04 april today newsletter

8/9/2019 04 April TODAY Newsletter

1/8

www.peopleschurch.org

April 2010


2/8

April2010

PCToday

2

ready to end it all

Young, beautiful, so much potential, so much of

life ahead. But poor choices, rejection, heartache

now shes ready to give up. Life once full of hope

and promise now seemed hopeless.

Immediately people began to comment

dont give up

get some help

we love you

Jesus loves you and has a

planits true

lets talk

She didnt follow through.

When I went back to read

exactly what she wrote, she

sent an instant message:hi ginger...

She wanted to connect, to talk, to know someonestill cares.

Isnt that what al l of us want? The slightest

glimmer of hope, the thinnest ray of expectation,

the faintest promise for the future helps propel

us forward.

Anything to replace the sad, dejected, low

spirit. To have something to look forward to

an anticipation that things will change.

In that dire state of despair, its difficult to

imagine how anything could be different. Yet

in a moments time the light can come on, thedarkness can dissipate, the hope can be restored.

A friend from Bible study once asked our group

to pray for her nephew whod been falsely accused

of a horrible crime.

For weeks we prayed, even though the evidence

seemed stacked against him.

On the final day of the trial, at the very last

moment, a witness came forward: Wait! Hes

innocent! Thats not how it happened at all. I have

to tell the truth.

All of a sudden, he went from hopeless to

hopeful.

Thats the message of Good Friday and Easter

Sunday. Thats what Jesus, the Alpha and Omega,

the First and Last, the Beginning and Ending,

did for us.

He said, Wait! Ill take his punishment. Let

him go free.

He let you know your existence isnt a mistake.

You were specifically and intentionally planned

with purpose and destiny by the Creator of the

universe.

You were worth the price He paid for your

forgiveness, your freedom.

And even though youve made mistakes that

brought about serious consequences, He can takethe mess and give your life meaning.

You were once separate from Christwithout

hope and without God in the world. But now in

Christ Jesus you who were once far away have

been brought near through the blood of Christ.

(Ephesians 2:12-13)

Whatever happens, whether our fault or the

unfair actions of others, you and I can have hope

in Jesus Christ, who is the same yesterday, today,

forever.

In this issue ofPC Today, youll read:about a teenage girl whod lost her parents,

then found a homeand hope.

...about how our PC family offers hope to people

in our Valley and around the world.

about PC College reaching out to earthquake

victims in Haiti and how you can help give hope!

Then hopefully, youll be inspired to think about

your own story of hope and share it this week with

someone you meet.

I heard the cry, her voice loud and clear,through her facebook posting:

[...in a moments time

the light can come

on, the darkness can

dissipate, the hope

can be restored. ]

from the editor:by Ginger Niemeyer


3/8

Hope Tomorrow Has ArrivedAfter two years of waiting, watching, and wondering, we welcomed Lead Pastor Dale Oquist to Peoples Churchon Sunday, March 14. Presenting our new pastor to Peoples Church was a personal friend of Dale and arepresentative of the Evergreen Christian Community (ECC) Church Board, Ron Hastie.

Ron said, We (at ECC) are already invested in you and your community. Were committed to praying for you overthe next months and years. I hope you will do the same for us. Blessing on you as you embark on this journey.

Peoples Church, on behalf of ECC in Olympia, Washington, I can truly say with joy and peace I would like topresent to you my friend and your new pastor, Dale Oquist.

Ron Hastie of Evergreen Christian Community

with Dale Oquist


4/8

April2010

PCToday

4

B

etween 7th & 8th grade, I started coming to

Peoples Church and went to Hume Lake in

the summer. I lived with my dad but wasnt

as close to my mom because she struggled with drug

and alcohol addictions.

My mom was diagnosed with cancer and didnt

have long to live. I wanted her to know before she

died that even though shed made mistakes, God

still loved her, so I gave her a Bible and a book on

forgiveness.

The next summer my grandma died and that fall

my dad had a brain aneurysm. Within a year, Id

lost both parents and my grandma.

The only place I wanted to be was at church, in a

place where I could grow, and to stay at my school

(Fresno Christian).

When I told my sisters (who are much older than

I am) that I didnt want to live with them, they were

really thrown off. They asked me to take pictures

with them for my dads funeral. I went with them

but they didnt bring me back.

Riding in the car I thought, Okay God, I dont

know where to go from here. I texted some leaders

at the church and told them what happened. Before I

knew it, the policeand sheriff were

involved.

P eo p le w e re

fighting over me

and I thought, If

you have to live

with your sisters,

so what? Youre

not worth all this.

The police said

my sisters couldnttake me out of the

county where my

dad lived without

court papers. So I

went to live with

my aunt and uncle

in Mariposa (who

are not believers).

Even though I

visited friends in

Fresno as much as possible and still went to Fresno

Christian, I was miserable.

Did God really have plans for my life and my

future? Then why am I stuck in this situation? One

night I saw stars in the sky and asked, God, how

can You orchestrate something like the stars and

not take care of my life?

I have a perfect plan for your life, He said.

Well then, why am I here?

Because I need this time to prepare for you.

There was a really bright star that night and I

heard Him say, That is you, Nacoya. Youre going

to do great things.

Though my family had taken me in and I was

grateful for it, it wasn't a healthy living situation

so I told my aunt and uncle I didnt want to live

with them anymore. Even if I have to go to foster

care, Fresno is where I belong.

They finally agreed to let me try to find a home

For the next week I

prayed and held on to

Luke 1:45 Blessed is

she who knows what the

Lord has promised her

will be accomplished.On Wednesday my

aunt told me she was

taking me to Fresno.

I didnt know where I

was going, just that I

was going to a new home.

Before my aunt and uncle gave me permission to

leave, the Teters (a family from Peoples Church)

had already offered their home.

In May I will graduate from Fresno Christian

and Ive been accepted to California Baptist CollegeWithout the loving support of so many people

I would never have been able to survive. In a way,

God used my parents death to give me the life He

always intended for me, ful l of love, joy, and hope

not having to suffer the consequences of my parents

choices. Ive been with the Teters for a year and a

half and have never felt more at home.

[ Were an aver

had plenty of m

this is really hadont know ho

But were so g

by Nacoya Villegas (as told to Ginger Niemeyer)

Nacoya and Jenna

Offering Help and Hope


5/8

When the Romanian Childrens Choir

came to Peoples Church in 2002, we

hosted some of them in our home.

When they left we said, Were supposed to do

something, not just stand here

and let this go by. So we began

to think about adoption. From

the beginning we had a heart for

teenagers and older children who

didnt have a home.But God would need to drop

somebody into our lap because

we didnt have the courage to

make the decision.

Five years went by and nothing

happened. We even asked, God, where are You?

Why arent You answering this? Looking back we

realized He had to get us ready.

In 2008 Josh joined the Marines and went off to

boot camp. Jenna became acquainted with Nacoya

through the high school group at church. Nacoyasparents had died and she was looking for a place to

live, so she stayed one night with us. When she left

we said, We might be able to help her.

While Josh was home on leave, we talked with

him and Jenna, and agreed Nacoya should move in

with us. It was difficult knowing we were going to

move Josh out of his room and the next day move

in Nacoya. It all happened so fast, and we were

very nervous. But it was the right thing, and we

all knew it.

Jenna was here that first year, then she left for

college. Now it was just us and Coya, and we were

all anxious. But we felt the Lord said, Its good that

Jennas gone. Now you have time to get to know

Coya and for her to be the center of attention.

God made Nacoya a survivor. Shes a normal kid

who hates chores. But we feel like God said its our

job to get her ready for the rest of her life. She needs

to be healthy so she can heal and be at peace and

have hope in thefuture.

y and weve

when we say,

now and well turn out.

together. ]

by David & Reginia Teter

Josh, Jenna, Reginia, Nacoya, David

Nacoya and Josh


6/8

April2010

PCToday

6

Haiti. It has been in the news for weeks. We

continue to hear of the suffering there. But the need

is so great. What hope could we offer just college

students from Fresno? What could we do to help?

Hope for Haiti was our answer. The goal was to

give students a tangible way to get involved and help

be a part of the healing of Haiti. Further, we wanted

to worship God and lift Haiti up to Him as well as

foster a spirit of unity among college age people.

The result? Over 200 peoplemost of whom were

college agecame together for a night of worship

and praise. We had two worship bands, and the

speaker spoke about ending poverty in our lifetimes.

Also, several relief organizations who have active

ministries in Haiti had tables set up where students

could explore ways to help such as advocacy, giving,

prayer, writing letters, packing shipping cartons,

adopting a child, and taking trips to Haiti.

It was a night in which we began by simply exalting

God through worship to get our hearts right before

Him. Then followed prayer, a Bible lesson about

poverty, and finally a worship time in which we lifted

Haiti up to our gracious Father in heaven.

In the end, we raised more than $2,000 for

Haiti100% of which went to relief organizations

working in Haiti such as VisionVestors, Medica

Ministries International, Convoy of Hope, Christian

Friendship Ministries, and Christ in Action.

But beyond the event and all that was accomplished

was the co-operation among groups within Peoples

Church and among churches in Fresno/Clovis. For

example, Women Alive contributed baked goods

that were sold that night to raise money for Haiti

Leaders from Peoples Church, Northpark, the Quest

Intervarsity, and the Bridge were among those who

helped make the event a reality. Great things can

happen when the people of God unite to worship

Him and to provide healing to a devastated nation

Hope Continues

On Friday, April 16, were going to Eaton Plaza in

downtown Fresno. Our goal for this night of worship

and outreach is to raise awareness and funds for thepoor right here in Fresno.

Were simply asking the questions: Can we end

hunger and poverty in this world? Do we have the

courage and the love to do it?


7/8

Prayers & Sympathies

Barbara Berberian & familyinthe loss of her father, LeslieMarkarian.

Henry Cadle & familyin the loss ofhis father, Henry P. Cadle.

Cliff & Apri l Carey, George &JoRene Briner and familiesin the loss of their daughter &granddaughter, Lauren Carey.

Nora Christensen, LeonChristensen & families in theloss of husband and brother,Norm Christensen.

Bob & Dorothy Coble & familyinthe loss of their son, Bob CobleJr.

Family & friends in the loss ofFlorence Comer.

Kimberly Esparza & familyin theloss of her mother, Janice Hatter.

Lawrence Fong & familyin the lossof his father, Edward Fong.

Family & friends in the loss of

Steve Grote.Joyce Heath & familyin the loss of

her mother, Mary Edith Young.

Theresa Maragoni & family in theloss of her mother, GenevievePalmer.

Family & friends in the loss ofWilliam Osterholtz.

Family & friends in the loss of JoelReyes.

Teri Williams & f amily inthe loss of her mother, VickiCox-Avakian.

Memorials

Jimmie CrossSharon McDonaldJane Meermans

Leslie MarkarianMr. & Mrs. A. A. BantiRoxie MoradianAllen & Lynn Taylor

Isabelle MobusPaul & Lavonne Prespare

Glen WilliamsDoug & Norma HazeltonElaine KarmarkovicLes & Mary Lou LileHerb & Rebecca LilesManna ClassDoug & Carol MartensEsther Von Essen

Don WoodruffKlyne AddingtonBill & Barbara EmbreyEarl & Jan GiacoliniPhyllis Humason

Bob & Harriet LichtiHerb & Rebecca LilesBob & Hazel RichnerPreston & Ellen Streit

Mary Edith YoungClaudette J. Tripp

February 28: a day of learning more about missions, local and global

long-term, short-term, and every dayand how we can offer hope.

PC family tasted international cuisines, participated in hands-on projects to benefit families around

the world, personally connected with missionaries and ministries, and had fun with their families.


8/8

Apply today for

SUMMERand FALL

PROGRAMS

Contact 298-3869

Tickets: $15 (box lunch $5)

Available through WomensMinistries or online at

peopleschurch.org/women

Community Choir/Command Performance ConcertTuesday, April 207:00 pm, GL Johnson Chapel

Homeschool Choirs ConcertThursday, April 297:00 pm, PC Sanctuary

Peoples School of Creative Arts Presents...

*Child care and eventsfor kids and students.

Good Friday, April 2 7:00 pm*Infant thru 5 years

Saturday, April 3 7:00 pm

*Infant thru 4th grade

Sunday, April 47:00 am *Infant thru 5 years

8:30 am *Infant thru 4th grade10:00 am *Infant thru High School

11:30 am *Infant thru 4th grade

Before I Do Premarital ClassBefore you say I Do, identify strengths and areas forrelationship growth, communication and conflict resolu-tion. (Required for couples planning to be married at PCor by a PC pastor.)

Thursdays, April 15-May 20

7:00 to 8:30 pm

Cost: $75.00 per couple(includes materials)

Facilitator Gene Lewis

Contact Bonnie: ext. 211to register.

Period

Post

PA

at Fresn

Volume 17, Number 4Our Church Family Today (#USPS 438-910) is published monthly byPeoples Church, 7172 North Cedar Avenue,Fresno, CA 93720-3368. Phone: (559) 298-8001.Fax: (559) 299-8182. Website: www.peopleschurch.org.E-mail: [email protected]. No subscription fee.

Lead pastor: Dale OquistExecutive Pastor: Doug HolckEditor: Ginger NiemeyerGraphic Designer/Photographer: Ryan HolckOquist and Missions photos courtesy of Nebyou BerheHaiti photo (page 6) courtesty of Thomas Hurst 2010 ChurchesHelpingChurches.comPeriodical Postage is paid at Fresno, CA 93706.

POSTMASTER:

Send address changes to Our Church Family Today,7172 North Cedar Avenue, Fresno, CA 93720-3368.3,900

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