SPIRIT. Gardena Valley Baptist Church THE COVETED TROPHY. Issue 10. Inside this issue: June 20, 2012 GV BC M I SSI O N

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1 Gardena Valley Baptist Church June 20, 2012 GV BC M I SSI O N ST A T EM ENT Helping people discov er Jesus and become His fully devoted follow ers. GV BC PU R PO SE ST A T EM ENT At GVBC, we seek to glorify God by: ~ reaching the world for Christ ~uniting as His family ~worshiping Him with our liv es ~growing in Christ-like character ~and serving others in lov e. Inside this issue: Register now for SonRise National Park VBS Register Now for GVBC Seminarian Golf Tournament Landscaping Project June Board Report by David Cheng, Moderator QUIET, Please! Family News & Our Mission Field FYI: Events Calendar Kids & Youth Events Financial Report Pastor Annette Kakimoto Begins Her Journey SPIRIT THE COVETED TROPHY BY LAYNE WAKUTA, PASTORAL INTERN As the L.A. Kings celebrated their first Stanley Cup Championship in franchise history last week, my thoughts were taken back to the year 2007 when my team, the Anaheim Ducks, became the first hockey club in California to ever win this coveted trophy. Susan and I were fortunate enough to be in the building on the night the Ducks clinched the Final and it was truly a night we will never forget. I remember thinking it was a dream come true, not only for my favorite team to win their ultimate prize, but to be there on the night they actually won it. But then, as I thought more about this momentous event I started to question, Is this really my dream come true? Of course I was happy for the team, but when you get right down to it, what stake do I have in the Anaheim Ducks besides cheering for their success on the ice? I soon realized, although I enjoyed watching others work hard to attain their dream, I wasn t doing anything to strive for my own dreams. It was at this point I felt the voice of the Lord asking, Layne, you ve watched the Ducks achieve their dream of winning the Stanley Cup, but what s your dream? With this question in mind, I set out to discover what my personal dreams are and how I would go about attaining them. I knew above all else, I desired to be able to glorify the Lord with the gifts and talents He gave me. I also knew, no matter what I was doing, I would have to feel the joy of the Lord while doing it. What immediately came to mind was what I was already doing as a youth leader in the church, but was it possible to become a professional youth leader? These thoughts led to a conversation with Pastor Steve in 2008, who recommended I enroll in seminary, but also offered me a position as a Pastoral Intern in charge of the Middle School Ministry. Here I am four years later, a graduate from Talbot School of Theology with a Master s in Christian Education and plans to return there in the fall to pursue a Master s of Divinity. My work with the Greenhouse Middle School Ministry continues to be a joy and blessing, and I truly can say I am living the dream. What are your dreams? Are you actively seeking after them? Or, are you watching others achieve their dreams while you sit on the sidelines as a cheerleader? I encourage you to never stop dreaming, but to commit your dreams to the Lord and seek Him first. As I can truly attest, God will make a way if your dreams align with His will. Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. (Psalm 37:3-6) So, start a dream list. Commit these dreams to God and start thinking about what it will take to make these dreams a reality. As you follow the Lord and trust in Him, He will either confirm your dreams or guide you in another direction. But either way, you are building your faith and learning to abide in Him so it s truly a win-win situation. I believe, one of the best ways we can encourage each other in the Lord, is to help each other attain our dreams. As the words of Steven Tyler s song says, Dream On.

2 REGISTER NOW! Vacation Bible School Monday, July 23 Friday, July 27 9:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Finished Preschool to finished 5 th Grade Register after the worship services in the Courtyard or with any Sunday school teacher. Also, forms available at the church office and on the website at: (click on Ministries then Registration Form). Spaces are filling up fast so register ASAP. Preschool & Kindergarten classes are already wait listed. Donations for craft supplies: We need DONATIONS & VOLUNTEERS 1 thick sponges (various colors), drinking straws, variety of sequins (any sizes, multiple colors), paper towel rolls (not toilet paper rolls), contact paper, plastic glow-in-the-dark stars (any size), bags of fiber fill, 8 1/2 x 11 sheets of brown felt or larger, boxes of tongue depressors, cardboard boxes, cardboard flower boxes tall enough to hold long-stem roses, JoAnn s & Michaels coupons, paper shopping bags. Please place your items in the collection box located in the Narthex. Decorating supplies: These items will be returned to you if you are kind enough to let us borrow them. 3 kayak paddles, bag of white balloons, gummy worms, 12 colorful gift bags, whistle, reflective emergency blanket, stopwatch, energy bars, GPS, 2 compasses, 3 carpet tubes, inflatable pool, bucket, warm fuzzy boots, wool socks, National Park souvenirs, mugs, caps/hats, National Park maps/posters, gently used sweatshirts/shirts. Please contact Carol Allen at: celaine93@aol.com Refreshments for our VBS Staff We like to provide a break area for the staff where they can have a quick refreshment before going back to work with the children. Please provide any kind of finger food you think they might enjoy. To be dropped off daily in the church kitchen during VBS week. Please contact Marcy Cottrell at gardenavalleyvbs@gmail.com Your time If you have time to help prepare for or to work at VBS, please look over the list of needs on the back of the flyer and let us know how you would like to help. We need help with decorations, craft prep & craft helpers, (drama is filled, thank you soooo much), worship, missions, photography, recreation, prayer warriors, registration help, check-in, breakdown, snacks, storytelling, teachers, classroom aides, nursery helpers, hospitality. Volunteer sign-up forms are available on the Narthex information counter. Also, visit the VBS table in the Courtyard after the worship services. Return forms to the VBS box in the Narthex or place it in the offering bag on Sunday mornings. You can also come by the office. Any questions contact Sandy Tsukamoto at tsukamotos@sbcglobal.net. Page 2 SPIRIT

3 Register now for GVBC s Seminarian Scholarship Golf Tournament Monday, August 13 Rio Hondo Golf Club, Old River School Road, Downey, CA Check in begins 10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. shotgun start Fee: $150. Early Bird: $125 by July 15 (registration forms on website, click on Calendar) Our Seminarian Golf Tournament is to give financial assistance to GVBC pastoral interns attending accredited seminaries who are intent on becoming licensed pastors, educators in religious studies, and Christian counselors. You don t play golf? You can still participate by becoming a Tee sponsor with a donation of $100 per tee sign which will be placed on the golf course and at the clubhouse during the tournament banquet. Tee sponsors come from local business advertisements and church members or friends who want to remember a person with In Honor of or In Memory of. Tee sponsor forms available on the website. Click on Calendar then Tee Sponsor. Also needed are raffle gift donors of golf equipment, accessories, apparel, lessons; gift certificates to local restaurants and businesses; tickets to sporting events (Lakers, Clippers, Dodgers, USC, UCLA, etc.); merchandise, small appliances, gift baskets, etc. Volunteers also needed to help out during the tournament. Chairmen: Tak Shimazaki takshim@yahoo.com, Andy Kim axk208@yahoo.com For player registration: Teresa & Bill Louie talouie@hotmail.com Tee sponsors: Harvey Ujimori hujimoir@sbcglobl.net Volunteers: Frank Nakamura akira777@sbcglobal.net. See website for registration form and more details. Landscaping Project A new ministry has started up under the Property Ministry called Church Beautification. When we landscaped the church 5 years ago, we thought the flowers and bushes were low maintenance, and that everything could be cared for once a month on a Saturday Work Day. Well, God s flowers and plants are growing faster than we thought. Soooo!! Shig Kawashiri and a group of volunteers have started to take the landscape plans and bring them back to the original intent of the landscape architect. They are doing this every Thursday f rom 8:30-10:30 AM (in the cool of the day). Their goal is to restore order, and then have volunteers manage a 4-6 strip. This means a person could come anytime to help beautify the church. If you are interested in helping to beautify GVBC, call the church office at: (310) P.S. The crew is also landscaping the area where the new fire escape path is located on La Salle Ave. Page 3

4 JUNE BOARD REPORT BY DAVID CHENG, MODERATOR Financial stewardship, both individual and as a church, was a major theme of the June meeting of your Board. Silvio Carrara, Chair of our Financial Stewardship Ministry, gave a presentation about two pilot classes our church will conduct on the subject of stewardship from a Biblical perspective. After the pilot classes are completed, the ministry plans to offer a seven-week series called Balance for our community groups, beginning in September. Pastor Steve gave a report on a recent meeting of the Finance Committee. The members initially gathered together to discuss the church s first quarter income results which were significantly lower than expected. However, April and May income saw improvement so we are now closer to 2011 levels. Pastor Steve shared future financial planning ideas with your Board to deal with possible future trends. We had previously received information that the Union Bank Gardena branch which allows us to use its parking spaces on Sundays might be under review for possible closure. Although for the moment we are not in danger of losing the use of these parking spaces, the temporary crisis, highlights the fact that we need to take a closer look at our parking situation on a long-term basis. Pastor Steve proposed a meeting of your Board and the Finance and Property Committees to start discussing long-range plans for the congregation s consideration. Your Board approved the establishment of a committee to plan and oversee celebratory events for the 100 th Anniversary of GVBC in As part of the celebration, your Board also approved a proposal to fund a GVBC history book project spearheaded by Adam Marshall. Your Board also took action to affirm two of our staff members. We approved a Love Gift for our retiring Pastor Ron Matsuda in recognition of his service to GVBC. We also modified the educational fund established for Pastor Annette Kakamoto s Doctor of Ministry program to cover tuition, books, food, housing, and travel. Pastor Steve will write a letter to inform the congregation that this fund is available if people want to contribute to support Pastor Annette [see Pastor Steve s article on page 7]. Until next month... QUIET, Please! Gardena Valley Baptist Church is located in a residential neighborhood, and as such, we sometimes unintentionally disturb our neighbors by our evening events. Loving our neighbors means letting them sleep at night and not creating noise that would wake them up. We have a 10:00 PM curfew to close down activities here at GVBC, but have been told by our neighbors that loud conversations are taking place well after 10:00 PM. We are asking that we be good neighbors by being very quiet as you exit to your cars, or are waiting to be picked up. Thank you for helping to bless our neighbors by leaving promptly at 10:00 PM and being quiet. Page 4

5 FAMILY NEWS The Passing of Rev. Roy Ishihara After World War II members of GVBC returned to Gardena after internment camp, and for some, military service. The former GVBC buildings had been moved to Venice, California to provide a place of worship for those building aircraft at Hughes Aircraft. The Los Angeles Baptist City Mission Society promised to build a new church, but GVBC needed someone to pull everything together. Rev. Dr. Roy Ishihara, just 24 years old, helped relocate families, started a worship service/bible study at Torrance, First Baptist Church on Sunday evenings, and made contact with as many former members as he could find. He was the core of the church until leadership returned, other programs could be started, and a location to run them could be found. For 8 years ( ), he served GVBC as Senior Pastor. He oversaw the acquisition of the current property, building of the first post-war church buildings, and laying a foundation of church ministers in Gardena. Rev. Dr. Roy Ishihara passed away on June 4, He had pastored several other churches in California and Hawaii, and then became a coffee farmer in Kona, Hawaii where he retired. We are thankful to God for his ministry and our prayers are with his family. Letters to our church family Dear GVBC Church Family, I want to thank you for the very meaningful and touching retirement celebration you held for me recently [on Saturday, June 2]. It was so moving to see so many friends there. Thank you for your gifts: gift cards for Amazon and for Terranea Resort as well as the beautiful framed picture of a flying eagle and scripture from Isaiah 40: Most of all I thank you all for your love and support all these years. I am so glad that I can continue to worship with and serve our Lord in the days to come. With much love, Ron Matsuda. Thank you so much for the floral arrangement [for the funeral service for Teri T. Oishi held on May 30 at Green Hills Memorial Park. Pastor Steve Langley officiated.] Love, Joyce & Remi Shimazu OUR MISSION FIELD 2012 GVBC Ensenada Short-term Mission Team by Pastor Chris Koga The 2012 Ensenada team from GVBC is an intergenerational group united by a common calling and desire to partner for the furtherance of the Gospel in Mexico. The team of 16 people will be leaving for Ensenada from Saturday, July 14 to Wednesday, July 18. Each year thousands of people from all over Mexico and Central America move into the Northern Baja region. Many are poor indigenous Native people who have migrated to work in the fertile farms and fields located in Baja. Our 5-day mission trip will focus on partnering with Adventures In Life Ministry and coming alongside Iglesia Bautista Dios es Amore (God is Love Baptist church, pastored by Jesus Vera. We will help with manual labor projects in and around the church facility and work alongside the church families to bless the surrounding community and the people of Ensenada. Though we will be the ones traveling to Ensenada, we recognize it is not just us who have been called to this mission. In order to go to Mexico, our team needs to raise $3,200. This expense will cover our team s lodging, food, project costs, on-site leadership, and an off ering to the local congregation. We are immensely grateful if you are able to financially support us. More importantly, we ask for you prayer support. Thank you for prayerfully considering supporting us. Support letters are on the Narthex information table or put checks into the offering bag [checks made out to GVBC with Ensenada Mission Trip in memo line]. For more info contact Pastor Chris Koga, ext. 685, chris@gvbc.net. Page 5

6 CONTACT: office (310) [put your event in the subject line]. You can also contact event leaders directly. WEBSITE: OASIS OASIS will be taking a summer break until September. The last OASIS will be on Wednesday, June 27, 7:00 pm. Office Closed Wednesday, July 4 Federal Holiday College-age Evangelism Training Fridays (for 10 weeks) starting July 6 and ending September 7, 7:00-9:00 p.m., Room 254. Contact Chris Koga, ext. 685, chris@gvbc.net. GVBC Bilingual Worship Service Saturday, July 14, 7:00pm, Sanctuary. This is a once-a-month bilingual worship service held every second Saturday of each month. Refreshments served in Room 201 after the service. Everyone welcome! Next Bilingual Worship Service will be held on August 11. Contact Pastor Eiji Osato, ext. 676, eiji@gvbc.net. Baptism Sunday July 15 Job Club Seminar Saturday, August 11, 9:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m., Room 250. Baby and Child Dedication Sunday, August 19 during both worship services. Beachcombers Friendship Night Monday, August 20. Office Closed Monday Sept. 3 for Labor Day Classes Offered at GVBC Sunday, September 9, 12:30-4:30 p.m. 101 Class, Membership and Baptism. For high school age and up. For those seeking information about GVBC and who would like to become a member and/or be baptized. Taught by Pastor Steve Langley and Layne Wakuta. 201 Class, Discovering Spiritual Maturity. Designed to help you develop spiritual maturity. Taught by Pastors Ron Matsuda and Chris Koga. 301 Class, (Part 1 Sept. 9 & Part 2 Sept. 16) Discovering Ministry. Learn about your unique spiritual gifts, your S.H.A.P.E. (Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, Experience) and take the next step in the ministry exploration process. Taught by Pastor Annette Kakimoto. 401 Class, Redefining My Life s Mission. Teaches you how to redefine your life s mission and how you can live as a witness to Christ. Taught by Pastors Daniel Matsuda and James Chang. A light lunch is provided before each class. Register by checking off the appropriate box on the back of your Connection form or contact Jan Magnani, ext. 0 or her at: gvbc@gvbc.net [Class number in the subject line]. Concert of Prayer Friday, September 14. Prayer for the neighborhood. More info to follow. Keep Gardena Beautiful Saturday, September 15. KidZone Friday Night 1 st thru 5 th Grade 7:00 8:30 p.m. Community Hall June 22 Sockey June 29 Kickball Basketball Contact Susan Wakuta, ext. 689, susan@gvbc.net Greenhouse Tuesday Summer Fun Middle School July 3 GYMsanity!, 6:00-8:30pm GVBC, Community Hall. Refreshments provided. Cost: FREE July 10 Gable House Bowl, 6:00-8:30pm Hawthorne Blvd., Torrance. Please bring socks. Cost: $15 Includes 2 hours of bowling, shoe rental, 2 pieces of pizza, and unlimited drinks. July 17 Wii-lympics, 6:00-8:30pm GVBC, Rooms Refreshments provided. Cost: FREE. July 24 Sky Zone Indoor Trampoline Park, 6:00-8:00pm 1625 W. 190th St., Gardena. Cost: $10 Please bring socks. All participants must have waiver signed by parent or legal guardian in order to attend this event. Waiver can be picked-up at Greenhouse or downloaded directly from 7/31/12 Pool The Mikamo s, 5-7pm, 2614 W. 180th St., Torrance. We will gladly take donations of food, snacks, and beverages. Contact Layne to arrange. Cost: FREE Greenhouse Tuesday Summer Fun is open to students entering 6 th grade in the Fall through graduated 8 th graders. Questions? Contact Layne Wakuta, ext. 684 layne@gvbc.net Youth Summer Camp Sunday, August 5 to Friday, August 10. Finished 6 th to finished 11 th grades. Alpine Conference Center, Blue Jay. DEADLINE Sunday, July 22. Cost: $280 Scholarships available. Applications available at the office. Contact any high school leader or Daniel Matsuda, ext. 681, daniel@gvbc.net. Page 6 SPIRIT

7 FINANCIAL REPORT $160,000 $150,000 $140,000 $130,000 $120,000 $110,000 $100,000 $90,000 Month of April Income received Expenses $500,000 $450,000 $400,000 $350,000 $300,000 $250,000 $200,000 January - April Adopted budget Income received Expenses Donations and Flowers given in honor or loving memory FROM Toy Sato Amy Kato IN LOVING HONOR or MEMORY OF Yuzy Sato Robert Kato Monetary donations given in honor or memory of loved ones go into the College Scholarship Fund, unless specified. PASTOR ANNETTE KAKIMOTO BEGINS HER JOURNEY BY PASTOR STEVE LANGLEY Dear Family: Pastor Annette Kakimoto has started on a journey to continue her education and has enrolled in a Doctor of Ministries (D. Min.) at Azusa Pacific University. Her first class is July The D. Min. program will center around Christian Spiritual Formation and will partner with the Renovare International Institute. I am writing this to let you, the GVBC family, know that Annette will not take time off from staff, but will be gone specific times for intensive study. Our (the staff and Board) goal in supporting her is so that she will be better prepared to equip GVBC in our ministry. Several of you, who are already aware of what Annette is working toward, have asked if you can help offset her expenses. The Board has set up a special fund for Annette to pursue her D. Min. program so you can donate to cover her expenses. The total cost is around $24,000. Please keep her in your prayers during this 2-year journey so she may grow and bless us as we seek to love God and love others. His child, Pastor Steve Issue 11 will be uploaded to the website on Wednesday, July 11. Hard copies will then be available in the Narthex and Community Hall. All articles should be submitted by Sunday, July 8. The Spirit is copyrighted 2012 and a publication of Gardena Valley Baptist Church, 1630 W. 158th Street, Gardena, CA., 90247, (310) , FAX: (310) , gvbc@gvbc.net, Website: Senior Pastor: Steve Langley (310) , Editor: Susan J. Shelley, susie@gvbc.net. Office hours: 9:00am 5:00pm, Nichigo Website: The Spirit is published twice a month to keep members and friends informed of programs of the church and to report news about GVBC and its people. Announcements, praise, prayer requests, and letters are welcomed. Articles are subject to editing and/or postponement. Page 7

8 Gardena Valley Baptist Church 1630 W. 158th Street Gardena, CA Phone: (310) Web: Twitter: Morning 8:45am & 10:45am Nichigo Jap an ese-sp eaking Service@10:45am San ctuary Series: Study in John 13:31-17:26 Sunday, June 24 Pastor Steve Langley ~ Jesus Prays for His Disciples John 17:6-26 Sunday, July 1/Communion Pastor Chris Koga Sunday, July 8 Pastor Daniel Matsuda Sunday, July 15/Baptisms Pastor Steve Langley Sunday, July 22 Pastor Steve Langley English-speaking children s Sunday school runs concurrent with the Worship Services. Nichigo children s Sunday school 9:30am, Room 206. Steve Langley, Senior Pastor, ext. 0 James Ch ang, Assistan t Pasto r Wo rship, ext. 682 An n ette Kakimo to, Assistant Pastor Lead ership Develop men t, ext. 680 Daniel Matsud a, Associate Pastor Yo uth, ext. 681 Ron Matsud a, Asso ciate Pastor Teaching, ext. 679 Eiji Osato, Asso ciate Pastor Nichigo, ext. 676 Susan Wakuta Elementary Children s Director, ext. 689 J.J. Frey, Worship Coordin ato r (pt) Chris Kog a, Assistant Pastor Colleg e, ext. 685 (pt) Lind a Matsud a Director Early Childhood, ext. 683 (pt) Layn e Wakuta, Pasto ral In tern Junior High, ext 684 (pt) Peggy Kushig emachi, Fin ancial Assistan t, ext. 675 Jan Magn ani, Secretary, ext. 671 Wendy Nakano, Office Man ag er, ext. 672 Rei Abe, Nichigo Secretary, ext. 677 (pt) Aubrey Matsun ami, Christian Ed uc. Secretary, ext. 678 (pt) Susie Sh elley, Newsletter Editor ext. 673 (pt) Kevin Hatashita, Main ten ance Asst. ( pt) So corro Co co Kag awa, Mainten an ce Asst. (pt) Kevin Maed a, Main ten ance Asst. (pt) Gerald Mayewaki, Main ten ance Asst. (pt) An drew Sun ad a, Mainten an ce Asst. (pt)