CCA Podcast - Nurturing Resilience: Unpacking Trauma, Abuse, and the Nature-Nurture Nexus

OFFICE HOURS All calls are confidential. Clinical coordinators are available. Monday – Friday 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM (724) 396-1510 Check Out CCA's Podcast: Ask Christian Counseling Associates With CCA Podcasts, you will receive sound clinical advice, inspiration, timeless wisdom to face daily challenges, and information to help others along the way. For our listeners: please click the buttons below to watch or listen to the CCA podcast. Then subscribe to our podcast on YouTube, and give us a thumbs up. This will make a big difference! On this episode of Ask Christian Counseling Associates: On this episode of Ask Christian Counseling Associates, we'll navigate through personal stories of triumph, the complexities of trauma and abuse, and the interplay between our inherent nature and the nurturing we receive. From heart-wrenching anecdotes to enlightening conversations, join the podcast with special guest Allison Smith, as we explore big life challenges and how to emerge from them stronger, wiser, and more resilient. Click Here to Listen to Our Podcast! Click Here to View Our Podcast on You Tube! Invite CCA to Present this Podcast Topic as a Workshop! Like today's podcast? Invite Richard Hoffman, Ph.D., Clinical Director of CCA, and our expert staff counselors to provide a workshop at your local church! Contact CCA Here to Schedule a Workshop! Don't Face the Struggle Alone, Reach Out to CCA Today! We hope you liked today's podcast. Whatever problem you face this week, we hope and pray for God's blessing to go with you! If we can be of service, please reach out to us today! God Bless! Richard Hoffman, Ph.D.   Clinical Director Christian Counseling Associates SERVICES....WHY CCA....LOCATIONS....ABOUT Christian Counseling Associates   Serving Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio and West Virginia and Internationally in Liberia, West Africa Stay Social With Us:

The Voice of the Martyrs - PAKISTAN: 25 churches burned, Christians attacked

PAKISTAN: Mob attacks Christian homes, churches

After torn and defaced pages of a copy of the Quran were allegedly found near a Christian area of Jaranwala, Pakistan, local mosques put out a call for revenge — a call amplified on mosque loudspeakers and through social media. In an attack that continued for more than 10 hours, thousands of angry Muslims rampaged through the Christian area in the industrial district of the city of Faisalabad. Twenty-five churches were destroyed, a Christian cemetery was desecrated, and Christian homes were looted with possessions burned in the streets. The office of the assistant district commissioner — a Christian — was also destroyed. Multiple reports say police watched the ongoing violence rather than intervening to protect Christians. Having been warned ahead of time, many Christian families fled the area, seeking shelter with friends or relatives to avoid the violence. Two Christians, the alleged blasphemers, were arrested. According to Pakistan’s blasphemy law, they could face the death penalty. The government has also arrested more than 100 members of the mob. HELP PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS VOM contacts in Pakistan immediately went to Jaranwala to encourage Christians affected by this violent attack and assess ways VOM could provide help and assistance. They helped Christians who had lost their homes find food and shelter; 11 pastors’ homes had been partially or completely destroyed. Please pray for Christians in Pakistan as attacks like these threaten Christians throughout the country. Pray for front-line workers ministering to families who have lost everything in this attack. Pray that God will meet the needs of Christians affected by the violence. Pray that government leaders will intervene to protect Christians and that the attackers will be held accountable. We invite you to make a special gift toward Persecution Response. Such a gift allows VOM to provide for Christians’ immediate needs after attacks like last week’s in Pakistan and to walk with affected Christians through the long process of recovery and rebuilding their homes and lives. SUPPORT PERSECUTION RESPONSE

Please forward this email to Christian friends who will be inspired to pray for and support our persecuted Christian family.

Share this special opportunity with your friends and family.

The Voice of the Martyrs - Help Chinese Christians who put Christ above Party.

Stand with Persecuted Christians in China

Highly restrictive religious laws, surveillance cameras monitoring every move, police raiding “illegal” Christian gatherings and pastors locked in prison — these are just a few of the challenges persecuted Christians in China face each week. But despite the Communist government’s attempts to control Christians and close churches, the body of Christ is growing in China! By giving today, you can provide essential aid, such as distributing more Bibles to those hungry for God’s Word, offering vital training to equip new leaders for service in the flourishing church, and providing much-needed assistance to the families of those imprisoned for their faith. HELP CHINESE CHRISTIANS

In recent years, President Xi Jinping and his Communist government have increased restrictions on religion and implemented draconian enforcement measures. Loyalty to the Communist Party and to President Xi is required of every citizen. While Chinese Christians love their country, they understand that their true citizenship is in heaven and their first loyalty is to Christ. Chinese Christians who stand on this truth are fired from jobs, kicked out of their homes and even locked in prison. Your contribution will support persecuted Christians in China and show them that they are not alone. Together, we can make a difference, providing hope to our Christian brothers and sisters in China. GIVE NOW

Please forward this email to Christian friends who will be inspired to pray for and support our persecuted Christian family.

Today in the Mission Yearbook - Presbyterian World Mission regional liaison: ‘We can’t wait for peace any longer’

The regional liaison for East Asia asks Presbyterians to learn more about the Korea Peace Appeal

August 24, 2023

Korean peace activists gather after a Peace Appeal 

campaign news conference. (Contributed photo)

I still can see clearly in my mind’s eye the writing printed on the spine of a book that was on the shelf of my family’s bookcase in our humble rented house in Los Angeles. In Korean script, it read: “Why We Can’t Wait,” written by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

There are millions and millions of people around the world who can’t wait any longer because their suffering has been going on far too long. Among them are the people of the Korean peninsula and Koreans of diasporic communities around the world. They cannot wait for the Korean War to end.

On July 27, 1953, the open hostilities of the so-called “Korean War” came to an end with an armistice agreement signed by the United States as the leader of the United Nations Command, the People’s Republic of China and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. That armistice agreement stated that all signatories would gather again three months later to begin the process to formally end the war, but that never came to pass. Three months have extended to 69 years, and in the meantime, Koreans on both sides of the division have suffered all kinds of repercussions of a forever state of war.

Of the 100 million Koreans who were separated from their family members on the other side of the division, most of them have passed away without ever having had a chance to see their loved ones. As the psalmist David cried out to God for deliverance from his enemies by lamenting, “How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?” (Psalm 13:1a), Koreans cry out, “How long?”

On the 67th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice Agreement in 2020, Koreans launched a global campaign called the Korea Peace Appeal, which is an outcry that simply says, “We can’t wait for peace any longer.” The Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea and the National Council of Churches in Korea, both strong partners of the PC(USA), have joined other religious orders, civil society organizations and over 70 international organizations, including the Presbyterian Peace Network for Korea, in the campaign. The campaign calls on governments involved in the ongoing conflict on the Korean Peninsula to immediately cease all hostile actions and return to solving the conflict through dialogue and mutual trust-building.

At the 225th General Assembly in 2022, the PC(USA) voted affirmatively to join in this effort. You can learn more about this action by going to the PC(USA)’s Korea Peace Appeal webpage here.

Read a statement from the World Council of Churches on the 70th anniversary of the Korean war armistice agreement here.

Unzu Lee is World Mission’s regional liaison for East Asia.

Today’s Focus: Korea Peace Appeal

Let us join in prayer for:

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff
Jim Kirk, Associate, Disaster Response USA, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, Presbyterian Mission Agency
Mike Kirk, Director & General Counsel, Legal Services, Administrative Services Group (A Corp)

Let us pray

Gracious Lord, sustain and nurture us that we may have a deep and vital faith. Through Christ we pray. Amen.

Today in the Mission Yearbook - PAM’s Worship & Music choirs offer up a full and united sound pleasing to everyone in attendance, including God

Both the Chamber and Adult choirs were under the expressive direction of Dr. Jason Max Ferdinand

August 23, 2023

Video URL: https://vimeo.com/840925740

The Chamber Choir at the Presbyterian Association of Musicians’ 

annual Music & Worship Conference presented a concert the 

evening of June 22 at Montreat Conference Center in Montreat, 

North Carolina. (Photo by Rich Copley)

During the Presbyterian Association of Musicians’ Worship & Music Conference held over two weeks, Dr. Jason Max Ferdinand took 400 already polished singers each week and worked them — worked them hard, at times — to put forth a glorious sound pleasing to the 700 or so people who gathered each week, and pleasing to God, too.

“I have to say, I’ve been very impressed with the level of musicianship with all the groups,” said Ferdinand, the founding artistic director of the Jason Max Ferdinand Singers and director of choral activities at the University of Maryland. “I’m trying to think if I’ve witnessed another denomination that can pull music off like this in terms of being able to read it and rehearse it on that level. It’s pretty astonishing, really.”

“I’ve just been really impressed with the musicianship here.”

During both weeks of the Worship & Music Conference, held each year at Montreat Conference Center in Montreat, North Carolina, Ferdinand conducted both the larger Adult Choir and the select Chamber Choir.

Watching Ferdinand lead a rehearsal of the Chamber Choir last week was both instructive and inspiring.

“Basses, you’re spot on!” he said at one point.

“All right, quick fix,” he said moments later. Once the choir made the fix, Ferdinand said, “ooh, that’s like epic music.”

Dr. Jason Max Ferdinand leads the Adult Choir during 

rehearsal last week. (Photo by Rich Copley)

During worship — and after just a couple of rehearsals — the Adult Choir practically raised the roof on venerable Anderson Auditorium with “Thanks Be to God” from Mendelssohn’s “Elijah.”

“I think it was a great challenge for the choir to pull it off with such few rehearsals,” Ferdinand said. “I thought that more people would have sung this prior to this conference.” During the initial rehearsal, Ferdinand asked how many had sung it before, expecting about 70% of the singers to raise their hand. Instead, about 10% did.

“It was a real challenge trying to pull it together quickly,” Ferdinand said, “but they did that.”

“It’s good pressure, but you have to pace the rehearsals very systematically,” Ferdinand said. “It’s been great working with the people here. They read music very well, and they adapt very, very quickly to instruction, so that’s been good.”

“Honestly, we don’t have time to even think about the challenges” of polishing the musical selections in such a short period of time, Ferdinand said. “We just dive in.”

A singing group as large as the Adult Choir “always has to think about articulation” so the product isn’t “muddy and messy.”

“But like I said, it’s been a ton of fun,” Ferdinand said. “They’ve adapted in a very — what’s the word? — malleable way.”

“I’ve just been reminding them to go with the text,” Ferdinand said of the work he’s put in over the past two weeks. “The text will inform us what our musical decisions should be.”

Mike Ferguson, Editor, Presbyterian News Service

Today’s Focus: Presbyterian Association of Musicians’ Worship & Music Conference Chamber and Adult Choirs

Let us join in prayer for:

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff
Tracey King-Ortega, Mission Coordinator II, Mission Partners & Program, World Mission, Presbyterian Mission Agency
Oweeda Kinnaird, Trust Associate, Presbyterian Foundation

Let us pray

God of all people, you care for each of us. Strengthen us to go out and tell others the good news. We trust in your call to be disciples of Jesus and to be instruments of your mission wherever we go. We pray that our eyes and ears are open to answer your call every day of our lives. Amen.