Woodward Park Baptist NewsOctober 16-31, 2013

Worship with us Sundays at 10:30am | SW corner Maple & Teague, Fresno CA 298-7087 | woodwardpark.org

Steve and Jana Pearson are faithful and commit-ted members of WPBC.

The couple met in Septem-ber 1996 at a singles minis-try leadership barbeque.

How did Steve react when he first saw Jana?

“I heard angels singing, and I tried to figure out a way to sit next to her, without being obvious,” he said

“I didn’t know who she was or anything about her, but I wanted to know more.”

At the time Jana was leading single moms at First Southern Baptist Church (which is now LifeWay) and Steve was leading the college ministries at WPBC.

She had three kids at home: Jordan, 8; Leah, 17 and Micah, 20, while Steve had his 17 year old daughter, Drew.

Said Steve: “That summer, I told God, ‘If I’m going to be a single dad for the rest of my life, and serve You, that’s okay with me.’”

Said Jana: “My little guy, Jordan, needed a dad. And he had been praying for God to give him a new dad. We were praying together.”

“I had always remembered the scripture where “God sets the lonely in families... (Psalm 68:6),” said Jana.

“When I saw Steve, some-thing that stood out to me was that his white polo shirt had the words ‘Promise Keepers’ on it,” she said.

“One of the things I had put on my list of qualities I wanted in a godly mate was a man who keeps his promises.”

Steve and Jana dated for two years before getting married in July 1998.

Jana grew up un-churched and her first exposure to Jesus was neighborhood VBS.

“Living with my newly-divorced mother in a new town and not liking my new step-father, I was very lonely,” she said.

Jana’s new friend invited her to youth group, and then at camp, she accepted Christ.

Jana can be seen at WPBC singing and leading wor-ship during Sunday services and encouraging others with her prayers and smile.

Steve grew up in a home where both parents were faithful Southern Baptist church goers.

When he was 11 in sev-enth grade, Steve’s family moved from Mississippi to Longview, WA.

Like Jana, Steve also felt discon-nected and uprooted from home.

“One Sunday, a cowboy preacher from Texas named Boyce Evans arrived and preached a week-long revival. On Thursday, I made a decision that I wanted to be counted among the sheep of Jesus,” said Steve.

In 1987, family friends Lonnie and Marcia Downs invited Steve to join them at Wood-ward Park Baptist Church.

In a MasterLife Bible study, Steve renewed his relationship with God and “I just realized my walk with God was not some-thing to keep to myself,” he said.

See Pearson, page 2

Steve and Jana Pearson

conti nuesSunday@ 6pm

Learn how not to be a fan of Jesus—but instead a follower.

Oct 27 - The Great ExchangeNov 3 - The Great Change BeginsNov 10 - The Great Promises of Rest

Can I ever do enough to be OK? What if I serve a little more? I need to give more money to church… to the poor, then I’ll feel better. These are usually the thoughts most of us have to overcome the guilt and shame we feel. Even those of us who regularly attend church can feel distance from God and wonder, ‘What do I need to do to earn some favor… to know that God is for me?’

These thoughts come from our struggle of understanding grace: the undeserved favor God gives because of Jesus’ death on the cross. When we have God’s Grace, it changes us… in fact in pours over us and can splash on those around us.

Yes, we’ll probably serve a little more, give a little more, but it won’t be out of shame or to earn favor. No, when we experience God’s grace, it cascades.

Join us for our upcoming series starting October 27, Cascading Grace, and see if you might get drenched!

Church Family Spotlight

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Former WPBC youth min-ister Dave MacNeill, also made a positive impact on Steve’s faith journey.

“One day I said, ‘Dave, what do I need to be doing to help you?’”

“He said, ‘You need to be leading my col-lege ministry.’”

“It was during that pro-cess of leading the college ministry without having any clue what I was doing, that God revealed Himself, and revealed to me the gift of teaching,” he said.

These days, the couple attends a Sunday morn-ing LifeGroup, where they can hear how God intercedes into the lives of other people.

“In a LifeGroup, there are people who have heard our needs and prayed for us,” said the couple.

“And we have the privilege of praying for the needs of others.”

The couple lists other benefits of join-ing a LifeGroup:

• A safe place to talk about our walk with God.

• A place to hear how a scripture passage impacts others and how it might apply to me.

• It’s having a support team. Encouraging, comforting, lifting us up, having our back.

“I’ve always belonged to a small group of some kind. Not having that connection with other disciples is hard to imagine. My walk would be like playing baseball, and I’m the only player on the field,” said Steve.

Steve’s career has in-cluded auditing, con-sulting and tax work.

“I like to refer to myself as a recover-ing CPA,” he said.

Jana’s training has been in the dental field, first working as a dental assistant, and later, moving into office responsibilities while at Dr. Falk’s practice.

This February, Jana will have faithfully worked with Dr. Falk for 23 years.

In addition to Steve’s current work as Chief Financial Officer for the California Southern Bap-tist Convention, he also serves as chairman of the board of directors at The Fresno Rescue Mission.

The couple readily admits they have each had to learn to trust God through hardship separately.

“The worst thing that ever happened to me was going through a divorce, and putting my kids through that pain,” said Jana.

“But yet, it also became the best thing that ever happened to me spiritually.”

Before divorce, Jana knew the Lord was her Savior. But it was through her divorce, that she began to personally know Jesus Christ as her Lord, her Comforter, and her Hope.

“I also began to know who I was, and how much Jesus loved me and ac-cepted me,” she said.

Steve: “For me, it was in the darkness, in that desperate time of my own divorce.”

Steve experienced financial difficulties, but there was also a true understanding that God was there for him.

More recently, the Pear-son’s have had to learn to trust God as a couple.

In the summer of 2012 Steve said he started to feel physically bad.

The couple traveled to the coast to get rest, and Steve brought along his bike.

“He couldn’t finish his bike ride on the coast toward the Cambria light-house because he was out of breath,” said Jana.

Back home, the caridolo-gist said Steve needed an angiogram immediately.

During the middle of the procedure, the cardiolo-gist told Jana that Steve had had a major heart attack, and that the left anterior descend-ing (LAD) artery was 100 percent blocked.

Family Night at the ParkOn Sunday, October 27, please come for dinner and hear the proposed budget for 2014. There will be children’s programming during the business meeting, so bring the whole family!

Holiday Boutique (Nov. 2)Are you willing to bake and donate goodies? We need home-baked cookies, cakes, pies, jellies, and cup cakes. Please kindly decorate your goodies because they sell better! Also we ask you to donate gently used books. We’ll sell all the items at the Boutique (Saturday, November 2) to raise money for women’s missions and Rescue the Children. Got questions? Call Georgia Prentiss at 709-5705.

Baby Dedication ClassTo be held Sunday, October 20 from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. in the Children’s Building.

If you miss this class, that’s okay. We’ll be having another class soon. Questions? Please call Carol Schmierer at 457-8252.

Join a LifeGroupWould you like to feel more connected to people in our church family? Join a Life Group every Sunday at 9:00 am. There are 11 different groups for adults. We also have classes for students, children and preschool, too! Try one next Sunday!

Pearson, continued from page 1

FamilyNight at the Park

Yes, there will be programming

for children!

with dinner and more

Sunday, Oct. 27 at 6

See Pearson, next page

You’re a blessing, Georgia!WPBC would like to thank Georgia Prentiss for her role as director of our Women's Ministry. She has also led efforts for baking our delicious cinnamon rolls Sunday mornings. Georgia has also organized WPBC’s yearly Holiday Craft Boutique, while also working as a ministry assistant at the CSBC office. Next time you see her, please thank her for her committment and many years of faithful service.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

Psalm 34:18

“They call this vein the ‘widow maker,’ and that it was a miracle Steve walked into the hospital.

When the doctor re-turned to the procedure room, Jana said that fear began to grip her heart.

Then she remembered Isaiah 43: ‘Do not be afraid, for I am with you.’

“So I said to myself, ‘God is with me. I belong to Him.’ That brought real peace and assur-ance to me,” she said.

The doctor placed a stent in Steve’s blocked artery and was able to restore blood flow.

Steve has recovered to the point where his cardi-ologist sees him once a year for a checkup.

“He’s done so well,” said his proud wife of 15 years.

Jana became motivated-herself, and joined WOW (Women on Wheels), a women’s cycling group.

“And now we can cycle together!” she said.

In March, both Steve and Jana returned to Cambria to re-do his bike ride.

I call it my redemption ride. It was so easy,” he said grinning from ear to ear,

The couple enjoys one grandchild, Kendall, who just turned two last month. Kendall is the daughter of Steve’s daughter, Drew, and her husband, Scott.

“The highlight of my week is keeping Kendall on Mondays,” said Jana.

Jana: “We feel we are so blessed to have more time. We’ve been married fifteen years, and this last year we have re-committed ourselves to each other.”

“We had gotten too busy with other stuff and lax in our relationship.”

“What’s really important to us is being intentional and proactive about our marriage,” she said.

Steve: “And protect-ing the good habits that strengthen us.”

“We’ll be together, and I will look over to her and say, ‘I am just really thankful to be here.’ We treasure the time we have together,” he said.

Pearson, from previous page

This yearly mission opportunity

blesses children around the world so they may know Christ’s love.From now unti l November 10 we will be collecti ng shoe boxes fi lled with items that will be given to these children. You may also use your own shoe boxes.

Our goal is to ship 125 boxes!Pick up boxes at the Yes! tent on Sunday mornings.The OCC brochure also gives suggesti ons and guidelines for packing your boxes.Opti onally, you can donate $20 and a volunteer will purchase the items for your box, pack it, and ship it for you.

Make this a family event! Include your children, grandchildren and anyone else you think might enjoy blessing these precious children with the love of Christ.There is great power in a simple gift !Questi ons? Contact Karen Conrad at the church offi ce (298-7087). Thank you!

Our goal is 125 boxesDeadline is Nov. 10

Bring Joy to a Child

(559)298-7087woodwardpark.org

TNL

ntthursday lifen ight

Eph. 3:16-19

Questions about wpbc student ministry? Contact vanessa@woodwardpark.org or 298-7087

Messy Messy Messy Messy Messy Game Game Messy Messy Game Messy Messy NightNightNightNightNightGame Game NightGame Game Messy Game Night is Friday, October 25 from 7 to 10 pm. Invite your friends to join us for a night of team games filled with ketchup, marshmallows, whipped cream, baby food, mayo, bananas, and much more. Come wearing clothes you’re willing to get messy in! It will be a night to remember, so don’t miss out!

1801 E. Teague Ave., Fresno, CA 93720

December 27-28Santa Clara, CAA high-energy conference for 7th-12th graders. Receive transportation, meals, hotel, conference, and t-shirt for just $189/student! Reserve your spot by November 1 with the registration form and $45 deposit. You can make payments leading up to December 19.

Flame Fireflight DexAlexander

ChrisSimning

TravisRyan

ClaytonKing

(it’s ‘invite-

a-friend’ night)NightNightNightNight

All-ChurchAll-Church

DinnerandTalentShowDecember 8

Show off your talent to the church family. Whether it’s singing, juggling or performing “magic,” we want to see it! Interested? Sign up on your Connection Card, or see Teresa Watts.

Thursday Night LifeJr high and high school students—you’re invited to join our mid-week discipleship time! We begin with small group at 7pm, and then we enjoy snacks and hang-time in the gym at 8. We enjoy a great time of exploring God’s truth together and growing in our faith. Students: Don’t miss this night of Bible study, prayer, friendship, and open gym!

Got questions about Ignition? Call Vanessa at 349-8647.