Wed lunch Bible study W2033, Easter celebrations, and CCIH Conference scholarship for student volunteers

Dear PHCF,

Isaiah writes -- All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever (Is 40:6-8). Sometimes you may feel caught up in the cycle of too much work, too few (healthy) boundaries, competing obligations, desires to please people, a "chasing after the wind"... Dear ones, praying that you take to heart the words of comfort given to Jesus from the Father via the Holy Spirit when he was baptised -- "This is my Son, whom I love; in him I am well pleased" (Mt 3:17) -- even before Jesus started his ministry, before marvelous miracles or passionate preaching. And God loves you too, with an everlasting and steadfast love. Believe and trust anew today. 

PHCF events this week: 

• Wednesday April 3, at 12:15pm in Room W2033, Travis will lead us in a study of John 18

PHCF whatsapp group: we've created a whatsapp group for easier communication/support/sharing/prayer during the week outside of our meetings. Please email jhsph.phcf@gmail.com with your name and phone number if you're interested in joining. (You'll need to have Whatsapp downloaded onto your phone too.)

If you have prayers, reflections, songs, or announcements you'd like to share with the rest of PHCF (or individual questions/comments for the PHCF leaders), please email jhsph.phcf@gmail.com!

Grace and peace,
Teresa - for PHCF
Helpful links: PHCF website | map/list of local churches

Other announcements:

1. Praises and prayers
2. Spring PHCF schedule
3. Joint Easter Celebration - April 21
4. Job opportunity
5. Christian Global Health Conference 2019 - June 6-8, 2019 *Volunteers needed! (registration fee will be covered for volunteers)

1. Praises and prayers:

• Please pray for next academic year's incoming students (and staff/faculty), as folks consider next steps. Pray for God's leading and direction and provision, and for his divine placement of exactly the right people at exactly the right time for his good purposes.
• Pray for the persecuted church around the world. Pray for those enduring through natural disaster and famine. Pray for the leaders of the nations around the world, and of our country, state, and city.
• Pray for Christian Faculty at the SPH as we start gathering for sharing and prayer on the last Tuesday of the month - contact Teresa for more details if interested in joining!
• Pray for new students as they settle down in Baltimore, start classes, and find spiritual community at the SPH and in local churches.
• Pray for our PHCF brothers and sisters who are currently afar for work/practicum/missions/dissertation research, for favor in their work and traveling mercies.
• Pray for our PHCF brothers and sisters who recently graduated (or are graduating soon), finishing their capstones/theses/dissertations, and/or who are seeking God's direction/calling for jobs and career. May we trust in God's plans more than our own, for his ways are higher than our ways and his thoughts than our thoughts (Is 55:9)
• Pray for the leaders (and leaders-in-training, and advisors, and members) of the various ministries around Hopkins - for unity, wisdom, and a big vision for God's work on campus this academic year.

2. Spring PHCF scheduleBelow is a tentative schedule for PHCF for the rest of the year - mixing together the John Bible Study, prayer, and some guest speakers (suggestions welcome!). Also here are biblical theology study questions that we'll be using to guide our discussion. Biblical theology is exactly what it sounds like - a way of studying the bible that focuses on understanding each passage, chapter, or book within the context of the overarching Biblical narrative.
4/10: Humanitarian health / faith discussion panel
4/17: The Death of Christ: John 19

*Lots of churches are doing Good Friday Service, and there is a Baltimore-wide Sunrise service at the Inner Harbor on Easter Sunday, and of course many Easter Sunday celebration services. Please contact us if you would like to be connected with a church!

4/24:  The Resurrection of Christ: John 20
5/1: The Gospel of John: John 21
5/8: End of the year celebration!

3. Joint Easter Celebration - April 21

PHCF, along with the International Fellowship and the Hopkins Graduate Christian Fellowship, is hosting an Easter Celebration on Sunday 4/21. Attend an Easter Celebration Service at your local church, and then join us for lunch and an egg hunt (telling the story of the resurrection)! Find more info and register at bit.ly/jhifeaster19

4. Job opportunity

• Wheaton College seeking an assistant professor in epidemiology - Note: while the position reads to be focused on epidemiology, we are searching broadly in public health.
• Some positions at Worldrelief (in downtown Baltimore, as well as around the US and abroad) are opening up, for those interested working in a cross-cultural faith-based organization.

5. Christian Global Health Conference Conference 2019 - June 6-8, 2019

The Christian Connections for International Health conference will be held June 6-8, 2019 at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. It's a unique opportunity for students to meet and network with global health professionals from across the globe. Our theme is Called to Care: A Strong Community for Lasting Health. Promo video here. At our core, faith communities are called to care for themselves and those in need. Paul’s letter in Philippians 2:3-4 urges us to “do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

We will explore questions such as:

• How are faith-based organizations integrating faith and work in the field?
• How do we build capacity of local caring communities and organizations?
• How can faith-based organizations incorporate design that considers the human perspective in all steps of development and problem solving?
• Are faith-based programs themselves resilient and innovative?
• Are we working with other faith-based organizations, churches, government agencies, NGOs, and others to ensure our communities are self-sufficient?

If interested in volunteering -- CCIH has 5 student volunteer slots available (registration covered). Volunteers must help in at least three of the following areas:

• Wednesday, June 5th:
• Set-up for the conference 11am-2:00pm or 2:00-5:00pm (need to be able to lift up to 30 lbs).
• Assist with conference registration/check-in/welcome from 5-7pm or 7-9pm.
• Thursday, June 6th:
• Assist with conference registration/check-in/welcome from 7-9am or 1:15-4:15pm.
• Assist with pre-conference sessions (technology, welcome, checking people in). 9am-Noon or 1:15-4:15pm
• Plenary 1: 5-7pm: Time cards during plenary or walk around with microphone during Q & A after plenary speaker is done
• Assist with set-up and clean-up for reception: 4:30-5:00pm and 9-9:30pm
• Friday, June 7th:
• Assist with conference registration/check-in/welcome from 7-9am
• Plenary 2: 8:30-10:30am: Time cards during plenary or walk around with microphone during Q & A after plenary speaker is done
• Plenary 3: 3-4pm: Time cards during plenary or walk around with microphone during Q & A after plenary speaker is done
• Plenary 4: 4-4:45pm: Time cards during plenary or walk around with microphone during Q & A after plenary speaker is done
• Saturday, June 8th:
• Plenary 5: 2-4pm: Time cards during plenary or walk around with microphone during Q & A after plenary speaker is done
• Clean-up after conference ends: 4-6pm (need to be able to lift up to 30 lbs)

If interested, please email Mona at conference@ccih.org by April 15th with your name, email, where you are a student/what you are majoring in, why you are interested in volunteering, and at least what 3 dates/times you are willing to help with based on the list above.  

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)