01 January TODAY Newsletter

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GloriainExcelsisDeo

www.peopleschurch.org

Our Church Family

January 2010


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January 2010Today Newsletter2

The Church Office...will be closed on Monday, January 18,to observe Martin Luther King Jr.holiday.

Dear God,

We cant presume to know what 2010 holds. Fill our days as You see fit...

We love You,

Doug and Your people at Peoples Church

Dear God


3/8January 2010

Today NewsletterScenes from PC Christmas 2009


4/8January 2010Today Newsletter4

About five years ago I was hired to teach

second grade in Biola, a small migranttown 17 miles from Fresno. It seems

nobody wants to go all the way out there to teach.But Biola is one of those places that finds you.

Eighty-seven percent of the school populationspeaks Spanish, Punjabi, or Hmong for theirprimary language. We know were there to meettheir educational needs, but when we see thehorrendous, disturbing situations they go throughon a daily basis, the kinds of hardships they dealwith (such as poverty, poor nutrition, lack ofmedical attention and proper clothing, to namea few) we know were there to train their hearts,as well.

Its taken awhile to build trust and buildrelationships. From the beginning I came homeand told my wife Licia about my students. We bothhave backgrounds in ministry and missions, andit wasnt long before she wanted to get involved.So she started the Biola Summer Enrichmentprogram that the church has participated in forthe past two years. Now she also directs an after-school string orchestra.

During Summer Enrichment Days, Licia givesstudents Biola bucks for good behavior. At theend of the week, the kids can purchase itempeople have donated to the Biola Store. Theylearn the value of giving to others, thinking aboutsomeone elses need, by purchasing clothes fora little sister, shoes for mom, or a decorative itemfor a kitchen table.

This idea of giving to others in need is alsobeing practiced by the adults. One man fromBiola let us use his truck to bring in some donatedfurniture for the Biola Store. Since he helped uswe let him have first choice to take somethingLater, when I asked him about the items hereceived, he said, My daughter is sleeping on themattresses, but theres a family down the streetwith a new baby, and I thought they needed thewasher and dryer more than we did. Thats thekind of thing we want to see happen.

More and more people are hearing our stories

and asking, What can we do to help? Nowevery area of the church has been involved insome level of ministry there, and its been God-run the whole way. Last month Iglesia PCheld a food drive for families in Biola, and the

entire church gave coats and shoes during Put

Your Hands To It Sunday. I think the biggestby-product of that is the confidence the kids havewhen they come to school with new clothing. Theyfeel better about themselves.

Our principal has started to make connectionswith families, getting parents to be part of theschool culture. So Ive had more interactionswith my students families. Recently, one parencommented, My daughters been reading the Bibleto me to practice her reading. Another askedIve been wondering, do you know of a place Ican become more spiritual? Theyre asking mewhere they can go to church. And its great tobe able to tell them about Iglesia PC planting aSpanish church in Biola this month.

Five years ago I didnt want to go to Biola. Now Icant wait to get out there in the morning. It didnttake long to fall in love with the community. Andits amazing what God is doing there.

If youd like to participate in upcoming PC outreachesto Biola, watch for information in the Today newsletterand Sunday bulletin.

The Place That Found Meby Steve Clark


5/8January 2010

Today Newsletter

On October 4, 2009, Pastor RonMcManus spoke on loving people(Acts 2:42-47). He said, Youve got to

be connected to God and connected to peopleWere not consumers but producersPeoplehave to know you really careYou have to bespontaneousbe prepared to walk throughthe door.

Right after that our daughter Wendy wasat UC Davis for an extended period of time,following severe medical problems. My wifeGeorgia and I met a lot of people in the waitingroom. Every situation was serious, and manytimes the families were without hope. But timeafter time God provided divine appointments.All we had to do was be prepared to walkthrough the door.

One of the f irst people we met was Yvonne,a receptionist at the Kiwanis House (similar tothe Ronald McDonald House) where we stayed.

I said, Lord, let me share You with Yvonne.We started talking about God and His role

in our lives. Yvonne said, I used to know aboutGod and go to church. Now my life is so messedup. One of these days I need to make a change.

I said, How about now? Jesus is the answer. I

gave her Evangelism Explosion (EE) material andYvonne rededicated her life to the Lord.

Michael also stayed at the Kiwanis House. Hedhad chemo every morning for the past two monthsand would be there another several months. Hehad no family with him and was very lonely.

I said, I know Someone who can fill thatloneliness, that void in your life. You can talk toJesus Christ everyday and pray with Him.

We talked about the love of God and I askedhim if hed like to ask Jesus to come into his heart.He said, Id like to think about it. The nextmorning we went through the EE material. ThenI gave him a Bible and asked him to start readingthe Book of John and some other literature. I wasable to follow up and encourage him along the way.

Early on, as Wendy was experiencing so muchpain, she said, Dad, if one person comes to knowthe Lord through all of this, then all the pain Imsuffering will be worth it. I couldnt wait to tellher about Michael.

We met two sisters from Holland whose brotherwas an engineer. While working on a project in

the U.S., a generator blew up in his face. Ninety

percent of his body was burned and he was in acoma.

The ladies let me pray with them and said Icould pray with their brother, too.

These experiences happened again and again.From a lady in her late-60s named Sylvia to theparents of a three-month old little girl namedMadison, both facing serious surgeries, the Lordopened so many doors. As I went home on theweekend, Georgia continued to pray with andencourage people throughout the week.

Even though Wendy is recovering at homein Madera, well never forget the incredibleexperiences, and were stil l praying for those wemet during our five-week stay at UC Davis.

Now I feel the Lord has called me to work withthe homeless in Maderabut thats another story.

Want to know more about Evangelism Explosion?Come to the orientation this month. See page 8 fordetails.

Connected to Peopleby Carles Beckett


6/8January 2010Today Newsletter6

Children in several communities (includingstudents at Martin Luther King Elementary, WishonElementary, and Biola-Pershing Elementary) receivednew coats and shoes and warm blankets, thanks tothe generosity of PC families.

Principal Faith Medina expressed heartfelt thanksfor the coats and shoes donated to students at MartinLuther King Elementary, observing that students whohad been wearing sandals and socks and sweat shirtsto keep warm in the frosty December mornings wereso thankful for the items. Families unable to purchasenew winter clothing because of tough economic timeswere so appreciative, and faces lit up with smilesat the sight of tattered sweaters being replaced bycolorful, stylish coats and shoes that seemed to f ithe personality of each child.

PC staff member Dezi Younghelps a student with her newcoat.

PC Junior Higher HannahFreeman helps tie blankets forchildren.

Notes from students atBiola-Pershing Elementary


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Bill Coughrancelebrates20 years atPeoples Church

January 2010Today Newsletter

Eloise Breault & family in the loss of her husbandEd Breault.

Camelia Cross & family in the loss of her mother,Jimmie Cross.

Family & Friendsin the loss of Peggy Gnaster.

Doris Genevieve Jackson & family in the loss ofher husband, Dean Jackson.

Sharon LoForti & family in the loss of herhusband, Joe LoForti.

David Raymer & family in the loss of his mother,Vera Raymer.

Bernie Slenders & family in the loss of his brotherPatrick Slenders.

Family & Friends in the loss of Marjorie

Warkentin.

Prayers & Sympathies

Memorials

Abram BrownStephen & LindaBrown

Jimmie CrossLee & MarshaArmstrongBill & BarbaraEmbreyClaire HileLes & HelenHirasunaBettye KingstonStan & Amy LeeHerb & RebeccaLilesDorris LongPatti McKernanRoger E. SalleyDorothy SiglerLou Bina Townsend

Joe LoFortiReg and WilmaBakerStan & Amy LeeVernon & PhyllisLoFortiVirginia MeltickianJoseph & AngelinaSaccaSam & Ellen SaccaFrank & BarbaraVolpa

Marguerite ZarconeMarilyn Purviance

Diane Brown

Vera RaymerStan & Amy LeeIrene D. Smith

Fred & Jane SpencerMonte & SusanneKlaudt

Divorce Care

Sundays, 11:30 am, Room 625

We want to help you find healing andhope through this difficult time inlife.

Contact Myra: 298-8001, ext. 215.

Your Next Step in Following Christ

New Sunday morning, Wednesdayand Thursday evening classesbeginning this month. We havesomething for everyone. Watch fordetails in Sunday bulletins.

Blood DriveMark your calendar now for theall-church Blood Drive on Sunday,February 7, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm inthe North Lobby. To register contactLynne: 298-8001, ext. 268.

After retiring as a general with theAir Force and a career as head of thebusiness department at California StateUniversity, Fresno, Dr. William M. (Bill)

Coughran took on the role of BusinessAdministrator at Peoples Church.

Last month Bill Coughran celebratedhis 20th ministry anniversary on ourstaff, and a few of his colleagues andfriends expressed their thanks andappreciation for his ministry and service.

He had the uncanny ability to pul ldiverse opinions together with a senseof humor and then seemed to stumbleinto an answer that left everyone happy

or even feeling it was their idea. I lovedworking with him everyday of the 18years and still enjoy going to lunch withhim as our schedule permits. Thank you,Dr. Bill Coughran, for the great ridetogether.

Pastor Emeritus G.L. Johnson

There are leaders who catch you bysurprise! They dont try to impress,although they could, nor control,although they could by virtue of position.They are just there when summoned tolead and they do it with feeling, heart,and out of relationship. Dr. Coughran issuch a man. Whether in a group or one-on-one at Starbucks, he never ceases toamaze me by his insight and heart forthe ministry. When Im stumped overan issue, Carol often says, Give Bill acall. I salute you, Bill, on your 20 yearsat Peoples Church.

Executive Pastor Doug Holck

Seventeen years ago I was just aboutto graduate from Fresno State with adegree in Administration when Billasked me to stay on at Peoples Church

as Assistant Administrator. I have hadthe tremendous opportunity to learn thepractical side of administration fromhim. Bill is a very wise businessman, anda good steward of the resources providedthrough tithes and offerings with a bigheart for the ministry of Peoples Church.Bill has worked closely with the SeniorPastor and the Pastoral Staff with thegoal of finding the resources to facilitatethe expansive ministry of PeoplesChurch, never in a controlling position.

Bill feels his greatest success is thesuccess of the people who work underhim.

Dorothy SiglerChurch Operations Administrator

My friendship with Bill Coughranstarted in the mid-70s, when he and hiswife Marianne started coming to Peoplesat the old Cedar and Dakota location.Bill is a real people person. His love forthe Lord, family, and friends caused himto dedicate his life for the well-beingof others, and Im personally blessed tobe on the receiving end of his lovingfriendship.

Gene Waterbury


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Volume 17, Number 1Our 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.

Executive Pastor: Doug HolckEditor: Ginger NiemeyerGraphic Designer: Ryan HolckHolck photo courtesy of Milne Photography, Fresno, CAPeriodical 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

PCEE (Evangelism Explosio

Learn to share your faith in aneasy, comfortable way. Learn

ore at the orientation:

Sunday, Jan. 31, in the MPRat 4:00 pm

Or, Wednesday, Feb. 3, inRoom 629 at 7:00 pm (child caavailable)

or more information contactCamelia: 298-8001, ext. 248,or Sherry: ext. 252.

Explorers for KidsWednesday night fun for kids, age 3 through grade 6.Join us beginning January 13, in Building 5.Contact Dezi: 298-8001, ext. 392.

Kids EEHelp your kids (grades 4, 5, & 6) develop a language offaith" and learn to share the gospel with others.Life-changing experience for kids and their families.

ext session runs Sunday, January 24 through May 9,11:15 am to 12:45 pm, Room 526.Contact Lori: 324-9156 or [email protected].

EAM Youth Basketball (ages 4 15)Register now for the January 16 February 27 season.Space is limited. Visit www.peopleschurch.org/team orcontact Amy: 322-3132.

An Opportunity to Learn, Serve, and Grow

Stephen Ministers provide care, encouragement, andemotional and spiritual support to people who are goinghrough difficult times. An information meeting will beeld January 17 in Building 6, 1:30 to 2:30 pm or visit ourable Sundays in January in the Main Lobby. Training

begins Sunday, January 31.

Contact Mary Lou: 298-8001, ext. 255 or Bonnie: ext. 211.

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01 January TODAY Newsletter