At Home in the World
We are incredibly excited to share the list of guest speakers that will be joining us at PCJH this summer as part of our 2019 Summer Guest Speaker Series. In correlation with Pastor Ben Pascal’s upcoming three-month sabbatical, we as a church will be exploring the theme “At Home in the World.” What does it look like to serve the God of all creation, and how can we gain awareness and understanding in the ways He is working across the globe? Each of these seven speakers – from vastly different countries, cultures, backgrounds and experiences – are actively and passionately pursuing the Lord. They are inspiring radical change, both on a personal and global level, with their stories, study, ministry and leadership.
We are honored and thrilled to have each of these faith-leaders speaking at PCJH this summer. Read their bios below and mark your calendars now – you will not want to miss these Sundays!
May 31-June 2, 2019
Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri, Co-Moderator of the Presbyterian Church USA
Last June, Vilmarie was elected by the General Assembly to be our co-moderator with Rev. Cindy Kohlman. Vilmarie is a native of Puerto Rico and an English as a Second Language teacher. She is a ruling elder who has served on the Committee on Theological Education and as a translator from English to Spanish at numerous General Assemblies. As our ultimate global ambassador, Vilmarie has a deep passion to share the good news of Jesus Christ. When she was elected, she said, “We don’t know when our time will come. We need to try to live every day, loving God and loving the neighbor in concrete ways, not only by our words but by our actions. We must look for ways to be better Christians, citizens, and neighbors, to effect change and make a difference. I think God is calling us to do that now.” To learn more, check out vilmariecindy.com or www.pcusa.org.
PCJH plans to host our neighboring presbyteries in providing a two-day inspirational leadership event with helpful breakout sessions and stimulating plenary times. This event will be open to the public. Moderator Vilmarie will preach at both services on June 2 as well as teach at the 9:00AM hour.
June 14-16, 2019
Dr. Immaculee Ilibagiza, Renowned Speaker and Author
Regarded as one of the world’s leading speakers on faith, hope and forgiveness, Immaculee has shared this universal message with world leaders, school children, multinational corporations, churches, and at events and conferences. Immaculee Ilibagiza grew up in Rwanda, but in 1994 her family was brutally murdered during the horrible genocide that lasted three months and claimed the lives of nearly a million Rwandans. Incredibly, Immaculee survived the slaughter. For 91 days, she and seven other women huddled silently together in the cramped bathroom of a local pastor. She emerged from her bathroom hideout having discovered the meaning of truly unconditional love—a love so strong she was able seek out and forgive her family’s killers. Immaculee has authored 7 books, appeared on “60 Minutes”, spoken at the Global Leadership Summit and has appeared in many other national and international venues. She has been recognized and honored with numerous humanitarian awards including The Mahatma Gandhi International Award for Reconciliation and Peace, the American Legacy’s Women of Strength & Courage Award and the 2015 National Speaker’s Association’s Master of Influence Award. For more information about Immaculee, visit https://www.immaculee.com.
On Sunday, June 16, Immaculee will speak at PCJH, following worship at 11:30AM, during a luncheon in Hayden Hall. This is a free event open to the public and where she will be available for signing books.
Sign Up for the Retreat!
Immaculee will be leading a two-day retreat, Friday and Saturday, on forgiveness at PCJH, which will be open to public. To register for the retreat, visit https://www.immaculee.com/collections/retreats/products/retreat-jackson-wy-june-14-15-2019-with-immaculee. Cost is $57. Registrations are now being accepted.
June 30, 2019
Daoud Nassar and Todd Deatherage
9:00 AM, Genesis Room
Daoud Nassar is a native of Bethlehem, Palestine. Daoud is a Palestinian Christian, fluent in Arabic, German and English, with a Degree in Biblical Studies from a Bible School in Austria, a BA Degree in Business from Bethlehem University, and a Degree in Tourism Management from Bielefeld University in Germany. He manages the farm known as Daher’s Vineyard located in the West Bank of Palestine and directs the work of the programs and projects known as Tent of Nations.
Annually, nearly 7,000 international tourists visit the Nassar family’s ancestral land – a 100-acre hilltop site situated between Bethlehem and Hebron in the West Bank. The attraction is the Tent of Nations, an open and free enclave that serves as an educational and cultural center for local Palestinians and Israelis, including the international visitors. Despite difficult circumstances and the continuing threat of loss of land, the Nassar family lives and works out of the conviction: “we refuse to be enemies.” Through Tent of Nations, Daoud works each day to prepare the people on the land for the day when the walls come down. To learn more, go to: tentofnations.org
Todd Deatherage spent sixteen years in senior positions in the legislative and executive branches of the U.S. government before co-founding the Telos Group. From 2005 to 2009, he was Chief of Staff in the Secretary of State’s Office of Policy Planning at the U.S. State Department. He also spent two years as Senior Advisor in the Department’s Office of International Religious Freedom, where he specialized in religious freedom in the Middle East. Todd worked for a decade in the U.S. Congress, including six years as Chief of Staff to Senator Tim Hutchinson. He is a native Arkansan and a graduate of the University of Arkansas. He began his career as an educator. He and his family live in Fairfax County, Virginia. To learn more about Telos, visit: telosgroup.org
July 7 & 14, 2019
Rev. Dr. Mark Labberton, President of Fuller Theological Seminary
Mark Labberton was named the fifth president of Fuller Seminary in 2013, after four years as Fuller’s Lloyd John Ogilvie Associate Professor of Preaching and director of the Ogilvie Institute of Preaching. Ordained in the Presbyterian Church (USA), he served in pastoral roles for 30 years prior to coming to Fuller, most recently as senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley, California, for 16 years. He also has served as cofounder and chair of the Christian International Scholarship Foundation, chair of John Stott Ministries, senior fellow of International Justice Mission, and in a number of other roles of service. He holds an MDiv from Fuller and a PhD in Theology from Cambridge University.
Mark is committed to strengthening the intersection of the academy, church, and culture, and brings to his presidency a deep desire to enact justice, love, and grace on both a global and local level. A popular speaker at churches, conferences, educational institutions, and other contexts, he often uses these talks to reflect on what it means to act biblically in challenging, often divisive cultural times. For more information, see fuller.edu.
Dr. Labberton will preach on July 7 & 14 at both services and teach at the 9:00AM Sunday morning hour both dates.
July 21, 2019
Rev. Steve Haas, Vice President/Chief Catalyst of World Vision
Steve is a gifted and dynamic spokesperson for World Vision. His role as Catalyst includes working with church leaders, contributing to strategic planning on major humanitarian initiatives, and communicating about global issues that affect those living in poverty. Steve believes that “Christians are called to live out loud.” After graduating from the University of Kansas, he labored along the Thailand border as a relief worker aiding Vietnamese and Cambodian refugees. He served on the staff of Willow Creek Community Church where he developed small group ministry and then local and international ministries. Steve is known as a motivator and a visionary with a passion for making things happen. His leadership has helped to engage and mobilize congregations across America on the global HIV and AIDS crisis. Steve was also one of the driving forces behind World Vision’s work to engage college and university students in advocacy for people living in poverty. He has addressed audiences of virtually every type, size, and denominational background. His expertise and zeal have won him interviews with CNN, Christianity Today, The New York Times, and a host of radio stations. To learn more about World Vision, visit worldvision.org.
Steve will preach both Sunday morning services and teach the 9:00AM class.
August 4, 2019
Andre Moubarak, Pastor, Author, and Owner of Twins Tours and Travel Ltd.
Andre Moubarak is the owner and founder of Twins Tours & Travel Ltd. in Israel. Born into a Palestinian Christian family along the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem’s Christian Quarter, Andre today is a licensed tour guide and an ordained minister, leading numerous groups through the Holy Land each year and teaching them about the Jewish roots of Jesus and the kingdom of God. With his wife, Marie, Andre also teaches at churches worldwide, helping people see the Bible anew through Middle Eastern eyes. Andre was PCJH’s tour guide in the Holy Land during the Spring of 2018. For more information about Andre, go to https://www.twinstours.org.
Andre will preach at both Sunday morning services and lead the adult class at 9:00AM. There may possibly be a mid-week healing service, TBD.