September - Sagemont Church

Periodical Postage
PAID
Houston, TX
Sagemont Baptist Church
11300 S. Sam Houston Pkwy E.
Houston, TX 77089
Also visit
www.sagemontchurch.org
Or call us at
281.481.8770
M-F 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Vol. 35, No. 9
www.facebook.com/SagemontChurch
All-NEW Wednesday Night for Children
BEGINS SEPTEMBER 11
6:00 - 7:30 pm
Pre-K (4’s and 5’s)
Our preschoolers will enjoy learning scripture through Cubbies and
having fun in Music and Movement each week.
Kindergarten - 4th Grade
Our grade school children will have three separate opportunities each
week including Bible curriculum and fun-filled electives.
5th & 6th Grade - All-New Preteen Ministry
Our preteen students will have a place that is designed just for them to
hang out and CONNECT through Bible Study, Worship, Fellowship,
and Games. Our goal is for them to come and to bring their friends to
MiDWAY MiX each Wednesday night.
He must
INCREASE,
but i must
decrease.
John 3:30
Inside This Issue:
Taking the Gospel (and Music)
to Kenya and Tanzania
AWANA Citation Award
Winner
Leading Worship in Spanish
Dirigiendo la Alabanza en Español
September 2013
from our pastor...
G
od is always looking for people to bless if they are willing to allow the received
blessing from God to flow through them to others.
“Freely you have received, freely give.” Matthew 10:8
I pray you have been the recipient of multiple blessings this summer and that you will
look for ways to serve and bless others as we move forward into the challenges and
opportunities of the fall. Read every page of Sagemont life and see who and what the
Lord is blessing.
Your Pastor,
FINANCIAL FREEDOM SEMINAR
Citation
Award
Winner
2013
Seth Pratt
by Mikelle Challenger
September 8 • 6:00 - 8:15 pm
September 9-10 • 7:00 - 9:15 pm
WC 1113
Taught by Senior Pastor John Morgan
Register online (no charge)
Childcare provided for children birth through sixth grade. Contact Tracy Cox at 281.481.8770, ext. 2632 or at
[email protected] for childcare reservations.
1
Y
ou’re not at Sagemont Church long before you begin to
see families with the desire to strengthen their relationship
with God and with each other. AWANA is the program
that has ministered to them as well as made quite an impact
on millions of children over the past 60 years. More than
two million children from ages 2-18 participate in AWANA
worldwide. More than 1.1 million children of that number
participate in 102 countries outside the United States.
As our AWANA year ended in May, Sagemont’s Senior Pastor,
Dr. John Morgan, personally presented a prestigious award
to one of our high school students who spent the last 10 years
committing to memory 836 Bible verses! Our pastor shared
with the parent-filled audience that one of the greatest things
Christians can do is to “hide God’s words in their hearts”!
“I didn’t know I was going to get the Citation Award from Bro.
John himself! I thought that was really cool! I got to even shake
his hand!” Seth Pratt, 18, recalled that special night, “As I was
going off stage, Bro. John said to me, ‘Seth, God is going to use
you for some really great things throughout your life.’ His words
were really meaningful to me!”
Seth’s mom, Becky, shared her thoughts about his receiving the
Citation Award, “There is pride in seeing your son walk across
that stage and get recognized, but the pride comes in day by
day just seeing how he lives out his faith”. She went on to say,
“There’s so many activities you can get your kids involved in like
football, Boy Scouts and piano...but what they are going to use
all their lives is God’s Word! They need that as a tool in their
lives as they face life’s battles.”
Seth’s dad, Ron, added, “We know how much work Seth put into
getting this award. The Citation Award is a great thing, but it’s
just a representation of what he learned. What I am most proud
of is the amount of time and dedication he put in to doing that.”
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Pratt Siblings L-R: Seth, Jessica, Micah, Johanna, Nate, and Veronica
Seth began his journey in the AWANA program as a threeyear-old Cubbie, learning basic concepts like: ‘God is love’ and
‘God loved us and sent his Son’ (1 John 4:10). He recalled,
“I remember sitting down with my parents back then and them
saying to me, ‘Ok, what is your verse this week?’ and I would
repeat it back to them, it just became second nature to me!”
Seth started his first AWANA handbook when he entered third
grade. The children receive awards when they complete ageappropriate AWANA books, which are filled with Bible verses
for memorization and service activities. It is the vehicle clubbers
use to become the embodiment of 2 Timothy 2:15...Approved
Workmen Are Not Ashamed. From ages 8 to 18, Seth earned
awards for completing all 10 of the AWANA handbooks and
manuals. Over the years, Seth completed numerous activities
concerned with missions, witnessing, patriotism, prayer and
creation, as well as reading and summarizing all 66 books of the
Bible. Seth said, “By the time I was in high school, I would use
my AWANA book basically as a devotional.”
In 2003, a few days after his ninth birthday, Seth remembered
talking about the story of Paul and Silas in prison with his older
brother, Zeke. He recalled, “I was amazed that these two guys,
who were imprisoned and had just been beaten, were still able
to sing praises to God! They even affected their jailor. Zeke
was already saved at that point. We decided that is what we
wanted to do with our lives...to have that kind of influence on
others to share Christ. That is the day I decided to accept Jesus
into my heart. I went to my Dad and prayed with him.” Seth also
met with his pastor at the time, who explained everything. Seth
recalled, “The pastor made sure that I knew what it meant to trust
in Christ as my Savior. A week later, I was baptized.” The Pratt
family joined Sagemont Church in 2011 after moving to Houston
from Minneapolis.
Seth, the third oldest child of seven, is also the third person in his
family to receive this coveted award! Zeke (21) and their sister,
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Johanna (20) have previously received the Citation Award.
Seth’s next sister, Veronica (17), is on track to get the Citation
Award next year! The next two children, Jessica (14) and Nate
(10), are busy earning their patches and awards by completing
the books for their ages in AWANA. Ron and Becky have been
serving as AWANA leaders for the last 17 years. Together they
shared, “Micah is now a 3rd grader and is starting his first book
this fall. We have made the decision that we are going to go
through all the books with him!”
Becky was quick to point out that their entire family is working
toward completing the ultimate goal of earning the Citation
Award. She said, “We are not going to force all of our children
to do that, but we are encouraging them. Nothing would delight
us more than if ALL of us reached the goal…not because of the
award, but because of all the time that is spent in God’s Word!”
She smiled at Seth when she added, “I have seen the fruit in our
oldest son and daughter and now Seth. I see the joy and love for
the Lord that’s been stirred in their hearts. I want all our children
to have that...not just a plaque on the wall, but that love in their
hearts for the Word of God.”
Now, with 836 verses of the Bible hidden in his heart, Seth is
ready to begin his adult life, beginning with classes at Alvin
Community College this fall. His goal is to earn a degree in
Computer Science so that he can one day become a computer
software engineer/programmer. Seth, who embodies at least
two of Sagemont’s core values, Excellence and Authority of
Scripture, shared his final thoughts, “I know that I could lose this
award or it could break. It could scratch or end up in a box over
the years. I know that one day this Citation Award, that I worked
so hard for, is just going to sit there collecting dust, but the stuff
that I have learned is never going to collect dust, because I am
going to be using this knowledge for the rest of my life! The verse
that comes to mind now is, ‘God’s word never comes back void,
it always comes back producing fruit. (Isaiah 55:11)’”.
“We are so proud of Seth and impressed with every student that dedicates years in
God’s Word. Every family is challenged to decide how to impress God’s commands
upon their children… Deuteronomy 6:5-7 says to ‘Love the Lord your God with all your
heart, with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you
today are to be upon your heart. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when
you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you
get up.’” -Rhonda Black, Minister to Children
Pictured L-R:
Becky (Mother), Seth & Ron (Father) Pratt
Sagemont’s AdventureLand has always offered fun, inviting and
spiritually targeted programs for our children. Triple A has been
the arts program on Sunday nights and AWANA has been the
scripture memory program on Wednesday nights for the last
several years. This spring, Sagemont’s Minister to Children,
Rhonda Black, announced an exciting new adventure for our
children on Wednesday nights starting September 11th. This
year the Adventureland team has combined both programs
to occur with a creative twist on the same night. MiDWAY is
Sagemont’s new discipleship and Bible memorization ministry
for boys and girls, ages four years old through sixth grade.
MiDWAY allows them to choose AWANA or The Arts with Bible
study and hands-on application. “We took the best of both Triple
A and AWANA programs and built what we believe will be a
powerful night of ministry and spiritual growth.” Rhonda shared,
“For example, our preschoolers who are AWANA cubbies
will get an added element of Triple A Music and Movement.
Kindergarten through fourth grade will be introduced to Bible
Study, with an added choice to ‘Hide God’s Word in their Heart’,
which is the traditional AWANA curriculum with emphasis on
scripture memorization, or to ‘Seek God with all their Heart’,
which is a Bible Application curriculum with hands-on learning.”
The final and third part of the night will allow these students
to choose one elective per semester such as Legos, Robotics,
Drama, Choir, Scrapbooking, Art, etc.
Pre-teens (fifth and sixth graders) who attend MiDWAY MiX
on Wednesday nights will have the chance to experience
a deeper Bible study, grow through small groups and build
lasting friendships with their peers and mentors in a fun
atmosphere at ‘The Strand’. Junior High and High school
students attending AWANA Youth are continuing to meet
on Wednesday nights to focus on the AWANA Trek and
Journey programs. For registration and information check the
Sagemont Student webpage for updated information: http://
www.sagemontchurch.org/connect/students/. Therefore, all
MiDWAY MiX preteens and AWANA Youth Junior High and
High School students will still have the option of following the
AWANA books and continue striving toward earning their very
own Citation award!
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Lessons available for children and adults in
Piano, Violin, Guitar, Drums and Art!
NEW! For 2013-14
Choir for 4th-6th Grade Students
Tuesdays 6:00 - 7:15 pm • Directed by Lisa Schneider
Minimum 25 students required. Find more information online or in the CFA brochure.
Classes/lessons begin September 3
PRAISE HIM
WITH STRINGED INSTRUMENTS
by Sharon Rigsby
Space is limited! Register today for best selection of
available times and teachers!
Register online or pick up a Centre for the Arts brochure and
return with first payment to the Worship & Praise Ministry office.
Living Truth TV Program Airing on KTXH, Channel 20!
9:00 am Sundays
Beginning September 8
Sagemont’s television program, Living Truth, features inspiring stories
of God working in and through people, followed by a message from
God’s Word presented by Pastor John Morgan. Beginning September
8, Living Truth will be braadcast on Fox affiliate KTXH, Channel 20 in
Houston Sunday mornings at 9! The show will also continue to air on
KUBE TV, Channel 57, at 9 am Sundays.
baptism @ the cross
september 15, 2013
7:30 pm
Praise the LORD! Praise Him in His mighty firmament! Praise Him for His mighty acts;
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness! Praise Him with the sound of the
trumpet; Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments
This is the final baptism service scheduled at The Cross for 2013.
If you would like to be baptized at The Cross or in the Worship Center, please call
281.481.8770 or email [email protected]
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and flutes! Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals! Let
everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!
Psalm 150
6
Kenya / Tanzania Mission Team:
Back Row L-R: Buddy Griffin, Diane Peter, Jennie Kimbrough,
Nathan Kimbrough, Jacob Arnold, James Camper, Kyle
McKee, Frank Rigsby, Stanley Fontenot.
Front Row L-R: Gabby Morris, Sandy Griffin, Abby Sinclair,
Shari Roberson, Sarah Ash, Sharon Rigsby, Josh Bivens
can really show what it is really like. I write this story because I
want you, dear reader, to realize that when you hear the name
Kibera you will realize that, yes, it really is as bad as people say
it is. Actually, it is worse. And people are stuck living there. They
have nothing and no means of getting out.
A
bout three years ago, I was blessed to write a story for
this magazine about the great joy my husband, Frank,
and I had to take our grandson, Stephen Ash, who was
17 at the time, on a mission trip with us to Nairobi, Kenya. Most
of that trip was spent ministering at the Limuru Tea Plantation
Baptist Church, where Stephen preached the Word on Sunday
and during the week, and we evangelized door-to-door. We
were greatly blessed and proud of him.
Frank and I have been blessed again. Our 15-year-old
granddaughter, Sarah Ash, who has been patiently waiting her
turn, went with us on a mission trip to Kenya and Tanzania this
summer. Sarah has the classically trained voice of an angel. She
sang at every opportunity she had as we ministered to people.
We could always tell by the expressions on their faces that they
were truly enjoying what they were hearing and that it was
an unexpected blessing from one so young. Frank and I were
especially blessed.
This mission trip was led by Buddy Griffin. We reconnected
with our friends at New Hope Church and School in the slums
of Kibera, Kenya, to teach music and evangelize through our
Ukulele Band. We then traveled to Arusha, Tanzania, to work
with our missionary friends, Vernon and Mary Smith, at the
Olorein School where the group introduced the students to the
ukulele and conducted other activities.
The mission team consisted of 16 members: Buddy and Sandy
Griffin, Jacob Arnold, Sarah Ash, Josh Bivens, James Camper,
Stanley Fontenot, Diane Peter, Nathan and Jennie Kimbrough,
Kyle McKee, Gabby Morris, Frank and Sharon Rigsby, Shari
Roberson and Abby Sinclair.
7
The team spent two days teaching the students at the New Hope
School in Kibera how to play the ukulele. We divided up into
groups of four, teaching four classrooms at the same time. Each
group taught two classes in the morning and two in the afternoon
on both days. The children were taught several chords and
several songs using these chords. They were attentive, eager to
learn, and respectful of the ukuleles.
We were honored to get to visit with the Biashira ladies who
make beautiful jewelry to sell. Karen Baird of New Hope
Initiative is their mentor. Karen’s husband, Sandy, directed all our
activities in Kenya. Both are members of Sagemont Church.
We spent Saturday morning rehearsing for the program the
students would present for their parents on Sunday morning.
They were excited in anticipation of performing for the whole
church the next morning.
After the morning rehearsals, we were about to walk up the
slight hill to the new church building when we were informed
that we would be taking a walk through Kibera. I have been on
a short walk through Kibera twice before on previous trips, but
nothing had prepared me for what I was about to experience.
We were told not to take pictures unless we could make it look
like we were taking pictures of each other. We walked through
what seemed like the entire length of the slum. It took a really
long time. The walk included what could be described as a
“downtown” area containing booths with items and food for sale,
all in extremely unsanitary conditions. Raw sewage ran in ruts
down the middle of the walkways. We even passed a pig eating
out of one of these ruts. All the homes are connected, separated
by only a sheet if they have one. Filth is everywhere. The paths
are so narrow that we could touch the walls on each side. As I
write this, I can hardly contain the emotions I still feel. No picture
At the church a short distance away, many of the school children
had gathered in a long line outside of the building. After going
in, we began to open the suitcases we had brought that were
full of dresses made by the ladies of the Sew Fine Ministry at
Sagemont. Several of us took armfuls of dresses in various
sizes and were ready when they opened the gates to the area
between the church and a row of classrooms. The female
students came in a very orderly manner and graciously accepted
the dresses that were offered to them. Not one girl said she
wanted another color or pattern. Each thankfully took what she
was given. We gave away 312 dresses that afternoon. The boys
were not left out. They received 210 pairs of new tennis shoes.
Later in Arusha, Tanzania, we gave 162 dresses to the teachers
at the Olorein School to distribute among the students.
After the distribution of the dresses and shoes, each team
member spent time mentoring one or two of the older students,
encouraging them and answering questions. The students at the
New Hope School in Kibera are very serious about their studies.
They have very high expectations. If you ask them what they
want to be, they will say doctors and lawyers. But after grade
8, public education ends for them. All they can hope for after
that is for someone to offer them a scholarship of $500 a year
to continue their education until graduation, and in Kibera, that
possibility is pretty hopeless for most of them.
Sunday morning was full of excitement. The students performed
a song they had learned on the ukulele for their parents. Our
team performed two songs on the ukulele. Our granddaughter,
Sarah, and Abby Sinclair sang. Stanley Fontenot played the
bagpipes. Several other groups performed, and then Brother
Buddy Griffin preached with a translator. It was then one o’clock
and our time in Kenya came to an end. We left the ukuleles with
the school for the teachers to continue a music program with the
children.
8
After church, the team boarded the bus and headed to Arusha,
Tanzania. It took five hours on a very dusty, partly paved road,
and the part that wasn’t paved was very bumpy. Even so, we
had fun on the bus trip.
MEET
DANE
The team had a time of rest at Ngorogoro Crater where we
experienced the glorious beauty of God’s creations.
We then traveled to a remote Masai village where we
experienced an awesome worship service. Sarah sang a song
in Swahili about the birth of Jesus, Stanley played the bagpipes
and Frank preached with missionary Vernon Smith translating.
For the next three days, we taught the students at the Olorein
School in Arusha how to play the ukulele. We met in the
assembly room in which the church. Brother Buddy taught each
group of children. We had two groups in the morning and
two groups in the afternoon. After Buddy gave the lesson, we
separated the big group into many smaller groups, and two of
us helped the students individually work on the chords that had
been taught that class. It was a very efficient system.
We spent part of Friday moving the students through four different
stations: Bible Story, where they heard the story of David and
Goliath and then acted it out; Craft Activities: Music Fun; and
Games. They also spent part of Friday afternoon practicing the
song they would perform for their parents on the ukulele.
Every evening from about 4:30 until 6:30 the team would
returned to the schoolyard where young people from the
community played basketball, volleyball and enjoyed the
playground equipment. It is a really good way to minister to the
community and show the people that the church is a good place
to feel welcome and encourage them to feel that they want to be
a part of it.
Sunday morning was absolutely incredible. Vernon Smith told us that
on a normal high attendance Sunday the count is 250. That Sunday’s
attendance was 680! Not all of the students at the school are
members of the church. We hoped that the students’ performances
would be an outreach for the church, and they certainly were. Once
again, as in Kibera, the team performed two songs on the ukulele,
Sarah sang, Abby sang, Stanley played bagpipes, other groups
performed, choirs performed, the congregation sang, Diane Peter
and James Camper gave their testimonies and the preacher gave his
sermon. It was all so amazing.
We left ukuleles at the school in Arusha for the teachers to
continue a music program there like we did in Kibera.
We then took the five-hour bus trip to Nairobi for an evening
departure flight for home. I still find myself talking and thinking as
if I am still there. Sometimes in my mind, I still am. You should try
a trip like this yourself. You will see what I mean.
9
by BJ Massa
Y
ou first see this little 4’10” Puerto Rican girl walking around
the church and you think to yourself, “She looks like
she’s 16 years old.” You introduce yourself to her, and
in a tiny little voice she says her name is Daneysa Berdejo, the
new Spanish Worship Leader and part-time secretary. You may
wonder, “Hmm, how is that going to work out?” Then you see
her up on the stage holding a microphone, and when she starts
singing, you are blown away! “Dane” is a ton of talent wrapped
up in a little frame.
Born in Puerto Rico, Dane (pronounced Dannie) grew up in a
Christian home and was raised in church by her mother and
father, greatly influenced by her maternal grandmother (Abuelin)
and grandfather (Abuelo). Abuelin sang to Dane as she was
growing up and taught her the joy of music and singing. At the
age of three she was the youngest and tiniest member of the
children’s church choir. She has photos of herself holding up her
music book, albeit upside-down, during a performance for the
congregation.
When she started school, she immediately skipped kindergarten
and went into the first grade, where she made good grades, and
like our Pastor, Brother John, can still remember the names of all
her teachers. During the third grade, at age seven, a tragic event
occurred. The water heater in her house was broken, and her
mother told all the children to stay in the living room while she
boiled water on the stove to prepare their bath. Dane disobeyed
and went into her bedroom. As she walked out of her room into
the hallway, she and her mother collided, and the boiling water
spilled on Dane. It missed her head and face, but poured over
her chest. (Her mother said she had a dream in which an Angel
put his hands over Dane’s face to protect her.) During the grueling
treatments she endured in the burn unit and while others around
C
onozca a Dane. La primera vez que uno ve a esta
pequeña puertorriqueña de 4’10” de altura, caminando
por la iglesia, dice, “parece que tiene 16 años.” Te
presentas y ella te dice con una pequeña vocecita que su
nombre es Daneysa Berdejo, la nueva Lider de Alabanza en
español y secretaria de medio tiempo. Por ahí te preguntes
¿cómo va a funcionar eso? Pero entonces la ves en el escenario
sosteniendo el micrófono y en cuanto empieza a cantar quedas
¡anonadado! Dane es una tonelada de talento en un pequeño
paquete.
Nacida en Puerto Rico, Dane (que se pronuncia Dany) creció
en un hogar Cristiano y fue criada en la iglesia por su madre
y padre, con gran influencia de parte de su abuela materna
(Abuelín) y su abuelo (Abuelo). A medida que Dane crecía,
Abuelin le cantaba y le enseñaba el gozo de la música y de
cantar. A la edad de tres años ella era la miembro más joven
y pequeña del coro de niños de la iglesia. Ella tiene fotos de
sí misma durante un concierto en su congregación donde se ve
sosteniendo (aunque al revés) su libro de música.
Cuando comenzó la escuela, ella paso inmediatamente al
primer grado salteando el kínder. Allí tuvo buenas notas y
al igual que nuestro Pastor, el Hermano John, todavía puede
acordarse el nombre de todos sus maestros. A la edad de siete
años, cuando estaba en el tercer grado, le ocurrió algo trágico.
Se había roto el calentador de agua en su casa y su madre
les había dicho a todos los niños de la casa, que se quedaran
en el living mientras que ella calentaba agua en la cocina
para bañarlos. Dane no le hizo caso a su madre y se fue a su
dormitorio. Al salir de su cuarto, ella chocó con su madre, y el
agua hirviendo que traía su madre se derramó sobre Dane. No
le cayó ni en la cabeza, ni en su cara, pero sí cayó sobre su
10
her cried, she sang songs
to God. She remembered
what her Abuelin had taught
her and just continued to
sing and sing to get past the
pain. One man in the burn
unit actually came to know
the Lord because of her
testimony. She was supposed
to be in the hospital for two
months, but she miraculously
left in just 13 days.
Dane still has scars on her
chest, but she says she is not
Daneysa Berdejo in Spanish Worship
sorry for the accident, for it
with Jonathan Reyna
helped her mature. As she
was growing up, her mother
taught her not to cover up her scars. Her mother said she could
look in Dane’s eyes, and see her true value - not the scars on her
body - but what Jesus had made her to be. Her mother showed
her that she could use that accident to talk to others about Jesus
and about how God can protect.
Once Dane completed the eighth grade, she took a test and
again was asked to skip a grade. She went straight to the tenth
grade, where she participated in gymnastics, but really liked the
arts, math club, library club, choir, and music theater. Her life
was extremely busy with school, extracurricular activities, and,
of course, church. At age 15, she graduated from high school,
and she says two other things happened simultaneously. She
began to fully realize why God had made her and she began
to write songs about it. She then gave her life completely over
to the Lord, and was inspired to write even more. She wrote and
performed her first song on stage with her three siblings, and
hasn’t stopped since.
Dane went to the University of Puerto Rico, but heeded wellintentioned advice from many that if you are an artist, you will
starve. So instead of taking music, she studied the Natural
Sciences and thought she would become a podiatrist. She didn’t
like the sciences, was really too young to be in college, and just
felt lost. She wanted everyone in her family circle to be happy
with her, so she decided to major in teaching ESL to high school
students. She always knew she would go to America, so she
believed that skill would help her later in life. She graduated
from college but didn’t pursue the teaching job. Instead, she
worked full-time at a jewelry store and became even more
involved in her church commitments: service planning, worship
team and local mission trips. She was also part of the youth
leadership team. A year later, after much prayer and thought,
she enrolled in the Canzion Institute of Music. It was a twoyear program, and she also taught gymnastics, ballet and tap
to three-year-olds to make ends meet. On Saturdays she taught
Bible classes. She was losing control of her life, but every event
she was involved in was a “good” thing, so how could it not turn
out all right?
During her last semester in Canzion Institute, she was offered the
chance to go Houston and become a Program Coordinator for
11
pecho. (Su madre cuenta que había tenido un sueño en el que
un Ángel le cubría la cara a Dane para protegerla). Durante
los tiempos en que recibió tratamientos intensivos en la unidad
de quemados, donde otros lloraban de dolor, ella cantaba
canciones a Dios. Se acordaba de lo que le había enseñado
su Abuelín, y cantaba y cantaba para soportar el dolor. Un
hombre en la unidad de quemados conoció al Señor gracias
a su testimonio. Ella estaba supuesta a pasar tres meses en el
hospital, pero milagrosamente pudo salir a los 13 días.
Dane aun tiene cicatrices en su pecho, pero dice que no se
lamenta del accidente, ya que siente que le ayudó a madurar. A
medida que fue creciendo su madre le enseñó a no cubrirse las
cicatrices. Su madre decía que podía mirar en los ojos de Dane,
y ver su verdadero valor, no las cicatrices en su cuerpo, pero lo
que Jesús había hecho con ella. Su madre le mostro que podría
usar el accidente para hablar con otros sobre Jesús y como Dios
puede protegernos.
Una vez que Dane terminó el octavo grado, ella tomó un
examen y una vez más le permitieron saltear un grado. De ahí
fue directo al decimo grado en donde participó en gimnasia,
pero más le gustaba arte, el club de matemáticas, el club de
biblioteca, el coro y el teatro musical. Su vida estaba llena de
actividades, entre la escuela, actividades extracurriculares y
por supuesto la iglesia. A la edad de 15 años, se graduó del
secundario y cuenta que le pasaron dos cosas más al mismo
tiempo. Comenzó a comprender por qué Dios la había hecho
y empezó a escribir canciones sobre eso. Entonces entregó su
vida completamente al Señor, y fue inspirada a escribir aun más.
Escribió su primera canción y la cantó junto con sus hermanos en
un escenario, y desde entonces no ha parado.
Dane fue a la Universidad de Puerto Rico, pero escuchó los
buenos consejos de muchos que le decían que no sobreviviría
como una artista. Por eso, en vez de estudiar música, estudió
Ciencias Naturales y pensaba que sería podóloga. No le gustó
la Ciencia, era demasiado joven para estar en la Universidad
y simplemente se encontraba perdida. Quería que todos
en su círculo familiar estuvieran contentos con ella, entonces
decidió estudiar para enseñar Inglés a estudiantes en la escuela
secundaria. Siempre supo que vendría a Estados Unidos, así
que pensó que esa experiencia la ayudaría más tarde en su
vida. Se graduó de la universidad pero no se dedicó a enseñar.
Se dedicó a trabajar en una joyería y empezó a involucrarse
más en la iglesia, al planear los servicios, equipo de alabanza
y viajes misioneros locales. También era miembro del equipo de
liderazgo de la juventud. Un año más tarde, después de mucho
orar y pensar se anotó en el Instituto de Música CanZión. Era
un programa de dos años, y mientras tanto, para ayudar con sus
finanzas les enseñaba gimnasia y ballet a niños de tres años.
Los sábados enseñaba estudios Bíblicos. Ella estaba perdiendo
el control de su vida. Pero ¿cómo podría ser? si todo en lo que
estaba involucrada era “bueno” así que todo saldría bien, ¿no?
En su último semestre en el Instituto CanZión, le ofrecieron venir
a Houston y ser la Coordinadora de niños ahí. Como iban otros
directores de CanZión, ella se sintió cómoda al ir con ellos. El
trabajo de Coordinadora era solo de medio tiempo, entonces
encontró otro trabajo de medio tiempo como recepcionista en
the kids there. Other directors from Canzion were going, so she
felt comfortable joining them. The Coordinator job was only parttime, so she found another part-time job as receptionist at Grace
Community Church. Pastor Gowan eventually moved her to assist
him in the (English) Adult Ministry, and she also attended the
Hispanic service where she quickly became the Spanish Worship
and Choir Director. She again filled her life with too many
commitments, and hit what she describes as a “rough patch.” Dane
took three months off, went back to Puerto Rico, and concentrated
on God and his love
for her. She began to
regain her focus on
WHAT she was doing,
and WHY she was
doing it. She learned it is
more important to OBEY
God than to work for
him. As she understood
this, she started a blog
called
“Determined”
(it is a Spanish blog),
and as she wrote, she
realized that God
wanted to have all of
her.
Grace Community Church. Con el tiempo, el Pastor Gowan
la llevó a asistirle a él en el Ministerio de Adultos en Inglés,
mientras que ella atendía los servicios en español, donde pronto
se convirtió en la Directora del coro y alabanza. Una vez más
había llenado su vida de muchas obligaciones y llego a lo
que ella describe como “una mala racha.” Dane se tomó tres
meses de descanso, volvió a Puerto Rico y se concentró en Dios
y su amor por ella. Empezó a re-enfocarse en QUÉ estaba
haciendo y PORQUÉ lo estaba haciendo. Aprendió que era
más importante OBEDECER
a Dios que trabajar para
Él. A medida que fue
entendiendo esto, ella
empezó a escribir un blog
llamado “Determined” en
Español, y a medida que
escribía se empezó a dar
cuenta que Dios quería
todo de ella.
En enero del 2012, Dane
volvió a Estados Unidos
con un valor fundamental
nuevo: el de obedecer
más y trabajar menos.
Ahora valora y atesora
In January of 2012,
su Sabático. Dane dice:
Dane came back to the
“Puedes romper la ley de
USA with a new core
Dios, pero la ley de Dios
value: to obey more and
eventualmente te romperá
to work less. She now
a ti.” Ella determinó que no
values and treasures
volvería a lo que era antes.
her Sabbath. Dane says
Encontró un consejero con
“You can break God’s
quien aun se habla y que
Juan Carlos and Daneysa Berdejo
law, but God’s law will
la ayuda a mantenerse
eventually break you.”
centrada y enfocada.
She determined that she
Volvió a Grace y a enseñar
would not go back to what she was before. She found a counselor
en el Instituto CanZión medio tiempo. Dice que su vida y su
with whom she still speaks to keep her accountable and help her
relación con Dios en verdad han cambiado. Comenzó a comer
stay on track. She went back to Grace and to teaching at the
comida sana, a hacer gimnasia y limitó sus actividades en la
Canzion Institute part-time. She says her life and her relationship
iglesia. Ella dice, “No quiero sólo ser eficiente, pero quiero ser
with God have really turned around. She started eating healthy
efectiva en lo que hago.”
food, working out, and limited her church activities. She says, “I
want not just to be efficient, but to be effective in what I do.”
Y ¡aquí está el final feliz! Conoció a un hombre buen mozo que
se llama Juan Carlos. Comenzaron a salir y con la aprobación
de su familia, se casaron en Abril del 2013. Daneysa dice que
Here’s the happy ending! She met a handsome man named Juan
la decisión de amar a Juan Carlos es la segunda decisión más
Carlos. They began dating, and then with her family’s approval,
importante que ha hecho, siendo la decisión de seguir a Jesús la
they married in April of 2013. Daneysa says the decision to
primera. Dane dice con mucha emoción “Dios me llevó a través
love Juan Carlos is the second most important decision she will
de un proceso y me construyó. Cada fase me entrenó. Mi visión
ever make, the first being her decision to follow Jesus. Dane
es limitada, pero Dios vio mi futuro y me preparó para ello.”
ecstatically says, “God took me through a process and he built
me. Each stage trained me. My vision is so limited, but God saw
my future and prepared me for it.”
Dane dice que el ser la Líder de Alabanza en Español es su
sueño. Ella tiene la oportunidad de liderar en la alabanza,
Dane says being the Spanish Worship Leader is her “dream job.”
trabajar con el equipo de liderazgo en Español, ayudar con la
She gets to “lead in worship, work with the Spanish leadership
administración y usar su creatividad. “¡No es sólo mi trabajo, es
team, help with all the admin stuff, and be creative. It’s not just
una pasión y un ministerio!”
my job; it’s a passion and a ministry!”
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THIS WEEK
Subscribe Today!
Fall Bible Studies
Tuesdays, 9:00 - 11:30 am
September 10 - October 29
Children’s Building • $25
Focus on the Family’s
Experiencing Spiritual Growth
Preparations for the
2013 Christmas Festival
Are Underway
On December 6-8, Sagemont Church will present “Hope Is Born,” a
dramatic musical on the life of Jesus Christ. This encore presentation of the
2012 program has been refreshed with new scenes, new music and new
elements that will make this an even more powerful presentation of the life
of Christ and the hope he brings to our lost world.
We have a place for you to help make this labor of love happen. It takes
hundreds of people to make this production possible. Some tasks are
easy, some are more involved, but all are a lot of fun and very important.
Tuesdays, 9:00 - 11:30 am
September 17 - October 29
West Wing • $25
Lysa TerKeurst’s
Unglued
Tuesdays, 6:30 - 9:00 pm
September 17 - October 22
West Wing • $15
Beth Moore’s
The Law of Love: Lessons from the
Pages of Deuteronomy
Various Days & Times
Beginning Week of
September 15 • $20
In Area Homes
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Here are some of the ways you can help in Christmas Festival this year:
Actors/Singers
Men (ages 18-50) especially are still needed to participate on stage.
Most roles to be filled are minor, but all are vital!
Seamstresses
Set Builders
Stage Crew
Ticket Sellers
Greeters/Ticket Takers
Some of these areas will only be needed at the shows or in the weeks
just preceding the festival. Others will be needed almost immediately as
rehearsals begin THIS MONTH! If you can help in any of these areas,
please let us know now! Call Jan at 281.481.7124 or email at jan.hart@
sagemontchurch.org today!
STAGE CREW NEEDED
Kelly Minter’s
Nehemiah
If you have the gift of helps and can do some lifting, consider giving just
a few hours a month to be a part of our stage crew. This wonderful group
of volunteers are vital to making transitions during worship services as well
as constructing sets for worship services and special events. All serve on a
rotation system that fits with each person’s schedule.
Register for any of these online or at
the Women’s Ministry Booth!
If this is something you can do to serve the Lord and our church, email
[email protected] or call 281.481.7124 today!
Have you subscribed to our weekly email newsletter,
Sagemont Life This Week?
7th - 12th Grade
This is a brief email sent weekly on Thursdays to
communicate important reminders as well as new
information and developments that happen between
gatherings on campus. Also included each week
is an encouraging blog post by one of our pastoral
staff.
Starts September 4!
Simply go to www.sagemontchurch.org. Scroll to the
bottom of the home page and click on the Sagemont
Life This Week box on the right corner. Follow the
instructions there and you’ll start receiving Sagemont
Life This Week with the next update.
Room 201 • $25 per student
($75 family max)
Register online
Wednesday Night Dinner
September Staff Anniversaries
September 4 - Ernie’s
Special Price: $5 per meal for everyone!
Your Choice: Hamburger or 2 Hot Dogs, Chips,
Drink, Ice Cream
September 11 - Luby’s
6:00 - 7:30 pm
Wednesday nights
Congratulations to the following friends and co-workers
who celebrate an employment anniversary with
Sagemont Church during the month of September.
Ms. Tammy Fort
32 Years
Administrative Assistant/iCONNECT Ministries
Baked Chicken or Spaghetti, Corn, Fresh Green
Beans, Roll, Salad Bar, Cake
Mr. Steve Jeter
20 Years
Printer
September 18 - Ernie’s
Rev. Mike Schumacher
12 Years
Associate Pastor/Counseling Ministry
Chicken Fried Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Green
Beans, Salad Bar, Roll, Cobbler
September 25 - Andy’s Hawg Wild Bar-B-Que
Sliced Beef & Sausage, Potato Salad, Pinto Beans,
Banana Pudding
Mrs. Judi Caudill
Eight Years
Pastoral Care Ministry Secretary
Mrs. Patricia Daniels
Five Years
Human Resources Director
Serving lines open 4:15 - 5:50 pm
SAGEMONT LIFE (USPS 585730) is published monthly by Sagemont Baptist Church, 11300 S. Sam Houston Parkway E., Houston,
Texas. Periodicals Postage Paid at Houston, TX. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to SAGEMONT LIFE, 11300 S. Sam Houston
Parkway E., Houston, TX 77089.
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