN DAY!
with our sister church Heart of Mercy Community Church of Nazarene
Photos by Wendell Jean-Pierre

FIFTH SUNDAY

News & Notices

CONGRATULATIONS TO:
Brandon and Paige Ragan, on the birth of their daughter, Stella Meridian Ragan, born on April 9, 2011. Mark and Minh-Thi Dombrowski, on the birth of their son, Miles Carter Dombrowski, born April 19, 2011. John and Bridget Skinner, on the birth of their daughter, Laney Jane Skinner, born April 27, 2011. Elliott and Lindsay Drake, on the birth of their son, Lucas Elliott Drake, born May 19, 2011. The proud grandparents are Kent and Michelle Sterchi, and the proud great-grandmother is Happy Sterchi. Wil and Natalie Brown, on the birth of their daughter, Carter Ryan Brown, born May 23, 2011. The proud grandparents are Michael and Rebecca Bedell. Eli and Nicole Morse, on the birth of their daughter, Isabella Rose Morse, born June 7, 2011. The proud grandmother is Karen Talley, and the proud great grandmother is Joan Kenny. Corey and Kristie Yarger, on the birth of their daughter, Arden Lanier Yarger, born April 9, 2011. The proud grandparents are Peyton and Kaye Keaton. Kasey and Jessica Keltner, on the birth of their son, Luke Morris Keltner, born August 1, 2011. David and Katie Witter, on the birth of their son, William Alan Witter, born August 13, 2011. Miles Brooks Gornto and Sarah Kathryn Elrod, who were married on June, 11, 2011 in the Sanctuary. Sarah is the daughter of Bill and Caryl McAlpin. Michael David Leach and Gloria Moriya, who were married on July 11, 2011, in Isabela, Puerto Rico on top of a beautiful cliff overlooking the ocean. Michael is the son of Janet Leach. They are happily living in Archer, Florida. James Ryan Damle and Tiffany Jane Noojin, who were married on July, 16, 2011 in the Sanctuary. Brian and Nicole Millard on the death of his father, Ken Millard, on May 10, 2011. Kim and Keith Bubalo on the death of her father, Norman Vialle, on May 14, 2011. Mr. Vialle was the grandfather of Matt and Megan Bubalo. Eugenia and Joe Sefcik and Tom and Ginger Riddle on the death of their father, Bob Riddle, on May 21, 2011. Mr. Riddle was the grandfather of Thomas, Sarah and Andrew Sefcik and Jackson, Grace, Bode and Laney Riddle. Linda and Gary Miller on the death of her father, Joseph Scott, on June 3, 2011. Mr. Scott was the grandfather of Beth and Joshua Seabrook. The family and friends of Lou Toth, who died June 17, 2011. Jennifer and Sam Knight, on the death of her grandmother, Jean Thayer, on June 24, 2011. Mrs. Thayer was the great grandmother of Cinnone, Gethin and Gwyneth Knight. Mark and Pam Oldham, on the death of his father, Ned Oldham, on June 28, 2011. Mr. Oldham was the grandfather of Morgan & Trey Oldham. Peter and Jane Fox, on the death of his father, Howard Fox, on June 28, 2011. Mr. Fox was the grandfather of Ashley Palmer. Leslie and Bob Truluck, on the death of her father, Dr. Donald Weeks, on June 28, 2011. Lisa and Scott Bell, on the death of her father, Wallace Robb, on July 2, 2011. Mr. Robb was the grandfather of Parker, Riley and Ashley Bell. Sharon and John Vodenicker, on the death of her mother, Esther Rowley, on July 2, 2011. Mrs. Rowley was the grandmother of Tracy (Chris) Stowers and great grandmother of Megan and Caleb Stowers. Becky and Chris Bolan, on the death of her father, Lee Kitchens, on July 8, 2011. Mr Kitchens was the grandfather of Daniel Bolan. Marilyn Ast, on the death of her husband, Bill Ast, on July 31, 2011. Mr. Ast was the father of former Associate Pastor Connie Caldwell. Ed and Kim Brakmann, on the death of his mother, Sally Brakmann, on July 31, 2011. Mrs. Brakmann was the grandmother of Charlotte and Sara Beth Brakmann.
COLUMNS | 39

SYMPATHY TO:
Charlie Patterson, on the death of his son, Matt Patterson, on May 1, 2011. The family and friends of Becky Leavy, who died May 5, 2011. Cari and Steven Earle, on the death of her grandmother, Mary Elizabeth Thompson, on May 5, 2011.

First Presbyterian Church of Orlando 106 E. Church St., Orlando, FL 32801

The First Presbyterian Columns (USPS 604-040) is published once per quarter by the First Presbyterian Church. Circulation: 2,800. (2,500 by US Mail, 300 by on-campus distribution). Periodicals postage paid at Orlando, Florida. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to COLUMNS, 106 E. Church St. Orlando, FL 32801-3390. 2011 First Presbyterian Church of Orlando COLUMNS.

PERIODICALS RATE US POSTAGE PAID ORLANDO, FL

106 East Church Street 407.423.3441

| Orlando, FL 32801
www.fpco.org

TRADITIONAL SERVICES: Sundays, 8:30 & 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary GENESIS (CONTEMPORARY) SERVICES: Sundays, 8:30, 9:45, & 11:00 a.m. in Lee Fellowship Hall ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL: Sundays, 9:45 - 10:45 a.m.

POSTMASTER: Time Sensitive Material Please Deliver by September 14, 2011

New LIFE Community Groups launching in January 2012

Register for a new LCG from September 25 through November 20 Register: www.fpco.org/taste&see