TENNESSEE CONFERENCE REVIEW July 10, 2009
Articles in the July 10th edition of THE REVIEW
1. Denman Award Celebrates Excellence in Evangelism Leadership
2. William (Willie) Beverly Lynn Lyle – Clergy Denman Award
3. Laity Denman Award goes to the SOS Emmaus Reunion Group – Randy Neal, Wayne Shadden, and Perk Thornton
4. Golden Triangle Sunday Knitters take part in World Wide Knit in Public Day
5. Antioch Area Church Spends Weekend "On The Farm
6. The 2009 Journal Dedication for clergy goes to Rev. Louis Johnson
7. Centertown United Methodist Church has first service in new, up-to-date church building
8. After 50 years Granville United Methodist Church welcomes back Terry Little as minister
9. Up-to-date listing of the 2009-2010 Conference Council on Youth Ministries
10. Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus, Reflection by Dr. Ted Hill, M.D.
11. Thursday, June 25, 2009: Final Reflections from the Belmont Youth Southern Africa Mission Pilgrimage
12. Photo of Participants, Conference Board of Laity Retreat, May 22-23, 2009
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Denman Award Celebrates Excellence in Evangelism Leadership
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 2009 Harry Denman Evangelism Awards were presented to William Beverly Lynn Lyle (Clergy) and the SOS Emmaus Reunion Group (Laity) at the 2009 session of the Tennessee Annual Conference.
William (Willie) Beverly Lynn Lyle – Clergy Denman Award
As a youth, Willie was a faith-filled leader in his Sango United Methodist Church congregation (Clarksville District). “Leader” is the operative term. Though Willie was only a youth participant, he was a leader, even helping the pastor organize a junior UMYF for 5th and 6th graders. He was the President of the Clarksville District Youth for a year.
He began pastoral ministry in October, 1998, when a Southern Baptist Church asked him to substitute preach one Sunday morning. He preached to six worshipers on that Sunday, and after worship they asked him to be their bi-vocational pastor. He agreed, but on the following Sunday no one showed up for worship. He preached to his own children.
Willie Lyle, back center, is surrounded by family members after he received the Denman Award.
The church members left a check book for him along with a note saying they were going to follow their former pastor to his new church and he could have the entire debt free building and the $90 remaining in the checking account. Willie, as a part-time bi-vocational pastor, began going door to door meeting people and providing ministry. One year later, he had forty members. He remained pastor until 2004 when his primary job transferred him back to the Clarksville area. During the entire six years he served at the church he did so as a volunteer pastor, never receiving a single pay check.
In June 2005 Willie became a supply pastor to the Spring Valley Charge while continuing to work at his secular job. The agreement with his bosses was that he could always have Wednesday nights off to lead Bible Study. This went well for a while until he angered one of his bosses by leaving a meeting to teach Wednesday Night Bible Study. Thus Willie became a full-time local pastor. The Spring Hill UMC and God’s kingdom have benefited greatly from this change in vocation.
Willie Lyle is passionate about the gospel of Jesus Christ, notes Skip Armistead, a fellow minister in the Clarksville District. “He is always searching new ways to find more people for Jesus. Not a Vacation Bible School goes by without his making sure the children have given their lives to Jesus. Not a ministry event goes by without his attempting to share the love of Christ.”
Stats tell a great deal sometime. Spring Hill UMC had no professions of faith in 2006; in 2007 there were 13; and in 2008 there were 34. Over the same period Worship Attendance rose from 47, to 75, to 82; and Church membership moved from 89 to 93 and then 106 by the end of 2008. Sunday School attendance also rose considerably.
The stats tell a lot but not everything, indicates Skip Armistead, and he shares a couple of anecdotes to make his point. “There were two men who, on different Sundays, visited the church for the first time. Willie followed up with both of them, but each was transferred to other places after their initial visits. Today, one lives in North Dakota and the other lives in Michigan. Willie continues to keep in contact with them by mailing the DVDs the church makes of the worship service, by writing letters, and by phoning from time to time. Even though these two are not official members of Spring Hill, one is the largest contributor to the church and the other is a major contributor – because they consider Spring Hill their church and Willie their pastor because it is through Willie and Spring Hill that they know Jesus.”
Willie’s tireless energy and overflowing faith has taken a church with very few children and youth to one with a thriving children’s ministry and a very much alive UMYF, both very much Christ-centered.
The story of Willie Lyle and Spring Hill UMC could go on and on—but here are a few additional highlights:
.Willie developed a Monday night visitation ministry where he and church members write, call, or visit door to door with people in the community.
.The congregation provides the typical ministries such as fellowship meals – but each person is always encouraged to bring someone new to these ministries. Along with the congregational leaders, Willie encourages everyone to be involved in at least one ministry each year.
.Spring Hill supports missionaries and missions in other countries. One of the Spring Hill members is a missionary in Africa.
.Willie developed a ministry of making videos of worship and then editing them into DVDs and CDs to take to homebound people, the nursing home, and to persons who visit the church. They are also mailed to members who live elsewhere.
.The church is always represented in one of the best places to become noticed – a float in the community Christ Parade.
.Knowing that 2012 will be an historic time for the church, its 100th anniversary year, Willie is helping the congregation plan. Letters are being passionately written to all former members who live elsewhere as well as to everyone in the community—urging ALL to plan vacation time so they can be present for the celebration weekend.
.There is a constant energetic passion to cast the vision of who Spring Hill is and where it is going while constantly keeping Jesus Christ in the forefront.
Laity Denman Award goes to the SOS Emmaus Reunion Group – Randy Neal, Wayne Shadden, and Perk Thornton
As the SOS Emmaus Reunion Group Randy Neal, Wayne Shadden and Perk Thornton have worked together since 1994 to further God’s Kingdom. Through their leadership and willingness to serve on teams they brought Kairos Torch Prison Ministry to the students at the Taft Youth Center. They have been instrumental in hosting the Chrysalis Golf Tournament and Barbeque Dinners which raise money for the ministries of the Chrysalis of the Cumberlands, Kairos Torch Prison Ministry, Hunters for the Hungry and local Hispanic Ministries.
They buy Bibles to give to persons recovering from drug and alcohol abuse as well as to individuals attending the annual Bubba Fest, an event for sportsmen/women. They recognized the needs of hungry people in our community and began “Feed Our Neighbors.” This program of Crossville First UMC provides a fellowship meal once a month to people living in the Village Inn which is a motel across the parking lot from the church. Low income people live from week to week in Village Inn, and the fellowship meal brought awareness to our congregation that there were people living in poverty literally in the shadow of our steeple. From this came the idea to ask the Village Inn owner to give up one room to be painted by the Crossville First UMYF and furnished by the United Methodist Women with kid friendly games. Adult volunteers were recruited from among church members and from a local agency that trains adults to work with underprivileged and foster children. These adults provide after school activities and homework help for children that live in the Village Inn. Just started in March of 2008 is the “SonShine Soup Kitchen” which provides a free lunch to all on Wednesdays.
Neal, Shadden and Thornton are all Certified Lay Speakers and are always ready and willing to share God’s word one-on-one or in worship services. It is not surprising that the three provided leadership that begin the Crossville First UMC Contemporary Worship Service, and all participate in Pastor John Halliburton’s Joshua Men’s group and agreed to meet together monthly for one year, reading a Spiritual Classic or leadership book each month.
Friends of Randy Neal, Wayne Shadden, and Perk Thornton, gather around them after the SOS Emmanus Reunion Group was recognized for its ministries by a Denman Award.
Church member Pam Kenner speaks about Emmaus Reunion Groups and the three men. “Emmaus Reunion Groups are sort of like the ocean . . . you start with one big body and, as the tides roll, the edges become a little shallow . . . but, there is always the ocean . . . full, moving and every-changing.”
“The SOS Reunion Group is much this way, says Kenner. “The ocean, Jesus, is the nucleus of this group, and, like Jesus has shown us, it is always best to be in deep water with your friends. Randy Neal, Wayne Shadden and Perk Thornton have been great friends of Jesus. They have accompanied Him to places where the rest of us may have chosen not to go. The group has included others along the way, but the nucleus of Jesus and these three great friends has remained the same.”
“Randy, Wayne and Perk are brothers. They are brothers in the real sense of the word. They are there for each other in good times and in bad and continue to lift the Lord up and call on Him in all circumstance. And . . . they have been in all circumstances with Him. They have participated in Emmaus, Chrysalis, Journey and Kairos Torch for years. They have literally been in prison with Jesus. They have raised money so that NO individual from our church or related to our church has had to pay to participate either as a team member or as a pilgrim/butterfly. They are determined that money should never come between a soul and the Savior.”
“Randy, Wayne and Perk have followed the Master in feeding the hungry. They may not have fed 5,000 at once but I imagine the number of people they have fed over the years is close if not over that limit. The SonShine Soup Kitchen currently provides free lunch on Wednesday in Crossville and was started by the SOS team. The Bread of Life Rescue Mission has been fed some of the county’s best BBQ, thanks to SOS. The “neighbors” of Crossville First United Methodist Church have been fed because of the leadership and dedication of these men.”
“You can find these guys most anywhere, sharing their friend Jesus. They are all Lay Leaders, they are all teachers of Sunday School or other special classes, and they are eager and willing to introduce anyone and everyone to the Love of Jesus. They act so seamlessly: Randy, the leader; Perk, the teacher; Wayne, the evangelist; the SOS Reunion Group; the Disciples!”
“They would encourage you all to join them in the deep water!!!!”
Pastor John Halliburton notes, “John Ruskin says that when love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece. The SOS reunion group fits that bill. They are a masterpiece. I recommend them as a group for the Denman Evangelism Award, yet all three could be considered as individuals for the award. That is not their style – they, if asked, would rather be in the background and receive no accolades.”
Golden Triangle Sunday Knitters take part in World Wide Knit in Public Day
By Sally Wright
"Young girls from the Golden Triangle fellowship learning to knit with their mentors at Belmont UMC"
Recently one Sunday morning there were knitters of all ages congregating in a parlor setting at Belmont United Methodist Church. Among the group were some teenage girls between the ages of 12 and 18. They and their parents are known as the Golden Triangle community worshipping at the church. These individuals have come as refugees from Myanmar (Burma), Laos and Thailand. They have their own pastor who preaches each Sunday while the sermon is translated into 3 languages for the congregants. The young girls numbering between 10 and 15+ each Sunday morning wanted to learn to knit. They asked one of the adult Sunday School teachers for some yarn one Sunday in early January. The rest is history.
Several women, some former teachers and all part of the church’s knitting ministry (K1G2) Knit 1 Give 2, have been their sponsors teaching them to knit as well as supplying yarn, needles and friendship. The girls are eager learners and have made scarves, purses and belts. Some are working on washcloths for their mothers. A joint project of an all-wool scarf is being passed to each to knit a few rows. This is part of “the longest scarf in the world” project through Heifer International. They have obtained sponsors to raise the money to buy a sheep for a family perhaps in the part of the world they once lived. Many struggle with English as do their parents so one of the goals of the group is to help them communicate in the language of their new country.
World Wide Knit in Public Day (see website) provided an opportunity to meet other knitters in the church as well as the community. A large world map was displayed for knitters to pinpoint their home country or state.
Knitting has the ability to transcend language barriers. It is an individual activity in a community setting. Last year on this day approximately 800 knitters got together throughout the world to enjoy their craft. More were expected this year.
Belmont United Methodist Church is located in the Hillsboro Village area of Nashville. All are encouraged to come see how a few interested people can make such a difference in young persons lives. A donation of all-wool yarn or money for their projects is always appreciated.
Antioch Area Church Spends Weekend "On The Farm"
City kids sample a tractor ride
(Antioch, TN) One hundred and twenty eight years ago, when the Antioch United Methodist Church was formed under an old oak tree next to Mill Creek in Southeastern Davidson County, it wasn't unusual for its founders to spend a lot of time on farms. During that time, the main occupation of the little hamlet of Antioch was farming, and the pastor was as likely to be paid in produce as in cash. A lot has changed in the years since. The Antioch area has one of the most diverse populations of any area of Nashville, and the old farms were all sold off for development.
Where Antioch had once been a sleepy rural area, it now finds itself with persons and issues that are much closer to an urban identity, and the children of the community are more likely to read about farms than to ever spend time on one.
Children at the “On The Farm” VBS proudly their display special shirts
This past June 19-21 the people of the Antioch United Methodist Church decided to help our community get in touch with our roots, hosting their annual Vacation Bible School and their Sunday morning service on a local church member's farm.
Children learned about the planting, growth, and harvesting of produce during their farm experience.
The "On The Farm--A Down Home Bible Experience" Vacation Bible School was an attempt to help area kids better understand the meaning of Christianity through the image of farming. During the Friday and Saturday retreat format VBS, children became familiar with two of the parables of Jesus, the Parable of the Mustard Seed and the Parable of the Sower, thinking about what those two passages communicated about the nature of Christian discipleship. In addition to the bible lesson, children were able to experience a variety of farm activities planned by the owners of the Turner Farm, Mary Jane Hurt and Nancy Morton, including interacting with farm animals, planting crops, and making butter. Some seventy children participated in the two day "retreat," and another 150 church and community members gathered the next morning for an old-time tent revival and Sunday dinner on the farm.
Farm animals were a big attraction.
"God has given all of this as a gift," said Nancy Morton, co-owner of Turner Farms. "We just wanted to share the blessings that we've experienced with the children of our community."
"This was an opportunity that we couldn't turn down," said Jay Voorhees, pastor of the congregation. "Most of the kids in our community are thoroughly city kids, but part of our heritage as a congregation is connected to rural life. This opened up a way to help the children of Antioch experience life differently, and also learn about God's claim on their life as well."
The entire Antioch congregation participated in a tent revival worship service during the weekend “On The Farm.”
The Antioch United Methodist Church is currently located at 41 Tusculum Rd. in Antioch. For more information on the ministries of the church, call (615) 832-6248 or visit http://www.antiochumc.net/
The 2009 Journal Dedication for clergy goes to Rev. Louis Johnson
Submitted and nominated by Marvin Stepp
Two Tennessee Conference Clergypersons were interviewed by Bishop Richard Wills as a dramatic part of the Bishop’s State of the Church address at Annual Conference on Monday, June 15—one was the Rev. Stephen Handy, Pickett-Ruckers UMC, and the other was Louis Johnson, Bell Springs UMC.
Rev. Louis Johnson has ministered 55-plus years in the Tennessee Conference, and served on various committees in the conference and district throughout his career. Since his retirement in 1992 he has served the Lord at Bell Springs United Methodist Church except for two years.
Our church had very low attendance prior to Rev. Johnson’s assignment to Bell Springs. Now, due largely to his service, we have grown at a tremendous rate, from 15 to 20 percent between 90 and 100 in attendance every Sunday. He is a good shepherd. Not only does he preach Bible-based sermons every Sunday to the children and adults, but they are inspiring, challenging, and instructive. He encourages service to our community, to each other, to care and to love one another as Christ loves us. He sets the example himself.
Louis Johnson responds after being told that the 2009 Journal would be dedicated to him.
Rev. Johnson challenged and inspired us in a building project to add a fellowship hall to our church building. We now have new Sunday School rooms and a large fellowship hall, complete with a well-furnished kitchen. It was paid in full within a year.
His love for Christ is obvious in his sermons, his ministry, and in the way he lives his life. He follows the Methodist tradition in our worship outline, in singing, preaching, and loving all persons, regardless of gender or race. He sets a very large example for all to follow. He encourages all of us to step up higher and to never give up.
Rev. Louis Johnson serves as the finest example of the Christian faith, the Methodist beliefs, the love of God, and all mankind. His service should stand as a shining example of the true meaning of God’s love and the Methodist ministry. There is no other, more well-deserving recipient of this recognition in the Tennessee Conference.
Centertown United Methodist Church has first service in new, up-to-date church building
The congregation was organized during the great depression and built a church during the difficult days of World War II. On May 31st after 65 years in a building that proved much too small, the Centertown United Methodist Church had its first service in a brand new building with a beautifully designed sanctuary, a large and flexible fellowship hall, an expanded kitchen, and new classrooms. An estimated 240-250 worshippers attended the opening service.
After 50 years Granville United Methodist Church welcomes back Terry Little as minister
Bro. Terry and Rosie Little stand in the alter of the Granville United Methodist Church, Granville where they began their ministry in June, 1959. They were honored for their 50 years of ministry in the United Methodist Church on May 24th and Terry has just been appointed as the new pastor of the Granville Church some 50 years after first serving the Church.
Robert Terry Little felt called to Ministry during his student years at Tennessee Tech in Cookeville. While serving as President of the Wesley Foundation during his senior year, he answered the call to service in The Methodist Church.
Recommended for a License to Preach by First Methodist in Cookeville, Terry began his Introductory Studies in 1959. That summer was a summer of great achievement as far as Terry was concerned. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Tech, he received his first appointment from the Tennessee Annual Conference of the Methodist Church to the Granville Charge, and he married his Tech Sweetheart, Rosalyn Owen.
It was altogether fitting that Terry should become a minister—he would be following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Gerald Harper, and his uncle, Frank Calhoun, who served this conference long and well.
Reverend James Reed Cox, serving in the Cookeville District at the time, became a beloved mentor to the young clergyman. The first appointment to the Granville Circuit in Jackson County was the catalyst that prepared him for many years of fruitful service to his Lord and Savior. More important than any degree that he might earn, the people of the Circuit reached out to him and his new bride in the most loving and caring way possible for one who was so “green” on the job. They nurtured the Littles and patiently encouraged and instructed them as they grew in faith and ministry.
In the fall of 1960, Terry entered Vanderbilt Divinity School and graduated in the spring of 1963 with a Master of Divinity Degree. At the June Annual Conference that year he was Ordained Elder by Bishop Roy Short at the Baxter Methodist Church and admitted into full connection. After serving the Granville Circuit, Terry was appointed pastor of these beloved congregations: Scottsboro, White Bluff-Burns, Cross Plains, Glencliff, Smithville First, and Fayetteville First.
In 1984 while serving Fayetteville First, Terry was asked to serve as the Director of the Conference Fiscal Pensions Office, now known as Administrative Services. In this
Ministry he served as the Conference Treasurer, Statistician and overseer of the Conference Pension and Insurance Programs—and while serving as the conference financial officer he also served as an interim pastor at Bethany and Pleasant Grove. In 1993 the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits honored Terry at the National meeting with the “Charles L. Calkins Award’ for outstanding service in this field. He has served as Registrar of the Conference Board of The Ministry, Executive Secretary of the Equitable Salary Commission, a member of the Conference Committee on Worship, and secretary of the Board of Directors for the Area Foundation. Terry retired at the annual conference in 2004 and the Conference Journal gave him the Clergy Dedication for 2004.
The Granville United Methodist Church honored Little’s 50-years of ministry on May 24th with a Terry Little Day. The Granville United Methodist Church, which began in 1840, is honored to have Terry as their pastor fifty years after he began his ministry there. Terry has been worshipping at Granville for the past five years teaching a Sunday School Class and being a choir member.
Up-to-date listing of the 2009-2010 Conference Council on Youth Ministries
FRESH, the Youth Annual Conference gathering was held on June 13th and 14th at Brentwood United Methodist Church. Leaders were elected for the Conference Council on Youth Ministries Executive Committee:
President - Jessica Hall of Hendersonville First in the Cumberland District
Vice-President - Harris Smith of Smyrna First in the Murfreesboro District
Secretary - Hannah Lamon of Grace UMC in the Cumberland District
Communications Chair-Shane Martin of Mt. Carmel UMC in the Clarksville District
Communications Assistant Chair- Brianna Martin of Hilldale UMC in the Clarksville District
Conference Representative - Rachael Junard of Hillcrest UMC in the Nashville District
Middle School Representative - Todd Cox of Cooks UMC in the Cumberland District
Middle School Representative - Elizabeth Roten of Epworth UMC in the Columbia District
Hispanic Youth Representatives
Joshua McKlean of Primera Iglesia Methodista in the Nashville District
Andrea Martinez & Mario Martinez of Cumberland Hispanic Fellowship in the Cookeville Disttrict
Black Methodist Church Renewal Youth Representatives-
Marquice Cartwright of Key-Stewart UMC in the Cumberland District
Epiphany Fields of Gordon Memorial in the Nashville District
Conference Youth Coordinator - Brett Hillesheim of St. Mark’s UMC in the Murfreesboro District
Southeast Jurisdictional Youth Chair - Devin Penner of Westview UMC in the Columbia District
Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus
by Dr. Ted Hill, M.D.*
Dr. Ted Hill, Annual Conference 2009
Odd. Very odd. That one would reflect on a Christmas theme in the summer. Obviously, some background is needed.
For some who may be reading this reflection, the title may be unfamiliar. But for those who are my age or older, they might remember hearing about a little girl, many years ago now, who wrote a U.S. newspaper editor and asked the question, "Is there really a Santa Claus?" This, of course was in a simpler and less technical and skeptical age when such sentimental heroes were O.K. Not just O.K., but actually yearned for.
Santa, a hero in society who was yearned for because of such virtues as goodness, kindness, generosity and care, and can we dare say, Love? A bit distant for modern day heroes who wield destructive powers and weapons and ideals that are the "heroes" of the marketing industry today because they are instrumental in selling video games and such. The editor, at the end of a logical yet warm reply, wrote the quote noted in the title above. He tried to affirm that the virtues of such a hero did exist in the world; that he was worth believing in despite the lack of tangible evidence to other than the obvious good will that almost palpitates during the holiday season.
Now, what does this have to do with the present and what is the point of this reflection, you say?
Recently, as a physician attending the working uninsured at the Salvus Center in our county, I saw a follow-up a patient who had several problems including diabetes, the assumed reason for her visit that day. As the interview progressed, it became clear that although her diabetes needed significant attention, there was a deeper, more serious issue that needed attention. She was depressed. She had been for some time and had been treated with some success and remained on an antidepressant that had helped initially. But the circumstances of her life had changed. She had come to Salvus initially because she had lost her full time job that had provided her the benefit of medical insurance. But she lost her job because she was unable to work due to an infection in her left foot that is all too common to diabetics. The course of that infection was complicated and long because she could not access needed wound care with her lack of insurance and her inability to pay for this "perk" of treatment.
Proper treatment was prohibitive in its out of pocket expense. She had been notified by her landlord that she would be evicted because of her lack of monthly rent payment caused by her financial situation. She was still working a part time job but it did not supply enough income to cover all her expenses. There were other issues adding to the emotional burden she was trying to bear. She poured it all out on that visit. We changed her antidepressant but it takes 3-8 weeks for a new antidepressant to be effective, and there were suicidal thoughts going through her mind though she had not made "plans" for such as yet. We made a "contract", that is an agreement that she would not give in to these temptations to escape it all without touching base with me. I gave her my cell phone number. As you might expect, one night, soundly asleep, I got a call. She was desperate and had come to that point of "jumping off the bridge", not literally, but she was ready to get out of her pain for good. We talked for at least 45 minutes and at the end she was better and promised to get through the night until I could further help the next day. The office staff called the next day and gave her the crisis number and the number for a mental health consultation opportunity. She did not follow through. I saw her in the office shortly thereafter. She was better. We adjusted her diabetes meds and I felt some sense of relief. It was to be short lived.
A few days later, she called me at work on my cell. She was back in the black hole again, and I asked if she followed through on the mental health referral and she acted as if she did not know what I was talking about. The staff again called and gave her both the crisis number and the referral. She would not agree to follow through and with each give and take in the conversation, sounded more despondent and at the point of taking deadly action. There was no other option but to alert the emergency mental health system, and she eventually was committed for her own safety. Thank God!
As I reflected on the events leading up to the crisis above, I remembered a part of the original, middle of the night, foggy conversation that seemed to last forever. At one point, she asked me, "Is there a God and if so, does God care what I am going through and will God help me?" I do remember my answer, "Yes, Virginia, (not her real name), there is a God and God does care and God is helping you. I am on the phone with you, the Salvus Center is providing care for you and operates because God has compelled us to serve some in “need-you-tonight” situations. This is "proof" of God's existence and care and help." Like many people who are depressed the words to them sound hollow, but were nevertheless true.
Subsequent events have also given substantiation to these words. Yes, there is goodness and kindness and care and love in the world. It exists not just in the abstract of the minds of the religious but in acts of generosity lived out in the everyday response to the needs of others. Yes, there is a God; God is at work all around you. See God. See God work. Join. Join God at work. So be it.
*Dr. Ted Hill, M.D., was ordained a Deacon in the United Methodist Church at the 2009 Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.
Thursday, June 25, 2009: Final Reflections from the Belmont Youth Southern Africa Mission Pilgrimage
Belmont UMC Sr. High Youth --The purpose of the June 2009 mission into southern Africa is to develop and deepen the youth and adults as Christian disciples in the course of intensified engagement with God's mission in the world. The mission contexts are Cape Town, South Africa; Manzini Swaziland; and Johannesburg, South Africa. In and through these activities, our main work will be bearing witness to Christ's presence in the world by being with people in relationship. listening and loving while receiving the same. The following summary of the trip, prepared by counselor Chris Steele, is found on the pilgrimage blogsite at http://www.southafricapilgrimage.blogspot.com/
The Belmont Youth group combined with the Freedom Park Methodist Youth group for volunteer work at the Heavenly Valley pre-school. Heavenly Valley is an area in Johannesburg, South Africa. Freedom Park Methodist church is located in Johannesburg.
I'm feeling very ambivalent this morning. On the one hand, the prospect of going home and seeing family and friends is so exciting; on the other hand, it is hard to say good-bye to all our new friends in Africa!
Last evening the team spent some time reflecting on things we have learned during our stay in South Africa and I would like to share some of those:
.We renamed this our "Hurry up and Wait" pilgrimage, which is to say that we have all learned a little more about patience.
.We learned that we could live happily with a lot less "stuff", which may mean we clean out our closets when we get home - and pack less on future trips.
.We learned how very fortunate we are by virtue of being born in the U.S. We learned that we are given many opportunities that others don't receive and we learned that good fortune and opportunity carry with it a responsibility to care for those who are not so blessed.
.We learned that Christ was already in Africa waiting for us.
.We learned the value of genuine hospitality.
.We learned to step outside of our comfort zone and trust God to walk beside us.
.We learned that although we live in a completely different culture, we are more alike than different from our brothers and sisters in Africa.
.And I learned that Belmont UMC is blessed with some of the most gifted and mature youth I've ever had the privilege to know.
.We all agree that this has been a memorable pilgrimage for us and that it has bonded us together into a community that we hope to continue to share when we get home.
Conference Board of Laity Retreat, May 22-23, 2009
The Conference Board of Laity at Beersheba Springs Assembly. The Conference Board of Laity provides support and direction for the ministry of the laity on the local, district, and annual conference levels, promotes the observance of Laity Sunday, and supports the stewardship of time, talent, and possessions within the annual conference in cooperation with the CCOCM.
1. Denman Award Celebrates Excellence in Evangelism Leadership
2. William (Willie) Beverly Lynn Lyle – Clergy Denman Award
3. Laity Denman Award goes to the SOS Emmaus Reunion Group – Randy Neal, Wayne Shadden, and Perk Thornton
4. Golden Triangle Sunday Knitters take part in World Wide Knit in Public Day
5. Antioch Area Church Spends Weekend "On The Farm
6. The 2009 Journal Dedication for clergy goes to Rev. Louis Johnson
7. Centertown United Methodist Church has first service in new, up-to-date church building
8. After 50 years Granville United Methodist Church welcomes back Terry Little as minister
9. Up-to-date listing of the 2009-2010 Conference Council on Youth Ministries
10. Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus, Reflection by Dr. Ted Hill, M.D.
11. Thursday, June 25, 2009: Final Reflections from the Belmont Youth Southern Africa Mission Pilgrimage
12. Photo of Participants, Conference Board of Laity Retreat, May 22-23, 2009
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Denman Award Celebrates Excellence in Evangelism Leadership
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 2009 Harry Denman Evangelism Awards were presented to William Beverly Lynn Lyle (Clergy) and the SOS Emmaus Reunion Group (Laity) at the 2009 session of the Tennessee Annual Conference.
William (Willie) Beverly Lynn Lyle – Clergy Denman Award
As a youth, Willie was a faith-filled leader in his Sango United Methodist Church congregation (Clarksville District). “Leader” is the operative term. Though Willie was only a youth participant, he was a leader, even helping the pastor organize a junior UMYF for 5th and 6th graders. He was the President of the Clarksville District Youth for a year.
He began pastoral ministry in October, 1998, when a Southern Baptist Church asked him to substitute preach one Sunday morning. He preached to six worshipers on that Sunday, and after worship they asked him to be their bi-vocational pastor. He agreed, but on the following Sunday no one showed up for worship. He preached to his own children.
Willie Lyle, back center, is surrounded by family members after he received the Denman Award.The church members left a check book for him along with a note saying they were going to follow their former pastor to his new church and he could have the entire debt free building and the $90 remaining in the checking account. Willie, as a part-time bi-vocational pastor, began going door to door meeting people and providing ministry. One year later, he had forty members. He remained pastor until 2004 when his primary job transferred him back to the Clarksville area. During the entire six years he served at the church he did so as a volunteer pastor, never receiving a single pay check.
In June 2005 Willie became a supply pastor to the Spring Valley Charge while continuing to work at his secular job. The agreement with his bosses was that he could always have Wednesday nights off to lead Bible Study. This went well for a while until he angered one of his bosses by leaving a meeting to teach Wednesday Night Bible Study. Thus Willie became a full-time local pastor. The Spring Hill UMC and God’s kingdom have benefited greatly from this change in vocation.
Willie Lyle is passionate about the gospel of Jesus Christ, notes Skip Armistead, a fellow minister in the Clarksville District. “He is always searching new ways to find more people for Jesus. Not a Vacation Bible School goes by without his making sure the children have given their lives to Jesus. Not a ministry event goes by without his attempting to share the love of Christ.”
Stats tell a great deal sometime. Spring Hill UMC had no professions of faith in 2006; in 2007 there were 13; and in 2008 there were 34. Over the same period Worship Attendance rose from 47, to 75, to 82; and Church membership moved from 89 to 93 and then 106 by the end of 2008. Sunday School attendance also rose considerably.
The stats tell a lot but not everything, indicates Skip Armistead, and he shares a couple of anecdotes to make his point. “There were two men who, on different Sundays, visited the church for the first time. Willie followed up with both of them, but each was transferred to other places after their initial visits. Today, one lives in North Dakota and the other lives in Michigan. Willie continues to keep in contact with them by mailing the DVDs the church makes of the worship service, by writing letters, and by phoning from time to time. Even though these two are not official members of Spring Hill, one is the largest contributor to the church and the other is a major contributor – because they consider Spring Hill their church and Willie their pastor because it is through Willie and Spring Hill that they know Jesus.”
Willie’s tireless energy and overflowing faith has taken a church with very few children and youth to one with a thriving children’s ministry and a very much alive UMYF, both very much Christ-centered.
The story of Willie Lyle and Spring Hill UMC could go on and on—but here are a few additional highlights:
.Willie developed a Monday night visitation ministry where he and church members write, call, or visit door to door with people in the community.
.The congregation provides the typical ministries such as fellowship meals – but each person is always encouraged to bring someone new to these ministries. Along with the congregational leaders, Willie encourages everyone to be involved in at least one ministry each year.
.Spring Hill supports missionaries and missions in other countries. One of the Spring Hill members is a missionary in Africa.
.Willie developed a ministry of making videos of worship and then editing them into DVDs and CDs to take to homebound people, the nursing home, and to persons who visit the church. They are also mailed to members who live elsewhere.
.The church is always represented in one of the best places to become noticed – a float in the community Christ Parade.
.Knowing that 2012 will be an historic time for the church, its 100th anniversary year, Willie is helping the congregation plan. Letters are being passionately written to all former members who live elsewhere as well as to everyone in the community—urging ALL to plan vacation time so they can be present for the celebration weekend.
.There is a constant energetic passion to cast the vision of who Spring Hill is and where it is going while constantly keeping Jesus Christ in the forefront.
Laity Denman Award goes to the SOS Emmaus Reunion Group – Randy Neal, Wayne Shadden, and Perk Thornton
As the SOS Emmaus Reunion Group Randy Neal, Wayne Shadden and Perk Thornton have worked together since 1994 to further God’s Kingdom. Through their leadership and willingness to serve on teams they brought Kairos Torch Prison Ministry to the students at the Taft Youth Center. They have been instrumental in hosting the Chrysalis Golf Tournament and Barbeque Dinners which raise money for the ministries of the Chrysalis of the Cumberlands, Kairos Torch Prison Ministry, Hunters for the Hungry and local Hispanic Ministries.
They buy Bibles to give to persons recovering from drug and alcohol abuse as well as to individuals attending the annual Bubba Fest, an event for sportsmen/women. They recognized the needs of hungry people in our community and began “Feed Our Neighbors.” This program of Crossville First UMC provides a fellowship meal once a month to people living in the Village Inn which is a motel across the parking lot from the church. Low income people live from week to week in Village Inn, and the fellowship meal brought awareness to our congregation that there were people living in poverty literally in the shadow of our steeple. From this came the idea to ask the Village Inn owner to give up one room to be painted by the Crossville First UMYF and furnished by the United Methodist Women with kid friendly games. Adult volunteers were recruited from among church members and from a local agency that trains adults to work with underprivileged and foster children. These adults provide after school activities and homework help for children that live in the Village Inn. Just started in March of 2008 is the “SonShine Soup Kitchen” which provides a free lunch to all on Wednesdays.
Neal, Shadden and Thornton are all Certified Lay Speakers and are always ready and willing to share God’s word one-on-one or in worship services. It is not surprising that the three provided leadership that begin the Crossville First UMC Contemporary Worship Service, and all participate in Pastor John Halliburton’s Joshua Men’s group and agreed to meet together monthly for one year, reading a Spiritual Classic or leadership book each month.
Friends of Randy Neal, Wayne Shadden, and Perk Thornton, gather around them after the SOS Emmanus Reunion Group was recognized for its ministries by a Denman Award.Church member Pam Kenner speaks about Emmaus Reunion Groups and the three men. “Emmaus Reunion Groups are sort of like the ocean . . . you start with one big body and, as the tides roll, the edges become a little shallow . . . but, there is always the ocean . . . full, moving and every-changing.”
“The SOS Reunion Group is much this way, says Kenner. “The ocean, Jesus, is the nucleus of this group, and, like Jesus has shown us, it is always best to be in deep water with your friends. Randy Neal, Wayne Shadden and Perk Thornton have been great friends of Jesus. They have accompanied Him to places where the rest of us may have chosen not to go. The group has included others along the way, but the nucleus of Jesus and these three great friends has remained the same.”
“Randy, Wayne and Perk are brothers. They are brothers in the real sense of the word. They are there for each other in good times and in bad and continue to lift the Lord up and call on Him in all circumstance. And . . . they have been in all circumstances with Him. They have participated in Emmaus, Chrysalis, Journey and Kairos Torch for years. They have literally been in prison with Jesus. They have raised money so that NO individual from our church or related to our church has had to pay to participate either as a team member or as a pilgrim/butterfly. They are determined that money should never come between a soul and the Savior.”
“Randy, Wayne and Perk have followed the Master in feeding the hungry. They may not have fed 5,000 at once but I imagine the number of people they have fed over the years is close if not over that limit. The SonShine Soup Kitchen currently provides free lunch on Wednesday in Crossville and was started by the SOS team. The Bread of Life Rescue Mission has been fed some of the county’s best BBQ, thanks to SOS. The “neighbors” of Crossville First United Methodist Church have been fed because of the leadership and dedication of these men.”
“You can find these guys most anywhere, sharing their friend Jesus. They are all Lay Leaders, they are all teachers of Sunday School or other special classes, and they are eager and willing to introduce anyone and everyone to the Love of Jesus. They act so seamlessly: Randy, the leader; Perk, the teacher; Wayne, the evangelist; the SOS Reunion Group; the Disciples!”
“They would encourage you all to join them in the deep water!!!!”
Pastor John Halliburton notes, “John Ruskin says that when love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece. The SOS reunion group fits that bill. They are a masterpiece. I recommend them as a group for the Denman Evangelism Award, yet all three could be considered as individuals for the award. That is not their style – they, if asked, would rather be in the background and receive no accolades.”
Golden Triangle Sunday Knitters take part in World Wide Knit in Public Day
By Sally Wright
"Young girls from the Golden Triangle fellowship learning to knit with their mentors at Belmont UMC"Recently one Sunday morning there were knitters of all ages congregating in a parlor setting at Belmont United Methodist Church. Among the group were some teenage girls between the ages of 12 and 18. They and their parents are known as the Golden Triangle community worshipping at the church. These individuals have come as refugees from Myanmar (Burma), Laos and Thailand. They have their own pastor who preaches each Sunday while the sermon is translated into 3 languages for the congregants. The young girls numbering between 10 and 15+ each Sunday morning wanted to learn to knit. They asked one of the adult Sunday School teachers for some yarn one Sunday in early January. The rest is history.
Several women, some former teachers and all part of the church’s knitting ministry (K1G2) Knit 1 Give 2, have been their sponsors teaching them to knit as well as supplying yarn, needles and friendship. The girls are eager learners and have made scarves, purses and belts. Some are working on washcloths for their mothers. A joint project of an all-wool scarf is being passed to each to knit a few rows. This is part of “the longest scarf in the world” project through Heifer International. They have obtained sponsors to raise the money to buy a sheep for a family perhaps in the part of the world they once lived. Many struggle with English as do their parents so one of the goals of the group is to help them communicate in the language of their new country.
World Wide Knit in Public Day (see website) provided an opportunity to meet other knitters in the church as well as the community. A large world map was displayed for knitters to pinpoint their home country or state.
Knitting has the ability to transcend language barriers. It is an individual activity in a community setting. Last year on this day approximately 800 knitters got together throughout the world to enjoy their craft. More were expected this year.
Belmont United Methodist Church is located in the Hillsboro Village area of Nashville. All are encouraged to come see how a few interested people can make such a difference in young persons lives. A donation of all-wool yarn or money for their projects is always appreciated.
Antioch Area Church Spends Weekend "On The Farm"
City kids sample a tractor ride(Antioch, TN) One hundred and twenty eight years ago, when the Antioch United Methodist Church was formed under an old oak tree next to Mill Creek in Southeastern Davidson County, it wasn't unusual for its founders to spend a lot of time on farms. During that time, the main occupation of the little hamlet of Antioch was farming, and the pastor was as likely to be paid in produce as in cash. A lot has changed in the years since. The Antioch area has one of the most diverse populations of any area of Nashville, and the old farms were all sold off for development.
Where Antioch had once been a sleepy rural area, it now finds itself with persons and issues that are much closer to an urban identity, and the children of the community are more likely to read about farms than to ever spend time on one.Children at the “On The Farm” VBS proudly their display special shirts
This past June 19-21 the people of the Antioch United Methodist Church decided to help our community get in touch with our roots, hosting their annual Vacation Bible School and their Sunday morning service on a local church member's farm.
Children learned about the planting, growth, and harvesting of produce during their farm experience.The "On The Farm--A Down Home Bible Experience" Vacation Bible School was an attempt to help area kids better understand the meaning of Christianity through the image of farming. During the Friday and Saturday retreat format VBS, children became familiar with two of the parables of Jesus, the Parable of the Mustard Seed and the Parable of the Sower, thinking about what those two passages communicated about the nature of Christian discipleship. In addition to the bible lesson, children were able to experience a variety of farm activities planned by the owners of the Turner Farm, Mary Jane Hurt and Nancy Morton, including interacting with farm animals, planting crops, and making butter. Some seventy children participated in the two day "retreat," and another 150 church and community members gathered the next morning for an old-time tent revival and Sunday dinner on the farm.
Farm animals were a big attraction."God has given all of this as a gift," said Nancy Morton, co-owner of Turner Farms. "We just wanted to share the blessings that we've experienced with the children of our community."
"This was an opportunity that we couldn't turn down," said Jay Voorhees, pastor of the congregation. "Most of the kids in our community are thoroughly city kids, but part of our heritage as a congregation is connected to rural life. This opened up a way to help the children of Antioch experience life differently, and also learn about God's claim on their life as well."
The entire Antioch congregation participated in a tent revival worship service during the weekend “On The Farm.”The Antioch United Methodist Church is currently located at 41 Tusculum Rd. in Antioch. For more information on the ministries of the church, call (615) 832-6248 or visit http://www.antiochumc.net/
The 2009 Journal Dedication for clergy goes to Rev. Louis Johnson
Submitted and nominated by Marvin Stepp
Two Tennessee Conference Clergypersons were interviewed by Bishop Richard Wills as a dramatic part of the Bishop’s State of the Church address at Annual Conference on Monday, June 15—one was the Rev. Stephen Handy, Pickett-Ruckers UMC, and the other was Louis Johnson, Bell Springs UMC.Rev. Louis Johnson has ministered 55-plus years in the Tennessee Conference, and served on various committees in the conference and district throughout his career. Since his retirement in 1992 he has served the Lord at Bell Springs United Methodist Church except for two years.
Our church had very low attendance prior to Rev. Johnson’s assignment to Bell Springs. Now, due largely to his service, we have grown at a tremendous rate, from 15 to 20 percent between 90 and 100 in attendance every Sunday. He is a good shepherd. Not only does he preach Bible-based sermons every Sunday to the children and adults, but they are inspiring, challenging, and instructive. He encourages service to our community, to each other, to care and to love one another as Christ loves us. He sets the example himself.
Louis Johnson responds after being told that the 2009 Journal would be dedicated to him.Rev. Johnson challenged and inspired us in a building project to add a fellowship hall to our church building. We now have new Sunday School rooms and a large fellowship hall, complete with a well-furnished kitchen. It was paid in full within a year.
His love for Christ is obvious in his sermons, his ministry, and in the way he lives his life. He follows the Methodist tradition in our worship outline, in singing, preaching, and loving all persons, regardless of gender or race. He sets a very large example for all to follow. He encourages all of us to step up higher and to never give up.
Rev. Louis Johnson serves as the finest example of the Christian faith, the Methodist beliefs, the love of God, and all mankind. His service should stand as a shining example of the true meaning of God’s love and the Methodist ministry. There is no other, more well-deserving recipient of this recognition in the Tennessee Conference.
Centertown United Methodist Church has first service in new, up-to-date church building
The congregation was organized during the great depression and built a church during the difficult days of World War II. On May 31st after 65 years in a building that proved much too small, the Centertown United Methodist Church had its first service in a brand new building with a beautifully designed sanctuary, a large and flexible fellowship hall, an expanded kitchen, and new classrooms. An estimated 240-250 worshippers attended the opening service.After 50 years Granville United Methodist Church welcomes back Terry Little as minister
Bro. Terry and Rosie Little stand in the alter of the Granville United Methodist Church, Granville where they began their ministry in June, 1959. They were honored for their 50 years of ministry in the United Methodist Church on May 24th and Terry has just been appointed as the new pastor of the Granville Church some 50 years after first serving the Church.Robert Terry Little felt called to Ministry during his student years at Tennessee Tech in Cookeville. While serving as President of the Wesley Foundation during his senior year, he answered the call to service in The Methodist Church.
Recommended for a License to Preach by First Methodist in Cookeville, Terry began his Introductory Studies in 1959. That summer was a summer of great achievement as far as Terry was concerned. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Tech, he received his first appointment from the Tennessee Annual Conference of the Methodist Church to the Granville Charge, and he married his Tech Sweetheart, Rosalyn Owen.
It was altogether fitting that Terry should become a minister—he would be following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Gerald Harper, and his uncle, Frank Calhoun, who served this conference long and well.
Reverend James Reed Cox, serving in the Cookeville District at the time, became a beloved mentor to the young clergyman. The first appointment to the Granville Circuit in Jackson County was the catalyst that prepared him for many years of fruitful service to his Lord and Savior. More important than any degree that he might earn, the people of the Circuit reached out to him and his new bride in the most loving and caring way possible for one who was so “green” on the job. They nurtured the Littles and patiently encouraged and instructed them as they grew in faith and ministry.
In the fall of 1960, Terry entered Vanderbilt Divinity School and graduated in the spring of 1963 with a Master of Divinity Degree. At the June Annual Conference that year he was Ordained Elder by Bishop Roy Short at the Baxter Methodist Church and admitted into full connection. After serving the Granville Circuit, Terry was appointed pastor of these beloved congregations: Scottsboro, White Bluff-Burns, Cross Plains, Glencliff, Smithville First, and Fayetteville First.
In 1984 while serving Fayetteville First, Terry was asked to serve as the Director of the Conference Fiscal Pensions Office, now known as Administrative Services. In this
Ministry he served as the Conference Treasurer, Statistician and overseer of the Conference Pension and Insurance Programs—and while serving as the conference financial officer he also served as an interim pastor at Bethany and Pleasant Grove. In 1993 the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits honored Terry at the National meeting with the “Charles L. Calkins Award’ for outstanding service in this field. He has served as Registrar of the Conference Board of The Ministry, Executive Secretary of the Equitable Salary Commission, a member of the Conference Committee on Worship, and secretary of the Board of Directors for the Area Foundation. Terry retired at the annual conference in 2004 and the Conference Journal gave him the Clergy Dedication for 2004.
The Granville United Methodist Church honored Little’s 50-years of ministry on May 24th with a Terry Little Day. The Granville United Methodist Church, which began in 1840, is honored to have Terry as their pastor fifty years after he began his ministry there. Terry has been worshipping at Granville for the past five years teaching a Sunday School Class and being a choir member.
Up-to-date listing of the 2009-2010 Conference Council on Youth Ministries
FRESH, the Youth Annual Conference gathering was held on June 13th and 14th at Brentwood United Methodist Church. Leaders were elected for the Conference Council on Youth Ministries Executive Committee:
President - Jessica Hall of Hendersonville First in the Cumberland District
Vice-President - Harris Smith of Smyrna First in the Murfreesboro District
Secretary - Hannah Lamon of Grace UMC in the Cumberland District
Communications Chair-Shane Martin of Mt. Carmel UMC in the Clarksville District
Communications Assistant Chair- Brianna Martin of Hilldale UMC in the Clarksville District
Conference Representative - Rachael Junard of Hillcrest UMC in the Nashville District
Middle School Representative - Todd Cox of Cooks UMC in the Cumberland District
Middle School Representative - Elizabeth Roten of Epworth UMC in the Columbia District
Hispanic Youth Representatives
Joshua McKlean of Primera Iglesia Methodista in the Nashville District
Andrea Martinez & Mario Martinez of Cumberland Hispanic Fellowship in the Cookeville Disttrict
Black Methodist Church Renewal Youth Representatives-
Marquice Cartwright of Key-Stewart UMC in the Cumberland District
Epiphany Fields of Gordon Memorial in the Nashville District
Conference Youth Coordinator - Brett Hillesheim of St. Mark’s UMC in the Murfreesboro District
Southeast Jurisdictional Youth Chair - Devin Penner of Westview UMC in the Columbia District
Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus
by Dr. Ted Hill, M.D.*
Dr. Ted Hill, Annual Conference 2009Odd. Very odd. That one would reflect on a Christmas theme in the summer. Obviously, some background is needed.
For some who may be reading this reflection, the title may be unfamiliar. But for those who are my age or older, they might remember hearing about a little girl, many years ago now, who wrote a U.S. newspaper editor and asked the question, "Is there really a Santa Claus?" This, of course was in a simpler and less technical and skeptical age when such sentimental heroes were O.K. Not just O.K., but actually yearned for.
Santa, a hero in society who was yearned for because of such virtues as goodness, kindness, generosity and care, and can we dare say, Love? A bit distant for modern day heroes who wield destructive powers and weapons and ideals that are the "heroes" of the marketing industry today because they are instrumental in selling video games and such. The editor, at the end of a logical yet warm reply, wrote the quote noted in the title above. He tried to affirm that the virtues of such a hero did exist in the world; that he was worth believing in despite the lack of tangible evidence to other than the obvious good will that almost palpitates during the holiday season.
Now, what does this have to do with the present and what is the point of this reflection, you say?
Recently, as a physician attending the working uninsured at the Salvus Center in our county, I saw a follow-up a patient who had several problems including diabetes, the assumed reason for her visit that day. As the interview progressed, it became clear that although her diabetes needed significant attention, there was a deeper, more serious issue that needed attention. She was depressed. She had been for some time and had been treated with some success and remained on an antidepressant that had helped initially. But the circumstances of her life had changed. She had come to Salvus initially because she had lost her full time job that had provided her the benefit of medical insurance. But she lost her job because she was unable to work due to an infection in her left foot that is all too common to diabetics. The course of that infection was complicated and long because she could not access needed wound care with her lack of insurance and her inability to pay for this "perk" of treatment.
Proper treatment was prohibitive in its out of pocket expense. She had been notified by her landlord that she would be evicted because of her lack of monthly rent payment caused by her financial situation. She was still working a part time job but it did not supply enough income to cover all her expenses. There were other issues adding to the emotional burden she was trying to bear. She poured it all out on that visit. We changed her antidepressant but it takes 3-8 weeks for a new antidepressant to be effective, and there were suicidal thoughts going through her mind though she had not made "plans" for such as yet. We made a "contract", that is an agreement that she would not give in to these temptations to escape it all without touching base with me. I gave her my cell phone number. As you might expect, one night, soundly asleep, I got a call. She was desperate and had come to that point of "jumping off the bridge", not literally, but she was ready to get out of her pain for good. We talked for at least 45 minutes and at the end she was better and promised to get through the night until I could further help the next day. The office staff called the next day and gave her the crisis number and the number for a mental health consultation opportunity. She did not follow through. I saw her in the office shortly thereafter. She was better. We adjusted her diabetes meds and I felt some sense of relief. It was to be short lived.
A few days later, she called me at work on my cell. She was back in the black hole again, and I asked if she followed through on the mental health referral and she acted as if she did not know what I was talking about. The staff again called and gave her both the crisis number and the referral. She would not agree to follow through and with each give and take in the conversation, sounded more despondent and at the point of taking deadly action. There was no other option but to alert the emergency mental health system, and she eventually was committed for her own safety. Thank God!
As I reflected on the events leading up to the crisis above, I remembered a part of the original, middle of the night, foggy conversation that seemed to last forever. At one point, she asked me, "Is there a God and if so, does God care what I am going through and will God help me?" I do remember my answer, "Yes, Virginia, (not her real name), there is a God and God does care and God is helping you. I am on the phone with you, the Salvus Center is providing care for you and operates because God has compelled us to serve some in “need-you-tonight” situations. This is "proof" of God's existence and care and help." Like many people who are depressed the words to them sound hollow, but were nevertheless true.
Subsequent events have also given substantiation to these words. Yes, there is goodness and kindness and care and love in the world. It exists not just in the abstract of the minds of the religious but in acts of generosity lived out in the everyday response to the needs of others. Yes, there is a God; God is at work all around you. See God. See God work. Join. Join God at work. So be it.
*Dr. Ted Hill, M.D., was ordained a Deacon in the United Methodist Church at the 2009 Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.
Thursday, June 25, 2009: Final Reflections from the Belmont Youth Southern Africa Mission Pilgrimage
Belmont UMC Sr. High Youth --The purpose of the June 2009 mission into southern Africa is to develop and deepen the youth and adults as Christian disciples in the course of intensified engagement with God's mission in the world. The mission contexts are Cape Town, South Africa; Manzini Swaziland; and Johannesburg, South Africa. In and through these activities, our main work will be bearing witness to Christ's presence in the world by being with people in relationship. listening and loving while receiving the same. The following summary of the trip, prepared by counselor Chris Steele, is found on the pilgrimage blogsite at http://www.southafricapilgrimage.blogspot.com/
The Belmont Youth group combined with the Freedom Park Methodist Youth group for volunteer work at the Heavenly Valley pre-school. Heavenly Valley is an area in Johannesburg, South Africa. Freedom Park Methodist church is located in Johannesburg.I'm feeling very ambivalent this morning. On the one hand, the prospect of going home and seeing family and friends is so exciting; on the other hand, it is hard to say good-bye to all our new friends in Africa!
Last evening the team spent some time reflecting on things we have learned during our stay in South Africa and I would like to share some of those:
.We renamed this our "Hurry up and Wait" pilgrimage, which is to say that we have all learned a little more about patience..We learned that we could live happily with a lot less "stuff", which may mean we clean out our closets when we get home - and pack less on future trips.
.We learned how very fortunate we are by virtue of being born in the U.S. We learned that we are given many opportunities that others don't receive and we learned that good fortune and opportunity carry with it a responsibility to care for those who are not so blessed.
.We learned that Christ was already in Africa waiting for us.
.We learned the value of genuine hospitality.
.We learned to step outside of our comfort zone and trust God to walk beside us.
.We learned that although we live in a completely different culture, we are more alike than different from our brothers and sisters in Africa.
.And I learned that Belmont UMC is blessed with some of the most gifted and mature youth I've ever had the privilege to know.
.We all agree that this has been a memorable pilgrimage for us and that it has bonded us together into a community that we hope to continue to share when we get home.
Conference Board of Laity Retreat, May 22-23, 2009
The Conference Board of Laity at Beersheba Springs Assembly. The Conference Board of Laity provides support and direction for the ministry of the laity on the local, district, and annual conference levels, promotes the observance of Laity Sunday, and supports the stewardship of time, talent, and possessions within the annual conference in cooperation with the CCOCM.
posted by TN Conference UMC @ 8:33 AM
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