Woodward Park Baptist NewsJune 2O17

Worship with us Sundays at 1O:3Oam | SW corner Maple & Teague, Fresno CA 298-7087 | woodwardpark.org

I was born in Utah in 1963, the fourth of five children, with one boy (the eldest) and four girls.

When I was just a few weeks old, my father accepted a job in Austin, TX. This is where our youngest sis-ter was born. I would describe my home life as a combination of good and bad, cha-otic and calm. When we were in Austin I think it was “good.” It was a fun place to start life, with lots of family friends, fireflies, outdoor games until dark, little league baseball and Texas barbeque!I remember our families gathering together to watch Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin land on the moon.We moved to Fresno about 1970 for the same reason – my father was transferred.Initially, we stayed at a hotel called Airport Marina, [now, Piccadilly Inn Airport Hotel] while our parents looked for a house.At first, I think it was fun for us kids to be living in a motel, but even-tually we couldn’t wait for home-cooked meals again! We finally moved near Pacific College [now Pacific University], which was also near my father’s job.In 1971, our home life dramati-cally changed when our parents di-vorced. Here we were in a new city and state, with no extended family or long-term friends, and we hardly had any roots established. I’d use “vulnerable” to describe us. Our parents invoked Mormonism as our religion but we didn’t practice it.

I was completely naïve to the things of faith -- Mormon or otherwise.My grandmother taught Sunday School in the Mormon church but she never spoke about it to us when we’d visit.We’d play with her feltboard that she used to teach her class but per-haps she didn’t feel she could take the liberty to teach us.I’m actually thankful for that be-cause I’d much rather be ignorant than believe a lie.At that time, I couldn’t have told you who Jesus was, even if my life depended on it! Easter was the bunny and Christmas was Santa Claus. God is Spirit and I didn’t know how to relate to a spirit.Oh, I’d pray from time to time; I’d pray our parents would recon-cile. I’d pray for protection in that neighborhood; things like that, but I didn’t know if God would answer, or if He even cared. So my spiritual life went on like that until I was 28.That year, my dad had open heart surgery and was recovering excep-tionally well.His brother who lived in Alaska and had come to know Christ, flew down to visit him.He spoke to my father about the Lord and said my father was willing and receptive and had been con-sidering these things, especially given the circumstances.But a month or two into my dad’s recovery at home, he unexpectedly passed away.Although we don’t know what his spiritual decision was, we knew he was a different man after that.My father’s death was a big blow to me. I wasn’t expecting to lose him at such a young age, just 55.This event set-off a chain reaction of questions in my mind: ‘Where was he now?’ ‘Did he do enough good things to get to heaven?’ What are the requirements to get to heaven?’ Would I ever see him again when I die?’ I couldn’t begin to answer those questions. It was then my eldest sister’s co-worker invited her to Van Ness

See Jennifer, inside

Church Family Spotlight

Jennifer Hunsaker

Sunday June 4 @ 3 pmHelp us share the love of Jesus by inviti ng our closest

neighbors to our summer series and acti viti es.

Neighborhood

ShoutOut

Sunda� at 10:30

What Jesus said about....

Jennifer, continued from page 1

GIVING SUMMARY THROUGH MAY 31, 2017 Fiscal Year January - December

Monthly General Budget Offerings Year To Date Giving ReportWeekly Giving - 5/7 $14,593.00 Offerings Received YTD $264,638.88

5/14 $16,165.00 Budget Required thru May 31 $287,500.005/21 $5,364.00 YTD Budget Percentage Achieved 92.05%5/28 $7,898.00 Amount Short to YTD Objective ($22,861.12)

Monthly Total - $44,020.00SPECIAL MISSIONS' OFFERINGS YEAR TO DATECalifornia Mission Offering $1,750.00

Monthly Offering Objective $57,500.00 Lottie Moom Christmas Offering $1,000.00Offerings Short to Objective ($13,480.00) Annie Armstrong Easter Offering $2,532.00

Budget Operations as of 5/31/2017 Touching EternityMonthly Operations' Surplus ($4,643.77) Building Fund $360,052.36YTD Operations' Deficit ($5,480.75) Missions' Fund $58,201.94

SOD SQUADSaturdayJune 178am to 12pmProjects may include cu� ng lawn, trimming hedges, and general clean-up!See Lew Fortune or call church offi ce 298-7087

Community Church (now called North Pointe Community Church) at Tenaya Middle School.Its church mission statement declared: ‘A Church for the Un-Churched.’Well, it couldn’t have described us more perfectly, so off we went!It was there I met Mark and Brenda Royce, who led the worship music team then.I got involved in some Bible stud-ies and served on the setup and tear down teams. I learned a lot!I started watching Charles Stanley on TV Sunday nights and one night in particular, when he gave the invitation, I got down on my knees in my apartment and gave my life to Christ.The church didn’t have a baptis-mal, so we held a baptism service at my sister’s house and Pastor Steve baptized us, and many oth-ers that day.

What was your first job?My first job was stocking shelves at a store where my mother worked. I’ve worked retail, outside sales and various other positions throughout my life. Currently, I work in communications where I’ve been for the last 27 years.

How did you find WPBC?I was involved with Community Bible Studies (CBS) that meets here on Tuesday nights. Diane Alter, who also attends CBS, decided to come to a Sunday service and said she really liked it and wondered if I’d join her. I came to the Good Friday service in 2016 and I’ve been here ever since!

What do you do for fun?For “fun” I just love reading and immersing myself in the Word of God. I love days when I’m not pressed for time and can spend it reading without having the clock nag me.I also enjoy the mountains and thank God we have the beautiful Sierra Nevadas nearby to bless us. I like skiing, and I’m also a big baseball fan. I enjoy watching a good game or even going to the batting cages from time to time.I haven’t gone on a formal mission trip. But I’ve served at various or-ganizations, such as the Madera Rescue Mission and Samaritans Purse / Operation Christmas Child.I currently attend the Acorns Life Group, led by Jeff Brotnov and

Brenda Royce. I appreciate the preparation the leaders put in, the discussion, and prayer. I really do enjoy sharing life with them; pray-ing over the burdens and sharing in the joys!

Difficult Season or Situation?God has shown Himself faithful to me in countless ways. One in particular is when my oldest son was in an auto accident just before leaving for college.His car was totaled and it wouldn’t be easy for him to get around there to look for another car so I told him that I would look for another car here in Fresno while he focused on school.I was anxious for him to have transportation while away from home and ignored many red flags in this particular deal.I found a car, but the seller hadn’t produced the pink slip. In good faith I wrote the check anyway. I didn’t have any angst about it at all.My bank called me to confirm I’d written the check and get the okay to cash it. It was a done-deal and I was just sure the sellers would do as they promised.A little later that evening I went to the prayer service at church and I was feeling overwhelmed, know-ing what a mistake I’d made.I prayed aloud asking the Lord to help me. I didn’t know how He was going to do it, but I asked anyway.When I got home there were two messages waiting: One from the family I bought the car from say-ing my bank wouldn’t cash the check because they didn’t have two forms of ID and that their bank wouldn’t cash it either because my bank had already handwrit-ten on it.The other call was from Gary, my brother-in-law’s brother, just checking in on me.I called the sellers and they con-firmed the car was indeed sal-vaged, and so I told them the deal was off. Then I called Gary back and asked if he’d go with me to make the exchange.Praise the LORD for His protection!

Sentiments to the ChurchI have felt so loved by Woodward Park Baptist Church. I really have. And I just want you to know: I LOVE YOU BACK!

Pick up a bottle and return around Father’s Day - fill it with change, bills or checks.

Donate baby clothes, baby items, maternity clothes or diapers

Volunteer at Pregnancy Care Center. Training provided!

Pray Joshua 1:9 over our clients. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous,

Do not be terrified. Do not be discouraged. For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you may go.”

Ways to Get Involved!

Pregnancy Care Center 169 N. Clark St. Fresno CA 93701 (559) 237-0789 info@pregnancycarecenter.com www.ministry.pregnancycarecenter.com

Pick up a bottle and return around Father’s Day - fill it with change, bills or checks.

Donate baby clothes, baby items, maternity clothes or diapers

Volunteer at Pregnancy Care Center. Training provided!

Pray Joshua 1:9 over our clients. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous,

Do not be terrified. Do not be discouraged. For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you may go.”

Ways to Get Involved!

Pregnancy Care Center 169 N. Clark St. Fresno CA 93701 (559) 237-0789 info@pregnancycarecenter.com www.ministry.pregnancycarecenter.com

Turn in your filled baby bottles on Father’s Day (June 18)! The funds go to support the efforts of Fresno Pregnancy Care Center.

On May 20, 53 men gathered for breakfast to pray, worship and fellowship with one another.Men were also inspired and encouraged by a personal testimony from our own Jake Brigdon (pictured). Many thanks to the many men who also rolled up their sleeves to make this event happen!

A very special thanks to teams organizer Woody Wojdylak and worship leaders from a local Celebrate Recovery ministry. Great job!

Successful Men’s Breakfast

free

Starts @ 12:OO pm, immediately after worship

July 2

All-Church

BBQ for EVERYONEBounce Houses for the KidsInvite friends and family to join us!

Sun

VBSThis summer, we’ll take your children on an adventurewhere they’ll focus their telescopes on the marvels painted in the sky by the Creator. They’ll discover the wonder among all wonders: that God wants a personal relationship with them!Want to volunteer at VBS? Training is Monday, June 5 and 19. Just show up in the Children’s Building at 6:30 pm.

Parents: Register your child for VBS @ woodwardpark.org

Bar-B-QueThe week of...

June 266pm-8:3O

Ages 3 to 6th Grade

Bible

Stud

y MEN of theWORDWeds 6amWorship Center

Women of the Word

Weds @ 9am4OO Rooms

free

Upper Room Bible Study for ages 18-25

cofFeE bar

fel low SHIP De

votion

sYOUNgAdults

June 8 & 21 Ed. Building | Room 2O6

6:3Opm

Junior high and high schoolers!

You're invited to TNL from 6:3O-8:OOpm in Worship Bldg (2nd fl) JOIN US for worship, Bible devotions, & games!

Thur June 15

Student Ministries UpdateOn May 4, our students participated in our country’s National Day of Prayer. Junior High and High School stu-dents joined with the community at Fresno Pacific University to pray for our country, families, and churches.

Afterwards they went to Dutch Brothers and had some time to connect and have fellowship.

Our students also had our annual Lock-In on Friday, May 19 (see photos at bottom-right)! We stayed up all night with our time packed full of some epic laser tag, games, food, and movies!

We have continued on with having TNL every first and third Thursday of each month, where we’re currently going through a series entitled “But I Don’t Feel Free”. This study focuses on the book of Galatians, and how through Christ, we truly are free!

On June 9 we will be hosting an EPIC GAME NIGHT for all students! This will be a fun time of games, food, and fellow-ship! Bring your favorite board or video game to share with the group! Dinner is provided!

We’re also getting ready for an amazing gradua-tion Sunday on June 11! Hana Cesar, Josh Mills, and Nikolai Rico have graduated high school, and Corey Stone, Al-lison Antaramian, Abbie Carothers and Jessica Cole are (or will soon) graduate college! We are so excited to celebrate these graduates!

Grad Sunday June 11

All graduates (youth and adults) are invited to join us as we

celebrate your accomplishments on Sunday morning June 11 at

1O:3Oam.Then students will enjoy lunch

afterward at 12:15 pm

lock-in 2017