HANDS UP NEWSLETTER

Volume 1 Issue 2                                                                                  July 2000

HANDS UP

Christians Creating the Future at Philip Morris

CHOICES

Philip Morris, USA

ONE ACCORD

FATAL FEAR FIGHTERS

CHALLENGES – Who Is Hands Up

PHILIP MORRIS, USA

Since our first meeting January 13, 2000, we have grown from nine to over 70 PM folks who come to hear and share the Word.  God’s hand is truly at work in this team!

Featured in this quarter’s issue is the Theme Song for the Hands Up group, written by Ruth Johnson, and inspired by the Holy Spirit expressly for the Hands Up Ministry.

Included, also, is an announcement by Ronnie Waddell, about the birth of a sister group at Park 500, The Light.

In a hurry?   For those who think they are too busy for prayer, a poem is included, written by an unknown author.

Do you worry too much?  A special article to help you deal with your anxiety is included as well.

God bless you as you read this newsletter, and we look forward to seeing you at the next meeting!

THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE:

The Servant Team – Leaders:

Tom Meadows, Ruth Johnson, Richard Hatcher, Delois Maddox, and Jackie Hager (two servants needed)

II.                   Choosing Growth (Faith & Obedience)

Ronnie Waddell, Leader

To grow, we must be faithful and obedient.

Psalm 57:7-11, Genesis 22:1-19, Mark 5:21-34, Exodus 4:10-17, 

Joshua 22:5 “But take careful heed to do the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to keep His commandments, to hold fast to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

1 John 2:3-6, “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him.  By this we know that we are in Him.  He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.”

III.                  God’s Oil:

Ronnie Waddell, Leader

Exodus 17:8-16

James 5:16, “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.  The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

   Hands Up Theme Song  

by Ruth Johnson

Welcome-into this place

Hands Up-is on belay, for all

We will pray-for PM-and the needs of all our people

As we seek-God’s face

In this spec-ial way

We will offer up, our hands, to one and all.

Hands up-is on belay

To encour-age, or to support, in any way

We’ll show love, be the light, for all PM to see

For through Christ we can

Help our fellow man

As we offer up our hands to one and all.

What a wonderful new meaning for “ASAP”

Always Say a Prayer (A.S.A.P.)

There’s work to do,

Deadlines to meet.

You’ve got no time to spare,

But as you hurry and scurry,

Always Say a Prayer.

In the midst of family chaos,

“quality time” is rare.

Do your best;

Let God do the rest:

Always Say A Prayer.

It may seem like your worries

Are more than you can bear.

Slow down and take a breather

Always Say a Prayer.

God knows how stressful life is;

He wants to ease our cares,

And He’ll respond A.S.A.P.;

Always Say A Prayer!

Author Unknown

Calendar of Meetings

July 6, 2000                  August 3, 2000

Place – OC,A2E1      Place – OC,A2E1     

Time : - 12:00                          Time:  - 12:00

July 13, 2000                August 10, 2000

Place – MC Tobacco            Place - MC Tobacco

Museum    Theater                   Museum Theater

Time:  12:00                             time: - 12:00

July 20, 2000                August 17, 2000

Place – OC,A2E1      Place – OC,A2E1     

Time : - 12:00                          Time:  - 12:00

July 27, 2000                August 24, 2000

Place – MC Tobacco           Place - MC Tobacco

Museum    Theater                  Museum      Theater

Time:  12:00                             time: - 12:00

                     August 31, 2000

                   Place – OC,A2E1

            time: - 12:00

Sidebar Articles

“From Darkness into Light”

by Ronnie Waddell

By the time you read this Teresa Jackson and I will have already relocated to Park 500 to start our work as Missionaries sent from the Hands Up Ministry.  On May 25, a at the weekly meeting the members along with Tom Meadows and Richard Hatcher leading in prayer released us to go and make disciples in the name of Jesus Christ.

Employees desperately need what only God can give.  Most of the employees around us have no idea who Jesus Christ is.  And they need far more than we are able to give them.  They need God’s power and grace.  If we ask and believe, God will give it in response to our asking.  This is why we are sent out as “The Light.  In Matthew 5:16 it says, “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven.”

The employees have not yet recognized that Jesus is their Savior and Lord.  They are unaware that while we work beside them, we also work on their behalf in another realm through our prayers.

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.  Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases, the Lord”, Ephesians 5:8-11.  We as Christians must do His work so through Him we can glorify the Father.

Do you have a personal prayer request,  article, poem or announcement that you would like to share with our Christian brothers and sisters?   If so, email or send it through inter-office mail to Zynobia Gibson-M/C,EW-2 or Temple Pearce-JRC, Bldg. 41.

(continued from page 1)

The Twelve Disciples – Prayer Team

Leader – Tee Williams, Assistant Leader – Karen Page,  Disciples – Pam Barden, Temple Pearce, Tee Williams, Deedre Dickerson, Ivan Pope, Juanita Langley, Margie Jasper, Janet Taylor, Pamela Jeter, Deedre Dickerson and Deborah Whitener , (1 servant needed)                            

Love Fund Coordinator:   Mary Tinnell

Newsletter Staff:   Zynobia Gibson & Temple Pearce

Editor:  Servant Team

Staff of the Park 500 Ministry, THE LIGHT:     Ronnie Waddell and Teresa Jackson

HATYILYTILYAJLY

Has anyone told you

I love you, today

I love you and

Jesus

Loves you

PRAYER LIST:

  The Hands Up Ministry

  The Creating the Future Program

  Our Executives (PM Leaders)

  Our fellow Employees

  The Hands Up Servant Team and Disciple Team

Do you have a special gift or talent that glorifies our Heavenly Father?  We invite you to share your gift (i.e., musical instrument, song, interpretive movement, poetry, sign-language) with the group during our Thursday meetings!

Don’t Let Anxiety Consume You!

By Temple Pearce

The word anxiety is defined as, “..a state of uneasiness; worry, abnormal fear that lacks specific cause.”  Examples of causes include job security, financial difficulties or family problems.  The feeling of anxiety can overcome us if we allow it to.

In Proverbs 3:5-6, the Bible tells us to, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and he shall direct your paths.”

If we truly believe, we must learn to trust Him and surrender our anxiety to Christ.  His promise to us is that He will direct us!

In Romans 8:28, Paul says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to his purpose.”

In other words, if we love Him, all things will work together for good!

It doesn’t matter how great or small our source for anxiety may be, we must ask Christ to carry our burden.  In Philippians 4:6, the Bible tells us, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” 

Release your anxiety, and discover what Christ can do for you!

Choosing Growth (Faith over Fear)

By R. Waddell

How does the Christian “Play to Win” in the workplace? They must choose to grow and not be afraid.  You must be like Jesus Christ to reflect his image and character during your daily walk. A few years ago, I knew a retired PM employee. Through the years he had learned “PM talk” and had a foul mouth.  Then he accepted Jesus Christ. About six months after becoming a Christian, he was in his backyard mowing the lawn and singing to himself. He wasn’t paying close attention to what he was doing, and failed to duck under a tree. A big branch caught him right in the forehead and laid him on his back. His self-propelled lawnmower just kept on going until it hit the back fence. As he was lying on the ground, pain throbbing from his forehead, he jumped up, ran to his lawn mower, turned it off, checked it out quickly for damage and ran into the house, calling out, “Honey, honey! Guess what just happened?…oh, no, not that!  I hit a tree and I didn’t cuss!”  She replied, “Oh honey, do you know I haven’t heard you use a swear word in four or five months?” Amazed, he answered, “I haven’t?”  My friend worked twenty-six years on not being rejected – (one of the four fears stated in the book, Play to Win).  He just wanted to be accepted as one of the boys, to do the things that he thought would please his boss and not cause any trouble. This fear didn’t help him thrive in the workplace. It caused him to settle for less in his life, to hurt other employees, and to be feared and hated by his fellow workers. But what rejoicing erupted when he realized what God had done in his life and he wasn’t even aware of it. When you choose to grow in faith and obedience to God, He is faithful and just. He will forgive your sins and purify you from all unrighteousness. All He requests of you is  to obey His commands and grow in faith. Joshua 22:5.  In the book, Play to Win, Chapter 17, entitled Choosing Growth, the author gives direction on how to grow.

1) I will base my truth on objective reality – which is spiritually based;

2) I will make choices rationally – based on God’s word;

3) I will give it my personal best – be more like Jesus;

4) I will get out of my comfort zone – allow the Holy Spirit to guide me;

5) I cannot fail, I can only learn and grow – because my God is always beside me;

6) I will take accountability for how I respond - because I am a Christian.

  OUR  MISSION

Is to provide PM employees with a support group, which has a Spiritual based belief, where they can come together and be built up in the Spirit; to support the ideals of ‘Creating The Future’.

  OUR  COMMITMENT

Is to give PM employees nothing short of the best, work habit instructions, and Spiritual encouragement; with our promise to support the goals of the Company.         

  OUR  BELIEF

Exercises the highest level of Spiritual belief in all of our dealings and actions with each other as well as to exercise ethics and integrity in all of our business dealings.

  OUR  TEAM

Is dedicated to serve and to provide PM employees with a Spiritual based belief support system at all time.

  OUR  PROMISE

To position ourselves, not as an employee, but as a partner with PM in ‘Creating The Greatest Future’.