FIRST PRESS. July Making disciples of Jesus Christ who go to make disciples of others.

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1 July 2017 Making disciples of Jesus Christ who go to make disciples of others. FIRST PRESS In the Mariners' Museum in Newport News, Virginia, there's a special display for a rickety, home-made aluminum kayak. This tiny, makeshift boat seems oddly out of place in the midst of displays for impressive Navy vessels and artifacts from significant battles on the sea. But a bronze plaque tells museum visitors the story behind this kayak's heroic makers. In 1966, an auto mechanic named Laureano and his wife Consuelo decided that they could no longer live under the oppression of Cuba's totalitarian regime. After spending months collecting scrap metal, they pieced together a boat just barely big enough for two small people. Then Laureano jury-rigged a small lawn mower engine on the back of the kayak. After months of planning, on a moonless September night, sitting back to back and wearing only their swimming suits, they set out in the treacherous Straits of Florida. They had only enough water and food for a couple of days. Finally, after they had floated in open water for over 70 hours, the U.S. Coast Guard found and rescued the couple just south of Alligator Reef Light in the Florida Keys. Was it worth the risk to find freedom? Laureano thought so. Years later, he said, When one has grown up in liberty, [you] realize it is important to have [freedom]. We lived in the enormous prison which is Cuba, where one's life is not worth one crumb. Where one goes out into the street and does not know whether or not one will return to one's home, because the political police can arrest you without any warning and put you in prison. Before this could happen to us, we thought that going into the ocean, and risking death or being eaten by sharks, is a million times better than to stay suffering under [political oppression]. Political freedom is certainly important. However, there seems to be a deep longing for another kind of freedom within the human heart spiritual freedom. Only Jesus can provide this type of freedom which, more than political freedom, is worth risking life and limb. Jesus tells us in John 8:32-33, If you hold my teaching, you are truly my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. This July 4 th, let us not only celebrate political freedom, but spiritual freedom as well. We are truly blessed! Keep the faith, Pastor Tony

2 PAGE 2 Reminder! Deacons hope you can bring some nonperishable food on July 2nd to feed those in our community who are in need. The Deacons Dinner Bells ministry consists of the occasional meal prepared and taken to the home of those in our church family needing assistance. Illness, hospitalization, therapy, bereavement, etc., can be disheartening and a cause for concern. Nourishing food will be provided with a prayer and a smile. For more information contact Susan Feaver ( ). The Childcare department is very excited to have new flooring!!! They wish to say thank you to Buildings & Grounds, a generous Anonymous Donor, and all those who have given to the Carpet Fund. Also a big thank you to Bill Baker for coordinating the demolition and installation of the new flooring and to Gary England who surprised us by moving all the furnishings back into the rooms. THANK YOU ALL!!! The Infant/Toddler Ministry would like to say thank you to Delaney Cuzzort, Sophia Trezza, Lexie Garcia, and Jamin Rexing for their time and dedication to the children in childcare. Our team will miss you but wish you well with your new adventures. For parents with children in childcare, there will be an information sheet for you on the counter at the Infant/Toddler room. Please make sure the information is correct and current for our files. Thank you.

3 PAGE 3 Training the Untrained to Reach the Unreached It was SO good to have some face to face time on Sunday, April 23 with missionaries Dan and Debbie Smythe of Global Training Network. They showed some slides of their work training indigenous leaders in India and shared at worship as well as lunch with the Mission Team afterward. It is abundantly clear that the Holy Spirit has powerfully used them to open doors in India for Christ through the Precept Inductive Bible Study method of teaching. They will be leaving on May 7 to begin a cycle of 12 visits over a period of three years in Katmandu, Nepal. The leaders they will be training have already been chosen and are hungry for the Word of God. The Smythes shared that the coming few years is prime time to reach out for Christ in Nepal because a secular (rather than religious) leadership is in power. It is expected that when the Hindu or Muslim leadership is in control in a few years they will not have easy access to the people. The leaders the Smythes are training in English will grow spiritually and be given resources and be equipped to pass that training on to others in the proper and faithful use of the Word in their native language. They will then reach out to others...thus multiplying the growth exponentially, as was demonstrated in India. The goal of GTN is to reach the world through mission for the Glory of God, especially to unreached people groups. In India only 3% of believers are Christian (with over 2000 unreached people groups). In Nepal only 1% are Christian. In the inductive method of study, students concentrate intensively on the book of Romans for a full week at each of the 12 visits, learning from each other as they delve into the Word what God is saying through the scripture, its meaning specifically for them and how to apply it to their lives. They spur each other on to memorize Romans, chapter eight, and the excitement spreads because it so perfectly models the power of God's Word. And the hunger for God's word urges them on to study one after another of the books of the Bible. Debbie has initiated an on-line classroom study of the Old Testament in real time here in the United States, also using the precept inductive study method. She sees great potential for its use in India and Nepal for new Christians. The problem which must be overcome is to find a secure and consistent conference call connection like Skype. If you are interested in the precept inductive study method, read Lord Teach Me to Study the Bible, by Kay Arthur. Dan and Debbie Smythe would appreciate your continuing prayers for their work and especially for the new leaders.

4 PAGE 4 Join the Awana Adventure Come attend Truth Seekers Thursday afternoons, 3:30-5pm from August 24 th May 10 th. The club will keep the same holiday schedule as the local schools. All Kindergarten 5 th grade boys/girls are welcome to enter into the fun, and children aren t the only ones to have a good time. Adults and youth (8 th grade & up) discover that this is a great opportunity to serve in a ministry that is both enjoyable and rewarding. YOU are needed! Training will be Saturday, Aug. 5th from 9am-Noon. Children s registration forms will be available starting July 31 st at the church office. (See Annette, the church office administrator.) For more information, phone Charles or Susan Feaver ( ) July 16th - 22nd Please pray for our children and their counselor while they are away at camp. Sherwood Forest Camp: Ali L. Brook W. Emily P. Hope K. Isabella U. Meg C. Madison B. Michael K. Tylor U. Crestview: Alysha R. Grace K. Counselor: Mary Hartman Healy

5 PAGE 5 After a full spring calendar - Easter Sunday Breakfast followed closely by the Church Picnic - the Fellowship Team is looking forward to some down time with family this summer! Thank you for the many hands that helped with these events, including (but never limited to) the Lehners, Wann- Rexings, Christophs, and LeFils families. We encourage everyone to attend the fun events scheduled with Body Life on Wednesdays throughout the summer. Please mark your calendars for the Church Campout October in Pismo. More details will be shared as we get into the fall. This is always a really fun family and church family event. If you can t join us for the whole weekend, consider a day-cation to the coast to join us. As always, camping out in a tent is not required, glamping (glamours camping) is encouraged either via RV or hotel room. The Fellowship Team is so excited to announce that we have new FPC t- shirts for sale! They are maroon in a unisex cut. The front displaces the updated FPC logo (with cross) and the website. The back states the church name, location, as well as Biblical, Authentic, Relevant. Look for more information regarding ordering and prices SOON - keep an eye on the bulletin board! Until next time, Dave and Annie Wrigley Fellowship Team

6 PAGE 6 6 pm Dinner Adults, $6 Teens, $5 Children (to age 12), $3 $18.00 Maximum per Family SUMMER BODY LIFE Get out of the kitchen and let us do the cooking for you! 6:30 Choir, Classes & Programs for all July 5 - Faith Under Fire DVD July 12 - Family Movie Night, Moana July 19 - Faith Under Fire DVD July 26 - Faith Under Fire DVD Aug 2 - Ice Cream Social Church Campout October 27th 29th

7 PAGE 7 Many opportunities for you to join with others... GRANTS AVAILABLE Community Enhancement Fund Grants of the First Presbyterian Church of Hanford have helped local organizations over the years. We are happy to announce that there is again money available for CEF grants. In prior years, grants have been approved for a refrigerator for the Soup Kitchen, to purchase a K-9 for law enforcement, and other worthy community projects. If you are aware of an organization which needs help carrying out a project that is designed to meet community needs in and around Hanford, AND if Presbyterian members are numbered among its supporters or volunteers, advise them to pick up an application for a 2017 CEF grant. Applications are available at the church office, 415 N. Redington. Hours: Monday - Friday, 8am noon. Organizations which have applied in prior years may re-apply for consideration for the same or a different need. The deadline for submission is July 15. Call Shirley Ramm, if you have any questions. Jolly 1 s & 2 s There are no further events planned in July for Jolly 1 s & 2 s. We are scheduled to go to Gozen restaurant in Visalia on August 10th. Please let Janet or your callers know by Aug 4th if you wish to attend. We will be leaving the church parking lot at 10:30am. The restaurant opens at 11:00am. Games and Company 1:30 pm July 7 Carol Speer Oxford Way Aug 4 Jane Hammer. 536 E Grangeville # Sept 1 Lenore Porter. 149 Cinnamon Ct Oct 6 Sally Gordon Van Ct Nov 3 Rosemary Clark Rio Hondo Way Dec 1 Sue Hensel. 797 E Fargo Ave

8 FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH P O Box 1185 HANFORD CA ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED First Presbyterian Church Worship Center: 340 N. Irwin St. Church Office: 415 N. Redington St. Mail: P. O. Box 1185, Hanford, CA (559) FAX (559) STAFF: Tony Winterowd Tom & Margie Fritz Janice Mills Jaime Christoph Renee Loewen Annette Rajskup Gail Forsythe Gary England Pastor Music Directors Music Ministries Director of Youth & Children s Ministries Child Care Coordinator Office Manager Bookkeeper Custodian Send staff s to staff first name@fpchanford.org send prayer requests or other information to office@fpchanford.org Non-Profit Org U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 88 Hanford, California July Birthdays & *Anniversaries 1 Sue Kinney 2 Danielle VanBaren, *Mr. & Mrs. Ruben Hernandez 3 *Mr. & Mrs. Bill Baker 6 Michael Porter 7 *Mr. & Mrs. Robert Curiel 20 Lynda Cuzzort 21 Kayla Koppenhaver 23 Jane Hammer 28 Bronte Hernandez 29 Lorraine Knutson 9 Alleta Brewer 11 Fran Bettencourt 12 Nicholas Mankey, Sheryl McCarty 13 *Mr. & Mrs. Sostenes Infante, Jr. 16 *Mr. & Mrs. George Billerbeck 19 Matt Voyles Please contact the office with any updates, additions or corrections. We don t want to miss anyone or list your special date incorrectly. s..