TENNESSEE CONFERENCE REVIEW February 5, 2010
Articles in the February 5th issue of THE REVIEW
1. Grace United Methodist Church assembles 10,000 health kits for Haiti
2. Mount Juliet’s Providence UMC---A Congregation of Extravagant Generosity That Goes About Doing Good
3. On Saturday, April 17th, all Conference Youth are invited to BE THE CHANGE needed in their communities
4. Tennessee Lives Count – Tennessee’s Youth Suicide Prevention and Early Intervention Training for all youth workers
5. Dedication of Christian Fellowship Center, Smithville First United Methodist Church
6. The Gift of God—Threads of Hope Ministry, Ebenezer UMC
7. An Eye Witness Report: Bahamas Methodist Habitat Responds to Haitian Disaster—by Tennessee Conference minister David McIntyre.
8. 61st Avenue Toy Store sets record for number of Children served
9. Seventy-Five Nativity Scenes—A donation made to Findlay UMC
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Grace United Methodist Church assembles 10,000 health kits for Haiti
Lukas Rodia carries the message that motivated 160 Grace United Methodist Church members as they assembled 10,000 health kits for distribution in Haiti.
On Sunday, January 24, Grace United Methodist Church, Cumberland District, reached out to the people of Haiti by assembling 10,000 much-needed health kits that will be distributed in the earthquake-ravaged country.
Grace United Methodist Church in Mt. Juliet, TN asked it’s congregation to “wear your Sunday work best” and show up at the church’s Family Life Center in blue jeans and t-shirts prepared to compile packages filled with necessary hygiene and medical supplies. Beginning at 9 o’clock Sunday morning, the congregation carried on an assembly process that began earlier in the week when members of their youth group met to fold thousands of hand towels that were included in the relief kits.
Jenna Bartow leads other children from Grace UMC in putting together band aids and nail clippers for inclusion in the health kits.
160 volunteers worked at assembling the health kits and while organizers estimated that the entire assembly process would take 6-8 hours, the work crews finished the task in about 4 hours.
The health kits, which will be distributed in Haiti through the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) (www.umcor.org/haiti), are comprised of hand towels, washcloths, combs, nail files, bar soaps, toothbrushes, plastic strip sterile bandages and money to be used by UMCOR to purchase toothpaste.
Assembling Haiti health kits
UMCOR values the kits at $12, but organizers of the event collected enough in donations that the cost of the kit to Grace United Methodist was only 97 cents.
“Help from both individuals and local vendors have come out of the woodwork,” said event organizer Ricardo Rios. “We’ve received donations of everything from medical supplies and transportation to strapping and pallets.”
Event organizer Ric Rios celebrates the last case of 60 kits (of the 10,000 kit total) to go through the conveyer belt.
Rios indicated that the total assembled product was shipped in 168 cases of relief kits on10 pallets with a total shipping weight of 5,364 pounds. Kits were immediately transported to UMCOR’s distribution center in Baldwin, LA where they will be shipped to Haiti.
Mount Juliet’s Providence UMC---A Congregation of Extravagant Generosity That Goes About Doing Good
by Pam Pinkston Campbell
During our recent study of Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity, Pastor Jacob Armstrong asked rhetorically how the Providence United Methodist Church, a new congregation, is going to be defined. The enthusiastic response to recent projects made the definition simple: “Providence can be defined as a congregation of extravagant generosity that goes about doing good.” This congregation is passionate about answering needs in the community and the world.
Worshipers at Providence began meeting together in September of 2008, and now more than 400 people gather in two services at Stoner Creek Elementary School in Mount Juliet, Tennessee.
The Sunday following the earthquake in Haiti, we collected $5,000 for UMCOR to help with the relief efforts.
This followed an amazing Christmas season where the size of God’s plans was much greater than church leaders ever imagined. As part of our partnership at Stoner Creek, we chose to adopt eight children for whom the congregation would buy gifts. Early in December eight individual, miniature trees were set out in the foyer. Each tree included several gift tags. Each tag described one item. The congregation was invited to take the tags and purchase the items to be returned the next week. But there was a problem: All the tags were taken before everyone who wanted one could get to the trees. So, we called the school—and a neighboring school—and asked if we could help more children. We were given 20 more names.
Outreach coordinators thought that was a pretty bold plan but swallowed hard and set out more trees and more tags the next week. Again—all the tags were taken and people were asking for more. Providence was delighted to purchase gifts for 28 children in the two schools.
Local schools were not the only beneficiaries of Providence generosity, however. We also decided to raise money to support a school in the small village of Moj in Africa. The goal: $10,600. A recent article in the United Methodist Reporter about the charter Sunday of Providence UMC described Pastor Jacob's far-off vision for the church. He dreamed that possibly in the years to come, Providence could be a part of building schools in other places around the world. Some of the leadership of the church decided this vision couldn't wait.
Becky Yates, the church’s Respond Team director, said, “We raised $4,000 last year to dig a well, and we raised more than $5,000 in August for the Nothing but Nets campaign [to purchase malaria nets], but we had never done anything this big. This was definitely a God-sized goal, but we felt that God had laid this on our hearts to build a school and we just had to trust him.”
Some contingencies were in place—including using the Christmas Eve offering, which was anticipated to be significant—to make up any shortfall, but again, the God-size task touched the hearts of the people at Providence. More than $14,000 had been reached before Christmas, and a total of $15,088 was sent to the Moj project.
Because response to the Moj school had been so great, Pastor Jacob announced that the Christmas Eve offering would be designated to Brooks House, a local temporary shelter for women and children. That offering totaled $2,900.
“It has been a blessing to be able to help and to be a part of something so wonderful,” said church member Jerry Andrews. “Jacob leads us in how to be true disciples, and he has the vision to guide us and show us how to help generations to come. Whenever a need is presented, it gets fulfilled. It is all about helping others.”
On Saturday, April 17th, all Conference Youth are invited to BE THE CHANGE needed in their communities
As Christians we are called to make a difference in the world for Jesus Christ. We are called to serve each other out of that love. Mother Teresa once said “In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love.” On Saturday, April 17th we encourage youth groups to lead all generations in “doing small things with great love” in your community.
This expression of service will be organized by youth groups in their own community. The questions needs to be asked: “What are you being called to do where you live? Who do you see that needs to be shown ‘great love’?” Youth leaders, both adult and among the youth themselves, are asked to inspire the youth group and the entire congregation to “BE THE CHANGE” that is needed in the community to connect all to the love of Jesus Christ.
Concluding celebration for the day – 6:00 p.m., Franklin First United Methodist Church
When the day of service is finished, youth groups . . . and adults motivated by the youth . . . are asked to celebrate together in Sanctuary East at Franklin First United Methodist Church. There will be a special worship celebration at 6:00 p.m. and worshippers will be inspired by the incredible music of the RE Worship Band. The guest speaker for the evening with be Shane Claiborne.
Shane Claiborne
During college, one of Shane’s professors remarked, “Being a Christian is about choosing Jesus and deciding to do something incredibly daring with your life.” Taking up that challenge, his faith led him to a life many describe as being an “Ordinary Radical.” Shane will share his call to serve the least, the last, and the lost.
BE THE CHANGE will serve as a fitting and dynamic introduction to the worldwide Change the World event, April 24th and 25th, when 11 million United Methodists are asked to come together to work with their local communities. There is one body in Christ and through the United Methodist connection; we can sense its heartbeat in a coordinated event such as Change the World. Go to www.rethinkchurch.org/changetheworld for more information.
When “BE THE CHANGERS” gathers in Franklin they are asked to bring some canned food to benefit those in need within the Tennessee Conference. Email Brad Fiscus, bfiscus@tnumc.org, is you have questions about this ministry opportunity. And – the answer to one of the main question Brad is presenting in advance: “ALL generations are invited to BE THE CHANGE on April 17th not just the youth.”
Tennessee Lives Count – Tennessee’s Youth Suicide Prevention and Early Intervention Training for all youth workers
During 2010, the Young People’s Ministry of the Tennessee Conference will offer quarterly Pastoral Care workshops for all youth workers. Ministering with young people is a challenging calling. While our focus is connecting them to Jesus Christ, the struggles they face in life become the biggest roadblock to receiving the grace they so desperately need. These workshops will help the youth worker develop skills and tools as well as connect them to resources that will equip them to discern the correct course necessary to help those in need.
More details will be given at http://tnumcyouth.org about the upcoming trainings and information will be sent out detailing these training opportunities.
Pastoral Care Workshop #1 can be summed up with the words, “Tennessee Lives Count.” This event will present Tennessee’s Youth Suicide Prevention and Early Intervention Training and will help youth workers recognize the warning signs of suicide in youth and young adults, and how to intervene and save a life.
The objective of this workshop is to provide participants with:
1. general knowledge of the societal view of suicide, by addressing myths, facts, attitudes and opinions.
2. adequate knowledge of the steps they can follow to prevent a suicidal person from completing suicide.
3. resources from which they can refer a suicidal person once they have intervened and prevented a suicidal attempt.
The workshop will be instructed to certified trainers from the Tennessee Lives Count Project in partnership with the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network. For more information see their website at www.tspn.org
There will be four training opportunities to choose from and all workshops will take place from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Space is limited to register early.
1. February 16, Fellowship United Methodist Church, 2201 Peachers Mill Road, Clarksville, TN
2. February 25, Paron United Methodist Church, 3812 West Paron Road, Cookeville, TN
3. March 23, Riverside United Methodist Church, 313 6th Avenue, Columbia, TN
4. March 25, Tennessee Conference Office, 304 South Perimeter Park Drive, Nashville, TN
Please R.S.V.P. to Brad Fiscus bfiscus@tnumc.org or call 615-327-1533. There is no
Charge for this training opportunity.
Dedication of Christian Fellowship Center, Smithville First United Methodist Church
Sunday, January 24th, was an exciting time for the membership of Smithville First United Methodist Church. After some hardships and many sacrifices, the 7 ½ year old debt from the construction of the congregation’s Christian Family Center was paid off, and the CFC was going to be dedicated after the 11:00 a.m. worship service and pot luck lunch. Finally the mortgage papers could be burned as a symbol of freedom from debt.
During the children’s sermon Shirley Ingram called Dr. John Purdue, former pastor Leland Carden, and the morning’s preacher, the Rev. Roger Hopson, to join the children. Children’s time closed with everyone linking arms and singing “I am the church! You are the church! We are the church together” (Richard K. Avery and Donald S. Marsh, United Methodist Hymn #558)
During the 11:00 service, Leland Carden , former pastor was liturgist. The theme of the day focused on the power of love as all of God’s people work together for good. Shirley Ingram in her children’s sermon helped the children understand that the church is NOT a building—it is persons tied together in love and concern. She used the old rhyme “Here is the church, and here is the steeple, Open the doors and here’s all the people.”
Preacher for the morning was the Rev. Hopson, Assistant to the Bishop of the Nashville Area of the United Methodist Church. His reflection focused on the unconditional love of God, and how we as the church must love people unconditionally. “It’s never ever about YOU, it’s about the Kingdom,” Hopson said, as he noted that we are all kin to 6 billion people in the world.
A time of fellowship in the debt free Christian Fellowship Center
In the 1999 Smithville First United Methodist Church purchased a two-section building catty-corner from the church—the building held doctor’s offices and a pharmacy. The building offered the only alternative for expanding the space available to the church and enriching its ministry. Robin Driver, acting as general contractor, found the original plans calling to remodel the building hard to bring together, and it was, of course, difficult to please everyone with the redesign. These difficulties became so pronounced at one meeting that Driver offered off-handedly “We should just tear down this building and start over.” A hush fell over those at the meeting, heads nodded in consent, and at the moment a surprising consensus developed to tear down the building, and to construct the Christian Fellowship Center as it stands today.
Head table at the noon meal participates in the liturgy of dedication: (l to r) Robin Driver, Glen Page, Wayne Hubbs, Lillie Vaughn, Leland Carden, John Purdue, Cynthia Hopson, and Roger Hopson
For almost a year, the Busy Bees Quilters had a thrift store to raise money for the new building. The construction started in the winter of 2000 and the building was consecrated in 2001. A loan was taken out in 2002. Everyone attending the Dedication of the CFC on January 24th noted that the 7 ½ years of paying off the mortgage note wasn’t easy, and various groups within the church including the United Methodist Women and the Busy Bees Quilters stepped up to help with payments and to pay for items to furnish the center including tables, chair, and table cloths. Glen Page, Chairman of Trustees, was called at home as construction was starting. Two 18 wheelers had pulled up loaded with steel for construction. They wouldn’t unload it without a check. Page had to go out arrange a very quick loan to pay the bill. He noted to his wife later, “I think I just mortgaged the farm.” Finally $333,500 was borrowed for construction at 6.4% interest. “We were paying $70.10 per day just for interest at that rate,” and over several years Page managed to refinance the loan, each time cutting the interest rate—finally knocking a total of 1.1% off the interest rate.
Leland Carden, who was pastor at the time of construction, reported that everything didn’t go easy during the process. When the two buildings were demolished a house was found under the building they tore down—and the house had to be dug out and there was a large hole that needed to be filled before any construction could begin.
Outside the CFC on January 24th it was rainy and flooding. Rather than burning the mortgage papers outside, seven children were called forward and each child was asked to tear up one page of the mortgage document.
Pastor, the Rev. Dr. John Purdue, reported on the many ministries that were made possible by the new space—two Hispanic congregations got their start at Smithville First UMC, an ongoing food pantry and clothes closet were created, the scope of the preschool program at the church was greatly enlarged, First UMC launched the “Methodist Café,” a hugely successful and beneficial café providing hospitality during Smithville’s annual Fiddler’s Jamboree in July. Additionally, several Scout troops use the space, the church’s VBS has been strengthened through having a great building. The CFC has also allowed the church to host hundreds of class reunions, wedding receptions, civic dinners, job fairs, immunization clinics, and the like. However, perhaps the most profound thing has been the 2nd Harvest mobile food pantries, which gave out food to 1266 families in four events in 2009 and have become etched into the life not only of the church but of the community. After Purdue’s reflections, individuals from the congregation arose and testified to the hard work that had made the building possible and to its value in community outreach.
The Gift of God
By Grace Hyde
God moves in mysterious ways, his wonders to perform. Who knew that the cleaning of a closet, the finding of an old bag of yarn, and a phone call would turn into a ministry? In January 2008, two women, with time on their hands and a desire to help others, began a crochet project to benefit residents of various nursing homes. The goal was to crochet as many lapghans as possible by year’s end.
Caps made by Threads of Hope. Members of the group are Bessie Harris, Sarah Booker of Florida, Paulette Hurst and Grace Hyde.
The ministry team soon grew to four persons and they were well under way with their first project. One hundred eleven lapghans were distributed to various homes. The ministry was officially named The Threads of Hope Crochet Ministry in 2009 and the band of four began giving crochet lessons to anyone interested.
The Threads of hope, with the support and donations from the Ebenezer United Methodist Church family, was able to make 300 hats and scarves for the Nashville Rescue Mission and Mercy Ministry. When the call came from Community Care Fellowship, the Threads of Hope once again took on the project crocheting approximately 100 hats. The Threads of Hope Ministry is proof that God does indeed work in mysterious ways and that whatever you can do may well be a blessing to others.
An Eye Witness Report: Bahamas Methodist Habitat Responds to Haitian Disaster
A reflection by retired Tennessee Conference minister, the Rev. David McIntyre
The Rev. David McIntyre
"Merci. Merci." The beautiful, humble Haitian nurse in a 48 bed, one room hospital in Les Cayes, Haiti, sweetly spoke the sentiment of the poverty- stricken Haitian people. Abraham McIntyre, our son, and a "son" of the Tennessee Annual Conference of the UMC, and his team of volunteers from Bahamas Methodist Habitat (BMH) had just delivered two more plane loads of medical supplies donated by caring and generous US and Bahamian citizens. BMH, an outreach ministry of the Bahamas Conference of the Methodist Church, is making an immediate difference in the lives of these precious and hurting Haitian people, their Caribbean neighbors.
This effort has been swift and direct service! Multiple plane loads of needed supplies and short-term medical missionaries, flown by BMH volunteer pilots recruited and coordinated by BMH staff and board members, have been delivered day after day since the massive earthquake of January 12 dealt a devastating blow to the people of Haiti. Abraham saw the need immediately after he learned of the disaster and rapidly went into action. He used the Internet, email and face-book to reach volunteers.
His base of operations is normally on the Bahamian island of Eleuthera. We had just arrived there the day before the earthquake to spend a few weeks visiting with him. In order to "visit" with him, however, we had to literally "get on board" with this relief effort; so, off we went with him and his two aviation interns to set up a staging area in Nassau ... it was a natural launch pad. Nassau Methodist Churches assisted the BMH team with hospitality needs and are being very generous with donations.
Bahamas Methodist Habitat was one of the very first responders to this crisis and has emerged as a major resource for delivery of supplies and medical personal from the USA via the Bahamas. The first week each leg of each flight served a purpose ... taking supplies in and bringing US citizens out at no charge. Now the inbound flights are the prime focus ... lifting thousands of pounds of donated supplies and volunteer medical personnel into the country. US material donations to this particular effort have been gathered in a warehouse in Fort Lauderdale. Each volunteer pilot stops there to pick up a load before coming on to Nassau.
As Port au Prince is still very difficult to enter, BMH flights are forced to land in smaller outlying airports. As it turns out, many of the homeless and injured of Port au Prince are gravitating into the hinterlands overloading the hospitals and facilities of the smaller towns which, though undamaged by the earthquake, are already deep in poverty with only a dearth of resources for their own people. Consequently, a second crisis is building all across this poorest country in the western hemisphere ... this emergency air-lift effort will continue until commercial air service is fully restored in Haiti and the need for emergency flights has ceased.
Patty and I were most privileged to be invited to join Abraham and the General Secretary of the Bahamas Conference of the Methodist Church, Dr. Henry Knowles, on a one day visit into Haiti to gain oversight of the safe distribution and delivery of the resources and personnel. We flew into Haiti's third largest city, Les Cayes, with a population of around 70,000 on the southern coast of the beautiful country. Having never before traveled into a third world country, we were astounded at the pervasive poverty. We resonate with the statement of one of the pilots who said, "it was only a three and a half hour flight but it took us back a thousand years."Life there is very basic! The three medical centers we visited are indescribably under staffed and less-than-conducive to good health.
While visiting a mission clinic, we spoke with three volunteer US doctors who had flown down on BMH flights. There have been scores of volunteer medical personnel from California to Massachusetts going down to give of their services, and many have found their ride with BHM. While in Les Cayes we met with Dr. Robert Leger who for over 26 years has been the head of medical services there ... often one of the only trained doctors. He and his wife, Rosa, escorted us through the surgical center ... a small concrete block, open-air room with nearly 50 patients. In conversation we discovered that the Leger's have a daughter, Rosanne, who is about to graduate from Meharry Medical Center back home in our own Nashville, Tennessee. We subsequently have learned that Rosanne and her husband, Anthony, both doing residencies at Vanderbilt hospital, are heading up a medical response among the Nashville medical community. BMH will be flying their supplies and people down tomorrow (01/27/10).
To make the "six degrees of separation" even smaller, we have discovered that Dr. William Obremskey, one of the boys in the youth group of my first appointment after seminary, Centenary UMC in Lebanon, Indiana, is now a surgeon at Vanderbilt and participating with the Legers in putting the medical volunteer team together. Dr. Obremskey is a member of West End UMC in Nashville. His mother and my sister attend the same UMC in Indiana.
Bahamas Methodist Habitat, where Abraham has served as Director for over four years, is normally a hurricane relief and sub-standard housing relief effort for the Bahamian islands. Many volunteer teams go there to serve each year ... including several TN Conference congregations such as Fayetteville First, Hendersonville First, Belle Meade, Manchester First and Brentwood. However, BMH's current adapted role ... a role it somewhat "backed into" by virtue of its large network of private pilots who already supported the ministry of relief in the Bahamas ... is that of coordinating a constant flow of volunteer pilots, using their own planes, making daily deliveries to Haiti.
As of our latest count nearly 50 individual pilots from Florida to Canada, from Iowa to North Carolina have made over 125 round trips. All flights originate out of BMH's temporary base camp at the Odyssey Aviation Center, a private corporation at the Nassau International Airport, partnering with BMH. Flights go out daily down to several small airports in Haiti. Monetary gifts being donated to BMH's Haiti relief fund are assisting with the very expensive fuel costs for these relief-aid flights.
Donated materials and supplies ... bedding, food, baby formula, medicines, bandages and surgical supplies ... fill the planes of these faithful and dedicated volunteer pilots. One pilot is a farmer from Iowa; two brother pilots are insurance salesmen from Toronto; another is a contractor from Delaware and a couple are Sunday School buddies from Alabama ... all with hearts of gold! A surgeon from Virginia and a retired commercial pilot from Minnesota - old military buddies - teamed up to fly about 10 round trips. Two United Methodist engineers from Florida, each flying their own planes, have simultaneously raised $25,000 from their congregation for airplane fuel for this mission. It has been amazing to see the outpouring of support from all over the US, Canada and The Bahamas for this effort. (To learn more of how to volunteer as a pilot, medical staff or how to donate fuel funds, Google Bahamas Methodist Habitat.)
Having always been a strong supporter and advocate of contributions to UMCOR, I found myself a bit conflicted at first about BMH possibly drawing donations away from UMCOR's effort. However, in reviewing UMCOR news releases, their efforts are going to be more for the long-haul efforts of the future. BMH's effort is a short-term emergency, swift acting effort which will recede as soon as standard aviation is restored throughout Haiti.
In this effort, Bahamas Methodist Habitat has been an ecumenical catalyst supporting missionaries and volunteer medical personnel from multiple Christian traditions. BMH had the privilege of delivering the first representatives of UMCOR (United Methodist Committee On Relief), Jessica Crutchfield and Edgar Avitia, UMCOR Executives who went out on the second flight. BMH has also taken in leaders of the Nazarene and Assemblies of God Churches. Lutheran, Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Evangelical, Presbyterian, and Apostolic Christian Church doctors and leaders have had free seats on Haiti-bound BMH planes ... with bundles of supplies under their feet and in their laps! Each of these people are making a difference with our Haitian sisters and brothers. I've never been aware of so many, many mission agencies and non-profit services existing in our country!
Abraham, though fearless in his pursuit of mission goals and support, is essentially a very humble young man. He has taught me a lot about shunning turf battles and seeking recognition. As I have periodically and quietly offered "politically motivated" suggestions that might bring him or his agency a bit of support or recognition, he politely reminds me, "you know, Dad, you can get a whole lot more accomplished when you're not concerned about who gets the credit!" I give thanks that he's learned that lesson so much earlier in his journey than I am learning it in mine.
For years I have prayed for the forming and shaping of our children into people of God's purposes. Today, I'm celebrating my birthday here in the Bahamas and one of the greatest gifts is seeing my prayer answered. Abraham's sister, Ingrid, at staff member at the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry is one of his biggest cheerleaders.
We are proud and humbled by the work the Lord is enabling Abraham to have in this unique time. So, on behalf of Abraham McIntyre, BMH Director, and his aviation interns, Cameron King, a Nashville young adult, and Matt Hansen, another UMC young adult from Peachtree City, Georgia, we say thank you ("Merci") for what so many have done and may choose to do again to support the bringing of hope and healing in a place crying out for both. We invite our colleagues in the Tennessee Conference to pray about the important missions going on in Haiti and to tell your congregations, friends and associates about UMCOR and this other opportunity to serve with the Body of Christ in Haiti.
61st Avenue Toy Store sets record for number of Children served
Pastor Paul Slentz welcomes volunteers
Some of the over 500 volunteers go through orientation
Planners involved in the December 2009 Last Minute Christmas Toy Store at Sixty-First Avenue United Methodist Church were somewhat worried about the state of the economy. Obviously, with the number of families going through very hard times, and a high jobless rate, the demands made on the Toy Store could increase. There was also the possibility that the economy could result in cutting the contribution of toys by individuals, churches, and organizations.
Doc Hooks and Nita Haywood compare notes.
The suspicion that the demand for help would be quite high this year was correct, but fortunately the number of contributors remained high. The Last Minute Toy Store ended up serving 500 more children than it ever had before. In the four days that the Toy Store was open, 4,500 children from approximately 1,400 families were served. Over 15,000 toys/gifts were distributed to go along with the books, oranges, and candy canes given to each child. Sixty-First Avenue UMC Pastor, Paul Slentz, summed it all up with the words, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow!”
Volunteer helps a parent shop for toys
Slentz was thankful for the local churches and organizations that had drives to collect gifts for toddlers and teens. Through these efforts the Toy Store was able to help 2,407 young ones in these often overlooked age groups. Slentz also acknowledged the big help once again received from the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve’s “Toys for Tots” program. He expressed gratitude for help from Star Transportation which meant that all the Dec. 13th Titans game Toys for Tots collection was brought to the Last Minute Toy Store with special thanks to SSgts. David Carrier and Fabian Garcia. Slentz also wanted to give a “shout out” to all the bi-lingual volunteers. “We were able to serve a very large number of Hispanic brothers and sisters with their help. Special thanks to Anais Riggs and Judy Jones for their work on this. Also thank you to Mitch and Sarah Ballard for setting up our website: http://www.lastminutetoystore.com/.”
Highland Park Church Pastor David Friedli works in sports tent
Members of the steering committee for the 2009 Toy Store were: Nancy and Dan Armfield, Barbara Austin, Pat Barlow, Tommy Barnes, JoAnn Bellar, Sherry Benson, Carlene Biggs, David Friedli, Nita Haywood, Doc Hooks, Brenda Hix, Brandy Hutchison, Judy Jones, Vivian Martz, Mary Pratt, Terry Raney, Dale Robble, Wendy Roth, Joyce and April Shyloski, Calvin and Annette Ticey, and Rex Thigpen.
Donated books were also handed out to families
One of the hardest working volunteers at the Last Minute Toy Store is Brenda Hix, Lay Leader of 61st Avenue UMC. During the four days that the Toy Store is open Brenda is at the church around the clock. In particular, she is in charge of welcoming parents needing toys to come in out of the cold at 3:00 a.m. while they wait for free tickets to be passed out later in the morning. Brenda describes her experience this way: “I’m one of the small and usually unnamed people from the West Nashville neighborhood where the church is located. I grew up here and know just about everyone. It’s just so special for our little church in this sometimes looked down on neighborhood to be part of something so big. I can’t explain how it makes me feel. Something I didn’t think I could do, I’m actually helping to lead. It makes me feel so good to help others in need, because I know what it’s like to be going through a rough time. This is heaven on earth for me. I am grateful to God for letting me use my gifts to help others in this way.”
Mary Pratt, 61st Avenue volunteer explains procedure to a guest.
In a thank you note to volunteers Paul Slentz offered a closing challenge: “Let’s all commit to do whatever we can to help struggling families throughout the entire year in addition to what we do at Christmas!!!
Lateria Benson worked throughout the day making certain shelves were stocked.
The 2010 toy store will be Sat. Dec. 18 - Tues. Dec. 21, 2010. The greatest needs from contributors are the same as they always are - - toys/gifts for teens and very young children (0-4) and of course dollars to buy those.
Volunteers prepare to register guests.
Seventy-Five Nativity Scenes
Reprinted from The Sparta Magazine and used here with permission
Geneva Cotton stands with the collection of nativity scenes, Findlay UMC, Cookeville District
Geneva Cotton has been attending Findlay United Methodist Church since she was six years old. There have been five generations of her family that have worshiped there over the years.
Geneva has always loved Nativity scenes. She has been collecting them for years. Some she has bought, some have been given to her as gifts. Some are all white and some are colorfully painted. Some are clear glass. Some are complete with Mary, Joseph, Wise Men and Shepherds. Some are simply Baby Jesus with Mary and Joseph.
Because she had so many and because she loves her church family, Geneva decided to donate about half of her collection to her church. She had Ray Maples to build a special cabinet to house the collection. Within the cabinet, the congregation and visitors can view seventy-five Nativity scenes. She has about that same number still at home in her collection.
1. Grace United Methodist Church assembles 10,000 health kits for Haiti
2. Mount Juliet’s Providence UMC---A Congregation of Extravagant Generosity That Goes About Doing Good
3. On Saturday, April 17th, all Conference Youth are invited to BE THE CHANGE needed in their communities
4. Tennessee Lives Count – Tennessee’s Youth Suicide Prevention and Early Intervention Training for all youth workers
5. Dedication of Christian Fellowship Center, Smithville First United Methodist Church
6. The Gift of God—Threads of Hope Ministry, Ebenezer UMC
7. An Eye Witness Report: Bahamas Methodist Habitat Responds to Haitian Disaster—by Tennessee Conference minister David McIntyre.
8. 61st Avenue Toy Store sets record for number of Children served
9. Seventy-Five Nativity Scenes—A donation made to Findlay UMC
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Grace United Methodist Church assembles 10,000 health kits for Haiti
On Sunday, January 24, Grace United Methodist Church, Cumberland District, reached out to the people of Haiti by assembling 10,000 much-needed health kits that will be distributed in the earthquake-ravaged country.
Grace United Methodist Church in Mt. Juliet, TN asked it’s congregation to “wear your Sunday work best” and show up at the church’s Family Life Center in blue jeans and t-shirts prepared to compile packages filled with necessary hygiene and medical supplies. Beginning at 9 o’clock Sunday morning, the congregation carried on an assembly process that began earlier in the week when members of their youth group met to fold thousands of hand towels that were included in the relief kits.
160 volunteers worked at assembling the health kits and while organizers estimated that the entire assembly process would take 6-8 hours, the work crews finished the task in about 4 hours.
The health kits, which will be distributed in Haiti through the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) (www.umcor.org/haiti), are comprised of hand towels, washcloths, combs, nail files, bar soaps, toothbrushes, plastic strip sterile bandages and money to be used by UMCOR to purchase toothpaste.
UMCOR values the kits at $12, but organizers of the event collected enough in donations that the cost of the kit to Grace United Methodist was only 97 cents.
“Help from both individuals and local vendors have come out of the woodwork,” said event organizer Ricardo Rios. “We’ve received donations of everything from medical supplies and transportation to strapping and pallets.”
Event organizer Ric Rios celebrates the last case of 60 kits (of the 10,000 kit total) to go through the conveyer belt.
Rios indicated that the total assembled product was shipped in 168 cases of relief kits on10 pallets with a total shipping weight of 5,364 pounds. Kits were immediately transported to UMCOR’s distribution center in Baldwin, LA where they will be shipped to Haiti.
Mount Juliet’s Providence UMC---A Congregation of Extravagant Generosity That Goes About Doing Good
by Pam Pinkston Campbell
During our recent study of Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity, Pastor Jacob Armstrong asked rhetorically how the Providence United Methodist Church, a new congregation, is going to be defined. The enthusiastic response to recent projects made the definition simple: “Providence can be defined as a congregation of extravagant generosity that goes about doing good.” This congregation is passionate about answering needs in the community and the world.
Worshipers at Providence began meeting together in September of 2008, and now more than 400 people gather in two services at Stoner Creek Elementary School in Mount Juliet, Tennessee.
The Sunday following the earthquake in Haiti, we collected $5,000 for UMCOR to help with the relief efforts.
This followed an amazing Christmas season where the size of God’s plans was much greater than church leaders ever imagined. As part of our partnership at Stoner Creek, we chose to adopt eight children for whom the congregation would buy gifts. Early in December eight individual, miniature trees were set out in the foyer. Each tree included several gift tags. Each tag described one item. The congregation was invited to take the tags and purchase the items to be returned the next week. But there was a problem: All the tags were taken before everyone who wanted one could get to the trees. So, we called the school—and a neighboring school—and asked if we could help more children. We were given 20 more names.
Outreach coordinators thought that was a pretty bold plan but swallowed hard and set out more trees and more tags the next week. Again—all the tags were taken and people were asking for more. Providence was delighted to purchase gifts for 28 children in the two schools.
Local schools were not the only beneficiaries of Providence generosity, however. We also decided to raise money to support a school in the small village of Moj in Africa. The goal: $10,600. A recent article in the United Methodist Reporter about the charter Sunday of Providence UMC described Pastor Jacob's far-off vision for the church. He dreamed that possibly in the years to come, Providence could be a part of building schools in other places around the world. Some of the leadership of the church decided this vision couldn't wait.
Becky Yates, the church’s Respond Team director, said, “We raised $4,000 last year to dig a well, and we raised more than $5,000 in August for the Nothing but Nets campaign [to purchase malaria nets], but we had never done anything this big. This was definitely a God-sized goal, but we felt that God had laid this on our hearts to build a school and we just had to trust him.”
Some contingencies were in place—including using the Christmas Eve offering, which was anticipated to be significant—to make up any shortfall, but again, the God-size task touched the hearts of the people at Providence. More than $14,000 had been reached before Christmas, and a total of $15,088 was sent to the Moj project.
Because response to the Moj school had been so great, Pastor Jacob announced that the Christmas Eve offering would be designated to Brooks House, a local temporary shelter for women and children. That offering totaled $2,900.
“It has been a blessing to be able to help and to be a part of something so wonderful,” said church member Jerry Andrews. “Jacob leads us in how to be true disciples, and he has the vision to guide us and show us how to help generations to come. Whenever a need is presented, it gets fulfilled. It is all about helping others.”
On Saturday, April 17th, all Conference Youth are invited to BE THE CHANGE needed in their communities
As Christians we are called to make a difference in the world for Jesus Christ. We are called to serve each other out of that love. Mother Teresa once said “In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love.” On Saturday, April 17th we encourage youth groups to lead all generations in “doing small things with great love” in your community.
This expression of service will be organized by youth groups in their own community. The questions needs to be asked: “What are you being called to do where you live? Who do you see that needs to be shown ‘great love’?” Youth leaders, both adult and among the youth themselves, are asked to inspire the youth group and the entire congregation to “BE THE CHANGE” that is needed in the community to connect all to the love of Jesus Christ.
Concluding celebration for the day – 6:00 p.m., Franklin First United Methodist Church
When the day of service is finished, youth groups . . . and adults motivated by the youth . . . are asked to celebrate together in Sanctuary East at Franklin First United Methodist Church. There will be a special worship celebration at 6:00 p.m. and worshippers will be inspired by the incredible music of the RE Worship Band. The guest speaker for the evening with be Shane Claiborne.
Shane Claiborne
During college, one of Shane’s professors remarked, “Being a Christian is about choosing Jesus and deciding to do something incredibly daring with your life.” Taking up that challenge, his faith led him to a life many describe as being an “Ordinary Radical.” Shane will share his call to serve the least, the last, and the lost.
BE THE CHANGE will serve as a fitting and dynamic introduction to the worldwide Change the World event, April 24th and 25th, when 11 million United Methodists are asked to come together to work with their local communities. There is one body in Christ and through the United Methodist connection; we can sense its heartbeat in a coordinated event such as Change the World. Go to www.rethinkchurch.org/changetheworld for more information.
When “BE THE CHANGERS” gathers in Franklin they are asked to bring some canned food to benefit those in need within the Tennessee Conference. Email Brad Fiscus, bfiscus@tnumc.org, is you have questions about this ministry opportunity. And – the answer to one of the main question Brad is presenting in advance: “ALL generations are invited to BE THE CHANGE on April 17th not just the youth.”
Tennessee Lives Count – Tennessee’s Youth Suicide Prevention and Early Intervention Training for all youth workers
More details will be given at http://tnumcyouth.org about the upcoming trainings and information will be sent out detailing these training opportunities.
Pastoral Care Workshop #1 can be summed up with the words, “Tennessee Lives Count.” This event will present Tennessee’s Youth Suicide Prevention and Early Intervention Training and will help youth workers recognize the warning signs of suicide in youth and young adults, and how to intervene and save a life.
The objective of this workshop is to provide participants with:
1. general knowledge of the societal view of suicide, by addressing myths, facts, attitudes and opinions.
2. adequate knowledge of the steps they can follow to prevent a suicidal person from completing suicide.
3. resources from which they can refer a suicidal person once they have intervened and prevented a suicidal attempt.
The workshop will be instructed to certified trainers from the Tennessee Lives Count Project in partnership with the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network. For more information see their website at www.tspn.org
There will be four training opportunities to choose from and all workshops will take place from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Space is limited to register early.
1. February 16, Fellowship United Methodist Church, 2201 Peachers Mill Road, Clarksville, TN
2. February 25, Paron United Methodist Church, 3812 West Paron Road, Cookeville, TN
3. March 23, Riverside United Methodist Church, 313 6th Avenue, Columbia, TN
4. March 25, Tennessee Conference Office, 304 South Perimeter Park Drive, Nashville, TN
Please R.S.V.P. to Brad Fiscus bfiscus@tnumc.org or call 615-327-1533. There is no
Charge for this training opportunity.
Dedication of Christian Fellowship Center, Smithville First United Methodist Church
Sunday, January 24th, was an exciting time for the membership of Smithville First United Methodist Church. After some hardships and many sacrifices, the 7 ½ year old debt from the construction of the congregation’s Christian Family Center was paid off, and the CFC was going to be dedicated after the 11:00 a.m. worship service and pot luck lunch. Finally the mortgage papers could be burned as a symbol of freedom from debt.
During the 11:00 service, Leland Carden , former pastor was liturgist. The theme of the day focused on the power of love as all of God’s people work together for good. Shirley Ingram in her children’s sermon helped the children understand that the church is NOT a building—it is persons tied together in love and concern. She used the old rhyme “Here is the church, and here is the steeple, Open the doors and here’s all the people.”
Preacher for the morning was the Rev. Hopson, Assistant to the Bishop of the Nashville Area of the United Methodist Church. His reflection focused on the unconditional love of God, and how we as the church must love people unconditionally. “It’s never ever about YOU, it’s about the Kingdom,” Hopson said, as he noted that we are all kin to 6 billion people in the world.
In the 1999 Smithville First United Methodist Church purchased a two-section building catty-corner from the church—the building held doctor’s offices and a pharmacy. The building offered the only alternative for expanding the space available to the church and enriching its ministry. Robin Driver, acting as general contractor, found the original plans calling to remodel the building hard to bring together, and it was, of course, difficult to please everyone with the redesign. These difficulties became so pronounced at one meeting that Driver offered off-handedly “We should just tear down this building and start over.” A hush fell over those at the meeting, heads nodded in consent, and at the moment a surprising consensus developed to tear down the building, and to construct the Christian Fellowship Center as it stands today.
For almost a year, the Busy Bees Quilters had a thrift store to raise money for the new building. The construction started in the winter of 2000 and the building was consecrated in 2001. A loan was taken out in 2002. Everyone attending the Dedication of the CFC on January 24th noted that the 7 ½ years of paying off the mortgage note wasn’t easy, and various groups within the church including the United Methodist Women and the Busy Bees Quilters stepped up to help with payments and to pay for items to furnish the center including tables, chair, and table cloths. Glen Page, Chairman of Trustees, was called at home as construction was starting. Two 18 wheelers had pulled up loaded with steel for construction. They wouldn’t unload it without a check. Page had to go out arrange a very quick loan to pay the bill. He noted to his wife later, “I think I just mortgaged the farm.” Finally $333,500 was borrowed for construction at 6.4% interest. “We were paying $70.10 per day just for interest at that rate,” and over several years Page managed to refinance the loan, each time cutting the interest rate—finally knocking a total of 1.1% off the interest rate.
Leland Carden, who was pastor at the time of construction, reported that everything didn’t go easy during the process. When the two buildings were demolished a house was found under the building they tore down—and the house had to be dug out and there was a large hole that needed to be filled before any construction could begin.
Pastor, the Rev. Dr. John Purdue, reported on the many ministries that were made possible by the new space—two Hispanic congregations got their start at Smithville First UMC, an ongoing food pantry and clothes closet were created, the scope of the preschool program at the church was greatly enlarged, First UMC launched the “Methodist Café,” a hugely successful and beneficial café providing hospitality during Smithville’s annual Fiddler’s Jamboree in July. Additionally, several Scout troops use the space, the church’s VBS has been strengthened through having a great building. The CFC has also allowed the church to host hundreds of class reunions, wedding receptions, civic dinners, job fairs, immunization clinics, and the like. However, perhaps the most profound thing has been the 2nd Harvest mobile food pantries, which gave out food to 1266 families in four events in 2009 and have become etched into the life not only of the church but of the community. After Purdue’s reflections, individuals from the congregation arose and testified to the hard work that had made the building possible and to its value in community outreach.
The Gift of God
By Grace Hyde
God moves in mysterious ways, his wonders to perform. Who knew that the cleaning of a closet, the finding of an old bag of yarn, and a phone call would turn into a ministry? In January 2008, two women, with time on their hands and a desire to help others, began a crochet project to benefit residents of various nursing homes. The goal was to crochet as many lapghans as possible by year’s end.
Caps made by Threads of Hope. Members of the group are Bessie Harris, Sarah Booker of Florida, Paulette Hurst and Grace Hyde.
The ministry team soon grew to four persons and they were well under way with their first project. One hundred eleven lapghans were distributed to various homes. The ministry was officially named The Threads of Hope Crochet Ministry in 2009 and the band of four began giving crochet lessons to anyone interested.
The Threads of hope, with the support and donations from the Ebenezer United Methodist Church family, was able to make 300 hats and scarves for the Nashville Rescue Mission and Mercy Ministry. When the call came from Community Care Fellowship, the Threads of Hope once again took on the project crocheting approximately 100 hats. The Threads of Hope Ministry is proof that God does indeed work in mysterious ways and that whatever you can do may well be a blessing to others.
An Eye Witness Report: Bahamas Methodist Habitat Responds to Haitian Disaster
A reflection by retired Tennessee Conference minister, the Rev. David McIntyre
"Merci. Merci." The beautiful, humble Haitian nurse in a 48 bed, one room hospital in Les Cayes, Haiti, sweetly spoke the sentiment of the poverty- stricken Haitian people. Abraham McIntyre, our son, and a "son" of the Tennessee Annual Conference of the UMC, and his team of volunteers from Bahamas Methodist Habitat (BMH) had just delivered two more plane loads of medical supplies donated by caring and generous US and Bahamian citizens. BMH, an outreach ministry of the Bahamas Conference of the Methodist Church, is making an immediate difference in the lives of these precious and hurting Haitian people, their Caribbean neighbors.
This effort has been swift and direct service! Multiple plane loads of needed supplies and short-term medical missionaries, flown by BMH volunteer pilots recruited and coordinated by BMH staff and board members, have been delivered day after day since the massive earthquake of January 12 dealt a devastating blow to the people of Haiti. Abraham saw the need immediately after he learned of the disaster and rapidly went into action. He used the Internet, email and face-book to reach volunteers.
His base of operations is normally on the Bahamian island of Eleuthera. We had just arrived there the day before the earthquake to spend a few weeks visiting with him. In order to "visit" with him, however, we had to literally "get on board" with this relief effort; so, off we went with him and his two aviation interns to set up a staging area in Nassau ... it was a natural launch pad. Nassau Methodist Churches assisted the BMH team with hospitality needs and are being very generous with donations.
Bahamas Methodist Habitat was one of the very first responders to this crisis and has emerged as a major resource for delivery of supplies and medical personal from the USA via the Bahamas. The first week each leg of each flight served a purpose ... taking supplies in and bringing US citizens out at no charge. Now the inbound flights are the prime focus ... lifting thousands of pounds of donated supplies and volunteer medical personnel into the country. US material donations to this particular effort have been gathered in a warehouse in Fort Lauderdale. Each volunteer pilot stops there to pick up a load before coming on to Nassau.
As Port au Prince is still very difficult to enter, BMH flights are forced to land in smaller outlying airports. As it turns out, many of the homeless and injured of Port au Prince are gravitating into the hinterlands overloading the hospitals and facilities of the smaller towns which, though undamaged by the earthquake, are already deep in poverty with only a dearth of resources for their own people. Consequently, a second crisis is building all across this poorest country in the western hemisphere ... this emergency air-lift effort will continue until commercial air service is fully restored in Haiti and the need for emergency flights has ceased.
Patty and I were most privileged to be invited to join Abraham and the General Secretary of the Bahamas Conference of the Methodist Church, Dr. Henry Knowles, on a one day visit into Haiti to gain oversight of the safe distribution and delivery of the resources and personnel. We flew into Haiti's third largest city, Les Cayes, with a population of around 70,000 on the southern coast of the beautiful country. Having never before traveled into a third world country, we were astounded at the pervasive poverty. We resonate with the statement of one of the pilots who said, "it was only a three and a half hour flight but it took us back a thousand years."Life there is very basic! The three medical centers we visited are indescribably under staffed and less-than-conducive to good health.
While visiting a mission clinic, we spoke with three volunteer US doctors who had flown down on BMH flights. There have been scores of volunteer medical personnel from California to Massachusetts going down to give of their services, and many have found their ride with BHM. While in Les Cayes we met with Dr. Robert Leger who for over 26 years has been the head of medical services there ... often one of the only trained doctors. He and his wife, Rosa, escorted us through the surgical center ... a small concrete block, open-air room with nearly 50 patients. In conversation we discovered that the Leger's have a daughter, Rosanne, who is about to graduate from Meharry Medical Center back home in our own Nashville, Tennessee. We subsequently have learned that Rosanne and her husband, Anthony, both doing residencies at Vanderbilt hospital, are heading up a medical response among the Nashville medical community. BMH will be flying their supplies and people down tomorrow (01/27/10).
To make the "six degrees of separation" even smaller, we have discovered that Dr. William Obremskey, one of the boys in the youth group of my first appointment after seminary, Centenary UMC in Lebanon, Indiana, is now a surgeon at Vanderbilt and participating with the Legers in putting the medical volunteer team together. Dr. Obremskey is a member of West End UMC in Nashville. His mother and my sister attend the same UMC in Indiana.
Bahamas Methodist Habitat, where Abraham has served as Director for over four years, is normally a hurricane relief and sub-standard housing relief effort for the Bahamian islands. Many volunteer teams go there to serve each year ... including several TN Conference congregations such as Fayetteville First, Hendersonville First, Belle Meade, Manchester First and Brentwood. However, BMH's current adapted role ... a role it somewhat "backed into" by virtue of its large network of private pilots who already supported the ministry of relief in the Bahamas ... is that of coordinating a constant flow of volunteer pilots, using their own planes, making daily deliveries to Haiti.
As of our latest count nearly 50 individual pilots from Florida to Canada, from Iowa to North Carolina have made over 125 round trips. All flights originate out of BMH's temporary base camp at the Odyssey Aviation Center, a private corporation at the Nassau International Airport, partnering with BMH. Flights go out daily down to several small airports in Haiti. Monetary gifts being donated to BMH's Haiti relief fund are assisting with the very expensive fuel costs for these relief-aid flights.
Donated materials and supplies ... bedding, food, baby formula, medicines, bandages and surgical supplies ... fill the planes of these faithful and dedicated volunteer pilots. One pilot is a farmer from Iowa; two brother pilots are insurance salesmen from Toronto; another is a contractor from Delaware and a couple are Sunday School buddies from Alabama ... all with hearts of gold! A surgeon from Virginia and a retired commercial pilot from Minnesota - old military buddies - teamed up to fly about 10 round trips. Two United Methodist engineers from Florida, each flying their own planes, have simultaneously raised $25,000 from their congregation for airplane fuel for this mission. It has been amazing to see the outpouring of support from all over the US, Canada and The Bahamas for this effort. (To learn more of how to volunteer as a pilot, medical staff or how to donate fuel funds, Google Bahamas Methodist Habitat.)
Having always been a strong supporter and advocate of contributions to UMCOR, I found myself a bit conflicted at first about BMH possibly drawing donations away from UMCOR's effort. However, in reviewing UMCOR news releases, their efforts are going to be more for the long-haul efforts of the future. BMH's effort is a short-term emergency, swift acting effort which will recede as soon as standard aviation is restored throughout Haiti.
In this effort, Bahamas Methodist Habitat has been an ecumenical catalyst supporting missionaries and volunteer medical personnel from multiple Christian traditions. BMH had the privilege of delivering the first representatives of UMCOR (United Methodist Committee On Relief), Jessica Crutchfield and Edgar Avitia, UMCOR Executives who went out on the second flight. BMH has also taken in leaders of the Nazarene and Assemblies of God Churches. Lutheran, Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Evangelical, Presbyterian, and Apostolic Christian Church doctors and leaders have had free seats on Haiti-bound BMH planes ... with bundles of supplies under their feet and in their laps! Each of these people are making a difference with our Haitian sisters and brothers. I've never been aware of so many, many mission agencies and non-profit services existing in our country!
Abraham, though fearless in his pursuit of mission goals and support, is essentially a very humble young man. He has taught me a lot about shunning turf battles and seeking recognition. As I have periodically and quietly offered "politically motivated" suggestions that might bring him or his agency a bit of support or recognition, he politely reminds me, "you know, Dad, you can get a whole lot more accomplished when you're not concerned about who gets the credit!" I give thanks that he's learned that lesson so much earlier in his journey than I am learning it in mine.
For years I have prayed for the forming and shaping of our children into people of God's purposes. Today, I'm celebrating my birthday here in the Bahamas and one of the greatest gifts is seeing my prayer answered. Abraham's sister, Ingrid, at staff member at the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry is one of his biggest cheerleaders.
We are proud and humbled by the work the Lord is enabling Abraham to have in this unique time. So, on behalf of Abraham McIntyre, BMH Director, and his aviation interns, Cameron King, a Nashville young adult, and Matt Hansen, another UMC young adult from Peachtree City, Georgia, we say thank you ("Merci") for what so many have done and may choose to do again to support the bringing of hope and healing in a place crying out for both. We invite our colleagues in the Tennessee Conference to pray about the important missions going on in Haiti and to tell your congregations, friends and associates about UMCOR and this other opportunity to serve with the Body of Christ in Haiti.
61st Avenue Toy Store sets record for number of Children served
Pastor Paul Slentz welcomes volunteers
Some of the over 500 volunteers go through orientation
Planners involved in the December 2009 Last Minute Christmas Toy Store at Sixty-First Avenue United Methodist Church were somewhat worried about the state of the economy. Obviously, with the number of families going through very hard times, and a high jobless rate, the demands made on the Toy Store could increase. There was also the possibility that the economy could result in cutting the contribution of toys by individuals, churches, and organizations.
Doc Hooks and Nita Haywood compare notes.
The suspicion that the demand for help would be quite high this year was correct, but fortunately the number of contributors remained high. The Last Minute Toy Store ended up serving 500 more children than it ever had before. In the four days that the Toy Store was open, 4,500 children from approximately 1,400 families were served. Over 15,000 toys/gifts were distributed to go along with the books, oranges, and candy canes given to each child. Sixty-First Avenue UMC Pastor, Paul Slentz, summed it all up with the words, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow!”
Slentz was thankful for the local churches and organizations that had drives to collect gifts for toddlers and teens. Through these efforts the Toy Store was able to help 2,407 young ones in these often overlooked age groups. Slentz also acknowledged the big help once again received from the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve’s “Toys for Tots” program. He expressed gratitude for help from Star Transportation which meant that all the Dec. 13th Titans game Toys for Tots collection was brought to the Last Minute Toy Store with special thanks to SSgts. David Carrier and Fabian Garcia. Slentz also wanted to give a “shout out” to all the bi-lingual volunteers. “We were able to serve a very large number of Hispanic brothers and sisters with their help. Special thanks to Anais Riggs and Judy Jones for their work on this. Also thank you to Mitch and Sarah Ballard for setting up our website: http://www.lastminutetoystore.com/.”
Members of the steering committee for the 2009 Toy Store were: Nancy and Dan Armfield, Barbara Austin, Pat Barlow, Tommy Barnes, JoAnn Bellar, Sherry Benson, Carlene Biggs, David Friedli, Nita Haywood, Doc Hooks, Brenda Hix, Brandy Hutchison, Judy Jones, Vivian Martz, Mary Pratt, Terry Raney, Dale Robble, Wendy Roth, Joyce and April Shyloski, Calvin and Annette Ticey, and Rex Thigpen.
One of the hardest working volunteers at the Last Minute Toy Store is Brenda Hix, Lay Leader of 61st Avenue UMC. During the four days that the Toy Store is open Brenda is at the church around the clock. In particular, she is in charge of welcoming parents needing toys to come in out of the cold at 3:00 a.m. while they wait for free tickets to be passed out later in the morning. Brenda describes her experience this way: “I’m one of the small and usually unnamed people from the West Nashville neighborhood where the church is located. I grew up here and know just about everyone. It’s just so special for our little church in this sometimes looked down on neighborhood to be part of something so big. I can’t explain how it makes me feel. Something I didn’t think I could do, I’m actually helping to lead. It makes me feel so good to help others in need, because I know what it’s like to be going through a rough time. This is heaven on earth for me. I am grateful to God for letting me use my gifts to help others in this way.”
In a thank you note to volunteers Paul Slentz offered a closing challenge: “Let’s all commit to do whatever we can to help struggling families throughout the entire year in addition to what we do at Christmas!!!
Lateria Benson worked throughout the day making certain shelves were stocked.
The 2010 toy store will be Sat. Dec. 18 - Tues. Dec. 21, 2010. The greatest needs from contributors are the same as they always are - - toys/gifts for teens and very young children (0-4) and of course dollars to buy those.
Seventy-Five Nativity Scenes
Reprinted from The Sparta Magazine and used here with permission
Geneva Cotton stands with the collection of nativity scenes, Findlay UMC, Cookeville District
Geneva Cotton has been attending Findlay United Methodist Church since she was six years old. There have been five generations of her family that have worshiped there over the years.
Geneva has always loved Nativity scenes. She has been collecting them for years. Some she has bought, some have been given to her as gifts. Some are all white and some are colorfully painted. Some are clear glass. Some are complete with Mary, Joseph, Wise Men and Shepherds. Some are simply Baby Jesus with Mary and Joseph.
Because she had so many and because she loves her church family, Geneva decided to donate about half of her collection to her church. She had Ray Maples to build a special cabinet to house the collection. Within the cabinet, the congregation and visitors can view seventy-five Nativity scenes. She has about that same number still at home in her collection.
posted by TN Conference UMC @ 11:30 AM
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