A License to Connect
By Christa Sterken
Volunteer, Women’s Leadership Team and RefresHer Small Group Leader
Christa Sterken
The line at the BMV was long and full of unhappy faces, mine was no exception. My husband and I and our two children had relocated to Anderson from across the country, struggling to trust in God’s plan to bring us here. This was day two and nothing was going right.
After a few minutes in line, I noticed how the woman in front of me was greeting everyone around her, smiling. It was salve to my spirit. She and I began a conversation and she invited me to her weekly Bible study.
It just so happened to be the Tuesday morning RefresHer group at Madison Park Church.
My first experience at RefresHer was so exciting! Leaving behind a world of deep friendships has left me missing my loved ones at home. It was comforting to see so many new welcoming faces.
As we broke into small groups, we went around the table sharing prayer requests. What had been a lively group dynamic changed as my vulnerability became apparent.
When the leader called my name, my eyes filled with tears as I choked out my heart’s painful state. She looked back with eyes full of understanding and compassion, with God’s love pouring forth through them. A connection began for me that changes my life. It started with one woman at the BMV and spread throughout a community. Now, it is my honor to be serving in womens ministry, not just as recipient but a participant.
New opportunities await!
This summer a new Women’s Ministry Leadership Team was launched under the direction of Kimberly Majeski. One key goal of the team is to create new connection points for women. There are many wonderful women already serving our church, and we hope to complement their existing efforts.
Have you found a place to be personally known in our church body? We urge you to check out all the options available to you this fall. There are Bible studies, Zumba fitness classes, topical teachings, retreats-all designed to refresh your spirit and help you make connections. These are just a sampling of what is available.
Exciting plans are in the works to continue to develop opportunities for connection, the heart behind each outreach. Not just within the walls of Madison Park Church, but reaching out into the hearts of our community. Be watching for the details, it promises to be a powerful year. Join us, we care about you!
For more information about Women’s Ministries, contact any member of the Women’s Leadership Team: Lisa Bitar, Natalie Farmer, Evie Jacobs, Hillary Novak, Dana Porter, Emily Stottlemyer, Chris Sheets, Christa Sterken, Tammie Suelean, Diane Vosburg.
For a complete list of ministries at Madison Park, stop by the Information Center and ask for a copy of the Ministries Guide or visit the Ministries page at MadisonParkChurch.org. Find Facebook Groups and details on upcoming ministry happenings on the News and Events webpage.
John and Julie Armington
“It literally saved our marriage.” John Armington is not shy about what Financial Peace University did for him and his wife, Julie. “One week before we decided to join the class, we were talking about divorce,” he explains. After three years in marriage counseling, a 6-month separation, and years of fighting about finances, the couple had decided to call it quits.
“But then, my mom offered to pay for us to attend FPU,” John recalls. “I was really reluctant, for many reasons,” Julie confesses. “But we decided to give it a try, and we jumped in headfirst. It was a rough road, with both of us underemployed. But our biggest lesson learned was how to talk about money—to get on the same page—without fighting.”
John and Julie had attended Madison Park—then North Anderson Church of God—years ago. “But we never made a commitment to volunteer or be involved in the church,” Julie says. Now, because of the impact of FPU, the Armingtons find themselves at MPC each Sunday, enjoying new friendships and spiritual growth. “Sometimes God’s plan has more trials and tribulations than we hope for,” John acknowledges. “But He definitely has a plan.”
MPC Teens “Spread The Word”
Click here for an IYC Photo Album
From the streets of Anderson to the rubble in Haiti, MPC youth have been the hands and feet of Jesus, reaching out beyond the walls of Madison Park Church to touch the world.
Months of planning and fundraising culminated in 14 days of ministry and mission for 37 Senior High teens and leaders. Groups split up and served different areas, both local and long-distance.
A local team worked for the Christian Center in Anderson, cleaning, landscape and helping the organization to reach some long-range goals. A different team of 30 traveled to Florida and worked in an outreach project in Titusville. They painted, cleaned and landscaped – and even washed a dog – for two needy families. The group also witnessed on the beach then later helped the New Venture Community Church throw a block party to create a warm (100 degree) welcome for more than 900 neighbors. MPC youth joined the other 5,000 youth and leaders in Project Orlando and packaged 60,000 Baggie meals to be shipped to Haiti.
One MPC student reflected, “The New Venture youth group displayed a raw enthusiasm for God that was contagious. We learned from each other, and became one undivided team. Five different church youth groups came together in one common vision and purpose. That experience reached into the deep crevices of our lives and has caused a change we bring back home to MPC.”
Click here for more pictures
Eric Reeder, MPC Senior High Ministries Pastor, shared, “It’s impossible to put into words ‘life change’. God has been at work through the STW (Spread The Word) project and the International Youth Convention (IYC) theme of Love: God, Yourself, Others, the World to make a life-changing impact on our students.”
Another MPC teen said, “I have been waiting for a confirmation of my call to ministry I felt over a year ago. It came during one of the moving services at IYC.”
Still another explained, “It is such a blessing to be able to serve together – even traveling for 20 straight hours coming home was a blessing.”
A High School football athlete testified, “I committed to living 24-7 so that everyone I am around can see my life is set apart for Jesus. I am going to be baptized here at MPC along with 5 or 6 other students as a statement of my commitment.”
Pastor Eric concluded, “What really matters is the future. Specific ministry, specific vision for the future of what God is calling MPC Youth Ministry to do in our community. When we live daily for God, receiving God’s love and loving him back – then we can love ourselves, others and the world.”
