TENNESSEE CONFERENCE REVIEW February 6, 2009

Articles in this edition of THE REVIEW

1. Bellevue United Methodist Church Celebrates Bicentennial in 2009
2. Belmont United Methodist Church: The Christmas Miracle
3. Harris Chapel United Methodist Church provides help for wounded military
4. “This must be what heaven is like,” Human Relations Sunday worship service, January 18, 2009
5. Groundbreaking Ceremony for New Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall at LaVergne First United Methodist Church
6. Cancer-stricken Pastor feels love and support of United Methodist congregation far from home
7. Tennessee Conference Pastor has once in a lifetime experience – attendance at the presidential inauguration ceremony
8. Hillcrest United Methodist Church experiences four infant baptisms on the same Sunday
9. Clergy Renewal at Beersheba Springs Assembly
10. Bishop Names New Superintendents to Cumberland and Clarksville Districts
11. Friends of Cedar Crest & Friends of Beersheba
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Bellevue United Methodist Church Celebrates Bicentennial in 2009
Bellevue United Methodist Church will began a year-long celebration in 2009 to mark the congregation’s 200th year of ministry in the Bellevue area. The church’s bicentennial committee, co-chaired by Margaret Cornell and Jo and Pepper Bruce, has been at work for more than a year to plan exciting events for the congregation and the community at large.

“Our bicentennial committee of more than 30 people has put together a wonderful variety of events that our members can enjoy as we celebrate all year long,” says Cornell. “We feel 200 years is quite an achievement for our church and we want to share our excitement.”

Retired minister Ed Crump displays a Bible printed in 1806.

The first bicentennial event was held on January 4, 2009, with a special worship and communion service. Preacher for the day was retired minister Ed Crump who also did the children’s sermon featuring a huge pulpit bible that was printed in the year 1806, three years before the Bellevue congregation was deeded land to build its first building. At the conclusion of the service the congregation had an opportunity to greet the church’s first pastor, the Rev. Levin Edney, and his wife, Polly, who had arrived by horseback from Edney’s Meetinghouse while the Hillcrest service was finishing. Banners both inside the church and outside proclaimed the congregation’s 200 year old history. Banners in the sanctuary reflect the theme of the bicentennial—“O God our help, in ages past. Our hope for years to come.”

A sampling of bicentennial events to come this year includes:
+Special worship services
+Unveiling of the bicentennial quilt
+Hymn sing and old fashioned ice cream social
+A new, written history of the church
+Homecoming gathering
+Celebrations through music and drama
+Mementoes to purchase
+Recognition of longest members

The church’s beginnings extend back to 1803 when Bishop Francis Asbury appointed Levin Edney to the Nashville Circuit near Pasquo and the infant Belleview area (the spelling was changed to Bellevue in 1969). In 1809, Levin Edney’s brother, Newton, deeded land to his brother and the tiny congregation to build “Edney’s Meeting House”, (currently the site of Pasquo Church of Christ). In 1813, the building burned but was replaced the same year at a nearby location as Edney’s Chapel where the congregation remained for 97 years. The congregation relocated to 7544 Old Harding Road in 1910 as the Belleview Methodist Episcopal Church and again in 1969 to 7501 Old Harding Road where it remains today. Since Levin Edney, the church has been led by 123 pastors, including the Rev. David Rainey, who serves there today.

Original pastor Levin Edney and wife showed up to greet church members after the service. Edney was portrayed by Will Walden, and Polly Edney by June Walden. Circuit rider horse was played by “Diamond.”

Today, the church is still dedicated to building a strong community of faith with their neighbors in Bellevue and beyond. It offers a variety of outreach ministries, as well as Christian education opportunities for children, youth and adults. “Our heritage is important to us, but we also strive to continue to serve Christ by serving others,” says Rev. David Rainey. “We will continue to be diligent in shaping our history so that Bellevue United Methodist Church will be an active part of this community for another 200 years.”

Upcoming Bi-centennial events:
Friday, March 27: “The Man from Aldersgate.” Actor Roger Nelson portrays John Wesley in a one-man drama. The performance, open to the public, will be held in the sanctuary at 7:00 p.m. with a reception to follow in Greer Hall. There is no admission charge but a free-will offering will be accepted as people exit.
Sunday, July 26: Old fashioned Methodist Hymn Sing followed by Ice Cream Social. Dr. Matthew Kennedy will be special guest pianist.
Sunday, September 27: Homecoming with a potluck dinner under tent at Masonic Lodge. Meet old and new friends, enjoy special music and entertainment.
Sunday, November 1: All Saints Day. Roll out the Red Carpet! Recognition of Bellevue UMC 30, 40, 50+ year members.

Throughout the bicentennial year funds will be raised for the Nothing But Nets campaign to fight malaria in Africa.


Belmont United Methodist Church: The Christmas Miracle
Before the miracle—a geography lesson: The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast and Mozambique, which surrounds it on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. . . .
Malawi is among the world's least developed and most densely populated countries. . . .
Malawi has a low life expectancy and high infant mortality. There is a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS (from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

And now the miracle --
The goal was $30,000 which would provide the materials to build churches in ten Malawi villages. As of January 19, $54,143 has been received. That will mean at least 16 villages will have a strong church building with a metal roof. Upon hearing that we had surpassed the goal, Rev. Daniel Mhone, the Mission Area Superintendent, wrote the following letter to Belmont,
“On behalf of the Malawi Church, I send our very tears of joy and gratitude at what God continues to do even in these days of our Christian journey. God moves among his people connecting us in prayer though separated by a very immense distance. [Belmont's Christmas Miracle offering] is a Christmas miracle at the very beginning of the century as the American economy is in turmoil. Yet in those very difficult circumstances, God moves his very people to give beyond what was targeted by over %50. This is no small achievement, neither of human doing BUT God's own way of doing things even in our very days of existence. WE will not resist tears of joy and gratitude at God's own miracle.

Those without shelter will have a shelter and the villages will have a place to teach children and women. These church buildings are the synagogues of our times. Synagogues were centers of education in the Jewish society and so the 16 new churches are forming a "synagogue theology" of Methodism in the newly legislated Missionary Conference.

All participating in this are a part of the history in the making. Please know this that our hearts have been challenged, warmed, encouraged and assured of God's own presence in all this. We are talking of Emmanuel "God with us", and we are all witnesses of this happening. God bless each one of us that is part of this doing of God.”

The Malawi United Methodist Church has over 90 organized congregations but less than 10 permanent church buildings. Most congregations meet under a tree or in a temporary arbor. The $3,000 per church from the Christmas Miracle offering provides cement, sand, mortar, wood for trusses, metal roofs, and doors for the church. Local church members will make bricks, fire them, and do the construction for their new buildings.

In February, Kara and Jeff Oliver and Sue and Herb Mather will be in Malawi for two weeks. Although it will be the rainy season that makes rural travel difficult, they hope to photograph some of the villages which are receiving help with a church. And later, when the churches are completed, we will have more pictures to share. The Outreach Committee is working on recommendations for people-to-people connections between the people in the villages and their friends in Christ at Belmont UMC.

The miracle is more than buildings. The miracle is the enriching of the faith for the people of Malawi and the people of Belmont UMC.


Harris Chapel United Methodist Church provides help for wounded military

Harris Chapel United Methodist Church Lay Leader Frank Nichols asked his grandson what he wanted for Christmas. The answer came quickly and in a single word.

“Blankets!”

Frank Nichols’ grandson is John Nichols, a front-line medic with the 101 Airborne in Afghanistan. John explained that when soldiers are wounded or injured, they are brought first to the aid station where he is on duty. He treats the wounds as best he can, then wraps the injured in blankets and sends them back to an Army field hospital. Although the Army provides blankets for the aid stations, the blankets that wrap the soldiers sent to the field hospitals often become heavily soiled and bloody and are seldom returned. Therefore the aid stations are chronically short of blankets in the cold mountainous climate of eastern Afghanistan.

The congregation of Harris Chapel United Methodist Church gathered around fifteen cases of blankets and linens bound for Afghanistan.

Frank Nichols’ response was instantaneous. “I’m going to tell the church, and we’ll get you blankets!”

Frank took John’s concern to Harris Chapel United Methodist Church where Frank serves as Lay Leader. The response of the small membership congregation was overwhelming. More than $1,000.00 was raised in a few weeks to purchase blankets and linens for Afghanistan. With the help of the staff at the local Wal-Mart, 73 blankets, 45 flat sheets, and 37 pillowcases were selected and packed for shipment in fifteen large cartons. Those blankets and linens are now on their way to meet the critical needs of forward aid stations on the front lines in Afghanistan.

“What do you want for Christmas, John?” John’s response was not a gift for himself but a gift of life for wounded and injured soldiers. The congregation of Harris Chapel United Methodist Church heard the request and more than rose to the challenge.


“This must be what heaven is like,” Human Relations Sunday worship service, January 18, 2009

Native American Committee members Debbie Fitzhugh (l) and Mary T Newman (r) stand with featured speaker Freeman Owle

It was an impossible sight to believe when speakers and liturgists looked over the crowd gathered at Monroe Street United Methodist Church on Sunday, January 18th, for the Annual Conference celebration of Human Relations Sunday as well as observing the national celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. “This must be what heaven is like,” noted one teary-eyed speaker, and those sentiments were repeated several times during the afternoon worship experience. It seemed like heaven because all of God’s children were worshipping together, persons from Myanmar and southeast Asia, a large group of persons from Hispanic/Latino cultures, African Americans, Native Americans, and European Americans—ONE people, all together joyfully worshipping the ONE God.

Music by the AquaVilla praise band was greatly appreciated

Main speaker for the day was Cherokee storyteller and artisan Freeman Owle – who shared family traditions of the “Trail of Tears” an historic epic from the early 1830s where Native Americans from throughout the southeast were forced to relocate from their homelands to Indian Territory (present day Oklahoma). This forced movement of an enslaved tribal people passed through Nashville heading for sanctuary in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. The “Trail of Tears” resulted in many hundreds of deaths—mainly children, and the elderly. Owle’s ancestors managed to slip away from the march before its conclusion and return to North Carolina. And, noted, Owle . . . there were African Americans and Caucasians on the march as well – you became, in the culture of the time, the ethnic group of the parent with the darkest skin. If an African American and Native American had a child – that child was black; if a European American and a Native American had a child, that child was considered an “Indian.”

Belmont’s Golden Triangle group from southeast Asia was heavily involved in the service.

“When I look out at the people in front of me,” noted Freeman, “I don’t see Andrew Jackson, Junaluska, the people of the past. I see my brothers and sisters.” “We have the present and future here,” Freeman concluded, “a comfort zone created by the Spirit of a Loving God.”

Liturgical Dancers from several local churches combined their talents to share Martin Luther King’s message in new and exciting ways.

The service began with a blessing of the sanctuary. The burning of sweetgrass, sage, tobacco, and cedar is a Native American tradition. As the smoke drifts upward, the area is blessed and the fragrance settles us into a time of worship. AquaVilla, the praise band for the worship service was Hispanic/Latino, there were hymns in Spanish and English, the passing of the peace was done wordlessly in the style of Christians from southeast Asia, and everything was ultimately held together with the words of Martin Luther King narrated dramatically and with great passion by African American pastor Roland Scruggs.

Retired United Methodist minister Roland Scruggs brought Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech to life.

Probably nothing indicated the spiritual impact of the worship so much as the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., spoken by Scruggs: “Now it is time to open the door of opportunity to all of God’s children. . . injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” (I have a dream speech by Martin Luther King, Jr., August 8, 1963.

The Human Relations Day offering taken at the service went directly to support Community Developers, United Methodist Voluntary Service and the Youth Offender Rehabilitation Program. These efforts aim to heal injustice in the United States and Puerto Rico by encouraging social justice and work with at-risk youth.


Groundbreaking Ceremony for New Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall at LaVergne First United Methodist Church

Greg Holleran (Church Council Chairman) and Page Durham (President UMW) breaking ground.

On Sunday, January 11, 2009, the Congregation of LaVergne First United Methodist Church held a groundbreaking ceremony for an expansion of their facility. A new 8,000 sq ft. two story addition will include a new sanctuary that will seat approximately 350 people including a choir loft for 57 on the upper level and a new fellowship hall, kitchen and additional program space on the lower level. The church has experienced a 30% growth rate during 2008 and the new space is needed to accommodate the growing church family. The church was recently awarded the Ruthie Award for “Favorite Place to Worship in LaVergne” by the Daily News Journal.

The ceremony was led by Rev. Buddy Royston in the presence of a large number of persons from the church and the community. District Superintendent Cathie Leimenstoll and the Mayor of LaVergne Ronne Erwin were both present for the occasion. In addition to the groundbreaking, the ceremony recognized those Charter Members of the church who were present, and paid tribute to the congregation’s youngest generation, the children of the church.

Charter members of the church were recognized as well as the congregation’s children

The church expansion will be constructed by Dow Smith Contracting of Smyrna, TN and financed by Wilson Bank and Trust. The construction project is scheduled to be completed by mid-summer of 2009 at which time the date for a consecration service will be set.

LaVergne First United Methodist Church was founded in December 1975. Worship services times are 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. with Sunday School at 9:15 a.m. There is also a weekly bible study at 6 p.m. on Tuesdays. Additional information about the church can be found on the church website at http://www.lavergnefirstumc.org/ or by phoning the church office at (615) 793-6631.


Cancer-stricken Pastor feels love and support of United Methodist congregation far from home
The Rev. Emilio Hernandez, pastor of La Hermosa Hispanic Congregation, Smithville United Methodist Church, was diagnosed with stomach cancer in November of 2008. His cancer would require surgery, likely follow-up chemo or radiation treatment, and lengthy rehabilitation.
Affordable medical care was not available either in Nashville or within the Cookeville District. As a last resort Emilio was taken to Methodist Hospital in Memphis and accepted as a patient. On December 8, 2008, he underwent serious surgery to remove the cancerous tumor in his stomach. Surgery, ongoing treatment, and slow recuperation necessitated a long, extended stay in Memphis, away from home, family, friends, and members of Emilio’s congregation.

Maria, Claudet, and Emilio Hernandez

Enter pastor Mark Matheny and the membership of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, a congregation five miles from the Methodist Health Center, who reacted strongly and purposefully to meet the needs of Pastor Emilio and his wife Maria.

A couple from St. Luke’s, David and Glenda Turner, provided a house for Emilio, Maria, and visiting family members. The congregation’s loving concern extended to collecting special funds to cover utilities at the house as well as occasional Kroger gift cards for groceries.

When Emilio is physically able he and Maria attend St. Luke’s UMC for worship, and the congregation remembers fondly the Sunday before Christmas when Emilio, confined to a sitting position, delivered a stirring and emotional benediction. Pastor Mark Matheny and the congregation also remembers daughter Claudet’s abilities as a translator before she returned to her classes at Martin Methodist College. Claudet is the second oldest in a Hernandez family of four –Esther, then Claudet, Liliana, and Ricardo.

Recently Pastor Emilio wrote a note to the Tennessee Annual Conference: “We are so grateful to each one of the pastors and your congregations that have kept us in your prayers. We are pleased to let you know that, thanks to God, the surgery went well and there has been no difficulty during the recuperation. Nonetheless, during surgery the doctors realized that the cancer had spread, so now we are waiting to begin chemotherapy and radiation. I will return to the hospital on January 26 to begin the treatment and will write you then to give you more information. . . Again, please accept my deepest gratitude for your prayers, for the support that you have given us, and for the calls and notes than have sustained us during this process.”

Probably no Pastor and congregation has felt the gratitude of Emilio and Maria Hernandez so much as the Rev. Mark Matheny and St. Luke’s United Methodist. In the darkest and loneliest of days the Hernandez family found a community which reached out in love and compassion to a stranger. Joaquin Garcia has been overwhelmed by the generosity and love of the St. Luke’s UMC, Smithville United Methodist Church, the Cookeville District and the whole Tennessee Conference. Maria says, “I have received such beautiful cards saying that the sender is praying for us – I don’t know the persons, however I can feel connected in the spirit of God’s love.” “What can I say?” Joaquin asks. “This is such a marvelous example of the Church being the Church and I can’t help but marvel at the generosity of St. Luke’s and its genuine concern.”


Tennessee Conference Pastor has once in a lifetime experience – attendance at the presidential inauguration ceremony

It all started with high hopes and tremendous excitement – a charter bus trip from Memphis, Tennessee, to Washington for the inauguration of Barack Obama. Three busloads of people on a trip organized by St. Augustine Roman Catholic Church in Memphis. The church’s priest had a long tradition of working ecumenically through Shelby County Interfaith (Memphis equivalent to Nashville’s TNT—Tying Nashville Together) and so word of the trip passed quickly to United Methodist minister John Glaze who shared the information with former Memphis Conference minister Herbert Lester (Now Senior Pastor, Blakemore United Methodist Church, Nashville District).

Some things were a bit unsettling. The buses were to arrive at St. Augustine Church and head out on Friday evening. They didn’t show up until Saturday morning forcing some out-of-towners to quickly scrounge for hotel space. Lester, who served the same congregation in Memphis for 18 years, was fortunate. He had both friends and family nearby. When the buses finally hit the road to Washington at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, the adventure was just beginning—a major accident on the Interstate meant that three busloads of passengers had to sit on non-moving buses for 6 to 8 hours. The trip which was supposed to get them to an Embassy Suites Hotel in Williamsburg, Virginia, on Saturday night didn’t get there until Sunday—fortunately the hotel held the rooms, a kind gesture since hotel space anywhere close to Washington DC was at a premium. The hotel was crowded with persons going to the inauguration including one college band and one high school band.

Is this Herbert Lester standing next to a cut-out version of President Obama, or the President standing next to a cut-out of Herbert Lester?

After a day of shopping at a nearby mall on Monday, Lester, his friend John Glaze, and their busload of excited DC visitors headed from Williamsburg to Washington D.C. at 2:30 a.m. and arrived in a reserved parking space at K Street and New Jersey, behind the Capitol building, at about 5:30 a.m. No one minded the cold, a wind-chill temperature of 8 degrees, nor did they mind the 5 mile hike to where they would watch the inauguration from a section of the Capitol mall about halfway between the Capitol and the Washington monument. The section where Lester and his party stood did not require tickets and huge jumbotron screens meant they had a great view of the inauguration. “The government buildings were all open,” notes Lester, “and we stopped twice on the walk to warm up and get coffee. We went into both the Dept. of Transportation and Dept. of the Interior buildings . . . and there were crowds of people that spent all night in those buildings.”

Lester becomes very reflective when he speaks of the people gathered in his section. “There were people displaying Pakistani flags, and Palestinian flags. I saw a lot of people in wheel chairs which surprised me – and you could actually feel a sense of optimism and hope from everyone. Personally I felt a tremendous excitement, and joy . . . a sense of awe that an African American was actually being inaugurated as president. Until recently I definitely felt that a person of color could never be elected in my lifetime. The feeling of optimism and personal peace was so strong that it affected everyone’s behavior. As packed as the place was with people NO one got upset with neighbors for pushing and jostling. There was just a good feeling that people shared throughout the whole day. For all of us it was a once in a lifetime experience.

One of Lester’s daughters , a senior at MTSU who had worked on the Obama campaign, was also present SOMEplace on the mall, but was not part of the Memphis group. Lester and his daughter kept in touch by texting messages to each other, joined by another daughter who was still back in Tennessee. “My daughter actually attended one of the inaugural balls and was within an arms length of the president at one time.”

“I think what happened . . . the feeling of the crowd at the inauguration . . . President Obama’s confidence. Everything that happened might help people to have the confidence to get through some real difficult times. And this isn’t just an American thing. There is hope and excitement around the world about what the future will be.”


Hillcrest United Methodist Church experiences four infant baptisms on the same Sunday

Proud Parents from left to right: Craig Mulvey, Holly Mulvey with Jamie, Denise Crawford with Jocelyn, Brian Crawford with Zoe, Mandi Billings with Mackenzie, Mike Billings

It was fitting. The scripture, Acts 16: 13-15 and 22-34, recounts the transformation of two persons, business woman Lydia and a Roman jailer. Both stories end with the baptism—Lydia’s entire household and the jailer’s household. This means that the entire family and likely all servants were baptized by Paul and his associates.

Great grandfather Vernon Denny proudly shares Jamie Mulvey with the congregation.

On this Sunday, January 11th, at Hillcrest United Methodist Church four infants were to be baptized: Mackenzie Lynn Billings, daughter of Mike and Mandi Billings; twins Jocelyn Ruth and Zoe Catherine Crawford, daughters of Brian and Denise Crawford; and James Michael Mulvey, son of Craig and Holly Mulvey. The baptisms of Mackenzie, Jocelyn and Zoe were performed by senior pastor Paul Purdue while the baptism of James Michael Mulvey was performed by proud great grandfather and United Methodist elder Vernon Denny.

Barbara Garcia holding Zoe Crawford, and Joaquin Garcia holding Jocelyn Crawford as the newly baptized infants are introduced to the Hillcrest congregation.

After the baptisms had taken place and in keeping with Hillcrest baptism procedure, the babies were walked throughout the sanctuary – making certain that everyone – adult, youth, and even the children – were accepting responsibility for helping to raise the babies in an atmosphere of love and support. Vern Denny walked with grandson James; Pastor Paul Purdue carried MacKenzie Billings and made certain that children and youth KNEW they also were accepting responsibility for the raising of this infant girl; Jocelyn and Zoe were carried by United Methodist Deacons affiliated with Hillcrest church, Barbara and Joaquin Garcia.

As Pastor Paul Purdue introduces Mackenzie Billings to the congregation he makes certain children in the congregation feel that they will be important in the lives of the children baptized that morning.

During the carrying of the babies through the sanctuary facial expressions on the faces of church members, as they individually greeted the infants, reaffirmed the pledge everyone had just made: “We give thanks for all that God has already given you and we welcome you in Christian love.”

At the conclusion of the service pastor Purdue provided an opportunity for all church members to come forward and renew their baptismal vows, anointing each person with water and the sign of the cross.



Clergy Renewal at Beersheba Springs Assembly

Beersheba Springs Assembly is pleased to announce special rates for all Clergy who desire time away for renewal leaves. Beginning in February, 2009 we will have spaces available for extended renewal leaves. These new accommodations are located in The Lois B. Nunley Conference Center on Brick Row. They include a modern guest room with a private porch area and access to a kitchen for meal preparations. The camp has wireless internet access and plenty of sacred space for spiritual renewal. The cost for clergy, with or without spouse, and church staff members is $35 a night without meals. Meals may be purchased at regular price if the camp is serving a group at the time of stay.

Come and join us for a time apart and renew your ministry! We will do our very best to accommodate your needs while spending sacred time with us. Please contact our offices at 931.692.3669 for reservations or more information.


Bishop Names New Superintendents to Cumberland and Clarksville Districts

Dr. Ronald D. Lowery

Bishop Richard J. Wills, Jr., has announced the move of Dr. Ron Lowery, presently Superintendent of the Cumberland District, to the Clarksville District after the 2009 session of the Tennessee Annual Conference. He will be replacing the Rev. John Casey who has served the Clarksville District for eight full years.

Replacing Dr. Lowery, as Cumberland District Superintendent, according to a statement released by Bishop Wills, will be the Rev. Thomas Halliburton, who has been pastor of Nashville's historic McKendree United Methodist Church, an inner- city congregation located in a rapidly changing geographic area. Prior to his appointment to McKendree Halliburton had served one quadrennium as Superintendent of the Cookeville District.

Rev. Thomas E. Halliburton


Friends of Cedar Crest & Friends of Beersheba

Did you know that your conference camp and retreat facilities were both approved for Advance Special Giving? Each facility is approved so that individuals and churches may give to the ministries of both Cedar Crest and Beersheba Springs Assembly. Funds received are used in various ways around the camps for special unbudgeted projects.

Past projects have included new lifejackets at Cedar Crest along with new outdoor tarps and equipment. At Beersheba, projects have included preparation of annual hanging displays of ferns and flowers, planting new trees, purchase of a new LCD projector, construction of steps between Eastside and the Dining Hall and the renovation of Vesper Point. The future project wish list includes construction of a boat house at Cedar Crest and a new walk-way in the quad at Beersheba.

Braving two cold winter days with wind and fog, the members of Choates Creek United Methodist Church worked to give Vespers point at Beersheba Springs Assembly a much needed facelift—here they are after finishing their work.

The needs of our facilities far outweigh our available resources. As we continue to seek to improve our Conference Camp and Retreat Ministries, you are invited to help us fulfill our dreams of facilities that provide the very best for our churches and individuals as they seek those special places of sanctuary.

The Friends of Cedar Crest Advance number is Conference Advance Number 112.

The Friends of Beersheba Advance number is Conference Advance Number 111.

Individual Gifts may be made online by visiting http://www.tnumc.org/ and clicking on the Mercy and Mission tab on the left. For more information, please contact the Camping Office at 931.692.3669 or email at tnumcamps@tnumc.org. Gifts may be sent to the Camping Office at:

Tennessee Conference Camp and Retreat Ministries
P.O. Box 577
Beersheba Springs, Tennessee 37305

Please designate you gifts for either camp. Undesignated gifts will be shared equally with each facility.