John & Jennifer Balmer

Training Pastors International

MISSIONARY OF THE MONTH

WHO we are…

Training Pastors International is an

international ministry training

program devoted to training

national pastors throughout the

world. It started in the Fall of 2000

in response to the enormous need

of providing ministry training to

pastors in less-developed countries

of the world.

WHY we train…

There are more than two million

pastors in the Majority World and

most of them (95%) have no

opportunity for further ministry

training.

HOW we do it…

We partner with individuals and

churches in the United States and

key national leaders in Africa and

Asia to take short-term mission

trips to conduct one-week pastoral

training institutes.

Our total statistics…

We have taken 47 mission trips (1

to 2 months), conducted 155

institutes, and trained 29,821

pastors in 29 different countries

over the past 24 years.

Church Events

• June 1st

- VBS Registration Opens!

• June 2nd

- Reminder: Vote in the Primary

• June 6th

- Men’s Breakfast

• June 7th

- Reopening In-Person Worship Service (see details on page 2-3)

• June 11th

- Children’s & Teen’s Bingo Night

• Worship Service - Sundays, 10 AM,

also streamed live on our website,

YouTube, & Facebook

• RIOT Youth Group -

Sundays, 6 PM

• RIOT Teen Guys’ Bible Study -

Wednesdays, 6 PM,

• Enjoying Jesus: Young Ladies’

Study - Tuesdays, 6:30 PM

• Small Groups - Contact group

leaders for more information.

PARK FOREST BAPTIST CHURCH - JUNE 2020

June newsletter

Dear PFBC Family,

As you are aware Centre County is moving to the

green phase today, Friday, May 29th. This is good

news and it’s a day we have all been waiting for and

welcome!

As the people of God, we mourn the loss of those

who have succumbed to Covid-19 in the last few

months and we will continue to pray for their families

and that God’s comfort and the hope of the gospel

would minister to their hearts. Let us continue to ask

God for empathy in our hearts for those who were

impacted in greater ways by this virus than others.

Let us always be mindful that God has called us to

love our neighbor as ourselves and to honor one an-

other.

As Centre County moves to green, the elders of PFBC

believe that we can now consider how to reopen the

building for us to gather together for worship for

those who feel they are ready and comfortable. As

we move towards gathering again, we recognize that

the virus has not been eliminated entirely, so as we

seek to gather again, here a few thoughts that we

believe would be prudent for all of us to consider.

Following a few thoughts, I’ll share three options that

are available to all of us for worship.

As we move into the green phase, let all of us strive

to be like-minded, having the same love, being one

in spirit and purpose, looking to the interests of oth-

ers (Phil 2:1-4). No matter where a person chooses

to worship on Sunday mornings, we value their deci-

sion and recognize that no one is more godly for

making one decision over the other. This has been

an unprecedented time and as brothers and sisters in

one family of God we honor each one’s decision in

their own conscience.

As we begin to have services in the building again,

we would ask that you come when you feel ready

and comfortable. PFBC encourages personal respon-

sibility for your worship. We believe that is a free-

dom given to us by God. If you feel ready to come

to the building, we would ask that you please accept

full personal responsibility for your decision to gather

with others. We look forward to the day when we no

longer need to have concern over Covid-19, but until

that day comes, each of us should welcome the per-

sonal responsibility we each take in life to manage

risks. When you feel you are ready, you are welcome

to come.

3 Worship Options (Beginning June 7th)

Option 1: In-person worship gathering

• Come as you feel ready

• We are creating more space between each row of

chairs.

• We ask for the time being that you leave two

chair spaces between non-family members or

people that you do not regularly see throughout

the week.

• Continue to practice physical distancing of at

least 6 feet away from others not in your house-

hold when possible.

• Wash your hands with soap and water or use

hand sanitizer. We ask if you are not allergic to

hand sanitizer, please use one of our touchless

dispensers before entering the worship center.

• Sneeze or cough into a tissue or the inside or

your elbow. Dispose of tissues after single use.

• Stay home if you have symptoms of sickness or

have been around anyone who is sick, has flu-

like symptoms, or if you have been around some-

one with a positive Covid-19 case.

Continued on next page.

Continued from previous page.

Option 2: Small Group Watch Parties

• Gather with your small group or a new

small group if interested for a watch par-

ty.

• Adhere to social distancing best practices

and honor one another with patience and

grace where differences in comfort may

exist.

• Considerations are:

• Meet in a space where adequate social

distancing can be accommodated.

• Use good hygiene and avoid sharing

food and beverages.

• Stay home if you feel sick or have symp-

toms of illness.

• Children are permitted to be in attend-

ance if the group participants are com-

fortable with this allowance.

Option 3: At Home Worship Streaming

• Worship online at home.

• PFBC Kids at-home resources continue

via email.

What About Children’s Ministry?

When we relaunch Children’s ministry, we

want parents and volunteers to experience

the joy and community to which we are ac-

customed. While we work towards this goal,

we will continue to offer disciple-making re-

sources and fellowship online for parents and

kids to utilize. This means that currently on

Sunday morning’s we will not have children’s

ministry during the worship service. This will

be re-evaluated each month.

What about Youth Ministry?

R.I.O.T Youth Ministry is permitted to regath-

er and follow the same general guidelines as

a Sunday morning worship service. Outdoor

events are encouraged over indoor events

when possible.

Time of Worship Service?

At this time, our in-person worship gathering

will be at 10 AM. In regards to our Grow

Deep Hour which historically has been before

the worship service, as time goes on and as

teachers feel ready, these classes will restart,

but for now, we are not setting a time for

that.

A FINAL WORD

Your patience and support have been appre-

ciated in this difficult season. We are thrilled

that we are able to begin to move towards

being WITH one another again. Please

know – that if you are at risk health-wise

or feel a slower reentry would be best for

your family, we understand. We trust that

by providing three ways to worship we can

minister to people wherever they are.

Grace & Peace,

Jeremy Field

Lead Pastor

WOMEN’S MINISTRY

Reflection from Audrey Ogden:

In just a month Mark and I will be

driving down I-95 all the way to

central Florida to start a new

chapter there. We’ll still be with Cru

and representing the Jesus Film

Project; just closer to Cru HQ in

Orlando.

Reflecting on our time at PFBC I am

most grateful for the joy of

being in community with all of

you, doing life together as I

participated in various small group

settings. Thank you, ladies, for

loving and listening and praying.

The Wednesday morning Ladies

study helped me through the fog of

re-entry after 15 years in China and

through a crisis with one of our

children. A surprise party

celebrating our China time, therein

listening to our stories, helped to

heal sorrow over having left

prematurely because of a family

emergency. The Thursday evening

Ladies Bible Study was so much

more than studying God’s Word

together, which was truly

rich. It was a weekly

knitting of hearts born

through prayer for each

other and mutual

encouragement to press

on in faith. The echoes of

heartfelt and honest

prayers will remain my

sweetest memory.

This leads me to share a

parting hope for PFBC

women (and men); that

the prayer commitment

and connection will grow

steadily stronger. The

words of Eugene Peterson

say it well, “In the long

history of Christian

spirituality, community

prayer is most important,

then individual prayer”.

PFBC’s monthly prayer

nights were so rich and energizing

to my soul. The early Christians in

the book of Acts met daily and

“were continually devoting

themselves to the

apostle’s

teaching and to

fellowship, the

breaking of

bread and to

prayer” (Acts

2:42).

Anchored in

God’s

unconditional

love and promises, doing life

together and being strong in prayer

will yield the fruit of hearts wanting

to go into the harvest. Growth in the

journey is never just about us.

My favorite poem expressed this

much better than I could. (See

above.)

It has been a privilege to be a part

of the PFBC family.

Love and Prayers,

Audrey Ogden

Make Me Thy Fuel

by Amy Carmichael

(missionary for 55 years among orphans in India)

From prayer that asks that I may be

Sheltered from winds that beat on Thee,

From fearing when I should aspire,

From faltering when I should climb higher

From silken self, O Captain free

Thy soldier who would follow Thee.

From subtle love of softening things,

From easy choices, weakenings,

Not thus our spirits fortified,

Not this way went the Crucified.

From all that dims Thy Calvary,

O Lamb of God, deliver me.

Give me the love that leads the way,

The faith that nothing can dismay,

The hope no disappointments tire,

The passion that will burn like fire;

Let me not sink to be a clod;

Make me Thy fuel, Flame of God.

MEN’S BREAKFAST

Saturday, June 6, 8-9:30 AM

Tune in for some breakfast, fellowship,

and encouragement.

Contact John Askey or the Church Office for more

info (info@parkforestbaptist.org.

Talent Show

& Tell Recap

Families

gathered on a

Zoom meeting

on Thursday (May 28th) for a Talent Show & Tell. We

had songs played on the violin, a clarinet, and even a

guitar! As well as some great show & tell from some of

the kids. We got to see some pets, a couple of dogs

and even some chickens (not quite pets). There were

magic tricks, card tricks and we finished the evening

with some jokes. We have some great young

musicians and lots of talented kids! Great job

everyone! It was great to see you all over Zoom.

Did Someone Say "BINGO"?

Our next event on Zoom will be an online BINGO

game. It will be held on Thursday, June 11th, at 6:30

PM. I will be mailing you some BINGO game boards

and markers. Watch your mailboxes!

Looking for something to do?

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY

Summer Plans?

I am sure you are wondering about summer

plans... I am excited to announce that here at

PFBC, Vacation Bible School will be going

Virtual for 2020! So, grab your hard hat and

tool belt! We are building on the love of Je-

sus with the theme "Concrete and Cranes".

We are going to do VBS online, Monday

through Wednesday, August 3rd - 5th, from

6:30 - 7:15-ish PM each evening.

As kids explore a world of concrete and

cranes, rivets and rebar, bulldozers and back-

hoes, they will learn to build their faith on

Jesus as they uncover the truth that He who

began a good work will be faithful to carry it

on to completion.

Jesus is our Strong Foundation!

Family VBS Toolkits will be available to pick

up the week before VBS. These toolkit will

have all the supplies you will need for VBS.

Online registration is open June 1st through

July 6th.

VBS Workdays

Want to help prepare and fill family toolkits?

Let Babette Manning know if you can help

on:

Thursday, July 9, 10 AM - 1 PM

Wednesday, July 22, 10 AM - 1 PM

Babette Manning babette@parkforestbaptist.org

Want Your Kids to Follow Along with

Worship Service?

Parents, your kids can follow along with Pastor

Jeremy's sermons with the kid's pages that are in the

worship package email each week. The document has

a coloring page for the younger children and a fill-in-

the-blank and Scriptures for the older children.

Summertime! That

means water activities,

cookouts, youth group

outside, bonfires, summer

camps, swimming pools, and so much

more! Well, maybe not so much all of those

things this year. As more and more things are being

cancelled for this summer, we are looking at what

really matters the most for youth ministry.

I have been reflecting on the last two and a half months

and what God has been showing me, and then looking

forward to seeing how to apply those things. There

have been some frustrating things, like low attendance,

not being able to see the teens in person, and other

things. Yet each time I get down about something, God

reveals to me that He is still good, and He is still

working in the lives of our teens. It is because of this,

that I am realizing more and more that it is not about

the programs that we do, or the activities that we put

on. It is about our relationships with the teens, and the

willingness to challenge them to draw near to God and

to dig into His Word. I look forward to the day when I

can see our teens in person once more. God has gifted

us with “more time” in our days, and we have been

challenging the teens to not waste that gift. I’m excited

to hear how they experienced God during this time.

This summer will look completely different for us as a

ministry, but I am confident that God will use this

summer for His glory. I look forward to the different

plan that He has for us, and all the ways that the teens

will be challenged to grow in their personal walk with

Christ.

Prayer

• Please keep us in your prayers as we plan for

this summer.

• Pray that we would be aware of God’s leading and

guidance.

• Pray that the doors that need to be opened will be

opened, and those that are shut we wouldn’t try

to open.

• Pray that the teens will be accepting

of the different challenges

presented to them.

• Pray for spiritual growth in

each leader and in each teen,

and a willingness to draw

RIOT

REPORT

YOUNG ADULTS MINISTRY

Game Nights

As the world continues a practice of social distancing,

we plan to have additional JackBox game nights and

stay connected with one another using online

communication resources such as our GroupMe group

chat and Zoom.

Outdoor Events

We also hope to have some outdoor events soon so

that we can social distance together in person (pending

guidance from church leaders and government

officials)!

Want to get involved?

Stay in the loop by joining our

Young Adults Ministry GroupMe

group chat! Download the Group-

Me app and email the Church Office

to get added.

Any game nights or outdoor events will be posted on

GroupMe when scheduled.