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Hernando Today

Your Faith Community Is A Tree Of Life

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By MAUREA SLEESMAN Hernando Today correspondent

The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 28, 2009

A tall, sculpted bass-relief Tree of Life mural is a new feature behind the dais and altar at Dayspring Church in Spring Hill. The striking piece of art was created recently by the De Rosas, members of the church who own a concrete finishing business. They also installed a magnificent sanctuary floor and entry that looks like polished ancient Roman slate tiles. The acoustical changes are remarkable. As a result, you can hear a prayer whispered...

A church Order of Service biblical reference introduces the Tree of Life and its 12 kinds of fruit, and the stylized leaves and branches of the mural suggest Hebrew calligraphy of the Twelve Tribes. The Rev. Robert Barnes spoke of its symbolic meaning for the church, religious education and upbringing for children and youth. He and his wife, Kim, home school their two children, and consider such endeavors as parental priorities.

"Children need active, intentional care if they are to grow, to thrive, be it spiritual or otherwise. We must cultivate, fertilize, and even prune them so that they grow into people who bear the fruit of tomorrow.

"This Tree of Life celebrates the provisions of God that are here for us now, and await us in a greater future. God's people are nourished for an eternity in the shade of a living tree, not a wooden cross (Revelation 22:1-2). Solomon's Temple and the Temple of Jesus' time were decorated with trees, and these design elements were directly commanded by God (1 Kings 6:18, 29; Eze. 41:19). We give these biblical elements preference over other decorative choices churches are free to make."

Pastor John Hensel of Christian Life Assembly asked some members to lend their thoughts on the importance of being active in a faith community, especially for children and youth. Becky Dean, 58, wrote: "I have found church attendance, since childhood, to be a source of strength especially in times of discouragement and trials. As a divorcee, single parent, and now mother of a blended family, my peace and hope are renewed as I draw from the songs and scriptures hidden in my heart giving me the assurance that all is in God's hands."

Member Ronnie Mediate, 32, talked about "relationship... for us it's much more, a relationship, a new relationship between each other, between us and God, us and the church family, and us with ourselves."

"The difference is in knowing that you have the church family and you always have someone there to talk with and to help you," said member James Lolley, 28.

Octengenarian Lona Redding wrote of each Sunday church attendance and the gospel recharging the inner man. When alone during the week, Lona feels that community strength and courage from other believers.

Pastor Hensel has traveled to China and other posts with church youth and adults on mission trips, and stressed the positive effects of regular church attendance. "The full benefits come when you move from being a spectator to a participant. It is always remarkable to witness the transformation that takes place in an individual's life..."

Catholic parishes and Orthodox churches have abundances of children and youth because growing up in the faith actively is paramount for their today and tomorrow, and their seasonal and milestone events have set the bar high for individual and family religious traditions and celebrations from birth to the end of mortal life. Seasons of life.

Temple Beth David has a large metal tree sculpture inside the entry, its leaves inscribed with donor names. The children see it as they turn the hall to attend classes on Judaism. They learn to read Hebrew. Families build a Sukkah annually to celebrate harvest with plants, music, stories, food and tradition.

Hernando County has many pre-schools and academies, most run by or held in church facilities with professional staff.

Jerri Trammel is a beloved wife, mother, and the minister of Children at Northcliffe Baptist Church. A Hernando Today story about its vacation bible school described a week of attendance with nearly 200 costumed children on the dais singing joyfully to families in Japanese for the Rickshaw Rally theme. Northcliffe is big in every way, and certainly in regard to children. Trammel said: "A church should be like an extended family. It's about relationships. We encourage parents to take on their God-given responsibilities to protect and teach His children. We teach and encourage children to obey their parents and we encourage every family member to live life in a way that pleases God. If every family in our community had a church family like this one, our community would be changed."

Likewise, Greg Gunn has seen hundreds of children's and youth's lives transformed at Faith Evangelical Presbyterian Church where he directs youth. "On Sunday evening youth rallies we have a good crowd, with Christ-centered Bible-based teaching, worship, music and caring fellowship. Youth rally lessons illuminate the work ethics of Jeremiah, Isaiah, Timothy and Elijah ... Our family center is a large facility with a gym, showers, and rooms for classes ... Some 250 youth are listed on our rolls. Some of them have gone on to college to be ministers or serving in missions here and abroad in Turkey, Haiti, India, a few hired here on staff. Our youth have learned so much in mission trips to help in places such Baltimore, Nassau and, of course, here in Brooksville ..."

Tonya Weatherwax is the youth minister and co-superintendent of children's Sunday school at Nativity Lutheran Church in Weeki Wachee. She spoke of the importance of teens having a safe place for sharing and caring among peers and of seeing adults in worship as they learn about their faith and grow in their relationships.

Dr. Adel Eldin is a local cardiologist whose office walls display awards for his work and for his faith and charity. Eldin, a Muslim, was recently given the local Humanitarian of the Year Award. Eldin spoke at length about the importance of Islam and the faithful life every day, of prayer, of showing charity to all, of the free Crescent Community Clinic in Brooksville run by local Muslim physicians and staff, and the Muslim schooling in Tampa that his children and other Islamic students attend. "Islam is a faith of action," he said. "While there are good and bad people in every religion, we all must join in our efforts to be of help and we should strive for mutual respect."

Ending on some simpler notes, a 6-year-old girl who attends Spring Hill United Methodist Sunday school said, about her church, "It feels like I'm part of the family!"

Her older friend, age 10, expounded. "I think it's important to belong to a church. You can learn a lot and be accepted into Jesus' heart. You can talk to Him by saying a prayer to help you get over your stress."

The closing contribution is by an eight-year-old Methodist who sounds like a Sunday school teacher in the making: "I like being in a church family. One - we learn bout God. Two - we praise God. Three - we make cards for shut-ins. Four - we help people. Five - we make friends."

Faith, Hope, Charity

Where can you find it?

In your neighborhood church, temple, mosque

When does it happen?

Often. Call office. Contribute.

Cost: Priceless

Writer's note: A faithful friend of some 19 years, Ray Heddleson, asked this writer and artist to critique the new Tree of Life mural at his church. Ray often chatted with me during breaks when I worked on a huge restaurant mural a few humid summers ago, and I figured we could shoot the breeze over a lunch after this interview. We dined outside by a verdant sago palm.

The Tree of Life then came to mind as a fitting metaphor for my farewell religion column focus: How having you, your children and youth active in a faith community almost guarantees a healthy and vibrant specimen "tree." In a professional arboretum nursery, a seedling is carefully planted in a good placement with proper soil and light. The gardeners give it water, nutrients, protection and occasional pruning.

One last comment about The Tree of Life: In your own faith community, heart and home, that tree will grow stronger proportionately as you nurture it withfFaith, hope and charity. See you in church.

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