TENNESSEE CONFERENCE REVIEW November 13, 2009

Articles in the November 13th issue of THE REVIEW



1. Warmth in Winter is coming, January 29th-31st, Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Will your youth be “Going the Distance"?

2. Conference UMMen Make a Difference on “Make a Difference Day"

3. Rev. Paul Slentz presented the G. Ross Freeman Leadership Award for 2009 by United Methodist Men.

4. 108 Participate in Hispanic/Latino Extended Incubator Covenant Group

5. Lawrenceburg First United Methodist Church in partnership with Fountain of Life Church in Amatitan, Nicaragua

6. Joaquin Garcia Announces Retirement.

7. Tennessee Conference Provides Computer for United Methodist Mission Station in Africa.

8. Now Thank We All Our God by Lucy Neeley Adams

9. Marshall County Methodist Laity Club awards college school.

10. A very special Mealtime by Dr. Ted Hill, M.D.
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Warmth in Winter is coming, January 29th-31st, Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Will your youth be “Going the Distance?”

The Dove nominated worship band, Pocket Full of Rocks, finds its roots deep in the church. Their unique sound and engaging style helps all experience what it means to worship passionately. The members of PFOR are Michael Ferren, Alisa Farren, David Rollins, Jody Crump, and Ryan Riggins.

Year after year Warmth in Winter remains a pivotal event in Tennessee Conference youth ministry—as young church leaders are enriched spiritually, energized, encouraged to bond with other young people from around the conference, and made aware of Christ’s love and uplifting presence in an often-times chaotic and despairing world. And year after year Warmth in Winter remains the largest gathering in the Tennessee Annual Conference including the yearly sessions of Annual Conference.

The 2010 Warmth in Winter is built on the theme “Going the Distance” and will be held January 29th-January 31st at the Embassy Suites Hotel and Convention Center, Mufreesboro, Tennessee. Worship leaders for the weekend experience will be the Dove Award nominated group Pocket Full of Rocks, and the guest speaker will be the Rev. Dr. Brenda Salter-McNeil. Dr. McNeil is a dynamic and prophetic speaker who ministers at conferences, on college campuses and in churches around the world. And – as many youth will tell you—an essential ingredient for Warmth in Winter is crazyman Don Washburn who leads all participants in spectacular dance movements. He breaks through to even the dance-inhibited as the entire audience sways and moves in unison to what are very honestly called “Crazy Dances.”

Dr. Brenda Salter -McNeil. Through her speaking, teaching, and writing, Dr. McNeil boldly declares a vision that unites people from every tribe and every nation.

A brochure detailing daily schedule, registration procedure, possible housing arrangements, and a great deal of additional information can be downloaded by going to the website http://tnumcyouth.org/ and scrolling down the page to click on the words BROCHURE AND POSTER. And just below the link to the brochure is another link to the REGISTRATION FORM.

For adults in churches where young people have not had the Warmth in Winter experience, it will be worth the effort making certain that the youth in your church are in Murfreesboro, January 29th-31st—even if you only have a couple of youth. There are a number of ways this can be accomplished including joining together with youth groups in neighboring churches. Brad Fiscus, Director of Young People’s Ministry for the Conference, feels strongly about the 2010 event. “Warmth In Winter is going to be an exciting gathering at the new Embassy Suites Hotel and Convention Center in Murfreesboro. The design teams are working hard to create a fun, spiritual and memorable event. You won't want to miss it!”

If you need more information contact Brad Fiscus at the Tennessee Conference Young People’s Ministry, (615) 327-1533, toll free 1-800-403-5795; or email him at bfiscus@tnumc.org.



Conference UMMen Make a Difference on “Make a Difference Day”

Freddie Brown (center), Blackman United Methodist Church, head of PET project for Tennessee, trained the UMMen on how to assemble, test, and then pack the PETs for shipment around the world.

On Saturday, October 24, 2009 which was national “Make A Difference Day”, the Tennessee Conference of United Methodist Men gathered at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, to help the P.E.T Project of Middle Tennessee build 10 P.E.T.S. for international distribution. P.E.T.S. (Personal Energy Transport units) are hand-cranked front wheel carts that assist those who have no legs or no use of their legs because of accidents, birth defects, or disease. Thanks to the PET Project International, more than 10,000 people hobbled by polio, landmine injuries, or other disabilities are getting around on their own using these sturdy, hand-cranked, all terrain vehicles. PET was started in 1995 by a retired United Methodist minister in Columbia, MO. and has grown into a world-wide ministry today. Each PET unit is made at a cost of about $250 in materials. During the National Gathering of UMMen held at Belmont University in July of this year, some 24 PET units were assembled as part of that meeting.

At the UMMen breakfast meeting Mike Bishop (center) received the Life Member Recognition for his 10 years of service as an executive officer.

Mr. Freddie Brown, member of Blackman UMC, is the local PET Project Coordinator and helped arrange the work day from 9am to 1pm for some 60 men representing 12 different Methodist churches in the conference. Ingram Howard, Tennessee Conference President, said, “This was a huge success as we joined others all across the country to make a difference on this special day. Men, especially Christian men, need to know that they are making a difference in this world and this was the perfect opportunity to do so. We are already planning to schedule PET Project work days for next year. The response has been overwhelmingly positive”.

Making certain the bottom frame is set perfectly is painstaking work.

Special thanks is extended to St. Mark’s UMC for hosting this event, the UMMen unit at St. Mark’s for providing breakfast and lunch, and to all those churches and individuals that helped raise $2,500 to cover cost and joined in making the “Gift of Mobility” possible. Even churches and individuals who could not attend sent money to build PETS. Prior to the work day, UMM Conference officers were elected for 2010. Mike Bishop, member of Hermitage UMC and outgoing Conference Vice Pres., received the Life Member Recognition for his 10 years of service as an executive officer. Additional coverage of this event can be seen on the website: www:tnumc.org and viewing Ministries and then UMM.

Wood parts were finally honed.

Music during the work period and then during afternoon lunch was provided by Buzz Arledge and Hank Martin, member s of Liberty United Methodist Church in Brentwood.

Even the very young pitched in.

     




Final touches.

The finished product comes off the production line.

When each P.E.T. was completed a test drive was essential.

When testing was completed the P.E.T. units were broken down and boxed for shipment to handicapped persons on other continents.

Rev. Paul Slentz presented the G. Ross Freeman Leadership Award for 2009 by United Methodist Men

The Rev. Paul Slentz

On October 24th at the 61st Avenue United Methodist Church’s Saturday evening worship service, the Rev. Paul Slentz was presented with one of the SEJ United Methodist Men’s highest honors, the G. Ross Freeman Leadership Award. This award is given to honor clergy who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in encouraging the ministries of men and strengthening the local church Fellowship of United Methodist Men. The award was presented to Slentz by Ingram Howard, President, Tennessee Conference United Methodist Men, and is sponsored by the G. Ross Freeman Foundation.

Slentz, who was ordained as an Elder in 2000, has completed 12 years as Senior Pastor of 61st Avenue United Methodist Church . . . a congregation that has attracted conference-wide attention for its loving concern for the community, and its outreach ministry to the poor. Even homeless people deserve to have a church home, according to Slentz, who has dedicated his life to serving an unconventional congregation in a low-income area of Nashville. Sixty First Avenue United Methodist opens its doors to the needy and poor in the community. The church holds services on Saturday nights to accommodate the hard working families in the neighborhood, and Slentz often drives a van to pick up homeless folk that make up the majority of the congregation.

Rev. Slentz is presented Life Membership in United Methodist Men.

Changing lives is a full time job at this church and for the small staff led by Slentz. The church is open five days a week in order to coordinate summer and after-school programs for children and youth in the community. Instead of going home to an empty house, kids of all ages go to the church every afternoon for a snack lunch and a listening ear from church volunteers. This affords them a safe place to stay until picked up by their parents and an alternative life style to what they would be doing in the neighborhood after school. Year round, Pastor Paul and the church’s volunteers make sure children are cared for, have school supplies, and even provide groceries to the needy families.

While the needs are constant, resources are very limited due to the small membership, usually fewer than 100. Despite the hardships faced by the members, a generous spirit of giving radiates from this humble congregation in everything they do. They keep very little money for themselves.

Church leaders work with agencies in Nashville to set up the annual three-gift-per –child “Last Minute Toy Store.” The “Store” has become a Christmas tradition recognized throughout the church community. Volunteers guide parents through the church to pick up toys donated from campaign drives and individuals. The toys come unwrapped so parents can select gifts according to the interests of their children and wrap them as gifts from Santa. In 2008, led by the church’s men, over 14,000 toys were distributed to some 3,000 children and teens of low-income parents.

Pastor Paul’s ministry goes beyond helping just members of his local church. The UMMen from 61st Avenue and First UMC in Franklin, Tennessee, partnered to form a ministry group called “Light in the Nations.” Light in the Nations ministers to a group of 20-25 senior citizens, doing various jobs such as covering their windows with plastic during winter, caring for their yards, building handicap ramps, and making general repairs to their homes that they could not otherwise afford

In Sep. 2008, the men launched a “Nothing But Nets” campaign to raise money for insecticide-treated beds to protect children from malaria-carrying mosquitoes in Africa. In just four weeks, they raised nearly $500 (exceptionally good for such a small church).

Paul Slentz has led many men and women to Christ and changed their lives significantly. Friends and members of the church will “testify” that this is one of the greatest gifts that God has given him. His Bible studies on Saturday nights are lively and involve conversation from the men and women who faithfully attend along with new-comers looking for a church “home.” He has personally led over 30 men to make a profession of faith and join the church.

For these reasons and more the men of the Tennessee Conference and of 61st Avenue were proud to nominate the Rev. Paul Slentz for the 2009 G. Ross Freeman Leadership Award. Rev. Slentz was also presented a Life Membership in United Methodist Men for his many years of service to his church and community. In recognition of this honor, the Tennessee Conference UMM will make a $200 donation to the United Methodist Men Foundation..


108 Participate in Hispanic/Latino Extended Incubator Covenant Group
By Joaquin Garcia*

Bishop Joel Martinez addresses the group

I want to take this opportunity to express appreciation for the partnership that the Hispanic/Latino Academy enjoys with the districts of the Tennessee Annual Conference!

On Saturday, October 24th, we celebrated the response of the Hispanic community, their strong faith, and eagerness to equip themselves to communicate the Gospel! We anticipated 70 participants for the Hispanic/Latino “Extended Incubator Covenant Group” but were absolutely delighted when 108 showed up at the event designed for Hispanic/Latino pastors and leaders. The Incubator Covenant Group was held in Kern Building at the United Methodist Center in Nashville.

Leading the singing was Esther Hernandez from La Hermosa Congregation in Smithville.

This was a key event to equip a new generation of Hispanic/Leaders to start Hispanic/Latino faith communities in the Tennessee Conference. The participants learned how to start small neighborhood cell groups ["Antorchas"] to invite neighbors and friends to their homes in order to start integrating them into faith communities and congregations.

We had representation from La Hermosa-Smithville, Hispanic Ministry-Chapel Hill UMC, Hispanic Ministry-Lafayette UMC, Hispanic Ministry-Crossville UMC /Fairfield Glade UMC, Familia de Dios-Monterey UM Fellowship, Hispanic Ministries West Nashville UMC, Agua Viva-McMinnville First UMC, Hispanic Ministries New Providence UMC Clarksville. Rev. Iosmar Alvarez from the Hispanic Congregation Fuente de Avivamiento UMC, Lexington, KY was our resource person.

Many of the 108 registrants were close to the median age of 26

Unfortunately, we missed the pastors and lay leaders from Primera Iglesia Hispana, Cannon/Shelbyville, Manchester, Brentwood, and Hispanic Fellowship Coneccion Cookeville, who were unable to attend.

Under the leadership of Uziel Hernandez, a Junior at Martin Methodist College, an Incubator Covenant Group was formed at Martin College. The Hispanic young adults in the group are maturing and taking leadership roles in the community and church. These young adults represent the new generation of Christian leaders and the objective of a college student’s incubator is to provide a supportive community for young adults in college. This will enable them to grow spiritually as they look forward to a future as faithful leaders and disciples of Jesus Christ.

We have received grants from some of our General Agencies for this year and have applied for more for next year in order to help support these training programs. We are pleased at the advances being made, and your support continues to be crucial. Photos made at the October 24th event are quite revealing. You will notice in particular the overwhelming number of young adults who were present. This clearly reflects the demographics of the average age of the Hispanic/Latino population -- being 26 years of age! In a CNN documentary shown this past Wednesday and Thursday, "Latino in America", it was mentioned that now we have 51 million Latinos in the US.
*Rev. Joaquin Garcia is Director of the Tennessee Conference Hispanic/Latino Academy for Christian Formation and Church Leadership.



Lawrenceburg First United Methodist Church in partnership with Fountain of Life Church in Amatitan, Nicaragua
By Beverly Duke


Since 1997, First United Methodist Church of Lawrenceburg has had a Covenant Partnership with a church in the village of Amatitan, Nicaragua. The church is the Fountain of Life Church, and their village is located in the Department (we call this "state") of Leon in the northwestern part of the country. Since February of 1999, there have been eight times that friends from Lawrenceburg have visited Amatitan. Now, finally, friends from Amatitan have come to Lawrenceburg. On October 2nd, Pastor Juan Gonzalez, pastor of the fountain of Life Church, his wife, Maria Leonor Castro, and Harold Blandon, interpreter, arrived in Lawrenceburg for a ten day visit. And what a visit it was! They were welcomed with open arms to the church and to the town of Lawrenceburg. The hospitality of First United Methodist Church of Lawrenceburg and the hospitality of the people of Lawrenceburg were truly amazing.

Pastor Juan Gonzalez and his wife, Maria Leonor Castro, in front of the First UMC of Lawrenceburg.


While here, they were invited to the Presbyterian Preschool, Lawrence County High School, and EO Coffman Middle School. They either spoke or were guests of the Kiwanis Club and the Rotary Club. They were invited to Charlotte-Fagan United Methodist Church in Dickson and spoke there about the involvement of the late Pastor David Hawkins in the Partnership. They were guests in the homes of church members for meals or for overnight stays. They had meals and fellowship with members in the Church's Christian Life Center as well as the Fellowship Hall. They received gifts and brought gifts for their hosts. They received coon skin caps since their host city was the City of Lawrenceburg. They were busy and learned a lot about us and about our country.

The delegation from Amatitan, Nicaragua, with a few of their friends from Lawrenceburg First United Methodist Church

But their hosts learned a lot about them, too. The members of Lawrenceburg First United Methodist Church learned that, because of God's call to be in Partnership with them, their church building has been completed. And because of the Partnership, their school building is completed. Because they have these facilities, they have been chosen by an organization out of Canada named Compassion International to take part in a nutrition program that feeds all the school children in Preschool through Sixth Grade three days a week. The nutrition program includes medical checkups and dietary supplements that are needed for the more than 80% of the children who were malnourished. The rate of malnourishment has dropped each six months period since the onset of the program. An organization out of Colorado, Living Water, has dug a well at the school so that the children and the cooks have clean water. Each year since the year 2000, funds that have been provided for the Nicaraguan Educational Scholarships through First United Methodist Church of Lawrenceburg have enabled these children to have the materials needed for school that their parents cannot afford to buy.

Because of Lawrenceburg First United Methodist Church's initial and continuing involvement in this Partnership, 181 children have the opportunity for hearing the Good News of Jesus Christ, for going to school, for having nourishing food for their bodies, for having regular medical checkups and treatment, for having school supplies, and for having clean water to drink and wash with.

The delegation from Nicaragua returned home on Monday, October 12th, with a renewed celebration of what this Partnership has meant to them, and also with an understanding of what this Partnership means to its North American partners. They returned home tired but well, thankful and joyful.

Truly our God is an awesome God. And First United Methodist Church of Lawrenceburg is an awesome church. God bless them all.


Joaquin Garcia Announces Retirement

Joaquin Garcia







After a lot of prayer, reflection and process of discernment, I will retire, effective January 1, 2010, from my position as Director of The Hispanic/Latino Academy for the Tennessee Conference

The focus in my work through the Hispanic/Latino Academy has been to respond to the needs of the Hispanic Community in Middle Tennessee through:

• Nurturing, developing and training Hispanic leadership in the conference,

• Identifying, recruiting and nurturing Hispanic students in collaboration with Martin Methodist College,

• Starting new faith communities in the conference, and

• Raising funds from a variety of sources to support both the programmatic training and formation needs for Hispanic/Latino pastors and lay leadership, and starting new faith communities.

I have been very blessed through the process of helping to establish many ties between the Anglo congregations and the Hispanic congregations and faith communities, as well as to establish the Tennessee Hispanic/Latino Academy to coordinate the Hispanic Ministries in the Conference.

One of the basic vehicles to strengthen Hispanic leadership was the establishment of the Tennessee Hispanic Incubator Covenant Group, which has grown in the number of persons served and now includes an “Extended” Incubator Covenant Group involving both the lay leaders and pastors of the Hispanic faith communities and congregations.

It is the hope of the Hispanic community, and my sincerest hope, that the momentum and support will continue from the annual conference and its leaders in building God’s kingdom together with the Hispanic community. I have been blessed with the trust that the Hispanic pastors and laity, church agencies and the Turner Family Foundation have put into the development of Hispanic Ministries. I appreciate very much the support from all the Tennessee Conference and by our Bishop Richard J. Wills, Council Director, Reverend Loyd Mabry, and Reverend John Purdue chair of the Committee on Hispanic Ministries.

I look forward with anticipation to what God may reveal for the next season for the Tennessee Conference Hispanic/Latino Ministries.

In Christ,
Rev. Joaquin Garcia

Tennessee Conference Provides Computer for United Methodist Mission Station in Africa

(left to right) Bill Freeman, Ngandu Albert Kasongo, Bill Lovell, Johnathan Rose

Johnathan Rose, Bill Freeman, and chairperson of the Annual Conference Mercy and Mission Committee, Bill Lovell, officially present a fully programmed laptop computer to the Rev. Ngandu Albert Kasongo on behalf of the Tennessee Annual Conference. Rev. Ngandu works at a print shop at the United Methodist Mission Station at Diengenga, Central Congo.

The computer replaces an ancient Heidelberg hand-set printer


He will be using the older Dell laptop computer to take the place of a aged and worn out Heidelberg hand-set printing system with a foot pedal for its power source. Bill Freeman added a port replicator to the Dell plus additional power supply while Johnathan Rose reprogrammed the computer into a French version of Microsoft Word. To make the gift complete Bill Lovell managed to come up with a new lazer printer compatible with the computer.

As he left the Conference office with the computer Rev. Ngandu expressed his great appreciation to the Tennessee Conference for the wonderful gift.


Now Thank We All Our God
by Lucy Neeley Adams

Each Thanksgiving our family laughs about the sermon that turned us into a few muffled giggles. It happened years ago, when our children were young and we were visiting at the community Thanksgiving church service.

The preacher kept repeating his favorite phrase. "This worship service is for more than Thanksgiving - it is for thanks LIVING." The children continued to get tickled as he increased his volume each time he stressed the word, LIVING.

The best part of that memory is that it reminds me to look back to see if I have actually had a year of thanks - LIVING. Each day was God's gift. It was filled with sunlight, fresh air and the beauty of nature all around me. When the days were full of pleasure, good health, and abundant blessings, it was easy to experience the life of thanks-LIVING.

But there are times when everyone remembers troubles, and it is so easy to ask of the Lord, "Why me?" I believe the biggest hindrance to our thankfulness, in any situation, is in our humanness to hold on to the negative experience.

Several years ago, our family was saddened when our daughter divorced. I had often heard the words, "a broken home" to describe that experience. During those days of planning for our Thanksgiving gathering, I prayed and cried about it. One day I sensed loving words from the Lord that brought peace. "They are not broken they are only re-arranged."

When I study the background of the hymn,"Now Thank We All Our God," I am astounded to read of the composer, Martin Rinkart. He was living through years of bloodshed and suffering when he wrote the words.

Rinkart, a Lutheran minister, based the words to this great hymn on I Thessalonians 5:18, "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

He lived in Eilenburg, Germany, and faithfully served his people throughout the troubling time of the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648). Catholics and Protestants were in violent disagreement in the countries of central Europe and their battleground was Germany. Since Eilenburg was a city surrounded by walls, the refugee population grew rapidly. During the horrible plague of 1637, Rinkart had forty to fifty funerals a day. And one of those funerals was that of his own wife.

Through his knowledge of God and his relationship with Him he had the assurance of unfailing love and strength. He continued to lead in worship and to sing praises.

"Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices.
Who wondrous things has done, in whom this world rejoices.
Who from our mothers' arms, has blessed us on the way.
With countless gifts of love and still is ours today."

Later, when the Swedes were in control of the city, an unjust tax was imposed on the people. Pastor Rinkart's request to lower the taxes was to no avail. History records that he said to his congregation, "Come my children, we can find no mercy with man. Let us take refuge with God." So they knelt and prayed. The Swedish commander was so impressed with the confident Christians that he withdrew the high tax.

Imagine the jubilant response of the people who were at the mercy of warring leaders. It must have happened exactly as the first words of this powerful hymn describe. With their "hearts, their hands and their voices," they were in awe of the wondrous things God was doing.

The story of this great man of God, Martin Rinkart, enables me to put into perspective the day to day trials that I might experience. During this time of Thanksgiving, I anticipate our dinner table discussion when we will recount our thanks-LIVING for the year. Through joys or sorrows we will share the hymn, "Now Thank We All Our God" as a blessing of praise.

Our loving and powerful God, we come to you with hearts of thanksgiving that we can be victors and not victims of life. Your presence enables us to be over-comers when we feel overwhelmed. Thank You for Your loving touch upon our lives. Thank you that each day can be one of thanks-LIVING. In Jesus name, Amen.
*Lucy Neeley Adams is author of “52 Hymn Story Devotions,” www.52hymns.com

Marshall County Methodist Laity Club awards college scholarships
By Carol M. Williams*

The Marshall County Methodist Laity Club awarded scholarships to three students from Marshall county at the September 28, 2009 meeting. The purpose of the Laity club is to provide scholarship money to college students from Marshall County. This year we had three applicants and each applicant was awarded a scholarship in the amount of $1,400.00 to be used for educational expenses.

The recipients were:
• Veronica K. Schultz who is attending the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Pulaski First UMC
• Branham Jordan who is attending Carson Newman College in Jefferson City, - Caney Springs UMC
• Heather Reel who is attending Columbia State Community College in Columbia

For the last two years, county churches have donated baskets that are auctioned off. This money is the major revenue source for scholarship monies. This project generates interest and competition among the churches for bragging rights for the basket that brings in the most money. In 2008, the basket auction generated just over $1,000. In 2009, the basket auction brought in over $1,600.

We are a small organization so are especially proud that we are able to serve deserving students from Marshall County in furthering their education.

*Carol M. Williams is Treasurer, Marshall County Methodist Laity Club


A very special Mealtime
by Dr. Ted Hill, M.D.*

Once a month we have a very simple meal at our church that ALL are invited to attend. It is fairly easy to prepare and there are special people at the church who prepare this meal for all of us to eat. We have other meals at our church also. Methodists are great at having “pot lucks.” Everybody who attends prepares something at home, puts it in a pot, shares it, and you are lucky when you find something you like – “pot luck.” We also offer a meal on Wednesday nights during most of the school year in order to make it more convenient for young families with children, particularly for parents who work, to pick up the kids from school, go to church for a quick meal and attend the evening’s programming.

But the meal I am most interested in is the one we refer to as Holy Communion, the Eucharist or The Lord’s Supper. The name often depends on which Christian denomination one is. Some churches offer the meal every Sunday. Some, I hear, rarely celebrate it at all.

The Apostle Paul, in one of his letters to the church at Corinth, did give some instructions about this meal. Apparently, he heard that some of the more well to do in the congregation would get there earlier than some less well off who had to work longer hours. By the time the less well off arrived, the well off had stuffed themselves and there was not enough left for the latecomers. A similar thing happened with drink. In that time, water was scarce and most had wine with their meals. The early folk must also have had too much to drink, and by the time all was said and done, they were pretty much plastered. So, Paul sends a letter for a corrective. In essence he says, “don’t desecrate the sacred memory of the expensive sacrifice given for you. Instead celebrate the real presence of Christ in these meals. Sound advice.

Nowadays, the meal most often is actually a token as it relates to the bread and wine. Nobody will be stuffed or drunk from the elements served at this meal. But wait a minute. Is that so? Is there a well off group who are stuffed and a group who are hungry at this meal? A group who over do a bit in whatever category you want to name—clothes, cars, houses, IRA’s, stocks, wine, or whatever; and a group who go without? Didn’t Jesus (the one who initiated this meal) say that all his children are to be at this table, both us obese Americans and the starving, hungry half of the rest of the world? Are some of us partaking unworthily at the table? Paul says whoever takes the bounty of Jesus’ blessings in an unworthy manner shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. Didn’t he say to perpetuate this inequality is a sign of despising the church of God? Paul says, you get no kudos from me by doing this!

He also says, let’s examine ourselves to see which group we are in, for if we are in the wrong, we bring judgment on ourselves. He even proposes this over-consumption (of lack of attending this meal, per John Wesley) may be the reason we are sick and even die prematurely. I wonder how Paul knew obesity increases the risk of premature heart attack, stroke, congestive heart failure, diabetes, hypertension and even some types of cancer? I bet Paul got some bad feedback about this letter.

So, come to the meal but remember: all who are at the table are to share the bounty. Curb your appetite for the sake of all and in particular, the Host, So be it.

Ted Hill, August 2009
*Dr. Ted Hill, M.D., is an ordained Deacon in the United Methodist Church, and is founder and executive director of SALVAS, a medical service for the working poor.

TENNESSEE CONFERENCE REVIEW October 30, 2009

Articles in this issue of THE REVIEW

1. Lois Banks Nunley Conference Center dedicated at Beersheba Springs United Methodist Assembly, Sunday, October 18, 2009


2. The David Bain Hawkins Memorial Golf Tournament, November 2-3, 2009


3. Palmyra United Methodist October Revival provided new ways to Re-Think Church,


4. Happy 25 th Anniversary Community Care Fellowship


5. Brief History of the Community Care Fellowship


6. Remembering by the Rev. Jerry Hilton


7. Thanks to those who plant by the Rev. Pat Freudenthal


8. Health Plan Committee Selects new Third Party Administrator (TPA) by Jim Allen


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Lois Banks Nunley Conference Center dedicated at Beersheba Springs United Methodist Assembly, Sunday, October 18, 2009

Mrs. Lois Banks Nunley




Brick Row at the Beersheba Springs Assembly has been an aging collection of guest rooms with sagging floors and walls as well as some serious structural problems. Thanks to a gift from the will of Lois Banks Nunley, Brick Row has been gutted and transformed into a Conference Room and three updated guest rooms. The Conference Center has been named in honor of Lois Banks Nunley. Three remodeled guest rooms and the Conference Room were named after Bishops who have been elected from the Tennessee Annual Conference.

Interior of the new conference room

The newly rebuilt Brick Row also contains a nursery with a bathroom and kitchen, as well as a kitchen attached to the Conference Room. The Conference Room has been designed so it can be divided to serve as two Conference Rooms. Each conference room will have conference tables with desk chairs and will seat 10 or 12 persons, or when used as a single meeting space, will be able to seat 20. The new layout will be great for cabinet, church staff, and other executive type meetings.

Five bishops who were elected to the episcopacy from the Tennessee Conference. From left to right: Joe Pennel, Roy C. Clark, Robert H. Spain, James R. King, and William W. Morris.

Lois Banks Nunley, before her death, was an active layperson in Ivy Bluff United Methodist Church, and because of her great love for the church her gift was presented to Beersheba Springs Assembly.

The Bishops rooms are available Sunday through Thursday nights for clergy and other professional church workers to use as personal retreat space for a nominal charge. The kitchen is available for their use as well.

Mrs. Evelyn Casey (right), niece of Lois Banks Nunley, was present for the dedication along with family.

The Service of Dedication of the Lois Banks Nunley Conference Center, was held on Sunday afternoon, October 18, 2:00 p.m. The remodeled guest rooms were dedicated in honor of Bishop Roy C. Clark, Bishop Robert H. Spain, and Bishop Joe Pennel. A forth guest room at the front of the old hotel has been dedicated to Bishop William W. Morris. The Conference room was dedicated in honor of Bishop James R. King. All five bishops were ministers within the Tennessee Annual Conference when they were elected to the episcopacy, and all five were present on the mountain for the dedication.

Camping director the Rev. Dickie Hinton shared that he was a young person at Beersheba when he received his call to ministry.

The immense value of the Beersheba Springs Assembly was quite obvious as visitors came for the dedication of the Conference Center. Arriving guests witnessed the ending moments of Belmont United Methodist Church’s 31st annual family retreat at Beersheba with over 214 participants (50 children, 21 youth, 143 adults). The temperature was below freezing for much of the weekend but the Belmont families obviously had a rich and enjoyable time.

Leading the Service of Dedication were the Reverend Bud Alexander, chairperson of the Tennessee Conference Committee on Camp and Retreat Ministers; The Rev. Loyd Mabry, Director of Conference Connectional Ministries; The Rev. Dickie Hinton, Director of Tennessee Conference Camp and Retreat Ministries; and the Rev. Bob Case. Bishop William Morris officiated in the Act of Dedication, substituting for Bishop Richard J. Wills who is recovering from rather recent back surgery.

Part of the crowd at the Conference Center dedication.

Each Bishop reflected on early visits to Beersheba Springs Assembly. Bishop Joe Pennel was called to Beersheba for a meeting that would require staying overnight. Pennel phoned the Assembly to book a room and was informed, “Oh, you have a room with a chamber pot” – as if he would be spending the night in a high tech facility.

Bishop Clark was the preacher for a summer Bible Conference with Bishop Roy Short as the Bible teacher. Bishop King recalled an early morning experience at Beersheba as he faced a group of campers at the edge of the quadrangle. It looked like everyone had rushed to get there and most had hair that was unruly and wet—the result of VERY recent showers. King looked over the crowd and greeted them with the words, “Good morning beautiful people.” This was the first time he used what has since become a James King signature greeting.

Removing, preserving, and re-installing the bricks on “Brick Row” was essential. The bricks were made by slaves and go back well before the Civil war—part of the amazing history of Beersheba Springs Assembly.

Dickie Hinton pointed out that the new facilities were designed for spiritual retreats of individual clergy or small groups of clergy, as well as for staff retreats for local church leadership. It is a place where all can find rest and renewal. Special thanks were also offered to four congregations for providing funding to the remodeling of individual rooms: Belle Meade, Belmont, Brentwood, and West End United Methodist Churches.

The David Bain Hawkins Memorial Golf Tournament, November 2-3, 2009

This great event sponsored by the Nashville Area Foundation and Beersheba Springs Assembly not only provides an opportunity for clergy and laity to enjoy great golf, and spend a night of renewal at beautiful Beersheba Springs Assembly, but it honors the late David Hawkins and his passion for the church’s mission outreach.

The golf tournament will be held at Willowbrook Golf Course in Morrison and at Collins River Golf Course in McMinnville. The first day, Monday, November 2nd, golfers will gather at Willowbrook with tee time at 12:00 noon for an afternoon of golf. At 6:00 p.m. there will be a relaxing supper at Beersheba Springs Assembly with plenty of fellowship. The overnight will be spent at the Assembly.

On Tuesday, November 3rd, there will be breakfast at 7:30 a.m. and the golfing begins at 9:00 a.m. at Collins River. The tournament concludes with lunch at Collins River at 1:30 p.m. with departure for home set for 2:15 p.m.

Cost for the golfers “dream” will be $125.00 per person for both days with a double room, and $155.00 per person for both days with a single room. Special pricing on partial plans is also available by contacting Beersheba Springs Assembly at 931-692-3669.

To register for the golf tournament you can call Beersheba Assembly or e-mail the Assembly at tnumcamps@tnumc.org

All participants are asked to bring a donation for the David Bain Hawkins Mission Scholarship Fund which is administered through Charlotte-Fagan United Methodist Church. Checks should be made out to the Tennessee Conference.

On mission in Mexico: David Hawkins (left) with Nashville District Superintendent John Collett, and Miriam’s Promise Director Deborah Robinson


David Hawkins participated in numerous Volunteer in Mission trips as a pastor, and continued with his interest in missions after he was named Director of Administrative Services for the Tennessee Conference. In a final sermon delivered at Charlotte-Fagan UMC shortly before his unexpected death Hawkins preached about his own experience of transformation through the Holy Spirit when one goes on a mission trip. He gave examples from his own life and at the end of the service, as persons exited from the church, a member of the congregation indicated a strong desire to go on a mission trip. She followed through with her intention by organizing a mission trip to Slidell, Louisiana, to do Katrina Recovery work in March, 2008.

On Sunday evening, October 4, 2009, David Hawkins’ wife, the Rev. Melisa Derseweh, met Pastor Juan and his wife Maria from Amatitan, Nicaragua, where David went on more than one mission trip while serving Lawrenceburg First UMC. Through an interpreter Pastor Juan told her that he loved her because he had loved David and David had loved him. He told her about David working construction during the day and preaching, teaching, singing and being with the adults and children of the village at night during his mission trips among them. Pastor Juan reminded us all in his sermon that our true citizenship is in heaven.

So far the David Bain Hawkins scholarships have been awarded for mission projects involving Katrina Recovery, Mexico, and Nicaragua. Applications are available by contacting the Charlotte-Fagan United Methodist Church, 3158 Vanleer Highway Charlotte, TN 37036. 615-789-5194.


Palmyra United Methodist October Revival provided new ways to Re-Think Church

 

 Palmyra United Methodist Church

Storytellers and historians within Palmyra United Methodist Church enjoy sharing the dramatic history of the Palmyra community. At a time, particularly before the American Civil War, Palmyra was both a rail hub and river port. It was also in an area where iron ore was discovered and mined—and the landscape still shows holes where iron ore was removed from the earth. Not all the holes are from iron mining, however, the storytellers will say with a smile. The creation of moonshine forced some entrepreneurs to hide their work with holes dug in the earth and made to look like mine holes.

The first night crowd begins to assemble in the sanctuary.

Palmyra’s prominence at the time of the Civil War meant that the obvious was likely to happen. The community hosted retreating Confederate Forces and provided such assistance as they could with food and medical help. The advancing Union Army not only knew of the support for Confederate Forces but knew that destroying Palmyra would destroy a crucial southern supply route—and they burned the community to the ground.

In October of 2009 it was obvious that Palmyra had recovered, and the Palmyra United Methodist Church was looking for ways to reach out more strongly to the community. In a four-night Revival built on the theme “Re-think” church it was obvious that church growth was on the hearts and minds of Revival participants.

The offering for the first night, laundry and cleaning supplies for the Community Care Fellowship

On the first night, October 11th,. Rev. Pat Freudenthal, Executive Director of the Community Care Fellowship in Nashville, taught us that we tend to ignore the presence of our nearest neighbors... not those over the back fence so much, but those who have no clothes, no home, no bed, and wonder where their next meal is coming from. Jesus taught us to care for the 'least of these', and taught us such with no caveat of entitlement or statements like "they should just go and get a job...". Re:Think church - who are our neighbors?

The first night of the revival included the Rayson family singers, the first time the Revs. Amy and Mike Rayson have performed publicly with their children.

The second night. Rev. Joel Nulty took the story of the church meeting together in Acts, and had us think through the possibilities of sharing all we have with each other. The church itself should have no walls. If we were missing a physical wall of the church, it might cause us to look outside. Re:Think church - what is our calling? Special music was provided by Tammy Mathews of Pleasant View UMC.

The Rev Donna Parramore, on the third night, went fishing with the congregation (metaphorically). When Jesus invites us to be fishers of men and women, we need to know what bait to put on the hook, where to fish, and when to cut the line. But if we sit on the bank and wave at the fish swimming by, then we are not fishing. Re:Think church - who has God called, through us? The Palmyra singers of Palmyra UMC provided special music for the service.

On the fourth and final night. Rev Mike Rayson took the great commission and called us to be part of its great completion. The only thing that stops us all accepting the call of Jesus to be 'missionaries' in the world is our excuses. There is no place for "retirement", and no "baby sitting service" within the church - we are all called to be about the mission and ministry of God's kingdom. Re:Think church - where do we go from here? Special music by Randy Burnett (Loretta Lynn's guitarist)

District Superintendent Ron Lowery helped kick-off the revival: “Size doesn’t excuse us from making disciples!” . . . “My heart is with small churches because I come from a small church.”

Palmyra UMC experienced great attendance at our fall revival - with numbers exceeding normal church attendance each Sunday. In the words of Pat Freudenthal "God is getting ready to bust loose at Palmyra". Though a small country community church, the congregation has an enormous vision to reach out as a community of faith, in the name of Jesus, into the town and county. With hard work, and God's help, the sky is the limit!



Happy 25th Anniversary Community Care Fellowship


Jerry Hilton, retired UMC minister serving as CCF Administrative Coordinator, and Pat Freudenthal, CCF Executive Director, go through the schedule for the 25th Anniversary program with Mike Terry. Terry, radio station 650AM WSM, served as master of ceremonies for the evening.

Since 1984 Community Care Fellowship has been dedicated to serving those persons in Nashville Tennessee, who find themselves without the means to provide the basic needs of life --- a place to live, food to eat, a place to take a bath, a place to wash the one or two changes of clothes typically owned by a homeless person, a place to rest from the elements and pressures of living on the street.

In the following three articles plus photos from the 25th Anniversary banquet, aptly called “25 and Counting,” Brentwood United Methodist Church, Thursday, September 24, 2009, we will try to share the history and philosophy of an agency dedicated to reaching out beyond the walls of the church to persons in desperate need. Because of the recent downturn in the economy Community Care Fellowship is also faced with expanded demands on its services and a large increase in the number of women and children requiring those services. Located in a zip code with a high crime rate, and across the street from the James A. Cayce homes, the Community Care Fellowship ministry has never been more important. If you or your church would like to explore opportunities to provide service as volunteers, you can contact Community Care Fellowship, 511 South 8th Street, P.O. Box 60068, Nashville, Tn 37206. Phone: 615-227-1953; emai,l Ccf511@bellsouth.net; website, www.ccf-ministry.org

25 and Counting. LtoR Student Intern Katie Pearce, Dare to Dream teachers Jessica Pantino and LaTara Holt.

Volunteers help CCF communicate the love of Jesus Christ by greeting, signing in, and providing much needed services to those who enter its doors each morning. The days and hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Reception and Hygiene Volunteers are Needed: Morning Hours: 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Afternoon Hours: 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. For information about volunteering in reception and hygiene area call: Vaughn Horner, 615-297-3142.

Kitchen Volunteers minister love through the preparation and service of food. Lunch is served four days each week: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and Sunday from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Volunteers help the regular kitchen staff prepare and serve food. Kitchen Volunteers are Needed Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 10:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Sunday: 12:00 Noon until 2:00 p.m. For information about kitchen volunteers call: Rev. Pat Freudenthal, 615-227-1953 or E-mail: ccf511@bellsouth.net



Brief History of the Community Care Fellowship
From the Community Care Website

The Seeds of what became Community Care Fellowship were planted at McKendree United Methodist Church under the leadership of Rock Hardaway and Ken Powers early in the 1980s

Community Care Fellowship opened in 1984 as a program unit of United Methodist Urban Ministries under the guidance of Jerry Hilton, Executive Director. Ken and Carol Powers were its first staff members....thus it became quickly know as Ken and Carol's Place. Now twenty-four years later it is still known on the street that way.

The youth group from Hermitage United Methodist Church helped with food service during the 25th Anniversary Banquet

 In the mid-eighties the redevelopment of Lower Broadway and the Riverfront began to put pressure on the homeless to leave downtown. The migration east across the Shelby St. Bridge was beginning. The building lease on the property at 114 Fourth Ave., which was two doors north of the present day Schemerhorn Concert Hall, was due to expire in 1987. A search for a new home began.

The search for a location near downtown found no buildings available. A donor offered a dollar for dollar match grant to begin the fund raising effort to build our own building. Fund raising began but no property was available. Nancy Webb Kelly UMC, under the leadership of pastor Shug McBay and lay leaders Bill and Jeanette Underwood. offered a lot on their property for building. The plans for the new building were completed by Chris McGill Associates at an estimated cost of $250,000.00. The fund raising stalled at $30,000.00 short of the goal. Tom Ritter, a friend of the ministry, made an interest free loan for the remainder of the cost and the building began. It was completed and opened in the Spring of 1989.

What’s a 25th Anniversary celebration without great food?

The first ten years in the new building saw a number of changes in the way services were provided to the homeless population and to the neighborhood. One thing that remained a constant was trying to serve the hunger needs of the area. By 1999 it was apparent that the small original kitchen could not provide for the increase in number of people being fed. The Cal Turner Family Foundation provided a generous gift of $100,000.00 which was used to renovate the kitchen area and install a commercial kitchen. Not long after the kitchen renovation a careful look at the future needs of the ministry of CCF and Nancy Webb Kelly UMC was undertaken . The result was a decision to enter into a capital campaign under the leadership of Don Williams that would raise funds to add space to both buildings and renovate most of the area. The result is a building that will enable more services for the foreseeable future.

Remembering
By Jerry Hilton
From the Community Care Fellowship Journal, Vo. 25, Issue 3, July-Sept. 2009

Toi King, Assistant Director, began with CCF in October 2007.

As we have reached the twenty-fifth celebration of Community Care Fellowship, I have a difficult time accepting the fact that it was one quarter of a century ago that the doors opened for the first time. To me it still seems like only a short time ago that the decade of the 80’s dawned and we began to recognize the growing number of “street people” as a real concern for Nashville. I remember very clearly participating in the first meeting where Rusty Lawrence, Director of the Council of Community Services, Bill Monnyhan, Director of Metro Social Services, Bob Horton from the Mayor’s Office and others began to discuss this growing issue. These meetings continued over the coming months and eventually became the Nashville Committee on the Homeless.

Bruce Long, Hermitage UMC, a member of the CCF Board of Directors, shares information about financial giving.

It was during this time that McKendree UMC along with other down-town churches tried to meet the growing number of homeless people at their doors. Billy Craighead and Rock Hardaway were appointed as the clergy staff in 1981 and soon after began to invite the homeless in to share in the Thursday Noon meal. It was there that Ken Powers fell under the influence of Rock’s compassionate spirit for the “down and out.” Rock knew that the resources of one church could not begin to meet the needs he saw and that the beginning commitment he saw in Ken for those he met with each Thursday needed a broader arena to grow. It was at that point that Rock called me and Ken to come to meet with him. Rock was gallantly fighting his losing battle with cancer. He was still trying to carry on some of his staff responsibilities from home. He contended that as Director of United Methodist Urban Ministries I should bring Ken on staff as an advocate for the homeless.

As had become my custom over the years, I quickly recognized the wisdom of Rock’s suggestions. Ken became a member of our staff and soon relieved me of some of the responsibilities of keeping up with all the activities which were going on with the Committee on the Homeless. It was not long after trying the ministry to the homeless on the street that Ken came to the conclusion that we would have to have a place where we could meet some of the basic needs of those who lived on the streets. Twenty-five years later we are still trying to live out that conclusion.

I count it as a very special grace from God to have shared in the struggles, joys and blessings of these two special friends. I also count it as a special blessing, and in some ways a sacred responsibility to still be around to participate in their dreams.

Thanks for those who plant
By Pat Freudenthal
From the Community Care Fellowship Journal, Vo. 25, Issue 3, July-Sept. 2009

25 and Counting, Let the banquet begin. Theme of the

evening could easily be stated “ALL are welcome at God’s Table.”

“The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.” ——Nelson Henderson

The above quote was shared with me recently by a close friend. After reading it several times I began to wonder what kind of trees I tend to plant. Do I plant trees that provide shade and rest for people or are my trees so full of judgment that not even the smallest of creatures can find comfort? Do the trees I plant with people last or do they wither away after only one season? And the one question that really causes me to stop in my tracks is – why do I plant trees? Do I plant trees so that people will say something nice about me or do I plant trees to give honor to the Creator of all trees?

At Community Care Fellowship we plant trees. Our ministry is one giant tree under which we offer dignity and personhood to our guests. The meals, showers, laundry and other services are just means to that end. Our goal is to offer to each man, woman, and child shade from the arduous journey caused by poverty. Our mission is to make sure that our guests know that Jesus the Christ loves them and wants them more than they can imagine. Our prayer is that each person will leave CCF with an acorn of hope that someday will grow into a mighty oak that offers shade to other pilgrims on the journey.

Recounting history can be boring. The history of Community Care Fellowship is ANYthing but boring.

The work of CCF is not always easy and does not always offer reward. It is not easy to plant trees in soil that is not cultivated. It is not easy to be in community with people whose values we do not share. It is difficult to be peaceful when lives are invaded by the violence of the streets. Yet, we continue to plant trees. We trust that our Lord can use our imperfect efforts to provide shade for others long after we are gone. We may not get to enjoy the shade today, but we are grateful for those who planted trees before us and rejoice that God always provides for us.

The evening concluded with prayer, and the start of the next 25 years.

So, the next time you see a tree please send up a silent prayer for us. Say a prayer of thanksgiving for those who planted the tree we call Community Care Fellow-ship twenty-five years ago. May God give us the strength to continue planting trees in the name and honor of our loving Lord.




Health Plan Committee Selects new Third Party Administrator (TPA)
By James R. Allen*

Mercer, who has served as our TPA for a number of years, is getting out of the TPA business effective January 1, 2010. For a number of months, we have been moving toward a decision on who will be our TPA beginning in January.

UMR was selected at the recent meeting of the conference’s Health Plan Committee. UMR is a wholly-owned subsidiary of insurance company United Healthcare, and will perform the claim and administrative services currently provided by Mercer. This will also allow us to utilize United Healthcare’s national medical provider network (PPO), replacing Signature and Tennessee Healthcare, the 2 local networks we now use in our 42 counties. A detailed study of our Participants’ doctor and hospital relationships shows that there should be very little disruption within the UMR network, as it contains most of the same providers as our current networks.

We will continue to use Caremark as our prescription drug provider. This means there will be no changes in the drugs covered by our plan. However, it may be necessary for some of our participants who are ordering on-line and receiving their prescriptions through the mail to re-register with Caremark in December so UMR and Caremark will have all necessary information for the transition effective January 1. Those affected will receive more information about that.

The regular deductible for medical services will begin January 1 as usual, and will not change. As a reminder, the Plan postponed the annual prescription deductible from July 1, 2009 to January 1, 2010. This $50 annual deductible, which will be applied to drug purchases after January 1, is unrelated to the change in TPA.

Our priorities in selecting providers and planning for this transition were (1) costs, (2) minimal disruption and confusion to our pastors, our participants, and our conference office. There will be a small increase in the Plan’s administrative costs (which are funded by apportionment contributions) which should be more than offset by the savings from being in a larger network. All participants will receive a replacement insurance card in December to use beginning January 1, but most will see no other substantive change.

*James R. Allen is Plan Administrator and Treasurer/Director, Administrative Services, Tennessee Conference of The United Methodist Church

TENNESSEE CONFERENCE REVIEW October 16, 2009

Articles in the October 16th edition of the REVIEW


1. The Rev. Tom Gildemeister appointed Director of Development and Alumni Relations, Candler School of Theology.
2. Trinity Church welcomes 64 New Members!, article with two captioned photos
3. Clark Memorial United Methodist Church Youth Mission Trip June 3-7, 2009
4. Time to Rethink Church—Grace UMC offers new worship experience, article with one uncaptioned graphic
5. I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it any longer!
6. Marshall County Laity Club awards scholarships
7. Lambuth Memorial UMC Initiates special arts ministry
8. And It Came To Pass” – time to schedule group visits to a special Exhibit of Nativity Scenes and Christmas Angels
9. Mission partnership to serve 500 young people
10. Transforming the Conference on Evangelism
11. Jenny Serves Double Anniversaries of Long Standing on 9-11-2009


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The Rev. Tom Gildemeister appointed Director of Development and Alumni Relations, Candler School of Theology

Thomas R. Gildemeister

On September 8, 2009, the Rev. Tom Gildemeister began a new chapter in his ministry as Director of Development and Alumni Relations for the Candler School of Theology. Gildemeister graduated magna cum laude from Candler in 1994 as a Woodruff Fellow. He is an ordained Elder in the Tennessee Annual Conference. Prior to his appointment to Candler Gildemeister served Christ United Methodist Church in Franklin, a congregation that nearly doubled in size from 500 to 950 members since he became Senior Pastor in 2001. He served as Chairperson of the Tennessee Conference Board of Higher Education and Ministry which provides campus ministries at seven university locations. He has also chaired the Continuing Education Committee of the Board of Ordained Ministry and is currently a member of the Nashville District Committee of Ordained Ministry.

As the new Director of Development and Alumni Relations, Gildemeister is responsible for building and nurturing relationships with graduates of the Candler School of Theology and its related programs. This includes the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of alumni for volunteer leadership and annual contributions intended for restricted and unrestricted use for operating capital, and endowed purposes. In addition, the Alumni Officer seeks to enhance and promote the school’s image and mission among its constituents and to provide resources and support for these relations.

Gildemeister, who is an honors graduate of the University of Virginia, is presently pursuing a D. Min. degree in pastoral psychotherapy from San Francisco Theological Seminary. Prior to beginning his student days at Candler and fulfilling his call to ministry, Tom Gildemeister worked as a political consultant and in real estate development.

Gildemeister has high hopes and expectations for his new appointment. “The most significant dimension of this ministry will be interfacing with other Elders and their congregations across our United Methodist Connection. Further with Candler’s singular commitment to developing future leaders for our United Methodist Church, I cannot think of a way that I could better contribute to the order of the church.”



Trinity Church welcomes 64 New Members!

New members, Sunday, October 4th

Trinity Church, the south campus of Brentwood United Methodist Church located in Spring Hill, welcomed 62 new members on Sunday, October 4th. When children are added, 109 people became part of the BUMC family. Trinity Church had its first public service on January 28, 2009 and averages over 200 people each Sunday.

A time of greeting

“We are so excited about this commitment of so many people. This is an affirmation of our ministry here and the desire to make a difference in the community,” said Campus Pastor Mack Strange. “These new members and the beginning of our small group time at 8:45 a.m. in mid-September, are all part of the evolution and the maturation of our campus here.” Trinity Church’s motivational focus for all its activities, outreach events, and worship services is *Christ *Compassion *Community *Hope *Fun! Trinity Church meets in the Longview Elementary School. Worship begins at 10am. Everyone is invited to attend.



Clark Memorial United Methodist Church Youth Mission Trip June 3-7, 2009

The Clark Memorial Mission team.

On Wednesday, June 3, 2009, 17 youth and 22 adults of Clark Memorial United Methodist Church departed Nashville, TN bound for a mission trip never to be forgotten.

Upon arrival in New Orleans, we were guided on a bus tour of the lower Ninth Ward. We witnessed first-hand the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. There were signs of rebuilding, including the area where Brad Pit is building homes. Four and a half years later, there is still a lot of damage, some of which may never be repaired.

After an emotional tour, we arrived at First Street, Peck, Wesley United Methodist Church. This church, originally known as First Street United Methodist Church, merged with Peck United Methodist and Wesley United Methodist Churches after the storm. Peck and Wesley United Methodist were badly damaged during Hurricane Katrina.

We were welcomed to New Orleans by Sabrina Short, Executive Director of The Fountain of Youth Foundation (FYF). FYF and the members of First Street , Peck, Wesley UMC, provided a welcome meal of jambalaya, chicken, salad, corn, and drink. After dinner we participated in the Wednesday bible study. Once our stomachs and spirits were fed, we were shown to our living quarters for the remainder of our visit to New Orleans.

The evening was topped off with an evening devotion and meal assignments for the week. Lights out at 11:00 pm.

Volunteers with Food Pantry Project

Thursday, June 4, 2009, we ate breakfast and received work assignments for the day. Long-term volunteers from United Saints of America and Ameri-Corps assisted in job assignments for the mission trip. There were jobs posted on the board and we were allowed to sign up to help at a particular job site. The assignments for the day were Peck United Methodist Church, Wesley United Methodist Church, The Angel Food Pantry, The New Orleans Animal Shelter, and painting a mural.

After all assignments were made, we loaded the vans and traveled to our respective work sites. At Peck UMC, Clark volunteers partnered with United Saints and Ameri-Corps to clear two lots. The grass was at least six feet tall and very thick. Many of us had our first experiences with machetes, rakes, lawn mowers, and weed eaters. At Wesley UMC, volunteers worked to clear one lot similar to the two lots at Peck UMC.

A group of volunteers assisted at the animal shelter, walking, feeding, and cleaning the animals and their cages. The volunteers at The Angel Food Pantry assisted workers of the Second Harvest Food Bank with preparing boxes of food for residents of New Orleans.

After five hours of working in the a very hot sun, we returned to First Street, Peck, Wesley UMC to shower and rest, and share time with the youth of FYF before a trip to the skating rink.

Friday, June 5, 2009, we awoke early, but not as energized as the day before. After a hearty breakfast of pancakes, eggs, and bacon, we received our job assignments and loaded the vans. The temperature on this day was a little more forgiving than the day before.

The Green Project, a recycling center for paint and building materials

Friday’s work assignments included, Peck UMC, mural painting, and The Green Project, a recycling center for paint and building materials.

After work and a shower, we all loaded the bus for a tour of Dillard University. We also toured other parts of New Orleans. Upon return to the church, we enjoyed a crawfish boil. For some, this was a first time experience.

Saturday, June 6, 2009, the last day of work. After breakfast, we load the vans to complete our job assignments for the week. The day’s assignments included Peck UMC, painting the mural, painting the apartments owned by First Street as well as painting at First Street UMC. This was a short work day which allowed for a ride on the Natchez, a tour of the French Quarter market, and a scavenger hunt for the youth to learn more about the French Quarter.

The Mural Project

Sunday, June 7, 2009, was the final day of our mission trip. After breakfast, morning devotion, clean up, and church service, we loaded the bus back to Nashville. This trip was very spiritual and inspiring to all who attended. The youth worked very hard each day, and enjoyed themselves so much that they want to return for another visit. Through our experiences on this trip we all witnessed God at work in and through us.


Time to Rethink Church—Grace UMC offers new worship experience

Grace UMC has started a new monthly lay-led Saturday night service. The service was initiated on September 19, 2009, by Grace lay leader Trey McCampbell, and if comments from worshippers are any indication, it was a very exciting service indeed.

Ablaze is a passionate, high-energy, interactive worship service. Worshippers experience God in a way that is real, personal, and exciting through music, scripture, testimony and personal messages! The Abaze service is held at Grace United Methodist Church, Mt. Juliet, 5:00 p.m. on the 3rd Saturday of each month.

The first ABLAZE service has come and gone, but we hope to feel the effects of it for some time.

Approximately 170 people came through those doors from all over the community and they left with a bright red “Welcome to the Real Joyful Noise / Ablaze at Grace” T-shirt, so the word is on the street!

It was a joy to hear people walking out saying, “I’ve never had so much fun at church,” and “I wish MY church had a service like this...”

Make no mistake, it was a lot of fun and the music was loud, but the HOLY SPIRIT was also clearly in the room. Jen Mulford delivered a message that sent people out with a renewed view of God, the God who answers by fire.

For more information about Ablaze visit:www.graceumc.net/ablaze



I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it any longer!
A reflection by Ted Hill, M.D.

“I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it any longer!” Anyone who is not in a coma can appreciate this saying in light of the health care debate that raged this past summer. There were those saying and acting this out all across the country and the media covered it with great glee – it sells news. Actually, the saying came about a number of years ago; so long ago I really don’t remember the context in which it was given but I do know there were people who identified with it and it became a watchword for anybody who was being taken advantage of and was fed up with the situation. A lot of people are apparently feeling that way these days about any number of issues and they have been speaking out about it in sometimes loud, vehement and even scary ways.

I’m not usually mad about much of anything these days. The bumps of life have taught me I do not do well with mad because I usually do more harm in the situation than help. I often have to go back, eat humble pie and apologize. But I do care. I do try to do something about the particular situation. I am emotionally invested. I have learned I do not know all there is to know about any one situation. I have learned it is better to listen and keep people guessing what you are thinking than to open your mouth and show yourself to be a fool.

I read a news blip recently from the American Society of Clinical Oncologists, an impressive sounding group, huh? It said, “there continues to be a profound divide in our nation between those with access to the improved results of our research efforts and those without access.” Part of what that means is that uninsured Americans are less likely to undergo cancer screenings, making them more likely to be diagnosed with advanced stages of cancer and leading to increased mortality. A recent study reported that a 99% increase in cancer rates is expected for the minority population (a higher proportion of which are uninsured) by the year 200. These numbers are in contrast to the expected increase of only 31% non-Hispanic whites over the same time period. Just this past week, a Harvard study said there were not 18,000 but now it has been shown there are 45,000 people who die in the U.S. because of their lack of health care access.

This brings to mind a patient at Salvus. An African American male in his mid 50’s recently was seen at Salvus with what was suspected to be cancer. Through pain-staking efforts to get tests done, he was found to have a b-cell lymphoma which is treatable. His wife works nights at a local nursing home and earns little. He has been too ill to work at driving truck. We had to arrange for him to get a bone marrow biopsy and a lot of sophisticated blood tests in order to confirm the diagnosis and get his treatment underway. Thank God, his church people helped pay for some of the testing. He needed a PET scan ($1000) and did not have the money. Somebody at Salvus donated the down payment so he could get the scan and start his treatment. He had to get a port placed for the delivery of his drugs and payment had to be made for that too. I am proud to say that after weeks and months of tedious work, he is finally being treated. There is no doubt the statement from the cancer society is true.

At church, I recently taught a class on the return of the exiles from Babylon to the Promised Land of the Hebrews. One of the returning groups was led by a priest named Ezra. On his return, he could not get out of his mind the suffering his people endured because of the apostasy of their faith. He prayed a famous prayer of confession on their behalf in order to set them on a straight path for restoration. Ezra did not commit the sin he referred to. Yet he claimed it because it was a sin of the community, a communal sin if you will, and it needed confessing and forgiving just as much as anyone’s individual sin. I think we are in a similar situation these days—the days of “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it any longer?” Much of why we say this is because we think we are being denied our rights and privileges. When the God of history looks down on us who are so privileged crying about our “rights” I hope God does not say about us and our selfishness when so many who are suffering and have no voice to cry out, “God is as mad as hell and God will do something about it.” I hope we confess our communal sin of neglect of those in need. I hope God answers us as God did the woman caught in the act of adultery, “I don’t condemn you; BUT, go and sin no more.”
So be it.
Ted Hill, September 2009

*Dr. Ted Hill, M.D., is an ordained Deacon in the United Methodist Church, and is founder and executive director of SALVAS, a medical service for the working poor.


Marshall County Laity Club awards scholarships.

The Marshall County Laity Club awarded three $1400 dollar scholarships at their bi-monthly meeting on September 28th.

To raise funds for those awards each of the six host churches was encouraged to donate the fellowship meal and the members of the club would donate the normal cost of the meal to their general fund.

At the September meeting at Chapel Hill UMC for the second year in a row there was a huge basket auction to top off the Scholarship fund. Over $1600 was raised at that one event. The largest basket was a Lil' Red Wagon full of Christmas items already wrapped for holiday gift giving. One of our own Marshall County pastors, Kimi Brown, had the winning bid for that treasure trove. Thanks to President Bruce Kimball and Treasurer Carol Williams this was another exciting night to see God move in a powerful way.

Rev Ray Hartman reporting


Lambuth Memorial UMC Initiates special arts ministry

Gene Martino, Jo Bell Livingston, and Dianne Boles respond to the audience’s standing ovation

Lambuth Memorial United Methodist Church, Gallatin, presented the first of a series of musical concerts as the congregation moves more heavily into arts ministry. The church is still the place where believers can experience the love of God through music and other art forms. People are enjoying music and the arts in their everyday lives now, more than ever. It is Lambuth’s goal that The Arts at Lambuth will accomplish the following: 1. Entertainment; 2. Outreach; and 3. Edification through varied styles of music, art, drama and lectures that will nurture the varied interest of the audience.
“An Evening of Music and Dining” was presented on Sunday evening, September 20th, featuring performances by former club/cabaret singer Jo Bell Livingson, and Lambuth Memorials opera-trained minister, the Rev. Eugene L. Martino, Jr. Vickie Pike performed a duet with Jo Bell Livingston on one number. Solo instrumental pieces and accompaniment for the singers was provided by professional organist and piano teacher Albert Dittes. The Lambuth Chancel Choir under the direction of Gary Stewart concluded the evening with a rousing version of One Voice with Livingston, Martino, and Dianne Boles singing as a trio.

The music for the evening was a rich and varied collection of opera classics, show tunes, and selections from major motion pictures.

Accompanist Albert Dittes

Livingston formed the popular 4-woman singing group “Eclipse” while she lived in Atlanta (named Musical Group of the Year for Two consecutive years by Atlanta Magazine) before moving to Gallatin with husband Heath Livingston. She has worked in numerous clubs and cabarets, as well as recording and touring nationally with several country singers. Just prior to coming to Tennessee she was producing and starring in “Red, Hot, and Cole,” a musical about the life of Cole Porter.

Martino is an ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church and has served in a variety of positions and churches in Alabama, Georgia, Missouri, Mississippi, Texas, and Germany. Gene has performed with a number of theatre and opera groups, both amateur and professional, in a wide variety of roles both in Europe and the U.S. Besides enjoying work as a pastor and singer, Gene also rides with the Freelancers Jousting Troop and is the reigning U.S. National Jousting Champion.

Albert Dittes started taking piano lessons during early grade school and added organ to his musical studies when he became a teenager. Besides being a professional musician he has also worked in journalism and public relations. He also teaches private piano lessons and has written three historical books.


“And It Came To Pass” – time to schedule group visits to a special Exhibit of Nativity Scenes and Christmas Angels

While Christmas has become a vastly secular holiday, Christians the world over rejoice at the birth of a child, over 2000 years ago, whom they believe to be the Christ. In an effort to capture the mystery of that holy night, the nativity scene or crèche has become an integral part of the Christians’ Christmas tradition.

One of the many nativity scenes to be exhibited at Tullahoma First UMC. Photo by Stephen Kohl

For the past five years First United Methodist Church in Tullahoma, Tennessee, has hosted an exhibit of nativity scenes and a multitude of Christmas angels. Over 500 of these keepsakes have rendered a display which has been enjoyed by hundreds of visitors from the community and surrounding areas.

Bathed in candlelight, fragranced by fresh evergreens, and reverberating with the echoes of harp strings, the event is more than a mere display-it is a sensory celebration of the Christmas season.

2009 Exhibit hours will be:

Saturday, December 5th from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 6th from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.,
Monday, December 7th from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and
Tuesday, December 8th from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m..

Tullahoma First United Methodist Church is located at 208 West Lauderdale Street, Tullahoma, Tennessee 37388

Mission partnership to serve 500 young people
By Tim Ghianni*
Sept. 8, 2009
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS)

More than 500 young people are expected to converge on the city next summer to perform mission work, learn leadership skills and discover more about what it means to be United Methodists.

And they will be doing it all with the help of a multidenominational mission planning group looking to expand into Music City.

The seven-week Denominational Mission Experience to be held June 20 to Aug. 6 is the result of a partnership linking the Minneapolis-based YouthWorks with Young People’s Ministries, a division of the United Methodist Board of Discipleship.

“YouthWorks approached me about it,” Hank Hilliard, director of Young People’s Ministries, said of the organization that this summer helped send 35,000 junior high and high school students on mission trips in the United States Canada and Puerto Rico.

“They’ve never had a site in Nashville before,” Hilliard said. “Nashville offers a lot of opportunities for mission projects.”
Great opportunity
The youth and their leaders will come to Nashville throughout the summer – camp sessions will last from Sunday evening to Friday. In addition to performing mission tasks established by YouthWorks, participants will spend time with denominational staff, touring church facilities and worshipping together at the Upper Room.

Volunteers Karen Yokota (left) and Kenton Kuwada from Wesley United Methodist Church in San Jose, Calif., paint baseboards that will go in a new home in Abbeville, La., in this 2005 file photo. The volunteers were part of a group helping rebuild homes following Hurricane Rita. A UMNS photo by Mike DuBose.

“I think it will be a great opportunity. One of the things we want this camp to accomplish is to have the groups have a sense that you are United Methodists; and you are a part of a movement that’s a lot bigger than ourselves,” Hilliard said.

If all goes as planned, from 70 to 80 United Methodist youth from different church groups will gather in Nashville weekly to be involved in projects throughout the area.

Teamwork as United Methodists will be stressed, as the young people will be put into a pool during the day “so youth will be working with other youth who are not in their (individual church) groups,” Hilliard said.

Bright future
“We’re in the process of lining that up now,” Hilliard said. “We are partnering with places who are already doing ministry and offering the opportunity for us to help strengthen what they are doing.”

If it is successful, the partnership could set the stage for a long-running summer missions program in Nashville, officials said.

“We are excited for this opportunity to really be an extension of what The United Methodist Church is striving to do, to get back to its roots, in serving itself and serving among its community,” said Louise Ward, YouthWorks vice president of marketing.

Early indications are positive, Hilliard said. Two youth groups signed up on Aug. 20, the first day of registration.

*Ghianni is a Nashville-based freelance writer for the Board of Discipleship.



Transforming the Conference on Evangelism

 Plenary sessions featured the Rev. Clint Thomas, pastor of Slowburn Church in Spring Hill.

Nearly 60 persons attended the 2009 Conference on Evangelism at Hillcrest United Methodist Church. Built on the theme “Same Message, Different World” the event explored the media rich world, and how it impacts sharing the Gospel. It also presented proven, practical methods for connecting people to the life-changing message of grace and love give to us through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

District Superintendent Ron Lowery shares his thoughts with one of the workshop groups.
Promotional material indicated that this year’s Conference on Evangelism was being transformed into a one-day event, and participants in the September 15, 2009 would likely agree that the experience was transformational.

Conversations continued during lunch

Plenary speaker for the Conference was the Rev. Clint Thomas, pastor of Slowburn Church in Spring Hill who shared his approach to evangelism.

The Conference on Evangelism focused on helping people see the world in new ways

Workshops opened a wide variety of Evangelism possibilities:
• God Sighting: Helping Kids Share Their Faith
• Keeping It Real: Youth Sharing with Youth
• By Line: Adults Sharing with Adult
• Good News: Sharing the Gospel with Children
• Going Deep and Reaching Wide: Sharing the Gospel with Youth
• Word and Deed: Missions and Evangelism


Jenny Serves Double Anniversaries of Long Standing on 9-11-2009
By Patty Sue Harper

L to r: Raymond and Lillian Motley, Patty Sue Harper, Jenny, Fred Harper
Jenny’s Restaurant at Mason’s Motel on Dickerson Road had as their guests a very unique “series of doubles” on September 11th. Motivated by the 9-11 theme of “Lest We Forget,” Fred and Patty Sue Harper of White House, along with Raymond and Lillian Motley of Donelson, were again having anniversary dinner for the 44th consecutive year together – this time with Jenny and that excited Friday evening crowd.

But 44 was not their only double figure. The time together began on the Harper’s 11th anniversary and the Motleys 22nd, forming a 33. (Fred’s marriage age was 22.) The two couples learned in 1965 that they shared the same anniversary when Fred became the Motley’s pastor at Donelson Heights UMC.

But the “doubles” continued higher and higher. After 44 years, the Harpers were now having number 55, while Raymond and Lillian were experiencing number 66. Fred’s present age is 77 and Raymond’s is 88.

A close neighboring table repeatedly echoed “What a blessing! What a blessing!” to the hearty applause of the surprised “party” group, all of whom had endured the collapse of the Twin Towers in 2001, 8 years ago.

TENNESSEE CONFERENCE REVIEW October 2, 2009

Articles in the October 2nd issue of THE REVIEW


1. Providence United Methodist Church chartered as official United Methodist Congregation.
2. Bill Starnes: From Sharecroppers Son, to Global Ministry Expert.
3. Lois Banks Nunley Conference Center to be dedicated at Beersheba Springs United Methodist Assembly, Sunday, October 18, 2:00 p.m.
4. Bellevue church hits historic milestone. Article reprinted with permission from THE TENNESSEAN.
5. Martin Methodist College Campus celebrates transformation of Old Gym into Gault Center.
6. An Application + $150 = A Planned Mission Trip for your Youth Group—Mt. T.O.P. Ministries


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Providence United Methodist Church chartered as official United Methodist Congregation

Providence Worship Team led by Rev. Holley Potts

On Sunday, September 20, 2009, nearly 450 persons assembled at Stoner Creek Elementary School in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, for official chartering of the Providence United Methodist Church. There were 301 persons who became Covenant Members of the congregation, most of whom were in attendance for the chartering

Dan Lins sets up chairs as part of early set-up team.

Providence Church started monthly worship services on Easter Sunday 2008. The time was 7:00 a.m. and the site for worship was a pavilion in a city park. 149 came to that first worship service, excited about starting a new ministry in the Mt. Juliet area. On September 7,,2008, the new congregation began to meet regularly every Sunday morning using the gymnasium at Stoner Creek Elementary. Selection of a large worship area proved to be wise decision because by the spring of 2009 average attendance at Providence Church was 350. Starting with the final Sunday in September , 2009, the church began offering two services on Sunday morning, 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., to accommodate the growing congregation and to ease a possible problem with parking space.

District Superintendent Rev. Tom Halliburton pronounces charter, the first United Methodist Church chartered within the Tennessee Conference in the 21st Century.

District Superintendent the Rev. Tom Halliburton lead the ritual for the chartering and concluded with the words, “In accordance with the laws and Discipline of the United Methodist Church, I hereby declare that Providence United Methodist Church is duly constituted and organized for the glory of God, the proclamation of the gospel, and the service of humanity. Halliburton, who was deeply moved by the enthusiasm and energy of the new congregation, noted, “It feels like the Kingdom of God is working in Mount Juliet, Tennessee. Being part of this service is truly a Holy experience.”

 Hospitality in action at Providence


Pastor of the new start-up congregation is the Rev. Jacob Armstrong who worked through and with another area church, Grace United Methodist, to begin Providence Church. Grace’s pastor, the Rev. Dr. Ron Brown, who has been committed to supporting Providence Church, gave the concluding prayer for the chartering and assisted in the service of Holy Communion that concluded the service. The number of Grace UMC members joined members of Providence in the celebration of the chartering.

Some of the over 300 covenant members who joined

Pastor Armstrong has had a God-given dream to start a church. He has a heart for seeing people who are disconnected from God find hope, healing and wholeness in Jesus Christ. His most formative spiritual experiences have been mission opportunities in the U.S., Mexico and Spain. Armstrong wants to see a church whose focus in on those outside the walls, serving them and introducing them to Jesus.

Congregation celebrates charter

During the service Armstrong shared his dreams for the future a few of which are included here. . . and his dreams are obviously shared by the new congregation as heads nodded in agreement:

• To see more and more disconnected persons find Christ

• Continue church growth as more and more persons are welcomed in love.

• Continue to grow spiritually

• Provide a powerful ministry for children

• Work with and support the local schools and teachers

• Work at creating schools in Mexico and Africa—he even visualized a plaque at the schools, “God did this through the people of Providence.

• Provide special ministry to those with addictions

• And, Armstrong added with a smile, “that our men will win the softball championship.”

Rev. Sandy Miller and Rev. Cathie Leimenstoll serve Communion
A year ago, in an article commenting about the start of the new congregation, Armstrong said, “we are striving to be a Jesus-centered community that reaches those who have no church and feel disconnected from God. We are striving to be a people known for welcoming everyone. We are striving to be a church who is not bound by the walls of a building (we don’t have a building!), but instead sees its ministry in the marketplace. We do this in the hope of our God who has given us life through the resurrected One.”

All who worshiped were invited to sign commemorative banner







Bill Starnes: From Sharecroppers Son, to Global Ministry Expert
By: Zan Starnes Martin

From the left to right: Tom Howett Administrator of the Congo Polytechnic Institute, Dr. Albert Schweitzer, Bill Starnes, International Coordinator for CPI, Keith Smith, President-Agricultural & Technical Assistance Foundation, and Major Richard Knarr, US Air Force (retired}

Bill Starnes grew up the son of a sharecropper in Lancaster, Tennessee. One of nine children, he helped with the farming, and attended public school there through the eighth grade. His education had a rocky start because he failed the first grade two times, and had to retake English another. He had a stammering problem, and says the only reason he graduated was because he had outgrown his chair. That first grade teacher never would have believed Bill would one day become one of the most eloquent speakers in the United Methodist ministry. After finally graduating the eighth grade, he very much wanted to continue his education, and while there were two high schools in the area, Bill’s family lived too far away to walk to either, and they had no form of transportation.

There was however, a high school with a boarding department in the foothills of the Cumberland Mountains named Baxter Seminary, which was run by Dr. and Mrs. Harry Upperman,. Tuition was steep, and money was not readily available in the Starnes very crowded household, but Bill’s Dad enabled him to take a train ride to Baxter and inquire about possible attendance. “So I went to talk to Dr. Upperman in June of 1944,” stated Bill, “and I will always remember I was frightened going into what I thought was a big office, looking toward what I thought was an enormous desk, and here was this distinguished looking gentleman wanting to know what I wanted. I told him I’d like to go to high school, and when he asked if I had any money, I said ‘No sir, I’d like to work my way through if I could.’ He asked me if I knew how to milk, I said ‘Yes sir,’ and he told me I could come and go to school there, but I had to be in charge of the dairy, and had to settle in by the first of July since the boy currently running it was about to graduate. Here I was, fifteen years old, and then and there made the commitment to leave home, and I said, ‘Yes sir, I think Id like that.’”

President Theodore Roosevelt’s book African Game Trails had a profound effect on a young Bill Starnes. Years later he found a copy of the book in a Los Angeles bookstore.

It was that same year Bill happened to find and read a book in the library of Baxter Seminary that would change his life forever. The book was African Game Trails by Theodore Roosevelt, and Bill Starnes has this to say about the impact the story had on his life; “The stories of big game hunts soon faded from my memory. However, Theodore Roosevelts description of the needs of the African people was indelibly imprinted on my mind. These needs became so real in the weeks which followed that I was able to hear and respond affirmatively when God called me to be a minister and a missionary.”

Not long after that, Mrs. Upperman began working with Bill on his stammering problem. She gave him a speech and asked him to memorize it, and when he had, she led him to the auditorium podium, sat in the very back row, and said she’d like to hear the speech. “Well, I stammered my way through it,” says Bill. “And when I got through she didn’t say a word about my stammering, just said ‘Very good. Id like to hear it again in a day or two.’ And that happened probably every four or five days until one day, I gave my speech without stammering. She also coached him with his diction and voice projection, saying, ‘Who knows, one day you might be making a living with your voice.’”

And sure enough, in his Sophomore year, Bill began a preaching circuit for four Baxter area churches, and then during his senior year, was given three additional churches so that he was preaching twice a month at all seven locations (one of which was only accessible by horseback). This was in addition to milking 14 cows every morning and evening, going to school, providing the leadership of president of his class, rehearsing for the drama clubs senior play, and participating on the debate team.

All of Bill’s eight siblings actually ended up graduating from Baxter Seminary, each one developing a special bond with Dr and Mrs. Upperman. He says they have often discussed, so many years later, what would have been their outcome if it had not been for the Uppermans, and Baxter Seminary. And so it was with great pride near the end of his Senior year that Bill accepted a scholarship to Martin College in Pulaski, TN. At the time, he never would have dreamed he’d come back in 1974 to be president of his Alma Mater, bringing with him his wife Rosemary, whom he’d met right there on the Martin campus in September of 1948.

 Starnes treasures a photo of the site where Albert Schweitzer came up with the idea of “Reverence for Life.” The photo was autographed by Albert Schweitzer.

But that is getting ahead of the story. When Bill proposed marriage, he wanted Rosemary to be sure and consider what she was getting herself into, and shared that he would be heading to Africa to help meet the needs of its people in the not too distant future. Rosemary did indeed have to think carefully, but with delight accepted his proposal (much to the dismay of her parents, who said she would forever live out of a trunk). Upon completion of their degrees at Martin College and Scarritt College, and then Bill’s Masters of Divinity Degree at Vanderbilt University, they made their way to Brussels, Belgium, studying French and colonial courses for a period of 14 months. Upon completion of these studies, they traveled to what was at the time Elizabethville, then renamed Lubumbashi, later to become the Democratic Republic of Zaire, now called the Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa.

The years Starnes served in Africa as a missionary are filled with more stories than can be counted, but a few include bringing the message of Jesus Christ to the local villagers, founding the Congo Polytechnic Institute, a branch of which evolved into the University of the Congo that currently enrolls nearly 5,000 students, and of being captured by the Communist rebels and narrowly escaping with his life when saved by the village warriors who had heard he was in trouble. But beyond a doubt, the story of spending two weeks time with Dr. Albert Schweitzer at his hospital in Lambaréné in the country of Gabon in West Africa, was life altering.

Albert Schweitzer was a German-French theologian, musician, philosopher, and physician. He received the 1952 Nobel Peace Prize for his philosophy of Reverence for Life. He studied the music of German composer Johann Sebastian Bach and influenced the Organ reform movement (Orgelbewegung). Schweitzer's passionate quest was to discover a universal ethical philosophy, anchored in a universal reality, and make it directly available to all of humanity. This is reflected in some of his sayings, such as:

• “Until he extends his circle of compassion to include all living things, man will not himself find peace.”

• “I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.”

While reflecting on his time with Schweitzer, Starnes shared incredible insight into the man, and their time together. “While I was in Lambaréné, I had the privilege of making rounds with him as he visited patients daily, and hearing him play several Bach selections every evening. He was an amazing individual, and filled with the spirit of Christianity. I will never forget the time I visited a leper colony with him. I had never been close to a leper and as you might imagine, I entered with some real misgivings. But after we went inside the colony, which was surrounded by a fence, the people surrounded him, touching him, children hugging his legs. I saw him as he continually touched the lepers and that old misconception which I had completely disappeared. Dr. Schweitzer explained that there were fewer and fewer lepers because of a growing practice of treatment with positive results where they could come to Lambaréné, receive treatment, take medications back with them and most would begin to improve.”

“Each day, he and I would have one hour together in his cubbyhole of a closet office within his living quarters. These were some of the most fascinating discussions I have ever experienced with anyone, anywhere. One of the items we discussed several times was his philosophy of Reverence for Life. He gave me a picture of a little island in the Ogowe River and on that picture he inscribed the current date, which was July the 4th, 1963. He told how it was near that island one day as he was going to visit a village that was suffering an epidemic, when his canoe was surrounded by a herd of hippopotamus and it was at that moment that the idea of Reverence for Life came into his mind.”

“I will never forget one early morning when I was awake and could not go back to sleep. I got up, put on my clothes and walked down to the edge of the Ogowe River for a time of meditation. To my surprise Dr. Schweitzer was standing on the bank of the river. I had quietly walked up and stood beside him. Neither one of us were talking, we were looking at a beautiful sunrise, each one of us in meditation and prayer. And then in his guttural German accent, he exclaimed in English, ‘My God (and he pronounced it like got) My Got is alive!’ This utterance of Dr. Schweitzer has come back to me over and over and over again over these last many years since it was my privilege to know him.”

As the world knows, he later developed that idea into a philosophy and wrote books about it, and my hope has always been that one day Dr. Albert Schweitzer’s philosophy of Reverence for Life would become known throughout the world, but to date it has not become one of the principle studies of the theological seminaries of our land. I am very afraid that Dr. Albert Schweitzer will be forgotten, and at the same time, am convinced that his philosophy on Reverence for Life is the only hope for World Peace. If you truly embrace it, you simply could not take another man’s life.”

After Starnes brush with death at the hands of the communist rebels, he settled Rosemary and his four young daughters back in the states, and commuted for another six years back and forth between Africa and Southern, California, putting together a crash training program for the newly independent Congo. Following this assignment, he was asked to serve in the Western and Southeastern jurisdictions of the United Methodist Church as a field representative for the Board of Global Ministries.

Bill Starnes speaking at his Martin College Inauguration as President in July, 1974.

He was contacted by his Alma Mater, Martin College, in 1974, was interviewed, and ultimately accepted the position as president, laying the foundation for increasing the campus property, and turning it from a two, into a four-year institution. In May of 1975, he received an honorary doctorate of Humanities degree from Lambuth University in Jackson, TN. After 11 years of service to Martin College, he returned to his initial love of preaching, and served another 11 years back in the pulpit both at Woodbine United Methodist Church, in Nashville, TN, and First United Methodist Church in Tullahoma, TN, where he ultimately retired in 1996.

Bill & Rosemary celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary in September, 1999.

His retirement celebration was attended by his wife Rosemary, all five of their children (yes, there was a fifth, and final child, a son this time!), along with all of their friends and families. It was a standing room only event.

Not long after retirement, Starnes heard God calling once again. The health care system was woefully lacking in meeting the needs of his surrounding communities, and so in 2000, he co-founded Partners for Healing, a free health clinic for the working uninsured. To date, it has served thousands of people in a five county area, and utilizes over 60 volunteer health care specialists and support staff. Its business plan has been used as a guide for a dozen other similar community health care programs.

Bill Starnes watches as Dot Watson, Partners For Healing Administrator at the time, is interviewed for a special feature on TV's Regis & Kelly program.

Bill Starnes is now entering his 12th year of congestive heart failure, and his heart is slowly losing steam. He was overheard making a request of his longtime friend and head cardiologist at Nashville’s Vanderbilt hospital recently. He said, “Just help me stay strong enough to do just one more thing.” And so continues the commitment of Bill Starnes to be in service to others. As Albert Schweitzer said to him:

"I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve."

And as Schweitzer predicted, Bill Starnes has lived a long and happy life indeed.


Lois Banks Nunley Conference Center to be dedicated at Beersheba Springs United Methodist Assembly, Sunday, October 18, 2:00 p.m.

Brick Row at the Beersheba Springs Assembly has been an aging collection of guest rooms with sagging floors and walls as well as some serious structural problems. Thanks to a gift from the will of Lois Banks Nunley, Brick Row has been gutted and transformed into a Conference Room and three updated guest rooms. The Conference Room and three guest rooms will be named in honor of Bishops who have been elected to the episcopacy from the Tennessee Annual Conference.

Brick Row

The newly rebuilt Brick Row also contains a nursery with a bathroom and kitchen, as well as a kitchen attached to the Conference Room. The Conference Room has been designed so it can be divided to serve as two Conference Rooms. Each conference room will have conference tables with desk chairs and will seat 10 or 12 persons each, or when used as a single meeting space, will be able to seat 20. The new layout will be great for cabinet, church staff, and other executive type meetings.

Lois Banks Nunley, before her death, was an active layperson in Ivy Bluff United Methodist Church, and because of her great love for the church, as well as her sister Ester, her gift was presented to Beersheba Springs Assembly.

The Bishops rooms are available Sunday through Thursday nights for clergy and other professional church workers to use as personal retreat space for a nominal charge. The kitchen is available for their use as well.

Local church groups are invited to tour the new facility and attend the Service of Dedication of the Lois Banks Nunley Conference Center, Sunday, October 18, 2:00 p.m. Guest rooms and the Conference Room will be dedicated in honor of Bishop Roy C. Clark, Bishop Robert H. Spain, Bishop Joe Pennel, and Bishop James R. King, Jr. The Bishop William Morris room in the lower hotel will also be consecrated at this time.

The Consecration will remember with thanksgiving the gift from the Lois Banks Nunley estate, but will also give thanks for gifts from West End, Belle Meade, Belmont, and Brentwood United Methodist Churches that allowed the rooms to be fully furnished.



Bellevue church hits historic milestone
By Lea Ann Overstreet Allen, THE TENNESSEAN
This article appeared in the September 23, 2009, issue of THE TENNESSEAN, and is used here with permission. Copyright 2009 by The Tennessean.

Just looking at the church building at 7501 Old Harding Road, passersby might not realize just how much history it holds.

This year marks the 200th anniversary of Bellevue United Methodist Church, a congregation with ties to the founder of the Methodist church and Nashville's origins.

"We're one of Nashville's earliest churches,'' said Margaret Cornell, co-chairman of the church's bicentennial.

"From the standpoint of Methodist history, our first minister was actually ordained by Francis Ashbury. That's very important to us.''

Ashbury came from England to the United States in 1771, eventually becoming one of the first two bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the country. John Wesley, the principal founder of the Methodist movement in the 18th century, appointed Ashbury to the position.

At a celebration early in 2009 Church members portrayed first pastor Levine Edney and his wife

Ashbury ordained Levine Edney in 1803 to lead a congregation of five families near Pasquo, thus the beginnings of what would become BUMC.

For the past three years, church members have been planning for 2009, finding ways to celebrate the bicentennial.

"It's taken a major committee, between 80 and 100 people, to plan our events," said Cornell, co-chairman of the church's bicentennial.

Church history now on DVD
With the help of member Eddie Vaden, the church's past has been digitally preserved for the future.

"I've have scanned our old registry books and made a database, scanned 4 or 5,000 photographs and architectural plans and converted old videotapes to DVDs for the archives.

"It's important to have a permanent record, because one day paper will go away," Vaden said.

The church has undergone multiple changes, including its name and location, since its inception. In 1910, the church, known as Methodist Episcopal Church South, was at 7544 Old Harding Road. In 1939, the name changed when the three branches of American Methodism, the Methodist Protestant Church, the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, decided to merge under one name, the Methodist Church. So, Belleview Methodist Episcopal Church South became Belleview Methodist Church.
No longer "Belleview''
In 1969, the church moved to its home at 7501 Old Harding Road and, again, to abide by the wishes of the greater Methodist community, the name was changed to include the word "united." The new name, Bellevue United Methodist Church, also reflected the spelling of Bellevue that was used for the area.

In a tribute to its past, BUMC's congregation has held several events throughout the year to mark the church's birthday and will continue Sunday, with its homecoming.

"This will be a gathering of people from far and wide," Cornell said. "Various ministers will come back and former members. We'll also have a very neat group of men called The Band, who mostly play guitars to provide entertainment as we have our great, big old-fashioned dinner on the grounds."

Dinner on the Grounds is a tradition long held at the church. The congregation often came together to eat on the grounds of the church. This year, the congregation will meet across the street from the church at the Masonic Temple.

Church thinks green
In looking to the future, the congregation is determined to make this dinner a green event, part of the church's overall focus on going green.

Banners mark Bellevue UMC’s 200 year history

"We won't use plastic table cloths, because we've got people giving their old cotton table cloths for us to use, and there won't be any Styrofoam," Cornell said.

Although BUMC's turning 200 is important to its congregation, most agree that the most vital part of the church is the congregation.

"This is such a friendly church where everybody knows everybody. It's a very pleasant place to go and worship," Vaden said.

"The major thing that has not changed is the people of BUMC," member Carolyn Becker said. "This has to be one of the friendliest churches I have ever attended."


Martin Methodist College Campus celebrates transformation of Old Gym into Gault Center

The Old Martin College Gym is now a Center for the Arts

On Tuesday morning, September 15th,Tom Gault sat in the shadow of the building once known as the Old Gym, almost directly under the second-floor office window where, as a college student, he had made his makeshift dormitory room 70 years earlier.

A few feet away, facing a large crowd of alumni, trustees, benefactors, faculty, staff, students and interested townsfolk, Martin Methodist College President Ted Brown was telling how a little gymnasium built in 1931 that had been out of commission for two decades had been given a second life.

“Jonathon Swift once said that ‘you can’t make a silk purse out of sow’s ear,’” Brown said before he slowly looked over his shoulder at the breathtaking $3.2 million transformation that is now the Virginia and Dr. Thomas Gault Fine Arts Center.

“Well, I just have to say it: Jonathon Swift didn’t have a design-build team like the one we have at Martin Methodist College.”

Indeed, just 11 months earlier a ceremony had been held on this very site to begin the renovation. At the time, the dank, dark structure with windows either broken or boarded up gave onlookers little clue of what was in store; little did they know how the campus’s ugly duckling would evolve into an architectural swan. And Dr. Thomas Gault was back for this remarkable reveal, a smile on his face and memories no doubt racing through his mind.

President Ted Brown prepares to present a painting of the newly renovated Gault Center to Tom Gault

“This building is part and parcel with Tom Gault’s Martin experience,” Brown said. “In fact, if you check out that second window from the right upstairs, you may see a nose print still on the glass from young Tom checking out a young lady walking down the sidewalk . . .Virginia Garner from Decherd, Tennessee.”

Brown went on to tell the story of young Tom Gault, who arrived on campus in the fall of 1938, in the first group of men admitted as students. He had come from nearby Cornersville to run the dairy operation that the college had purchased a few weeks earlier from his uncle; in return for his labor he received tuition, room and board. At the start of his second year, he found an empty room on the second floor of the gym and fashioned it into his dorm room.

He would go on to marry Virginia Garner and remain in higher education, eventually becoming Dr. Thomas Gault, a respected scholar in geography and chairman of a nationally known academic program at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Through it all, Brown said, Tom Gault never forgot where it all started, and following Virginia’s death in 1997 he began thinking about establishing a scholarship in her memory at their alma mater. Then, a few years later, he learned of the ambitious project to turn his beloved Old Gym into a fine arts facility; he decided he would make a major gift that would name the building in Virginia’s memory and the lobby in honor of his new wife, Ruth, whom he said had given him “a second life.”

“Suffice it to say that no one better represents the vision for Martin Methodist College than Dr. Tom Gault, who maximized his potential and, once a success, never thought twice about giving back,” Brown said. “This is the quintessential Martin story, and it seems so perfect to have it permanently represented in the center of the campus in this tangible way.”

The Martin College Choir performed at the dedication

The morning dedication, which concluded with tours of the new facility, was followed on Tuesday evening with a black-tie gala for donors to the project. The 126-seat recital hall was the setting for several brief performances, including music faculty member Mark Hagewood on the new nine-foot Steinway grand piano. Meanwhile, art students demonstrated the many features of the classrooms on the second floor, and guests toured the Barbara and Michael Barton Art Gallery, also located on the second floor.

The Gault Center also is home to 11 of Martin Methodist College’s 12 new Steinway and Sons pianos – earning the college the distinction of being the 96th “All-Steinway School” in the world. In addition to the nine-foot grand in the recital hall, a Steinway is located in the choir rehearsal room, three music faculty offices and five individual practice rooms. The 12th Steinway – a seven-foot grand – is on the Martin Hall Auditorium stage.

Members of the community also toured the Gault Center on Wednesday evening when Martin Methodist College hosted a Giles County Chamber of Commerce “Business After Hours” reception.

The weeklong dedication concluded on Thursday evening, September 17th, with an invitation-only Steinway Concert, featuring pianist Marilyn Shields-Wiltsie of Nashville.



An Application + $150 = A Planned Mission Trip for your Youth Group

Mountain T.O.P. (Tennessee Outreach Project) is an interdenominational, non-profit Christian Mission dedicated to rural life ministry in the Cumberland Mountains of TN.

Currently, we are seeking new churches to join us for our Youth Summer Ministry Program. If you are looking for a mission trip that includes service projects such as building sheds, wheelchair ramps or porches, painting houses and doing yard work and/or working with children in our Day Camp program, we are the camp for you!!!
Why is Mountain T.O.P. Unique?
During the summer, Mountain T.O.P. runs eight consecutive weeks of ministry that begin on Sunday morning and conclude Saturday morning. Youth ministers bring their youth groups from around the country where they join to form one large community. These communities consist of 120-155 youth ages 13-18, adults and college students that are divided even further into what we call Major Groups. A staff member is then responsible for coordinating projects for and leading a Major Group of 25-35 participants. Within Major Groups, volunteers are divided for the final time into what we call Youth Renewal Groups or YRGs. YRGs are determined based on gender, age, church, skill and experience. We do our best to create balanced teams in order for volunteers to meet new people and work together in the most efficient ways possible.

Because of the way our communities are broken down, youth are encouraged to step out of their comfort zones to meet new friends, grow spiritually and acquire new skills. Similarly, youth directors are given the opportunity to be participants instead of leaders. Our Summer Staffs plan and lead all programming out of camp and in camp. You, as the youth director, are invited to seek, listen and learn alongside your youth. And think about it, how often do you get to do that?

For an application that includes available dates, financial and participant guidelines and other pertinent information, please visit our website at www.mountain-top.org. Early Registration begins October 5th. An application and a $150 deposit is all that we need at that time. You can find the 2010 application labeled “2010 YSM Application” under the “Forms and Application” tab at the top of the home page. If you have questions or need more information, please contact Sam at (931) 692-3999 or e-mail Sam@mountain-top.org.

TENNESSEE CONFERENCE REVIEW September 18, 2009

Articles in the September 18th issue of the Tennessee Conference REVIEW
1. New Nashville Korean United Methodist Church Consecrated in Vibrant, moving service of worship
2. Conference UM Men Join Forces to help those around the world who are unable to walk – Build a P.E.T. Day, October 24th
3. Harvest Hands Community Development Corporation --"On a Journey Together for Wholeness in South Nashville”
4. The Long, Hot Summer? Not at Cedar Crest,
5. A Cultural Celebration of God's Faithfulness—Fairfield Glade United Methodist Church and Cumberland Hispanic Fellowship.
6. “Art on the Edge” displayed the work of over two dozen Edgehill UMC members,
7. Antioch Church Hosts Old Fashioned Fall Fair
8. Macon County church celebrates dog shot by arrow
9. A.C.T.I.O.N. Program Receives Grant from Peyton Manning’s Foundation, article with no graphics or photos.

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New Nashville Korean United Methodist Church Consecrated in Vibrant, moving service of worship

Clergy participating in service, l to r: Yong Shin, Jim Hughes, Vin Walkup, John Collette, Bishop Richard Wills, Loyd Mabry, Paul Kang, and layperson Dr. Doug Hong

The timing probably could not have been worse to start an $8 million building program – a totally new building and location for the Nashville Korean United Methodist Church. But there was a conviction among the members and leadership that God was responsible and that in all things they were following God’s plan. So with faith in the direction God was taking the Nashville Korean United Methodist Church, despite difficulties and occasional problems, construction was started in March of 2008, and completed in July of 2008. Funding came from generous support of the church membership and a joint participation loan from the Nashville Area United Methodist Foundation‘s United Methodist Development Fund of TN/KY and Tennessee Commerce Bank..

Part of the crowd at the Service of Consecration

On Sunday, August 30, 2009, the new church building was officially consecrated before a crowd of over 600 persons representing the church membership, and guests from other churches as well.

Rev. Paul Kang, led the consecration liturgy. John Collett, Nashville District Superintendent consecrated the building and Bishop Richard Wills preached the consecration sermon. Loyd Mabry, Director of Connectional Ministries, read scripture and Vin Walkup, president and CEO of the Nashville Area Foundation, gave words of encouragement to the congregation. Jim Hughes, pastor of neighboring Forest Hills United Methodist Church, presented the benediction. Each of them was moved by the experience.

Walkup reflected on the experience later:

“ If ever a church exhibited practices of a fruitful congregation, Nashville Korean UMC did yesterday. We were welcomed with radical hospitality and then experienced passionate worship. Even with the inability to understand all that was said – much of the service was in Korean – we experienced the presence of God’s Spirit in many ways. When the offering was taken, children inspired us with dance, but even more, we experienced risk-taking mission and extravagant generosity through the invitation to give generously to help begin a new church in Mexico and to assist in ministries with the homeless in Nashville. After the service, we were treated to a dinner and once again were shown the radical hospitality of a truly grateful church – grateful to God, grateful for one another, grateful for those who are partners with them.”

The Nashville Korean UMC children were an important part of the service.

Nashville District secretary Lynn Taylor and Loyd Mabry, Director of the Conference Council on Connectional Ministries, were both amazed that even in these difficult times the offering was totally dedicated to mission—reaching out beyond the church walls. Some days later Lynn Taylor shared her feelings on the power of the worship experience: “Being present at Nashville Korean UMC’s consecration service was such an honor and privilege. Along with their gracious hospitality, members of Nashville Korean UMC brought the spirit of God into the service not only in spoken word but also in music and song. It was impossible to sit in their congregation and not feel the immense joy and thankfulness in their hearts. At the same time their vision was coming to life, members extended their ministry to the world by directing the offering to help both local mission needs and to support others with dreams of building a new church in Mexico. I am certain the coming year will find Nashville Korean UMC welcoming their new neighbors into the life of the church as they are blessed with a family of faith that others will want to join. “

During the service the Foundation and Development Fund were recognized for their step of faith in assisting the church to this point. Vin Walkup admits that the vibrancy of the service and the incredibly deep faith displayed by the congregation left him in awe and unable to capture in words how it felt to be a part of the evening.

Note: You can visit the Nashville Korean UMC website (www.nkumc.net) and see additional pictures from the consecration service. And at the bottom center of the home page, just to the right of a photo of robed pastor Paul Kang, there is a small blue rectangle – clicking on the rectangle will take you to a video of the service.


Conference UM Men Join Forces to help those around the world who are unable to walk – Build a P.E.T. Day, October 24th

Many thousands of persons around the world have lost legs through disease, accident, or stepping on landmines—yet many of these persons have strong upper body strength and could find mobility IF they had a vehicle that could be easily peddled and steered with arm movement. Enter several imaginative United Methodists who designed a vehicle that could be operated with arm movement . . . and also contained space enough to carry small loads (groceries, vegetables to sell, work tools). The vehicles are known as Personal Energy Transports and go by the acronym P.E.T.

Personal Energy Transport (P.E.T.)

On October 24th, United Methodist Men , teaming with the United Methodist Founders of the P.E.T. Project in Middle Tennessee, are going to gather at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, Murfreesboro, to build 10 P.E.T.S for international distribution. Participants attending the National United Methodist Men’s Gathering in Nashville will recall that over a period of two days 30 units were built during time set aside for volunteer activity.

You and your church are invited to participate as volunteers or as financial supporters of the project.. The cost of parts for each P.E.T. is $250.00. You can send checks to the Tennessee Conference treasurer, marked in the memo line “PET Project.” All participants will be helping deliver not only vehicles . . . but HOPE . . . around the word.

Register online at www.tnumc.org or call 615-329-1177 if you have a question or email us at PET@TNUMC.ORG Bring your team to help us on this “Make a Difference Day,” October 24.

St. Marks United Methodist Church is located at 1267 North Rutherford Blvd. , Murfreesboro, TN 37130.

A special webpage has been set up for the project and EVERYBODY should click on the video link to see WHY the P.E.T. project is important. The address for the site is http://www.tnumc.org/custpage.cfm/frm/47220/sec_id/47220



The Long, Hot Summer? Not at Cedar Crest
by Christine Penner, Program Director
Tennessee Conference Camp and Retreat Ministries
The Long, Hot Summer was a blockbuster hit in 1958, adapted from a William Faulkner novel and featuring acclaimed actor Paul Newman. Don Johnson starred in a 1985 remake of the film, and the phrase has come into fairly standard usage in American culture ever since.

That phrase doesn't accurately describe this summer at Cedar Crest, however. A more apt description would be the old saying, "Time flies when you're having fun."

Campers were showing off their bibles during Agape Camp, “ One in the body of Christ”

It seems like just yesterday that we were planning programs, writing curriculum, hiring staff, and recruiting campers—and now the summer is over. Smiles, excitement, awe, wonder, and laughter were par for the course among all age groups at camp this summer; and it's been a terrific blessing to be a part of the experience.
For All Ages
New this year was "Mustard Seed Camp," providing opportunities for 1st graders, Kindergarteners, and even pre-K kids to come to camp with their parents, playing and learning together. One parent said, "Mustard Seed Camp is the best thing you could've done. I was nervous about sending my child to camp, but now that I've met the staff and see how the camp runs, I know you'll take care of [my child]. Thank you so much!"

2nd and 3rd graders could choose between two sessions of “Just Me” camp, an overnight event that provides a fun introduction for younger campers. Campers participated in canoeing, swimming, tree climbing, arts & crafts, hiking, talent show, and campfire. One child said of the week, "I was a little afraid when I first got here, but now I don't want to go home."

Agape Camp. Kids came to camp not knowing each other and made a lasting bond with one another, “Blest be the ties that bind”

Agape is the Greek word Jesus used to describe sacrificial love. It's also the name of our 3rd and 4th grade camp weeks, where campers learned how to treat each other and their environment with compassion and love. One boy said of his experience, "I made some great friends; I hope they'll come back again next year."

Three weeks of "Icthus" Camp for 5th and 6th graders wasn't enough for some campers. One girl said, "I wish I could do this all summer long." We did, in fact, have a number of campers who returned for more than a single camp week.

“Camp Challenge” and “Camp Survivor” were our adventure camps for high school and middle school students, offering opportunities for campers to go even beyond traditional camp programming to challenge themselves physically, mentally, and spiritually. One teenager remarked, "My mom made me come, and I wasn't expecting to have a good time. Turned out to be a total blast!"

New Experiences
All of the tried-and-true, traditional camping elements continued to be popular this year: canoeing, arts and crafts, water games, swimming, hiking, cookouts, talent shows, and campfires. Six staff members were trained in archery this year to provide a safe, fun bow-and-arrow experience for campers older than 3rd grade. One young man said, "The archery was so cool! I'm going to ask for a bow and arrow for Christmas." (Sorry about that, parents.)

We also added a super slide on the downstream side of beaver dam, which consisted of thick plastic, old mattresses, and water pumped out of the lake draining back into the river. Some days it was more like a water slide; some days it was more like a mud slide; other days a little "human bowling" element was added, as well. Comments about the super slide include: "It's the coolest thing ever!" "This is my favorite thing we've ever done at camp!" and "Can I do it again? Please!?!"
Do No Harm. Be Good. Love God.
Campers of all ages heard stories, sang songs, and participated in small group discussions based on original curriculum written specifically for the Tennessee Conference Camp and Retreat Ministries for this year.

The curriculum was based on John Wesley's three simple rules:

1. Do no harm—to ourselves, to each other, to the environment;
2. Do good—pro-actively seeking ways to show kindness, mercy, and justice;
3. Love God—attending to the ordinances of the faith: worship, prayer, Bible study, etc.

Campers were provided with not only fun activities and bonding experiences with others but also the opportunity to reflect on God’s natural world and feel Christ’s presence throughout the week.

By the Numbers
Attendance at summer camps across the country has been hit by the tough economic times. Yet attendance at Tennessee Conference summer camp rose to more than 350 campers this year, an increase over last year.

Over the past 7-8 years, no single week has included more than 80 kids, but a single week this year boasted more than 100. Apparently, the word is out about the Camping and Retreat Ministries of the Tennessee Conference!

In addition to regular campers, two groups came to offer their time and talents to serve in mission at the camp. One was from Iowa, and one was from Florida. They cleared tons of debris off the walking trails, repaired challenge course elements, and assisted with activities and crowd control on high-volume weeks with younger campers.

The Long Fall-Winter-Spring
Excitement is bounding and vibrant about summer camp within the Tennessee Conference. Many campers departed this year with comments like: "Can we start doing some retreats throughout the year?" "I don't want to wait until next summer to come back" and "When can I sign up for next year?"

Well, it is still a bit early to sign up for next year. But if you'll send a note to cpenner@tnumc.org, we'll send you information as soon as it's available. You can also join our Cedar Crest Camp Facebook group to stay connected. Please don't hesitate to contact us at 931.670.5152 if you have comments or questions.


Harvest Hands Community Development Corporation --"On a Journey Together for Wholeness in South Nashville!"

The former Humphreys Street UMC is now the center for Harvest Hands ministries

Crack houses appear, there are signs of gang activity, unemployment is a growing problem, the school drop-out rate is high, families have a strong desire to leave the community, some homes are empty and remain empty, few persons put money into upkeep of property, community leaders are frustrated, businesses pull out. Businesses required in every community—grocery stores, drug stores—seem ever further away from the population density.

It’s a story repeated across the United States. One United Methodist pastor, the late Howard Olds, wondered during a January 2003 sermon at Brentwood United Methodist Church, “What could our Church do if we mobilized all our resources to redeem a single neighborhood in Nashville?” Olds believed that the church must reach outside its walls and invest in places needing transformation.

L to R: Randy Knighten and The Rev. Brian Hicks (United Methodist elder, Kentucky Conference)

The end result of Olds’ question is the Harvest Hands Community Development Corporation, a nonprofit Community Development ministry in South Nashville – a ministry that works with the community to solve problems and effect change. The Rev. Brian Hicks, Executive Director of Harvest Hands, admits that the job isn’t always easy. Community leaders nodded toward a well-known crack house, and a murder that had occurred there-- indicating help was needed to close down the house in order for ANY positive change to occur in south Nashville. Harvest Hands found a way to purchase the house and property and a neighboring property. Houses were torn town, the land cleaned up to such an extent that it can now be used as a playground, or a spot for community celebrations.

Harvest Hands Communication s & Development Director Courtney Hicks with one of the young men in the after school program.

As Harvest Hands explored after school programs, sponsoring athletic teams, and providing mentoring opportunities for older boys and girls, it became obvious that the building space they were using was too small. At about this same time Humphreys Street United Methodist Church became vacant—it would require remodeling and a great deal of work to bring it up to current codes, but the location and space was worth it. So as 2009 comes to an end, three full-time employees and a host of volunteers are working from Humphreys Street UMC, now know as Harvest House. Brian Hicks is Executive Director; His wife, Courtney Hicks, is the Director of Communication & Development. The newest staff person, Randy Knighten , is Director of the Harvest Hands after-school programs. Both the Hicks and Knighten families live in the heart of South Nashville—a testimony to their commitment to work alongside neighbors for positive change in South Nashville.

The after school program provides opportunity for tutoring, a healthy snack, and a great deal of fun.

Among the ministries of Harvest Hands:

• The Harvest Hands After School and Summer Program are a place where elementary and middle school age students can connect with positive role models and receive the additional support necessary for academic achievement and healthy spiritual development. – the program provides a healthy snack, homework assistance and tutoring, opportunities to engage in the arts and recreation Monday through Thursday, 3:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
• Harvest Hands offers a running team called emPower running for middle and high school youth in South Nashville. emPower running seeks to provide youth with a positive recreational outlet to promote a healthy body and soul. The dream is to offer various sports programs. Through emPower sports
• The MIMIC (Men in Mentoring Community) and WOW (Women of Wisdom) are programs that focus on leadership development of young men and women ages 12-21.
• Residential property acquisition and development: Harvest Hands will target geographic sections within the Wedgewood-Houston and Chestnut Hill neighborhoods and will initially concentrate on the purchase of vacant lots, abandoned housing and problem properties.
• Economic Development: After an initial push on problem properties in the neighborhood, Harvest Hands will focus on creating jobs and opportunities to enhance the micro economy of the neighborhood.
• Celebrate Recovery – Harvest Hands will soon offer a Christ-centered recovery ministry for those experiencing hurts, habits and hang-ups.

According to Brian Hicks there are crucial needs.

1. Other congregations need to become involved—and not just United Methodist.
2. There is a need for adult men and women to mentor young men and women, ages 12 – 21 involved in the MIMIC and WOW programs. “Our vision,” notes Brian Hicks,” is to develop young men and women who achieve academic success, give back in service to others and to the community and mature in their relationship with God.”
          MIMIC and WOW will also provide an opportunity for youth to learn skills in entrepreneurship through student run businesses based out of the neighborhood. The young men are learning the art of roasting fair trade coffee from around the world, and merchandising the coffee. At the same time the Women of Wisdom program is making and selling all natural handmade soap. Of the $5,500 worth of soap sold so far $1200 went directly to the students and $2000.00 was placed in a college scholarship fund.
3. As the athletic program grows they need male and female athletes to teach running skills—and athletes that could coach other sports such as basketball.
4. Volunteers are needed as tutors and workers for the after-school and summer program.
5. Harvest Hands needs funds to continue and increase programming. Tax-deductible financial gifts can be sent to Harvest Hands CDC. 424 Humphreys Street, TN 37203. Gifts can be given on line through GivingMatters.com,  http://givingmatters.guidestar.org/


A Cultural Celebration of God's Faithfulness!
by Joaquin Garcia

Traditional dances were shared by the Cumberland Hispanic Fellowship. Many of the costumes were handmade by Janeth Martinez, wife of the pastor.

In the Bible over and over again we find images of God as the giver of food! --

In the Hebrew tradition, meals were times when people remembered their dependency on God and God's continued blessing, not only in the meals of daily life, but especially in the festivals that remembered and celebrated God’s mighty acts.

On Sunday, August 30, all these stories and signs of hospitality in the Old Testament seemed to coalesce at Fairfield Glade United Methodist Church as the English-speaking congregation and the congregation of the Cumberland Hispanic Fellowship met to celebrate God's love and action in the different cultures represented there.

Good food and great fellowship

Stories of God's faithfulness were shared from a variety of cultural backgrounds. The newest members of both congregations were welcomed! Children [some as young as three!] and young people of the Cumberland Hispanic Fellowship shared traditional dances in beautiful, brightly-colored dresses, many of them made by Mrs. Janeth Martinez, the pastor's wife.

Oh, yes! And FOOD! There was so much that it had to be served from a separate room, because over 240 persons were crowded into the fellowship hall--approximately a third from the Hispanic Fellowship! We could recall God providing manna and reassurance of God's presence. We could see Jesus feeding the five thousand...with baskets and baskets left over! We witnessed the festival become an expression of the Lord's banquet where God's people, still depending on God's continued blessing, became one body, were fed more than enough, and where God was indeed present!

From l to r: Ann Cox, coordinator of the celebration; the Rev. Lanita Pride, the Rev. Will Wells, and the Rev. Eliud Martinez.

May God continue to bless the faithful leadership of the laity in both these congregations and their pastors, Rev. Eliud Martinez, Rev. Lanita Pride, and Rev. Will Wells! And may we find these remembrances of God's love and faithfulness more and more across Middle Tennessee as we open ourselves to God's blessings through all God's people!


“Art on the Edge” displayed the work of over two dozen Edgehill UMC members

A rich variety of art pieces filled the exhibit area

Edgehill is an inner city church which has reached out consistently to help serve the needs of the nearby community. The congregational leadership also has taken the time to explore the various talents of the Edgehill membership, a membership which obviously contains a good percentage of persons with notable artistic skills. To showcase these skills Edgehill scheduled an art exhibit. which featured art pieces prepared by over two dozen of its members, young and old. The exhibit was aptly named “Art on the Edge.”

Artists in the exhibit donated works of art to the silent auction

The exhibit began with a worship service on Sunday, August 23rd in which Wesley Chapel UMC (pastor Deborah Owens) joined Edgehill UMC (pastor Judi Hoffman) in honoring the Giver of the many gifts each congregation has been given. The exhibit itself ran from Wednesday evening, August 26th through Friday evening August 28th, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. each evening. Unlike many exhibits which focus on one or two artistic formats, “Art on the Edge” displayed art pieces that were oil paintings, watercolors, collages, photographs, books, pottery, and wood carvings, plus examples of weaving, quilting, and various jewelry styles.

Alathea (from the Greek meaning “truth”) performed on Thursday evening at “Art on the Edge”

The Art Show also include a silent auction, a live auction on Friday night and exceptional musical entertainment every night in a coffee house setting (Wed., The Contrarians, Thurs., Alathea and Friday, Barbara Bailey Hutchison).





Antioch United Methodist Church Hosts Old Fashioned Fall Fair –October 3

The Antioch community has experienced many changes during the past 21 years. But for that same time, one Antioch area congregation has consistently offered the same gift to the community, and will do so again this fall.

That Antioch United Methodist Church will be hosting its 22nd Annual Fall Fair and Auction on Saturday, October 3, from 8 until 2 p.m. at their location on Tusculum Rd. This community-wide event normally draws hundreds of Antioch area residents to come shop, eat, and enjoy being with one another. Each year since 1987 the church has hosted an auction, flea market, country store (with homemade bakeds goods, jellies, and jams), a farmers market (with locally grown produce), country crafts store, barbecue luncheon, and kids carnival as a means of reaching out to the community, and to raise funds for both the ministries of the church and local service agencies. This first Saturday in October will continue the tradition.

"We do really see this as an outreach to the people of Antioch," said Mary Jane Hurt, coordinator of the event. "While this is a fundraiser, half of the proceeds go to agencies and projects outside our church, allowing us to help groups like Habitat for Humanity, Rooftop (providing emergency rent and mortgage assistance), and the Campus for Human Development's Room in the Inn program."

"When I first came to be the pastor of the church," said Jay Voorhees, current pastor, "folks tried to tell how great this event was. Frankly I didn't understand how great until I attended my first one. This is an amazing gift by the people of this congregation to the community."

The Antioch United Methodist Church has been a part of the Antioch community since 1891, meeting on Antioch Pike until the move to its current location at 41 Tusculum Rd., just off of Blue Hole Rd. in Antioch.

For more information on the 22nd Annual Antioch Fall Fair and Auction, please call (615) 832-6248 or visit www,antiochumc.net.


Macon County church celebrates dog shot by arrow
This news report was carried by television station WKRN, Channel 2, on August 30th, and is reprinted here by permission. Copyright 2009 WKRN.

Lafayette, Tenn. - Bibles and animals don't typically go hand in hand, but they did Sunday morning at the Lafayette United Methodist Church.

Madison, TN – The A.C.T.I.O.N. (All Children Together in Our Neighborhood) Program, a ministry of City Road Chapel United Methodist Church, has received a $2,500 grant from the PeyBack Foundation, whose founder is Peyton Manning, quarterback of the Indianapolis Colts.

A.C.T.I.O.N. provides free before and after school care to children in the 5th through 8th grades attending local public schools. Activities include tutoring, recreational activities, arts and crafts, computer skills, and Bible discussions. A free breakfast and after-school snacks are provided. Forty-two students currently participate in the program.

“A.C.T.I.O.N. is one of the few programs in the city specifically designed for middle school students,” said Scott Huddleston, director. “At this crucial time in their development, the program helps them learn how to be of service to others, while offering opportunities for social, spiritual and intellectual growth.”

The PeyBack Foundation, a public non-profit corporation, was established by Peyton Manning in 1999 to promote the future success of disadvantaged youth by assisting programs that provide leadership growth and opportunities for children at risk. The Foundation has donated more than $3 million since its inception.

A.C.T.I.O.N. is one of 31 organizations in Tennessee awarded a grant. All requests for financial assistance were given careful consideration by the PeyBack Foundation and judged on the unique merits of the individual agency, its goal and mission.

The A.C.T.I.O.N. Program is located at City Road Chapel United Methodist Church in Madison. For more information about the program, call 868-1673.

Keto with owner Bill Wheeler

Member Bill Wheeler and his dog Keto were the guests of honor at the Macon County church.

A few months ago Keto (the Navojo word for arrow) was a stray in Wheeler's neighborhood when he noticed someone had shot the dog with a bow and arrow.

Wheeler's family was able to catch the dog and took it to a veterinarian.

Keto has recovered, and now Wheeler plans to put the people-friendly animal to work as a therapy dog.

"We plan on using her in the church ministry, to visit the sick and shut-ins, the nursing homes here in town," Wheeler told News 2.

Keto with Pastor Nolen Brunson

Pastor Nolen Brunson told his congregation that there was plenty to learn from Keto's story.

"We're all stewards of God's creation, and a part of God's creation are the animals," preached Brunson. "They take care of us as much as we should take care of them."

That's a message that the dog's new owner already knows by heart.

"I think when you treat your animals and pets right, you treat your human beings much better," Wheeler told News 2. "The overflow of caring for an animal passes over to caring for other human beings."

Sunday's animal blessing marked a bright spot in the small church's recent history.

In the days after the deadly February 2008 tornado in Macon County, the Lafayette United Methodist Church also lost their pastor, Michael Welch, and his wife and two children in a deadly traffic accident.



A.C.T.I.O.N. Program Receives Grant from Peyton Manning’s Foundation

Madison, TN – The A.C.T.I.O.N. (All Children Together in Our Neighborhood) Program, a ministry of City Road Chapel United Methodist Church, has received a $2,500 grant from the PeyBack Foundation, whose founder is Peyton Manning, quarterback of the Indianapolis Colts.


A.C.T.I.O.N. provides free before and after school care to children in the 5th through 8th grades attending local public schools. Activities include tutoring, recreational activities, arts and crafts, computer skills, and Bible discussions. A free breakfast and after-school snacks are provided. Forty-two students currently participate in the program.

“A.C.T.I.O.N. is one of the few programs in the city specifically designed for middle school students,” said Scott Huddleston, director. “At this crucial time in their development, the program helps them learn how to be of service to others, while offering opportunities for social, spiritual and intellectual growth.”

The PeyBack Foundation, a public non-profit corporation, was established by Peyton Manning in 1999 to promote the future success of disadvantaged youth by assisting programs that provide leadership growth and opportunities for children at risk. The Foundation has donated more than $3 million since its inception.

A.C.T.I.O.N. is one of 31 organizations in Tennessee awarded a grant. All requests for financial assistance were given careful consideration by the PeyBack Foundation and judged on the unique merits of the individual agency, its goal and mission.

The A.C.T.I.O.N. Program is located at City Road Chapel United Methodist Church in Madison. For more information about the program, call 868-1673.

TENNESSEE CONFERENCE REVIEW September 4, 2009

Articles in the September 4, 2009, issue of THE REVIEW

1. Responding to the Crisis of At Risk Children and Youth
2. Data Base established for listing of VIM teams, large or small, Youth and Adults,
3. Native Moccasins Rock: Festival, Workshop, Spiritual Retreat, and History Lesson
4. Calling all Miriam’s Promise Friends and Supporters!!
5. Teens reach out in mission -- Jeans from Teens
6. Children of Grace UMC go hands-on to end hunger for local kids
7. Kansas pastor laments presence of phantom fathers
8. City Kids visit to farm offers first-time contact with horses, sheep, and chickens—Oh my
9. Six awarded Ingram Scholarships, article with one captioned photo
10. Death of former pastor compels sharing of article about hospital ministry
11. Professional Association of United Methodist Church Secretaries (PAUMCS) 2009 Institute, article with no graphics or photos.



Responding to the Crisis of At Risk Children and Youth
By Patty Smith*

Today’s children face a world that is filled with violence, drugs, abuse, war, and a multitude of other challenges. A quick search on the Internet reveals the recent top ten most terrible issues that threaten kids worldwide. They include poverty, neglect, lack of access to education, child labor and child pornography.

These startling lists have prompted educators, politicians and government agencies to label up to 90% of our children as “at-risk” and in need of help. The “at-risk” label carries many connotations. An Online Dictionary defines at-risk as “being endangered, due to exposure to disease or from a lack of parental or familial guidance and proper health care.” Other resources categorize at-risk children as those kids who face nearly insurmountable challenges due homelessness, poverty and other environmental factors. What does at-risk mean to the church?

Jesus defined “at-risk” in Matthew 25:35-36. His words, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me,” clearly reference situations that modern-day at-risk children face today.

We could sadly replace the word “I” with names of children in our midst. For Sarah was hungry. Tommy needed clothes. Teresa was sick. Alex was in prison.

The harsh reality of this verse is more visible every day in our local churches. With a national unemployment rate of 9.4%, a global economic crisis, skyrocketing food costs, and lack of health care, the number of at-risk children is increasing exponentially. How can the church respond to this crisis? Where do we start? Start with Jesus and his words in Matthew 25. Jesus gives the church a detailed blueprint for reaching at-risk children. We need to meet their immediate physiological needs of food, clothing, shelter, education, and support utilizing a systematic approach—all centered in the life-changing, abundant love of Jesus Christ.

Many churches in the Tennessee Conference are meeting the immediate needs of at-risk kids. We are blessed to have churches that feed the homeless, house the poor, provide after school care, donate school supplies, offer grocery coupons, and so much more.

For example, Epworth United Methodist Church in Franklin offers Fuel Bags for the students at Bethesda Elementary. These sacks are filled with nutritional treats such as protein bars and juice to provide sustenance for kids over the weekend. The Lamplighters women’s group assembles approximately 22 bags each week. Church member and local pediatrician Dr. Michelle Fiscus sees the impact these bags have on families firsthand. She states, “We know that children who don’t have ready access to nutritious foods will reach for high-calorie, nutrient-poor convenience foods that contribute to poor nutrition in general and our rising rate of childhood obesity in particular. Programs such as this one offer healthy, easily accessible food items to meet these children’s needs.”

Other churches reach out to at-risk children by providing educational opportunities. Hillcrest UMC in Nashville offers ESL (English as a Second Language) classes to Hispanic adults each week. While parents attend these English classes, their children enjoy ministry experiences that focus on creative expression and Bible study. Educating at-risk kids is also a priority for Springfield First United Methodist in the Clarksville District. On Wednesday nights Springfield First offers the Heart program. Members of the Heart team work with local elementary teachers to identify first and second graders who face academic challenges. Each Wednesday night these kids travel to the church, enjoy a hearty meal and then dive into their schoolwork with passionate tutors by their side.

At-risk teens are also a focus of churches’ efforts. Franklin First United Methodist Church reaches out to at-risk teens annually. Each winter the youth ministry partners with 61st Avenue United Methodist in Nashville to sponsor at-risk teens to attend Warmth in Winter. Director of Youth Ministries at Franklin First, Jacob Fasig, notes, “It’s important for these teens to experience fellowship with other youth around the Conference as they grow in their faith.” He adds, “It’s amazing to see youth from different walks of life come together as the body of Christ.”

Churches like these embrace whole-heartedly that “Faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.” (James 2:17) Ministry to children at-risk is certainly a worthy deed that meets a growing need. In fact, given the staggering increase of at-risk children in our communities, new opportunities exist for people to live out their faith in service to these children. Is God calling your church to do something new or something different to reach at-risk children? Has God given the lay people in your church a heart for these very special kids?

If the answer is yes, you’ll need a place to begin.

Here’s a modified version of a simple strategic plan from The Annie E. Casey Foundation to follow as you determine what you’ll do:
1. Identify community needs.
Work with your Children’s Ministry team or group of passionate lay people to identify an immediate need in your community. Interview key individuals such as school principals, guidance counselors, and other stakeholders including parents of at-risk children to determine what ministry opportunities exist.
2. Explore solutions.
Create your ministry’s vision by brainstorming what the positive results would be for your at-risk audience. Your vision will identify an immediate need and tangible ways to meet that need utilizing both secular and faith-based avenues. For example, your vision might be to create an after school program for elementary-aged children to develop strong relationships with adults in a faith-based community to reduce the growing number of latch-key children in your neighborhood. Be sure to include key influencers and stakeholders in these sessions. They’ll provide key empirical and anecdotal information that can shape your vision.

3. Build a strategy.
Identify the goals and outcomes for your ministry to provide a clear blueprint and measure success. Define your program’s expectations, how you’ll meet these expectations through programs and activities, and what resources are necessary to execute the programs and activities.

4. Put your strategy into action.
Follow your blueprint. Remember to keep Jesus central to everything you do. Make adjustments to your strategy as needed. Be flexible and expect that some aspects of your plan will be modified.

5. Measure the outcomes.
Prepare a written evaluation based on your goals. Gather empirical and anecdotal information. Have ministry participants, servants, parents and other stakeholders complete these evaluations. Conduct personal and family interviews to document the strengths and weaknesses of your ministry. Collecting the right data will enable you to clearly determine the success of your ministry.

6. Publish your results and recommendations.
Compile a comprehensive report of your ministry to at-risk children. Distribute it to your key stakeholders and seek their input. Share your report with other churches serving children and other at-risk populations so they can learn from your efforts.

We must remember the critical role that faith development and a growing relationship with Jesus can have in making a positive impact on the lives of children at-risk. Each ministry and moment spent serving children at-risk should be an intentional God connection. Without placing emphasis on Jesus for what, why and how we meet the needs of at-risk children, our efforts are the same as any social service program minus the life-changing, eternal promise a relationship with Jesus provides. As followers of Jesus, we have the blessed opportunity to shape the future of the world’s next authors, teachers, speakers, preachers, scientists, etc. in the name of Jesus. With God’s help we can reduce the at-risk circumstances and challenges too many children face. At-risk may become at-hope, in-Christ, at-heart---something new, something relevant, something hope and faith-filled. It’s possible in your community, the Tennessee Conference and around the world.

*Patty Smith is the Conference Director of Children and Family Ministries





Data Base established for listing of VIM teams, large or small, Youth and Adults
By Jason Brock and Brad Fiscus

The Tennessee Conference is creating a strong data base of local church, district, and conference Volunteers in Mission teams scheduled for the remainder of 2009 and into 2010 and 2011. Teams that have already completed their mission are also listed and there is a strong request that both youth and adult teams be listed in the data base.

“Why,” some have asked, “should we list every local VIM experience large and small?” What’s the reason for creating such a data base?” Glad you asked!

Here are the top eight reasons why such a listing of teams and dates is absolutely essential:

1. It becomes a witness to the living out of our faith in Christ together. Our conference in 2008 sent out a minimum of 2,702 adults, children, and youth on 201 mission trips with an estimated 108,000 volunteer hours (hours valued at a little over $2,000,000).

2. It provides an opportunity for local church groups to know if other churches are willing to partner with them on a given mission trip – there are some churches who want to be involved in a youth-related trip but don’t feel they can because they only have a couple of youth, or not enough available adults for an adult VIM experience.

3. It allows the Conference to create a mission database of the projects in which churches are participating, and will let us know what they did and what they experienced. It also gives us an opportunity to know how the sponsoring agency (i.e. Mountain TOP, UMCOR, REACH, Team Effort) sets up programs—and this information can be utilized by others.

4. Starting to plan a mission trip to a designated location. It might help you to make contact with the team leader of a group that has already served in that location.

5. We live in an electronic age. A team that might wish to partner with a Tennessee Conference VIM team on a mission trip could very well be outside the Tennessee Conference, i.e., in Oklahoma, or Maine.

6. A local team trying to determine a destination for its mission can check out several opportunities with previous mission teams—and from those conversations KNOW if they have the equipment and skills needed for a specific situation?

7. Local churches exploring Volunteers in Mission may wish to arrange an informational meeting for the congregation featuring several experienced group leaders from other congregations.

8. Planning a first VIM trip out of the country? Previous teams can teach you a great deal about the history and culture of the people you will be serving.

To view the master listing of Youth and Adult teams we KNOW about so far for 2009-2010 go to the Volunteers in Mission website. Start by going to the Annual Conference website http://www.tnumc.org, visually scan the listing on the left side of the page and click on “VOLUNTEERS IN MISSION.” On the VIM page you will see a number of options in the left hand column under “Volunteers in Mission.” Click on the option “2009 TN TEAMS”

http://www.tnumc.org/VOLUNTEERS_IN_MISSION/2009_TN_TEAMS/

If your past or planned trip does not appear, PLEASE share your information through one of the following QUICK online surveys.

For Youth Groups under VOLUNTEERS IN MISSION click the option “Youth In Mission Survey.” http://www.tnumc.org/VOLUNTEERS_IN_MISSION/Youth_in_Mission_Survey/

Adult (if mostly adults) Groups click on the option “Volunteers in Mission Survey.” http://www.tnumc.org/VOLUNTEERS_IN_MISSION/Volunteers_in_Mission_Survey/

You will also note the Volunteers in Mission Home page provides ways for teams to share their experience through pictures and stories.

Contact information for Jason Brock and Brad Fiscus: 304 South Perimeter Park Drive, Suite 1, Nashville, TN 37211, 615-329-1177, 615-329-0884 (fax). jbrock@tnumc.org; bfiscus@tnumc.org


Native Moccasins Rock: Festival, Workshop, Spiritual Retreat, and History Lesson

Powwow drummer, Emerson Begay, and Boe Harris perform for the crowd on Saturday evening. Photo by Pat Bryan.

The Tennessee Annul Conference Native American Ministries has regularly presented a training event and retreat for local church leaders. Now called Native Moccasins Rock the event has emerged into a nationally recognized festival and workshop held annually in August (projected August 13 to 15, 2010) at Camp Lake Benson in Bon Aqua, Tennessee.

Dance Shawl class displays the shawls created in a class taught by Boe Harris (Boe, front row, second from left). Photo by Pat Bryan.

Not only is Native Moccasins Rock attracting top leadership from different Native American tribes around the country, but a growing number of Tennesseans, children and youth as well as adults. Native American traditions and history are explored over three days and participants have opportunity to learn pow wow drumming, Native dance traditions, storytelling, and various Native crafts from flintknaping to basket weaving to soapstone carving, beading, and the creation of dance shawls.

Jamie Russell instructs retired Tennessee Conference clergyman Fred Harper on the best way to play the native flute.

Performances are stunning whether they come from storyteller Ragghi Rain, flutist Jamie Russell, Warriors Path drummers, or the Choctaw Social Dancers, But, the event is also a spiritual retreat—a time of prayer, meditation and exploration, a moment in time when spiritual healing can take place.

Nothing kept participants from learning Native American dance steps, even a sleeping child.

When the event was completed, Mary T Newman, coordinator for Native Moccasins Rock, received a note from Susan Parker King. The note sums up the total three-day experience: “How can I thank you for the gift of providing this past weekend? I came with dark, roiling clouds in my soul. Life felt gray and hollow; discord jumbled my thoughts; I carried a lot of grief and mourned great losses in my heart. I believe it was God's plan and timing that brought me to this weekend just when I so needed it. I came thinking it would be a diversion from my sadness and a learning experience, but it proved to be SO much more.

Nationally known speaker and artisan, Freeman Owle, teaches stone carving to adults, and VERY interested children

“Increment by increment, God brought healing through Jamie's songs, Ragghi's stories, Boe's dancing, John and Emerson's singing and drumming, and Freeman's incredibly insightful words. Layer by layer the clouds in my soul began to dissipate. I came to rest in that balance of which Freeman spoke. Each of these people--as well as all the others--gave generously of not only their gifts, but of themselves. I think that is what makes Native Moccasins Rock so great--it is a weekend of utter acceptance and selfless giving. And THAT is a genuine healing balm. Where before I felt trapped, now I see a path before me--perhaps only the first few steps, but a path that I will follow one step at a time--and it WILL lead somewhere! Finally peace rests within me again. And I think I discovered that while my blood is not Native, my heart is.

“Please share this along with my love and thanks to all who were a part of this weekend. Will be back next year!!!”

The art of basket weaving

A variety of ages were interested in learning storytelling from Ragghi Rain.

Calling all Miriam’s Promise

Friends and Supporters!!

The 2009 Golf/Walk Challenge is quickly approaching and the Miriam’s Promise Staff and Board wanted to make a special plea for your support during this very important fundraising event. We are acutely aware that raising funds for any non-profit is challenging this year. While economic conditions seem to be making some improvement, corporate giving, private foundation support and church giving are still extremely below normal levels. According to experts at the Center for Non-Profit Management, the only area of giving still remaining strong is individual giving. They report that when individuals are given the opportunity to give to a cause they feel is important, they are still willing to donate!

The current economic situation presents unique challenges to agencies like Miriam’s Promise and requires that we become more creative in the areas of fundraising and development. With this in mind, we ask that you consider active participation in the 2009 Golf/Walk Challenge on October 12, 2009 at Nashville Golf & Athletic Club! Here’s how you can help:


1. Put together a foursome golf team to enter the CHALLENGE and seek sponsorship
2. Sponsor a single golfer for participation in the Golf CHALLENGE
3. Sponsor a foursome golf team to meet the Golf CHALLENGE
4. Gather a team of your friends to participate as a group in the Walk CHALLENGE
5. Sponsor a Walker in the Walk CHALLENGE
6. Underwrite, your choice, of several overhead cost items involved in making the Golf/Walk CHALLENGE happen (these costs cut into the overall realized funding of the event)
We want to continue providing a safe “oasis” for women experiencing crisis pregnancies and for children who need “forever” families. For these women, the upcoming birth of a child brings anxiety and despair. They struggle with the reality that the love they feel may not be enough to provide for all their baby’s needs. Some of women assisted by Miriam’s Promise are pregnant inmates in jail; many are already parents. We are providing more services every year to families adopting older children who need attachment coaching and therapeutic services to help those children heal.

Your support during this time of CHALLENGE will allow Miriam’s Promise to continue to meet the needs of the precious populations we serve. Visit our website at http://www.miriamspromise.org/ for more details and to find out how you can participate in this awesome fundraising event!

Many thanks for your support!

Debbie Robinson, Executive Director, Miriam’s Promise

Teens reach out in mission -- Jeans from Teens

“Share with the Lord’s people who are in need.” Romans 12:13

Carly Hobbs (left) and jean recipient Destiny Moore.

A couple of years ago, Carly Hobbs, a youth at Lewisburg First UMC, had a vision for teens to share their excess jeans with others. She realized that not all teens have the privilege of shopping for jeans. She wanted to collect jeans that had only been slightly worn to donate to teens that needed them. Carly and her friends have collected over 75 pairs of jeans this summer. She also incorporated the collection of jeans as part of the summer Vacation Bible School mission project. In mid-August, Carly gave out 50 pairs of jeans to children, youth and adults at the Care Kitchen, a weekly meal provided for the community. She is continuing to collect jeans with plans to offer “Jeans from Teens” on a regular basis.





Children of Grace UMC go hands-on to end hunger for local kids

Every day, all over this country, school kids lug home backpacks stuffed with books and papers and gym clothes and pencils. But on any given Friday in Mt. Juliet, TN, a startling number of those backpacks contain something else. Food to get that child through the weekend.

Right here in the Mt. Juliet area a significant number of children eat no dinner at night or breakfast in the morning, living off the food from their schools’ free lunch program. And when they trudge home Friday afternoon, many are unsure where their next meal will come from because school lunch is two days away.

Children line up to begin placing food into bags

Determined to help wipe out hunger for area kids, the children of Grace United Methodist Church in Mt. Juliet have partnered with W.A. Wright Elementary and Nashville’s Second Harvest Food Bank in a “BackPack” program that provides each participating child in need with a pack of food on Fridays. BackPacks include small pop top entrees, such as beans and franks and chili, cereal, applesauce, a fruit cup, 100% fruit juice, shelf stable milk, and snacks like peanut butter crackers.

The Grace BackPack initiative serves 45 elementary school children at W.A. Wright every weekend throughout the school year. Participants are identified by teachers and guidance counselors. Through its partnership with the Second Harvest Food Bank, Grace UMC can help feed that many children for $5,400. This partnership also ensures the quality of the food because Second Harvest has stringent requirements for its BackPack partners.

The experience of helping to feed the hungry is truly “hands-on”

Helping the BackPack program takes place in many ways at Grace. During the summer’s Vacation Bible School, daily offerings were committed to the BackPack program and a total of $4,300 was raised. Additional contributions from the congregation have brought that amount up to the necessary $5,400. Wednesday programming begins with Pizza with a Purpose where, after pizza, children stuff the bags of food to be distributed the following Friday.

“This program has really touched the hearts of the children of Grace,” explains Amy Buttrey, Director of Children’s Ministries. “They were shocked to learn that children they know, children they sit next to and play with, might not have enough to eat. It has brought home the issue of hunger in a way they can understand and they want to do whatever they can to help. And it has allowed them to have a “hands on” role in doing God’s work.”

To learn more about the Grace UMC initiative and what you can do to help, contact Amy Buttrey at amy@graceumc.net. To learn more about the BackPack program in general check out http://www.secondharvestnashville.org/.

Kansas pastor laments presence of phantom fathers

Making a baby does not make a man a father says the Rev. Kevass Harding

NASHVILLE, Tenn.––The pastor of a Wichita, Kans., congregation that increased from 25 members in 1998 to 800 members today, addressed the July 11th session of the Tenth National Gathering of United Methodist Men.

Following an exegesis of Paul’s second letter to Timothy, the Rev. Kevass Harding stated that although Timothy’s father was in his house he was a “phantom father.”

“Although he was in the house, Eunice, the mother, was doing what he, the father, was supposed to be doing,” said the pastor of Dellrose United Methodist Church. “Publicly he did all the things that would bring great status to his name, but privately he couldn’t even lead his family to Christ.”

“And even today, 2009, we still have phantom fathers,” said Harding. “Making a baby does not make a man a father––mentoring, leading, guiding, and passing on our faith, makes us father figures as God called us to be.”

Noting the devastating effects of phantom fathers, Harding said that a decade ago the number of murders committed by teens was approximately 1,000 a year; today it is over 4,000 a year.

“In the past 30 years there has been a 550 percent increase in violent crimes; 400 percent increase in unmarried births; 200 percent increase in teen pregnancies, and a 300 percent increase in teen suicide.”

Harding believes that Timothy became a church leader because Paul passed the faith on to him, and he recalled how Cliff Fanning, his big brother under the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, passed the faith on to him. “I was 10 years old when I met Cliff,” said Harding. “I was trying to liberate a candy bar from a candy machine.”

Harding said Fanning gave him three gifts as a mentor: spiritual kinship, prayer and encouragement. “I was ready to bite into my quarter pounder with cheese, when Cliff said, ‘Let us pray – you don’t know what they were doing with that cheeseburger.’

“Cliff Fanning encouraged me to be the man I am today,” said Harding. “I was about to throw in the towel, but Cliff said, ‘You can’t stop what God is trying to do with you.’ That got hold of me and I realized I had come too far to turn around now.”

Harding encouraged the men at the national gathering to mentor boys. “There is a boy who needs you as I needed Cliff Fanning.”

Harding is the author of Can These Bones Live? a book that traces the growth of Dellrose United Methodist Church from a 25-member congregation to over 800 members in six years. He attributes the growth to the fact that Dellrose is a place where everyone will feel the love of God, find the joy of Christ, and experience the power of the Holy Spirit. The church sponsors a youth center that includes a tutoring and mentoring program; a counseling center; and sermons and studies that address the needs of a multi-ethnic, blue-collar working community.


City Kids visit to farm offers first-time contact with horses, sheep, and chickens—Oh my

On Thursday, July 30th a group of 13 children, youth, and advisors from the Nancy Webb Kelly United Methodist Church in Nashville, TN, arrived at the Pelham United Methodist Church ready for an adventure, and they were not disappointed.

As the “City Cousins” arrived, they were greeted by their “Country Cousins” from the congregation and everyone had a snack. After being warned of the everyday hazards that one finds in the county – poison ivy, snakes, and possibly unfriendly farm animals – the group was reluctantly ready to embark on their trip to 4 local farms.

Its Farm-City Day and Children from the city and children from the country become one family
The first stop was the Ralph & Helen Meeks farm, which offered a look at calves, a vegetable garden in full production, blackberry vines loaded with luscious, ripe berries and a large cantaloupe and watermelon patch with basketball sized melons. At the Larry & Reeda Shelton Farm, the group was able to see cows and hold the little yellow puffs of chickens freshly hatched. Then, the David & Melda Jacobs Farm held yet another first for most of the participants as they came into close contact with curly, fluffy, white sheep.

However, the majority of the day was spent at the farm of Jerry and Judy Walling where first-time opportunities abounded. These included a beekeeping exhibition, horseback riding, horseshoes, croquet, and catching fish from the farm pond. Most caught fish, but few dared remove the hook. That worked out well enough because volunteers from Pelham UMC were there to lend a helping hand. Then there was the favorite part of any Methodist gathering, the food. Lunch was a covered dish extravaganza with the church members supplying much of the food from their farms and gardens, and dinner was held in front of an open campfire where everyone cooked their own hot dogs and “real” smores to the delight of one and all.

The day brought smiles, laughter, and blessings to the children, youth, and advisors who came to “farm-city day” as well as to those who served as their hosts.


Six awarded Ingram Scholarships

Left to right: Rev. Jerry Mayo, T.J. Noel, Laura Swallows, Kaitlyn Lake, Carmen Taylor (accepting for Jessica Wilson), Heather Tackett, Brandon Cooper, and Shirley Ingram.

Pomona United Methodist Church in Cumberland County presented 6 scholarships on Sunday, July 12, during the worship service. These scholarships are made possible though the generosity of the late Rev. Clifford Ingram and Shirley Ingram. They are administered through the Nashville Area United Methodist Foundation office.

The committee members who selected these recipients were Teresa Graham, Julia Dixon, Judy Green, Harvey Green, Jill Hall and Randy Smith. They received over 70 applications.

Shirley Ingram spoke during the worship service of why her husband decided to set up the scholarship program for needy students and challenged the students and the congregation to make the most of their lives. Teresa Graham introduced each of the recipients who were all able to attend the service. Rev. Jerry Mayo presided during the service.

The recipients were Brandon Cooper, Kaitlyn Seiber Lake, Heather Tackett, T. J. Noel, Jessica Wilson, and Laura G. Swallows.

A bountiful luncheon honoring these students and their families was served following the service.


Death of former pastor compels sharing of article about hospital ministry

The Rev. Perry Parker

Jeannie Gleaves, and Hickory Bend United Methodist Church’s holiday ministry to families in the waiting room of a hospital ICU, was featured in an article reprinted in the August 21st issue of REVIEW, “Gleaves brings home cooking and love to ICU.” But the article would never have been submitted except for a promise made to Gleaves’ former pastor, the late Rev. Perry Parker. Gleaves explains Parker’s role in a letter to the Rev. John Collette, District Superintendent of the Nashville District.


April 14, 2009
Dear Mr. Collett:

When the enclosed article ran in the paper, Perry Parker called me. He strongly urged me to send it to the Conference for inclusion in “The Review.” I told him I thought it would be considered “tooting my own horn,” and that I’d be embarrassed to do that.

And now, our dear Perry is gone, and I remembered his call that day. Typical of his droll wit, he said that the next time he got sick, he was going to arrange his hospitalization tocoincide with our taking meals to the hospital so that he could have some of our good Methodist cooking!

And so, it is with a heavy heart that I finally fulfill one of his wishes. He thought the whole Conference should know about it, and that perhaps other churches would adopt this ministry. We have learned that two other churches are doing the same thing for other hospitals, and we are so happy to hear that.

Grace and Peace,
Jeannie Gleaves
Hickory Bend UMC

*Perry Parker died April 6, 2009. He was a chaplain in the Air Force, served several TN Conference Churches, and was for three years Wesley Foundation Director at Vanderbilt. One of the churches he served was Hickory Bend UMC.







Professional Association of United Methodist Church Secretaries (PAUMCS) 2009 Institute

By Lora L. O’Steen*

What is more precious than a cool day in July in Atlanta? Why, the fellowship of kindred spirits of the PAUMCS, of course! For a rare and special week, July 19-27, thirty-one participants experienced both, on the Emory campus, during the PAUMCS Institute.

The Institute provided outstanding advanced professional training and enrichment for United Methodist church secretaries from across the denomination. Rebecca Setliff, Ph.D., facilitated our interaction. Becky brought a wealth of team building experience from her background as director of the Office of Executive Programs in the Goizueta Business School at Emory University. As a professional consultant and coach, she invited us to explore better communication through introspection and reflection. She challenged us to work more effectively in groups as we confronted our weaknesses and leveraged our strengths in a “Desert Survival” workshop.

Dan Gary, Associate Council of the General Council on Finance and Administration, led us in a lively discussion of “Taxes and the Church”. Dan’s animated presentation actually made taxes fun, and funny; with his use of humor and storytelling skills. Jacqueline Gill, Assistant Controller, also from GCFA, led a timely module on “Dollars and Cents of Office and Management and Connectional Giving”. Dr. Robert W. Winstead, Assistant Professor in the Practice of Church Leadership and Director of the Office of Lifelong Learning, Emory University, gave us an overview of “Church Polity”. Bob was particularly tuned in to the divergent needs of the group, as many PAUMCS members are not UMC members. We all felt he made a valuable contribution to our experience, and we enjoyed his ability to weave history into our workplace. Rev. Dr. Ken Sloane, Director Communications Ministry, United Methodist Communications, shared the exciting work he is involved with and explained “The Connectional Thing”. We were all grateful for the web links and gifts (new calendars!) he brought.

Our PAUMCS President, Karen Albro, offered encouragement and insight, leadership and understanding. She made sure we all felt comfortable and with Director of Records and Statistics GCFA Staff Representative to PAUMCS, Cynthia Haralson’s support, we all felt free to be candid and receptive to new ideas and experiences. Cecile McGinniss, Administrative Assistant, worked behind the scenes, and her endeavors contributed to the success of our group.

The five-day PAUMCS Institute is designed to stimulate professional growth and development of the individual. In my experience, the goals were reached and surpassed. I came home renewed and eager to share new practices. I invite you to the PAUMCS Institute; come see how all members of the church body are in ministry together. It is a rare and precious opportunity.

*Lora L. O’Steen is Ministry Assistant, Hendersonville First United Methodist Church

TENNESSEE CONFERENCE REVIEW August 21, 2009

Articles in the August 21, 2009 issue of THE REVIEW

1. September Nashville Area Campaign Focused on Supporting Africa University.
2. 2009 Evangelism Retreat: SAME MESSAGE; Different World
3. Summer Sizzler attracts 320 youth and adults
4. Pastor gives churches ideas for supporting troops
5. Gleaves brings home cooking and love to ICU, reprinted article
6. Keeping Covenant with the Oriental Conference of Eastern Mexico!
7. Deacons and Elders Accepted in Full Conference Membership 2009
8. McKendree Village, Inc. Honored with Safety Award for significant reductions in Worker’s Comp claims
9. Tired and Weary??? Commentary by Joy Lewter, Conf. President, United Methodist Women
10. Nashville Missionary’s Bequest Creates Africa University Scholarship
11. 2009 Family Fellowship Retreat




September Nashville Area Campaign Focused on Supporting Africa University
By Stephen Drachler

NASHVILLE – The top official of United Methodist-related Africa University is coming to Nashville to lead an early September campaign urging Middle Tennesseans to support the Zimbabwe-based institution.

Associate Chancellor Dr. Fanuel Tagwira is heading a delegation of university-related officials who will be visiting United Methodist congregations Sept. 6-13 to build continuing support for the 1,300 student university. Students at the university represent 22 countries across Africa.

As Dr. Tagwira preaches at Forest Hills United Methodist Church on Sunday, Sept. 13, other representatives of the university and its Nashville-based development office will be speaking at 11 other congregations in Davidson, Williamson, and Sumner counties.

“Africa University is a jewel of hope for Zimbabwe and the rest of Africa,” said Bishop Dick Wills of Nashville, leader of United Methodists in middle and western Tennessee. “When other universities were closed due to Zimbabwe’s severe economic and political crisis, Africa University remained open. It is producing key economic, scientific, and religious leaders for countries all across Africa.”

Bishop Ernest Lyght of Charleston, W.Va., president of the university’s development group, said this visitation is particularly focused on showing the benefits of long-term planned giving to help sustain the university.

“It is a great thing to share God’s blessings in this way,” Bishop Lyght said. To me, there is no better feeling than to know I’ve planted seeds of hope for Africa’s bright future.

“The United Methodist Church is committed to Africa, and Africa University is a key focus of our ministry. As it prepares a new generation of leaders, it needs the support of United Methodists in the United States,” Bishop Lyght said. “The best way for many to help is to look at the long term, both for their lives, and for the continuation of the university.”

Lyght said there are many options for planned giving, such as bequests, designating proceeds from insurance policies, and other income generating instruments.

With its main campus located in Old Mutare, in central Zimbabwe, Africa University opened its doors in 1992. The university currently offers bachelors and masters degree programs in six faculties - Agriculture and Natural Resources, Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, Health Sciences, Management and Administration and Theology. The Institute of Peace, Leadership and Governance offers postgraduate diploma and masters Programs.

For more information on how you can support Africa University, contact Ms. Elaine Jenkins, director of planned giving, at 615 340-7428, or email her at ejenkins@gbhem.org

Here is the schedule of speakers at Nashville area churches:
• Sunday, Sept. 6, Ms. Elaine Jenkins will address the combined Sunday School classes at Belmont UMC, Nashville.

• Wednesday, Sept. 9, Bishop Ernest Lyght will speak at Christ United Methodist Church, Franklin during its Wednesday evening programming.

• Sunday, Sept 13 speaker include:

+ Calvary UMC, Nashville, Dr. William McFadden during Church School and worship.

+ Blakemore UMC, Nashville, Rev. Heinrich Meinhardt, during worship.

+ Connell Memorial, Goodlettsville, Dr. Maggie Jackson at 8 and 11 a.m. worship services.

+ Clark Memorial UMC, Nashville, Ms. Amelia Tucker Shaw during a Sunday School forum.

+ Donelson Heights UMC, Kevin G. Goodwin during worship and Sunday School.

+ First UMC, Gallatin, Martha Mutisi during church school and worship.

+ First UMC, Franklin, Mr. James Salley, during worship at 9 and 10:30 a.m.

+ First UMC, Hendersonville, Rev. Yollande S. Mavund, during church school and worship.

+ First UMC, Murfreesboro, Bishop J. L. McCleskey, during 8:30 and 11 a.m. worship.

+ Forest Hills UMC, Dr. Fanuel Tagwira, during worship at 8:30 and 11 a.m.







Sept 14-16, 2009 Beersheba Springs Camp and Retreat Center
2009 Evangelism Retreat: SAME MESSAGE; Different World
By Cinde Lucas*

Even though the Message of the Gospel is the same, today’s world is much different than that of just a few years ago. We need new tools to reach today’s generation. This year’s Evangelism Conference, SAME MESSAGE, DIFFERENT WORLD, will focus on the current cultural trends and give us tools that will enable us to better communicate the Gospel with those outside the walls of our church buildings.

Several workshops are planned for this year’s retreat. Clint Thomas, nationally known speaker on youth and the “media” world, will be sharing the culture trends and challenges that we face in today’s world. We will then look at individual groups (children, youth, young adults, and adults) and explore creative ways of communicating the Good News with them. Kevin Sparkman & Jordan Calloway, leaders of New Wine Fellowship at McKendree UMC in Nashville, will lead sessions focused on young adults; Jason Brock, Director of Mission & Mercy for the Tennessee Conference UMC, will be sharing ways to break current cultural barriers; Patty Smith, TN Conference Children & Family Ministries, and Brad Fiscus, TN Conference Youth & Young Adults, and several others, will also be sharing with us.

Along with these workshops there will also be several worship services. Safiya Fosua, Director of Invitational Preaching Ministries with the GBOD will be preaching at each of the worship services. Mark Barrow, who is an outstanding Praise & Worship leader from White House First UMC, will be leading music at these services.

The 2009 Conference On Evangelism Retreat will be held this year at Beersheba Springs Retreat Center September 14-16. We are encouraging ministry “teams” to come to this event; Pastors, Children & Youth Coordinators, Young Adult Coordinators; or anyone involved in these ministries at your church. For more information and/or to register contact TN Conference at 615-329-1177 or visit www.tnumc.org/-_M_I_N_I_S_T_R_I_E_S_-/Evangelism/.

Hope to see you there.

*Cinde Lucas is chairperson of the Annual Conference Evangelism Committee


Summer Sizzler attracts 320 youth and adults

Beersheba Springs Assembly came alive during the last weekend of July as 320 youth and adults from across the Tennessee Conference gathered for Summer Sizzler. Jack Radcliffe, professor of Youth Ministry and Christian Education at Martin Methodist College, served as the keynote speaker for the weekend. The thought-provoking sessions focused on the theme One God, One Life, One World and Ephesians 4:6 (The Message) “Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness.” The youth and adults pondered about how their life serves as a witness of Christ to those they interact with in the world. They celebrated their commonalities instead of differences. They prayerfully focused on how God can use them individually as well as collectively in their homes, their schools, their communities and their churches.

Gordon Memorial United Methodist Church Youth at Sizzler– Raegan Bowen, Gloria Jordan, Tashaundra Bailey, Epiphany Fields, Danesha Jones:

Our worship leader for the weekend was Josh Vegors. Josh’s focused all of our hearts on worshipping God. He energized the group with uplifting music, singing and dancing. On Sunday the youth who participated in the worship arts camp, Celebration, created an altar space, prayer walls, and performed a liturgical dance during the service.

Each year at Summer Sizzler we take time to honor graduating high school seniors. Many of these youth have been coming to Sizzler since sixth grade. When asked about why she attends each year, nine year veteran Janie Crick of Grace United Methodist in Mt. Juliet replied, “I feel the community and love that is in Beersheba and Summer Sizzler is so great and so powerful that not coming back wasn’t an option for me. This place is one of my faith homes.” When asked the same question, Brick Howse of Greenbrier United Methodist Church in the Clarksville district replied, “If I’m ever questioning anything, I come here and am reminded why I believe. Because having fellowship out here is just one of the most amazing things I’ve ever experienced.” Asher Thompson a graduate from Grace United Methodist in the Cumberland district added, “The reason I kept coming back to Summer Sizzler was because it is a place to relax and center myself on God.”

 The group of 2009 high school graduates lead morning vespers at Summer Sizzler.

Alex Odum of Grace United Methodist is excited that she will be back next year, “This is my 7th year here at Summer Sizzler and I am happy to say it will not be my last. This event seems to get better and better every year. I love, love, love the worship!” Also sharing Alex’s excitement were the youth from Gordon Memorial United Methodist in Nashville. This was the first time that youth from Gordon had attended Sizzler. “The experience this weekend was moving because it made us feel as we were one body in Christ. It was cool to meet other youth from all across Tennessee. It showed us a different way to worship and how to have a closer relationship with God. This was an all around fun and learning experience.”

We thank God for each of the youth and adults who came to Sizzler this year. Our hope is that they will continue to strive for their lives to be permeated with Oneness and this will overflow into their communities.

Pastor gives churches ideas for supporting troops
By Vicki Brown*

July 30, 2009, NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS)

Madison Street UMC pastor LeNoir Culbertson (r) and Associate Pastor Brian Marcoulier (l) with Bishop Hope Morgan Ward at an April 2009 National Training event, “Trauma Healing—Preparing Churches to Receive Returning Military Personnel.”

When the Rev. LeNoir Culbertson was appointed pastor of Madison Street United Methodist Church, just a few miles from Fort Campbell, Ky., she thought churches probably needed to have special programs for military families.

Up to one third of the 600 active members of her Clarksville, Tenn., congregation, near the home to the 101st Airborne Division, are related to the military.

But, Culbertson said, “I was told repeatedly, ‘We don’t want to be treated like military.’”

What she discovered was that many needs of a military family with a deployed member are similar to the needs of single parents. Providing child care for church programs, such as a Bible study or prayer groups, was important.

Kerry Mays, whose husband, Bryce, is deployed to Iraq with a medic unit, said that unlike single parents, military families often don’t have time to arrange for child care or other help. “My husband deployed in May, and we found out in April that he was leaving,” she said.

Irene Dowden cares for children in her Fort Campbell, Ky., home. Child care is a primary need for military families with a deployed spouse. A UMNS photo by Spc. Mary L. Gonzalez.

While the Army offers respite child care, Mays said it’s not Christian-based, and many parents feel there are too many children to be supervised well.

For parents with young children, child care is one of the most helpful services that a church could offer. “With your church family, you don’t have to worry that someone will use profanity, or say something you don’t want one of your children to hear,” Mays explained.

“Support groups are a wonderful idea, too,” she added. “You have a spouse you don’t know if you’ll see again, and you need someone to talk to, some type of system for moral support.”

Support to returning soldiers
Chaplain Lt. Col. Scott Weichl, behavioral health program manager at the U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., said he worries about the Reserve and National Guard soldiers who return to their communities after deployment and do not necessarily have support services available to active duty military.

“I think the churches could make a tremendous impact on Army Guard and Reserve soldiers,” Weichl added. “There is a wonderful opportunity for churches to partner with other organizations or the military to be able to do good.”

Churches need to find out what needs military families have, said the Rev. Ron Lowery, the new superintendent for the Clarksville district. He hopes to set up zones based on the episcopal structure of the church so that there is a church to serve as a resource center about every 20 miles.

At Madison Street, many military families don’t want to be on prayer lists because they don’t want to advertise that a woman and children are living alone, Culbertson said.

But other types of lists come in handy. “We keep current a referral list of reliable … electricians, plumbers, carpenters, and mechanics, since people come into town and don’t know anyone,” she said.

On the spiritual side, “We try to offer programs and liturgy that are supportive of the military, but not flag waving, not saying that everything you do is the will of God.”

*Brown is an associate editor and writer, Office of Interpretation, United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry.



Gleaves brings home cooking and love to ICU
After spending years in waiting room, Donelson woman wanted to help others
By Andy Humbles
From P. 4 & 5 of Davidson am (Donelson, Hermitage, Lakewood and Old Hickory), a supplement to The Tennessean, Friday, April 13, 2007. Copyright 2009 and used here by permission.

Donelson-Hermitage – Jeannie Gleaves of Donelson spent plenty of time in an intensive care unit waiting room at Summit Medical Center during the last seven years or so of her husband’s life.

“A lonely, frightening place to be any time of year, and most especially on holidays,” Gleaves said.

Gleaves, 67, saw from those hours in a waiting room that plenty of others were just as alone as she. Her husband, Joe Gleaves, died just over a year and a half ago.

At least Gleaves, by her reasoning, was fortunate in that she could at least go home each day. She saw many family members of patients who were from out of town and had to sleep for days on end in the waiting room.

So five years ago this Thanksgiving, Gleaves and Joan Williams, a friend from Hickory Bend United Methodist Church in Donelson, cooked a holiday dinner big enough for a full waiting room of patients’ families.

“We mentioned it to the church, and so many wanted to help,” Gleaves said. “It’s something that has meant a lot to people we don’t even know. We’re small, but we’re mighty.

‘Whole congregation helps’
So, ever since, Hickory Bend – a church that typically runs 85-90 in attendance on Sunday mornings – has brought full Thanksgiving, Easter and Christmas dinners to the Summit ICU waiting room. There is enough food for 40-50 people, with family members, patients, nurses and doctors who are working those days all welcome.

Hickory Bend United Methodist Church members delivered food to Summit Hospital ICU. Nurses are Gail McNally, left, Courtney Pirtle, Ashley Biggs, Melissa Simpson and Becky Norris. Courtesy of Hickory Bend UMC.

“The whole congregation helps, whether making food or giving money,” said Debbie Keith of Hickory Bend. “I wouldn’t miss not doing it.”

Turkey on Thanksgiving, Honey Baked hams, vegetables, desserts, rolls, drinks and all the trimmings – you name it, the church brings it. Utensils, too.

Tammy Golden remembers being served with her two daughters as regulars in the intnsive care waiting room at Summit when Hickory Bend provided a dinner on Christmas 2005.

Golden’s husband was in ICU at Summit nearly two months before he died in January 2006, when she and two daughters were at the hospital daily.

Now, Golden and her daughters help with the Hickory Bend project, though they attend another church.

“We had brought gifts to make it as normal a Christmas as we could, and when we were done we went to the waiting room and dozed off,” Golden said. “We woke up and there was this amazing spread. Not leftovers, but like going to Grandma’s house. . . . It’s amazing to think there are people like that.”
About the buffet and ministry
Every Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas, members of Hickory Bend United Methodist Church set up a buffet of homemade food for patients, family and staff at Summit Medical Center’s intensive care unit.

The church members don’t eat with those at the hospital. They leave and come back later to clean up.

Hickory Bend United Methodist Church members deliver food to Summit Hospital ICU. Nurses Ashley Biggs, left, and Courtney Pirtle, second from right, help church members, Joan Williams (back to camera), and Debbie Keith, right. Courtesy of Hickory Bend UMC.

“We want them to feel at ease,” said Jeannie Gleaves, who began the ministry at Hickory Bend with Joan Williams. “We take prayer requests if they like, and we’ll pray with them if they request that, but we don’t’ push ourselves on them.”

Sometimes Hickory Bend will bring toiletries and clothing, if the members are aware of a need.

Tammy Golden remembers eating at the Christmas spread provided by Hickory Bend while her husband, who has since died, was in Summit’s ICU department. She also remembers Gleaves call the hospital three weeks later and asking if Golden and her two daughters needed a home-cooked dinner.

“By providing food we try and provide encouragement and comfort,” said Hickory Bend United Methodist pastor Hyeon Hong.

Keeping Covenant with the Oriental Conference of Eastern Mexico!

Dr. Fred Hembree and Dr. Debbie Church recently traveled to Monterrey, Mexico to bring greetings from Bishop Dick Wills and the Tennessee Annual Conference to the 19th Session of the CAO (The Conferencia Anual Oriental). The purpose of this official visit was to strengthen the covenant between the Tennessee Annual Conference and the Oriental Annual Conference of The Methodist Church of Mexico.

Rev. Felipa Medina & Dr. Fred Hembree in Monterrey, Mexico. The Medina’s were hosts for Fred Hembree & his wife Debbie Church during the Annual Conference(Oriental) in Eastern Mexico.
The conference was held at El Mesias (The Messiah) Methodist Church in Monterrey, Mexico, July 8-12, 2009. The theme of the conference was based upon Colossians 3:2, “Poned la mira en las cosas de arriba, no en las de la tierra.” (Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.)

Following words of greeting given by Fred and Debbie on behalf of the Tennessee Conference, Bishop Raul Garcia De Ochoa asked all the members of the annual conference to stand as he led the conference in prayer asking God to help strengthen the covenant relationship our conferences share.

The covenant voted on and approved by our Annual Conferences just over a year ago remains strong! Mission teams from Mexico have been involved here in evangelistic efforts in cooperation with Hispanic ministers of the Tennessee Conference. Mission teams from the Tennessee Conference have been involved in church construction projects, evangelism, food distribution and medical mission efforts in Mexico. In the midst of these activities, Christ’s presence has been made known in tangible ways and the love and unity between our conferences has grown even stronger.

 Dr. Debbie Church, Cessia Media and husband Rev. Felipe Medina in Monterrey, Mexico.

If you would like to learn more about the covenant between our Annual Conferences or would like to be more involved in mission outreach among Hispanics here in Tennessee or among persons in Mexico, please contact Dr. Jim Clardy, Chair of the Task Force on the Pacto at (615) 893-3455.





Lawrenceburg First youth travel to Louisiana for missions
By the Rev. Alecia Fischer

Serving God while roofing in Louisiana

First United Methodist church in Lawrenceburg sent eight youth and four adults to Houma, Louisiana, about 70 miles southwest of New Orleans. They spent a week repairing roofs on homes damaged by last year’s hurricanes; Gustav and Ike. They participated in a ministry called T.A.R.P sponsored by the First United Methodist Church of Baton Rouge, Louisiana and the Louisiana Conference Disaster Response. T.A.R.P. stands for Terrebonne Area Restoration Project. T.A.R.P. provides opportunity for teens and adults to come and restore hope to people whose lives have been affected by the hurricanes. First UMC worked on three roofs while they were in the Houma area including part of the roof of the Dulac Community center, a United Methodist Mission Agency which provides social, recreational and emergency services to the people of Terrebonne Parish with emphasis on the needs of the Native American population.

Ryan Egly, Lawrence county high school senior and member of First UMC youth, said, “It was very hot up on the roofs, but it was worth it because we were able to bring a little hope to the people we met in the Houma area.” While participating in T.A.R.P., the group experienced local Cajun food, took a swamp tour and learned about the ecological issues surrounding southern Louisiana.

Participating in the mission trip were Adults: Rev. Alecia Fischer, Jerry Gibbs, Ken Nelson, Liz Hartmann; Youth: Ben Egly, Ryan Egly, Rusty Cummings, Drake Newton, Dara Smith, Laine Philpot, Caroline Thomas, and Allie Stockwell.

Deacons and Elders Accepted in Full Conference Membership 2009

Left to right: Trey Carey, Tom Gibson, Lea Thornton, Matt Trussell, Becky Peeler, Ted Hill, Brian Gilbert, Tamara Lewis, David Hesson, Jared Wilson



McKendree Village, Inc. Honored with Safety Award for significant reductions in Worker’s Comp claims

Safety Committee Picture. Front Row: Stacey Vail, Ronica DeBow, Letroy Davis, LaQuioneese Jordan, Bobbie Douglas, Dewayne Harvell, Nicky Balbach , Clarence Bentley, Renee Morris. Back Row: Todd Moore, Monica Dimmett, Marcia White, Sapoa Ulloa, Robert Duncan, Lamont Buchanan, Judy Jones, Bobby Mathis.

HERMITAGE, TN, JULY 27, 2009: McKendree Village, Inc. has seen significant reductions in worker’s comp claims over the last couple of years but especially since the formation of the Safety Committee in early 2009. This committee is comprised of a variety of team members across multiple disciplines including nursing staff, and environmental services staff. “There is a team approach and staff has become a cohesive unit to prevent injury on the job,” Bill Hoover, PMA Group agent states. Mr. Hoover says that there is a new way of thinking about safety. “Compassion has been the underlying factor in the improvements in safety. When someone needs help, they ask for it and co-workers are more likely to notice when a fellow employee needs help with a task such as transferring a resident.”

The Safety Committee meets regularly to discuss issues concerning day to day safe operation. They work to find creative solutions to potential hazards and members are assigned to address any known concerns and report their findings and solutions at the next meeting. This accountability factor is proving beneficial in making the work environment safe. Other factors contributing to the improvements are shift change safety reminders, clear and better signage and sharing of ideas. Employees are empowered to come up with creative solutions to challenges and rewarded for their efforts.

The number of Worker’s Comp claims at McKendree have fallen more than 70% since 2005 with a 98% reduction in payouts on claims so far for 2009. This has resulted in a significant reduction in premiums paid for Worker’s Comp by McKendree.

The efforts of the Safety Committee are making a measurable impact on the well being of team members and the organization itself. The combination of a caring atmosphere and a proactive approach to preventing and correcting issues has resulted in the honor of receiving this Safety Achievement Award.

Todd Moore, Executive Director at McKendree Village, Inc. praises the efforts of all staff in reducing the number of Worker’s Comp claims and particularly the efforts of the Safety Committee to implement positive change and safety awareness. Moore states, “The Safety Committee has taken the lead to create an environment and culture for safety that goes beyond the care of the residents to the care of oneself in the workplace.”

McKendree Village, Inc. is currently the only organization in the Nashville area to be honored with the Safety Achievement Award by PMA Group.


Tired and Weary???
By Joy Lewter, President Tennessee Conference United Methodist Women

Joy Lewter
Verses from Isaiah 40:28-29 have taken on special meaning for me. “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” June and the first part of July have about worn me out. I have gone and gone, some time for UMW work, for church work, and for pleasure. My friends all say, “My second name is GO.” And there is a lot of truth in that, but I realize I am beginning to get tired quicker. I think my mind and my heart are young but my body is not cooperating. Can any of you relate?

The Tennessee UMW executive team traveled to Owenboro, Ky., to Kentucky Wesleyan for Regional School and several of us came back to Brentwood for Tennessee Annual Conference without going home. I took the Food and Faith study at Regional School and was excited to have the author of the book for my teacher. We studied hard, fellowshipped much, laughed a lot, and I tried to climb the three flights of stairs only one time a day. This meant that my bag was pretty heavy by the end of the day.

Tennessee Annual Conference is always a highlight for me. I love the United Methodist Church and Conference is a time we worship and praise God as a denomination. This was the first year for me to address that group. I had brought a new top to wear for my speech on Tuesday. I was representing you and I wanted to look fine. Monday morning, Bishop Wills sent word that he would like for me to address the body before 1:00 that day. I wasn’t wearing my new top. But you don’t turn the Bishop down, and I proudly talked about our UMW mission work and about our passion for Bethlehem Center. When I sat down I took a deep breath, then almost laughed out loud. I realized God was teaching me a lesson, that presentation was not about me, it was about you and God, and it didn’t matter what I had on.

I came home, washed clothes, and left with my 12 year old grandson for a bus trip to Washington DC. We had fun and saw a lot. It is always fun to see the world through the eyes of children. I didn’t realize we were seeing so many memorials and monuments until Tommy ask one day, “Do you have to see more places where people are buried today?” Those 6 days were the longest Tommy had been away from his Daddy. Even though we had had a large time, we where both ready to be home.

And yesterday I got home from our Christian Mission Event at Martin Methodist College. We had a good school, a good group of women, and I was so proud for Martin Methodist to host this event. I love MMC because it is where I went to college for my first two years and where I work part-time now. But I did come home tired. I hit the sofa for a nap, only to be awaken an hour later with Tommy’s new puppy, Sammy, licking my face. While I played with the dog, my son Wayne cooked supper. The food was good, but then I did what Moms do, I washed the dishes and cleaned up the kitchen. Some things never change, even if they are 33 and have children of their own.

Life goes on. We get tired but we get rested and move on to the next adventure God has planned for us. The Bible verses I started this article with gave me new strength this past week. We get tired but God doesn’t. We only have to call on him, and take a moment or two of Sabbath rest in his arms to regain our strength. Then we move on to the next challenge and the next opportunity to serve him.

My prayer for you is to receive God’s blessing and grace. Work in his name and rest in his strength along the way. I will miss seeing you all at the Spiritual Life Retreat. I plan to have my other knee replaced on September 1 and I will be recuperating that weekend. My prayers will be with you at that event. I know it will be a time of study and a time of Sabbath rest for each of you. I always find God on that mountain. But let us remember God is good all the time. All the time God is good. Blessing to you!!


Nashville Missionary’s Bequest Creates Africa University Scholarship
By Stephen Drachler

NASHVILLE – When the Rev. Marshall Lovell was planning his estate, he wanted to leave something to benefit Africa, where he and his wife, Eloise had served as United Methodist missionaries.

The Rev. Marshall Lovell

After consulting with his son, the Rev. William Lovell, Marshall Lovell decided to endow a scholarship at United Methodist-related Africa University. William Lovell died at age 88 in 1995.

“My father and mother were missionaries in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They loved Africa, and wanted to do something to help,” said William Lovell, who is now retired and a member of Africa University’s Advisory Development Committee. “I told him about Africa University. He decided to leave a bequest to fund the scholarship.”

Eloise Lovell

William Lovell and his wife have since made their own contribution to his father’s bequest to ensure it funds a full scholarship every year at the Zimbabwe-based university.

Elaine Jenkins, director of planned giving for the university, said the Lovell family’s gift is an ideal way to leave a lasting legacy to help the university.

“There are many ways to help Africa through the university,” she said. “Planning a gift as part of your estate will have a lasting, permanent impact on the lives of persons who are in great need.”

Planned gifts are critical to Africa University's ability to continue to fulfill its mission, and help to solidify the university's financial underpinnings through its endowment.

Here are some examples of planned giving:
• A gift included in one's last will and testament.
• Beneficiary designation of a remainder trust, lead trust, or living trust.
• Beneficiary designation of a life insurance policy. Beneficiary designation of retirement assets.
• Charitable gift annuity.
• A current gift of cash, securities, real estate or other assets designated for the endowment.

For more information on giving to Africa University, contact Ms. Jenkins at the Africa University Development Office in Nashville. Her telephone number is 615 340-7428, or email her at ejenkins@gbhem.org.

2009 Family Fellowship Retreat

47 people from around the Tennessee Conference gathered together at Beersheba Springs Assembly this past weekend to enjoy the Family Fellowship Retreat. This is an annual event sponsored by the Tennessee Conference. The ages of those attending ranged from 6 years to 90 years old. Rev. Bob Jared from Hillsboro UMC in the Murfreesboro District led the adults in a study on our Covenant Relationship with God. The Sunday morning worship service included a Wesley Covenant Service.

Next year’s retreat is scheduled for July 23-25, 2010. Mark the date on your calendars so you can enjoy spending time with friends from across the conference for Bible study, delicious food, and a time to retreat.

TENNESSEE CONFERENCE REVIEW August 7, 2009

Articles in the August 7, 2009 issue of THE REVIEW
1. Quadrennial Men’s Gathering features Sheltered Reality Percusssion Team

2. Sheltered Reality sponsors mission work in West Nashville
3. Over 1,200 United Methodist men meet in Nashville

4. Fire Destroys Historic Bethlehem United Methodist Church Building but not the spirit of the people

5. Bethlehem United Methodist Church --Serving Clarksville since 1836
6. One of America’s Great Festivals—“Native Moccasins Rock”—Camp Lake Benson, Bon Aqua, August 14-15-16
7. Warmth in Winter Youth Ministries Event for 2010 to make exciting move to Murfreesboro, article with one captioned photo, Photo #14

8. Jordan-Lake's Novel “Blue Hole Back Home” wins 2009 Christy Award, article with one uncaptioned photo, Photo #15

9. LaVergne First UMC Celebrates First Sunday In New Sanctuary July 19th, article with two uncaptioned photos, Photo #18 and Photo #19

10. Angels: Commentary by the Rev. Dr. Ted Hill, M.D., article with one captioned photo, Photo #20.

Quadrennial Men’s Gathering features Sheltered Reality Percussion Team
The United Methodist Men’s Quadrennial Gathering in Nashville, Tennessee, July 10th to 12th, 2009, attracted some of the greatest visionaries in developing ministries with men, several Bishops of the United Methodist Church, and notable performing artist including Paul Saik, Steve Hornbeak and Vince Gill. Yet conversations with the Gathering participants constantly involved mention of the Sheltered Reality percussion performance featuring youngsters from Nashville’s 61st Avenue UMC and from across the United States.

Steve Schlosser, founder of Sheltered Reality, stands with Austin Pruitt, Angel Graham, William Graham as Austin, Angel, and William prepare to share their feelings about Sheltered Reality with the UMMen’s assembly.

Saturday morning was the worst of times for the Gathering, an outside transformer had blown, and the main building housing the event was without light and air conditioning. The auditorium sound system, computer controls, stage lights, and video screens were all non-functioning, and an emergency generator could only bring a few of the lights and a make-shift sound system back on line.

Dustin Kleba (age 15) from Sioux Falls, SD. The Kleba family; Ken, Robin, Kim, and Dustin, all traveled from their home town outside Sioux Falls, South Dakota to participate in this year's 61st Ave. UMC mission project. Ken and Robin's two children are performers with Sheltered Reality. The family decided to make their family vacation one of service to others this year! They came to make a difference in a little community in west Nashville...they left with lasting memories.

Onto the main performance area came the group Sheltered Reality which has affiliated percussion groups across North America—the nearest in west Nashville at 61st Avenue United Methodist Church. The Sheltered Reality program teaches basic music skill and rhythm, but beyond that it takes children and young people who could be at risk and focuses on the primary message that we can all succeed if we:

• Take a chance
• Never give up
• Believe in ourselves
• Are willing to do whatever it takes
• Are willing to be a Friend (and empower others to succeed)

Along with this, Sheltered Reality performers are urged to believe in God, and develop a strong religious faith.

The Sheltered Reality Program at 61st Avenue started when Brentwood United Methodist Church member Scott Frech arranged for two percussionists from Iowa to return to middle Tennessee after first seeing them perform at Brentwood United Methodist church. Brentwood supports the ministry of 61st Avenue with resources and volunteers.

The two percussionists—Steve Schlosser and Jordan Fratt—were so inspired by the neighborhood programs at 61st Avenue they felt this would be an ideal spot to begin a Nashville section of a National Program, Sheltered Reality.

(L to R): Kristy Shyloski, Austin Pruitt (age 11), Joyce Shyloski...all from Nashville

The impact of the Program has been profound for the young people that started drumming at 61st Avenue. Kristy Shyloski, mother of 11-year-old Austin Pruitt, feels strongly about Sheltered Reality. She says, “The program at 61st Avenue changed his (her son’s) attitude and helped him believe in himself—and it has certainly brought us closer together, mother and son.”

Grandmother Joyce Shyloski adds, “It teaches kids responsibility and not just how to play a drum. They learn to believe in themselves and attempt things which are big steps. At the same time they are learning about God. When all the drummers from around the country get together it is like family.” With a smile she added, “And you’ll certainly want to see them perform their number ‘Greased Lightning.”

(L to R): Scott Frech (Nashville), Sharon Frech (Nashville), and Dakota Frech (Nashville)

Scott Frech can share stories about all the 61st Avenue drummers. “William Graham is the ‘Poster Child’ for Sheltered Reality. He epitomizes the four or five goals we have for each participant. He really lives them out.”

“William was born with several medical challenges and faces obstacles in life that most youths will never encounter. When he started in Sheltered Reality William was extremely introverted. It was difficult for him to talk to others. In three years there have been tremendous improvements in self esteem, motor skills, and hand/eye coordination. At the end of practice he genuinely looks forward to the next practice, and it doesn’t make a difference if our national leadership Steve Schlosser or Jordan Fratt are going to be present.”

A while back William asked Steve Schlosser if he could do a Sheltered Reality number in a school talent show – something he would never have asked three years ago. Permission was given and the feedback was that his class came alive when he performed. “This, among other things, gives us reason to believe that all things can be accomplished,” notes Frech.

(L to R): Adrianne Ralston (Topeka, KS), Steve Schlosser (Executive Director of Sheltered Reality), Ryder Eakin (Inman, KS), and Dustin Kleba (Sioux Falls, SD)
Scott Frech and wife Sharon are coordinators for the Nashville-based site of Sheltered Reality which has found strong emotional and financial support from Brentwood UMC. Scott Frech has his own personal testimony to power of the Sheltered Reality program: “It’s funny how God’s plan unfolds before you. Several years ago, our Sunday school class began to get more involved in a little church in west Nashville…one that sat very much in an urban setting. About the same time, a motivational percussion group passed through the area. From a selfish standpoint, I saw a perfect opportunity to ramp up a new site of Sheltered Reality that my family could participate in. God’s plan had nothing to do with participation and everything to do with service.”

“I struggle each day with whether my actions are making a difference in the life of another person… Am I making the life of a child better in some way or have I done something to make a difference in a community or neighborhood? I understand that entrance into the Kingdom isn’t done on a merit system, entrance is only because of God’s grace; but it sure would be nice to know that my purpose on earth has been more than to convert oxygen to carbon dioxide. Just like the Bible says in the early parts of Genesis, ‘when God created the heavens and earth…He was well pleased.’ I want my Father to have some level of gratification of my purpose on earth. Sure He loves me unconditionally, just as I love my children. But have I made Him proud? Are my actions pleasing to God? Do my actions reflect the life of a disciple of Christ?”

The church and Sheltered Reality have given me a chance to have purpose in life that is Christian focused. Together, they allow my family to do wonderful things that benefit others. They have strengthen my faith and given my spiritual journey direction and momentum. It’s funny how God’s plan unfolds? I would have thought we were supposed to just play the drums….God’s plan was to touch hearts and transform lives!

Sheltered Reality sponsors mission work in West Nashville

Lexie Peters (Inman, KS). A college student who originally envisioned Sheltered Reality engaging in a mission project in west Nashville. Lexie is a three-year participant in Sheltered Reality's Nashville Mission Projects!
For the past three years, Sheltered Reality has sponsored a week of mission work at 61st Ave UMC in west Nashville. This year all sixteen (+/-) participants stayed in the Frech's home in Murfreesboro for a week...what a fantastic time of Christian fellowship! The purpose of each years mission project was to support the summer youth program at 61st Ave UMC as well as complete a variety of tasks/improvements that were geared toward the skill set of the project team. This year, the church's "teen" room got a face lift. The floor was replaced with industrial grade Vinyl Composite Tile, walls were painted, ceiling fan/light were installed, and a 32 LCD TV and DVD player were installed. Along with this teen room makeover, picnic tables were stained/sealed, church vestibule was painted, and various cleaning projects were completed. Most importantly, the project team invested time in the lives of those youth - - some prepared lunches, while others facilitated activities.

Over 1,200 United Methodist men meet in Nashville
Electrical storm leaves men in dark, but not without power

NASHVILLE, Tenn.––Over 1,200 men met at Belmont University, site of the 2008 Presidential Debate, for the July 10-12 event that included lectures, workshops, seminars, work projects, entertainment and a blown transformer.

A late-night July 11 lighting strike destroyed a city transformer leaving the Tenth National Gathering of United Methodist Men with no air conditioning and only emergency lighting for Saturday morning sessions.

A mobile transformer later restored the electrical power and men from nearly every state were provided with powerful new ways to reach men within and beyond their local congregations.

David Adams, staff executive of the Commission of United Methodist Men, visits with four men from Waverly First United Methodist Church

David Adams, top staff executive of the General Commission on United Methodist Men, concluded the three-day event by saying men might have been impacted by the loss of a transformer, but their lives had been “transformed” by the gathering.
A first for Nashville
The Tenth National Gathering marked the first time the quadrennial event had met at a site other than Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind. Fewer men attended the Nashville event than preceding Purdue events, but meeting organizers attributed that to the economy and not to the change in venue.

The gathering focused on three relationships, God to man, man to man, and man to boy. Chicago Area Bishop Hee-Soo Jung, Dr. Patrick Morley, chief executive officer of Man in the Mirror ministries, and the Rev. Kevass Harding, pastor of Dellrose United Methodist Church in Wichita, Kan., addressed these relationships under the conference theme of “Focus on the Cross.” Retired Bishop William Morris served as preacher for the concluding Sunday morning worship service.

Vince Gill, talented performer is also involved in urging men to become mentors
The event included a Saturday evening concert by Vince Gill, a two-time winner of Country Music Association’s “Entertainer of the Year Award.” Other guest artists included Paul Saik and Steve Hornbeak, Nashville recording artists; Richard Alegria, an organist from Texas; Sheltered reality, a 19-member group of young choreographed drummers, the Mighty Male Chorus from New Jersey, and Brad Stine, a comedian who served as emcee of the event.


Fire Destroys Historic Bethlehem United Methodist Church Building but not the spirit of the people

On Wednesday evening, July15th, into the morning of Thursday, July 16th, historic Bethlehem United Methodist Church burned to the ground after a bolt of lightning hit the church’s steeple and the steeple exploded into flame. Pastor Matt Kelley, who was in Costa Rica on a Volunteer in Mission trip when the incident happened, was notified almost immediately and arranged to fly back quickly to be with his congregation.

Lightning strike causes historic Bethlehem Church to burn. Photo by Matt Kelley.

For some families the church had been part of the family for generations, and it was fitting that in an outdoor worship service on Sunday, July 19th, the event was treated as the burial of a family member or funeral service for a close friend. “The church is the people,” noted Kelley, “but the building was a beloved family member.” Kelley adapted part of the funeral liturgy from the Book of Worship and combined it with part of the liturgy for taking leave of a building.

Over 150 worshippers participated in the service—a service which reflected grief, spurred historic memories, brought forth the recollection of many sacred and personal events, but primarily resulted in the sharing of hope for a strong future.

Pastor Matt Kelley prayers before the “Wailing Wall.” Photo by Beth Liggett Cogbill/The Leaf-Chronicle. Used by permission.

Among the worshippers were Dr. Ron Lowery, District Superintendent for the Clarksville District, Rev. Roger Hobson, Executive Assistant to Bishop Richard Wills, and Rev. Jason Brock, representing the Conference Council on Ministries.

A special visual and emotional focus was a “Wailing Wall” created from bricks that had been part of a collapsed chimney. During prayer time persons were urged to write down prayers and these were placed in the cracks of the wall—reminiscent of the use of Jerusalem’s historic “Wailing Wall.”

The serving of Holy Communion focused everyone on Christ’s presence at the church-- as present as he had been for the church’s 110 years, and as present as he would be as the congregation faces the future with hope.

Pastor Kelley reflected on the fire. “There were so many irreplaceable things we lost in the fire that I can't even begin to list them. One small grace is that I didn't have an office in the church, so the only things I personally lost were my vestments. They were nice, but were all replaceable.”

Melted plastic hangers provided shield for pectoral cross. Photo by Matt Kelley.

“All of them, that is, except the pectoral cross my wife Jessica purchased for me in England a few years ago. It was of tremendous sentimental value to me and I was heartbroken that I lost it.”

“Even though we technically weren't supposed to, some of us started combing through the rubble. I went over to the area where the closet with my vestments had been located. Digging around I discovered a half burned pile of cloths that I realized had been my robes and stoles. With the burned cloth there was a large hunk of plastic that had been the hangers on which the vestments hung.

“And in the middle of that hunk of melted plastic was the cross. It turned out that the plastic formed a protective casing around the cross, so the damage to it was minimal. I wore it Sunday during the service, stains and all, and then I'll take it to a jewelry shop to get it cleaned up.”

Friends, neighbors, former members of the church may want to contribute to the church’s building fund. Contributions can be sent to the Bethlehem United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 3155, Clarksville, TN 37043, or online through PayPal account on the Bethlehem UMC website www.historicbethlehemumc.org


Bethlehem United Methodist Church --Serving Clarksville since 1836
composed by Charles Waters- Church Historian. Photo by Matt Kelley.

Bethlehem United Methodist Church is built on one of the oldest church sites in Montgomery County. However, the exact date of its organization and construction is not recorded. The Methodist Church in America was organized in Baltimore in 1784, the same year Clarksville was settled, and it is believed the first settlers came into this region where Bethlehem is located in 1796.

On September 2, 1836, William Dunlap deeded to the trustees "land on which Bethlehem Church is located," making it obvious that the church was here before that date.

The first date recorded in the Tennessee Conference archives is 1842. That year the church was listed on the Asbury Circuit, one of twelve churches supplied by the same circuit rider. The first building was a log structure approximately 20 x 24 feet located just to the left of the present sanctuary.

By 1897 T.W. Noland was pastor of Bethlehem and Forest Street churches, a two-point charge. In 1897 Forest Street was built, and the original sanctuary is still being used. Two years later, in 1899, under Noland's leadership, Bethlehem was built. The likeness of the two sanctuaries attests to the fact that the same plans were used in the buildings, except that Bethlehem has two spires.

Bethlehem survived the Civil War and in the years since its construction has been kept up-to-date, with the addition of Sunday School rooms, a kitchen and bathrooms, electricity, Central heating and cooling, insulation, memorial stained glass windows, and cathedral Lanterns, making it one of the most beautiful small churches in the area.

Bethlehem has grown from a circuit of twelve churches to one of five points in 1906, two points in 1948, to its present designation as a “station.”


One of America’s Great Festivals—“Native Moccasins Rock”—Camp Lake Benson, Bon Aqua, August 14-15-16

And they say there are no "Indians" alive! Featured is the cast of a play from the Tullahoma Powwow in 2004.

Native Moccasins Rock is sponsored by the Committee on Native American Ministries of the Tennessee Annual Conference and is an acclaimed annual gathering which explores Native American culture and spirituality. It is held at Camp Lake Benson, Bon Aqua, Tennessee (just west of Nashville). Registrations are still open. To register or obtain further information contact Mary T Newman at 329-1177 or email mtnewman@tnumc.org

Adults, youth, children are all welcome to participate in this retreat/festival and learn from Native American artists, speakers, performers and leaders.


Warmth in Winter Youth Ministries Event for 2010 to make exciting move to Murfreesboro

Embassy Suites Hotel, Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Mark your calendars now for January 29-31, 2010. Warmth in Winter 2010 will be kicking off its 28th year in a new location, the Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center in Murfreesboro. This beautiful and modern facility was completed in September 2008 and provides opportunity for Warmth in Winter to grow while providing an environment of comfort at affordable prices. The hotel is conveniently connected to its 80,000-square-foot conference center, easily accommodating the largest events and most intimate meetings.

Check out this Embassy Suites facility at www.embassysuitemurfreesboro.com or stop by and see it in person. Coming from Nashville on Interstate 24 take exit 76 for Medical Center Parkway/Manson Pike. Turn left at Manson Pike/Medical Center Parkway. You’ll go about a half mile and make a right at Old Gresham Lane. You’ll be heading directly to the Hotel and Conference Center, 1200 Conference Center Blvd., Murfreesboro, TN 37129.

Warmth and Winter has booked a block of 250 room that you and your group can utilize for the weekend. Youth leaders will want to call as soon as possible and reserve their block. The Embassy rooms are arranged with two queen size beds and a queen sleeper sofa which will allow you to sleep as many as six people per room. Call Kimberly McDaniel at 615-890-4464, ext. 2014, and let her know that you are calling to reserve your block of rooms for Warmth in Winter. At $139 per room per night and a full breakfast for each of your guests, you will want to be sure to stay at the Embassy.

The design team is excited to announce the speaker and the worship band for the weekend. We are blessed to have as our speaker this year Rev. Brenda Salter-McNeil of Chicago, Illinois. The worship band for the weekend is Pocket Full of Rocks. You can find them on the web at www.pocketfullofrocks.com. They were nominated for a Dove Award as a candidate for Praise and Worship Album of the Year. We are excited to have both of these nationally renowned presenters joining us for Warmth In Winter 2010.

The design team will continue to work to prepare for this wonderful worship event but they need your help. Come and join them on Saturday, September 26th at 9 am at the Tennessee Conference office. The youth chairs for the event will be Elizabeth Williams of Hendersonville First and Kyle Guth of Sparta First. Call Brad Fiscus for further information at 615-327-1533.

Brad Fiscus, Conference Director of Young People’s Ministries, is excited about Warmth In Winter 2010. He says, “ Warmth 2010 is going to an exciting time for many reasons. A new venue, a great theme, an exciting speaker, a passionate praise and worship band, and a few thousand youth and adults together worshipping God. We have already begun planning for the event and can’t wait for it to get here. Please join us, you won’t want to miss it!”


Jordan-Lake's Novel “Blue Hole Back Home” wins 2009 Christy Award
By Audra Jennings
(Editor’s note: Author Joy Jordan-Lake is a member of Christ United Methodist Church in Franklin)

Publisher David C Cook is pleased to announce that author Joy Jordan-Lake has received 2009 Christy Award for excellence in Christian Fiction. The award was presented on July 11, 2009 at the tenth annual Christy Awards presentation preceding this year's International Christian Retailers Show in Denver, Colorado. Jordan-Lake's Blue Hole Back Home took home honors in the First Novel category.

Every year, The Christy Award invites publishers to submit novels written from a Christian worldview and copyrighted in the year preceding the awards. Each novel is entered in one of several genre categories and/or the first novel category. The novels are then read and evaluated against a ten-point criteria by a panel of seven judges composed of librarians, reviewers, academicians, literary critics, and other qualified readers, none of whom have a direct affiliation with a publishing company. David C Cook received three nominations this year across two categories.

Blue Hole Back Home tells the story of the summer of 1979 when 15-year-old Turtle hung in a mangy pack with her brother, his friends, a couple of dogs, and the New Girl-the one with the deeply colored skin whose father prayed on a rug facing East. That was the summer hearts and minds-and lives-changed forever in a small Appalachian mountain town. The novel is a burning story of racial hatred, cowardice, faith and redemption. Jordan-Lake explores the innocence of a young friendship and the prejudice that will tear it apart.

Blue Hole Back Home, according to author Joy Jordan-Lake, is based loosely on some actual incidents of racial violence, most of which took place in TN: a cross-burning and threatening of a Sri Lankan family on Signal Mountain outside Chattanooga; the brutal shooting critically injuring five African-American women in downtown Chattanooga in 1980, after which two of the young men involved were completely acquitted by an all-white jury and the third was sentenced to only nine months; the turmoil in Chattanooga that followed; the slaying in Mississippi of Civil Rights activist Medgar Evers by Byron DeLaBeckwith. DeLaBeckwith, in fact, was acquitted in the 1960s by an all-white jury and spent the next three decades living in my own Tennessee hometown, Signal Mountain, until the assassination was brought again to trial.”

“The novel is being picked up by universities, high schools and middle schools as a Common Book, as a classroom text and as summer reading,” notes Jordan-Lake. “Baylor Univ., for instance, is using it as the Common Book for all incoming freshmen this fall, and hopes the book will assist in students being willing to speak openly about diversity issues in our post-Civil Rights era.”

Author Joy Jordan-Lake is also the author of Grit & Grace: Portraits of a Woman's Life (Harold Shaw); Whitewashing Uncle Tom's Cabin (Vanderbilt University Press); Working Families (WaterBrook Press), and Why Jesus Makes Me Nervous (Paraclete Press).


LaVergne First UMC Celebrates First Sunday In New Sanctuary July 19th
By Galen Medlin*

Excitement was high as the congregation of LaVergne First marched in procession from their old sanctuary into a newly constructed sanctuary with seating for over 325. Both early and late services were combined for the celebration with a total 285 people in attendance. Before the carpet had been installed in the new sanctuary the congregation had written their favorite scriptures on the subfloor. A special piece of music entitled “On God’s Word We Stand”, was written by Patrice Villines and Tim Hayden, Music director for LaVergne First, and presented by the church choir to commemorate the event. Under the leadership of Pastor Buddy Royston the LaVergne First continues to experience rapid growth. Five new members chose to join the church on first Sunday in the new sanctuary.

A formal consecration service for the new sanctuary is planned for early fall.

*Galen Medlin is Lay Leader, LaVergne First United Methodist Church

Angels: Commentary by the Dr. Ted Hill, M.D.

I chose this title because I thought it would get your attention. I am really not sure about angels. I mean, I really don't consider or think much about the existence of these heavenly or hellish beings for that matter. I know the scriptures mentions them and I certainly believe the scriptures and I need to make it perfectly clear, I do believe in God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit. I literally confess this each Sunday of my life with the liturgy of my church service. I guess that my personal experience is that I have not encountered these other "beings" in my lifetime enough to recognize their role in the greater scheme of things.

Recently, however, I did have an experience that I hesitate to share because of the risk of seeming irrational or overcome by the emotion of the moment but it certainly was a realistic experience for me at the time and reflecting on it serves a purpose for me to affirm it and perhaps it can inform so maybe the sharing will be worthwhile.

It was the occasion of my ordination as a clergy member of the Tennessee Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church.

A stole, officially indicating his status as Deacon, is placed across Dr. Ted Hill’s shoulder

I have been involved in the process leading toward this final step for 14 years. It started with a search for a deeper relationship for me with God during the midst of the most trying time of my life. It began with a 2 year journey in the Academy for Spiritual Formation that led to my Certification in Spiritual Formation in the UMC. I was not finished. I began to explore the role of being a Deacon in the UMC which is a clergy position that is ordained to preach and teach and serve in special roles according to the calling of the individual. This led to Seminary and through the process of commissioning, a three year process of study and mentoring, small group experience and meeting standards required by the UMC. I had come to the final step of the process. Ordination, the time when the episcopacy of the church affirms you and your calling from God and lays hands on you in a time honored liturgical ceremony. There are many parts of this final liturgy but I will mention only those pertinent to this story. I was at the kneeling bench with the hands of 3 Bishops and others who had supported me on the way on my head. Some were not just touching; some were tightly gripping my head as if to say, "We really mean this, do you?" The first sentences were said. The next section to be said was a few more sentences and my eyes were closed in respect for what was happening and in prayer but for some reason, I opened my eyes to see an old Bible under my hands. I automatically placed my hands on the Bible but then had an "epiphany,” an enlightening experience.

The Bible now under my hands was my Dad's Bible! Or so I thought at the moment. It was old; it had a cloth cover that had long ago hardened with time. It was almost brittle. The pages were of that old paper type in old Bibles and yellowed from age. It looked JUST LIKE MY DAD'S OLD BIBLE I HAD AT HOME! I could not believe it!

My head (with all the heavy hands) began to turn as I nodded, "No, this can't be true! Someone pulled a fast one on me and brought my Dad's Bible from my study to bring to this most important moment a token of his 60 years of ministry as a minister in the church and to 'launch' my similar ministry as I followed his footsteps. What a great happening!" I was truly touched and overwhelmed. I could not stop saying to the Bishops "Thank You!" for what I thought just happened. What a blessed moment! It was only later as I saw the assistants to the Bishop using the same Bible for all the other candidates that I realized it had not been my Dad's Bible but one that resembled it and belonged to one of the assistants. Regardless of that, it had been an epiphany. I "felt" my Dad's and God's special presence and that does not require a logical explanation for me to report it as a reality.

In contrast to the good above, just yesterday I learned of the tragic death of a former patient of the Salvus Center. She had been referred to us by a local ER. She was sent there after passing out at work. Her blood count was dangerously low and was in part the reason she passed out. She was also extremely hypothyroid. That is, her body was not making enough thyroid hormone, an absolutely necessity that has profound effects on one's metabolism. Later, we were to find out she had a brain tumor that was responsible for the abnormal performance of her thyroid gland which is regulated by the part of the brain involved with the tumor. We worked for months to get her in "shape" for brain surgery to make all the necessary arrangements for a extremely expensive operation.

She came to the office time and again for orders for tests and referrals and we encouraged her to follow through with all the tedious details. She continued to work though she suffered with severe anemia, hypothyroidism, and a brain tumor. All the while she was a single mom trying to provide for a three year old. Finally, the day came and she had her surgery and it was a complete success, thanks be to God! She was better. Meanwhile, she had been qualified for TennCare, and we would no longer see her as a patient but she did not keep in touch. Then we heard the tragic news: her "boyfriend" had literally beaten her to death. There certainly can be no logic to this heinous event. There is evil, individual and systemic. Individual: how could anyone do this to her? Systemic, how can we live in a country of immense resource and not provide for the health needs of someone like her who tried so hard?

Angels perhaps. Evil undeniable.

If there can be any grace in this story is that there were angels in the flesh who were at work in her life, at least for a time. Angels at and associated with Salvus. Thanks be to you who provide for this ministry and God who someday will set all wrongs right and evil will be no more. So be it.

*Dr. Ted Hill, M.D., was ordained a Deacon in the United Methodist Church at the 2009 Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church