TENNESSEE CONFERENCE REVIEW November 13, 2009
Articles in the November 13th issue of THE REVIEW
1. Warmth in Winter is coming, January 29th-31st, Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Will your youth be “Going the Distance"?
2. Conference UMMen Make a Difference on “Make a Difference Day"
3. Rev. Paul Slentz presented the G. Ross Freeman Leadership Award for 2009 by United Methodist Men.
4. 108 Participate in Hispanic/Latino Extended Incubator Covenant Group
5. Lawrenceburg First United Methodist Church in partnership with Fountain of Life Church in Amatitan, Nicaragua
6. Joaquin Garcia Announces Retirement.
7. Tennessee Conference Provides Computer for United Methodist Mission Station in Africa.
8. Now Thank We All Our God by Lucy Neeley Adams
9. Marshall County Methodist Laity Club awards college school.
10. A very special Mealtime by Dr. Ted Hill, M.D.
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Warmth in Winter is coming, January 29th-31st, Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Will your youth be “Going the Distance?”
Year after year Warmth in Winter remains a pivotal event in Tennessee Conference youth ministry—as young church leaders are enriched spiritually, energized, encouraged to bond with other young people from around the conference, and made aware of Christ’s love and uplifting presence in an often-times chaotic and despairing world. And year after year Warmth in Winter remains the largest gathering in the Tennessee Annual Conference including the yearly sessions of Annual Conference.
The 2010 Warmth in Winter is built on the theme “Going the Distance” and will be held January 29th-January 31st at the Embassy Suites Hotel and Convention Center, Mufreesboro, Tennessee. Worship leaders for the weekend experience will be the Dove Award nominated group Pocket Full of Rocks, and the guest speaker will be the Rev. Dr. Brenda Salter-McNeil. Dr. McNeil is a dynamic and prophetic speaker who ministers at conferences, on college campuses and in churches around the world. And – as many youth will tell you—an essential ingredient for Warmth in Winter is crazyman Don Washburn who leads all participants in spectacular dance movements. He breaks through to even the dance-inhibited as the entire audience sways and moves in unison to what are very honestly called “Crazy Dances.”
Dr. Brenda Salter -McNeil. Through her speaking, teaching, and writing, Dr. McNeil boldly declares a vision that unites people from every tribe and every nation.
A brochure detailing daily schedule, registration procedure, possible housing arrangements, and a great deal of additional information can be downloaded by going to the website http://tnumcyouth.org/ and scrolling down the page to click on the words BROCHURE AND POSTER. And just below the link to the brochure is another link to the REGISTRATION FORM.
For adults in churches where young people have not had the Warmth in Winter experience, it will be worth the effort making certain that the youth in your church are in Murfreesboro, January 29th-31st—even if you only have a couple of youth. There are a number of ways this can be accomplished including joining together with youth groups in neighboring churches. Brad Fiscus, Director of Young People’s Ministry for the Conference, feels strongly about the 2010 event. “Warmth In Winter is going to be an exciting gathering at the new Embassy Suites Hotel and Convention Center in Murfreesboro. The design teams are working hard to create a fun, spiritual and memorable event. You won't want to miss it!”
If you need more information contact Brad Fiscus at the Tennessee Conference Young People’s Ministry, (615) 327-1533, toll free 1-800-403-5795; or email him at bfiscus@tnumc.org.
Conference UMMen Make a Difference on “Make a Difference Day”
On Saturday, October 24, 2009 which was national “Make A Difference Day”, the Tennessee Conference of United Methodist Men gathered at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, to help the P.E.T Project of Middle Tennessee build 10 P.E.T.S. for international distribution. P.E.T.S. (Personal Energy Transport units) are hand-cranked front wheel carts that assist those who have no legs or no use of their legs because of accidents, birth defects, or disease. Thanks to the PET Project International, more than 10,000 people hobbled by polio, landmine injuries, or other disabilities are getting around on their own using these sturdy, hand-cranked, all terrain vehicles. PET was started in 1995 by a retired United Methodist minister in Columbia, MO. and has grown into a world-wide ministry today. Each PET unit is made at a cost of about $250 in materials. During the National Gathering of UMMen held at Belmont University in July of this year, some 24 PET units were assembled as part of that meeting.
Mr. Freddie Brown, member of Blackman UMC, is the local PET Project Coordinator and helped arrange the work day from 9am to 1pm for some 60 men representing 12 different Methodist churches in the conference. Ingram Howard, Tennessee Conference President, said, “This was a huge success as we joined others all across the country to make a difference on this special day. Men, especially Christian men, need to know that they are making a difference in this world and this was the perfect opportunity to do so. We are already planning to schedule PET Project work days for next year. The response has been overwhelmingly positive”.
Special thanks is extended to St. Mark’s UMC for hosting this event, the UMMen unit at St. Mark’s for providing breakfast and lunch, and to all those churches and individuals that helped raise $2,500 to cover cost and joined in making the “Gift of Mobility” possible. Even churches and individuals who could not attend sent money to build PETS. Prior to the work day, UMM Conference officers were elected for 2010. Mike Bishop, member of Hermitage UMC and outgoing Conference Vice Pres., received the Life Member Recognition for his 10 years of service as an executive officer. Additional coverage of this event can be seen on the website: www:tnumc.org and viewing Ministries and then UMM.
Wood parts were finally honed.
Even the very young pitched in.
Final touches.
The finished product comes off the production line.
When each P.E.T. was completed a test drive was essential.
When testing was completed the P.E.T. units were broken down and boxed for shipment to handicapped persons on other continents.
Rev. Paul Slentz presented the G. Ross Freeman Leadership Award for 2009 by United Methodist Men
On October 24th at the 61st Avenue United Methodist Church’s Saturday evening worship service, the Rev. Paul Slentz was presented with one of the SEJ United Methodist Men’s highest honors, the G. Ross Freeman Leadership Award. This award is given to honor clergy who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in encouraging the ministries of men and strengthening the local church Fellowship of United Methodist Men. The award was presented to Slentz by Ingram Howard, President, Tennessee Conference United Methodist Men, and is sponsored by the G. Ross Freeman Foundation.
Slentz, who was ordained as an Elder in 2000, has completed 12 years as Senior Pastor of 61st Avenue United Methodist Church . . . a congregation that has attracted conference-wide attention for its loving concern for the community, and its outreach ministry to the poor. Even homeless people deserve to have a church home, according to Slentz, who has dedicated his life to serving an unconventional congregation in a low-income area of Nashville. Sixty First Avenue United Methodist opens its doors to the needy and poor in the community. The church holds services on Saturday nights to accommodate the hard working families in the neighborhood, and Slentz often drives a van to pick up homeless folk that make up the majority of the congregation.
Changing lives is a full time job at this church and for the small staff led by Slentz. The church is open five days a week in order to coordinate summer and after-school programs for children and youth in the community. Instead of going home to an empty house, kids of all ages go to the church every afternoon for a snack lunch and a listening ear from church volunteers. This affords them a safe place to stay until picked up by their parents and an alternative life style to what they would be doing in the neighborhood after school. Year round, Pastor Paul and the church’s volunteers make sure children are cared for, have school supplies, and even provide groceries to the needy families.
While the needs are constant, resources are very limited due to the small membership, usually fewer than 100. Despite the hardships faced by the members, a generous spirit of giving radiates from this humble congregation in everything they do. They keep very little money for themselves.
Church leaders work with agencies in Nashville to set up the annual three-gift-per –child “Last Minute Toy Store.” The “Store” has become a Christmas tradition recognized throughout the church community. Volunteers guide parents through the church to pick up toys donated from campaign drives and individuals. The toys come unwrapped so parents can select gifts according to the interests of their children and wrap them as gifts from Santa. In 2008, led by the church’s men, over 14,000 toys were distributed to some 3,000 children and teens of low-income parents.
Pastor Paul’s ministry goes beyond helping just members of his local church. The UMMen from 61st Avenue and First UMC in Franklin, Tennessee, partnered to form a ministry group called “Light in the Nations.” Light in the Nations ministers to a group of 20-25 senior citizens, doing various jobs such as covering their windows with plastic during winter, caring for their yards, building handicap ramps, and making general repairs to their homes that they could not otherwise afford
In Sep. 2008, the men launched a “Nothing But Nets” campaign to raise money for insecticide-treated beds to protect children from malaria-carrying mosquitoes in Africa. In just four weeks, they raised nearly $500 (exceptionally good for such a small church).
Paul Slentz has led many men and women to Christ and changed their lives significantly. Friends and members of the church will “testify” that this is one of the greatest gifts that God has given him. His Bible studies on Saturday nights are lively and involve conversation from the men and women who faithfully attend along with new-comers looking for a church “home.” He has personally led over 30 men to make a profession of faith and join the church.
For these reasons and more the men of the Tennessee Conference and of 61st Avenue were proud to nominate the Rev. Paul Slentz for the 2009 G. Ross Freeman Leadership Award. Rev. Slentz was also presented a Life Membership in United Methodist Men for his many years of service to his church and community. In recognition of this honor, the Tennessee Conference UMM will make a $200 donation to the United Methodist Men Foundation..
108 Participate in Hispanic/Latino Extended Incubator Covenant Group
By Joaquin Garcia*
I want to take this opportunity to express appreciation for the partnership that the Hispanic/Latino Academy enjoys with the districts of the Tennessee Annual Conference!
On Saturday, October 24th, we celebrated the response of the Hispanic community, their strong faith, and eagerness to equip themselves to communicate the Gospel! We anticipated 70 participants for the Hispanic/Latino “Extended Incubator Covenant Group” but were absolutely delighted when 108 showed up at the event designed for Hispanic/Latino pastors and leaders. The Incubator Covenant Group was held in Kern Building at the United Methodist Center in Nashville.
This was a key event to equip a new generation of Hispanic/Leaders to start Hispanic/Latino faith communities in the Tennessee Conference. The participants learned how to start small neighborhood cell groups ["Antorchas"] to invite neighbors and friends to their homes in order to start integrating them into faith communities and congregations.
We had representation from La Hermosa-Smithville, Hispanic Ministry-Chapel Hill UMC, Hispanic Ministry-Lafayette UMC, Hispanic Ministry-Crossville UMC /Fairfield Glade UMC, Familia de Dios-Monterey UM Fellowship, Hispanic Ministries West Nashville UMC, Agua Viva-McMinnville First UMC, Hispanic Ministries New Providence UMC Clarksville. Rev. Iosmar Alvarez from the Hispanic Congregation Fuente de Avivamiento UMC, Lexington, KY was our resource person.
Unfortunately, we missed the pastors and lay leaders from Primera Iglesia Hispana, Cannon/Shelbyville, Manchester, Brentwood, and Hispanic Fellowship Coneccion Cookeville, who were unable to attend.
We have received grants from some of our General Agencies for this year and have applied for more for next year in order to help support these training programs. We are pleased at the advances being made, and your support continues to be crucial. Photos made at the October 24th event are quite revealing. You will notice in particular the overwhelming number of young adults who were present. This clearly reflects the demographics of the average age of the Hispanic/Latino population -- being 26 years of age! In a CNN documentary shown this past Wednesday and Thursday, "Latino in America", it was mentioned that now we have 51 million Latinos in the US.
*Rev. Joaquin Garcia is Director of the Tennessee Conference Hispanic/Latino Academy for Christian Formation and Church Leadership.
Lawrenceburg First United Methodist Church in partnership with Fountain of Life Church in Amatitan, Nicaragua
By Beverly Duke
Since 1997, First United Methodist Church of Lawrenceburg has had a Covenant Partnership with a church in the village of Amatitan, Nicaragua. The church is the Fountain of Life Church, and their village is located in the Department (we call this "state") of Leon in the northwestern part of the country. Since February of 1999, there have been eight times that friends from Lawrenceburg have visited Amatitan. Now, finally, friends from Amatitan have come to Lawrenceburg. On October 2nd, Pastor Juan Gonzalez, pastor of the fountain of Life Church, his wife, Maria Leonor Castro, and Harold Blandon, interpreter, arrived in Lawrenceburg for a ten day visit. And what a visit it was! They were welcomed with open arms to the church and to the town of Lawrenceburg. The hospitality of First United Methodist Church of Lawrenceburg and the hospitality of the people of Lawrenceburg were truly amazing.
While here, they were invited to the Presbyterian Preschool, Lawrence County High School, and EO Coffman Middle School. They either spoke or were guests of the Kiwanis Club and the Rotary Club. They were invited to Charlotte-Fagan United Methodist Church in Dickson and spoke there about the involvement of the late Pastor David Hawkins in the Partnership. They were guests in the homes of church members for meals or for overnight stays. They had meals and fellowship with members in the Church's Christian Life Center as well as the Fellowship Hall. They received gifts and brought gifts for their hosts. They received coon skin caps since their host city was the City of Lawrenceburg. They were busy and learned a lot about us and about our country.
The delegation from Amatitan, Nicaragua, with a few of their friends from Lawrenceburg First United Methodist Church
But their hosts learned a lot about them, too. The members of Lawrenceburg First United Methodist Church learned that, because of God's call to be in Partnership with them, their church building has been completed. And because of the Partnership, their school building is completed. Because they have these facilities, they have been chosen by an organization out of Canada named Compassion International to take part in a nutrition program that feeds all the school children in Preschool through Sixth Grade three days a week. The nutrition program includes medical checkups and dietary supplements that are needed for the more than 80% of the children who were malnourished. The rate of malnourishment has dropped each six months period since the onset of the program. An organization out of Colorado, Living Water, has dug a well at the school so that the children and the cooks have clean water. Each year since the year 2000, funds that have been provided for the Nicaraguan Educational Scholarships through First United Methodist Church of Lawrenceburg have enabled these children to have the materials needed for school that their parents cannot afford to buy.
Because of Lawrenceburg First United Methodist Church's initial and continuing involvement in this Partnership, 181 children have the opportunity for hearing the Good News of Jesus Christ, for going to school, for having nourishing food for their bodies, for having regular medical checkups and treatment, for having school supplies, and for having clean water to drink and wash with.
The delegation from Nicaragua returned home on Monday, October 12th, with a renewed celebration of what this Partnership has meant to them, and also with an understanding of what this Partnership means to its North American partners. They returned home tired but well, thankful and joyful.
Truly our God is an awesome God. And First United Methodist Church of Lawrenceburg is an awesome church. God bless them all.
Joaquin Garcia Announces Retirement
Joaquin Garcia
After a lot of prayer, reflection and process of discernment, I will retire, effective January 1, 2010, from my position as Director of The Hispanic/Latino Academy for the Tennessee Conference
The focus in my work through the Hispanic/Latino Academy has been to respond to the needs of the Hispanic Community in Middle Tennessee through:
• Nurturing, developing and training Hispanic leadership in the conference,
• Identifying, recruiting and nurturing Hispanic students in collaboration with Martin Methodist College,
• Starting new faith communities in the conference, and
• Raising funds from a variety of sources to support both the programmatic training and formation needs for Hispanic/Latino pastors and lay leadership, and starting new faith communities.
I have been very blessed through the process of helping to establish many ties between the Anglo congregations and the Hispanic congregations and faith communities, as well as to establish the Tennessee Hispanic/Latino Academy to coordinate the Hispanic Ministries in the Conference.
One of the basic vehicles to strengthen Hispanic leadership was the establishment of the Tennessee Hispanic Incubator Covenant Group, which has grown in the number of persons served and now includes an “Extended” Incubator Covenant Group involving both the lay leaders and pastors of the Hispanic faith communities and congregations.
It is the hope of the Hispanic community, and my sincerest hope, that the momentum and support will continue from the annual conference and its leaders in building God’s kingdom together with the Hispanic community. I have been blessed with the trust that the Hispanic pastors and laity, church agencies and the Turner Family Foundation have put into the development of Hispanic Ministries. I appreciate very much the support from all the Tennessee Conference and by our Bishop Richard J. Wills, Council Director, Reverend Loyd Mabry, and Reverend John Purdue chair of the Committee on Hispanic Ministries.
I look forward with anticipation to what God may reveal for the next season for the Tennessee Conference Hispanic/Latino Ministries.
In Christ,
Rev. Joaquin Garcia
Tennessee Conference Provides Computer for United Methodist Mission Station in Africa
Johnathan Rose, Bill Freeman, and chairperson of the Annual Conference Mercy and Mission Committee, Bill Lovell, officially present a fully programmed laptop computer to the Rev. Ngandu Albert Kasongo on behalf of the Tennessee Annual Conference. Rev. Ngandu works at a print shop at the United Methodist Mission Station at Diengenga, Central Congo.
The computer replaces an ancient Heidelberg hand-set printer
He will be using the older Dell laptop computer to take the place of a aged and worn out Heidelberg hand-set printing system with a foot pedal for its power source. Bill Freeman added a port replicator to the Dell plus additional power supply while Johnathan Rose reprogrammed the computer into a French version of Microsoft Word. To make the gift complete Bill Lovell managed to come up with a new lazer printer compatible with the computer.
As he left the Conference office with the computer Rev. Ngandu expressed his great appreciation to the Tennessee Conference for the wonderful gift.
Now Thank We All Our God
by Lucy Neeley Adams
Each Thanksgiving our family laughs about the sermon that turned us into a few muffled giggles. It happened years ago, when our children were young and we were visiting at the community Thanksgiving church service.
The preacher kept repeating his favorite phrase. "This worship service is for more than Thanksgiving - it is for thanks LIVING." The children continued to get tickled as he increased his volume each time he stressed the word, LIVING.
The best part of that memory is that it reminds me to look back to see if I have actually had a year of thanks - LIVING. Each day was God's gift. It was filled with sunlight, fresh air and the beauty of nature all around me. When the days were full of pleasure, good health, and abundant blessings, it was easy to experience the life of thanks-LIVING.
But there are times when everyone remembers troubles, and it is so easy to ask of the Lord, "Why me?" I believe the biggest hindrance to our thankfulness, in any situation, is in our humanness to hold on to the negative experience.
Several years ago, our family was saddened when our daughter divorced. I had often heard the words, "a broken home" to describe that experience. During those days of planning for our Thanksgiving gathering, I prayed and cried about it. One day I sensed loving words from the Lord that brought peace. "They are not broken they are only re-arranged."
When I study the background of the hymn,"Now Thank We All Our God," I am astounded to read of the composer, Martin Rinkart. He was living through years of bloodshed and suffering when he wrote the words.
Rinkart, a Lutheran minister, based the words to this great hymn on I Thessalonians 5:18, "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
He lived in Eilenburg, Germany, and faithfully served his people throughout the troubling time of the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648). Catholics and Protestants were in violent disagreement in the countries of central Europe and their battleground was Germany. Since Eilenburg was a city surrounded by walls, the refugee population grew rapidly. During the horrible plague of 1637, Rinkart had forty to fifty funerals a day. And one of those funerals was that of his own wife.
Through his knowledge of God and his relationship with Him he had the assurance of unfailing love and strength. He continued to lead in worship and to sing praises.
"Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices.
Who wondrous things has done, in whom this world rejoices.
Who from our mothers' arms, has blessed us on the way.
With countless gifts of love and still is ours today."
Later, when the Swedes were in control of the city, an unjust tax was imposed on the people. Pastor Rinkart's request to lower the taxes was to no avail. History records that he said to his congregation, "Come my children, we can find no mercy with man. Let us take refuge with God." So they knelt and prayed. The Swedish commander was so impressed with the confident Christians that he withdrew the high tax.
Imagine the jubilant response of the people who were at the mercy of warring leaders. It must have happened exactly as the first words of this powerful hymn describe. With their "hearts, their hands and their voices," they were in awe of the wondrous things God was doing.
The story of this great man of God, Martin Rinkart, enables me to put into perspective the day to day trials that I might experience. During this time of Thanksgiving, I anticipate our dinner table discussion when we will recount our thanks-LIVING for the year. Through joys or sorrows we will share the hymn, "Now Thank We All Our God" as a blessing of praise.
Our loving and powerful God, we come to you with hearts of thanksgiving that we can be victors and not victims of life. Your presence enables us to be over-comers when we feel overwhelmed. Thank You for Your loving touch upon our lives. Thank you that each day can be one of thanks-LIVING. In Jesus name, Amen.
*Lucy Neeley Adams is author of “52 Hymn Story Devotions,” www.52hymns.com
Marshall County Methodist Laity Club awards college scholarships
By Carol M. Williams*
The Marshall County Methodist Laity Club awarded scholarships to three students from Marshall county at the September 28, 2009 meeting. The purpose of the Laity club is to provide scholarship money to college students from Marshall County. This year we had three applicants and each applicant was awarded a scholarship in the amount of $1,400.00 to be used for educational expenses.
The recipients were:
• Veronica K. Schultz who is attending the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Pulaski First UMC
• Branham Jordan who is attending Carson Newman College in Jefferson City, - Caney Springs UMC
• Heather Reel who is attending Columbia State Community College in Columbia
For the last two years, county churches have donated baskets that are auctioned off. This money is the major revenue source for scholarship monies. This project generates interest and competition among the churches for bragging rights for the basket that brings in the most money. In 2008, the basket auction generated just over $1,000. In 2009, the basket auction brought in over $1,600.
We are a small organization so are especially proud that we are able to serve deserving students from Marshall County in furthering their education.
*Carol M. Williams is Treasurer, Marshall County Methodist Laity Club
A very special Mealtime
by Dr. Ted Hill, M.D.*
Once a month we have a very simple meal at our church that ALL are invited to attend. It is fairly easy to prepare and there are special people at the church who prepare this meal for all of us to eat. We have other meals at our church also. Methodists are great at having “pot lucks.” Everybody who attends prepares something at home, puts it in a pot, shares it, and you are lucky when you find something you like – “pot luck.” We also offer a meal on Wednesday nights during most of the school year in order to make it more convenient for young families with children, particularly for parents who work, to pick up the kids from school, go to church for a quick meal and attend the evening’s programming.
But the meal I am most interested in is the one we refer to as Holy Communion, the Eucharist or The Lord’s Supper. The name often depends on which Christian denomination one is. Some churches offer the meal every Sunday. Some, I hear, rarely celebrate it at all.
The Apostle Paul, in one of his letters to the church at Corinth, did give some instructions about this meal. Apparently, he heard that some of the more well to do in the congregation would get there earlier than some less well off who had to work longer hours. By the time the less well off arrived, the well off had stuffed themselves and there was not enough left for the latecomers. A similar thing happened with drink. In that time, water was scarce and most had wine with their meals. The early folk must also have had too much to drink, and by the time all was said and done, they were pretty much plastered. So, Paul sends a letter for a corrective. In essence he says, “don’t desecrate the sacred memory of the expensive sacrifice given for you. Instead celebrate the real presence of Christ in these meals. Sound advice.
Nowadays, the meal most often is actually a token as it relates to the bread and wine. Nobody will be stuffed or drunk from the elements served at this meal. But wait a minute. Is that so? Is there a well off group who are stuffed and a group who are hungry at this meal? A group who over do a bit in whatever category you want to name—clothes, cars, houses, IRA’s, stocks, wine, or whatever; and a group who go without? Didn’t Jesus (the one who initiated this meal) say that all his children are to be at this table, both us obese Americans and the starving, hungry half of the rest of the world? Are some of us partaking unworthily at the table? Paul says whoever takes the bounty of Jesus’ blessings in an unworthy manner shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. Didn’t he say to perpetuate this inequality is a sign of despising the church of God? Paul says, you get no kudos from me by doing this!
He also says, let’s examine ourselves to see which group we are in, for if we are in the wrong, we bring judgment on ourselves. He even proposes this over-consumption (of lack of attending this meal, per John Wesley) may be the reason we are sick and even die prematurely. I wonder how Paul knew obesity increases the risk of premature heart attack, stroke, congestive heart failure, diabetes, hypertension and even some types of cancer? I bet Paul got some bad feedback about this letter.
So, come to the meal but remember: all who are at the table are to share the bounty. Curb your appetite for the sake of all and in particular, the Host, So be it.
Ted Hill, August 2009
*Dr. Ted Hill, M.D., is an ordained Deacon in the United Methodist Church, and is founder and executive director of SALVAS, a medical service for the working poor.
posted by TN Conference UMC @ 9:23 AM
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