SCHEDULE
Friday, March 28
6:00 PM
Missions Committee,
Staff & Missionaries Meal & Prayer
Saturday, March 29
9:00 to 11:00 AM
Church Wide Breakfast, (no RSVP)
Panel Discussion, Q&A
Multipurpose Room
6:00 – 8:30 PM
Home Meetings - Potluck Dinners
Sign ups closed on March 24
Missions Sunday, March 30
9:30 – 10:30 AM - Sunday School
Adult Classes (MPB 201 and 207)
Student Class (Youth Lounge)
Combined Children Class (CE Room 3)
10:45 AM
Worship Service (flag processional)
Rev. Gary Watanabe preaching;
Missionaries participating
12:30 - 2:00 PM
Church-wide Lunch & Fellowship, (no RSVP)
Multi-Purpose Room
MISSIONARY GUESTS
Gary and Lois Watanabe - MTW Japan
Gary was born and raised in Okinawa, Japan. Lois was raised as a missionary kid in East Africa. They met at Columbia International University in South Carolina, and became part of a PCA church plant as newlyweds in Hawaii. Gary then studied at Westminster Theological Seminary in California and was ordained in 1986.
From 1989 to 2001 Gary and Lois served as MTW church-planting missionaries in Mexico. From 2001 to 2006 they assisted the MTW Philippines team in church-planting training. Gary and Lois worked with Redeemer City to City in New York from 2007 to 2014: networking, training, and coaching church planters locally and globally. The Watanabes moved to Japan in 2015 to serve and partner with emerging church-planting networks both locally and in the greater Asia Pacific region. They are now on a farewell tour to their supporting churches and plan to retire from MTW in August.
Bill and Susan Carr
Both Bill and Susan have master’s degrees in education and Bill has an M.Div. After several years in education, the Carrs served on a church-planting team in Australia. The Carrs then ministered in South Africa through theological education, children’s ministries, and team leadership.
In 2011 the Carrs began training Native American and First Nations church leaders. Bill was the director of education for Mokahum Ministry Center and Susan taught elementary education at a Native American tribal school. Bill is now the regional director of MTW’s Indigenous works in the U.S. and Canada. His responsibility is to lead, coordinate, equip, encourage, assist, and pastor other MTW missionaries and national partners of Native America and First Nations. He maintains discipleship relationships with former students when possible and often speaks in Native American pulpits. Susan assists Bill administratively and maintains multi-cultural ministry with children. Please pray for Bill and Susan, and for Native American and First Nations leaders to be equipped for gospel ministry.
Adair Evans - MTW Germany
Adair grew up in North Alabama, and majored in German history during undergrad, even though she didn't know what she was going to do with that degree. Many years later, she came to faith when the Lord relentlessly pursued her, and in an instant, changed her heart of stone into a heart of flesh. After working with a local ministry that helps trafficked women, there was no doubt that God was revealing His plans for her life. Her calling to serve victims of forced prostitution led her to Germany, which is known as "The Brothel of Europe." Adair works with national partner churches doing outreach into the strip clubs and brothels of Munich. She also works with a Christian organization based in Munich that provides safehouses and practical assistance and support for women leaving situations of sex trafficking and forced prostitution. Adair remains steadfast in her commitment to securing the long-term sustainability of such ministries by forging strong partnerships with national church partners, and equipping churches to demonstrate God's justice and mercy to the most vulnerable and exploited within their communities.
Kelsey Cawthorn - MTW SCOTLAND
Kelsey Cawthorn, an accomplished artist and experienced missionary to the United Kingdom, is on a mission to spread the hope of the gospel through art and women’s discipleship. Serving in Glasgow, Scotland, with the Free Church of Scotland, Kelsey aims to combine her deep commitment to the gospel and artistic creativity to support church planting and community engagement. Kelsey will play a crucial role in supporting a new church plant in Glasgow where she will provide leadership as the women’s ministry worker—praying for, discipling, and training up women in the church through the study of God’s Word. She also intends to use her background in fine arts to connect with people from all walks of life in Glasgow’s Merchant City community, pointing them to faith in Jesus and involvement in the local church. To make this mission a reality, Kelsey needs prayer and financial support. Ministry partners will enable her to bring the gospel to Scotland's most renowned city of architecture and design. Those who partner with Kelsey are investing in a mission that incorporates faith into art and discipleship to inspire and transform lives.
see hard copy for additional information.
NEW MISSIONARIES TO ARDEN
In addition to Kelsey Cawthorn and Adair Evans, this year we also welcome the Davisons and Jessens to our Arden PCA Missionary Family!
Jonas and Chris Davison - MTW Japan
Jonas’ first visit was when the family received orders to Camp Zama (Tokyo) with the U.S. Army Japan Band. They asked the Lord to use their nearly four years in Japan as a missions trip. Little did they know God would call them as full-time missionaries. They left the Army in 2016 and returned to the U.S. to pursue missions. Jonas went to seminary at RTS-Charlotte, and the family returned to Tokyo with MTW in 2019. At first, Jonas and Christina were focused on helping the Japanese church to produce theologically-rich worship songs and resources, utilizing their skills and training as professional musicians. But along the way they realized that among such an unchurched people, God’s calling was to first nurture a healthy and theologically-rich church, out of which meaningful worship can flow. Now in their second term, Jonas and Christina serve with their four kids and are part of MTW’s Makuhari team, which serves Kaihin Makuhari Grace Church. KMGC is the only church in a neighborhood of around 30,000 people, on the northeast side of Tokyo Bay. It is one of the least-churched parts of the Greater Tokyo Area. Jonas and Christina are grateful to help in worship, discipleship, teaching Bible studies, hospitality, and shepherding ministries under the direction of the elders
Steve and Julie Jessen – MNA – Disaster Relief
Steve serves as the Disaster Response Specialist in the Carolinas with Mission to North America helping churches to perpare for and respond to disasters in the Carolinas and beyond. He has passion for sharing the hope of Jesus through serving people whose lives have been impacted by disaster. Steve is a Teaching Elder in the PCA and also has experience as a general contractor. Steve’s wife Julie manages the home and enjoys her role as “Gigi” to their grandchildren. Julie is a wonderful support and encouragement in his ministry.
Tom & Mylicah Smith - MTW Cherokee
Tom and Mylicah believe the Lord is calling them to serve the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians in Cherokee, North Carolina. There they plan to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Cherokee through outreach and discipleship in the context of the local MTW church plant. The Smiths will join MTW missionaries Scott and Ruth Hill who have planted Grace Community Church in Cherokee. As a teaching elder in the PCA, Tom has discipled others as an associate pastor in Pennsylvania and as a missionary in Croatia. While raising support Tom was diagnosed with colon cancer and is now in recovery from recent surgery. Mylicah & Tom also have twin boys, Elijah and Nathanael born in July 2024.