Jan2015

A monthly publication by Parkwood Baptist Church

Developing fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ,

fully involved in God’s Kingdom work JANUARY 2015

At-A-Glance

The New Year brings new challenges and new opportunities to our Parkwood family. As we review 2014 we can see God’s hand doing great things in our church. We saw many being baptized and making decisions to commit their lives to Jesus. We also made changes that allowed us to be more effective and involved in God’s Kingdom work! In 2015 our goal is to continue to be an active part of God’s work in our community and around the world. So what’s new? What are some of the things coming up?

MISSIONS

First and foremost is our increasing commitment to missions. We have voted as a church to increase our missions giving to 15 percent of our overall budget. That means that we will put over $175,000 directly into the hands of missionaries outside of the walls of our church. We are also planning four to five opportunities for members to experience missions firsthand by participating in mission projects locally, nationally, and internationally (Northern Virginia, New Jersey, New Mexico, Romania, Scotland, etc.).

SERVING

In our ministries, we will continue to multiply opportunities for each member to discover who they are in Christ and what part they have in God’s Kingdom work through worship, Bible study and serving. This year we will be challenged to become more invested in what God is doing through us. This requires us to ask what adjustments we can make in our lives that allow us to take the next step in our spiritual journey with our Lord.

MINISTRIES

We will be providing more opportunities this year for Bible study by providing some new classes on Sunday morning and during the week. We will also be offering special Biblically-based studies on grief, parenting, money management, and more. We will also offer fellowship opportunities for members attending different services on Sunday morning. This will help us foster the family atmosphere that we so treasure and strengthen the unity we have in proclaiming the Gospel outside the walls of the church!

January 1

New Year’s Day - Church Office Closed

January 4

Deacon Ordination

January 7

Wednesday Night Dinner & Activities Resume

January 10

Women’s Prayer Breakfast

January 12

Book Group

PrimeTimers’ Luncheon

January 19

Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday

Church Office Closed

January 23

Women’s Ministry Craft Night

January 24

Men’s Prayer Breakfast

January 25

Quarterly Business Celebration

January 29-31

Youth Midwinter Meltdown Retreat

The Parkwood Connection is Going Digital!

We are excited to announce that Parkwood’s monthly newsletter will soon be available online! We will be

phasing out printed copies over the next few months, so please make sure your email address is correct in pbc.me so you can stay up-to-date on Parkwood news. If you have any questions, please email [email protected].

P A G E 2

Jackson Whalen 1/7

Anthony Acevedo 1/14

Lauren Jefferson 1/15

Olivia Diederich 1/15

Albert Chase 1/17

Jose Vela 1/17

Melany Nichol 1/18

J.D. Lessick 1/20

Lucas Hanline 1/25

Matthew Joye 1/25

Yeonju Choi 1/28

Happy Birthday

to

Our Missionaries!

January 28

Hannah Hoskins,

Daughter of Tabitha

& Ben Hoskins,

Missionaries in Asia

PRIMETIMERS’ LUNCHEON

MONDAY, JANUARY 12

12:00 NOON

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

If you are 50+, we would love to have you join us! For more info, please contact Virginia Sandidge at [email protected] or 703.323.7537.

Children’s Stewardship Class

Our Children's Ministry is excited to announce a six-week stewardship Sunday School class for 4th -7th graders beginning January 11, 2015. We will be using a workbook entitled Money Matters for Kids written by financial author and teacher Larry Burkett. The class is intended to provide fun and creative tools to help children understand and apply the Biblical concept of stewardship. More to follow in the coming weeks as we prepare for the class. The cost of the workbook is $9.

LEGO League

Lego teams will start 2015 in the THINK TANK! Their challenge? Think about ways people learn! Specifically they must:

1) Think about a place where they can learn something 2) Choose a specific tool used to learn something (and research that tool!) 3) Create a LEGO model with MOVING parts 4) Show what they have learned through a “Show Me” poster and presentation.

The students have already invested brain power and critical thinking skills, and the season has only just begun. Our focus Bible verse is “For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10

Please continue to pray that the team members will recognize that they are God's masterpiece and that He is using them through these teams to do the GOOD things God planned for them. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Funtastic Friday – February 6, 5:30–7:30 PM

Extreme Balloons will be the entertainment for our next Funtastic Friday! There will be some magic, balloon fun and a salvation message. Please make sure you register by February 4 at www.parkwood.org. Dinner will be served 5:30–6:15 PM, and the show will begin at 6:30!

Looking Ahead…..

Sunday, March 29 – Spring Spectacular, 5-9 PM Saturday, April 11 – VBS Volunteer Training, 9 AM–12 PM Friday, May 8 – Funtastic Friday, 5:30-7:30 PM July 20–24 (Monday-Friday) - VBS: Journey Off the Map, 9 AM-12 PM July 30 – August 1 (Thursday-Saturday) – Mission to Serve (rising 4th – 6th graders)

Jennifer Heiserman

Director of Children’s Ministries

P A G E 3

Hey Everyone!

We are so excited about what is happening with the Parkwood Youth Ministry in 2015!

We are kicking off the year with Midwinter Meltdown, our weekend retreat January 29-31, where we will be taking a group of over 20 youth to West Virginia for a time of snow tubing, reflection, and Bible study!

Another big event for our youth is our summer trip, Centrifuge, June 23-27. This year we will be going to Ridgecrest, North Carolina for a week of games, worship, and Bible study. Students will not want to miss this incredible week! Sign-up begins January 6. The trip will cost $250 and requires participation in three Kingdom Investment events. If you sign up with your $50 deposit before February, you will receive a $50 discount on the total trip cost! Space is limited for this trip so register today with your $50 deposit!

Mark your calendars for some other important dates in 2015:

Tribal Game Nights

February 6, May 8, August 14, & November 13

Discipleship NOW Retreat

April 24-26

Centrifuge

June 23-27

VBS

July 20-24

A-maizing Fall Festival

October 16

Out From Bethlehem

December 18

YOUTH MINISTRY

Happy New Year from the WEE Center Staff!

We are looking forward to the second half of our school year and more opportunities to teach our students about God’s love for them. This past year, we brought the message of Christ to more than 100 families. Thank you for your prayers, assistance and financial contributions to the Weekday Children’s Ministry. We are grateful for your continued support as we strive to carry out Parkwood’s Mission.

The administrative staff is already beginning preparations for the 2015-16 school year. In early January, the WEE Committee will meet to establish program options and set tuition rates.

Please come out and support the WEE Center at any of the upcoming events:

Parent Program (open to all parents) Wednesday, January 21: Kindergarten Readiness

This is a great opportunity for parents to learn about the kindergarten curriculum and expectations in Fairfax County Public Schools. Our guest speaker is Susan Trinka, an FCPS kindergarten teacher.

Open House Thursday, February 5, 6:30-7:30 PM

Come see what is happening in the Weekday program! Children will be singing and light refreshments will be served. If a friend or family member is looking for an exceptional Christian preschool, please tell them about your WEE Center and invite them to the Open House!

Spirit Night Tuesday, February 10, 5-8 PM at the Kings Park McDonalds

Take a night off from cooking and come join the fun and fellowship! McDonalds will donate 10 percent of all their proceeds from Spirit Night to the WEE Center. Don’t have time to sit and visit? You can even use the drive-through!

Registration for the 2015-2016 School Year

Registration for next year begins Tuesday, February 10, 6-8 PM at the Kings Park McDonalds for church members and current WEE Center families. Come to McDonalds to turn in your form. Any Parkwood church member may register their child at that time, or Tuesday–Friday, 9:30 AM-2:30 PM beginning February 11. Forms must be turned in directly to a WEE Center administrator.

Registration for the community at large begins on Tuesday, February 24. Registration forms will be available in mid-January and may be picked up from the WEE Center Office, Church Office or the WEE Center Bulletin Board across from the Prayer Parlor. If you have questions, please contact Ann Lipton in the WEE Center office at 703.978.0640.

P A G E 4

Birthdays

1/1 Jill Bowen

1/2 Stuart Rust

1/3 Virginia Burk

1/3 Melody Cannady

1/3 Harvey Poe

1/4 Jay Ingram

1/4 Siggy Bladen

1/4 Silas James

1/5 Shannon Clough

1/6 Thomas Bland

1/6 Kathy O’Donoghue

1/7 Peggy Helms

1/7 Jessica Stokes

1/7 Sharyn Ellerbe

1/9 Vicky Choi

1/10 Becky Negron

1/13 Gay Tissaw

1/13 Linda Kay

1/13 Chelsea Rushbrook

1/14 Daniel Dapaah

1/14 Pillgyu (Joseph) Choi

1/15 Agnes Davidson

1/15 Karen Rust

1/16 Bonnie Hopler

1/16 Russell Myers

1/18 Andrew Seung Kwon An

1/19 Tania Hernandez

1/19 Patty Jett

1/20 Heather Hull

1/21 Cheryl Maynard

1/21 Norma Peterson

1/21 Joyce Remington

1/23 Holly Hidalgo

1/25 Betty Lee

1/26 Carol Buckley

1/26 Robert Sanchez

1/27 Sabrina Valdivieso

1/28 Xandra Bowers

1/29 Ann Kreiser

1/29 Madeline Moore

1/29 Susan Lippolis

1/30 Silas Ben-Zoheth

1/30 Chad Jones

1/30 Sheila White

1/31 Corey Donnelly

1/31 Mary Lou Fry

1/31 John Riester

Hunger Committee

The Hunger committee would like to thank the WEE Center Flamingo class for their “Thanks Giving” to help stock our food pantry. We also want to say a BIG THANK YOU to the deacons for their generous donations to stock the shelves. It is a great blessing for our community to have so many people give so generously to those in need. Let’s all make a New Year’s resolution to give more and to give often.

Blessings,

PARKWOOD….On Mission

STOCK DONATIONS

Many of you may not be aware that when you donate stock as a charitable donation, you receive a tax deduction for the full value and pay no taxes on the increased value as you normally would. This is especially useful if you have stock in which the value has appreciated significantly. However the instructions to your broker must be carefully worded to assure the stock is transferred directly to the Church’s account instead of being sold by the broker. You, of course, can transfer your complete holding or any portion. If you have questions, please email [email protected] or call the Church Office at 703.978.8160 and ask for the Accounting Office (extension 12).

HYPOTHERMIA PREVENTION MINISTRY

Save the Dates: February 17 and 21

Parkwood will again help out with the area's efforts to temporarily house the homeless during the winter. We will serve dinner on Tuesday, February 17, and Saturday, February 21. There will be a sign-up sheet on the Missions bulletin board on February 1. Please see Bonnie Hopler if you have any questions.

Stop Hunger Now recently let us know that the 20,000 meals Parkwood packaged last October were shipped to Nicaragua in a container with 285,120 meals total. The meals were shipped through Salesian Missions and received by the Stop Hunger Now in-country partner--The Colegio Salesiano Don Bosco in Masaya, Nicaragua. Salesian Missions is a network of 34,000 Priests, Brothers and Sisters around the world who work to enable poor and suffering children to live better lives and build brighter futures. They combine the aspects of an orphanage, a school, a church, and a children's recreation center, in

addition to varied social programs.

P A G E 5

A fellow disciple on the Way…

Transformational Discipleship

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other” (John 15:16-17, NIV)

In their book, Transformational Discipleship: How People Really Grow, E. Geiger, M. Kelly and P. Nation point out that everyone is a disciple or follower of something or someone, and that not all discipleship produces transformation. We are all drawn to follow something or someone in our lives, whether we like it or not, and it happens gradually and subtly. We live in a culture where subliminal advertising is commonplace because of its effectiveness. We are bombarded with TV commercials about all kinds of products in an attempt to modify our behavior toward those products as much as possible. Marketeers know the potential benefits of making more disciples for their products.

Jesus used His most preferred method of teaching to underscore the importance of discipleship: “He also told them this parable: ‘Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher’” (Luke 6:39-40). The parable identifies three important characteristics in the life of a disciple. First, discipleship is about following; it involves being led in a direction. The Greek word, mathētēs, which is used by the New Testament writers for disciple denotes a person who directs his/her mind to something. In its earliest literary sense, mathētēs referred to a pupil, apprentice, or learner. Technically, it implies a direct dependence of the disciple on the authority of the superior. The emphasis was on a personal relationship that could not be dissolved, which involved a deliberate adoption and appropriation of specific knowledge or conduct of one’s master.

Second, the parable and its explanation suggest that discipleship happens and that it has life altering consequences. When we follow someone as “blind” as we are, both of us wind up in a ditch. The implication is that we need a master who is not only superior to us but also has full eyesight so that we can be led toward life rather than toward ruin. As learners, disciples are like sheep that need the protection of the shepherd (John 10:1-18). Discipleship must be seen as a new way of life; it is no longer about the blind leading the blind. Rather, true disciples surrender and follow the One who knows where He is going (John 14:5-14). Discipleship entails an encounter with Jesus Christ, who alone is able to transform our lives for eternity.

Third, discipleship means being trained in the truth, a prerequisite for character formation. In a world where there are varied competing claims for truth—where truth is often viewed as relative or situational—disciples of the Master must be certain and confident about the truth regarding their discipleship. To know Jesus is to know the truth about our wretched human condition and the salvation He offers (John 8:32; 3:16). Being a disciple means learning in a holistic fashion about how the Word of God intersects with the normal rhythms of life. The ultimate goal of a disciple trained in the truth is to live like Jesus, our Lord, who has called us to be His followers (Philp 2:5-11). “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (John 17:3). This is our witness to the world! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Pastor Daniel

Kingdom Investment Program Kingdom Investments is the new program we started last year which helps to organize and support the fundraising and donations of the youth for trips. This year we are going to expand the program to be applicable to all trips.

Adults who wish to sponsor youth or provide scholarship money make investments to the programs, which are in turn given to the accounts of youth who participate in a designated service activity to the Church or community. These funds are then put toward youth expenses for various trips and activities they may have coming up.

The goal of this program is to help provide an organized channel for the relationships students may have with other church members, as well as to provide opportunities to build relationships with students new to our ministry. It is designed to encourage our students to be part of the church today and to help teach them that their service is valuable. It seeks not only to be an encouragement to our youth who are already regularly participating in acts of service throughout our church, but also to encourage our other students to join alongside them.

The most important part of this is how you can help! We need investors for this program to be a success. When you contribute to Kingdom Investments you are not simply helping a youth to be able to attend our ministry events, but you are also sponsoring him towards love and good deeds through service!

A standard Kingdom Investment is $100. You can make this donation by check or cash, with the memo line designation Kingdom Investment. Please also be sure to provide your name and contact information so we can follow up to let you know how your investment sponsored one of our students!

We thank you so much for your generosity to our youth!

Stewardship Report

Budget Needs thru Nov 2014 $1,058,153

Budget Received $ 862,491

Budget Expended $ 928,555

Difference $ (-66,064) Building funds rcvd thru Nov 2014 $ 39,298

2015 is here...did you make a COMMITMENT to take steps toward living a healthier life?

What is a healthier life? Many of us just think it is physical, about our body. Yes, that is important because it is God’s Temple on Earth, but it is just one of four pillars of health. The other three are: Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual health. To live a healthy life is to work to keep these pillars in balance. When we are in balance, we can do follow God’s Greatest Commandments – “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37)

We will spend time in 2015 learning how God wants us to live a healthy, balanced life through His word. This picture outlines Parkwood’s Four Pillars of Health and the tools you need for success (listed on the outside).

Lord, we COMMIT ourselves to you mind, body, heart, and soul, and will dedicate ourselves to you to inspire to change our habits and work as a team to better your kingdom on earth.

Cheri Dickey

P A G E 6

Our next meeting is

Monday, January 12 10:30 AM

Saving Amelie by Cathy Gohlke

PARKWOOD HEALTHY CORNER

Canned Meats

Jelly

Condiments

Diapers (all sizes)

Pull-Ups

Baby Wipes

Infant Formula

Baby Food

Canned Beef Stew

Tuna

Canned Milk

Rice

Cereal

Oatmeal

Breakfast Bars

Peanut Butter

Instant Potatoes

Spaghetti Sauces

Pasta

Soups

Canned Ravioli

Boxed Dinners

Macaroni & Cheese

Boxed Juices

Juice/Drinks

Canned Fruit

Canned Vegetables

Powdered Milk

Please remember to check

expiration dates. Thanks!

We are pleased to announce that the following people will serve as deacon officers in 2015:

Chongkin Chin: Chair Michael Carney: Vice Chair Mary Hill: Secretary

Thank you, Chongkin, Michael, and Mary, for your willingness to serve in these positions.

The deacons are here to serve you. If we can assist you in some way, or if you have a prayer concern you would like to share with us, please feel free to contact any of the Parkwood deacons.

Stuart Rust For the Parkwood Deacons

FROM THE DEACONS Christopher Crawley

Daniel Tedesco Emily Trimillos

Esti Bradley Sabrina Jacobson

Upcoming Prayer Breakfasts

Women’s Prayer Breakfast Saturday, January 10, 9 AM

Men’s Prayer Breakfast

Saturday, January 24, 7 AM

Intersections and ConnectionsThe many roads that we travel can cause us to intersect and then connect with people from all avenues of life. It is my joy to have intersected with the Parkwood family for the three-plus years that I have been honored to share a sliver of myself with you in print. First, many thanks to Pastor Mike for the opportunity. It was his kind invitation that turned what I thought would be a one-time submission into the monthly Illuminations column. I could not have been more humbled by his kindness. Many thanks also to the office staff for their patience for those many times that my submissions were late because, like any writer, I am forever editing and revising my work with the mindset that it is never quite right. Still, this newsletter provided another way for my heart to connect with yours.

Having said that, let me say that this will be my last article. I want to thank all of you who took the time to scan through my thoughts, all of which were inspired by my personal journey as a parent, a music lover, a woman, and as an individual who is always seeking her personal truth and place within the larger scheme of God’s will. Some of my articles took on firm undertones, some corrective, some more lighthearted. Still, they were all a small part of me, on paper. Some of my thoughts you may have disagreed with. Others, you may have fully embraced. But each time, I tried to make both spiritual and practical

applications. Hopefully, I did not disappoint often.

In addition, thanks in advance to those of you who might dig up your old copies of this newsletter to read my articles for the first time. I pray that within them, you will find something that might encourage, inspire, and empower you as you tread your own path.

Going forward, my immediate literary plan is to resume the writing of my second book, as well as expand to writing for other venues. I also plan to continue my education and re-enter the public speaking arena, a venture I had put on hold for the past few years to focus on making sure that my children were well-equipped for their journeys.

In closing, I hope you have enjoyed your interaction with me through this newsletter. I have certainly enjoyed all of you. Some of you I have met. Many of you I have not. Perhaps, we have exchanged smiles, small talk, a fist bump, or a neck hug (as Pastor Mike would say). In the end, what matters is that we connected through this column, and for that, I am grateful. As always, I wish all of you God’s amazing grace.

P A G E 7

Book

Bite

MADMAN

by Tracy Groot

When Jesus took his disciples into the boat and crossed the Galilee, conquering the storm, He had one purpose in mind --the healing of the Geresene demoniac and vanquishing of the

demons that possessed him.

Tracy Groot has woven from Scripture a tale of the “madman of the tombs” using historical and archeological documents to flesh out his story. Her research uncovered his name, Kardus, as recorded in an excavation report of Kursi, located on the eastern shore of the Galilee, an area originally part of the Decapolis region. Scholars have deemed him to be the first missionary, as he was the first man healed by Jesus, whom He commanded to “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how He has had mercy on you. So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the

people were amazed.” (Mark 5:19b-20)

She has also drawn on the Greek culture of the day, which revered higher learning (think Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, etc.) as well as the history of the region and its worship of many pagan gods -- in particular that of Dionysus, which required human

sacrifice, specifically children and babies.

There is humanity in her story, as Kardus has a family and friends who care for him, pray for him, and are ultimately there to welcome him back into their fold. It is a story of pride and arrogance -- Kardus’ family recognizes his intelligence and makes personal sacrifices that enable him to attend the Greek schools which ultimately leads to his involvement with the goddesses and followers of Dionysus. And therein lies the tale, for it is this involvement which leads to his madness. It is also a story of Grace and Redemption, for we already know the ending -- Jesus sails across the Galilee and commands the

demons to leave his body, healing him for all time.

In her previous book, The Brother’s Keeper, Tracy Groot describes Kardus’ reaction this way: “There he was -- Jesus stood on the shore -- He came for me -- Jesus crossed the lake for me! He knew me -- He saw the demons, but He looked past them and saw me! “ Just as Jesus looks past the ugliness of sin in our lives and sees each of us the way God created us to be. And, like the “madman of the tombs,” we can also proclaim

“Glory be, He came for me!”

Read his story in Madman, as well as its impact on James, the brother of Jesus, as told in The Brother’s Keeper. Both books

are available in the Patterson Memorial Library.

Reviewed by Mary Jane Dozier

P A G E 8

Non-Profit

Organization

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

Springfield, VA

Permit No. 65

Return Service Requested

www.parkwood.org

Parkwood Baptist Church 8726 Braddock Road

Annandale, VA 22003 703-978-8160

www.parkwood.org

Pastor Mike Bradley Senior Pastor

[email protected]

Dr. Daniel Dapaah Associate Pastor

[email protected]

Hector Velasquez Director of Language Ministries

[email protected]

Reed Bradley Youth Director

[email protected]

Joe Swanson Worship Leader

[email protected]

Jennifer Heiserman Director of Children’s Ministry

[email protected]

Sam Ferguson Facilities Manager

[email protected]

LuAnn Bynum Accounting Assistant

[email protected]

Patty Jett Office Manager

[email protected]

Beth Bruins Communications Specialist

[email protected]

Patty Ratliff IT Specialist

[email protected]

Xandra Bowers Database Specialist

[email protected]

Ann Lipton WEE Center Director

[email protected]

Madeline Moore Children’s Ministry Assistant

[email protected]

“Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things

to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.” - Philippians 3:1

Another new year. A chance to review where we have been and look ahead to where we are going. It is a time to evaluate the past year’s successes and failures. What did we do right? What can we do better? It is also a time to set goals for what l ies ahead. What do we want to do? What can we do better? What changes need to be made to get there? Many see the new year as a clean slate, but that is not the successful way to begin anything. When we throw out the past year’s mistakes and failures,

we need to review the lessons we have learned and remember the basic truths that keep us grounded.

The Apostle Paul was always encouraging the early Christians to grow and mature in their faith and to keep their relationship to God fresh. There were two keys essential for this healthy growth - Remembering and Reaching. When Paul wrote to the church in Philippi, he was at the end of his ministry. In the verse above he encourages the church by reminding them of the basics. He did not consider it “trouble” to remind them of the basic principles of the faith. We never move beyond the need to hear the basic

Gospel of Jesus. This veteran Apostle who had started churches all over the region expressed his goal this way:

“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ” (vs. 7). “...that I may gain Christ and be found in

Him” (vs. 9). “I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection.” (vs. 10)

Finally, Paul said, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (vs.14)

So, let us start the New Year remembering the basics of our faith, and reaching for the goals that God has set before us!

Blessings,