Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Wednesday, December 12
Last night, I went shopping for "The Great Stocking Stuffer" program that the Salvation Army puts on each year for families that cannot afford to purchase Christmas gifts for their children.
http://www.salvationarmy.ca/stuffers/
Dan and I are sponsoring six children this year, we have never done this before, but it feels like the right thing to do.
**
For Christmas this year, we are giving gifts in honor of those who would normally receive gifts from us.
The six stockings that we are giving will be in honor of six of my co-workers at The Arts Council.
**
This is the email I received from one of my co-workers after I told her that I was not buying gifts this year, as I have in the past.
From me to my co-workers:
Thanks for reading - I'll be back tomorrow!
Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail!
http://www.salvationarmy.ca/stuffers/
Dan and I are sponsoring six children this year, we have never done this before, but it feels like the right thing to do.
**
For Christmas this year, we are giving gifts in honor of those who would normally receive gifts from us.
The six stockings that we are giving will be in honor of six of my co-workers at The Arts Council.
**
This is the email I received from one of my co-workers after I told her that I was not buying gifts this year, as I have in the past.
Wow, thank you so much! Honestly, that really is the best thing you could have done for me as I'm trying to move away from having a lot of things that just clutter up my life - I'm all about simplifying. I like that these gifts will be used to help those who really need it.
I'm really touched - thanks!
From me to my co-workers:
Dan and I are giving gifts in your honor, to the Salvation Army – through the GREAT STOCKING STUFFER program, for Christmas this year.
Christie
Thanks for reading - I'll be back tomorrow!
Labels: christie ponjican, dan ponjican, Heavenview, Serving our generation
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Kind deeds - tis' the season!
so... I was shopping at Target last Thursday and ended up purchasing a chocolate fountain for The Arts Council - as I went to pay for my purchase, I pulled out my new card holder, that a precious friend recently gave to me.
The cashier went crazy over my new gift.
I took note of her name, writing it down as i went back to my car.
I rarely do this kind of thing - sadly, because I tend to have many meaningful intentions that fall through the cracks as I live my life.
This time, I actually followed through on what I thought would be a really cool act of random kindness.
I purchased a card holder for the cashier and took it to her on Monday. I found that they sell these nifty little pieces of art at Steinmart.
Yeah, I was a little nervous, I didn't want her to think that I was a weirdo - I wanted to show her that sometimes people give for no reason at all - to show a little love to someone who may have needed it.
I waited in line, and for a split second I thought of just dropping the gift at the manager's station, but remembered that he told me to give it directly to the cashier myself...
Oh well, I was up - it was my turn to purchase something, but all I had was a little gift bag and a card in my hand... I told her that she may not remember me, but I remembered that she loved my card holder - and I wanted to give one to her.
She came across the counter and hugged me so tightly that I thought I was going to bust!
She said, "how sweet!" "oh my goodness!" "I cannot believe you did this for me!"
Yeah, I pretty much walked away feeling like I was floating on cloud 9 - it feels so good to make someone's day, for no real reason at all.
I gave her a Christmas card with my name and phone number in it - telling her to call me anytime, I will be there for her if she ever needs me.
The lady in front of me, ironically, gave this cashier a little "fake" gift card - it had a picture of a package on the front, and her church information on the back. It really was only an invitation to church. (even though it looked pretty nice)
I actually felt even better about my act of random kindness, because I met, maybe not a need that day, but I definitely made a small wish come true. =)
It's about going the extra mile!
Lives will be changed by generous people and the kind deeds they perform. (and of course, by the God that gives us the heart to show love to others)
Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail!
The cashier went crazy over my new gift.
I took note of her name, writing it down as i went back to my car.
I rarely do this kind of thing - sadly, because I tend to have many meaningful intentions that fall through the cracks as I live my life.
This time, I actually followed through on what I thought would be a really cool act of random kindness.
I purchased a card holder for the cashier and took it to her on Monday. I found that they sell these nifty little pieces of art at Steinmart.
Yeah, I was a little nervous, I didn't want her to think that I was a weirdo - I wanted to show her that sometimes people give for no reason at all - to show a little love to someone who may have needed it.
I waited in line, and for a split second I thought of just dropping the gift at the manager's station, but remembered that he told me to give it directly to the cashier myself...
Oh well, I was up - it was my turn to purchase something, but all I had was a little gift bag and a card in my hand... I told her that she may not remember me, but I remembered that she loved my card holder - and I wanted to give one to her.
She came across the counter and hugged me so tightly that I thought I was going to bust!
She said, "how sweet!" "oh my goodness!" "I cannot believe you did this for me!"
Yeah, I pretty much walked away feeling like I was floating on cloud 9 - it feels so good to make someone's day, for no real reason at all.
I gave her a Christmas card with my name and phone number in it - telling her to call me anytime, I will be there for her if she ever needs me.
The lady in front of me, ironically, gave this cashier a little "fake" gift card - it had a picture of a package on the front, and her church information on the back. It really was only an invitation to church. (even though it looked pretty nice)
I actually felt even better about my act of random kindness, because I met, maybe not a need that day, but I definitely made a small wish come true. =)
It's about going the extra mile!
Lives will be changed by generous people and the kind deeds they perform. (and of course, by the God that gives us the heart to show love to others)
Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail!
Labels: christie ponjican, dan ponjican, Heavenview, Serving our generation
Monday, December 10, 2007
My birthday weekend in Asheville, North Carolina
Dan is such a wonderful husband!He took me to the Biltmore House this past Thursday and Friday for my birthday.
Here are some pictures for you of our splendid time away...
My wonderful husband, Dan...
A kind traveler offered to take a shot of us - how sweet!
I'll be back tomorrow to talk more about Christmas and what's new with us!
Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail!
Labels: Christie, dan ponjican, Heavenview, Serving our generation
Friday, October 19, 2007
Happy Friday!!!
This week has been quite busy for Dan and I.
I am so thankful that my Renaissance Society event went so wonderfully! (God really blessed us that evening with great success!)
We will begin teaching "Cross-Training" on Sunday for those who have attended Heavenview and are interested in taking their relationship with God a few steps further - we teach on the importance of Baptism this Sunday, and next Sunday we will teach on the infilling of the Spirit.
Thanks to "anonymous" who posted on Dan's thoughts as a Community Pastor - that was very encouraging to me as I read it a few moments ago.
Tonight, I want to DASH... it is an outreach effort by The Arts Council to bring young professionals to Winston (dash) Salem on a Friday evening - tonight is coffee night - we will hit three coffee shops between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. - Sounds like a great time for networking to me! (and I could never turn down a cup of coffee!)
We hope your weekend is set for excitement! We'll see you here on Monday!
All the best,
Christie
Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail!
I am so thankful that my Renaissance Society event went so wonderfully! (God really blessed us that evening with great success!)
We will begin teaching "Cross-Training" on Sunday for those who have attended Heavenview and are interested in taking their relationship with God a few steps further - we teach on the importance of Baptism this Sunday, and next Sunday we will teach on the infilling of the Spirit.
Thanks to "anonymous" who posted on Dan's thoughts as a Community Pastor - that was very encouraging to me as I read it a few moments ago.
Tonight, I want to DASH... it is an outreach effort by The Arts Council to bring young professionals to Winston (dash) Salem on a Friday evening - tonight is coffee night - we will hit three coffee shops between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. - Sounds like a great time for networking to me! (and I could never turn down a cup of coffee!)
We hope your weekend is set for excitement! We'll see you here on Monday!
All the best,
Christie
Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail!
Labels: christie ponjican, Community Pastor, dan ponjican, Heavenview
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
What's a Community Pastor?
If you've been reading this blog for the past week or so, you've read about my new job. I thought I would take today's blogging opportunity to address the question that just about everyone asks after they hear "Community Pastor"... "What is a Community Pastor?"
When Pastor Linder and I were brainstorming about this plan months ago we asked ourselves if we had heard of this title/term before. We both agreed that we couldn't remember ever hearing of a Community Pastor before, at least not in this context. The thing is, it fits so well to what both God has burdened Pastor Linder to accomplish through the church in Winston Salem as well as where I felt God was leading me in my ministry.
Over a year ago (sometime in the summer of 2006) Christie and I were thinking of how to better our current ministry efforts. At the time we were the Youth Pastors in a local rural church in North Carolina. Through the 3 or so years that we had been working in this ministry we couldn't seem to get away from the needs of just average people in the community. High school drop outs, underprivileged kids that didn't have a safe place to study, students without mentors, parents that had no help in their homes. Even the elderly and the dying seem to have no one that cares enough to do the simple things.
The world calls it humane acts, but it is nothing like human nature. Things like spending time with an elderly woman who simply had no one to visit her in her last days as she battled terminal cancer. Christie ended up being that someone, she was the only one at her side as she breathed her last breath in a hospice room.
Where does an 18 year old boy who has the mental capacity of a 10 year old (because of years of abusive and neglected surroundings) fall into our ministries...we could also ask questions from the other side of the spectrum... where does a widowed woman who's worth is far beyond what I could imagine, turning to alcohol in the face of loneliness... where does she fall into our ministries?
All these lives were ever before our eyes. But it was more than just these people... it was their needs that seemed to be consuming us. I found myself asking, what are we (the Church) doing about all of this? How are we helping people not to suffer? How are we meeting the needs of our communities?
I go to the Word for answers. Jesus stated clearly His mission for coming to earth, "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." (Luke 19:10) It is very clear to most Christians that Jesus' primary goal was to bring the message of salvation to mankind. That is the common theme of His life. It is why he was born into flesh. It's why He lived.
Yet I find an undeniable theme in His ministry. It seems to me that He practiced meeting people's needs before ever presenting a word of doctrine. Before parables were given, miracles were performed. Before instruction was offered, hungry bellies were fed. Prior to any message of the coming salvation was presented, all manners of sicknesses were cured.
I can't help to think that God was trying to tell us something. I know for sure He was trying to tell me something. It's more than an edict to fulfill a need because God just wants us to. I think it is an opportunity! There is no better way to get your community's attention than to start meeting the needs that no one else is paying attention to. I think this is more powerful that the largest newspaper ad, the brightest billboard or the catchiest commercial running in the best prime-time slot. People pay attention to REAL solutions!
So what is a Community Pastor? It is simply a very focused and directed office in a local church to fill this vacancy that seems to have been overlooked in many congregations. People want to help the hurting, they want to feed the hungry... they just need good quality avenues to get plugged into, someone to give them a way to make this happen. I go one step further, the unchurched in our communities want to be a part of a solution... they just need to be introduced and plugged in. We need programs and ministry opportunities for the "first time guest" in our churches. Things they can get involved with right away so that they feel a part of The Solution.
We all know that Jesus Christ is the answer. We know that the Church is the solution to our world's problems. The problem is, the world doesn't know it... that's what a Community Pastor's job is.
Dan Ponjican
Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail!
When Pastor Linder and I were brainstorming about this plan months ago we asked ourselves if we had heard of this title/term before. We both agreed that we couldn't remember ever hearing of a Community Pastor before, at least not in this context. The thing is, it fits so well to what both God has burdened Pastor Linder to accomplish through the church in Winston Salem as well as where I felt God was leading me in my ministry.
Over a year ago (sometime in the summer of 2006) Christie and I were thinking of how to better our current ministry efforts. At the time we were the Youth Pastors in a local rural church in North Carolina. Through the 3 or so years that we had been working in this ministry we couldn't seem to get away from the needs of just average people in the community. High school drop outs, underprivileged kids that didn't have a safe place to study, students without mentors, parents that had no help in their homes. Even the elderly and the dying seem to have no one that cares enough to do the simple things.
The world calls it humane acts, but it is nothing like human nature. Things like spending time with an elderly woman who simply had no one to visit her in her last days as she battled terminal cancer. Christie ended up being that someone, she was the only one at her side as she breathed her last breath in a hospice room.
Where does an 18 year old boy who has the mental capacity of a 10 year old (because of years of abusive and neglected surroundings) fall into our ministries...we could also ask questions from the other side of the spectrum... where does a widowed woman who's worth is far beyond what I could imagine, turning to alcohol in the face of loneliness... where does she fall into our ministries?
All these lives were ever before our eyes. But it was more than just these people... it was their needs that seemed to be consuming us. I found myself asking, what are we (the Church) doing about all of this? How are we helping people not to suffer? How are we meeting the needs of our communities?
I go to the Word for answers. Jesus stated clearly His mission for coming to earth, "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." (Luke 19:10) It is very clear to most Christians that Jesus' primary goal was to bring the message of salvation to mankind. That is the common theme of His life. It is why he was born into flesh. It's why He lived.
Yet I find an undeniable theme in His ministry. It seems to me that He practiced meeting people's needs before ever presenting a word of doctrine. Before parables were given, miracles were performed. Before instruction was offered, hungry bellies were fed. Prior to any message of the coming salvation was presented, all manners of sicknesses were cured.
I can't help to think that God was trying to tell us something. I know for sure He was trying to tell me something. It's more than an edict to fulfill a need because God just wants us to. I think it is an opportunity! There is no better way to get your community's attention than to start meeting the needs that no one else is paying attention to. I think this is more powerful that the largest newspaper ad, the brightest billboard or the catchiest commercial running in the best prime-time slot. People pay attention to REAL solutions!
So what is a Community Pastor? It is simply a very focused and directed office in a local church to fill this vacancy that seems to have been overlooked in many congregations. People want to help the hurting, they want to feed the hungry... they just need good quality avenues to get plugged into, someone to give them a way to make this happen. I go one step further, the unchurched in our communities want to be a part of a solution... they just need to be introduced and plugged in. We need programs and ministry opportunities for the "first time guest" in our churches. Things they can get involved with right away so that they feel a part of The Solution.
We all know that Jesus Christ is the answer. We know that the Church is the solution to our world's problems. The problem is, the world doesn't know it... that's what a Community Pastor's job is.
Dan Ponjican
Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail!
Labels: church, Community Pastor, dan ponjican, Heavenview, hungry, hurting, Serving our generation
Monday, October 15, 2007
Weekend Update!
We hope you had a productive and fulfilling weekend!
We went to Grace House on Saturday, to show the love of Christ in a practical way by raking leaves, washing lawn furniture, pruning trees, mowing the lawn, washing the van, etc.
It really IS better to give than to receive... we had a great time!
This is Peggy L. - she began coming to Heavenview recently (a month or so ago) and is already plugged into ministry opportunities in the community!We are very excited about what God is doing in Winston-Salem.
Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail!
Labels: christie ponjican, dan ponjican, Heavenview
Monday, October 01, 2007
Getting to know Dan and Christie
This is the first day of "a month in the life of Dan and Christie Ponjican".Kent asked Dan and I to write a little about ourselves in a daily blog throughout the month of October. We have been thinking about all that we could write to help our readers get to know us.
After listening to Mark Johnston's message on Saturday evening at General Conference, however, I feel that the only thing I can say about Dan and I is that we are Christ followers that hope to impact the lives of others in a very positive way - we would rather be a hero than a celebrity. We had an opportunity to watch Mark's message online - it was powerfully convicting and deeply thought provoking.
**
On a personal note: We have been married for eight years. We have lived in Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware, Sri Lanka and have called North Carolina home, for a little over four years.
We worship at Heavenview in Winston-Salem, NC with Pastor Harold Linder.
Dan is a Mechanical Engineer and I am a Fundraiser at the local Arts Council.
Check back tomorrow.
All the best,
Christie
Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail!
Labels: Christie, Dan, Heavenview, Ponjican
