Tennessee Conference Review

TENNESSEE CONFERENCE REVIEW August 6, 2010

2010-07-31T08:31:00.002-05:00

Articles in the August 6th edition of THE REVIEW

1. Bishop’s Flood Relief Appeal flyer
2. VIM Mission trip to Liberia
3. Tennessee Pastor Launches “Getting Ready for Sunday” Column and Web Site
4. Revival at Hartsville United Methodist Church
5. Introducing the Rev. Dr. Ed Trimmer, Executive Director of the Cal Turner Center for Church Leadership
6. Eagle project far from the ordinary.
7. Mississippi Choctaw Youth become part of mission team in Tennessee
8. Stephen E. Handy, Sr., honored with G. Ross Freeman Leadership Award
9. Dr. Gloria Johnson presented Frances Asbury Award
10. A Second Chance Shared
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Bishop’s Flood Relief Appeal

VIM Mission Trip to Liberia
By Peggi Billman

Tennessee team members on the mission trip to Liberia: l to r, Frank Billman, Peggi Billman, and Jonathan Dow.

Bishop John Innis invited Aldersgate Renewal Ministries [ARM] to send a team to Liberia to lead the Life in the Spirit Seminar, Worship in Spirit and Truth seminar and Lord Teach Us to Pray seminar at the Gbarnga School of Theology. After much planning and preparation work, on May 16th a team of 13 boarded a plane in Chicago for a UM Volunteers in Mission trip to Liberia. Members of the team were Frank & Peggi Billman (Joelton, TN), Jonathan Dow (Hendersonville, TN), Rich & Sue Fetzer (Woxall, PA), Rev. Maryanne & George Ditter (Woxall, PA), Rev. Doug Miller (Franklinville, NC), Gary & Deb Todd (Twinsburg, OH), Bob & Lynn Denges (Hudson, OH), and Lynn Norman (Silver Spring, MD).

Peggi Billman coordinated the Lord Teach Us to Pray seminar, Jonathan Dow, Executive Director of ARM, coordinated the Worship in Spirit and Truth seminar, and Dr. Frank Billman, Director of Church Relations for ARM and pastor of Forest Grove UMC in Joelton, coordinated the Life in the Spirit Seminar.

There were about 160 participants made up of pastors, church leaders and students from the school. Some of the pastors walked 15 hours in high heat and humidity to get to the seminars. Many people responded to opportunities for healing prayer. A number of people then testified to being healed. Others testified to receiving dreams and visions. One Life in the Spirit experience involved those who had no father or never knew their father receiving words of affirmation and love from fathers in the group. One female pastor in particular was visibly touched by this experience and wept.

The 14 year long civil war ended in Liberia in 2003 but signs of the war were evident. The school property had been occupied by two rebel groups and the agriculture school, fish ponds and rice paddies were destroyed. Bullet holes could be seen in some buildings. Road damage caused by the war made travel take much longer. There was no running water and electricity by generator only. The school had returned to the site from Monrovia just a little over a year ago. One meaningful experience during the Life in the Spirit Seminar was when a team member offered the opportunity for them to forgive those who destroyed, harmed or even killed family members during the war. The team member stood in for whoever their enemy might have been and then asked the participants to speak out words of forgiveness towards those who sought to destroy them, even naming them if they could. Men at the front pointed and said (loudly) “I forgive you Charles Taylor”, who was the oppressive President of the country during the war.

Worship celebration in Liberia

The team had shipped extra manuals for each of the seminars to be used after the team left. They also brought 4 donated laptop computers (none of the faculty members had computers), clothing and shoes for children and adults, choir robes and Bibles. There is a need for Bibles, choir robes and Methodist hymnals (any edition) in the United Methodist churches there. These items can be shipped there economically through Operation Classroom, a General Board of Global Ministries Advance Special project.

The team also toured other United Methodist works in Ganta and Monrovia. They returned home safely on May 27th.

Yatta Roslyn Young, Dean of the School and 3 District Superintendents present at the seminars were very pleased with the results. They will be a topic of discussion at upcoming charge conferences and the cabinet meeting.

Aldersgate Renewal Ministries has conducted these same seminars in churches across the United States. Another team is taking the Life in the Spirit Seminar to India in September.

Tennessee Pastor Launches “Getting Ready for Sunday” Column and Web Site

The Rev. Martin Thielen

Years ago at a denominational meeting, two old seminary friends ran into each other. It had been twenty years since they last met. One served as a pastor, the other as a minister of music. The pastor asked the music minister, “What have you been doing these past twenty years?” He answered, “The same as you, getting ready for Sunday!”

Church leaders spend enormous amounts of time and energy getting ready for Sunday. Therefore, they constantly need fresh worship and preaching ideas. That need prompted Martin Thielen, senior pastor at Lebanon First United Methodist Church in Lebanon, Tennessee, to launch a new “Getting Ready for Sunday” column and Web site.

Beginning with the Sept/Oct 2011 issue, Martin will write a “Getting Ready for Sunday” worship and preaching column for the international digital clergy magazine, Net Results. The column will be attached to Martin’s recently launched preaching and worship Web site: http://www.gettingreadyforsunday.com/.

GettingReadyForSunday.com includes worship, preaching, and pastoral leadership articles, the Net Results columns, and a selection of storytelling style sermons and sermon series. Martin will add new articles, sermons, and sermon series to the site on a regular basis. In the future he plans on adding drama and lectionary preaching resources.

Before transferring to the United Methodist Church, Martin served as a national worship and preaching consultant, editor, author, and adjunct seminary professor for the Southern Baptist Convention. Martin is the author of five books and over one hundred articles, most on the subject of preaching and worship. His latest book, What’s the Least I Can Believe and Still Be a Christian? A Guide to What Matters Most (Westminster John Knox) will be released in February, 2011. Martin’s next book, If Money, Success, and Beauty Don’t Make People Happy, What Does? will be released by WJK in 2012.

During Martin’s tenure, Lebanon First United Methodist Church has doubled in size, primarily by prioritizing worship. Articles about Lebanon’s revitalization and growth, including “How Worship Brought Our Church Back from the Dead,” can be found at http://www.gettingreadyforsunday.com/

One Bread, One Body, One Lord of All!
Revival at Hartsville United Methodist Church

Preachers for the Hartsville Revival: Tito Hernandez, Willie Jackson, and Tom Gibson.

A multi-cultural revival brought together three cultures and five congregations at Hartsville UMC on July 1, 2 and 3! The Chapel Hill UMC (Anglo and Hispanic congregations), Lafayette UMC (Anglo and Hispanic congregations), and Williams Chapel Church (African American) came together to celebrate God’s abiding presence, love and grace through Jesus Christ—together!

Uziel Hernandez and Pastor Tito Hernandez organized this celebration, with Pastors Willie Jackson, Tito Hernandez, and Tom Gibson preaching on each of the three nights following a fellowship meal together each evening! Uziel Hernandez interpreted for the services in both English and Spanish for the 100+ persons present, all of whom were thrilled to be sharing in such a momentous time of coming together as One Body, sharing One Bread, and giving testimony to the One Lord of All!

Special thanks to Uziel and Pastor Tito, for your vision and for helping this great event to happen!

Introducing the Rev. Dr. Ed Trimmer
Executive Director of the Cal Turner Center for Church Leadership

Dr. Ed Trimmer

Greetings from Martin Methodist College and the Cal Turner Jr. Center for Church Leadership. My name is Rev. Dr. Ed Trimmer and I am the new Executive Director of the Center. I love Jesus Christ and God's Church, thus I am very excited to be able to be a part of the Center for Church Leadership thanks to the generosity of Cal Turner Jr.

I have been a lifelong Methodist (before we were United Methodist). In fact, I remember thinking the UMW (sorry ladies) stood for the United Mine Workers, since my dad was a union organizer when I was a “wee lad.” As a lifelong United Methodist I hope to help a conversation continue or begin with those of us who love the United Methodist Church and who are struggling with how to help our church adapt to a new time of change in this country.

Since I am new to this conference I need to study the context for our ministry together for Jesus Christ and building God's Kingdom. I may bring up things that you may have intuitively known about yourselves OR simply things you don't believe about yourselves. But always my task in this column is to help the conversation continue around the work and ministry of God and the United Methodist Church.

For example, did you know that a quarter of all the United Methodist's in this annual conference who are in church on a given Sunday attend just 16 of our roughly 611 churches. Do you know which sixteen? Or that approx. 57% of our churches (or 351) have an average worship attendance on Sunday less than 50 people. How do these numbers compare with other conferences in the UM Church?

The Lewis Center for Church Leadership at Wesley Seminary (Lovett Weems) suggests that 125 is roughly the number of average worship attendance needed to support a full-time seminary educated elder. My own research, esp. in the Southeast Jurisdiction where giving per household unit has historically been slightly higher than the rest of the country, suggests the number of average worship attendees needed to support a seminary educated elder is somewhere around 100. None the less that means the majority of our churches have no realistic expectation in the near future of being able to support a full-time seminary educated elder dedicated to “their” church. Is that good or bad?

I believe we have as many elders in our church now as we did when we had 4 million more members and 6,000 more churches. Is this a good or bad thing? Is it time, not for guaranteed appointments to go, but for minimum salary to disappear; especially 12% pension, which is incredibly generous given that business standards have fallen to about 5% contribution to pension by employers with employees matching?

Do we need a different style of church leadership and education for “mustard seed” churches (small membership), as the Bishop refers to them, beyond or besides local pastor schools dominated by “UM seminaries”?

How does your church respond when it realizes that the largest Protestant Churches in the country have made drums and guitars the musical instruments of choice over the keyboards? While organs are not going to disappear any time soon, their 400-500 year reign as the musical instrument of choice in Protestant worship is rapidly declining?

These issues and others are what I hope to discuss in subsequent columns with the hope of keeping a dialogue alive among those of us who love God and God's Church. Blessings from Martin Methodist and the Cal Turner Jr. Center for Church Leadership.

140 seniors dine and dance courtesy of scout
Eagle project far from the ordinary

This article originally appeared in the online newspaper The Brentwood Home Page, Posted July 7, and was very slightly modified for this issue of THE REVIEW. It is used here by permission. Further information about the Brentwood Home Page is carried at the end of this article.

Event host Rob Graham dances with 93-year-old Naomi Jones who is visiting from Colorado. Mrs. Jones is the mother of Brentwood member Jackie Shields.

More than 100 Brentwood seniors danced the night away Friday, July 9th, all courtesy of another senior and a few of his friends and supporters.

Troop 1 Life Scout Rob Graham—a Brentwood High School senior—hosted Candlelight Memories, a free seated dinner and dance, as his Eagle Scout project.

The fun evening blossomed out of a sad series of events, however, Graham explain on Tuesday before the dance as he measured Haney Hall at Brentwood United Methodist Church where the event was to be held.

Good food and great dance music. Things don’t get better than this. Ruth and Al Regen reside at the Heritage Senior Living Community. They are 60 year members of Belmont UMC

“I was ushering at Billy Jim Vaughn’s funeral, and I overheard a member of the Robert I. Moore Sunday School class ask, ‘Are we in the same spot?’” he recalled. The class, one of the church’s oldest and largest, had lost several members in the past year. Among them was Vaughn, who died in December at age 97. Vaughn served as Troop 1 scoutmaster for almost 75 years. Another was Bob Battle, well-known as an editor of the Nashville Banner and more recently, as Country Living columnist for The Tennessean.

“I felt that was really sad, to know they had had so much loss they had ‘a spot’ to sit at funerals,” Rob said.

Because Vaughn had made such an impact on his life, Rob said, “I wanted to give back to his group, to this group.”

The Moonlighters brought back fond memories of the big band sound from the 1930s and 40s.

His Eagle project plan was approved by the Mid-Tennessee Boy Scout Council in March and he got to work immediately afterward. He solicited donations and discounts, secured a caterer and booked a band. He admitted that as a 17-year-old, he had a lot to learn about party planning. For instance, you need salt and pepper shakers if you’re having a dinner party. He’s also learned about coffee creamers, sugar caddies and water pitchers.

Elizabeth and Chester Hill were fabulous dancers. The tango and many other dances – they were comfortable with them all.

One detail he was dealing with on Tuesday before the dance was a dance floor. He hadn’t budgeted for one and learned late in the afternoon that the cheapest one he could get would be almost $500. If all else fails, he said dancing on carpet wouldn’t be a disaster. Graham DID secure a dance floor and only had to pay installation costs so everything was go for the dinner dance.

Graham sent personal invitations to all members of the Robert I. Moore and Wesley Forum Sunday School classes at Brentwood UMC. He put up flyers at The Heritage senior living community and The FiftyForward Martin Center to spread the word. All seniors were welcome, space permitting.

Three days before the dance 130 persons has signed up for the event. He originally hoped about 75 to 100 guests would attend.

Suzanne McKnight and scout Xavier – the scouts danced with the ladies all evening long

Fellow scouts, friends and family played a huge role in making the dinner-dance a success, he said. Recent Brentwood High School grad Patrick Walsh helped his friend measure Haney Hall before the dance.

“I think it’s great that he’s doing something really good,” Walsh said, and he was back on Friday afternoon to help set up. He wasn’t alone. Over 40 people helped set up, serve, bus tables and wash dishes. A few even served as dance partners.

There was plenty of dancing with The Moonlighters performing music from the 1930s to the 1950s.

The Parents of host Rob Graham, Bob and Susan Graham.

A final Summary Note from Rob Graham
My original goal with this dinner dance was to affirm the value of our senior members of the church and our community in a way that was fun and included them in a very personal way. I wanted to honor them with an event that would combine several generations and affirm the importance of sharing our lives. Scouts dancing with dressed up ladies provided that very experience in a way that brought smiles and laughter! I have been blessed to have the support of my family, my church, my youth group and scouts who have all helped make my vision a reality that far exceeded my original goals. One of the attendees, Chad Drumright, announced to his Sunday School class, “When I came to the dinner, I was 80, but when I left I was 16 again!” That says it all!
More information about the Brentwood Home Page
Brentwood Home Page (www.brentwoodhomepage.com) launched in September 2009. The online "newspaper without the pulp" bills itself as "the go to place for everything Brentwood" and quickly established itself to be just that. It is the brainchild of owners Susan Leathers, a seasoned newspaper editor, and Kelly Gilfillan, a sales and marketing professional. Both are members of Brentwood United Methodist Church.

Readers are invited to sign up as BHP members by clicking the Sign Up button in the navigation bar. It's free and allows the ability to post to the site's free classifieds, community calendar, photo galleries and more. Members also receive daily emails listing the top stories of the day.

Mississippi Choctaw Youth become part of mission team in Tennessee

The youth from Philadelphia, Mississippi, proudly pose wearing back packs provided by the Columbia District United Methodist Women.

One of the mission studies of the UMW for 2009-2010 was Native American Survival. One of the teachers, Mary T Newman, spoke to the Columbia District UMW annual meeting. Their “love offering” was backpacks for Native American children. The backpacks would be dispensed at the discretion of the Committee on Native American Ministries. CONAM partners with the ministry of Great Spirit UMC in Philadelphia, MS of the Choctaw Nation.

Several of the Great Spirit UMC children and youth came to Tennessee to become part of a mission team with Spring Hill UMC in Clarksville District. Pastor Willie Lyle organized community mission work and social activities for the visiting youth who are led by dedicated leaders. Rev. Daniel Tubby and his wife Sybil.

Whether working on a wheelchair ramp or visiting the shut ins, the group had an impact, but also became missioners. Native Americans are systematically “missionized”. This partnership began to change the perspective and taught the visiting Choctaw youth how to minister.

The blessing of backpacks filled with school supplies, provide by the Columbia District United Methodist Women, brought many smiles and laughs as the youth chose their backpacks. Several backpacks were also sent with the group back to Mississippi. The backpacks have also found their way to South Dakota to the Rosebud Reservation to be given out through Tree of Life Ministries, a full time ministry to that area. More backpacks are going to the Four Corners area. Backpacks are also being given out at Native Moccasins Rock in August. This annual event brings together folks from about 10 tribes.

Stephen E. Handy, Sr., honored with G. Ross Freeman Leadership Award

The United Methodist Men of the Tennessee Conference and Southeast Jurisdiction have recognized a Nashville District pastor with an award for his outstanding contributions to ministry to men. The Rev. Stephen E. Handy, Sr. was presented the G. Ross Freeman Leadership Award at the Tennessee Annual Conference on June 15, 2010 at Brentwood UMC. “Brother Steve has been instrumental in promoting and supporting men’s ministry in all of the churches he has served and is most deserving of this honor”, said Ingram Howard, Conference President, who made the presentation. Rev. Handy is the sixth pastor from the Tennessee Conference to receive this award. For his outstanding work and leadership, Rev. Handy was also given a Life Membership in United Methodist Men and a $200 donation was made to the UMM Foundation in his honor.

United Methodist Men president Ingram Howard presents the G. Ross Freeman Leadership award to Stephen E. Handy, Sr.

Rev. Handy has been instrumental in rebuilding and reorganizing the men's ministry at McKendree United Methodist Church of Nashville. Under his leadership the men are participating in a weekly noon-day lunch for the homeless in downtown Nashville. They recently participated in a project to build personal energy transports for the disabled in Africa, and he leads his men in a weekly Bible study in a local barbershop. They have also launched a wellness center, a charter school, and groups which gather after the Sunday services to discuss the sermon message. Prior to his appointment at McKendree UMC last year, he had served as Senior Pastor at Pickett-Rucker UMC in Lebanon for eight years where he had an outstanding ministry. He also worked at the United Methodist Publishing House during those years.

Dr. Gloria Johnson presented Frances Asbury Award
By Michele Morton, Director of the Wesley Foundation, Tennessee State University

The Tennessee Conference Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry honored Dr Gloria Johnson by presenting her with the Francis Asbury Award at the 2010 session of the Tennessee Annual Conference. The award offers recognition to individuals who have made a significant contribution to fostering the church’s ministries in higher education.

Dr. Gloria Johnson receives the Francis Asbury Award from Tom Gildemeister, Bishop Dick Wills, and Matt Charlton.

For over twenty years Dr. Johnson has worked tirelessly with campus ministry as an active board member. She served on the Board of Directors for what was then the Nashville Wesley which gave oversight to the Wesley campus ministries at Vanderbilt, TSU and Fisk. She then served actively on the TSU Wesley Foundation Board of Directors for many years while at the same time working on campus, leading, teaching and guiding students as a professor, mentor and advisor of many other student organizations on campus, including being the supervising advisor of Alpha Chi chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

Presently, Dr. Gloria Johnson is the Interim Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, at Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tennessee. Previously, she has served as the Department Head of Languages, Literature, and Philosophy, and Professor of English, at Tennessee State . She is known on campus as an extraordinary leader who puts the students well being first and foremost.

Dr. Johnson was recently honored by a young adult women’s Christian organization on campus for her gifts in leading young adults, especially college students. These students felt that she was rare on campus among the administrators because she listened to them, helped them with crucial decisions and guided them through many difficult problem solving situations. This is Dr. Johnson’s life everyday on campus as well as excelling in her university duties.

Dr. Johnson presently serves on the Tennessee Conference Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry. She is a lifelong member of John Wesley United Methodist Church where she has served in many leadership capacities.

Wedding Shower provided a great way to celebrate and to make a difference
A Second Chance Shared
*By Julie Lewis

Editor’s Note: Nancy Neelley Hicks is a Deacon and Member of the Tennessee Conference. Her wedding shower might help other couples want to make a difference in the way they plan and celebrate an upcoming marriage.

Nancy Neelley Hicks loads her car. Shower gifts were supplies for Nashville’s homeless.

A wedding shower has paper bells and balloons, women laughing, wrapping paper and bows. On a recent evening in Nashville, a wedding shower included tents, toilet paper and tears.

In early May, historical floods changed the landscape of Nashville and surrounding counties. The residents of Tent City, a homeless community in Nashville, lost what little they had. However, during a wedding shower for the future Mrs. Neelley Hicks, her second chance at love became a second chance for others to rebuild their lives.

“I feel so blessed,” Neelley said, “and this shower was the perfect way to help others know that no matter what you’ve gone through, God’s love can help you start anew.”

Neelley’s friends purchased supplies for the homeless of Nashville to restart their lives. Several friends pooled their money to purchase 13 tents. Others donated giant packs of bathroom tissue, a necessity most people take for granted. Two partygoers created “bags of grace” for Neelley’s car. These backpacks held toiletries, socks, underwear and shoes. When she sees someone in need, Neelley will be ready to give a prepared bag. She also received feminine products, shampoos, soaps, lotions, a container for clean water, bleach, an air mattress and a cooler. A stack of gift cards, now a wedding shower staple, will go to those who need to buy what they need to live instead of wedding china and honeymoon souvenirs.

Decorating the tables were party mix served in tin cans and flashlights as candles atop shimmering pink tablecloths. Guests found their way to the shower by following a series of signs seen often on street corners. “Will work for food.” “Can you spare a dollar?” The signs of promise offered back – “Food Line” and “Free Food.”

After a traditional game of “How well do you know the bride?” the shower took a more meaningful turn. In Nashville, the homeless community writes and produces a newspaper, The Contributor. The homeless sell this paper as a source of income. Many women in the room regularly purchase copies from the street vendors. On each table, rolled up in lavender scrolls, were copies of stories from The Contributor. Several women rose to read the stories. It was a moment to hear about the lives of the people we see on the streets and often avoid.

Neelley’s heart is for the homeless of Nashville. Her secondary appointment as a deacon is to a congregation in west Nashville that includes a large homeless population. When the floods washed away Tent City, her friends lost everything. Within days, she was at Tent City helping one of the church members find the last picture of a deceased mother. Neelley’s kind, loving spirit multiplied through the gifts given during the shower.

“This shower was not only a chance to honor a bride,” said event planner Jackie Vaughan, but also “a chance to honor those who do what they can to survive on the streets. We were reminded that all persons are of sacred worth.”

“This bridal shower was one of the most meaningful and fun showers I’ve attended, added guest Amanda Bachus. “It was simple, and down to earth. It wasn’t boring because it had a real purpose.”

If you are ready to “rethink” a wedding shower, here are some things to consider:

1. Choose a cause that is important to the bride.

2. Offer the guests a specific list of items to purchase.

3. For larger items, encourage guests to pool funds.

4. Blend the traditional with the unconventional in decorating, food choices and activities.

5. When possible, include insightful stories and testimonies about the cause.

*Lewis is a member of the Web Ministry Team of United Methodist Communications, Nashville, Tenn.

TENNESSEE CONFERENCE REVIEW July 23, 2010

2010-07-31T07:38:00.001-05:00

Articles in the July 23rd issue of THE REVIEW

1. Tennessee Conference Bishop’s Relief Appeal
2. Native Moccasins Rock, Nationally known Festival/Workshop/Retreat, August 13-15, 2010, Camp Lake Benson
3. Vacation Bible School in Florida unearths treasure for Tennessee Conference Church
4. Harvest Hands Camera Club gives children opportunity for self expression, and the ability to see world in a different way
5. Bonnaroo
6. July 2010: “Tears may linger at nightfall, but joy comes in the morning” [Psalm 30:5]
7. Journal Dedication 2010 to lay person Glenn Abernathy
8. Journal Dedication 2010 to the Rev. Farris Farmer Moore
9. Tennessee Conference Advance Special, the Salvus Center
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Congregations urged to take special offering on Sunday, August 22

Tennessee Conference Bishop’s Relief Appeal

Wind and water have passed for now, but tens of thousands of survivors have just begun a long path to recovery in more than 29 counties across the Conference. Along this year’s lengthy journey, many will need our assistance in the form of spiritual/emotional support, building materials, volunteers, and more. On Sunday, August 22, or another Sunday of your choice, give in Christ’s name to serve your neighbor. Checks can be made payable to your local church, and designated: “2010 Spring Flood”

For additional information, contact:

Tennessee Conference Office Disaster Response
615-695-2765 or DisasterResponse@tnumc.com

Vacation Bible School in Florida unearths treasure for Tennessee Conference Church

Vacation Bible School, “High Seas Expedition,” First United Methodist Church, Orlando

The children of Orlando, Florida’s First United Methodist Church, were involved in an exciting Vacation Bible School using the theme “High Seas Expedition,” a theme that conjures up all kinds of dramatic imagery from underwater exploration to historic sailors searching the ocean blue for whatever lay across the uncrossed sea. It also brings to mind the imagery of pirates in search of treasure. And, as the man with a black patch over one eye would like to tell you, “Aye, matey, the motion picture and television industries have kept OUR pirate story alive for a very long time.”

The children signed up for Vacation Bible School, in fact, were each given “a treasure chest” with suggestions on how to collect money over the 5-days of VCS to be used in First UMC’s mission outreach. In this case ALL the money raised was to be used in reconstructing an historic but heavily flood damaged United Methodist Church in the Tennessee Conference. The parent newsletter summed it up: “Our mission project this year, in keeping with our water theme, is raising funds to help restore one of the oldest churches in Tennessee, Dodson Chapel UMC, which has been a victim of flooding. 100% of the money raised will go to repair their church.”

Treasure chests used to collect money to assist flood recovery by Tennessee’s Dodson Chapel United Methodist Church

Children were asked to fill their treasure chests with coins/dollars based on some simple explorations at home—all related to water:

• Day 1—the number of showers, tubs and toilets in your home.

• Day 2—the number of hoses and spigots outside your home.

• Day 3—the number of faucets in your home.

• Day 4—the number of sprinklers in your yard or garage.

When the treasure chests were returned on Friday the children of Orlando First United Methodist Church had raised $1500.00 for Dodson Chapel’s recovery.

*Orlando First United Methodist Church is located in downtown Orlando. In its 125 year history the congregation has seem numerous changes in its community – from being a smaller community in the center of Florida’s citrus belt in 1885 to 2010 when it is the 27th largest metropolitan area in the U.S. and a major tourist destination.

Native Moccasins Rock, Nationally known Festival/Workshop/Retreat, August 13-15, 2010, Camp Lake Benson

Jaime Russell teaching Native flute techniques to the Rev. Fred Harper

Native Moccasins Rock 2010 will be held August 13, 14, 15 at Camp Lake Benson. This week end is a tremendous opportunity for the local church and the community at large to be a part of an event which is celebrating nine years of bringing Native American artists, performers, speakers and dancers together for a time of teaching their various skills. The workshops are interactive and are led by nationally known artists. The evening entertainment brings well known performers to the stage. Recording artist Jamie Russell, Emerson Begay and Grady Jones are know in our conference as well as across the southeast. Boe Harris has performed internationally and Freeman Owle will enthrall you with traditional stories of the Cherokee. Ragghi Rain will keep you spellbound with stories she has written. Her stories are from the heart and will touch you deeply. New this year is the workshop on making a flute. Also new this year is how to make a gourd rattle. Gourd rattles have more meaning than just hearing the sound. Even though it will be August, there will be a workshop on how to cook with clay vessels on a fire and a popular (and taste tempting) workshop will return, “ how to make authentic frybread.” A new session on youth leadership is on the schedule in the youth track. It is entitled “Walking the Spirit Path” (Generosity, Courage, Respect, Wisdom –values then and now). The workshop session “Time for Spirit” will be a comparison of Dreams, Visions, as Circles are found in native spirituality and the Bible.

Choctaw basket maker Ramsey King and Marilyn Huey, basket maker from Alabama

Join us for a week end of understanding through education. There will be a time of worship, a time of dance, a time of laughter and a time to learn from the rich culture of Native Americans.

Contact Mary T Newman via e mail: mtnewman@tnumc.org; phone, 615-695-2760/ 800-403-5795 You may download a brochure from the webpage http://nativeamerican.tnumc.com

Harvest Hands Camera Club gives children opportunity for self expression and also the ability to see world in a different way

Jesica photographs a favorite stuffed toy.

The young boy glanced out the window just in time to notice a big truck pass by—obviously a work truck with a lift, and other appendages that would allow workmen to operate safely at telephone pole heights. The configuration of the truck amazed him and he shouted to no one in particular, “I’ve got to get a picture of that truck.” Unfortunately, the truck was gone almost as soon as it was spotted. The episode shows what is happening in the lives of a group of youngsters called the “Camera Club” a summer program sponsored by Harvest Hands, an agency envisioned by the late Howard Olds and other leaders at Brentwood United Methodist Church. The goal was to make a true community of a large area close to Nashville’s State Fair grounds—the area was becoming “fractured” by older residents moving out, a blend of persons from various racial groups moving in, emergence of illegal drug sales, increase in crime, working parents, latch-key kids, scarcity of grocery stores within walking distance—things symbolic of rapid change in what had been an established community in South Nashville.

Ivana proudly shows a photo to interns Lindsey and Laura (holding the photo). The interns are devoting their summer to Harvest Hands and to the Camera Club kids as well. A second Camera Club member, Andrea, watches the response of the interns.

This spring two volunteers, Jackie Shields and Sharon Cox, envisioned using photography with young children as a means of self-expression—and the children that became involved are very young, mainly kindergarten through third grade. By raising funds through a “Making a Difference” program at Brentwood UMC it was possible to purchase a dozen small digital cameras with rechargeable batteries. And so on June 8th the group got underway—and the goal was NOT to make professional photographers by teaching the lexicon of photography. The goal was to allow the children to have a means of self expression . . . and the natural byproduct of working with a camera, you begin to see common ordinary things around you in new and exciting ways.

Andrea, one of the older children, helps Evelyn with her scrapbook. Evelyn is the youngest child in the Camera Club.

What? Not teaching about focal length, color balance, lens openings, shutter speed, the difference between wide-angle and telephoto lenses. Avid photographer Tom Nankervis had to visit class and see for himself what was going on. What he saw shocked him – in five weeks the kids could spot a good picture and capture the image – whether it was on a walk through the neighborhood or, on the Tuesday morning that Nankervis visited, to bring something that each child loved from their homes and make several photos of it during the weekly Camera Club meeting—which they did, bringing everything from stuffed toys to a formal photo of their family. On arriving each child is given her/his personal bag containing the camera they use, prints of all the photos they have made from the beginning, AND ingredients for a home-made scrap book which would allow them to choose, mount, and display favorite photos.

Decisions, decisions. Miranda selects the best shots for her album.

CHOOSING was a challenge because as the children thumbed through photos they were ALL good, displaying various scenes, people, places, objects in interesting ways. With the help of volunteers including intern AK (who will be serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer overseas starting in the fall), the children cut out color backgrounds, cut photos into various shapes, and mounted photos page by colorful page. The scrap books will be an ongoing project along with various types of photo shoots (including visiting a park with a naturally flowing creek). Ongoing, that is, until the 29th of July when the kids will have a gallery showing (two favorite photos for each child, blown up and mounted in professional style) at the Harvest Hands building, 434 Humphreys Street, Nashville, TN 37203 (the old Humphrey’s Street United Methodist Church). The individualized scrap books will also be available for viewing on the 29th.

Ruben (9th grade) and Victor create background designs for their albums.

Back to the story of the boy and the truck. These are kids that now see everything in a different way including the neighborhoods in which they live. They can now share personal feelings, creative insights, remarkable close-ups –through an art form, photography. There is no doubt that one young boy could see many photo possibilities in a passing truck, a truck that probably would have been ignored six weeks previously.

Sisters Andrea and Leslie include a flower in their shot of favorite toys.

One of the volunteers proudly displayed a close-up photo of two pieces of fruit hanging on a neighborhood tree. “Another boy, one of our older kids took this photo as our group went through the neighborhood. He was shooting photos from every conceivable angle short of standing on his head.” There was no doubt in the volunteers mind that the boy WOULD stand on his head if that was necessary to get a good perspective.

Victor, Brittany, and Andrea enjoy themselves while serving as models for a photographer friend.

Leslie focuses the camera on her favorite toy.

Brittany gallery photo, Photographer photographing photographer

Bonnaroo
By Bradley Edwards

Teri and Bradley Edwards at Bonnaroo

Bonnaroo. Depending on who you are, the word conjures up images of drug-induced hazes, free love and beer. So much beer. Legend has it there’s a river of it running through the farm if you’re willing to look for it. Or it makes you think of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, Stevie Wonder, and workshops called Social Change Thru Music. Either way, you’d be right.

Opinions on the yearly Manchester, Tennessee, music festival vary from disgust to life-giving. Contempt to love. The devil’s playground to a new kind of Eden. And that diversity of opinion is just in the local church.

And it’s in the middle of those opinions and in the middle of Bonnaroo that I find myself. I’m a regular attendee of both the local church and the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival. But the more I attend both, the more they’ve started to look more similar than different.

My wife Teri and I went this year with some friends and spent the weekend listening to Kings of Leon, Tenacious D, Michael Franti and Spearhead, Norah Jones, and Stevie Wonder. I’m somewhat ashamed to say we skipped Jay-Z. It was while listening to Michael Franti that I began to notice something. All the artists would ask us, the audience, “How are you Bonna-roo?!?!” What an odd, unorthodox thing to say.

But it was afterward that I realized, these artists were talking about Bonnaroo as a group of people. For Norah, Kings, and Stevie, Bonnaroo wasn’t just where people came, it was people. It wasn’t just a farm in Manchester. It wasn’t simply a big event that had lots of programs, activities, and music. First and foremost, every single artist I heard referred to Bonnaroo as a group of people. Of course there were programs and there were activities, but it was people that seemed to be the focus.

And these people treated each other like they mattered. They threw the Frisbee with strangers, smoked with new friends, and danced as though they had grown up together all-the-while they just met. Some might think it a stretch, but they looked like a tight-knit community, not a bunch of strangers. And there’s something of truth and beauty in that.

If I’m allowed to say it, it’s the kind of truth and beauty we need more of in the church.

The truth is that while Kings of Leon perpetually asked us, the people that are Bonnaroo, how we were doing, the Church confuses the facilities for the Body. We’ve confused screens, projectors, and programs with a Wedding Feast. It’s in this that both the people and the event of Bonnaroo have reminded me what the Church really and truly is: A Body.

And we’re actually a Body that was created for community. While the people of Bonnaroo hula-hooped with strangers, we the Church have, at times, spent more time deciding if guitars or organs are more holy (and somehow forgetting that worship was never intended to be about our preferences at the same time). While the people of Bonnaroo popped open a cold one with friends, we the Church have, on more than one occasion, been more consumed by building projects than consumed by people.

The truth is that we need community in a real and tangible way. Jesus had it. The Trinity lives in it. Bees have hives. Wolves have packs. Dolphins have pods and fish have schools. It’s all around us. We the Church need each other in a challenging, beautiful, terrifying, and God-breathed kind of way.

So I continue to go to Bonnaroo. I continue to listen to Jack Johnson and Dave Matthews Band and Ben Harper. I continue to realize that God is not just located in a particular building a few hours a week on Sunday mornings. I continue to realize that God is bigger than most of us ever imagined. I continue to find God in the most unorthodox of places, and so I’ll continue to go to those places.

July 2010: “Tears may linger at nightfall, but joy comes in the morning” [Psalm 30:5]
By the Rev. Gary Brock

Our neighborhood has changed since the flood. It has become very dark at night … too many houses flooded … gutted … uninhabitable … windowless … a For Sale sign already in one yard.

Our neighborhood and some of its people are in exile … with families … in apartments … safe … some gone at least for now … a few will not return … people left in limbo waiting for Metro to decide about building permits.

Our neighborhood has changed because of the flood … the initial rallying with help came when it was so needed … now folk have more or less retrenched back to their pre-flood behaviors … aloofly friendly … secure in their own homes.

The sounds of our neighborhood has changed … there is a frightening quietness … evening and night sounds dramatically loud … sometimes unnerving … an occasional car slowly drives by and you wonder if it belongs … there was some theft early on that brought increased police patrols … the growling of a coyote being chased through our yard by a neighbor’s dog … the cries of an animal in pain … the occasional screech owl … and then just the dark silence.

Our neighborhood has changed because of the flood … most of it will be re-built … perhaps a few new folk will move in … lights will be turned back on … the dark will again become friendly … comforting … familiar.

The healing already begun will happen … the scars will remain of course … they will no longer be the first thing seen … felt … talked about … “Do you remember when” will become the conversation starter, rather than, “Oh God! What are we going to do now?”

The brown high-water mark staining the trees will be washed away … leaves will become green again … nature cleansing itself … the joyful sounds of the birds making this more bearable.

Our neighborhood will slowly renew itself … with hope … in hope … because hope is God’s gift of being able to see beyond the present.

We will emerge a little wiser … a little sadder … there will always be a twinge of pain when reminded of what has been lost … can’t be replaced … doesn’t need to be … maybe … for a book is never just a book … a birth certificate is so much more than a legal document … a picture is never just a picture … so many things with meanings far beyond what they seem.

“Lord, this has been a rough time. There was simply no way to be prepared for the unexpected. Yet, you have stuck with us through it all. Our faith had long told us that you would – but it sure is different talking about it and then experiencing it. Thank you for surprising us. Thank you for your patience with us. We know that tears may linger at nightfall, but joy comes in the morning. Give us the grace and hope to await each sunrise. Amen.

Journal Dedication 2010 to lay person Glenn Abernathy

The Abernathy family

The Rev. Skip Armistead remembers the day in May of 1980 when Glenn Abernathy told him, Glenn’s pastor at the time, that he was retiring at age 55 to answer a call by God to use his gifts and talents as a missionary both at home and abroad. His main gift was building or renovating church facilities. His first efforts were to do some simple renovations at our Beersheba Springs United Methodist Assembly grounds. Since then (all after 55 years of age), Glenn has been involved in eighty-eight mission efforts serving in whatever capacity he was needed-- designer, engineer, builder, or overseer of (all free of charge) these projects:

He has built parsonages, family life centers, churches, church additions, and made repairs to damaged church buildings and even one Wesley Foundation. Nor has this United Methodist layperson restricted the use of his gifts and talents to one denomination. Beside serving numerous United Methodist Churches, Glenn’s efforts were extended to Baptist, Catholic, Cumberland Presbyterian, Church of God, Church of the Nazarene, and Lutheran congregations.

Internationally he has led Tennessee Conference Volunteer in Mission teams to the Island of Dominica (2 times), various locations in Panama (16 times). He has helped build churches, medical clinics, schools, water systems, dormitories, parsonages, community centers, conferences centers, in addition to providing major repair to church and school buildings. In one instance his team built a bridge over an often flooded river so children on the other side of the river could get to school during the flood season.

Under the guidance of the United Methodist Committee on Relief of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, Glenn has helped to build fifty homes for those displaced by an invasion of Panama. Glenn’s ministry has extended to churches across America. He has led mission teams for the Board of Global Ministries from Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, Alabama, California, New York, Wisconsin, and Indiana.

In addition to all of the above, which took a lot of time and effort, Glenn had led 3 mission trips to Appalachia with his home church, Salem UMC. He helped start and develop with Myranel Harker Brown, Saints Alive, a week-long mission camp similar to Mountain T.O.P.--sponsored by Salem UMC, Clarksville, for 17 years.

In response to the terrific damage done along the Gulf Coast by Hurricane Katrina, he has lead three Volunteer in Mission trips to the Gulf.

Through everything Glenn remains very active at his home church, Salem United Methodist Church. "I’m not even going to go into all of his other contributions to God’s kingdom,” notes Skip Armistead, “such as his serving on the Clarksville - Montgomery County School board when the board first began building its school buildings back in the 1960’s, as well as his work with the Civitan Club and all kinds of little league and softball teams.”

Glenn does not want any recognition for his work. In fact, Pastor Armistead, nominator for this award, says, “I’m convinced he’s probably a little embarrassed we are making this recognition. We had to literally ‘pull out’ the information through his family. But we thank God for what God has done, and continues to do, through Glenn, even during this year at age 85. I am confident that Jesus is already saying to Glenn Abernathy, “‘Well done, good and faithful servant!’”

Journal Dedication 2010 to the Rev. Farris Farmer Moore
By Rev. Charles F. “Skip” Armistead

Born in July 21, 1909, Farris Farmer Moore is our oldest living pastor of our Tennessee Conference. Growing up in Robertson County, Farris was licensed to preach in 1935, admitted as a probationary pastor in 1941, ordained Deacon in 1943 and became a full-time Elder in 1944. From his first local church appointment in 1935 to Crossville Mission (where rumor has it that he received a salary of $435 a year) to his final local church appointment in 1970, Farris served almost every type of congregation from rural to urban and suburban, small to large. He also served a variety of appointments including District Superintendent, Director of the Fiscal Office (Now called Director of Administrative Services), and finally, Director of Development for McKendree Village.

Farris Moore, Conferences Oldest Living Minister at 101

During his active ministry, Farris was one of our Tennessee Conference delegates to General Conference three times and to Jurisdictional Conference four times, was chair of many of our Tennessee Conference Boards, Councils and Committees, and mentored many a young pastor into effective ministries.

After forty-five years of active ministry, Farris retired in 1980. However, as long as his health permitted until very recent years, Farris continued being one of the most popular pastors, preaching in revivals and homecomings, and presiding over funerals and other special occasions. In fact, last year he preached to a packed congregation at Springfield First United Methodist at a special celebration of his seventy five years of ministry.

Those who know Farris the best say that he probably would have been a bishop except that both Thornton Fowler and he were such great leaders the support of our conference was split between the two. As a kind benevolent leader of our conference and follower of Jesus Christ, people in our conference knew that if Farris was supporting any ministry, any new initiative, any resolution or whatever, it was most likely going to succeed.

Farris reaches age 101 on July 21, 2010. His health is weakening, but the Holy Spirit is still very much alive and his mind is still very alert. God has been very productive spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ through Farris Moore.

One of Farris Moore’s favorite hymns is “I’ll Go Where You Want Me to Go.” He has said many times, “If I could go back, I would do the same thing again.” Thus, it is an honor for all of us to make this year’s clergy dedication for our Tennessee Annual Conference Journal to Rev. Farris Farmer Moore.

Tennessee Conference Advance Special, the Salvus Center
By Ted Hill, M.D., Medical Director, The Salvus Center

We have all been recently touched by the economic crisis. Not only those of us in the U.S., but persons all across the world. So has Salvus.

Underneath this economic crisis is a crisis of values. It has and should raise questions such as “What are the priorities of our society? What are the true measures of success? What is the condition of our moral and spiritual well being? And, what are the ultimate goals and purposes of our lives, including our economic lives?” This crisis has given us an opportunity for evaluation and transformation if we seek to take opportunity to seize it.

For many, the most important question seems to be “When will the crisis end?” Perhaps a different question might be just as or more important, “How will this crises change us? Or will it?” The fact is, we need an economic AND a moral recovery. We must set aside the maxims that overtook us: “that greed is good; that it’s all about me; that I want what I want and I want it now.” These values have wrecked our economies, cultures, families and perhaps most importantly, our souls. We must reclaim virtues like: “enough is enough” and “we’re in this together.” We must also ask the question, “How will this impact our future or the future of our children?” Our traditions and even religious teachings offer some correctives. Christianity says: “do unto others as you would have them do unto you; don’t worry about material possessions, God is aware and will supply your needs.” Judaism tells us: “to leave the edges of the fields for the poor to glean; welcome the needy to your table.” Islam proposes to prohibit unfair usury, the excessive interest one could charge on a loan. Change for the common good and correction of our distorted values can begin when we make different choices than have been made and will grow when we make these choices together. (Rephrased from an excerpt from Jim Wallis’ Rediscovering Values.)

An archetypal story gives reference to this. It is an old story from the beginning. The story of Cain and Abel. It is the story of two brothers. Both lived by higher standards by which they measured their behavior. They worshiped a higher being than themselves. They both brought offerings for their worship but for reasons that may escape us, one’s offering was accepted and the other rejected. The response and behavior of Cain was one of rage and he killed his brother. The Higher Power shows up and asks Cain, “Where is your brother?

The questions continues today, particularly in light of the crisis mentioned above. Rephrased another way, the question becomes: “What is our responsibility for each other?” I want to pose an answer to this using two scenarios. One with those persons closest to us and secondly, our “enemies.”

Those closest to us are our families, friends, colleagues, neighbors, grocery clerks, fast-food servers, bank clerks—anyone you come in contact with often. They and we are all part of the human family. These persons should come to mind first when posed with the question—are you willing to take some responsibility for those you spend some time with? Cain refused responsibility.

I can hear someone saying, “But we should take care of ourselves” and yes that is true, but God’s question implies in some regard that we are responsible for what happens to those around us. If someone you know is in need, shouldn’t you respond in some way? The people involved with Salvus have answered the question, “Yes.” And we have worked with over 100 consultants all across Middle Tennessee who have also answered the question, “Yes” as they and you have supported the work we do.

We had a patient who encountered a different answer. He presented a history of abdominal pain, weight loss, a change of bowel habits and passing blood in his stool - - all cardinal signs of colon cancer. He was told, come back when you have money or insurance and we will run some tests. He had neither money or insurance. Some months later, friends told him of Salvus and he came and had the needed tests, and unfortunately he did have metastatic colon cancer. But he did get surgery to avoid a complete bowel blockage and chemotherapy which did extend his life, though he might have lived longer had he been cared for at the original opportunity. The question of how to care for one another is difficult and must be answered individually. However, that we are all connected to each other and our actions or inactions affect others around us.

The question who is our brother or sister challenges our responsibility to our enemies. Like the story of Cain and Abel, we have some responsibility to see our enemies as brothers and sisters in the human race. Cain must have seen Abel as his enemy. There is a medieval legend that relates to this. There once were two warriors riding in full armor on the same path. Each thought they were completely alone. Their path crossed in the darkness of the woods and they startled each other. Their movements were interpreted by the other to suggest hostility and they began to fight to defend themselves against the perceived threat of the other. The fighting escalated until finally one knocked the other off his horse and with a mighty effort, thrust his lance through the heart of the fallen. The victor dismounted and struggled over to pull the mask off his adversary. To his horror, in the pale moonlight he recognized his brother.

Today do we see the uninsured as an enemy? Who are the uninsured? 20/5% are adults. 11% are children. They are 1/3 of all adults from ages 19-64. They are 2/3 of all low income earning adults. There are close to 50 million of them in the U.S. There may be 22,000 of them in Sumner County, Tennessee. Many are living on such marginal income that if they bought insurance they would not have enough money for the basic necessities of life like food, heat or rent. Yet 79% of these people work! More than 30,000 of them die each year unnecessarily because they get into the present health delivery system late or not at all for lack of money or insurance. When they enter, they are sicker and their medical outcomes are worse for the delay. The largest group of these are kids from 19-24. Many are without insurance because of layoffs or lost work. Some work for small employers who cannot afford health benefits for their employees. Some have been insured on the job and are unable to work. Some own their own small business and cannot afford health premiums. Some have been divorced and lost the coverage of their spouse. Some are going to school to try to advance their education and wage opportunities.

Salvus has had over 12,000 patient visits from these folks, these neighbors of yours in the past 4 years. They are your neighbors; your brothers and sisters.

Let me leave you with these questions as you reflect on this crisis. Who is the suffering brother or sister that you need to recognize? What is the crying need of our community? Where do you and I need to respond to the human need around us today? Where can you contribute to the common good? Part of the answer for me is, of course, the Salvus Center. Even if the new healthcare legislation survives its present form, the 32 million U.S. citizens to be covered will not get coverage for 4 more years. Please, do not forget us and them during the next 4 years; these are your brothers and sisters still in need of quality health care. Don’t forget them or us as we try to serve them. God bless you as you help those around you in our community and thanks for your support of the Salvus Center.

The Salvus Center is an Advanced Special of the Tennessee Annual Conference. The Salvus Center seeks to reach some of the estimated 22,000 uninsured Sumner Country residents as a “faith-based health center that seeks to reclaim the Biblical and historical commitment to care for those who are sick and in need so they might experience wholeness, wellness, and healing.”

TENNESSEE CONFERENCE REVIEW July 09, 2010

2010-07-05T06:10:00.003-05:00

Articles in the July 9th Edition of THE REVIEW

1. God Bless America, article with no graphics or photos
2. Three persons receive Denman Evangelism Award at 2010 Annual Conferenc

a. Rose Newman
b. Rick Sears
c. Ronald Lowery

3. Learning valuable lessons from the young,
4. Forest Hills UMC Farmer’s Market Draws Warm Response,
5. A VERY funny Fathers’ Day gift presented by Brentwood UMC,
6. Three receive Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Tennessee Alliance for Progress,.

a. Gordon Bonnyman
b. Don Beisswenger
c. Bonnie Spear

7. Refugees Share Experiences at Scarritt-Bennett Center,
8. Reflections Over the Past Month, article with one captioned photo
_________________________

God Bless America
By Lucy Neeley Adams*

On July 4th we saw bright fireworks, and beautiful flags waving in the wind. As we once again joyfully celebrated our freedom and asked God to continue to bless us, the prayer-song God Bless America was heard throughout the nation.

During these happy times, we may remember some dark times, when we have sung this song through voices of sadness. In tears, we have prayed that God would “stand beside us and guide us through the night with His light from above.”

It took the writings of Booker T. Washington (1865-1915), who founded the Tuskegee Institute, to guide my thinking toward America’s dark days of slavery. Many prayers were prayed and sung about the dreams of freedom the black slaves longed for. It all began in 1619 in Jamestown, Virginia. Twenty Africans were brought to America on a Dutch ship and were forced to live and work for white people. Africans were slaves for over two hundred years.

In the book, GOD HAS SOUL - CELEBRATING THE INDOMITABLE SPIRIT OF AFRICAN AMERICANS I have read and re-read the words of Booker T. Washington who became a powerful political leader and great educator:

“As fireworks light up the sky in celebration of our country’s independence this Fourth of July 1881, I feel my own sense of independence and freedom. It is a reflective day for me, as I think back to the days of my childhood.” Washington never forgot that his mother’s prayers sometime awakened him at night as she knelt by his pallet praying for their freedom. He was nine years old when that day of liberation finally came because President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan.1, 1863.

Many other tragedies have dotted the history of America since the first Independence Day in 1791. Some church congregations were split in anger and divided because of slavery. In 1861 the Civil War threatened to devour our beloved land. In the early 1900’s Women’s Suffrage Movement was a horrible blight on our nation.

However, one of the greatest tragedies to come to American soil was on September 11, 2001. The day began bright and beautiful. But telephone calls, computers and television sets soon spread the word that our country had been attacked. Nothing went as planned that day. Our family sat frozen in horror before our television set as we watched destruction like we had never seen in our beloved land.

Throughout the days we saw and heard people drawn together by a common goal of suffering. Praying and singing were beautiful expressions of unity. One of those songs was a prayer, God Bless America, which is a plea for God to bless and care for and heal America.

The interesting fact about this song is that it was written to be included in a Broadway play in New York City in 1918. It was composed by Irving Berlin who was annoyed that his song was not chosen as a part of the stage production. But he filed it away and said, “there may be some other time when that song will be needed.”

Sure enough, twenty years later, he retrieved that old song. He rearranged the lyrics, wrote this beautiful melody and God Bless America was born in 1938. It is truly a “golden oldie.”

Irving Berlin was a gift to America. He was born in 1888 in Russia and his family came to this country in the early 1900’s. He became an American citizen and wrote hundreds of unforgettable songs. Evidence of his devotion for his adopted homeland can be found in this song of prayer. Millions of Americans continue to sing about the “land that I love.”

The popular vocalist of that day, Kate Smith, introduced it to America on Nov.11, 1938 as her dynamic voice carried it with great enthusiasm. The rest of the story is well known to the people who saw her on stage or heard her on radio. She never ended a performance without singing her trademark song, God Bless America.

We will always be aware of the growing pains of America. And we also give thanks for the happy times of triumph. Let us rejoice in God’s promises in the Bible. One in particular is Psalm 33:12: “Blessed be the nation whose God is the Lord.”

*Lucy Neeley Adams is author of 52 HYMN STORY DEVOTIONS (http://www.52hymns.com)

Three persons receive Denman Evangelism Award at 2010 Annual Conference

For Harry Denman, “there were always more prayers to be prayed, more letters to be written, more people to be encouraged, more churches to be started, more witnessing to be done,” wrote Harold Rogers in Harry Denman: A Biography. Now, 60 years after Dr. Denman envisioned and established The Foundation for Evangelism, we continue to celebrate those persons – both lay and clergy - whose personal ministry in evangelism continues the work of this amazing United Methodist leader with The Harry Denman Evangelism Award. The 2010 Harry Denman Evangelism Awards were presented to Ron Lowery(Clergy) and Rick Sears (Laity) at the 2010 session of the Tennessee Annual Conference. This year, for the first time, the Denman Award was being given not only to both Laity and Clergy, it is also being given to one of our Conference Youth, Rose Newman.

Rose Newman, Youth Denman Winner 2010

Rose Newman stands with her mother after receiving the Tennessee Conference’s first Denman Award for Youth.

Rose Newman is a member of Gainesboro First United Methodist Church. She serves as the UMYF president, is an active member of the bell choir, and is passionate about her faith. Rose has been instrumental in forming family centered church by fostering Bible study and worship services that are geared toward the younger generation.

Not only does Rose participate in the worship and activities of her local church, she reaches out to her school mates with the love of God. She will frequently invite friends over for a “sleep over” and then bring them to the Sunday morning worship services. Rose also has organized a Christmas in July project that supplies the less fortunate in her community with school supplies. Over all, Rose genuinely displays the love of God in a real and compassionate way. She stands as an example, not just as a youth, but to us all to take our faith beyond the walls of the church and shine God’s light for all to see.

Rick Sears, Laity Denman Award Winner 2010

Family and friends gather to honor Rick Sears, winner of the Laity Denman Award.

What happens when you take an ex-drug addict and alcoholic and fill Him with the Love of God? Rick Sears is what happens! Rick is a Member of the Fellowship United Methodist Church in Murfreesboro, TN. From the first day of His walk with Jesus, Rick became an instrument that God has used to touch hundreds, if not thousands of lives. Whether Rick is leading the Wednesday night youth service or helping rebuild homes destroyed by tornadoes, Rick is always sharing the Gospel with people. Because of his own battle with addictions, Rick began a Friday night Celebrations Recovery Service so that he could help other experience true deliverance from their addictions.

Probably one of his greatest evangelism mission trips was when he went back to his hometown to preach at one of the churches there. He spent a week going to the highways and byways, talking with old friends. Upon entering one of his old hang outs, one of his old drinking buddies recognized Rick and offered to buy him a drink. Rick drank a coke and shared what God had done in his life with those present. Before the night was over, Rick had led several of them to know Jesus. By the time the Sunday services rolled around, there was standing room only in the church, as the town’s people gathered to see what had happened in Rick’s life. Before returning to his home church in Murfreesboro, Rick started a Bible study with several of his old friends and they are still participating and attending today.

At present Rick is faithfully sharing the love of God at home, at church and even in his trucking business which he named Trinity Trucking. He is a reflection of Jesus to all who know him and light to those in darkness.

The Rev. Dr. Ronald D. Lowery, Clergy Denman Award Winner 2010

Ronald Lowery, winner of the Clergy Denman Award stands with wife Connie and family

Ron Lowery has the spiritual gift of visioning. He sees not only the reality of a situation, but sees how to move that situation into compliance with kingdom living.

Through his strong leadership and timely guidance, he was instrumental in the birth of a new church at Providence. He called the Cumberland district churches to a forty day time of prayer around the start of this new church. He navigated the usual questions and concerns and generated an excitement while keeping focus on the goal of reaching people for Jesus Christ. He arranged for Grace to be the mother church of Providence which led to the healthy birth of Providence. This was a truly evangelistic effort. In fact, a very successful one. In less than two years Providence now worships around 450 people each Sunday and has had over 100 professions of faith.

Ron was the first speaker for a pilot evangelism event entitled “Let’s Talk: Effective Faith Sharing,” The focus was on how to help local churches be evangelists using scripture to demonstrate the foundation for sharing our faith. One tool Ron Lowery used was developed from churches in the Cumberland District based on answers to the question about how they shared their faith. In this way he acted as the conduit for churches to teach other churches how to evangelize.

Beverly Dycus, Director of Clarksville District United Methodist Urban Ministries, has witnessed Ron’s faith sharing first hand whether during worship in a local congregation or sharing with the unchurched in a local diner. She noted his passion about sharing his faith in Jesus Christ. She stated it was a blessing to have him stop by to Urban Ministries to visit and encourage our volunteers. His words of hope and his personal witness to clients has been an inspiration.

Whether on a plane, in a coffee shop, at a District event or in a quiet moment of a parishioner’s home, Ron is willing and able to share the good news of Jesus Christ. For many years he has given away bibles as he witnesses to the faith and hope he has in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He has given away bibles to persons when visiting door to door. He has given bibles to our military, he has given bibles to persons he has met on the street or in the marketplace.

One wonders how many bibles has he given away after individuals “caught” him reading and interrupted his reading to ask a question. There are no records for this but in heaven we will no doubt hear the stories of how his sharing made a difference in the lives of many whose hands he held in prayer and who carried with them not only scripture after an encounter with this man, but a living hope.

When Ron was named District Superintendent for the Clarksville District with Clarksville itself being the location of Fort Campbell, a huge military complex and home to the 101st Airborne military unit, he had a vision. His vision for the Clarksville District involved bringing the United Methodist Women into covenant relationship with military families. Working with the Clarksville District UMW President Kaye Martin and military chaplains at Fort Campbell, the UMW has begun meeting with and ministering to these families.

Throughout his ministry Ron has demonstrated an ability to move persons and situations in conflict toward reconciliation and peace. He has worked alongside pastors to allow the joy and peace and unity to propel people forward into ministry. Realizing meeting this need is essential to effective evangelistic efforts; he initiated a Conflict Resolution Seminar to help train pastors in these skills.

Under Ron’s leadership and love for Shalom (peace), the Clarksville community began exploration for a new Shalom Zone around First UMC, Clarksville. The program is ecumenical, multi-racial, and interdisciplinary. The Communities of Shalom initiative began as a response to the conditions that impelled, and the aftermath of the Los Angeles rioting in 1992. An original Community of Shalom was created in Los Angeles. The model has been replicated throughout the United States and around the world. Through the power of God, Communities of Shalom works for spiritual renewal, community economic development, and healthy communities.

As a military chaplain, Ron has faithfully worked with persons from not only around our nation, but around the globe. Ten days each quarter he leaves the states to fulfill his requirement – his mission, as the Air National Guard Liaison Chaplain to the United States Air Forces – Europe. While still being available to his pastors at home, he was able to be physically present to the wounded and the chaplains who care for the wounded in Germany. His ministry among them and his ministry among us was part of the call of God on his life. Earlier in 2010 he was promoted in a special ceremony to Colonel in the Air National Guard. His passion for the Gospel and his overseas experiences have made him a true proponent of Global Evangelism.

Learning valuable lessons from the young

Samantha Kelley, going into 4th grade this fall, sits with Bishop Richard Wills at the front of assembled delegates at the 2010 Annual Conference

Often times adults can learn a great deal from children and young people—at the 2010 session of the Tennessee Annual Conference delegates learned a great deal about sacrificial giving from a nine-year-old.

Samantha Kelley had gone with her dad, the Rev. Steve Kelley, to a Cumberland District Minister’s meeting. It was not long after the major flooding in early May, and a report was given on the tremendous amount of damage done to one of the District churches, Dodson Chapel . . . and the difficulty there would be in raising funds to cover the damage. There were a number of thoughts on how to best help Dodson Chapel United Methodist Church to recover, but nine-year-old Samantha was wondering how she personally could best help the struggling congregation. When she had a chance to talk to her father she asked if she could make and sell Friendship Bracelets at $1.00 per bracelet and give all the money to Dobson Chapel. Samantha, a member of Walnut Grove United Methodist Church, had done it before to raise funds for a worthy cause. That time a family had lost a loved one and was faced with the heavy costs of funeral and burial. Samantha was concerned for the family and raised funds for funeral/burial costs by creating and selling Friendship Bracelets.

At the 2010 Annual Conference Bishop Wills learned that Samantha was at Conference selling bracelets for Dodson Chapel. He purchased $20.00 worth of Friendship Bracelets on Monday to help Samantha on her faith journey. At the time Samantha only had 16 bracelets left and went home that night to prepare additional bracelets for the Bishop. In the morning she was quite anxious to get back to Annual Conference so she could give the Bishop the remainder of his order. He invited her to sit at the front table with him on Tuesday and introduced her to the assembled delegates. So, thank you, Samantha Kelley, for teaching us all how to show love and concern when human need manifests itself.

Forest Hills UMC Farmers Market Draws Warm Response
Editor’s note: The Forest Hills Farmers Market will continue on Saturday mornings through mid-September, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon.

Leigh Ann Pettus and husband Jeff. Leigh Ann provided major leadership in organizing the event.

In establishing a weekly (Saturday morning) summertime Farmers Market, Forest Hills United Methodist Church felt it was creating a valuable new ministry—one that would be of help to the cities of Forest Hills and Brentwood, as well as assist local farmers in a substantial way. The Forest Hills location was great—right along heavily traveled Old Hickory Blvd—and with plenty of outdoor space to accommodate a number of vendors.

Organizers probably did not envision that the first hour of the “grand opening” of the Farmers Market would be accompanied by a heavy downpour – and certainly weren’t prepared for the fact that the downpour didn’t seem to make any difference at all. There were still a large number of shoppers—most with umbrellas holding out the rain but more than a few without protective cover except for nearby trees.

Even heavy rain couldn’t keep appreciative customers away on opening day.

There were a rich variety of products available: fresh fruit and vegetables, berries, honey, jelly, meat, pastry, a variety of cheeses, vegetable juice—and that wasn’t all.

Pastor Jim Hughes was enthused with the way the day went. “We couldn’t have been more pleased about our first attempt. We had a really good crowd, the rain didn’t “dampen” anyone’s enthusiasm, and our growers were happy and impressed with our organization. We expect only bigger and better things. Clearly, we feel we have touched on a need in our community and the market will allow a lot of community residents to know who we are at Forest Hills UMC.”

Leigh Ann Pettus, who did much of the organization and promotion for the event, reflected on the success of the opening day, and indicated some future expansion of the Farmers Market experience:

"The grand opening of The Forest Hills UMC Farmers Market was a wonderful success. Even the morning storm that blew through around 8:45 did not stop our volunteers, farmers and customers from enjoying a beautiful summer Saturday morning with fellow members of the community. Some have estimated market attendance between 400-500 people.

The church’s tree shaded lawn is the perfect place for a Farmer’s Market.

“Many of our neighbors expressed appreciation to the church for giving the area such a much-needed place to support our local farmers and our community. One of our farmers commented that he had attended several markets in the past, but had never seen people having such a good time.

“But, perhaps, one of the best quotes, one from local farmer Freddie Haddox, was printed in an article on the Brentwood Home Page.

“‘That’s a sanctuary,’ Haddox said pointing to the steepled building where church members worship on Sunday mornings. ‘But this place feels like a sanctuary too,’ sweeping his hand in the direction of the yard and the big tree that provided shade to the entire market area.’ ‘And the people have a great spirit here.’

The tremendous feat was due to all of our Forest Hills UMC members, who not only volunteered at the market, but bought many of the fruits, vegetables, meats and baked goods from our farmers.

Now the challenge will be to keep the momentum going. For our future markets, we have added a local coffee vendor, Roast, Inc., whose product will compliment those delicious signature muffins from Anne's Cakes. The market is a work in progress. For example, we saw that several customers brought their dogs, so we have added a new vendor, Daisy Delicacies, a local vendor who creates gourmet treats for pets. We also hope to have some of our members or people from the community to provide musical entertainment."

“The market is already accomplishing one other very important benefit,” notes Pastor Hughes after the second Saturday’s Farmers Market, “we are having really good conversations with people about our church. I’ve already had numerous encounters with folks who are interested in knowing about who we are. We had hoped this would happen and it gives us a chance to really connect with people looking for a church home”.

Event raises $22,500 for Flood Relief
A VERY funny Fathers’ Day gift presented by Brentwood UMC

Al McCree started the “Laugh Fest” off with some funny songs.

The Fathers’ Day for Flood Relief Benefit Concert sponsored by Brentwood United Methodist Church not only provided substantial help for Middle Tennessee Flood Relief efforts, but shared a comic gem in Jeanne Robertson.

The last figure obtained before press time for THE REVIEW showed that $22,500 was raised for Flood Relief ( to be administered via the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee). Jeanne Robertson, a comic storyteller and noted motivational speaker, managed the impossible – getting such vibrant audience laughter that personal problems including flood damage were forgotten for the moment.

The concert was free . . . but a free will offering raised $22,500 for flood relief in hard-hit middle Tennessee

Getting people in the mood to enjoy Robertson was musician and Brentwood UMC member Al McCree with his own comic style as he sang several well-known numbers with new and funny lyrics. To make certain that everyone understood that although we were being treated to a comic masterpiece—and laughter was the order of the day--there remains great need in Middle Tennessee, McCree introduced Ellen Lehman, president of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. Lehman has been president since the Foundation began in 1991

Ellen Lehman, president of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. The Foundation will administer all funds raised at the Comedy Concert

The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee responds in times of disaster to connect generosity with need and has activated the Tennessee Emergency Response Fund to support relief efforts throughout Middle Tennessee necessitated by the May 2010 floods. To find out more about the agency go online to http://www.cfmt.org/floodrelief/terf/

Jeanne Robertson, a former Miss North Carolina, is a VERY funny lady.

And for those of you who haven’t had a chance to see Jeanne Robertson in action – or those of you that were at the June 20th performance but would like to relive Jeanne’s humorous moments—you can go to the following website:

http://jeannerobertson.com/

Included in the material about Jeanne are links to several of her comic stories.

Three receive Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Tennessee Alliance for Progress

Three persons well-known in the Tennessee Conference receive Lifetime Achievement awards from the Tennessee Alliance for Progress

Two persons, both associated with Nashville’s Edgehill United Methodist Church, were awarded a 2010 Lifetime Achievement Long-Haul Award by the Tennessee Alliance for Progress in a late spring ceremony. Peace activtivist Don Beisswenger, and Tennessee Justice Center’s Gordon Bonnyman were both recognized for their lifetime labors. TAP’s annual Long Haul awards salute the achievements of outstanding people who work for social, economic and environmental justice in Tennessee. In addition, Bonnie Spear, Director of the Blakemore United Methodist Children’s Center, was presented a Lifetime Achievement Long-Haul Award.
Gordon Bonnyman is a Knoxville native who received his law degree from the
University of Tennessee in 1972. He is the executive director of the Tennessee Justice
Center, a non-profit public interest law firm that serves the poor. Before co-founding
the Center in 1996, he worked as a staff attorney for the Legal Aid Society in Nashville
for 23 years, representing thousands of low income clients. Gordon has testified before
Congress, argued before the Supreme Court and has served as lead counsel in class actions involving health care, prison conditions, foster care, nursing homes, housing
and Civil Rights. During sabbaticals, Gordon and his wife, Claudia, who is a Davidson
County Chancery Court judge, worked for human rights organizations in the Middle
East (1978-1979) and Eastern Europe (1994).

Don Beisswenger receives his award from Mark Burnett, Chair of TAP. Beisswenger also accepted an award on behalf of Gordon Bonnyman who was unable to attend the ceremony.

Don Beisswenger has lived out a commitment to social justice. He was ordained to the ministry in the Presbyterian Church in 1956, the year he married Joyce Horton. Don
and Joyce served congregations in the Ozark Mountains, Cincinnati and Iowa before moving to Chicago in 1962 where he was active in the Chicago Industrial Ministry and part of the campaign for racial equality in the Sixties. Once, when black friends were prevented from buying a house, he and Joyce bought the house and then resold it to them, despite threats and harassment. In 1968, Don joined the Vanderbilt Divinity School as a professor and director of field education. This work brought national recognition to the divinity school for the excellence of the field studies program. In 1983 Don and Joyce founded the Penuel Ridge Contemplative Retreat Center. Out of his concern for Central America he was a founder of Witness for Peace in 1983. He engaged in civil disobedience at the School of the Americas in 2003 and was sentenced and served six months in federal prison. Joyce died in 2002. In 2005, Don married Judith Freund Pilgrim. Together they have ten children and thirteen grandchildren. He continues his advocacy, especially on housing and the homeless.

Bonnie Spear receives her Lifetime Achievement Award from Mark Burnett.

Bonnie Spear is the director of Blakemore Children’s Center and currently serve on
the board of the Tennessee Association for the Education of Young Children, Temple Playschool Advisory Board and Stand for Children, She was born in Chattanooga but lived in Kentucky, Illinois and then back in Tennessee while growing up. From preschool until she graduated from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, she attended twelve different schools. Of those, Francis W. Parker School, in Chicago, had the greatest impact on her life. The school’s motto is “Everything to help and nothing to hinder.”

Students were encouraged and helped to volunteer and make a difference in their community from an early age. She began volunteering at Jane Addams Hull House at the
age of thirteen. She has been married to her husband Danny for thirty-seven years. She
has a son, daughter and foster granddaughter.

Persons can go to the TAP website for more information and to make donations to
TAP. It is http://www.taptn.org/

Nashville is Now Our HomeRefugees Share Experiences at Scarritt-Bennett Center

Five refugees, who have made Nashville their home during the past decade, recently shared their experiences during a forum presented by Catholic Charities’ Tennessee Office for Refugees at Scarritt-Bennett Center in observance of World Refugee Day. Pictured (left to right) are Fatuma Masazi and her daughter, Aziza Abdiaziz, from Somalia, who have lived here since 2005; Abdikadir Ali from Somalia, who has lived in Nashville since 2004 and now works at Catholic Charities; Jamal Alwan, a surgeon from Iraq, who has lived here since 2009; Fadil Dervishi from Kosovo, who arrived in Nashville in 1999 and owns Sevala’s Cafe; and program moderator Carol Etherington, associate director of the Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health. In 2009, more than 1,500 refugees fleeing persecution, found a new home in Tennessee. Last year, families and individuals from 15 different countries -- escaping war, persecution and often a continuous threat of death -- were welcomed to the Nashville community with the assistance of Catholic Charities of Tennessee.

Reflections Over the Past Month
By The Rev. Wm. Russell Cain. Elder, Retired

William Russell Cain

It doesn’t seem as if a month and more have gone by since we heard of all the flooding and flood damage covering a larger part of Middle Tennessee. It has been called the “Nashville Flood,” and yes, Nashville did receive a lot of damage, but other parts of the state were affected. The numbers were not as great as Nashville, but the pain and individual losses were the same. I worked the disaster in Smith, Jackson, DeKalb, Macon, and Clay counties.

There were close to nine-hundred families affected by the flooding in those five counties. From reports of road damage, to water in the basement, all the way to total loss of the home. Fences were lost, animals were lost, businesses under water, jobs ended and income stopped. It was heart breaking to see the loss and despair of people. Twenty-five people had to move to a shelter for safety. Some of the people in the shelter were rescued by boat. The American Red Cross and the Carthage United Methodist Church provided a shelter for almost a week, as people sorted out their lives.

Even in this dark hour, God stood in the disaster with his light shining. People and help began to respond immediately. Soon, people were coming to the aid of their friends and neighbors, strangers put forth a helping hand, and hope rose in the hearts and minds of people. The United Methodist Committee on Relief sent Early Response Teams from the Holston Conference arriving three days after the flood. Because of connections made earlier, that team received help from the Jewish Disaster Relief in the form of an AmerCor team. This coupled with local help from other faith groups, and a District Early Response Team got the mud washed away, wet walls and floors were taken out, and God’s grace was given.

Just short of forty homes were deconstructed by these Early Response Teams. New friends were made, hopes were lifted, a future seen. All this because people, called of God, answered with love, grace, hard work, and lots of sweat. They were the hands and feet of Jesus in the communities they worked in. A special thanks goes out to the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church for their help, to the Jewish Disaster response with the Amercor team, and to the Monterey Baptist Church for help and supplies, as well as our own District Early Response Team. Two-thousand and two hundred hours were spent in work time by these teams. This does not include their travel time just to show up.

I must say great things about the people of the Carthage United Methodist Church. They opened their church and their hearts to provide housing, showers, and food for the teams. I have no real idea of how many work hours were given by the members of the church, but there were many. The only complaint I heard form a team member was, “I’m going to leave here ten pounds heavier than when I came.” The church also fed the community response teams during the first week as it housed the shelter. The vision this church had when they built the new part of their church was fulfilled in this mission outreach.

No, the work is not done, it only changes from deconstruction to reconstruction. A Long Term Committee is being worked on which will set the stage for more work teams to respond. Instead of ERT teams, they will be VIM teams. Carthage United Methodist Church stands ready to receive them as they come in the name of Jesus to show love for their neighbor.

It has been a great and heartwarming experience to be a part of this mission work. When God’s people can work together, with God’s help, nothing is impossible. Love was truly made visible.

TENNESSEE CONFERENCE REVIEW June 25, 2010

2010-06-22T10:46:00.001-05:00

Index of articles in this edition of THE REVIEW

1. Nine ordained as Elders at 2010 Annual Conference
2. Three ordained as Deacons,
3. Three honored with J. Richard Allison Social Holiness Awards: Laity, George Bass and Abrahoma McIntyre; clergy, The Rev. Jay Voorhees.
4. A Prayer for My City, May 3, 2010, reflective poem written in the midst of the flooding crisis by the Rev. Jay Voorhees
5. Good Shepherd United Methodist Men build ten Personal Energy Transportation vehicles,
6. Forest Hills United Methodist Church launches Farmer’s Market on the church grounds
7. Ninth Annual “Native Moccasins Rock” Festival and Workshop, Camp Lake Benson, August 13-15, 2010, article with one captioned photo, Photo #12
8. The wedding at 61st Avenue: A love story
9. Youth from other Annual Conferences Help Middle Tennessee Recover
____________________________

Nine ordained as Elders at 2010 Annual Conference

(Front row left to right) Rickey Wayne Wade, Marilyn Eileen Thornton, Francis DeSales “De” Hennessy, III; (Second row left to right) Cynthia Annette Talley, Erin Ann Racine, Vona Rose Wilson, and Jodi Ann McCullah; (Third row) John McFatridge Feldhacker and Peter Frederic Ferguson

Three ordained as Deacons

(Left to right) Jackson Wayne Henry, Elizabeth Thompson “Libby” Baxter, and Holley Gaye Potts.

Three honored with J. Richard Allison Social Holiness Awards

This award was established by the 2001 Session of the Tennessee Annual Conference to recognize persons whose lives and ministries are focused on ministries of love and justice. Each year one layperson and one clergy person is selected. Sadly, we had no layperson recommended this year. This award remembers the persons who have answered the call of Christ to feed the hungry, visit the imprisoned, clothe the naked, visit the sick and help to bring about God’s kingdom here on earth. J. Richard Allison, for whom the award is named, was a pastor in the TN Conference, and a missionary, and a social activist in Nashville. Dick Allison was described by one of his peers as “a man of God with a mission of doing what he did best--building bridges between the needs of the community and the resources of the church.” This year, we celebrate the choice of George Bass and Abraham McIntyre (Laity) and Jay Voorhees (Clergy):

Social Holiness Award, Layperson, George Bass

Family, friends, and fellow church members gathered to celebrate the honor received by George Bass. Many in the group were in one of the original Mt. TOP volunteer teams.

George Bass spent more than thirty years training and developing youth and young adults through the Mountain T.O.P. ministry which sensitized these church members to the social, spiritual, economic, emotional, and relational needs of the weak, the least, the last, and the lost of the Cumberland Mountains. Youth and adults on work teams through Mountain T.O.P. learned the benefits of working together as a team, of meeting the needs of persons who are less fortunate, and of relating to people who simply needed a listening ear or a simple touch.

Bass did this for more than thirty years. It began when George was working with the youth at Blakemore United Methodist Church in Nashville. He took his youth to a work camp at Hinton Rural Life Center. He felt the nudge of God which led to the question, “Shouldn’t our Tennessee Annual Conference provide ministry other than simply a spiritual fun camp at Beersheba Springs Assembly? Should we help young people realize the needs of others as well as meet the needs of others?” Thus, George began to develop the Mountain T.O.P. (Tennessee Outreach Project) ministry.

Immediately, the vision ignited the enthusiasm of the youth of not only our Tennessee Conference, but the interest of youth throughout the United States as well as with youth from all other denominations. It became obvious that this ministry was greater than what our Tennessee Conference Youth Council could provide. It needed its own board of directors and trained leaders.

The first Mountain T.O.P. camp was in 1974 at Beersheba Springs United Methodist Assembly. Through the years, George has led this ministry that hired, trained and developed more than 1,050 young adults as summer staff. More than an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 youth and adults from local churches in 28 states participated in the intensive weeklong work camp that had a major spiritual emphasis. They even added a day camp for the children of the Cumberland Mountains who had nothing to do in the summer.

The Rev. Skip Armistead who nominated George Bass for the Richard Allison Social Holiness Award shared his own personal experiences at Mt. T.O.P. “Having been an active participant with Mt. T.O.P. through the years, I got to see lives changed. I saw two elderly widows’ faces light up with new hope when our work team cleared their orchard, an orchard these widows hasn’t seen since they were children. I saw men with green teeth and no teeth moved to tears because some youth cared to take time to listen to them. I’ve seen arrogant spoiled youth from wealthy homes humbled as a result of their contact with people of an entirely different culture. I’ve seen youth who felt like they were nothing and of no value to anyone become aware that they were ‘somebody’ when they helped others. I’ve seen the morale of Grundy County change for the better and the people of Grundy County say it was because of the Mountain T.O.P. ministry.

I’ve also seen the lives of many youth and young adults change in their attitudes towards the weak, the least, the last, and the lost as a result of participating in Mountain T.O.P. – and many have returned home to provide similar ministries in their own community. Many learned to appreciate the difference in cultures. Many have even entered the ministry. George Bass’ work facilitated this social transformation that continues to take place on the Cumberland Mountains even now that he is retired.”

Social Holiness Award, Layperson, Abraham McIntyre

(Some information supplied through the reflections of his father, David McIntyre, others by his sister Ingrid, still other information is quoted from writer Kathy Noble’s article, “Pilots carry people out, bring supplies into Haiti.”)

The second person to win the 2010 Richard Allison Social Holiness Award is Abraham McIntyre who serves as the Executive Director of the Bahamas Methodist Habitat, Eleuthera, Bahamas.

The Social Holiness award was accepted on June 15th by Abraham McIntyre’s parents and sister. Abraham followed the proceedings from the Bahamas using Skype (video, photo communication), and responded thankfully for the award
Bahamas Methodist Habitat is an outreach ministry of the Bahamas Conference of the United Methodist Church. Its mission is to build sustainable communities through partnership. They seek to improve the quality of life for Bahamian families by providing an array of services that build self-reliance and foster personal and community achievement. Abraham McIntyre is the Executive Director of Bahamas Methodist Habitat.

McIntyre, a son of the Tennessee Conference and a Preacher’s Kid, has always chosen work that reflects his love for people and concern for social inequities. His spirit is love. When you are around him you feel loved . . . and throughout his life he shows love where ever he is. He lives a life of ministry every day, and he adapts to the environment he is in –be it Appalachia, Belize or the Caribbean. Wherever he is in ministry he figures out a way to make things happen.

McIntyre has worked with Bahamas Methodist Habitat since 2005. The organization is not related to Habitat for Humanity International. Bahamas Methodist Habitat is normally a hurricane relief and sub-standard housing relief effort for the Bahamian islands. Many volunteer teams go there to serve each year ... including several Tennessee Conference congregations such as Fayetteville First, Hendersonville First, Belle Meade, Manchester First and Brentwood. Beyond mission trips, Abraham has spoken to over 20 churches in the Tennessee Conference about his ministry in Eleuthera.

Part of what makes the Bahamas Methodist Habitat ministry possible is the team of volunteers private pilots, recruited and trained by the BMH staff. They come from across the United States and ferry supplies needed by BMH to the Islands of the Bahamas—at a considerable savings of time and money over relying on boat transportation.

In a United Methodist News Service report “Pilots carry people out, bring supplies into Haiti,” writer Kathy Noble tells what happened with the Bahamas Methodist Habitat ministry after the earthquake in Haiti: “Abraham McIntyre was at home in Eleuthera, Bahamas, when he learned that a major earthquake had occurred in Haiti. The concern that a tsunami might flood the Bahamas was among his first thoughts. McIntyre initially expected the quake to have little effect on the mission he directs, Bahamas Methodist Habitat. The organization usually flies volunteers to construction and medical mission sites throughout the islands.

“That changed within hours when he received a call from the organization’s treasurer, Steve Merritt of Cary, N.C., asking, “’How fast can you get to Haiti?’ I went from apathetic to full on, and haven’t stopped since,” he says.

Since Jan. 15, McIntyre and his staff have coordinated flights evacuating missionaries and mission teams and helping relief workers and medical supplies reach Haiti. “

Through Facebook and texting, McIntyre soon told the world that his organization is ready to help evacuate missionaries and others from Haiti. Requests became steady. He learns about supplies needing transport in the same way.

“Between Facebook and texting, we are really making a difference,” he says. “Much as I hated Facebook at first, it’s really saving lives.”

Abe’s father and mother, retired Tennessee Conference minister, the Rev. David and Patty McIntyre, had just arrived in the Bahamas for a visit the day before the quake hit Haiti. David McIntyre reflected on some of the experiences with his son on what turned out to be a very extended stay in the Bahamas: ‘Merci. Merci.’ The beautiful, humble Haitian nurse in a 48 bed, one room hospital in Les Cayes, Haiti, sweetly spoke the sentiment of the poverty- stricken Haitian people. Abraham McIntyre and his team of volunteers from Bahamas Methodist Habitat (BMH) had just delivered two more plane loads of medical supplies donated by caring and generous US and Bahamian citizens. BMH is making an immediate difference in the lives of these precious and hurting Haitian people, their Caribbean neighbors. “

“This effort has been swift and direct service! Multiple plane loads of needed supplies and short-term medical missionaries, flown by BMH volunteer pilots recruited and coordinated by BMH staff and board members, have been delivered day after day since the massive earthquake of January 12 dealt a devastating blow to the people of Haiti. Abraham saw the need immediately after he learned of the disaster and rapidly went into action. He used the Internet, email and face-book to reach volunteers.”

It has been a remarkable experience to meet the scores and scores of doctors, anesthetists, nurses and surgeons who have come to Bahamas Methodist Habitat for transportation into some of the more remote areas of Haiti. Most of the news stories have focused on Port au Prince - - the epicenter of the earthquake. However, as the days moved by more and more of the victims evacuated the devastated city and went to these smaller towns seeking medical care, shelter and food. Delivering supplies and personnel into and out of these more rural areas has been the particular nitch of Bahamas Methodist Habitat.

The elder McIntyre admits he has learned from his son. “Abraham, though fearless in his pursuit of mission goals and support, is essentially a very humble young man. He has taught me a lot about shunning turf battles and seeking recognition. As I have periodically and quietly offered ‘politically motivated’ suggestions that might bring him or his agency a bit of support or recognition, he politely reminds me, ‘you know, Dad, you can get a whole lot more accomplished when you're not concerned about who gets the credit!’ I give thanks that he's learned that lesson so much earlier in his journey than I am learning it in mine.

Social Holiness Award, The Rev. Jay Voorhees, Clergy

The 2010 Richard Allison Social Holiness Award for clergy was awarded to the Rev. Jay Voorhees. The person that nominated him for the award knew Richard Allison personally and sees a great deal of Richard in Jay.

Jay Voorhees and his family

Jay Voorhees has been the pastor of the Antioch United Methodist Church since June of 2003. During his life he has served as a restaurant manager, a television engineer, an event manager, a hospital chaplain, and as a pastor. Prior to his appointment in Antioch, Jay served as the Associate Pastor of the Bellevue United Methodist Church in Nashville. Jay has also served as the chairperson of Tennessee Annual Conference Board of Church and Society, ensuring lots of interesting email. Jay is also involved in much conversation around “the emergent church,” a group of religious professionals who are talking about the impact of postmodernism on church and faith. He writes about these issues (and many other things as well) on his weblog, “Only Wonder Understands.” Jay is married to the Rev. Kay Hereford Voorhees who is the pastor of Cornerstone United Methodist Church in the Murfreesboro District. Kay and Jay have two daughters, Grace and Anna.

Jay left his work at United Methodist Communications to enter pastoral ministry years ago, when he realized that lives are touched more by relationships than by media. He had no idea that loving people would lead him to activism of any kind.

Voorhees became involved in social justice issues when he became chairperson of the Tennessee Conference Church and Society Work Area. His first immediate issue to tackle was the Tennessee Lottery battle. He became a member of the Religious Leaders for a Gambling Free Tennessee and work to defeat the lottery.

In more recent years he has taken a leadership role in the campaign against the Metro Nashville English Only bill and worked diligently on efforts to help save General Hospital.

With his pastor colleague at Lighthouse Baptist Church, Jay helped organize an interdenominational group of pastors that meets weekly to pray for the community. This group began to think of their congregations as “the church of Antioch” called to claim the entire community for Jesus. Among the achievements of this group are developing anti-drug campaigns, working with the Hickory Hollow Mall management and businesses on community issues, and working with the Metro Nashville Police Department on similar community issues. Jay even led Antioch United Methodist Church to become involved in the community Easter Egg Hunt, of which he also became a leader. He has also led Antioch UMC to open its gym doors to the community.

Jay pursues both social and personal holiness and depends heavily on God’s grace to make up for his deficiencies. His moderate core is similar to that of our Social Principles, which often reflect more than one “side” of a given issue. Jay is definitely able to see things for a variety of perspectives and respect a variety of opinions while standing firm on his own beliefs.

Editor’s Note: After Voorhees was nominated for the Allison Social Holiness Award, his life took a sudden and dramatic turn. Mill Creek flooded along with other creeks and streams in Southeast Nashville in the historic Tennessee early May flood. Three days after the flood he accepted the role of Relief Volunteer Coordinator for all of SE Nashville—a large geographic area which sustained heavy flood damage, and Antioch United Methodist Church became a volunteer deployment center to send out volunteers into the community.

A Prayer for My City, May 3, 2010
By the Rev. Jay Voorhees*, used with permission

God, what do you think you are doing?
Many times I can write off bad times as the result of a broken humanity;
but rains that seemed never ending?
I think you are on the hot seat for this one.

Yes, I know, nature happens, and we have very little understanding of the stuff of our world,
but there are a lot of people suffering tonight,
a lot of people scared,
a lot of people whose hope is challenged,
a lot of people questioning their belief that you never give more than we can handle.

If I sound a little ticked off, it’s because I am.
A day watching poor people throwing all their ruined belongings in the street will do that to a man.
So does looking at pictures of places I love now destroyed,
destroyed by that which is necessary for life.

This stinks, God.
Sorry, I said it, but it’s true.
It’s true when you fall through the floor of a trailer because the flooring is so saturated with water that it can’t hold you.
It’s true when the flood water subside and everything inside the house is covered with mud.
It’s true when the mold comes — the deep, black fungi that seek to take over the home.
It’s true when you know that a city — my city — is put on the ropes by something that has never happened before.
It’s very true when you read the story of a 21 year old father whose only failing was that he worried so much about the well being of his kids that he challenged the rising waters and lost the battle.

And yet,
you still are God,
and as we find ourselves by the rivers of Babylon weeping,
you take that which stinks and wring out the good things,
things like people from different nationalities and faiths working together to empty a house,
things like inmates and students working cooperatively to sandbag a water plant to keep water going,
things like people opening their homes and their hearts to those in need.

So God, if you will,
take some time off from the water business and get on with the heart transformation business,
leading brother and sister to transcend the mud and mold,
and rebuild something even better.

And God, if you will,
keep an eye on my city,
cause it’s home and I love it.
Dry it out and lead us to new depths of love and care.

Amen.

*Just a few days after this prayer was written, Jay Voorhees was named Relief Volunteer Coordinator for Southeast Nashville.

Good Shepherd United Methodist Men build ten Personal Energy Transportation vehicles

Ten Personal Energy Transportation (PET) vehicles under construction.
On Saturday, May 22, 2010, the men's group of Good Shepherd United Methodist Church in Hendersonville, assisted by donations and other volunteers from the congregation, participated in an international outreach event for PET International. The group of volunteers built ten (10) Personal Energy Transportation (PET) vehicles which will be shipped to third world countries around the globe. The PET vehicle is a hand cranked wheel chair-cart designed to provide the gift of mobility to persons who have lost their legs or the use of their legs. For detailed information about the PET Project and the recipients of these life-changing vehicles, you can visit the sponsor’s website at www.PETinternational.org

The men's group and other volunteers at Good Shepherd United Methodist Church in Hendersonville, shown with 2 of the 10 Personal Energy Transportation (PET) vehicles (in forefront) built on May 22nd to be shipped to third world countries around the globe. Photo by Julie Rutledge

Forest Hills United Methodist Church launches Farmer’s Market on the church grounds

When the idea of hosting a Farmer’s Market came up at Forest Hills United Methodist Church, it seem like the right time for such a ministry – and certainly the right place. Forest Hills church is located along busy Old Hickory Blvd close to the intersection with Granny White Pike. Lay person Leigh Ann Pettus became the point person in working with nearby growers to create a weekly Farmer’s Market on the spacious grounds of Forest Hills church.

Forest Hills pastor, the Rev. James Hughes, enthusiastically comments about the new ministry and its value to the church and to the community. “We are very excited about our new Farmer’s Market. The market will bring lots to people to our campus, which will give us a chance to tell our story. It gives a chance to be a vital community partner with the cities of Forest Hills and Brentwood.

We envision a local gathering place – a piazza, if you will. The Market gives us a chance to support local growers, which becomes a stewardship issue for us. And, finally, we will not charge the growers for space, but will ask them to make a donation to the Second Harvest Food Bank. In this way, the Market will support a local hunger mission.

The Market is a joint initiative of our Evangelism and Missions Councils. There will be about ten growers to start with and we expct that number to grow. The market began on Saturday, June 19th and will run each Saturday through mid-September. The hours will be 8:00 a.m. until noon.”

Ninth Annual “Native Moccasins Rock” Festival and Workshop, Camp Lake Benson, August 13-15, 2010

Jamie Russell, a leader at Native Moccasins Rock, sang at the opening of the 2010 Annual Conference.

The 2010 edition of Native Moccasins Rock will be held at Camp Lake Benson in Bon Aqua, Tennessee, August 13, 14, and 15.

You will be able to explore Native American Culture, Traditions, and Spirituality – along with a catching a glimpse of American History often hidden from the text books. In three days you can learn:

• The basics of Pow Wow drumming
• Creation of Medicinal Salves and herbal knowledge
• How to make a Native American flute, and learn the basics of playing the flute
• The basics of cooking with a clay pot and making tempting and delicious frybread
• How to make a gourd rattle, bead in a Native American style, carve soapstone, PLUS attempt a hands-on creation of rivercane and pine needle baskets.
• All this PLUS Native American storytelling, Choctaw Social Dancing and culture, making stories come alive.

You can learn for yourself how to use Native Arts and Crafts techniques and raw materials to create stunning jewelry and musical instruments (Examples of Native crafts often command VERY high price estimates on Antiques Roadshow).

This is a workshop but it is also a festival of great traditional music and dance. It is one of the few festivals in America where the whole family is welcome and can participate – children, youth and adults. Come and see for yourself why performers in the past as well as participants have called this one of America’s great festivals.

Download a brochure with information about housing, meals, description of individuals workshops, and price options. http://nativeamerican.tnumc.com%20or%20moccasinfootprints.org/

The wedding at 61st Avenue: A love story
A UMNS Commentary by David Briggs*

On the 22nd of May, there was a wedding on 61st Avenue in Nashville, Tenn.

The servants of the bride and groom had long ago gone out into the streets and invited everyone to the wedding banquet.

The homeless, those with mental and physical disabilities, and all of the other people who were members of the mission congregation were in their seats as family and friends walked up the street of small, closely packed houses, past young men playing basketball in the road and older residents keeping a watchful eye from their stoops, and into the white brick sanctuary.

Nancy Neelley and Robby Hicks exchange vows before the Rev. Joe Shelton

There, they sat next to men and women in plain dresses and white shirts and dark pants, some with wedding robes as casual as a T-shirt or a vest with a cowboy hat. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.

The bride, dressed in a cream-colored dress crocheted by a woman in Zimbabwe, walked around the room, greeting each person with a hug. None was humbled. All were exalted.

The Rev. Nancy Neelley, a deacon at the church, and Robby Hicks had both been married before. They understood what it means to fall short, to seek forgiveness, and to find Christ’s love in one another and those gathered around them.

There were no limousines or tuxedos or wedding gifts or lavish receptions. A bare cross provided the only backdrop on the empty raised stage behind the couple.

Yet on that night, the kingdom of the heavens became like a deacon and a songwriter-construction worker who made a wedding feast out of a Saturday night service at Sixty-First Avenue United Methodist Church.

Enduring gifts
Even in these fearful times of recession and high unemployment, our culture celebrates wealth and ostentation and personal excess. Or perhaps it is because these are fearful times that we place so much value on outward signs of financial security. The lavishness of a wedding is seen as an indicator of self-worth and one’s standing in the community.

So it is important when we can look beyond the expected and see Christ-like acts of love and forgiveness that transcend the glorification of self.

As a nation, we saw that in a young pitcher who thought he had pitched a perfect game when he caught the ball at first base for what should have been the final out of the game. When the umpire made the wrong call, the Detroit Tigers’ Armando Galarraga merely smiled, and went back to the mound to get the next guy out and win the game.

When he realized he made the wrong call after the game, the umpire, Jim Joyce, admitted his mistake and went directly to Galarraga to apologize. Galarraga, deprived of one of baseball’s rare milestones, acknowledged how bad the other man felt, and said everyone makes mistakes.

How many incidents like that have played out with screaming ballplayers uttering obscenities at umpires who yell right back in their own manner of self-righteousness?

So the tears of Joyce the next day when Garralaga – and not the Tigers’ manager - brought him the pregame lineup card in an act of forgiveness were mixed with our own at this shining example of reconciliation.

So, too, on a personal level, were the guests at the Neelley-Hicks wedding brought back to a place where love exceeded expectations.

This was not the wedding on a private island covered by helicopters for entertainment news shows. Nor was this the match of power brokers featured in the Style section of The New York Times.

This was a covenant of love before God, witnessed and celebrated by their brothers and sisters in Christ.

The wedding
A homeless woman led the congregation in the responsive reading.

Karen Andreasen, a formerly homeless woman aided by Neelley, sang the song, “There Is Love” before the vows were exchanged.

The Scripture passage was taken from the third chapter of Colossians, instructing all to “Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.”

Armando Galarraga and Jim Joyce put on garments of forgiveness, and shared an example of peace with the nation. And for a couple of hours, the wedding guests in Nashville were able to put on love. We were rich in spirit because the poor were always with us.

There was no alcohol at the wedding. Coffee and homemade cake made up the wedding feast.

Yet for so many people there, who may have gotten drunk on the inferior wine of devotion to wealth and status and power, there was a refreshing new wine.

For Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.

(Bible study teachers, or just people who enjoy Scripture, may find in this story a fun exercise in searching for wedding references from the Gospels.)

*Briggs is news editor of United Methodist News Service.

Youth from other Annual Conferences Help Middle Tennessee Recover

The PRIORITY singers from South Carolina were one of several youth groups from outside the Tennessee Conference who came as volunteers to the “Volunteer State.” Here is the youth volunteer group from Pittman Park UMC in Statesboro, Georgia.

Mt. Horeb United Methodist Church, located in Lexington, South Carolina, has grown in the past 16 years from a little country church with 80 in worship to over 1600 in worship over the weekend and about 2600 members—it is also a congregation that reaches out where there is need. So, in early June the churches teen-age choral group, PRIORITY, eighteen strong plus adult counselors, responded to the Tennessee Conference flood victims by offering volunteer service while in Middle Tennessee to perform.

In one day PRIORITY crafted over five dozen “Prayer Bears” to give out to children affected by the flood. The bears were created at the Tennessee Conference Headquarters as Brad Fiscus, conference Youth and Young Adult Coordinator, helped them understand the magnitude of the storm. Brandon Hulette, who is helping with Conference relief efforts, also addressed the group.

The PRIORITY singers from Mt. Horeb UMC, Lexington, South Carolina. What has fueled the growth of Mt. Horeb church leaders say is “The absolute commitment to Prayer, continually seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit, strong biblically-centered teaching, and effective leadership.” The transformational power of the Holy Spirit was exhibited by the singing group’s tour concert, “Rise &Sing.”

After lunch, and an impromptu performance for the Conference staff, PRIORITY helped load a trailer with relief supplies and then headed for Community Care Fellowship to learn about that agencies unique ministry with the poor and the marginalized. They were met by Toi King who explained how Community Care is organized to serve homeless individuals plus a growing number of families with children, families adversely effected by the economic downturn and loss of employment. After loading the Conference pick-up truck with equipment and other items to be taken to recycling. PRIORITY moved on to McKendree Village and a 5:30 p.m. performance of their mission tour concert, “Rise & Sing.” The Mt. Horeb Minister of Music, Jack T. Warren, says of the PRIORITY 40 minute concert of Praise and Worship, “when we sing our concerts, or are involved in a service projects, God opens doors and some of the greatest ministry happens following the concert when meaningful conversations and unforced opportunities to share our faith and love for Jesus happen.”

Young people from Mt. Horeb UMC created “Prayer Bears” to give comfort to children and young people who were affected by flooding -- and they also helped clear garbage and unneeded equipment from Community Care Fellowship.

God certainly opened doors at McKendree as the teenagers and the “old timers” chatted amiably, lovingly, and enthusiastically after the conference.

The young people in the group were excited to find out that Eddie Fox, Executive Director of the Foundation for Evangelism, and his wife were present for the concert. Fox, in fact was asked to give a final prayer after the concert, and persuaded Jack T. Warren to sing a solo before the benediction. Much to the delight of the PRIORITY youngsters Warren said “Yes” to the request.

In years past tours have take PRIORITY to Washington, D.C., The Gulf Coast (after Katrina), Niagara Falls and Upstate New York, and the coast of South Carolina.

TENNESSEE CONFERENCE REVIEW June 11, 2010

2010-06-21T17:12:00.003-05:00

Index to articles in the June 11th REVIEW
1. Franklin First UMC and the TOTALLY Unexpected Day,

2. McKendree Village and Hermitage UMC work together to host UMVIM teams
3. Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors(JfON) worker, Katherine Dix-Esquivel, wins award,
4. Inaugural Certified Lay Minister Academy proves to be Spirit-led event
5. Father-son partnership reveals amazing lessons in love, faith,
6. Four Given Ingram Scholarship Awards on May 16, 2010
7. .Bless Be the Tie That Binds
8. Justice for Our Neighbors is a Gift: A UMC.org commentary by Kathryn Spry
_________________________

Franklin First UMC and the TOTALLY Unexpected Day

By Brooke Rainey

Franklin First United Methodist Church had a unique experience when the worst flood in the community’s history coincided with their May 2 Commitment Sunday worship service at The Factory in Franklin, TN. The church had been planning for many months to hold this special service as part of their commitment to a new capital campaign: God’s Vision, our Future. On the morning of May 2nd, all plans literally began changing as the flood water rose.

The Franklin First Family Mission Team cancelled a trip to Biloxi, Mississippi, to care for flood damaged homes in Franklin.

Worship was held but the focus changed. In the midst of this disaster the church rerouted a catered breakfast meal to the local Red Cross shelter where over 250 people had been placed after evacuation from their homes. The message from Dr. Lynn Hill changed to the response Jesus would expect from all of us: love one another as you have been loved. The church rallied around its membership via Facebook, Twitter, the website and with the 250 people who braved the waters and showed up for worship.

The process of cleaning and drying a flooded home was time consuming

Franklin First senior pastor, the Rev. Dr. Lynn Hill, reflected on the May 2nd experience; “Starting back in September of 2009 we began planning for a historical worship service at Franklin First United Methodist Church to celebrate our Commitment Sunday for our Imagine: God’s Vision, Our Future campaign for the development of our North Campus facilities. Little did we realize just how historic that day would turn out to be with flooding considered to be the 100 year, the 500 year, and perhaps even the millennial flood. All of the months of preparation, design, and coordination had to immediately be changed. The focus was not to be on the financial goals of new campus development, but on loving and serving people in critical need. This service was indeed historic as it became the launching of a response from Franklin First United Methodist Church to be in ministry in incredible ways. We were reminded that we were to love others as Jesus loves us. In some amazing ways, that is what the faith community at FUMC did and continues to do.”

There seemed to be an endless supply of refuse from flooded homes—here Rachel Luna fills a garbage container.

For the persons that braved the flooding to attend the worship service at The Factory, things became even more dramatic than Hill realized at the time. Church member Vicki Sharber tells what happened from her vantage point in the congregation: “At the end of Lynn Hill’s moving sermon about responding to and loving our neighbors as Jesus would want us to respond, an unexpected occurrence took place before Lynn could conclude the service.”

Tom Overstreet and Ben Johnson at work on a flooded home.

“We could hear the rain begin to fall on the tin roof and the lightning and thunder flashed and popped as Lynn stood before the congregation getting ready give the benediction. Suddenly, water began to gush up out of the floor and that ended our service. People began to pick up their wet feet and dash to drier ground. I thought it to be God giving an ‘Amen’ to Lynn’s sermon and warning us to heed the call. To this day Franklin First certainly has responded to the community.”

More to clean.

Angela Overstreet, a dedicated lay person, took the lead from her home computer and began collecting names of those in need of help and those who were willing to lend a hand. That was Day One.

As this issue of THE REVIEW goes to press the following summary of the congregation’s efforts includes:

• 33 homes clean up completed with 3 still in progress (as of Jun 1)
• 18 others we consulted on
• Total 54 homes entered or assisted
• Over 220 volunteers have emerged from the church to respond to the needs
• Passed out information on FEMA and Flood safety
• Hard Bargain community effort assistance
• Red Cross (providing food for their shelter)
• Flood collection for Centerville, TN
• 61st Ave. UMC – working in the neighborhood; sorting supplies; communication
• We collected furniture and delivered trailers full of supplies for 61st Ave neighbors in their temporary FEMA locations
• 50-70 lunches 3 times/week for work teams. Then daily during the Family Mission Team. Today the lunch team is on standby to prepare and deliver as needed.
• General contact/communication with outside people
• Collaboration with other teams coming into area. Lots of people coming in.

Planning the work for the day

As she continues to lead the response of the Franklin First UMC congregation, Emergency Response Team (ERT) leader Angela Overstreet comments on the response of her fellow church members: “It is only through being faithful, studying and staying in the Word and making a commitment to prayer were we ever able to accomplish all that He has given us to do. God gets all the glory here. The only reason we knew how to respond was because of the faith development that has been happening in our church. It is our blessing and honor to serve.”

Pastor Paul Slentz of Sixty First Avenue UMC – Franklin First did volunteer work in the hard hit area near Sixty First Avenue UMC

A group from the church, the Franklin First Family Mission Team, was scheduled to go to Biloxi, Mississippi, during the last part of May but chose to stay home and work on the homes of two church members in a local neighborhood. Parents and their kids of all ages, plus singles and others, dropped in just to help for the day which showed great love for their church family. Floors were replaced, paint was carefully brushed, and flowers were planted which returned gardens to their former beauty. The church’s Associate Pastor, Vona Wilson, reflected on the situation. “God keeps blessing us with opportunity to help and we are deeply grateful. This is transforming our church family.”

Cleaning surfaces that have held flood waters is a priority—here Carson Stafford and Andrew Hill give the surface a good scrubbing.

As this issue of THE REVIEW goes to press, Franklin First is planning and organizing for long-term recovery. They already had a June 12th Early Response Team training scheduled and expect to have many more in the future.

Flood cleanup in the steamy heat of the day was tiring—here, a group of very tired teens.

Children from First UMC decorated bags for food to be handed out

McKendree Village and Hermitage UMC work together to host UMVIM teams

The thirteen rooms for volunteers are on the first floor, North Wing of the Health Center which was a skilled nursing unit for long-term care. Hermitage UMC remodeled one room in the Volunteer in Mission center as a station where wireless use of computers would be possible.

McKendree Village, in cooperation with Hermitage UMC, is opening a section of its unused space to house UMCOR and UMVIM teams who are coming to the Nashville area to assist with flood relief work. Rev. Alan Black, senior pastor at Hermitage UMC, along with Todd Moore, executive director of McKendree Village, are working together to help persons affected by the flood.

Teams of workers from Hermitage United Methodist Church keep the sleeping rooms clean and supplied with fresh linens. They also provide notepads for the workers, hand sanitizer, toiletries, maps and brochures to help visitors find their way around Nashville and surrounding area.

Hermitage UMC is acting as host congregation, with members working to prepare part of the Health Center wing to lodge 26 flood relief team members in thirteen rooms. A fresh cleaning, making beds, and creating a hospitality room have been part of the church’s service. Hermitage UMC is also helping to provide meals and other supplies as needed.

McKendree Village is excited to be able to offer a portion of its campus for outreach and ministry to the community and to those who are called to serve in our flood-affected neighborhoods. As part of its heritage, McKendree Village is committed to the ongoing work of Christ in the world and welcomes this new opportunity to fulfill that calling.

Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors(JfON) worker, Katherine Dix-Esquivel, wins statewide award

On Friday, May 22nd, Katherine Dix-Esquivel was awarded a 2010 Long-Haul Award by the Tennessee Alliance for Progress. TAP's annual Long Haul awards salute the achievements of outstanding people who work for social, economic and environmental justice in Tennessee.

Katherine Dix-Esquivel receives a 2010 Long-Haul Award from Mark Burnett, Chair of the Board of Tennessee Alliance for Progress

Dix-Esquivel is a volunteer lawyer for Justice for Our Neighbor Program (an advance special of the Tennessee Annual Conference). Justice for Our Neighbors is a faith-driven ministry, welcoming immigrants into our churches and communities by providing free, high-quality immigration legal services, education and advocacy. The ministry was created in response to increasingly complex immigration regulations.

The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) initiated the program in 1999. Today there are more than 20 JFON programs operating nationwide. Our program in Tennessee began in April 2008.

When Katherine Dix-Esquivel was nominated for the Long-Haul Award it was noted that “Katherine is an attorney, guided by her faith and her commitment to social justice -- she directs the Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors office (under the umbrella of Belmont United Methodist Church) -- providing free legal counsel to immigrants, serving as a mentor to many, going about her work with cheerful passion and enviable earnestness. Never one to take herself too seriously, though the work itself maybe serious, Katherine generously gives of her time and talent, often crediting others for work done.”

Liz Shadbolt, Chairperson of the JfON Board, feels that “Katherine Dix-Esquivel is a major powerhouse behind all that JfON does in Nashville. Thanks to efforts like Katherine’s, we are making a difference in many lives in our community.”

The mission of JFON is four-fold: to provide high quality immigration legal services, to create an atmosphere of welcome for immigrants, to educate others around the issue of immigration, and to advocate for lasting policy change on both a local and federal level.

While in most communities, the monthly legal services clinic serves as the anchor for the JFON project - it is, in fact, the most visible and tangible manifestation of the ministry - it's important to keep in mind that the JFON mission goes beyond improving the wellbeing of individual clients and families to encompass creating a welcoming and supportive community and achieving social justice.

Tennessee Alliance for Progress (TAP) is a think/act tank with a mission to create healthy families and communities in Tennessee. TAP believes in true political and economic democracy, that people should participate in decisions that affect their lives.TAP believes that we need to articulate a hopeful vision for the future based on the idea that we are all in it together, not that we’re all on our own and we’re all out for ourselves. For further information about TAP or to make donations go to the TAP website: http://www.taptn.org/

Inaugural Certified Lay Minister Academy proves to be Spirit-led event

Front lower, left to right: Amanda Diamond, Carol Ann Richardson (New Union UMC), Nita Heilman (St. Bethlehem UMC), Deborah Gregory (St. Bethlehem UMC), David Grace (Bell Buckle UMC).
Second row: left to right: Mary Noble Parish, Dale Wells (Donelson Heights UMC), Gloria Watts-Jones (Columbia First UMC), Beverly Dycus (Wilee’s Chapel UMC), Betty Ann Meriwether (St. Bethlehem UMC), Bud Whipple (Hillcrest UMC), Ruthan Patient (Concord UMC).
Back row: left to right: Susan Padgett, Pat Mathews (Glenwood UMC), Merrily Walters (Gideon UMC), Opal Ransom (Gordon Memorial UMC), Steve Fisher (Epworth UMC), Michael West (Hickory Point UMC), Bill Dowell (Saundersville UMC), Jim Melrose (Bethlehem UMC), James Marks (St. Luke UMC), Erik Augustson (Salem UMC), and James Brewer (Linden First UMC).

The inaugural class for the Certified Lay Minister Academy was held Mary 21-23, 2010, at the Beersheba Assembly. “The Certified Lay Minister Program,” notes Susan Padgett, Director of the Office of Ministerial Concerns, “is intended to enrich the means by which laity lives out their calling in their local congregation and community.”

Twenty persons were in attendance for the inaugural event and they represented six of the seven Tennessee Annual Conference Districts.

Providing leadership for the Certified Lay Minister Academy were the Rev. Susan Padgett, the Rev. Mary Noble Parrish, Director of the Academy, and the Rev. Gayle Watson, Dean in Residence.

Jared Wilson leads a session on worship.

Six persons served as presenters during Academy sessions: the Rev. Amanda Diamond, “Call and Spiritual Gifts”; the Rev. Jared Wilson, “Worship”; the Rev. Gerald Liu, “Preaching”; the Rev. Dr. Vin Walkup, “Leadership and Administration”: the Rev. Dr. Joy Samuels, “Pastoral/Congregational Care”; and the Rev. Deb Smith, “Faith Formation and Discipleship.”

Susan Padgett was deeply moved by the quality of the event and the active participation by all registrants for the Academy: “The weekend was an amazing experience and reaffirmed for me the meaningful ministry in which our lay people are engaged through the churches of the Tennessee Conference.”

Participants were no less excited by the impact of the event. Merrily Walters, Clarksville District, shared her feelings: “I have felt the presence of the Holy Spirit this entire weekend and made new friends in Christ that I KNOW will last a lifetime. I am leaving with the beginnings of a new spiritual plan. Thank you so much!”

Beverly Dycus, Clarksville District, reaffirmed Merrily’s feelings: “I have received fresh insights and ways to more effectively minister . . . the sessions were informative with dynamic leaders offering practical and experienced ways of ministry. I leave Beersheba energized with Holy Spirit inspired ideas.” Steve Fisher, Columbia District, agreed: “The Spirit was alive and present at the Academy this weekend! I have been affirmed in my call to deepen ministry in my local church and in my community.”

Jim Melrose, Columbia District, had a surprise waiting for him: “SURPRISE! I only thought I knew what my ministry direction was. God and the CLM Academy helped point me in the ‘right’ direction.”

And Bill Dowell from the Cumberland District concluded: “The most important thing I learned at the CLM Academy was thinking about and learning all the ways we encounter God and how we share this encounter with others.”

For further information about becoming a Certified Lay Minister, contact the Academy registrar, Gloria Watts-Jones @ 931-209-6510 or watt7@msn.com

Father-son partnership reveals amazing lessons in love, faith
Wheelchair-bound Adam Andrews and father, Dwight, honored at commencementBy Grant Vosburgh*

PULASKI, Tenn. – As his name sounded through the public address system, fellow members of the Class of 2010 immediately rose to their feet in applause, quickly followed by the faculty and staff of Martin Methodist College. Amidst that ovation, Adam Andrews began maneuvering his wheelchair toward President Ted Brown, who waited with two academic degrees in hand – one a Bachelor of Business Administration in sport management and the second a Bachelor of Science in Business with Secondary Licensure (to teach at the high school level). Within moments, everyone in Curry Christian Life Center was standing and applauding a remarkable young man and his inspiring perseverance after a high school football injury had left him without the use of his arms and legs seven years earlier.

Dwight Andrews stoically stood a few steps behind his son, prepared to assist Adam as he received his degrees. It was the very thing he had done each day for the past five years as he had chauffeured the 100-mile round trip from Collinwood, Tenn., to Pulaski and gone to every college class with his son – writing lecture notes, collecting needed books and resources, recording his son’s answers on multiple choice tests . . . whatever assistance the eventual cum laude graduate might need to complete his assignments. The father was even wearing a matching cap and gown as he escorted his graduate through the pomp and circumstance of the May 1 commencement.

Adam Andrews receives his degree from Martin Methodist College president Ted Brown. His father Dwight is standing next to him. A Martin Methodist College Photo.

But now, as he took a step toward the podium to be with his son, a marshal’s outstretched arm gently blocked his way. “Just wait here,” came the whispered instructions. “Dr. Brown has a surprise for you.”

With that, Martin Methodist’s president stepped to the microphone and briefly informed the audience about the second part of this compelling story.

“This is a man who served as academic assistant for his son, attending an estimated 1,720 class sessions with no hope of receiving a degree, but simply to support his son,” Brown said. “Mr. Andrews has been an inspiration to everyone who has seen his unstinting devotion, especially those of us who are fathers or mothers, or who dream of being fathers or mothers. He has been a courageous and poignant figure on our campus for five years, and we will miss him just as we will miss Adam.”

And, with that, Brown conferred an honorary bachelor of science degree to Dwight Andrews.

Now the standing ovation and thunderous applause were tempered by tears all throughout Curry Christian Life Center. Longtime college personnel later said it was the most moving moment they had ever experienced at a Martin Methodist graduation.

Gail Newton, associate professor of business, had witnessed this partnership from the very start of Adam’s college life, and this final scene immediately brought back a wave of emotions and reflections.

“Mr. Andrews is such a devoted father, a very unassuming gentle person to talk with, but a definite strength when it comes to his work with Adam,” she said. “Of course, it was always with Mr. Andrews very content to be in the background.

“Adam and his father have become such a part of the academic routine that they just come into a classroom with all the other students, and you honestly don’t notice anything out of the ordinary,” Newton said. “Adam is usually talking with some other student about some sporting event, yesterday’s scores, that sort of thing. I was lecturing one day in class, just a routine day, and I noticed Mr. Andrews reach over and lightly scratch Adam’s forehead, a simple gesture to us that we take for granted and yet that was a definite moment for me. Very quickly I was reminded what an extraordinary young person and father I have had the privilege to come to know.”

Indeed, whether he’s mastering – and often improving – computer programs that allow him to accomplish a myriad of assignments and tasks, whether he’s coaching the Collinwood middle school football team, or whether he’s taking accurate aim at a rifle range (he’s president of the local chapter of Outdoors Without Limits, better known as O.W.L.), Adam Andrews never ceases to amaze friends and acquaintances.

Yet, while he reluctantly acknowledges that others consider him an inspirational role model – Tennessee Titans head coach Jeff Fisher invited Adam to speak at his son’s school in Nashville a few years ago – he certainly doesn’t view himself in that light.

For the son, life goes on and a person finds alternative ways to do what must be done.

“I realized pretty quickly that I can do a whole lot more than I thought I could do,” Adam said. “The way my sister and I were taught by our parents, whether in athletics or academics, you always find a way to get things done, and you don’t settle for less than your best. After 15 years of being taught this everyday by my mother and father, I wasn’t going to let this stop me.

“I’m trying the best I can so that I don’t see myself any different than before. This shouldn’t change my attitude or my work ethic. I know there are things I can’t do or that I’ve got to do differently, but that’s my problem, not anybody else’s,” he said. “I’ll deal with it.”

And his dad is there at his side, each step of the way, whether in a biology lab at Martin Methodist College, a public school classroom as Adam does his student teaching, or, this summer, in the athletic ticket office at the University of North Alabama, where Adam is doing a sport management internship. For the father, there’s nothing heroic happening here; it’s just what a parent does for his child.

The Andrews family photo, standing behind Adam are (from left): his grandmother, Jeanette Calton; his parents, Keddith and Dwight; and his sister, Abby. A Martin Methodist College Photo.

“Adam wanted to go to college, and we needed to find a way for that happen,” Dwight said, explaining that because the family’s insurance came from his wife’s employer, it was more financially feasible for him to give up his job. “I knew it would be hard on him with me being by his side all the time, but he wanted me to go with him.

“Sometimes you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do,” he said. “I’m glad I had the opportunity to do it.”

He also is quick to note that his wife, Keddith, deserves equal credit.

“I don’t have the words to say how I felt when they gave me the honorary degree,” he said. “I almost cried, but I held it back. It was a real surprise – I thought they had given me the cap and gown just so I would blend it with everyone else as I went with Adam through the ceremony. I really appreciated what the college did, but, honestly, my wife should have gotten part of it. She did all the work at home, especially because she had to type all of Adam’s papers, and . . .” he paused to cast a father’s knowing smile toward his son, “he always waits until the last minute to get assignments done.”

The Rev. John Ives, who has been the family’s pastor at Shawnettee United Methodist Church in Collinwood, since July 2003 – nine months after Adam’s injury – sees the entire Andrews family as a role model.

“Had it been Dwight who had the job with insurance benefits, then it would have been Keddith doing this with Adam. She is 50 percent of that equation,” Ives said. “They are a family that definitely loves each other. They are there for each other, 110 percent of the time. Adam’s sister, Abby, has been heavily involved in basketball and summer softball, and they’ve always been there for her, too, getting her wherever she needs to be.”

Indeed, Gail Newton recalls the morning after Abby signed a scholarship to play basketball at Middle Tennessee State University; Adam and his father arrived in class proudly wearing Blue Raider T-shirts and baseball caps. (Following a knee injury and a redshirt freshman season, she has transferred to the University of North Alabama, where she will have four years of basketball eligibility remaining.)

It’s not just the members of the Andrews family who are there for one another, however. As Ives has witnessed over the past eight years, it’s as if the entire Shawnettee congregation and Collinwood community are an extended family.

“This church has offered as much support as they’ve needed . . . and more than what is needed. I can’t tell you how many times the church has responded, financially and beyond, and there have been other people who have had dramatic health issues, and these church members are there for each other, stepping in any way they can,” Ives said.

“The whole Collinwood community is just a tremendously loving community,” he continued. “This is a town of about 1,000 people, and when we held a prayer gathering at their home on the first anniversary of his injury, there must have been 500 people that evening, all standing outside around their house.”

Just as an estimated 1,500 people in Curry Christian Life Center stood on the morning of Martin Methodist College’s commencement, honoring a story of resilient determination, unflagging faith . . . and a love story for the ages.

“A lot of people think it’s amazing what I’ve done,” Adam Andrews said, relaxing at his home three weeks later, his father at his side. “But if you started writing down the names of all the people who have helped, you wouldn’t have enough paper. Family, friends, Martin Methodist College, people we don’t know . . .

“Granted, we’ve not always had the best of things, but we’ve not had the worst of things, either. We’ve always loved each other as much as possible in this family. My mama and my daddy have made their life about their kids, and it’s something God has blessed me and my sister with. Daddy didn’t get paid as if he had been working for himself, and I know it’s put them in a bit of a bind, but they’ve decided that if somebody is going to do without, it’s going to be them, not us,” he said.

Then, as his father forced a small smile and slightly lowered his head – perhaps trying not to become emotional for the second time in three weeks – Adam revealed the most important lesson learned during his Martin Methodist College experience.

“If I ever have kids or if my sister ever has kids, that’s the way we’ll do it, because our parents have taught us that your kids come first.”

*Grant Vosburgh is Director of Communications, Martin Methodist College
Four Given Ingram Scholarship Awards on May 16, 2010

Left to right: R Bill Mitchell, Samatha Stafford, Torri Carver, Rev. Kathie Bowles, Jonathan Goodwin, Kaleb Allen, Shirley Ingram

On May 16, 2010, the Gainesboro First UMC awarded scholarships to four Jackson County Seniors. The scholarships are made available through the generosity of Shirley and the late Rev. Cliff Ingram. Dr. Vin Walkup was our guest speaker and Shirley Ingram gave the children's message. Bill Mitchell and Pastor Kathie presented the scholarship awards. There was a luncheon for the recipients and their families immediately following the church service. We would like to congratulate Jonathan, Torri, Samatha, and Kaleb and wish them the very best as they continue their education.

Bless Be the Tie That Binds
By Lucy Neeley Adams

Summer days bring many different experiences . Children look forward to getting out of school unless they are in the year ‘round system. Families plan vacations. Picnics by the lake or in the park bring happy memories.

However, since my husband is a United Methodist minister, June was a month to move to another church or to stay at the one he was serving. Moving vans were a common thing to see in our driveway after about five years of serving one church. We did this several times and the numerous friends that we have are a great blessing to our lives.

I cherish God’s word in John 13:35 as I remember our years of ministry in local churches. “By this love everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Because we Christians have Jesus in our hearts our love unites us to all brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ.

Ministry was also good for another family. Rev. and Mrs. John Fawcett served a small Baptist church in Waingate, Yorkshire, England in 1722. Church members loved listening to his sermons, prayers and singing hymns together. The Fawcetts were very content.

But one day an invitation came from a church in London for Fawcett to come and be their pastor. It was a larger, more prestigious church with an increase in salary. Everything indicated that this would be a very good move.

The decision was made as they packed their belongings and said their farewells. Fawcett preached his final sermon at the little church on their last Sunday.

Then the unexpected happened. Rev. Fawcett changed his mind. The tie that bound him to this small parish was too strong. His members sorrow and unembarrassed tears convinced him to stay. He remained there for fifty-four years.

History records that “Blest Be the Tie That Binds” may have been a direct response to the expressions of love from his congregation during that one short time of indecision.

When I sing the third stanza of this hymn I remember friends who will always be loved because “we share each other’s woes, our mutual burdens bear: and often for each other flows the sympathizing tear.” Caring love can be expressed with words, but often is expressed with tears.

The story is told of little Billy, who sat on the sidewalk curb with his friends. Since they were all crying, someone stopped to ask what was wrong. One little boy replied, “We’ve got a pain in Billy’s stomach.” Billy will never forget his friends who helped him cry. That is the tie that binds our hearts in everlasting love – God’s kind of love.

Lucy Neeley Adams -- parts taken from 52 HYMN STORY DEVOTIONS

Justice for Our Neighbors is a Gift: A UMC.org commentary
By Kathryn Spry*

JFON. A friend mentioned it to me. It sounded interesting—something about helping our neighbors—and before I knew it, I was totally immersed in helping immigrants get the legal advice they need.

Justice for Our Neighbors is a faith-driven ministry, welcoming immigrants into our churches and communities by providing free, high-quality immigration legal services, education and advocacy.
Photo #14, caption: Kathryn Spry is the Tennessee Justice For Our Neighbors clinic co-coordinator at Hillcrest United Methodist Church in Nashville. A UMNS photo by Ronny Perry.

One Saturday a month, I serve as the coordinator for a clinic in Nashville, Tenn. offered by JFON. I am able to offer hospitality to individuals and families who find themselves in need among strangers. I see volunteers give their time to gather the information needed to help hurting people feel safe. I witness children smiling and laughing while their mother’s face is filled with fear and confusion about her family’s future.

I hear kind words of comfort offered to our clients who are unsure that they deserve our attention and our help. I am surprised that I hear no complaints from those who have to wait for hours to see the attorney who may or may not be able to give them the news they are hoping for. I listen to volunteers who are so pleased to be able to offer their time and attention to these neighbors in our midst.

Justice for Our Neighbors has been a true gift to our community. We have been fortunate to have the assistance of gifted lawyers and dedicated volunteers. Each clinic is different. We may not know what to expect as far as the needs of our clients, but I can always expect the very best support from our volunteers.

Once we were in need of 15 extra volunteers for a special clinic. I was so anxious. Could we pull this off? We were overjoyed to welcome even more than the 15 volunteers we needed! Recently we all shared tears of joy as clients completed processes to be able to travel and visit their families in their home countries again. It reminded us all of how much we take for granted in our own lives.

Refugees are struggling to make a new life for themselves and their families. Many have endured multiple losses as they left the only home they had known to protect their loved ones. Our local churches, along with the support of the United Methodist Committee on Relief, can offer some help to ease their way.

For many years, Micah 6:8 was my favorite scripture. Now, at least one Saturday each month, I get to see my favorite scripture acted out by my neighbors, for my neighbors. “But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, and don't take yourself too seriously—take God seriously.” (The Message)

*Kathryn Spry’s commentary can be found on the blogsite http://www.umc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content.aspx?c=lwL4KnN1LtH&b=5733249&ct=8412923

TENNESSEE CONFERENCE REVIEW May 28, 2010

2010-05-25T14:30:00.004-05:00

Articles and photo spreads in the May 28th edition of THE REVIEW
1. Not one flood but two floods hit Middle Tennessee -- a reflection by Tom Nankervis after visiting four different flood areas
2. Plus some other stories from the flood
3. Joaquin Garcia retires as Director of the Hispanic/Latino Academy
4. The Ubuntu Climbing Competition raises funds for clean drinking water in Africa
5. Cooking School Fun at Pelham United Methodist Church
6. Columbia District Churches collect flood relief supplies for hard-hit Centerville area,
7. Middle Tennessee Churches Respond Quickly to Unprecedented Flooding,
8. Reflection on the impact of flooding on Hickman County,

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Not one flood but two floods hit Middle Tennessee -- a reflection by Tom Nankervis after visiting four different flood areas

Note: Though this remembrance is largely positive, there are still major areas needing volunteer response. These areas are largely in rural areas or smaller communities. You can keep up with needs by signing in to the Tennessee Conference Emergency Relief blogsite at http:tnumcrelief.blogspot.com/. Forty two counties in Tennessee have been acknowledged as Federal Disaster Areas by the President, and twenty-four of those counties are part of the Tennessee Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Mounds of debris lined both sides of the street for block after block in “The Nation” section of Nashville.
“Everything from my life is gone . . . except for three pictures on the wall,’ the elderly woman stated as she glanced from her flood ravaged house to the pile of debris lining the street in front of her property. The feeling of being yanked from all physical connections to the past and thrown into a world where the past has washed away is all too common. Gone are the photos of her mother and father, her siblings, her friends in grade school, prom photos, graduation photos, certificates of academic accomplishment, marriage license, marriage photos, birth certificates for her children, photos of her children growing up, shots of her deceased husband of many years. The night table that has been in her family home for generations smashed beyond recognition. The antique clock from the 1850s—one that still chimed—torn apart. The list could go on and on and the stories were the same throughout Middle Tennessee.

The flood ruined many personal and prized historic mementoes--here a child's toy

For 36 hours everyone in the neighborhood felt secure despite dire predictions by television commentators. “We’ve lived here for years,” they responded to the predictions, “and have had some severe storms but there has never been flooding. Later came the realization that flood waters were moving up to the front of the house and that the depth of the water was continuing to rise.

“We’ve got to get out of here,” panicked residents shouted. Some waited too late and drowned before they could get out, or drowned when their automobile got swept away.” Some swam to safety grabbing tree limbs to hold themselves away from the flow of the water. Others were rescued by concerned neighbors, others by boat as they fought to stay safe at the highest point of their house. Some bewildered individuals even stayed chin-deep in the churning, polluted water as it came into the house. The question for many was, “If we leave, where do we go? Where do we stay?”

Cumberland District Superintendent Tom Halliburton, Bishop Dick Wills, UMCOR Consultant Christy Smith, Disaster Response Director Jason Brock, the Rev. David Rainey, and Nashville DS John Collett. The group gathered at Bellevue United Methodist Church to tour flooded areas throughout the conference and to talk with persons heavily affected by the flood.. Rainey, the Bellevue pastor, bids the group farewell.

The critical thing about this disaster is the peril that persons felt, many of them children, in the place that was the source of safety, comfort, and hope; a fear that can’t be easily erased - fear in the loss of sanctuary, a dissolving of present day connections to the past. Not many survivors are showing outward panic, but there is a sense of dismay in their eyes, a sense that they have to keep doing something to fight the ravages of the storm, but despair in realizing that their usually sharp minds are not thinking clearly. The first flood was and is the cause of nightmares. There is a sense of funereal grief to go with the mental numbness.

United Methodist youth formed a human chain to load Flood Buckets, just delivered by an UMCOR truck, into conference vehicles for distribution throughout the conference.

All of this was due to the FIRST FLOOD – and the sense of hopelessness and despair would have been immense if it wasn’t for the SECOND FLOOD. Even while the First Flood was at its worse there was a flood of concern – police officers, local fire departments, emergency response units. Neighbors with boats and rafts offered assistance in getting individuals and families to safety. When the waters were no longer at flood stage . . . the second flood hit, a flood of hope, love, and concern which struck Nashville and mid-state communities with major magnitude. There were a few scam artists unfortunately, but throughout the affected counties major organizations from Hands on Nashville, to neighborhood groups, to denominations, to concerned individuals and groups from outside the flooded area, even from outside the state, responded. The amount of volunteer labor and the speed with which the volunteers responded even shocked the professional emergency responders. Within hours, not days or weeks, persons were working throughout the community—with strong guidance from the professionals. While flood waters in the major rivers were still rising, trailer loads of UMCOR flood cleanup buckets arrived from the North Georgia and Alabama Conferences. It wasn’t long before a 18-wheeler delivered a shipment of flood cleanup buckets from the Sager-Brown UMCOR depot in Baldwin, Louisiana, and another was delivered to the Memphis Conference.

Suddenly friends and many strangers were gathered around flood victims for support. The task of cleaning up flood damage began – carpets and carpet pads were remove and thrown out, polluted and soaked wall board was removed and taken outside as garbage; damaged furnishings, stoves, refrigerators, were removed and thrown out, items that could possibly be salvaged or were obviously of personal value to the home owner/renter were taken to safety. All of this was done in consultation with the flood victims. If FLOOD ONE was overwhelming, the show of love and support in FLOOD TWO had mammoth impact. It brought hope where none existed. Flood victims shared their stories, and their fears. Persons listened. They acted as “family,” “consultant,” “worker bees.”

Before long everything that could mold or mildew or was polluted by sewer soaked water was outside – in several neighborhoods the garbage looked like gigantic walls stretching on for blocks on each side of the road. But these walls were different—because they almost seemed like historic monuments. This wasn’t just junk—it was the story, the history, the memories of individuals, or families.

Countless individuals were touched by the group of persons that came to help when life had fallen apart. As they talked to the volunteers they discovered friends, persons they did not know who treated them with love and respect. Volunteer groups contained persons with various backgrounds—at one place there were workers from Church of Christ, Baptist, United Methodist backgrounds working together as well as individuals with no religious faith. There were old people, young people, African Americans working on the home of a white family, Caucasians’ working on the homes of African Americans and Hispanics. The flood will linger in memory but along with the flood will be the vision of the Heavenly Kingdom—all persons working together as one to help a “brother” or a “sister.”

The St. Mark's Early Response VIM team was hard at work in area of Nashville called "The Nation"

That’s not all. Outside on the street were inmates helping to move the garbage into trucks. Other groups and individuals were delivering food and water to volunteer workers. At Midwest Transportation Services, a trucking company near the Radnor Railroad Yards, several groups of youth from outside Nashville, together with adult advisors, had formed a human chain to load flood buckets that came from UMCOR Sager-Brown into a Tennessee Conference trailer and a rental truck so they could be distributed throughout the conference. I can’t even begin to remember all the United Methodist Churches I came in contact with as I made my way from one flooded area to another. David Lay from St. John’s was with me for part of the journey. He is the Nashville District emergency response person. Persons from West Nashville UMC including Sherry Woolsey were helping recruit volunteers as well as collecting food.

The St. Mark’s Emergency Response truck was present along with a bunch of workers from St. Marks and from Murfreesboro. There were literally dozens of United Methodist Churches providing a substantial number of volunteers. In Carthage, Tennessee, Cookeville District Emergency Response person Russ Cain, was coordinating volunteer efforts for an Early Response Team from the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Dr. John Collette, Nashville District Superintendant, preached at Blakemore United Methodist Church on Sunday, May 9th. He focused on the United Methodist motto, “Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors,” in showing the response of United Methodist congregations to the flood. He noted especially the “Open Doors” part of the motto—as United Methodist congregations opened their doors to receive and harbor individuals and families that had been through the storm. Churches from Carthage UMC in the Cookeville District to Bellevue UMC provided ongoing hospitality, even sleeping accommodations for survivors. “Our doors will be open as long as it takes for people to get the help they need,” indicated Dr. Collette. “UMCOR and United Methodist responders are noted as being the last to leave an area that has suffered natural catastrophe and we will be here to help as long as it takes.

Some other stories

Rebel, a hero dog

As I walked on down the street a German Shepherd barked at me. Being a veterinarian’s son I stopped to talk to the dog. I noted that the only really happy videos I had seen showed two Labrador retrievers – who probably thought they were in heaven with water nearly everywhere to dash through and jump into. The dog owner said “The dog’s name is Rebel.” She went on to explain that he was a genuine flood hero. An adult daughter who couldn’t swim had his leash wrapped around her arms and she held on as the dog swam bravely from heavily flooded house to the safety of dry land. The water had some current and it was over human heads – but nine-year-old Rebel brought his loved one to safety.

Flood victims were desperate to preserve valuable papers, pictures and certificates--and to do whatever it takes to do so

One creative homeowner spread damp pictures and important certificates throughout her automobile—using the heat coming through the windows as a dependable way to dry out (or bake out) moisture from items of personal importance including a picture of her mom, her wedding picture, and various diplomas and certificates.

Joaquin Garcia retires as Director of the Hispanic/Latino Academy

Colleagues and friends gathered to celebrate Joaquin Garcia’s ministry. Here Garcia greets Eliud and Janet Martinez.

Joaquin Garcia served as Director of the Hispanic/Latino Academy for the Tennessee Conference until his retirement on January 1, 2010. Due to pressing need, he continued to work after that date, but less than full time, as the Interim Director. Finally, on May 14th, Garcia was feted (and roasted) at a retirement party in his honor at Hillcrest United Methodist Church.

As Director of the Hispanic/Latino Academy Joaquin Garcia worked in a joint relationship between The Tennessee Conference Council on Connectional Ministries, and Martin Methodist College. Research has shown that there were more Hispanic children in middle Tennessee schools this past school year than at any time in history. The Academy was formed to provide experiences for Christian Formation and Church Leadership in response to the demographic change in our communal life. It does so by strengthening the faith formation of Hispanic pastors and leaders in the Tennessee Conference by equipping Hispanic pastors and laity to start new Hispanic faith communities and ministries while at the same time strengthening existing ones.

As the celebration ended participants gathered in solidarity and prayer around Joaquin

Under Garcia’s Directorship a Hispanic Incubator Covenant Group was initiated and continues to meet faithfully a full day every month. Pastors and lay leaders pray for one another, participate in prayer and bible study as well as leadership training. They also work together on the development of ministry action plans. Under the leadership of Uziel Hernandez, a junior at Martin Methodist College, an Incubator Covenant group was started on campus allowing Hispanic young adults to mature in their faith and take leadership roles in the community and in the church.

Hispanic/Latino Women have come together in several Spiritual Retreats, one hundred and eight persons were trained during this conference year to begin “Antorchas” (Small neighborhood cell groups), and twenty were trained at a special Boot Camp to start new Hispanic Faith Communities. New Hispanic United Methodist congregations have emerged in different settings around the conference.

We could go on and on listing Garcia’s contributions to the Tennessee Conference during his passionate ministry, but he has also distinguished himself in service to the national church before working for the conference. He served for a number of years with the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry and was an Associate General Secretary for that agency. He then displayed his love of Christian Education by becoming the Vice President for Student Affairs at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.

The celebration of Joaquin Garcia and his ministry was often lighthearted with a number of comments about the number of times he had formally retired from his jobs.. Consensus was that he is far too passionate about ministry and reaching out to those outside the doors of the church to ever totally retire.

Dr. Vin Walkup, Tennessee Area Foundation, presents the Nashville Area Order of St. Andrew Award to Joaquin and Barbara Garcia for their great influence upon many lives.

Toward the end of the ceremony Dr. Vin Walkup, President and CEO of the Nashville Area Foundation called Joaquin and his wife Barbara Phillips Garcia forward for a presentation. Joaquin and Barbara were presented the Nashville Area Order of St. Andrew Award for their great influence upon many lives, and for leading many into a relationship with Jesus Christ.

The Ubuntu Climbing Competition raises funds for clean drinking water in Africa
By Bradley Edwards

Newton Dominey, owner of The Crag, where the event was held. Photo by Josh Ritchie.

I am a rock-climber. While it’s not my profession, it is what I do more than anything else. This afternoon, I’m headed to Chattanooga to climb. Tomorrow, I’m headed to Atlanta to climb. Just a week ago, I was rock climbing in Boulder, Colorado, the epicenter of United States climbing. I plan free time around it. I plan vacation around it. I watch climbing DVDs at home, much to my wife’s chagrin. While I wouldn’t place my complete identity in it, it is a huge part of my life in my little corner of the world here in Middle Tennessee.

In the past year, however, my friends and I have been learning about other corners of the world. Not just places to climb, but what is happening outside my bubble of Coffee County. I’ve learned that one in six people don’t have access to clean drinking water. One in six. That means over a billion people on the planet. And it’s so hard for me to make the connection, but these 1 in 6 people live on the Earth that I do.

And over time, this started to mess with us.

The problem was that all we really knew was climbing, and it’s a relatively selfish pursuit. I climb for me. And sometimes I climb because my wife thinks it’s sexy. But mostly, it’s for me. And the reality is that my activities don’t produce a lot of good in the world. As far as the Kingdom of God is concerned, climbing doesn’t feed hungry people, it doesn’t give the thirsty something to drink. It doesn’t clothe the naked or take care of the sick.

What we needed was a way to take our love of rock climbing and our growing love of our international neighbors, and combine the two.

And it was a South African Bishop with a little African word that helped show us the way. Before ubuntu was ever a computer program, it was an African proverb that described the interconnectedness of humanity. Archbishop Desmond Tutu describes ubuntu as, "The very essence of being human. We say, "Hey, so-and-so has ubuntu." Then you are generous, you are hospitable, you are friendly and caring and compassionate. You share what you have. It is to say, "My humanity is caught up, is inextricably bound up, in yours." We belong in a bundle of life. We say, "A person is a person through other persons."

I heard the Archbishop say this and it described what we were all thinking and feeling. He had put words to what we’d been wrestling with. We knew that Jesus said everything hinged on loving God with all we’ve got and loving our neighbors as ourselves. We knew that Jesus went on to say that our neighbor is everyone. And we had this growing sense that Tutu was right…that our humanity was caught up, was, and is, inextricably bound up in other people’s humanity.

And so the Ubuntu Climbing Competition was born. And as soon as the idea was birthed, the youth at Manchester First United Methodist Church stepped up. They helped provide t-shirts, they came up with ideas, came and climbed to raise money for the wells being built. They were priceless in making this event happen.

Over $2000.00 was raised to build fresh water wells in Africa. Photo by Josh Ritchie.

So on April 24, 2010 there were tornado warnings, thunder-storm warnings, and flood warnings in the Middle Tennessee area (this was before the major flooding in Nashville the following weekend). Despite the weather we headed to The Crag at Cool Springs, where Newton Dominey, the owner and climbing buddy, donated his building, his time, and his staff to this unorthodox attempt at building fresh-water wells in sub-Saharan Africa. We climbed for hours. Instead of trying to win the competition, people were helping each other succeed. We didn’t know it at the time, but we were actually creating community and practicing ubuntu while we climbed. People were more concerned with others’ successes than their own. People were showing others the way.

And it was beautiful.

In the process of discovering each others’ humanity and the humanity of our African neighbors, all the while avoiding tornado warnings, we raised over $2000 for Blood:Water Mission, a local Nashville non-profit whose sole purpose is to help solve the water crisis for the 1 billion people without access to clean drinking water.

What’s most interesting is that I think in trying to make life better for other people, I think we began finding a better life for ourselves as well. There’s this reality that we’re connected. All of us, regardless of color, religion, socio-economic status or anything else, are “inextricably bound up” in one another. It’s almost as though God created us in this fashion…

Cooking School Fun at Pelham United Methodist Church

Eighteen Pelham Elementary School students from 5th thru 8th grades attended a “Cooking School” at Pelham United Methodist Church on Friday, March 26, 3:00 -5:00 p.m., and on Saturday, March 27, 9:00 a,m.-1:00 p.m. Members of the Pelham United Methodist Women organized and provided the training, using some of the teaching materials supplied by the Grundy County Extension Office.

On Friday, the students were escorted from their school at 3:00 p.m. to Pelham United Methodist Church - just next-door. They assembled in the fellowship hall and enjoyed a demonstration on identifying, selecting, and preparing fresh fruits, such as, mango, kiwi, papaya, blueberries, cantaloupe, honeydew, plums, pears, pineapple, strawberries, grapefruit, oranges, etc. Then, they were served a snack of cheese straws, fruit dip, a variety of fresh fruit chunks, and lemonade. The students had opportunity to sample many fruits which they had never tasted before and to learn new things about fruits.

Then, the students were instructed on proper table settings for various occasions, use of table cloths, placemats, napkins, fun ways to fold napkins, and table decorations. The students prepared favors, folded decorative napkins, and made floral arrangements for three tables, which would be used the next day (Saturday) to serve their luncheon.

On Saturday, the students began arriving around 7:00 a.m. and each of them was presented with a lovely apron which was hand-made by one of the UMW women. The students viewed a video entitled “Table Scapes” and learned about proper table setting, food service, etc. The UMW ladies instructed on reading recipes, how to make proper measurements of ingredients, how to identify ingredients such as cornmeal, flours, sugars, spices, oils/margarine, etc., and how to identify and understand use of approx. 55 different kitchen utensils. Prizes were awarded to winners of contests on identifying ingredients and on identifying utensils.

The menu for lunch was chicken casserole, choice of tossed vegetable salad or fruit salad, rolls, lemonade, and chocolate chip cookies. The students assisted with preparation of all the foods, and learned about proper hygiene when preparing foods, how to read recipes, measure and mix ingredients, use of utensils, etc., and they were introduced to a variety of fresh vegetables. The students were instructed as they practiced serving guests at the tables, and everyone enjoyed a delicious meal.

In closing at 1:00 p.m., the Pelham United Methodist Women presented each student with a certificate for attending the cooking school, a gift of measurement cups & measuring spoons, a copy of recipes of the foods prepared at the school, small cookbooks, and other written data concerning topics discussed at the school.

That’s the kind of FUN we have in Pelham Valley, Pelham, Tennessee, and the students told us that we should do this again!

Columbia District Churches collect flood relief supplies for hard-hit Centerville area

In response to major flood damage in the Centerville area, Columbia District Superintendent Willie Burchfield called upon district churches to help with flood relief supplies. Centerville had been hit hard by the flooding, and to make matters worse the community and surrounding area was isolated by having all major routes into the area closed by flood waters and closed bridges. Even a week after the flood only two difficult routes into the area are open and passable. There were people living in tents and in their cars. Local churches started to prepare meals and give out food as well as other essential items but even the local store shelves soon became empty.

Six sites in the Columbia District were drop-off locations for collected food and flood relief supplies

Hap Hewgley, Pastor of Centerville UMC, reported that the greatest need for the district food drive would be canned foods, foods that can be easily prepared and served, diapers (all ages, including adult), sports-type drinks for workers, plus cleaning supplies. Though some flood buckets had been received through the conference and district, Hewgley noted that more were desperately needed

Responding to the needs outlined by Hewgley, the Columbia District asked all churches to collect supplies and to drop them off at any of six collection sites on Sunday, May 9th, from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., and Monday, May 10th, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The following churches served as drop-off sites: Chapel Hill UMC, Columbia First UMC, Hillsboro UMC, Franklin First UMC, Linden First UMC, and Bon Aqua UMC. The supplies were delivered to Centerville on Tuesday, May 11.

Churches large and small within the District as well as from other districts have responded in various ways. Trinity UMC from Murfreesboro brought down their mobile kitchen and set up at Shipp's Bend UMC the first weekend following the flood. On Saturday they fed 200 people (about half was delivered out to people who had nothing to eat-- people were afraid to leave their places and their stock for fear of thieves.

The Chuck Wagon from Trinity UMC in Murfreesboro provided meals from Shipp's Bend UMC on May 8-9.

The Bon Aqua UMC served as a Red Cross shelter as the flood was happening and for two days. About 20 people received temporary food and shelter there until the Red Cross moved its main operation to Fairfield Church Of Christ which was closer to Centerville and the major needs. Bon Aqua UMC has continued to provide food, water, hygiene kits, pet food, cleaning supplies, flood buckets, and some clothes where there is need. Two of its members have been working with the Red Cross effort at Fairfield Church of Christ, and other members have been traveling through the area identifying specific repair needs. These needs have been shared with Volunteer in Mission team members from First United Methodist Church in Columbia. In addition, the United Methodist Women donated $550.00 to purchase supplies needed for flood buckets and members of the church assembled 10 flood buckets and distributed them along with flood buckets sent from Dickson First UMC, the Conference, and Riverside UMC. Kedron UMC and Nunnelly UMC, on the circuit with BonAqua, have also been active supplying food and water.

Pastor Tom Barger, Bon Aqua/Kedron/Nunnelly UMC, while indicating that food delivered from Westview UMC and Bethlehem UMC is being distributed, noted that the main effort after the first two weeks of emergency response has been in providing assistance to the Columbia VIM in making home repairs.

District Superintendent Willie Burchfield summed up the response of the Columbia District with the words, “This has been a serendipitous response to human need in time of crisis”

Middle Tennessee Churches Respond Quickly to Unprecedented Flooding

Flood waters reached many homes considered safe. An UMCOM photo.

Small, mild creeks were suddenly raging rivers. An UMCOM photo.

Debris in heavily flooded Bellevue.

Tom Halliburton, Debbie DePaul, Bishop Wills, Willie Burchfield, Bill DePaul, Jason Brock, Uta Colwell. Debbie, Bill, and Uta are members of Centerville UMC and members of the disaster relief team of the Red Cross. This is taken in the Family Life Center of the Fairfield Christ of Christ which the Red Cross set up immediately after the flood to feed the displaced and effected people. At the height of the demand they fed 3,200 people in one day. Debbie and Bill are the Co-Chairs of Evangelism at Centerville UMC and are the church’s representatives to Annual Conference. A Christy Smith photo.

Bishop Wills listens to Waverly church organist whose house was flooded. A Christy Smith photo.

Information tent in “The Nation.” Tiffany Israel, Neighborhood Resource Center, with two West Nashville UMC staffers, the Rev. Sherry Cothran Woolsey, and Angela Flannagan.

Volunteers from various denominations gather at Antioch United Methodist Church and wait for assignment from the Southeast Nashville Flood Relief Partnership.

Removing rugs is a crucial step in rehabilitating flooded homes.

The Rev. James Cole leads an interdenominational VIM team in SE Nashville

Damage to roadways and bridges was often severe.

Truck from the Sager-Brown Depot in Baldwin, Louisiana, backs into a loading area to have a load of Flood Buckets downloaded.

Unloading the Sager-Brown UMCOR truck at Midwest Transportation Services.

A good old fashioned human chain saved a great deal of time in loading and unloading vehicles.

It was easy to lose track of how many times the conference
emergency response trailer was loaded and unloaded.

A volunteer team from the Holston Conference faces the problem of having to reinstall farm fencing—nearly all of which had been knocked down by swirling waters and disintegrating bales of floating hay.

Everything must be removed from a flooded home, piece by piece

Raging waters in Carthage destroyed homes and businesses.

Outbuildings and automobiles floated down creeks and rivers to destinations far from their origins

It was not unusual to find flooded cards in creeks and parking lots.

Prisoners helped with cleanup—and were genuinely touched when someone stopped by to thank them.

Reflection on the impact of flooding on Hickman County
By Hap Hewgley, pastor Centerville United Methodist Church

Since Centerville United Methodist Church is a downtown church and has limited parking, we warehoused from trailers and small trucks and set up deliveries to the other points of distribution as well as to people who for many reasons couldn't come in.

Fairfield Church of Christ became the place where water and prepared food was given away. The Fairfield Baptist Church (with a new Family Life Center) became the distribution point for canned food and other supplies (such as many of our flood buckets). The City got the old Save-A-Lot space and we are using it as the main warehouse for receiving tractor trailer loads.

John Blackburn (Director of the Red Cross and Chair of the Long Term Disaster Team for Hickman County), explains the depth and scope of the disaster. Hickman County had 27 inches of rain and had 3 tornadoes touch down. The downtown area of Centerville wasn't structurally damaged but in all directions around it the damage was severe. The central part of the county (the largest geographical county in Tennessee includes the town of Centerville) was shut off from the outside world from Sunday at noon until Wednesday with no way in or out of the area. During that time, the radio station was off the air, there were no phone (cell or land lines), no power, and no water. So the word could not get out until Wednesday of even what was needed. 32 bridges were damaged or washed out completely. A Christy Smith photo.

This City facility is managed by Scott Powers, a member of Centerville UMC. Kenny Yates, Centerville UMC Missions Co-Chair, is managing the warehousing of incoming supplies at our church as well as helping with the unloading of supplies at all designated distribution places.. He also manages deliveries from our place out to families in the area. Together Powers and Yates have helped co-ordinate the unloading and distribution of food and supplies at our church and at the city's space.

We have had a tremendous response from the United Methodist church, as well as from agencies representing the Church of Christ and the Southern Baptist Convention. In a truly ecumenical effort our three churches, along with others in Centerville, have co-operated in an amazing and exhausting effort. Devin Pitchard, pastor of Fairfield Church of Christ, Mark Walton, pastor of Fairfield Baptist, myself, as well as others representing a variety of denominations gathered on the Square on Thursday, midst the massive relief effort, and held a celebration for the World Day of Prayer.

Truck from the Columbia District unloaded relief supplies at the Fairfield Baptist Church, Centerville, on May 11 United Methodist minister. Earl Davis is handing items to the Rev. Mark Walton, pastor of Fairfield Baptist. JamesSparks brought the truck; he'd been in Centerville earlier in the week with 200 flood buckets

We have also worked together at the recent dedication of the new wing of the St. Thomas/Hickman Co. Hospital, and at our annual Thanksgiving Service. Devin even attended our mid-night candle light service on Christmas Eve and gave our pastoral prayer.

Hickman County demonstrates the reason why so many people love to live in a small town. These people love and know one another. They are inter-dependent and work together to make this a wonderful place to live.

The needs are still here. We are still finding people who have been trapped and isolated. One family was still in the attic, trapped by water, for nine days when they were rescued recently. One of our members lost everything. We have offered the family the O'Connor House (youth and Quilter's) until they can make permanent arrangements.

Hickman County already was hit by the economy and had the highest unemployment rate in the state (next to our sister county-Perry).

We will continue the relief effort which will take an even longer time than other places due to the remoteness, the many damaged and impassable roads and bridges, and the lack of a strong economy and limited resources here.

TENNESSEE CONFERENCE REVIEW May 14 2010

2010-05-25T10:27:00.002-05:00

Articles in the May 14th edition of THE REVIEW
1. At-Risk Grant Award Recipients Announced
2. Youth Service Fund Grants Awarded
3. Time for Rebirth of the Wesley Class Meetings
4. North Georgia Conference Delivers UMCOR Relief Supplies to storm ravaged Middle Tennessee
5. 61st Avenue Psalm
6. Congregations Urged to Make a Difference with God’s Money,
7. Murfreesboro District Holds Mustard Seed Church Workshop Day,
8. Small Church Creates Vibrant Evangelism Campaign
9. Robert Churchwell: The Jackie Robinson of Journalism World Premiere
10. Publishing giant promoted integration
11. Monterey United Methodist Church formally adopts Burks Middle School in Monterey, Tennessee

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At-Risk Grant Award Recipients Announced

(Nashville, Tennessee) On April 29, 2010 the At-Risk Grant Fund Committee of the Tennessee Conference of the United Methodist Church announced the recipients of 6 grants to help churches reach at-risk children and families in Tennessee.

Grants were awarded to Sixty-First Avenue United Methodist Church, Gallatin Shalom Zone, Gallatin, TN; A.C.T.I.O.N. Program City Road Chapel United Methodist Church, Madison, TN; East End United Methodist Church, Lawrenceburg, TN; First United Methodist Church, Manchester, TN; and Mountain T.O.P, Altamont, TN.

Given the current economic conditions, grant recipients were ecstatic about receiving funds to fuel their ministry programs. Cara Copple from First United Methodist Church, Manchester, TN. exclaimed, “The shock has not worn off yet! I am super excited to have this money to help the children in my community. This money means more fun in the summer for kids that would be stuck in their house all day until their parents got home, and food to go around. Thanks!”

Upon receiving the award, Conan Hassan from A.C.T.I.O.N. Program at City Road Chapel United Methodist Church, Madison, TN said, “I believe in the sun even if it's not shinning. I believe in love even when I am alone. I believe in God even when He is silent. We thank the people of the Tennessee Conference of The United Methodist Church for helping with our Program for at-risk children. This money helps us to bring Jesus to our "opportunity kids", the ones that others refer to as hopeless. We were hopeless and God sent his most precious gift- Jesus Christ. Let us be the Jesus to our broken opportunity kids. Our kids need the same Father that was revealed to us. Thanks for this opportunity. We appreciate the help”!

The At-Risk Grant Fund was established in 2009 through donations by children, youth, and adults from over 400 churches during the United Methodist Church’s Tennessee Annual Conference gathering.

The At-Risk Grant Fund Committee has additional funds to award. If your ministry would like to apply for funding, please contact Patty Smith at psmith@tnumc.org for specific information.

Youth Service Fund Grants Awarded

Elizabeth Roten, Rachael Junard, and Jessica Hall discuss one of the YSF grant requests.

On Saturday May 1, 2010, the Conference Council on Youth Ministries (CCYM) reviewed Youth Service Fund grant requests of $21,000 from ten youth groups from across the Conference. After several hours of review, the CCYM awarded $6,000 to support these mission projects.

YSF is unique to the United Methodist Church. Money from this fund is raised by youth, and given to youth to be used to help other youth. Each year, 70% of the money raised stays in our conference. All of that money is distributed to youth groups who request help with their mission projects for the year. The other 30% of the fund is given to the United Methodist Division on Ministries with Young People which gives grants internationally to help youth.

CCYM members Hannah Lamon and Todd Cox listen to the YSF grant request being considered.

Youth Service Fund is much more than just a drive for funds. It is one way United Methodist youth respond to God’s command that we be good stewards of all with which God has gifted us. In addition to good stewardship, it is a way to engage in the mission of the Church, being in ministry to a broken world as we strive to live as disciples of Jesus Christ who are working to transform the world around us.

2010 Youth Service Fund award recipients include:

Clarksville District
• Sango United Methodist Youth will serve in Copperhill, TN with Team Effort
• Spring Valley Charge is partnering with Great Spirit United Methodist Church, a Choctaw Mission church from Mississippi to serve in Houston County, TN
• Hilldale United Methodist Youth will be serving in the Clarksville community to experience local mission opportunities.
Columbia District
• Hillsboro United Methodist Youth from Lieper’s Fork will be traveling to the Bahamas Methodist Habitat in Eleuthra, Bahamas.
Cookeville District
• Gainesboro First Youth will be serving during two of the Hands and Feet weekends sponsored by the Young People’s Ministry.
Murfreesboro District
• Wesley Heights United Methodist Youth and Adults will be traveling to Baldwin, Louisiana to serve with Chez Hope.
Nashville District
• Synergy Youth in Nashville will be working in mission with S.L.A.M. serving people in Nashville.
Pulaski District
• Lawrenceburg First United Methodist Church will be serving in Nashville this summer.
• Loretto United Methodist Church will be serving in Memphis.
• A large intergenerational group from the Pulaski District including 22 youth from seven different churches will be serving in Costa Rica this summer.

Time for Rebirth of the Wesley Class Meetings
By Tim Moss*

Bishop Richard Dick Wills addresses the seminar on Wesley Class Meetings

A significant part of early Methodism and a major reason for its growth was the Wesley Class Meeting. Class meetings were highly structured small group organizations that saw to the education and spiritual well-being of its members. The class meeting was the device for attracting and developing new members for the church and getting them into a lifelong commitment to Jesus Christ. It even saw to the collection of tithes. Part of the genius of class meetings was an inherent ability to continually reinvent and rejuvenate itself. Sadly, class meetings largely disappeared from Methodism with the attendant growth in Sunday Schools, nearly one hundred years ago. Now, in 2010, it may well be the time for a rebirth of the Wesley Class Meeting.

Small group discussion illustrated the value of Class Meetings

On Saturday, March 27 Bishop Dick Wills led a half-day seminar on Wesley Class Meetings at Bethlehem United Methodist Church in Franklin. More than 130 laypersons and clergy from all over the Tennessee Conference attended the event. Bishop Wills gave us an overview of Class Meetings and how they work and how the movement perpetuates itself through the formation of new meetings. People who will be class leaders recruit the members of the classes. Meetings are generally held in private homes once per week. In the meetings, members share with each other and do a Bible study together. The class must be involved in mission of some sort, acting as a group, in that mission, at least every six months. Individual members are accountable to the class. When a class grows to more than a dozen, a member who has been pre-designated, leaves and starts a new class.

Some of the very interesting factors in Bishop Will’s presentation were actual stories he shared with us of the experiences he had with class meetings in his Fort Lauderdale, Florida congregation. He talked about the many kinds of groups that could make up classes -- whatever they are, they tend toward a kind of homogeneity. Remember, the leader recruits the class. He said that the movement in his congregation had generated over one hundred classes and was, he believed, the most Wesleyan United Methodist Church in America.

Those churches represented at the March 27 meeting will be followed up on to see what action has taken place. Another seminar will happen soon so more churches can learn. Bishop Wills will be willing to help where needed and he promises that he will visit any congregation which develops fifteen classes and help it move to the next level of management.

*Tim Moss is the Tennessee Annual Conference Lay Leader

North Georgia Conference Delivers UMCOR Relief Supplies to storm ravaged Middle Tennessee

Tennessee Conference Emergency Response Coordinator Jason Brock helps unload UMCOR cleaning kits and other relief supplies sent to Tennessee by the North Georgia Conference in the wake of heavy flooding in and around Nashville. “This is a tremendous example of the value of Methodist Connectional ministry,” noted one onlooker.

61st Avenue Psalm
Shared by Nancy Neelley

Psalms are cathartic – helping humanity express its deepest emotion – whether that be joy, desperation, deep sorrow or victory. Last fall, a group at 61st Avenue United Methodist Church studied Psalm 124 and used it as a model to write our own communal psalm. In the process, voices of faithfulness participated – from longtime members to visitors; from those who have economic stability to those living on the streets. The elation of creating something beautiful together was felt that night, and experienced again the next week when many voices came together in worship to proclaim the Sixty-First Avenue Psalm:

We could never have made it without God
Listen up! Are you with me?
We could never have made it without God
When all our enemies rose against us to beat us with more than just a rod,
we would have been lost, lonely, downcast, or even killed.
We felt like a child who had lost his parent,
filled with bitterness and hatred.
After walking through the darkness for so long,
we have finally seen the light; we found that we were not alone.
God was on our side all the time.
Our God is an awesome God.
If God be for us, who can stand against us?

Congregations Urged to Make a Difference with God’s Money
By the Rev. Jeremy Squires

Recently a Brentwood church distributed $25,000 in cash to its members.

Though plenty of people sitting in its pews have felt the recession’s pinch, it wasn’t a handout. Instead, a private donor gave the money to see how far it could grow and touch the lives of people outside the church’s walls.

All attending Brentwood United Methodist Church or the church’s Trinity Church in Spring Hill that weekend had the opportunity to select a sealed envelope from baskets passed near the conclusion of the church’s five services. Inside each was a $5, $10 or $20 bill.

Senior pastor Clift Wright, who has spent the past several weeks preaching the message “Live a Better Story,” charged those who opted to take an envelope to follow the example of Jesus and the Feeding of the 5,000 as told in all four Gospels. It is the Biblical story of Jesus’ feeding over 5,000 people with only five loaves of bread and two fishes.

Now it is Pleasant View’s turn. Rev. Jeremy Squires, former associate pastor at Brentwood United Methodist and now currently pastor at Pleasant View United Methodist was given a once in a lifetime opportunity.

After learning about the exciting life changing event at Brentwood, Squires had wanted to figure out how he could do this in his church with limited resources. The perfect opportunity would come as United Methodist Churches gathered around the world to celebrate Change the World Weekend on April 25th. “I wanted to find a way that our congregation could change the world by Living a Better Story” said Squires.

Then a phone call later he found the answer. Rev. Mack Strange, associate pastor at Brentwood, offered Pleasant View a startling surprise. Mack called me and said “we have another anonymous donor and we would like to give your church the opportunity to Live a Better Story” Squires said. “I was floored at this powerful opportunity that came out of the blue.”

“We’re often criticized in the church for always asking for money,” Squires said. That Sunday I was able to tell my congregation “Today we’re going to give you money.”

After explaining the concept behind the giveaway, Squires said, “Remember, this is God’s money. Now take that money and multiply it. There is only one catch. Whatever money you multiply, you can’t bring it back to the church. It must go to a mission, ministry or person outside of this church."

Which isn’t to say the church doesn’t want to know what happens to it.

In addition to cash, each envelope included a brochure outlining the project, a Bible study and a call to prayer. It also included a pledge to tell the church on or by May 23 how much money was in the envelope, how it was multiplied, where it was invested and observations and feelings along the way.

The concept is not new. In 2006, TV host Oprah Winfrey gave audience members $1000 debit cards with the challenge that they must be given away as part of the ever-growing “pay it forward” movement. By paying something forward, people do something for someone else with no expectation of getting something back.

“The basic idea has been done all over the United States,” explained the Rev. Mack Strange, a member of the BUMC staff and pastor at Trinity Church. “It’s really to help engage people and to truly help them ‘live a better story.’“Of course, it’s also a great sign of trust. But we believe our people can make an incredible difference with it.”

Both Wright’s and Squires’ sermon series which influenced the project was largely based on the book, A Million Miles and a Thousand Years (2009, Thomas Nelson, $19.99). In it, author Donald Miller, who also penned the best-selling memoir Blue Like Jazz, shares how he started editing his own life story into a better one after working with two screenwriters on a film version of Jazz.

“This experience is not about the money. It is instead about helping people write and live a better life story. To make a difference and change the world in some way” Squires said, who added he also can’t wait “to see what creative ideas each member of the congregation hears from God to enable them to not only live a better story themselves but also to help someone else live a better story as well.”

Murfreesboro District Holds Mustard Seed Church Workshop Day

Tom Laney spoke about the importance of the small membership church.

On Saturday, April 24th, representatives of 19 of the Mustard Seed Churches in the Murfreesboro District gathered for a District workshop day at Wesley Heights UMC. Smaller congregations have special gifts as well as unique challenges, and exploring both the gifts and the challenges made for some lively dialogue and good fellowship. Presentations focused on radical hospitality, claiming and telling your story, visioning and casting a vision, and three testimonies of creative and exciting ministries that have begun in the District in the past year.

Representives from "All God's Children" an ecumenical feeding ministry in Manchester which began in a small membership church

Nearly 60 people participated with plans for another gathering in the fall. With the bulk of our churches throughout the Conference (and the denomination) being Mustard Seed Churches, it’s exciting to see this kind of interest, energy and conversation. We all know the potential and value of mustard seeds!

Tammy Burrow demonstrating how vision in any church pulls all resources in the same direction.

Are we are truly a friendly church,” asked presenter Danny Freeman, “or do we appear to visitors as though we are taped off with caution and anyone visiting is an outsider?”

Danny Freeman concluded his presentation by issuing a challenge of radical hospitality as outlined in Bishop Schnase’s book, Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations. Are we really as friendly as we think?

Small Church Creates Vibrant Evangelism Campaign

Matthews Memorial United Methodist Church in the Cumberland District had an average attendance of 48 persons at its principle worship service in 2008. It is not the smallest membership church in the district, but under the leadership of minister Hyeon Sik Hong and some dedicated laypersons the congregation is moving away from status quo and beginning a substantial evangelism emphasis in 2010.

The campaign, called an “adventure” by church member Cathy Carter started by offering an evangelism meeting after church on two different occasions. The meetings were the same so each member was urged to attend one session. The sessions included light lunch and were designed to start members thinking about evangelism and the future of Matthew Memorial church. The decline in Methodist membership was discussed and some sociometric information about non-churched people was presented. There was agreement about how hard it was to invite persons to church, and in a discussion exercise participants talked about evangelism efforts they had seen work and not work—and the fears that stopped them as individuals from inviting people to church.

Out of the meetings an invitation plan was created – which focused on inviting 1000 people to Matthews Memorial within a ten month period. In order to give the congregation some tools to use for the campaign, an evangelism campaign packet was created for 60 congregants. The packets were passed out on March 21st, the day the congregation was informed about the campaign. The first day participants turned in the numbers of people invited was April 4, Easter Sunday.

There was a minimal cost for the packets; it was developed on a home computer. The number of people invited is tracked, whether they come to the church or not. The campaign is only three weeks old and the invitation numbers are on target. There were several family visitors for Easter but the congregation hasn't seen the fruits of their labors yet. They continue to be faithful and work toward the 1000. The congregation knows that this is not about numbers, it is about bringing people to God’s house but they feel that they work best with a goal.

Together with the “ask people to church” campaign the congregation is also seeking ways to reach out into the community. On May 8th Matthews Memorial was scheduled to have a free car wash but this was postponed due to major flooding in the midstate with subsequent retrictions on the use of fresh water. When the event is held donations will not be accepted. This will be an experiment for the congregations, an attempt to reach out to persons in the immediate area. As part of the car wash anyone having their car washed would be given a free bottle of water with the church information card taped to it.

If you could like further information about the campaign and the training packet created by Matthews Memorial contact Cathy Carter, 615-865-2871.

Robert Churchwell: The Jackie Robinson of Journalism World Premiere

Posters advertise the Robert Churchwell, Sr. film

Highlight of the Tennessee Film Festival’s final night was the screening of the Robert Churchwell story. Churchwell, who served in World War II in both the European and Pacific theatres, and was part of the epic Battle of the Bulge, was the first African-American hired to work as a journalist for a major southern daily newspaper, the Nashville Banner. He was also a devoted family man who worked hard to insure that the difficulties he faced on the job because of his race did not affect his relationship with his wife and children. Finally, Churchwell was also a committed Christian with a deep faith and was a long-time member of Seay Hubbard United Methodist Church in Nashville.

Television Channel 5 anchor/reporter Vicki Yates speaks with Robert Churchwell, Jr., at a pre-screening reception. Robert Churchwell is the oldest son of Robert and Mary Churchwell

An unexpected part of the world premiere of Robert Churchwell: The Jackie Robinson of Journalism was a video of the Percy Priest Elementary School dramatization of Churchwell’s life and contribution to race relations in the United States. This dramatization and the impact it had on the participants added weight to the concept that Robert Churchwell’s story needed to be told nationally through film and video—media that could be used in theatres, church sanctuaries, social clubs, school history classes.

Gloria Respress Churchwell, film maker and daughter-in-law of Robert Churchwell, Sr., provided an introduction to the film along with her husband Dr. Kevin Churchwell.

At the conclusion of the evening, family members gathered at the front of the theatre for a panel discussion of Robert Churchwell Sr.’s life.

The Rev. Dr. Kennard Murray was pastor to Robert and May Churchwell at Seay Hubbard United Methodist Church and delivered Churchwell's eulogy on February 5, 2009. Among the statements made during the eulogy were the following:

Pamela and Kennard Murray. The Rev. Dr. Murray is pastor at Seay Hubbard UMC.

“Brother Churchwell was a Christian man, a husband of 57 years to his bride Sister Mary. He was the father of 5 outstanding children. As his oldest son Robert Churchwell, Jr. stated about his father in Monday’s Tennessean, ‘He will be remembered not only as a trailblazer but a family man. There was nothing that he wouldn’t do for his family.’”

“The tributes in his honor have clearly stated that Robert Churchwell, Sr. will be remembered for another distinction. He was one of a generation who God chose to participate in tearing down the walls of discrimination and victoriously confronting blatant or at times subtle, but still a very real demonic ideology that one person’s race made them inferior to another's race. It is interesting where he would be sent to do his part; to be what some call a trailblazer: the former Nashville Banner in 1950.”

Mary Churchwell, widow of Robert Churchwell, with Tommy Cresswell who did the voice over for the film.

“When I canvassed family pictures and articles, I noticed one titled Southern journalism’s Jackie Robinson. This was an article about Mr. Churchwell being the first black person hired as a general assignment reporter for a white-owned daily newspaper in the South. Unfortunately, alone with the honor of being the first black reporter during that time in the South, there was also contempt by many. It has been well documented that not all 31 years he was employed at the former Nashville Banner were pleasant, friendly, or professional. He endured hardships, frustrations, disrespect, and some difficult times from some of his white co-workers.

Family members shared stories and answered questions at the conclusion of the film. From left to the right: Dr. Keith Churchwell, Dr. Andre Churchwell, and Robert Churchwell, Jr.

It was also documented in the book titled The Children there were some in the black community who did not understand why he would work for the Nashville Banner of that time. But Brother Churchwell was determined that negative attitudes, no office space at the building for several years, having to work out of his home, not being included in staff meetings, and being limited to reporting on certain events in the black community would not stop him from fulfilling his chosen career as a reporter for a major newspaper. One need only to look at his children’s accomplishments to see he passed down that determination.” (Today three of Churchwell’s sons work in prominent positions at Vanderbilt University Medical Center where Churchwell once had to view the football games from behind the fence.)

Publishing giant promoted integration
A UMNS Commentary by Rich Peck*

John Procter, 91, former president and publisher of the United Methodist Publishing House, died April 15 in Nashville.

After noting that two daughters, three grandchildren and one great-grandson survive him, the obituary noted that the former World War II Army Air Force captain “was employed by the United Methodist Publishing House for 43 years and served as president and publisher for 13 years.”

Just two lines?
How can anyone summarize the contributions of this giant of a man in a two-line sentence?

His rags-to-riches story reads like a novel.

Following his 1938 graduation from Pleasant Hill Academy near Crossville, Tenn., John packed his cardboard suitcase and hitched a ride to Nashville with the graduation speaker. With $15 in his pocket, the son of a sharecropper got a job as an elevator operator at a YMCA for $12 a week.

In 1940, he began his long career with the Methodist Publishing House as an accounting clerk. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, he entered the Army Air Force, advanced to the rank of captain, navigated B-24 bombing missions over Italy and once flew to the North Pole.

In 1945, he returned to the publishing house as an accountant, and worked there until he returned to service in the Air Force during the Korean War.

Following his stint in Korea, he served as an accounting supervisor for the Nashville publishing house. He was appointed vice president in charge of publishing in 1964. He was elected president and publisher in 1970 and served until his retirement in 1982.

Integration
When he was named president, the publishing house was a segregated facility. Lovick Pierce, the former chief executive, had resisted efforts to integrate the editorial and executive offices. But when Procter assumed the office, he declared, “The church wants us to integrate and that’s what we are going to do.”

At that time, all vice presidents had to be elected by the board, so Procter worked with key board members to ensure the election of the Rev. W. T. Handy as the first black vice president. Handy, a popular official and pastor, was elected bishop in 1980. During his 1982 retirement dinner, Handy noted that the publishing house “now has been cited by the United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race to be a model to the rest of the church.”

Roger Burgess, 82, former top staff executive of United Methodist Communications and former vice president of public relations of the publishing house, said, “Of all the bosses I’ve had in my 40-year career through the church, John Procter was the best; he was the fairest and the most successful".

Burgess, who worked at the publishing house from 1974 to 1984, said he only saw Procter get angry once in all the time he worked with him.

“During a board meeting, a businessman who was new to the agency challenged one of his decisions. 'Sometimes you have to put a burr under the saddle of a horse to get him going,' said the man. 'That might work with a mule,' responded Procter. 'It won’t work with a thoroughbred.'”

Personal memories
I was hired by Procter in 1974 as an editor with “Today” magazine, the successor to “Together” magazine. Unfortunately, circulation fell to 160,000 subscribers. Prior to the computer age, that figure was not sufficient to support a labor-intensive publication, so Procter decided to discontinue the magazine. I moved to the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference to serve as director of communications for 18 months and was later invited back to the publishing house as the editor of two new publications, “Circuit Rider,” a magazine for clergy, and “Newscope,” a weekly newsletter. Both publications, introduced by Procter, are still published.

During that time, Procter gave absolute freedom to the editorial process, but was always available for advice when needed.

He was unafraid of controversy. I remember when he gave the green light to publish a book on Sun Myung Moon and the Unification Church. He allowed me to carry positive and critical reviews of the book. How many publishers allow negative reviews of their own products?

Lasting legacy
During his presidency, he enabled the publishing agency to open additional Cokesbury stores, create Curric-U-Shops, and shift from linotype or hot-metal composition to a computerized typesetting system.

The publisher worked long hours during the week, but he proclaimed, “Saturdays are for me and Sundays are for families.” He was an avid golfer and staff retreats were frequently held near Florida golf courses.

John and his family attended Calvary United Methodist Church every Sunday, where he taught a Sunday school class. Legend has it, he also enjoyed watching the television exploits of Woody Woodpecker, the Road Runner and the battered Coyote. He also found time to serve` on boards of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club, the Association of American Publishers, the Vanderbilt Medical Center and Third National Bank.

Neil Alexander, current president and publisher, arrived at the publishing house long after Procter retired, but he said, “Then and now, Mr. Procter’s legend lives on as a strong, compassionate, pragmatic and effective leader. The missional and financial foundations he established have helped UMPH remain a viable, self-funding ministry for nearly three decades after his retirement.

“We are in his debt.”

*Peck was an employee of the United Methodist Publishing House for 25 years prior to his 2000 retirement.

Monterey United Methodist Church formally adopts Burks Middle School in Monterey, Tennessee

Participants in the adoption ceremony are: Standing L to R: Denette Kolbe, Burks Middle School Principal, Judge John Maddux, Pastor James Johnson, Jr, Monterey United Methodist Church, Ellene Duncan, Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce and Dr. Kathleen Airhart, Putnam County Schools Director.
Seated L to R Row 1: Chris Pierce, Monterey High School Vice-principal, Kevin Maynard, Burks Middle School Vice-principal, Jerry Maynard, School Board Member, David McCormick, School Board Member, Keith Phillips of Goff Funeral Home and Kim Blaylock, Putnam County Executive.
Row 2: L to R: Judy Powell, Hazel Walker, Linda Jensen, Nick Axen, Joan Axen and Wanda Thurmond.
Row 3 L to R: Franny Ray, Glenda Chaffin, Bernie Gilmore Hicks, Ron Williamson, Victoria Williamson, Frances Eldridge and Mayor Richard Godsey of Monterey.
Row 4 L to R: Ken Welker, Marcy Milligan, Pauline Seese, Debbie Stott, John Stott, Patsy King and Darlene Greene.

On May 26, 2010 The Monterey United Methodist Church became an adopter of Burks Middle School, Monterey, Tennessee. Monterey United Methodist Church joined MMA Creative, Goff Funeral Home, Bishops Drugs, Inc, Puleo’s Grill, First Volunteer Bank, Mr. & Mrs. Sam Tayes and RMR Consulting . Two of the businesses are from Cookeville, Tennessee, and the balance are from Monterey. In adopting Burks Middle School the members of Monterey United Methodist Church indicated strong willingness to serve as volunteers as well as mentoring in the classrooms of our middle school.

After the opening welcome from Principal Denette Kolbe, she then introduced all the guests. After each guest spoke, the adoption ceremony was then performed by Judge John Maddux of the local court system in our district. Pastor James Johnson, Jr. was the representative for the Monterey United Methodist Church.

Refreshments were served to all guests. Dale Welch who owns Monterey’s newspaper “hilltop express.net” then made a picture of all the Guest Speakers and the Monterey United Methodist Church Representatives.

TENNESSEE CONFERENCE REVIEW April 30, 2010

2010-04-27T15:05:00.001-05:00

Stories in the April 30, 2010 edition of THE REVIEW
1. Weekend event moves Epworth United Methodist Church to increased mission activity.
2. Connecting Churches and Connecting Lives Between the U.S. and Estonia
3. Lest we forget: Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, First UMC, Gainesboro, TN.
4. May 9, 2010, Golden Cross Sunday Offering to Support Benevolent Care at McKendree Village
5. Tennesseans Attend International Medical Volunteerism Conference
6. “Be the Change” day, April 17th, marks a new chapter in Tennessee Conference Young People’s Ministry
7. Harvest of Hope mission program celebrating 25 years of teaching youth about the problem of hunger and how to be part of the solution

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Weekend event moves Epworth United Methodist Church to increased mission activity

Pastor Himidi Sagga of Tanzania stands by his mission exhibit

It’s difficult to totally characterize the April 16-18, 2010, “Outflow” weekend at Franklin’s Epworth United Methodist Church. Using a model created by the Mission Society (website: the missionsociety.org) nearly the total Epworth congregation was immersed in a deep reflection of what it truly means for a Christian to be the loving heart of Christ in the World. “It was an inspiring weekend of filling up and overflowing with the love of Jesus Christ,” wrote pastor Chip Hunter. “The goal of the event was to encourage each member and friend of Epworth’s United Methodist Church to join in God’s mission of sharing the love of Jesus Christ with others.”

Lanecia Rouse explains the Golden Triangle acculturation ministry for folks from Thailand, Laos, and Southeast Asia

Adam and Mary Hoyt speak to visitors about the Friends of Refugees, Clarkston, Georgia

Between a dramatic opening worship service on Friday evening with Dr. Alan Weatherly as preacher to two worship experiences on Sunday with preachers Shane Claiborne and Dr. Steve Dodson, there was a Men’s Breakfast in a tent set up by a nearby river, and a women’s luncheon. Both the breakfast and the luncheon featured presentations by several missionaries, each sharing the stories, the goals, the dreams of their mission—whether in Pommern, Tanzania, the mountains in Alabama, Guatemala, or the Nashville inner city. Months of planning went into the event and it showed. A devotional booklet with writings by church members provided guided prayer leading up to “Outflow.” Representatives from over thirteen mission organizations were present to speak, pass on explanatory material, answer any questions persons might have about their individual missions.

The Cathedral of Praise singers got the whole place rockin.’ “I believe God used the music to bridge between the word and the heart,” said chairperson Ellen Bryson. “Our church experienced worship in a new and fresh way particularly on Friday evening with the Cathedral of Praise. I believe the Holy Spirit utilized that experience to open us up.”

Ellen Bryson, the Epworth Chairperson of Global Outreach, described the final outcomes in four words or phrases:

Challenge: High point of the week end was the way the church was challenged –challenged by the music and the speakers and the call to be in mission.

Part of the Epworth Praise Team leads worship

Transformation: This experienced transformed persons. I am absolutely blown away! I’m excited about what God is doing in our church. We are being transformed from a mission committee to a church with a mission heart. The Holy Spirit is working overtime I think,” noted Bryson. “The congregation members were asked on Sunday morning to make a faith promise.” A “Faith Promise” offering is a commitment to give what we trust God to provide. Eighty-two persons pledged $66,200.00 to missions at the service – this is over and above their existing church pledge. “This was five times the amount budged for missions last year.”

During worship Steve Fisher, one of the events chairpersons, introduces visiting missionaries.

Commitment: During the Life Commitment Service on Sunday evening any person was asked to come forward if he/she felt called into full or part-time mission, full or part time ministry, short term mission trips or project, local missions, serving on one of the Go Teams (four teams focus on a specific area of missions), even serving on church committees “Lots of people came forward,” said Bryson, “and the altar was stained with tears.”

Tayna Rains speaks to the women’s luncheon about the Upper Sand Mountain Parish, a cooperative ministry of 8 small membership United Methodist Churches

Acts 1:8—“We are an Acts 1:8 Church,” indicated Bryson. The last words of the resurrected Christ before the Ascension are: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the early. Our mission structure has four teams For us, Jerusalem (Team One) is nearby mission in Davidson, Williamson, Rutherford, and Maury Counties. Judea (Team Two) is nearby, the geographic area of the 15 Annual Conferences in the South Eastern Jurisdiction. Samaria (Team Three) is outreach to persons within our Jerusalem who do not look like us economically, educationally, ethnically, or even religiously. Finally, Ends of the Earth (Team Four) is our mission to the remainder of the U.S. and the rest of the world.

Men of the church at the men’s breakfast down beside a nearby river

Connecting Churches and Connecting Lives Between the U.S. and Estonia

Five persons from Estonia made presentations at the Friends of Estonia meeting, from the left Artur Pold, Taavi Hollman, Meeli Tankler, Ullas Tankler, and Robert Tscherenkov

On April 16-17 the 13th Annual meeting of the Friends of Estonia was held at Calvary United Methodist Church in Nashville, Tennessee. Many of the attendees were persons representing local United Methodist congregations in the United States who have a direct connection (a “Connecting Congregation”) to a United Methodist church in Estonia, others served as mission volunteers in Estonia, but there were also a cluster of persons from Estonia itself including one Estonian District Superintendent, Taavi Hollman.

The concept of “Connecting Congregations” may be unfamiliar to many United Methodists but it stands firmly in the line of what makes Methodism a “connectional system.” Eddie Fox, World Director of Evangelism for the World Methodist Council explains: “The Connecting Congregations share with each other what they have. If they have faith, they share faith; hope, they share hope; gifts, they share gifts. Each end of the Connection needs grace and salvation. We need one another and the Holy Spirit blesses the connection.”

This creative new ministry of World Methodist Evangelism began after the collapse of communism in Czechoslovakia and has spread to every continent. Through World Methodist Evangelism, emerging congregations are connected with congregations in other parts of the world and these connected congregations are encouraged to “share fully with one another what each one has to give.” The Connecting Congregations share faith, hope, love, vision, prayer and resources with one another “that the world may know Jesus Christ!”

Mary Danforth strongly feels the love she experienced on visits to Estonia.

Today, the Connecting Congregation model has been duplicated by the mission agencies of many groups and churches and is a key ingredient in planting new churches around the globe. Since 1992, World Methodist Evangelism has provided connections to begin, restore, and strengthen congregations on every continent (for more details visit www.WorldMethodist.org )

The Friends of Estonia gathering was a celebration of what can happen when a congregation in the United States connects with and supports a congregation overseas.

Mary Danforth of Ann Arbor, Michigan, can get very emotional when she recites her personal story. She first went to Estonia in about 2005 on a trip organized by her pastor. Four persons were on the tour to learn more about the church, life, and culture in Estonia. Danforth admits her reasons for going were non-religious. She likes to travel.

The group toured seven different mission outreach programs, went to seven different churches and met the pastors of those churches. Danforth and the others were struck by the love of Jesus they found, and ended up touched and committed by the love they experienced.

The next year a group of ten persons went on VIM trip to Estonia to refurbish a local church (which was the basement of an apartment building). Among other things they put in a walkway, put in walls, and painted. A good connection was established with the people in the congregation, a Russian speaking group of Methodists—this was due to the fact that the American group brought with them a translator. They also brought with them a church sign to replace what was just basically a typed notice that this was a United Methodist Church.

The story continued as groups returned in 2007 and 2008 – 2008 together with some group members from a second conference church.

“We became a Connecting Congregation with the church in Estonia,” says Danforth. “Because of the economy that is not easy this year*, but what we are doing is helping our congregation as much as the church overseas.”

Rachel Hyde’s church in Morristown, TN is related to the Aseri Church in Estonia and has been supporting it since the mid-1990s. She and her mom Debbie visited Estonia and Aseri Church in 2008 to help build a personal relationship with the congregation and its pastor. In 2009 Aseri pastor Viktor Batov and his wife Raja visited Morristown UMC and at the end of 2009 Rachel went back to Aseri to work on further building the relationship between the two churches. Her role, she feels, is to help find where God wants us.

The stories of the growing Estonian church and strong efforts to reach out to children and young people are sometimes dramatic. Estonian pastor Artur Pold presented information that the United Methodist camp facility has 1500 participants each year as well as being the site of weddings, and baptisms by emersion. His narrative contained information about a joint Czechoslovakian and American VIM group, and a great deal about the important work of the Generation 2 Youth Center. Even in economic hard times the Estonian Church took up an offering for Haiti.

Sadly there are some great difficulties that are being faced by the Estonian church because of the downturn in the economy. Pold indicated that the Youth Center director continues to minister even after not receiving a salary for 5 months. District Superintendent Taavi Hollman shared special challenges faced by the church:

• The unemployment rate was 15.5% in 2009
• Low winter temperatures mean that heating costs, and electrical costs are high. The low temperatures can also lead to frozen pipes and extensive repair costs.
• In the winter months there is only 6 hours from sunrise to sunset. “There are weeks when we do not even see the sun.” Personal depression becomes a factor in this type of situation.
• Pastor salaries, because of the economy, were decreased by 5-10%. Some by as much as 25%. Some salaries were decreased by 50% if the pastor had a full time job outside the church.

*The financial support provided by an American Connecting Congregation is now $5,500.00 annually. All of that money goes directly to the Connecting Congregation overseas whether in Estonia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Hungary, Latvia, Slovakia, Macedonia, Poland, Kenya, Indonesia, or Costa Rica.

Lest we forget: Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, First UMC, Gainesboro, Tennessee

Kathie Bowles

Gainesboro First UMC held a Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) service for the 11:00 a.m. worship on Sunday, April 11. The United States Congress established the Days of Remembrance as the nation's annual commemoration of the Holocaust and created the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum as a permanent living memorial to the victims.

This is the 65th anniversary of the liberation of Nazi concentration camps. The Museum has designated "Stories of Freedom: What You Do Matters" as the theme for the 2010 observance.

Kathie Bowles, now pastor of Gainesboro First United Methodist Church, grew up in an area where there were many Jewish people and she become familiar with Jewish customs and traditions. As a TSU history major and later as a grad student at MTSU she became interested in World War II history with special interest in the Holocaust. Her fascination was increased by contact with some university teaching staff who had special knowledge of Holocaust history.

Cut through the years and Kathie was invited to be involved in the “Lift Every Voice” project at the World Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. Not only that but she was invited back to a second event, and received special training on presenting the story of the Holocaust. Since 2001 she has been doing presentations at schools, churches, civic organizations, and even at an Adult Education Conference in Charleston, South Carolina.

A handout “Stories of Freedom: What you do matters” published by the US Holocaust Memorial Museum shares a few stories of the first Americans to view first-hand the horror of the Nazi concentration camps: As Allied soldiers were closing in on Germany in the spring of 1945, they encountered dozens of concentrations camps and were suddenly confronted with the reality of Nazi atrocities. The few surviving victims fully experienced the depths of human evil and depravity. For the soldiers, however, even the brutality of war did not prepare them for what they encountered.

“After photographing Buchenwald, Margaret Bourke-White wrote to her editor at Life magazine, “The sights I have just seen are so unbelievable that I don’t think I will believe them myself until I’ve seen the photographs.” One American journalist wrote, “Buchenwald is beyond all comprehension. You just can’t understand it, even when you’ve seen it.”

And that was the problem. Survivors and other eyewitnesses understood and believed. But would the world? General Dwight D. Eisenhower grasped this problem and, after visiting a subcamp of Buchenwald, he addressed his staff: “I want every American unit not actually in the front lines to see this place. We are told the American soldier does not know what he is fighting for. Now, at least he will know what he is fighting against.”

Eisenhower not only understood that this was a war that at its very essence was a struggle for the freedom of peoples and the ideals on which civilization is based but also that the horror was so extreme that it might not be believed. Realizing that a failure to believe would be a danger for the future of mankind, he ordered other soldiers to visit the camps, and encouraged journalists and members of Congress and the British Parliament to bear witness as well.”

Kathie Bowles feels that it is important for churches to participate in the annual Days of Remembrance. In her sermon Bowles said, “We are remembering today because of the determination of Holocaust survivors to not let it be forgotten. A man who managed to live through several years of incarceration says there was a common prayer in the death camps, ‘Dear God, let there be survivors who can bear witness to this horrible nightmare.’ Elie Weisel, probably one of the most famous survivors because of his many books and lectures, says that memory is a shield, and the mightiest weapon for prevention. His quote is in bold letters of the outside of the Washington, D.C. Holocaust Museum, ‘For the dead and the living, we must bear witness.’

Later in her sermon Bowles says, “There is no easy way to explain how the Holocaust was allowed to happen. It took place while governments, private citizens, churches and Christians stood by. Some were ignorant of it . . . many more claimed to be. The majority of those doing the killing were baptized Christians. What happened? Can the goals of war anesthetize us to the murder of guiltless missions? Can political promises persuade us to be unfeeling, or inactive? How easy is it to follow leaders who preach hate and intolerance?

Bowles tells about returning from her first trip to Washington and attending a choral program in Nashville that included her granddaughter. On the stage were 250 beautiful, innocent children smiling and singing. Suddenly one of the Holocaust Museum’s logos flashed in her mind, “Remember the children.” 25% of those murdered in the Holocaust were under the age of 14.

The liturgy for the Yom Hashoah remembrance service used at Gainesboro First UMC came from different parts of the book Liturgies on the Holocaust (An Interfaith Anthology) edited by Marcia Littell and Sharon Guttman. Kathie Bowles feels this is an excellent source for a variety of commemorations. For persons or churches wanting to delve into the subject of the Holocaust further can contact her at First UMC, P.O. Box 206, 302 South Main Street, Gainesboro, TN 38562-0206. (931) 268-4771.

May 9, 2010, Golden Cross Sunday Offering to Support Benevolent Care at McKendree Village

Founded in 1963 by the Tennessee Conference, McKendree Village isn’t a place or institution. It is home to hundreds of middle Tennessee seniors living in a variety of residential settings—independent cottages and apartments through assisted living to complete skilled nursing care.

In good faith, the founders of McKendree Village decided that no resident living at McKendree Village for a minimum of ten years would be asked to leave due to outliving their financial resources. Today, cost of care continues to climb above the ability to pay for some of our residents. Through generous support of the McKendree Village apportionment and the Golden Cross offering by United Methodist churches in the Tennessee Annual Conference, McKendree Village has made good on the founders’ commitment for over 43 years.

Sunday, May 9, is the conference designated date for the Golden Cross offering for benevolent care at McKendree Village. 100% of your contributions to McKendree Village go directly to benevolent care. Of course, this support is done confidentially with dignity, love and respect. Please send Golden Cross offerings directly to the Tennessee Conference Treasurer.

In your congregation, it is your option to choose another date more appropriate for the Golden Cross offering. Some congregations are utilizing a communion offering. The date or manner of your Golden Cross offering is up to your local congregation. But, please know that your support of this ministry is crucial.

If you need additional information or resources, please call the McKendree Village Foundation at 615-871-8598 or e-mail information@mckendreefoundation.org

Thank you, in advance for your continuing support of this covenant ministry that together we provide in the name of Christ.

Rev. John H. Collett, Jr. ,
Chairperson, McKendree Village Foundation Board of Directors
Kent McNish,
Executive Director, McKendree Village Foundation Board of Directors

Tennesseans Attend International Medical Volunteerism Conference

Sarah Matthews and Peggy Ward are members of Lynnville United Methodist Church, Pulaski District, and obviously share an interest in all types of volunteer mission work. From April 16th to 18th, 2010, they attended the International Medical Volunteerism Conference 2010 at Emory University in Atlanta.

From the left, Peggy Ward, UMCOR’s Barbara Stone, and Sarah Matthews

This major national event attracted some 1700 participants and had over 200 speakers. While there they met Barbara Stone from the United Methodist Committee on Relief out of New York and attended her lectures. “It was a great event and we were very happy to attend from the Tennessee Conference,” says Matthews as she recalled the three days.

During the Conference Matthews and Ward were invited to join mission groups to Peru and Kenya, and are looking forward to their participation in the fall of 2010. They are not involved in the Medical field but have skills in assisting patients waiting to see doctors.

In the meantime Matthews plans to keep busy. From June 19-28 she will be leading a Volunteer in Mission group of 48 persons from seven different churches within the Pulaski District. The team will be going to San Jose, Cost Rica, to do church construction work and have Bible School with as many as 400 children. “This year,” says Matthews, “we are blessed with 22 youth going out of the 48 participants. We plan to put a Spanish language version of the Bible in the hands of each child with whom we work.

For persons wishing to find out what went on at the International Medical Volunteerism Conference you can check the conference website at IMVC.org

“Be the Change” day, April 17th, marks a new chapter in Tennessee Conference Young People’s Ministry

Youth groups from Belmont UMC and White House UMC spent time loving, serving, teaching, and playing with the children and youth from the Golden Triangle Fellowship at Turtle Creek Apartments in Nashville.

A young man from the Belmont and White House group plays soccer with the children and youth from the Golden Triangle Fellowship at Nashville’s Turtle Creek Apartments.

On April 17th young people in the Tennessee Conference were urged, as groups or as individuals, to help make a difference in their communities. “Be the Change Day is an opportunity for you and your friends to serve others in the name of Jesus Christ,” the promotional flier promised. A series of questions were circulated that obviously caught the attention of a number of youth groups around the conference:
• What if each of us decided to help someone else just because they needed our help?

• What if each of us decided to “do small things with great love?

• What if in the process we were also served?

• How will you be the change where you live?

The response was great. Brad Fiscus, Conference Director of Young People’s Ministry, was pleased with what he saw. “It was wonderful to see how the youth, young adults, and adults in our churches throughout the conference worked to ‘do small things with great love’ in their communities. It demonstrates that each of us have the ability to reach out to someone in need with God’s love not because we are expected to do it but because we desire to be about creating a different world for ourselves and our neighbors.”

Providence UMC in Mt. Juliet spent Sunday, April 11, out in their community being the change

Donning “Worship Without Walls” shirts Providence UMC members young and old chose to worship God through serving others.

At least one group and one church leaped ahead in faith even before Be the Change Day. Providence United Methodist Church in Mt. Juliet participated in Be The Change Day by a “Worship Without Walls” experience on Sunday, April 11. Instead of having their traditional Sunday gathering, the Providence folks went out into the community and worshipped God by serving others.

Jon Goodwin of Homestead UMC, Cookeville District, speaks of the day as a blessing. “Saturday was a great blessing for our youth and adults who participated in “Be the Change.” Our youth put together some very nice gift baskets and delivered them on Saturday to our church shut-ins (12 in all). While we were at their homes we did any yard work that they needed done. You could tell by the expressions on their faces and their kind words that they felt very blessed by the youth. One lady gave me a car on Sunday telling us how special our visit was to her. She said we had no way of knowing but the 17th was the 11th anniversary of her husband’s passing and that out visit brought joy to her day. She said God always provides?

Wesley Height UMC gave rolls of toilet paper wrapped in scripture to their neighbors as they shared the love of Christ on Be the Change Day.

Saturday evening over 200 people of all ages gathered at Franklin First United Methodist Church for the Be the Change Celebration. The Re Worship Band led the group in passionate worship and Shane Claiborne, well-know author, missionary, and Ordinary Christian Radical gave an inspiring and deeply personal message. Shane shared about his experiences throughout the world serving alongside Mother Teresa in Calcutta as well as time spent serving and being served by the people of Iraq. He talked about how Christian s must be about tearing down walls that have separated us from sharing God’s love with each other and our neighbors.

At the Donelson Heights UMC youth helped prepare the gardens. The vegetables grown here are given to Second Harvest.

The Epworth UMC youth prepare to share God’s love with other youth at the A▪Game Sports Center

One Shane Claiborne comment resonated with many of the participants in the event. He said, “We have a God that is about loving people back to life. A God that did NOT come for the healthy, but for the sick, not for those who have it all together, but for those who are willing to admit together that we are falling part, and NEED God and we NEED each other.”

Franklin First UMC youth and adults help sort items in the warehouse at the Nashville Rescue Mission

Members of all ages from Clarksville’s New Providence UMC shared the love of Christ and some mulch.

At the end of the day it was obvious that Be the Change Day will not end in 2010 but will be a major part of young people’s ministry for years to come. Hallelujah!! Be sure to start planning for Be the Change Day 2011. Individuals wanting to see additional pictures or stories from Be the Change Day 2010 can check out the website http://bethechangeday.tnumc.com/ and you will also be able to click on to a video tape of Shane Claiborne’s presentation.

Harvest of Hope mission program celebrating 25 years of teaching youth about the problem of hunger and how to be part of the solution

The Society of St. Andrew, a Virginia-based national hunger relief organization and Advance #801600, has been gleaning America’s fields and feeding America’s hungry for over 30 years. This year, they celebrate the 25th anniversary of their Harvest of Hope program. Harvest of Hope (HOH) is a mission retreat program that focuses on hunger issues and the Christian response. This life-changing event has impacted over 12,000 participants during the last 25 years – and it continues to grow. “In fact, more first-time groups are attending than ever before,” reported Scott Briggs, Director of Harvest of Hope.

Harvest of Hope gleaning potatoes

“I believe that Harvest of Hope truly embodies the mission statement of the Society of St. Andrew: to provide food for the body, God’s word for the spirit, a community of love for the heart, and an opportunity for those who desire action,” said Julie Taylor, former HOH director. Worship, study, and gleaning – the biblical practice of picking leftover crops after the harvest – are integral aspects of the HOH experience. In addition, good nutrition and a simplified and sustainable lifestyle are both strongly emphasized. The week-long and weekend events are targeted toward specific audiences – Jr. High, High School, College-age, and intergenerational groups. Each event is focused on gleaning and education of hunger issues. Participants are from all walks of life and are bonded together by a common purpose – to do something about hunger. “It has been a great, enlightening experience. I think I found a new kind of faith that I never thought I would experience in my life. Thanks for opening me up to a spiritual reality that I wouldn’t have otherwise seen,” said a recent participant.

Alternative Spring Break participants loading a truck

An alternative spring break event was added last year and proof of its success was demonstrated this year as participation tripled. Four colleges that had previously never volunteered with Harvest of Hope sent groups this year. The event was a huge success with many of the participants making plans to attend HOH Phase II – an opportunity in our nation’s capital for participants who have previously attended an HOH event. Phase II picks up where Harvest of Hope leaves off and offers a more intense study on hunger and poverty issues. Phase II takes place in Washington D.C. and is centered around agency work and advocacy efforts. “I have been changed for the better. My eyes have been opened about hungry people in the area, country, and the world,” remarked Helen Melshen, a college student who attended the 2010 HOH alternative spring break.

Many of Harvest of Hope’s past participants have been so impacted by their specific experience at an event that they have gone on to careers in mission and social work in adulthood. “Although I have many fantastic memories from recent Harvest of Hope events my favorite one actually took place at my very first event, which I participated in with my youth group in 1995,” said Lauren Holcomb, who is a former HOH director and currently pursuing a career in social work. “Six of us attended the weeklong Eastern Shore event that year, and it was the first time at HOH for all of us. Needless to say for anyone who has gone to an event, the Hunger Awareness Meal was really shocking to us! I realized that I needed to learn to be more giving in my own life. The event demonstrated exactly how God wants us to live... and how He gives so abundantly and freely to us despite our shortcomings.” Betsy Edwards, former participant and HOH summer intern, is another example of a person directly influenced by the HOH experience – she has worked for a food bank in Oakland, CA in an advocacy program and currently works for FRAC (Food Research and Action Center).

Harvest of Hope is already well into the 25th year of impacting the lives of volunteering participants and the poor that are fed through their efforts. A very successful alternative spring break event has been wrapped up and HOH is looking forward to Phase II in June and 11 more week-long and week-end events before the end of the year. There is still time to join with others who intend on doing something about hunger this year. Contact Scott Briggs for more information about the 2010 Harvest of Hope schedule: 800-333-4597 or email sosahoh@endhunger.org

Society of St. Andrew is an ecumenical nonprofit ministry that saves fresh nutritious produce from going to waste and donates it to critical feeding agencies all across the country. Started in 1979 it has grown to be the nation’s leading gleaning operation – working in all of the lower 48 states. There are three main programs – the Gleaning Network, the Potato & Produce Project, and Harvest of Hope. More information about the Society of St. Andrew and its work to feed the hungry of America is available online at http://www.endhunger.org/

TENNESSEE CONFERENCE REVIEW April 16, 2010

2010-04-27T11:57:00.002-05:00

Articles in the April 16th issue of THE REVIEW
1. Meet Feed America First—a Tennessee Conference Advance Special
2. Ivy Bluff United Methodist Church presents Last Supper and Ministry of Christ from the perspective of Women Disciples
3. Documentary film “Robert Churchwell: The Jackie Robinson of Journalism” World Premiere, August 22, 2010, Nashville Film Festival
4. Calvary United Methodist Church pays off 2008 apportionment shortfall – in 2010,
5. Hope for Creation International Simulcast, April 21st, 6:30 p.m.
6. Change the World—Starting With Your Community, April 24-25
7. Conference workers with youth trained to recognize and intervene when a young person is considering suicide
8. Scripture gives us insight on how to treat our earth by Bishop Richard J. Wills, Jr.
9. Pasta & Promises raises over $55,000 for Miriam’s Promise programs
10. Many Thanks to Mark Forrester and the Students of the Wesley Foundation at Vanderbilt
11. Spiritual Friends Network shares the movement of the Holy Spirit in today’s world
12. Mission: Cost and Benefits
13. Sacred/Liturgical Dance Workshop to be led by Tiffany Kirkland, Lake Junaluska, North Carolina, July 21-25, 2010

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Meet Feed America First—a Tennessee Conference Advance Special

Bread distribution at Allen's Chapel UMC in Smithville.

Feed America First is an ecumenical organization chartered in faith by Don Herbert and Tom Henry in June 2000 with the mission “to provide food to those who feed the hungry.” The purpose of FAF is to seek and collect large-scale donations of food from manufacturers, distributors, growers, and other charities, and to distribute that food at no charge to the numerous small ministries feeding hungry families in poor and rural communities in this region. To date Feed America First has distributed approximately 21 million pounds of food, serving almost 150 small charities each month in the Tennessee Conference area.

Potato drop at the Feed America First warehouse in Murfreesboro: 44,000 pounds of potatoes bagged and distributed by a hundred volunteers from a dozen different churches and organizations.

Feed America First was approved as a Tennessee Conference Advance Special in November 2009. Director Tom Henry says that “ Feed America First focuses upon our neighbors in need who live in small towns and rural areas, that portion of the 49,000,000 Americans at risk of missing meals while they pay for rent, utilities, or medicine. Our clients are the citizens who want to help their neighbors by operating church pantries, children's homes, and shelters for the abused, homeless, or recovering. They know their neighbors, and if Feed America First provides them more food, they touch more lives. After all, as I have been told, a loaf of bread given with love by a neighbor can change lives.”

The cold faces were among the 100 families benefiting from a February food distribution in Franklin.

Feed America First operates from a small warehouse in Murfreesboro with a staff of three and lots of volunteers, and serves in a radius of about 150 miles from Nashville. FAF’s efficient “bare bones” approach has allowed it historically to provide enough food for 12 -15 meals for each dollar donated. FAF has coordinated potato drops, food drives, and food distributions throughout the Tennessee Conference.

Tom Henry, Director
Feed America First
1105 Blue Springs Rd.
Franklin, TN 37069
(615) 512-5915

Ivy Bluff United Methodist Church presents Last Supper and Ministry of Christ from the perspective of Women Disciples

Total cast (including musicians) for The Supper That Wasn’t

Dramatizing the story of the Last Supper has become familiar across the church with congregations using Leonardo DiVinci’s famous painting as a model. The problem, of course, is that the traditional depiction of the Last Supper is totally male oriented—the twelve Disciples and Jesus sharing a final meal before the crucifixion.

The widow of Nain tells about her sorrow as she led the funeral procession for her son – and her astonishment and gratitude when Jesus stopped the procession and raised her son from the dead.

Taking as a model a United Methodist Women dramatic retelling of women who were affected and changed by Christ’s ministry, the seats at Ivy Bluff United Methodist Church’s commemoration of the Last Supper on April 1st were all held by women.. The drama The Supper That Wasn’t began with Mary Magdelene and continued on with Martha and other women who experienced Jesus’ ministry personally—but also included women from the New Testament who were touched with Jesus’ message and the presence of the Holy Spirit months or even years after the crucifixion and resurrection.

Mary Magdalene, the first person to discover Christ’s resurrection, recalls at that Jesus had done in her life.

One by one, twelve New Testament women told their stories and reflected on their personal encounters with Christ or their experience of Christ through the Disciples or through the Apostle Paul. In their midst was the Traitor who had much in common with Judas Iscariot and felt she had turned from Christ and betrayed Him. The strong conclusion to the evening’s worship experience came at the end of the Service of Communion when Traitor Lady came down the center aisle and asked if she could receive communion, asked if she could be forgiven. Pastor Danny Freeman reassured her that Christ could and would forgive her sinfulness and then she too was served communion.

Claudia was in Rome when Christians hid in the catacombs. She received a letter from Paul via Phoebe.

The play was directed by Sherry Freeman with staging and costumes by Barbara Bailey and Candice Powell. Playing biblical characters in The Supper That Wasn’t were Joan Shirley (Mary Magdalene), Kelly Speed (Martha), Amber Harris with Hayleigh Harris (Widow of Nain), Melanie Parker (Mary, the mother of Mark), Sherry Freeman—filling in for Paula Parker who was ill the day of performance (Lydia), Trina Koltay (Traitor), Gail Davenport (Dorcas), Angela Moore (Phoebe), Kendra Speed (Claudia), Brenda Bogard (Lois), Retha Muncey (Priscilla), and Brenda Lewis (Elect Lady). Anita Duke served as off-stage narrator. Music was provided by two vocal trios, an adult trio including Donna Gunter, Holly Crawford, and Jodie Bogard and a children’s trio featuring Haven Davis, Kayleigh Harris, and Alyson Harris.. Pianist was Stanka Ferrell; and the two biblically costumed ushers were Joyce Lane and Elaine Bogle.

The Traitor . . . she didn’t sell Christ out to the religious authorities like Judas, but nevertheless suffers deep guilt because of her indifference and by her silence at crucial times.

At the conclusion of the drama pastor Danny Freeman and District Superintendent Cathie Leimenstoll served communion to the congregation assisted by Candice Powell and Barbara Bailey.

Documentary film “Robert Churchwell: The Jackie Robinson of Journalism” World Premiere, August 22, 2010, Nashville Film Festival
First paragraph from Tennessee Tribune, Thursday April 1-7, 2010

This inspirational documentary highlights the extraordinary life and legacy of the late award-winning journalist Robert Churchwell. The distinguished Nashville Banner reporter made history in 1950 after becoming the first man of color to work as a journalist at a major daily newspaper in the South. Churchwell wrote passionately about the lives and issues facing African-Americans in Nashville—exploring various topics including the Civil Rights Movement. While at the Nashville Banner, Robert Churchwell rose above each obstacle, challenge, and barrier that he faced with great dignity while never forgetting the significance of family and the importance of serving God.

Before beginning work on the Banner, Mr. Churchwell served four years in the U.S. Army during World War II in both the European and Pacific theaters. He was part of one of the epic battles of the War, the Battle of the Bulge. Upon returning from military service, he attended and graduated from Fisk University as an English major.

Churchwell was a life-long member of the Seay Hubbard United Methodist Church in Nashville. His pastor, the Rev. Ken Murray, reports that through the years Churchwell taught Sunday School, worked with the youth group, and was part of the United Methodist Men. “Seay Hubbard misses him—he was an icon. He always had wisdom to share and that voice is greatly missed by our congregation.”

On February 1, 2009, Churchwell passed away. He was 91. His wife of 57 years, Mary Elizabeth Buckingham, and their five children are left to cherish Churchwell’s memory.

The Nashville Film Festival is held at the Regal Green Hills Cinemas, and the Churchwell documentary will be shown at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 22, 2010, Tickets for Festival screenings are available online at http://www.nashvillefilmfestival.org/

Calvary United Methodist Church pays off 2008 apportionment shortfall – in 2010

Calvary United Methodist Church’s long tradition of paying 100% of apportionments suddenly ended in 2008 when only 81.6% of its 2008 apportionments could be paid. Many congregations across the country would have shrugged and promised to make certain that the next apportionment was paid in full—but that didn’t fit into Calvary’s plans. Jim Allen, Conference treasurer, recalls talking in January of 2009 with Don Birdwell, a lay leader at Calvary, about the congregation’s plans to remit 2008 apportionments in full over the coming year. An amazed Allen celebrated Calvary’s dedication to the connectional ministry of the United Methodist Church, and rejoiced with them when the apportionment was paid in full.

According to Calvary pastor Peter van Eys some of the shortfall was paid in 2009 along with 100% of the 2009 apportionment and the 2008 commitment was completely paid in March of 2010. “Calvary embraces its identity as a United Methodist Church,” says van Eyes, “and considers paying apportionments part of its DNA. When circumstances left us short in fulfilling our 2008 commitment by the end of that year, the Church Council determined that we would send in the balance, no matter how long it might take to do so. Calvary wants to be counted among the congregations that pay 100% of their apportionments each year.”

Calvary lay person Dave Nichols noted that Calvary has a history of strong support for the connection. “Someone told me not long ago,” reported Nichols, “that Calvary is generally considered to be one of the ‘most Methodist’ congregations in the conference. I hope that's true.”

“The decision to send in less than 100% of Calvary's apportionments during the tough economic episode we've all been enduring was very difficult for many of our members to accept,” says Nichols. “We felt it was important to keep our commitment as soon as possible, even though it required difficult choices. We understand that conference bookkeeping really doesn't allow for apportionments to be made up once the year's books are closed, but we felt this was an issue of a higher priority than bookkeeping conventions. We saw it as an opportunity not only to model the high value we place on our commitments, but to also model the importance of the connection for some who have become United Methodists more recently than we old-timers. I believe God still honors faithfulness whenever it can be found.

While immensely proud of Calvary UMC’s commitment, conference treasurer Allen points out that five congregations fell short of paying their 2009 apportionments in full by the deadline but “moved on to perfection in their connectional financial ministry” by completing 2009 payments in early 2010. Those churches were Liberty (Pulaski), St. Joseph (Loretto), Johnson’s Chapel (Brentwood), Maggart (Livingston), and Gallatin First.

Hope for Creation International Simulcast, April 21st, 6:30 p.m.

Will you join the call to action on April 21st, the eve of Earth Day? Will you join with what hopes to be 200 Christian Colleges, 1000 churches, and 1,000,000 people gathering together for a night of no politics, no agenda –just a biblically based call to care for the wonder that is God’s creation? It is not too late to sign up and promote this event in your church. It is free, and you can sign up at http://www.blessedearth.org. This will be hosted by Dr. J Matthew Sleeth and will be broadcast to locations all over the world. Dr. Sleeth will also be sharing the world premiere of the new film series, blessed Earth, by the same people who produced NOOMA with Rob Bell. If you are not able to host the event, below are host sites throughout the conference where you can go to participate in the event. This night will serve as a great opportunity to share the love of Christ in a unique way as Christians will come together and share in the hope and good news that we have for all that is God’s creation. Everything you need to sign up and promote the event can be found on the above website. If you have questions, contact Ryan Bennett at 615.794.6721.

Tennessee Conference Simulcast sites

Clarksville District: Pleasant View UMC, Salem UMC, Madison Street UMC, Hilldale UMC
Columbia District: Bethlehem UMC (Franklin), Coleman Memorial UMC
Cookeville District: Friendship UMC, TTU Wesley Foundation, Crossville First UMC, Smithville First UMC, Celina UMC
Cumberland District: Hermitage UMC, Gallatin First UMC, Hendersonville First UMC
Murfreesboro District: Winchester First UMC, Walnut Grove UMC, Tullahoma First UMC, Shelbyville First UMC, Murfreesboro First UMC
Nashville District: The Upper Room, Calvary UMC, Blakemore UMC, Belmont University
Pulaski District: Martin Methodist College

Change the World—Starting With Your Community, April 24-25

What if…on one weekend all around the world, United Methodists came together to work with their local communities? What if…as we serve people locally, we unite globally to eliminate apreventable, treatable disease that kills one child every 30 seconds?

"We all want to see change in the world and by serving our local communities, we get to see that change up close and personal. But we can also touch those we do not see and may never meet. By raising awareness and funds, we can save lives and conquer malaria – a disease that the U.S. has already defeated.” said the Rev. Larry Hollon, chief executive of United Methodist Communications.

On April 24-25, 2010, United Methodists around the world are invited to participate in Change the World, a weekend event that coincides with World Malaria Day on Sunday, April 25. Congregations are invited to schedule a community-based workday, and use World Malaria Day sermon starters (coming soon) on Sunday. A special offering is encouraged to support the fight against malaria.

Rev. Mike Slaughter, lead pastor at Ginghamsburg Church in Tipp City, Ohio has written a book called “Change the World: Recovering the Mission and Message of Jesus,” set to be released in February 2010. He emphasizes, “As the United Methodist Church, we have worried too much about getting numbers into our churches instead of getting the people in our churches out into the world in relative ways. Even our smallest churches can have incredible impact when they when they leave their four walls to serve the needs of their neighbors, alongside of their neighbors.” Go to the website http://www.umcom.org/site to link to further resources and suggestions on how to get involved.

Conference workers with youth trained to recognize and intervene when a young person is considering suicide

Michele Nevel of Tennessee Lives Count led the Nashville workshop

Alarming statistics prove that youth and young adult suicide is a serious and growing problem across the United States. The Tennessee Conference Young People's Ministry vowed to help local church youth workers, pastors, and parents recognize when a young person is experiencing thoughts of suicide and how to intervene and save a life. With Youth Suicide and Early Intervention training provided by the Tennessee Lives Count project in partnership with the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network, six workshops were held in various parts of the Conference in early 2010 with 140 persons receiving this crucial training.

Some crucially important statistics were shared with the workshop participants—for example, 84 young people in the U.S. commit suicide each week.

The final workshop was held at the Tennessee Conference Center on March 25th and attracted over 50 persons. Michele Nevel of Tennessee Lives Counts provided leadership for the session. If you are interested in arranging a similar pastoral care event in your local church or district contact Brad Fiscus for further information, 615-329-1177 or bfiscus@tnumc.org

Tennessee Voices
Scripture gives us insight on how to treat our earth

By Bishop Richard J. Wills Jr., March 30, 2010. Letter from Bishop Wills printed under “Tennessee Voices” in The Tennessean.

Bishop Richard J. Wills, Jr.

The first mandate given to humanity in Genesis after God created and pronounced creation good was for humans to take dominion over it and rule over it wisely.

As stewards of God's creation, we must care for all the earth and place the value of creation over the temptations of power and greed.

Today, our state legislators will decide whether private coal companies should be allowed to destroy Tennessee's mountains using an unnecessary extraction method known as mountaintop removal mining. I would encourage all members of the legislature to seek guidance from the Scripture as they embark on this decision.

Our elected leaders are under a great deal of pressure to make the right decision.

At times when I find myself in difficult situations, I need to be reminded of where I can turn to find the truth. As we look at the issue of mountaintop removal, Scripture gives us clear insight into how we are to care for creation. Jesus himself reminds us that the whole of the law can be summed up through loving God and loving one's neighbor. Dynamiting mountain peaks, filling valley floors with discarded earth and poisoning our air and drinking water are not acts of loving one’s neighbors.

When I see the eternal scars and listen to stories of families left in the wake of the destruction, I can't help but turn to Psalms 24:1 which says, "The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof." Those words speak to the sanctity and sacredness of human life and the natural environment, and as servants we should not allow either to be destroyed in the name of corporate profit.

The United Methodist Church, along with every other major Christian denomination has taken a strong position against mountaintop removal mining.

In 2008, the General Conference of the United Methodist Church issued a formal resolution calling for "the end of this economically, environmentally and socially destructive practice" urging all United Methodists to stand with residents of the communities hit hardest by this practice and to advocate on their behalf to their elected representatives.

I would encourage all lawmakers to seek solace in prayer. This issue is much bigger than re-election or the desire to seek higher office. This issue is about serving as stewards of God's creation and loving thy neighbor as thyself.

Over 500 mountains and 2,000 miles of rivers and streams have been destroyed across southern Appalachia as a result of mountaintop removal mining operations. The detrimental health and environmental effects of this mining practice have been unequivocally proven by the science community. All worldly evidence shows that this practice is unhealthy, unsustainable and its impacts are catastrophic to all living creatures.

I pray for our elected officials and hope that all citizens will join in the effort to ban this unnecessary form of coal mining.

Richard J. Wills, Jr. is Resident Bishop, Nashville area, The United Methodist Church.

Pasta & Promises raises over $55,000 for Miriam’s Promise programs

Exhibit of works of art by local artists and artisans provided a chance to examine some great art pieces up close and personal . . . and to talk with the artists.

What do you call an evening of terrific pasta, incredible fellowship, exhibits by local artists and artisans, a lively auction of great art pieces and other valuable prizes – all this PLUS information about one of the Tennessee Conference’s most meaningful ministries? The answer of course is the Miriam’s Promise annual Pasta & Promises celebration and fund raiser which was held March 26th at The Factory in Franklin, Tennessee.

Good food and fellowship are an important part of Pasta & Promises each year.

Miriam’s Promise Executive Director Debbie Robinson enthusiastically sums up the evening: “Pasta & Promises was a fabulous event for Miriam’s Promise! We send thanks to all who participated as artists, sponsors, guests, and volunteers! It was a glorious evening and we are grateful for everyone participating. As we planned Pasta & Promises, we were concerned that the current economy would reduce the number of guests but we were blessed with a room full of guests with hearts for children. “

Master of Ceremonies Mort Hill introduces Marian’s Promise Executive Director, Debbie Robinson

Thanks to so many friends, volunteers and supporters, the event raised almost $70,000 with over $55,000.00 net for agency programs. Miriam’s Promise was fortunate to have 8 local artists give their time and talents; RonYork, Cameron Simmons, Dana Kahan, Tom Fuhrman, Tom Turnbull, Lisa Gardiner, Ken Gaidos and Leslee Lewis Bechtel.

Harry Robinson and Brant Harwell provided music for the evening

Thanks to the proceeds from Pasta & Promises, we can continue to be here for the young women, children and families who need us. For women experiencing unplanned pregnancies, Miriam’s Promise provides counseling and assistance in meeting basic needs such as housing, food, clothing and transportation. It is a haven for women who must make difficult decisions about the future of their children, while also suffering related emotional, health and financial struggles. Our “Expecting the Best Program” provided group pregnancy counseling to more than 90 expectant women incarcerated in the Davidson County, Sumner and Rutherford County jails. Services at Miriam’s Promise center on the creation and stabilization of families leading us to provide pregnancy, parenting, adoption and attachment therapy services to almost 200 individuals and successfully placing 44 children in forever families in 2009!

Auctioneer David Allen, “Do I hear $500?”

We are blessed with fabulous corporate sponsors: Gold sponsors were Pinnacle Financial Partners and Tigert Communications, Silver Sponsors: Enterprise Electric and Interstate AC Services; Bronze Sponsors included BB&T, Bloom Electric Supply, Burr & Forman, Dotson Electric, Dr. Jan van Eys, Fleet One, HCA/Tristar, J & D Equipment Hauling, Parkway Wholesale, Simplex Healthcare, Walker Electric, Williams Wholesale, and Wolfe and Travis Electric.

As bidding was taking place Sandy Hunt and others took art work through the banquet hall so everyone could have a close look

In-Kind Sponsors were Athens Distributing Company, Liberty Party Rental, McQuiddy Classic Printing, Sargent’s Fine Catering, Dolphini Networks, Just Love Coffee Roasters, Romano’s Macaroni Grille and Jenny Garland, Musicians Harry Robinson and Brant Harwell.

Many Thanks to Mark Forrester and the Students of the Wesley Foundation at Vanderbilt
by Debbie Robinson

Part of the Vandebilt Wesley Foundation volunteer team that helped serve the meal, and then clear the tables.

At Miriam’s Promise, we think of the Wesley Foundation as special friends. They have volunteered their time and talents over and over again when we needed help. When we opened our new office at Tulip Street, the students gave their week-ends to help us paint and get ready to move.

On March 26th, the students once again stepped in to help at Pasta & Promises. Thanks to them and other volunteers, Pasta & Promises was a success. For the fifth year, the Wesley Foundation came to help as servers and clearers, allowing us to reduce costs and provide even more funds for agency programs. We are so grateful for their help but especially for their cheerful, giving spirits. Our guests love the happy attitudes and hospitality the students bring to the event. MANY THANKS!!!

Spiritual Friends Network shares the movement of the Holy Spirit in today’s world

On March 19, 2007, Rev. Jo Reece and Rev. Sandra Griggs invited a few friends and colleagues to come for “a conversation and brown-bag lunch” at Glendale UMC. 28 persons attended the first meeting with 50 positive responses for interest in this type of networking group. The 3rd Monday of each month was selected for the meeting. 11:30-1:00 Over the last three years the 45 min. programs have been presented by networking membership. The group selected the name "Spiritual Friends Network of Middle Tennessee."

The Spiritual Friends are a network of persons sharing together how the Holy Spirit is moving in traditional and nontraditional, although often ancient, ways in our lives and life-work throughout Christian traditions. At last count there were ten denominations including non-denominational participants.

Members of the group include trained and certified Spiritual Directors, Christian Counselors, Pastoral Counselors, Intentional Prayer Ministers, Hospice Chaplains, Clergy and Lay members actively involved in various areas of healing ministry, and even a few artists. It is an open group and our programs are often experiential in nature. For example, last month Jean Hastings shared about Centering Prayer and led the group in 20 min. of corporate silence.

The next meeting will be April 19, Glendale UMC (http://www.glendale-umc.com/). United Methodist Spiritual Director Kasey Hitt will present the program beginning around 12:00. Kasey Hitt, MDiv, CSD, has been a spiritual director for 7 years in Seattle, WA, and Mt. Juliet, TN. She says that God’s sense of humor and her own burn-out as a youth pastor led her to this ministry of helping people befriend silence and recognize God’s presence & invitations in their ordinary lives. Kasey offers individual direction via Skype, phone and in-person, group direction locally, silent retreats at Mercy Convent, and regular classes in prayer & discernment through Providence United Methodist Church in Mount Juliet.

This is an open group and if you are interested in being placed on the e-mail list contact us at spiritualfriends@comcast.net

Mission: Cost and Benefits
by Ted Hill, M.D., March, 2010

I am on my way back home from another medical mission trip to Mexico. This is mission trip #14 or #15 and I must admit I have lost count.

After all this time I still feel the pre-trip anxiety cause by leaving a well-worn routine. Leaving tends to be anxiety producing for me and always has been. To this comes the unsettledness caused by a different place, people, society, language, food, environment, and relationships—I could go on and on. Even the trip home brings its own set of anxieties from hopefully getting to the airport on time, flight delays, going through customs, making connections in far-away airports, and even returning to the old, well-worn ruts.

Sleep has betrayed me this trip. My anticipation of journey and change seemed to deny restfulness. This time, I find myself reflecting on the “cost-benefit” of this mission trip—this is a real “guy” thing to do, you know, facing the question, “Have I accomplished anything?”

I remember the 78 year-old grandmother who was accompanied by her 9-year-old grandson wearing a school uniform . . . and exhibiting a precious demeanor as he looked for grandmother behind the “doctor tent” exam room where I was working.

We were in a poor Mexican village, which was dusty, windy, and noisy. I discovered the boy’s mother had abandoned him to the care of the elderly grandmother. Who knows about the father? Grandmother had long-standing and uncontrolled diabetes, had lost her elderly husband the year before and was now the lone heir apparent to long-term responsibility for her grandson’s future.

She had walked some distance to our clinic that day with the aid of her cane. Thirty years previously she had suffered a left leg fracture, but the outcome had left her knee at a 45 degree angle, the lower leg turning inward from the upper at the knee. Her leg looked almost like an “L.” A year ago as she walked down an incline her trusty cane (a stick) had broken, and she fell hard, fracturing her right ankle. She suffered some pain but it was not unbearable. Little did she know that her diabetes had left her legs insensitive to pain and she had walked on this unhealed, fractured and deformed leg (technically know as a “Charcot joint”) since the accident.

For the sake of her grandson she had come to see the gringo doctor from the U.S. to see if she could restore the mobility she needed to keep up with a nine year old. On her arrival she reported her diabetes and the medical crew dutifully checked her blood sugar. Fortunately for her, she had not taken her diabetes medicine because her blood sugar was low, and she would never had made it to the clinic if she had taken the medicine. We quickly got her some food the crew had stashed away and she was able to complete her interview. We supplied her with what we had for her ankle and leg – some Tylenol, love, tears, prayer, and a ride home. I promised her my prayers.

As she left the “exam tent,” I had a conversation with God. I said something like, “Where are you for her? What will happen to the grandson when she is gone before he’s grown?” I admit that my anger and emotion grew: “Didn’t you promise no burden too heavy to bear? Where are you for her?”

My answer came, as it often does, in a way I did not want to hear. I recalled the book Night by Elie Weisel. In the book Weisel tells about his experiences in a Nazi concentration camp during World War II. He mentions a thin teen-ager who was executed by hanging in front of all the other prisoners—an example to them not to resist of disobey the Nazi captors. The young lad did not immediately die. His weight could not break his neck and sever his spinal cord, which would cause suffocation as is usual with hangings. So he hung for an eternity it seemed, kicking and squirming and moaning and crying while the prisoners all watched in horror. A cynical, atheist prisoner mate of Weisel whispered to him, “Where is your God now?” Weisel replied, “Right there. Hanging, struggling.” The “word” for me, the answer to my question, “Where are you God?” was “Right here in this woman, this child, you.”

I was there representing God to her and the boy. She was there being God to me—challenging me to look beyond my own need to hers, to the needs of the boy. God was there in that innocent child who was like Matthew 25 says needing to be clothed, fed, visited, cared for.

We left today. I told my translator for many trips of the possibility that I might not return. I gave some excuses—sensible, viable excuses I thought to myself. I was caught off guard by his reply. He did not appear sad, he did not cry (in other words, he did not feed my ego!) He just said, “I will fast and pray God will make a way for you to return next year.”

Is there cost for such a trip as this? You bet! Is there benefit now and for eternity for me and others? You can count on it.

Sacred/Liturgical Dance Workshop to be led by Tiffany Kirkland, Lake Junaluska, North Carolina, July 21-25, 2010

LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. – Do you lead a liturgical or sacred dance group at your church? Are you interested in learning more about this aspect of worship or establishing a church dance group? This summer, Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center will host a Sacred/Liturgical Dance Workshop PLUS, Wednesday-Sunday, July 21-25, 2010.

“The workshop provides an opportunity to learn more about liturgical dance and explore resources, which will in turn help others experience God in a new way, either as a dancer or in worship,” according to Loy Lilley, Director of the Good Word Resource Center and coordinator of the workshop.

The workshop will be led by Tiffany Kirkland, Director of Children’s Ministries at West End United Methodist Church in Nashville, TN. Ms. Kirkland has a Bachelor’s degree in Dance Management from Oklahoma City University, and she also graduated from Phillips Seminary. As such, she has much experience in dance, and has participated in dance ministry. She has also led previous workshops in liturgical dance, and is pursuing becoming a Deacon in The United Methodist Church.

“Lake Junaluska strives to incorporate the arts into its worship programs. We are proud to once again offer a Sacred/Liturgical Dance experience for all persons to learn and grow as dancers in a spiritual setting,” said Executive Director Jimmy L. Carr.

The workshop is open to adults, as well as middle and high school students, and childcare for ages 2-11 is also available for a fee. Participants will learn a minimum of four dances, grow in their understanding of this ministry, learn criteria for dance in worship, and explore resources for dance ministry. In addition to information about liturgical dance, the workshop will also provide a look at signing, ballet, and other ways to enhance participants’ leadership in worship.

Before June 15, participants may register for a fee of $75; after June 15, the cost is $90. This year, an extra day has been added to the workshop so that participants will have a free afternoon to explore the local area and participate in some of the many opportunities in the Smoky Mountains. Workshop attendees will also be involved in Sunday morning worship at Stuart Auditorium. A detailed schedule, registration form, and more information about lodging and directions are available at , or by calling Pam Naplen at 828-454-6656.

http://www.lakejunaluska.com/dance

TENNESSEE CONFERENCE REVIEW April 2, 2010

2010-03-30T12:26:00.001-05:00

Articles in the April 2, 2010 issue of THE REVIEW
1. A love for the creator translates into a love for creation
2. Youth Ministry Workshop for Mustard Seed Churches provides impetus for the growth of smaller church youth programs
3. Hope Comes to Joelton
4. Clarksville District Superintendent promoted to Colonel in the Air National Guard
5. Committee on Native American Ministries provides yearly training in preparation for Native American Sunday
6. KIDS AND CHRIST: Let the children come by Bishop William H. Willimon
7. Jimmy L. Carr’s Lasting Legacy at Lake Junaluska
8. Lebanon First United Methodist Church provides new look at Native American Survival Mission Study
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Hope for Creation: A Live Simulcast Event, April 21, 2010
A love for the creator translates into a love for creation
by Ryan Bennett*

The Rev. Ryan Bennett

For the longest time, I laughed at “tree huggers” and labeled them left wing extremists. I did not see how the environment fit into following Jesus Christ. In fact, I saw them as opposing forces, working against each other. But that all changed when I met Matthew Sleeth. Matthew loves God. He is a passionate follower of Jesus Christ, and he has a call on his life to help the church wake up to its responsibility to be good stewards of God’s creation. I grew to realize the Scriptures are clear on this mandate. From the creation story which tells humanity to rule over creation wisely to Psalm 24’s recognition that “the earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it; all who live in it belong to God.” Jesus’ words that we are to love God with everything we have and love our neighbor as ourselves infers that care for creation is our responsibility. A love for the creator translates into a love for creation, and a love for both current and future neighbors shows a desire to protect our their food supply, air supply, and water supply.

Through Matthew Sleeth, I have learned to watch for trees mentioned in the Biblical narrative. It is not a coincidence that trees are mentioned over 500 times in the Bible, and usually when there is a tree, there is something important going on. The human story begins with the tree of life in the garden, and the story of redemption ends in the book of Revelation with two trees of life and an unpolluted river that runs between them. It is not a coincidence that Jesus died on a tree, or worked with wood as a carpenter. I have learned to embrace the term tree hugger and the connotations it brings.

It is about Jesus! It always has been and always will be. As we turn to look at what we can do as Christians to care for God’s creation, we are not turning away from Christ. We are in fact turning to look him square in the face. I have found that as I have brought this part of stewardship into clearer focus, God has opened doors to be able to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to far reaching areas that I never would have imagined. Just recently I was able to preach chapel service for our state legislature. This opportunity arose because of some work I have done there concerning a bill seeking to ban mountain top removal of coal in Tennessee, a destructive and irresponsible method of harvesting coal. The message was about the passion and joy of following Jesus and serving others. The door was opened because of a growing love for God’s creation.

On April 21st over one thousand churches and one million people will join together around the globe under the banner of a Biblical vision for care of the planet. Matthew Sleeth will be leading the event and will be premiering the newest video series by the people who created the NOOMA video series with Rob Bell. The event is on the eve of Earth Day because the church should be the ones leading the way concerning care for creation. It is not about politics. There are no agendas. Just a desire to come together and share in the hope and good news that we have for all that is God’s creation.

You can sign up to be a host site, get more information, and print off everything you need to promote this event by going to their website at www.blessedearth.org. To host the live event, all you need is broadband internet connection and a way to project the feed from the computer. Even if you do not have that capability, you can sign up to host an event in which you can receive and show two of the film series videos and then discuss their message. Will your church sign up to be a host site? We will also be publishing on listserv and the conference web site several anchor sites in each district where you can go and watch the event live.

Hope for creation is the hope of Jesus Christ, and the church is beginning to understand this.

*Ryan is pastor of Bethlehem UMC in Franklin and is a Blessed Earth board member. If you have questions about the event, you can contact him at 615.794.6721

Youth Ministry Workshop for Mustard Seed Churches provides impetus for the growth of smaller church youth programs

Workshop leader Brad Fiscus used interactive exercises to make important points about the advantages of being a Mustard Seed congregation

Bishop Will’s Life Journal meditation for October 29, 2009 focused on what he called “Mustard Seed Churches.” He dismissed negative comments about small membership churches, and instead showed the value and advantages of healthy small membership congregations. Rather than “small church” or “small membership church” or “circuit church” he felt a more honest descriptive phrase of such churches is “Mustard Seed Churches,” picking up the parable Jesus used in Mark 4:29 when describing the kingdom of God: “It’s like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”

A group of five persons led by host pastor Amy Rayson attempts to navigate a maze

A large group of ten persons attempts to navigate the same maze—they had a much more difficult and time-consuming adventure than a smaller group navigating the same maze.

Bishop Will’s meditation has set a course for the Tennessee Annual Conference—strengthening and enabling “Mustard Seed Churches.” Nowhere was this focus more apparent than on March 11th when Annual Conference Director of Young People’s Ministry, Brad Fiscus, led the workshop “Youth Ministry in Mustard Seed churches” at Palmyra United Methodist Church in the Clarksville District. Representatives from several small churches gathered to explore how their congregations could become “Mustard Seed Churches” that focus on growing a youth ministry when there a few children and youth in the congregation.

Through the workshop Fiscus helped the participants to explore the characteristics of a small church – recognizing both the assets and the obstacles associated with being small. This naturally led to the question, “What are some characteristics of churches who THINK of themselves as small?” The summary statement from the discussion was, “It’s not the size of the church in ministry, it’s the size of the passion for ministry in the church.” As the group segued into discussion of youth ministry there was a feeling that there could be a richer, more satisfying youth ministry in smaller sized congregations than in some of the large congregations. Intermingled with discussion and informative video segments were several interactive exercises that proved the value of rethinking our stereotypes about small churches.

In another interactive moment, a group with eyes shut moves about the room and in their “blindness” prove that people need each other.

Fiscus urged participants to work with their congregations in setting goals. To illustrate the important of goal setting he noted a small regional airline that set goals and followed them even in the face of immense competition from industry giants. Southwest Airlines is no longer a small regional carrier—they have grown considerably with the goal/mantra, “Our planes don’t make money sitting on the ground, we have to get them into the air.” The employees know the goal, and know their airline is different. Within the company, high performance relationships are fostered – one person’s role is not more important than others, company exec or baggage handler. From this comes mutual respect, shared knowledge, and trust among team members.

Group reflection generated good ideas about Mustard Seed youth ministry

Toward the conclusion of the workshop Fiscus prompted participants to think about how congregations relate to youth culture. There are four “E” words that should guide this relationship. “How,” he asked, “does your church Engage, Encourage, Empower, and Equip the young people in the community?” He also stressed the need for congregations within our “connectional” United Methodist system to explore how they could work cooperatively with other congregations.

After the event was over, Beverly Dycus, pastor of the Tennessee Ridge Charge, commented on the value of the workshop: “The Youth Ministry in the Mustard Seed Church training was excellent! I especially enjoyed the interactive components of the training that kept it informative and inspirational. It was evident the event was planned with much prayer in how to effectively reach youth for Jesus Christ. In addition to receiving valuable resources, I left the training energized and equipped with fresh ideas for ministry.” I highly recommend that other “Mustard Seed Churches” work together to sponsor this event in their area for all leaders within Mustard Seed congregations.

Do you want to explore a “Youth Ministry in Mustard Seed Churches” workshop with a cluster of churches in your area? Contact Brad Fiscus, Director of Young People’s Ministry, Tennessee Annual Conference, 304 S. Perimeter Park Drive, Suite One, Nashville, TN 37211, email bfiscus@tnumc.org, phone 615-329-1177.

Hope Comes to Joelton

Six smaller United Methodist Churches in Whites Creek, Joelton and Pleasant View have banded together to make a greater impact in helping the poor in their area of Northern Davidson County than any of them could have done alone. The Joelton Hope Center opened on February 3 with a time of prayer and blessing. Initially the Hope Center will be a community food pantry supported by a thrift store. At the beginning all the staff are volunteers from the churches. As support for the ministry grows other services will be added, like help with prescriptions, utilities, transportation, housing, and education.

An inviting front entrance offers hope. Sales from the thrift store will help support the work of the Hope Center.

Rev. Frank Billman, part-time pastor at Forest Grove UMC and Vice President of the Board of Directors, says “It has been a process of at least 4 years planning to bring this ministry about. And there have been numerous pastoral changes over those years among these churches. We have never had this level of cooperation among these churches before. It’s a God thing!”

The first contribution toward the center came in the form of a “Helping Hands Seed” Grant from the Tennessee Conference Cooperative Ministries. A second grant was received from the Conference Committee on Mercy and Mission. People from the community and the churches have contributed goods and services to renovate the building (a former Bar-b-Que restaurant) and turn it into the Hope Center. Some of the churches have now put the center in their budget for 2010 and Advance Special status will be applied for. The Hope Center is already registered as a Tennessee non-profit corporation and has 501c3 status from the federal government. The Tennessee Department of State has issued a solicitation permit. It will become a Community Food Partner of the Second Harvest Food Bank.

The Blessing time to dedicate the Hope Center, left to right are Dr. Diana Dewitt of Greenville MC, Rev. Caroline Hewett of Beech Grove UMC, Rev. Jeremy Squires of Pleasant View UMC, Dr. Frank Billman of Forest Grove UMC and Martha Neeley who attends Forest Grove UMC

The churches that have formed this ministry are: Greenville, Forest Grove, and Oakwood in Joelton, Beech Grove and Denton’s Chapel in Whites Creek, and Pleasant View in Pleasant View. They are now reaching out ecumenically to involve other churches in the community. St. Lawrence Roman Catholic Church in Joelton has already come on board. A representative from the Civitan Club is being recruited.

Rev. Caroline Farmer Hewett , pastor of Beech Grove, is loaning her expertise gained as director of the Trousdale County Help Center to get this new Hope center up and running. Caroline is on the Board as Director of Development and is serving as the interim director of the center until a permanent director is recruited. Allen Graham, of Greenville UMC is president of the Board. Each church has at least one representative on the Board.

The Center is located at 7158 Whites Creek Pike, in Joelton across from the Joelton Middle School. It is hoped that the ministry will grow so much in a year that a new location will have to be found. The Hope Center is open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 10-5.

Clarksville District Superintendent promoted to Colonel in the Air National Guard

On Friday, March 5, Dr. Ron Lowery, the district superintendent of the Clarksville District, became a Colonel in the Air National Guard. His new duties include service for the Air National Guard at the Tennessee Joint Forces Headquarters in Nashville, USAFE Headquarters in Ramstein, Germany and EUCOM Headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany. His assignment includes pastoral care ministry in the Tennessee Air National Guard, coordination of care for the hospitalized military personnel and their families and assisting in chaplain ministry development with the State Partnership Programs between American states and European nations.

With his hand on his childhood Bible and his wife, Connie, at his side, Chaplain, Colonel Ron Lowery takes the oath of office, as Col Gus Schettler, Tennessee Joint Forces Headquarters, presides.

The special “pinning on” service was narrated by Col. Gus Schettler at the Air National Guard Headquarters in Nashville. Major General (Air Guard) Russ Cotney and Connie Lowery, Ron’s wife, Myra Harris and Betty Lowery, installed Ron’s eagles. Bishop Dick Wills and the Cabinet attended the event and Bishop Wills prayed the invocation. Tom Halliburton offered the benediction. Among those attending the ceremony was COL (retired) Melvin Nelson, Ron’s first commander in the Army National Guard, and a member at Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church, in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee. The occasion was followed by a reception in the headquarters building.

Ron left on Sunday, March 7, for a ten day tour of duty in Germany to provide ministry to our infirmed and wounded warriors. During the next three years, he will be engaged in these duties to ensure that the needs of our soldiers, sailors and airmen are being meet. As a district superintendent, he is working with a team to develop a ministry to the military community in the Clarksville area. This effort, known as “The Ft. Campbell Connection” will be a way to provide meaningful ministry to the military community.

Committee on Native American Ministries provides yearly training in preparation for Native American Sunday

Cookeville District Representative Pat Bryan points out special items in the display

Each year the Tennessee Conference Committee on Native American Ministries (CONAM) sponsors an event to train local church Native American representatives and church lay leaders. This event is designed to prepare persons for the celebration of Native American Sunday (To be held officially April 18, 2010) and the special ministries supported by the offering taken on that day. This Special Sunday offering educates Native American seminarians and cultivates Native American outreach in educational endeavors.

Group speaking with Native American Ministry committee chairperson Wes Bryan at the resource table.

CONAM, however, takes “Native American Resource Day” a giant step beyond just supporting an important offering—persons attending the “Resource Day” learn a great deal about all aspects of Native American culture and tradition. The event, held at Blackman United Methodist Church on March 14, 2010, was a good example with rich displays, an exceptional collection of printed resources including books, and the piece de resistance – the serving of Native American Foods including freshly prepared fry bread.

Clarksville District Representative Debbie Fitzhugh with Pat and Rev. Al Geeting.

CONAM also sponsors the nationally acclaimed retreat/festival Native Moccasins Rock which features interactive workshops, music, dance, worship and plenty of fellowship as participants have a chance to learn from noted Native American artists, speakers, story tellers, and performers. This year’s Native Moccasins Rock will be held August 13, 14, and 15th at Camp Lake Benson, Bon Aqua, Tennessee. This is one festival that persons can genuinely enjoy as a family since there will be major interactive workshop experiences for children and youth as well as adults.

Juanita Gardinski readies fry bread for the skillet

Lining up for a traditional Native American meal prepared by Juanita and husband Joe Gardinski.

Because the date for Native American Sunday is not always a good one for some local churches, THIS is a Special Sunday that can be moved to a time that is more convenient for any given congregation. Whenever Native American Sunday is held there are special resources available to help interpret the special offering, including free offering envelopes. Call (888) 346-3862 today to order envelopes and other resources so your congregation can participate in this church-wide offering. They will be sent at no cost to your church!

The Conference Committee has garnered a large amount of resources through the years and will be glad to work with local churches. They have books, displays, audio-video materials and can also provide speakers or teachers. Some of the Committee members are also Lay Speakers.

KIDS AND CHRIST: Let the children come
By Bishop William H. Willimon*
Special Contributor

Bishop William H. Willimon

One day Jesus was teaching. Everyone gathered round was attempting to pay attention (Mark 10:13-16). Nearby, a couple of children scuffled in the dust.

“Can’t something be done about these children?” said one of the disciples. “Send them away. We can’t pay attention to you with the distraction of these children. Don’t we have a nursery for people like them?”

Do you remember what Jesus said? “Let the little children come to me.” And embracing them in his arms, Jesus blessed the children saying, “The Kingdom of God belongs to children. Grownups have difficulty getting into a kingdom with such a small door.”

Children, whom we tend to regard as distractions, were put by Jesus at the center of his realm. Biblical interpreters agree that in a day and a culture when children were considered less than full human beings, Jesus performed a radical, countercultural act when he put children at the center, making them the enactment of his Good News.

What Jesus said about children is similar to what Jesus said about the poor, the marginalized and “the least of these.”

Before I rose to preach last Sunday, the host pastor said, “And now the children are dismissed to go to children’s church.” The implication is that my sermon was for adults only. Was Jesus in error when he said that children have no problem entering the Kingdom of God?

The average age of my church is about 58 years old. The proportion of United Methodists who are under age 12 is in serious decline. Children’s Christian education, judging from the sales of literature, is virtually extinct. We are therefore in violation of Jesus’ clear command: “Let the little children come to me.”

And yet—according to my read of Jesus and the children—one of the distinguishing marks of the church is the active presence of children.

One of my district superintendents recently invited me to preach at Trinity UMC, in the northern part of our conference, to see the transformation that is occurring there.

I had trouble finding a parking place in the streets around this once moribund church. They had quite a crowd gathering for worship. I was amazed. But the most amazing sight was yet to come: The first four pews were packed with children and youth.

“That’s a rare sight,” I commented to the pastor. “You have so many children!”

“Only four of those kids are related to anybody in the congregation,” the pastor told me.

“What? Whose children are they?” I asked.

“They belong to Jesus,” said the pastor as he busied himself with pre-service preparations. “He’s loaning them to us to help turn this thing around.”

The surrounding community lacks the social services to care for children in need, the pastor explained, so he had “cut a deal with the police in this county.”

“When they go in to bust up a meth lab,” he said, “there are usually children present in that horrible place. They can call us day or night, and in 30 minutes we will have trained people to rescue the children and provide them a safe place to stay until the courts can sort things out.

“We’ve got a family court judge who works with us, too. We’ve got six families that are certified foster care parents. Two of these kids were threatened by their parents, who told them that if they didn’t behave they couldn’t come to Sunday school! Our Sunday school is that good!

“Half of our kids are only allowed by the court to live at home with their parents if our church certifies that we are working with the parents properly to care for them.”

There were tears in my eyes.

“Those children have given us more than we’ve given them,” the pastor said. “Like Jesus said, ‘When you receive one such child in my name, you receive me.’”

Our culture is not very child-friendly. Only a tiny proportion of North American children have been introduced or instructed in the Christian faith.

Yet God has blessed many of our congregations with older people who have the talents and the time to lead ministries with children. Any United Methodist church that is bereft of children, that has no program for reaching children and allowing children to reach us, has yet to meet the theological criteria for church.

I can show you churches that grew tired of competing with Sunday morning youth soccer league games. Instead they formed their own soccer league to play at times other than Sunday morning.

I’ve visited churches with after-school programs for latchkey kids.

In one of my congregations, older adults offer a “Parents’ Night Out” on Fridays where parents can bring children for an evening of stories, games and food. The size of their children’s ministry doubled in one year, confirming our conference children’s coordinator’s dictum: “The easiest way to grow a church is with children.”

I appointed a former elementary school teacher to be pastor of a small, declining church with a median age of 60 (a typical United Methodist church, that is). On her first Sunday, she announced, “I am here to see if God can give this church a future,” and told them that the only way for that to happen is to be hospitable to children as a way of embracing the “least of these.”

Unused Sunday school rooms were a disgrace, so she had a team of painters refurbish them. The next Sunday, she gave an altar call and asked people to come forward who were gifted for children’s ministry.

Three older women came and knelt at the altar. The pastor consecrated them to lead the congregation into a new century and promised to equip them. By the next Sunday, she said, each of these teachers would prepare a great lesson and be ready for God’s children.

If no children showed up, the teacher would sit in the newly painted Sunday school room and spend the hour praying that God would bring children who could lead the congregation to Jesus. Then she charged each person in the congregation to bring at least one child with them to worship next Sunday.

A year later, that church is being reborn, confirming the truth of the biblical promise, “A little child shall lead them.”

*United Methodist Bishop Willimon leads the Birmingham Area.

Join the conversation: A “Kids and Christ” Facebook page has been set up by the United Methodist Publishing House.

Jimmy L. Carr’s Lasting Legacy at Lake Junaluska

The Rev. Dr. Jimmy L. Carr

LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. – Since June 2000, Rev. Dr. Jimmy L. Carr has faithfully served as the Executive Director of Lake Junaluska. With a lasting legacy established because of his strong leadership, Carr recently announced his retirement, effective at the conclusion of 2010.

“I will soon be in the eleventh year as Executive Director here at Lake Junaluska, and I feel that I have given the leadership I needed to give,” Carr said. “These years have been challenging and rewarding. Joy, my wife, and I have enjoyed our opportunities for ministry at this very special place. We both feel now is the time to begin to enjoy a new chapter in our lives.”

During his time as Executive Director, Carr has successfully spearheaded several major campaigns, including a fundraising campaign that collected $11 million dollars for improvements at Lake Junaluska, the establishment of a workplace discipleship program, and renovations of several lodging and meeting facilities around campus. As a result of Carr’s leadership, the Lake Junaluska staff has striven to provide a quality experience to all who visit Lake Junaluska.

Upon retirement, Jimmy and Joy Carr will divide their retirement between Lake Junaluska and Brandon, Mississippi. Carr and his wife plan to enjoy spending more time with their children and grandchildren upon retirement.

“I believe that the best days for Lake Junaluska are ahead. We have dealt with many transitional issues and have implemented many good ministry and business practices that will carry us into the future,” said Carr.

Bishop Larry Goodpaster, the President of the Lake Junaluska Board, and the Executive Committee are in the process of searching for the right person to fill the position.

“We will move forward,” said Bishop Goodpaster. “Transitions are never easy, but being at a strong place like we are now will make it easier. We have assembled a great group of people at Lake Junaluska. Over the next few weeks we will name a search committee. My challenge to them will be to bring us a name for the new Executive Director at the October Board Meeting. Furthermore, we hope that by January 2011, we will have a new Executive Director in place.”

Rev. Carr is an ordained Deacon in The United Methodist Church. A native of Forest, MS, he was educated at Forest schools, the university of Southern Mississippi and Scarritt College, Nashville, TN, where he was awarded the Masters of Arts degree in Christian Education. He has served as a member of the Board of Trustees of Rust College since 1995 and chairs the Student Affairs Committee. He also serves as a member of the Executive Committee.

Prior to his appointment to the Southeastern Jurisdiction position, Carr served as associate general secretary, section of Deacon and Diaconal Ministries with the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. He was instrumental in the development of the Order of Deacon having participated in the study of ministry for two quadrennia on behalf of the general church prior to serving in that appointment. From 1986-1988, Rev. Carr also served on the committee that began the process for establishing Africa University, Mutare, Zimbabwe.

In 2003, Rev. Carr was awarded a Doctor of Humanities from Rust College in Holly Springs, MS, where he served as a member of the Board of Trustees from 1995 – 2003 and Chaired the Student Affairs Committee. Rust College is one of the 13 historic African-American United Methodist colleges within the United States.

Rev. Carr served appointments in Pascagoula, Meridian and Jackson as a member of the Mississippi Conference. His commitment to The Church has led him to serve in many conference and district positions throughout his career. In addition he has been active in the life of the communities in which he lived. He served as a governor appointee on the board of Supervisors of Rankin County, MS, and as chair of the Rankin County Democratic Executive Committee.

“It has been a real joy being at Lake Junaluska. I especially appreciate the support of my co-workers, The United Methodist Church, and the local community,” said Carr.

Throughout 2010, Lake Junaluska will be celebrating the accomplishments and retirement of Rev. Jimmy L. Carr. For more information about Rev. Carr’s retirement, please visit http://www.lakejunaluska.com/jimmy-carr.

Lebanon First United Methodist Church provides new look at Native American Survival Mission Study
By Margaret Partee

Lebanon First United Methodist Church sponsored a workshop in February related to a 2008-2009 United Methodist Women Mission Study entitled “Native American Survival.” The event was wonderful. It was sponsored by the UMW but that fact was not advertised. We just asked for interested persons to sign up. As teacher, I only wanted between 20 and 30 participants because I wanted to sit in a circle to encourage participation. The event attracted three men and twenty two women, over half of whom were NOT in the UMW. That pleased me. Of the twenty five, nine participants have Native American heritage. It was held on a Saturday from 9:30 until 2:00.

We met for potlatch (like our potluck) where we shared with one another. I had a focus table with items to discuss - a cornucopia filled with the three sisters (corn, beans, squash—always planted together in Native American tradition), a basket of strawberries, a pitcher of water, and other items. I told about the companion planting and the Cherokee strawberry legend, etc. Others were wonderful in sharing. They were so receptive to the class it made it easy. I had the CD playing in the background during Potlatch and I told some about the music especially it providing a way to preserve the language. We watched the DVD provided with the study after I had given a review of parts of the textbook then discussed it. I used the Iroquois litany and several native prayers that I gleaned from different sources.

We had lunch that consisted of the three sisters in a succotash, turkey, blueberry corn muffins and pumpkin cranberry cake (all available to Natives!) After lunch two women told stories of Native women like those to be found in the back of the text. One story depicted a mother trying to get medical care for her child. It was told by a church member who had actually lived in the far reaches of Alaska and gave birth to two children there. She was quite familiar with the medical issues!!! The other related to the Indian schools where the kids were sent.

Then several women summarized articles from a 2008 issue of Response Magazine that focused on the Native Americans, the Methodist Church, and UMW involvement in Native American ministry. It all really worked out well. Our local church United Methodist Women’s Unit may pick up on one of the ways Response suggested to help Native Americans in addition to providing the school supplies we collected for Native Schools. Collecting and sending coats or the baby supplies to Nome is a real possibility.

I was quite pleased with the way the workshop turned out and have had a number of positive comments on it.