TENNESSEE CONFERENCE REVIEW April 30, 2010
Stories in the April 30, 2010 edition of THE REVIEW
1. Weekend event moves Epworth United Methodist Church to increased mission activity.
2. Connecting Churches and Connecting Lives Between the U.S. and Estonia
3. Lest we forget: Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, First UMC, Gainesboro, TN.
4. May 9, 2010, Golden Cross Sunday Offering to Support Benevolent Care at McKendree Village
5. Tennesseans Attend International Medical Volunteerism Conference
6. “Be the Change” day, April 17th, marks a new chapter in Tennessee Conference Young People’s Ministry
7. Harvest of Hope mission program celebrating 25 years of teaching youth about the problem of hunger and how to be part of the solution
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Weekend event moves Epworth United Methodist Church to increased mission activity
Pastor Himidi Sagga of Tanzania stands by his mission exhibit
It’s difficult to totally characterize the April 16-18, 2010, “Outflow” weekend at Franklin’s Epworth United Methodist Church. Using a model created by the Mission Society (website: the missionsociety.org) nearly the total Epworth congregation was immersed in a deep reflection of what it truly means for a Christian to be the loving heart of Christ in the World. “It was an inspiring weekend of filling up and overflowing with the love of Jesus Christ,” wrote pastor Chip Hunter. “The goal of the event was to encourage each member and friend of Epworth’s United Methodist Church to join in God’s mission of sharing the love of Jesus Christ with others.”
Lanecia Rouse explains the Golden Triangle acculturation ministry for folks from Thailand, Laos, and Southeast Asia
Adam and Mary Hoyt speak to visitors about the Friends of Refugees, Clarkston, Georgia
Between a dramatic opening worship service on Friday evening with Dr. Alan Weatherly as preacher to two worship experiences on Sunday with preachers Shane Claiborne and Dr. Steve Dodson, there was a Men’s Breakfast in a tent set up by a nearby river, and a women’s luncheon. Both the breakfast and the luncheon featured presentations by several missionaries, each sharing the stories, the goals, the dreams of their mission—whether in Pommern, Tanzania, the mountains in Alabama, Guatemala, or the Nashville inner city. Months of planning went into the event and it showed. A devotional booklet with writings by church members provided guided prayer leading up to “Outflow.” Representatives from over thirteen mission organizations were present to speak, pass on explanatory material, answer any questions persons might have about their individual missions.
The Cathedral of Praise singers got the whole place rockin.’ “I believe God used the music to bridge between the word and the heart,” said chairperson Ellen Bryson. “Our church experienced worship in a new and fresh way particularly on Friday evening with the Cathedral of Praise. I believe the Holy Spirit utilized that experience to open us up.”
Ellen Bryson, the Epworth Chairperson of Global Outreach, described the final outcomes in four words or phrases:
Challenge: High point of the week end was the way the church was challenged –challenged by the music and the speakers and the call to be in mission.
Part of the Epworth Praise Team leads worship
Transformation: This experienced transformed persons. I am absolutely blown away! I’m excited about what God is doing in our church. We are being transformed from a mission committee to a church with a mission heart. The Holy Spirit is working overtime I think,” noted Bryson. “The congregation members were asked on Sunday morning to make a faith promise.” A “Faith Promise” offering is a commitment to give what we trust God to provide. Eighty-two persons pledged $66,200.00 to missions at the service – this is over and above their existing church pledge. “This was five times the amount budged for missions last year.”
During worship Steve Fisher, one of the events chairpersons, introduces visiting missionaries.
Commitment: During the Life Commitment Service on Sunday evening any person was asked to come forward if he/she felt called into full or part-time mission, full or part time ministry, short term mission trips or project, local missions, serving on one of the Go Teams (four teams focus on a specific area of missions), even serving on church committees “Lots of people came forward,” said Bryson, “and the altar was stained with tears.”
Tayna Rains speaks to the women’s luncheon about the Upper Sand Mountain Parish, a cooperative ministry of 8 small membership United Methodist Churches
Acts 1:8—“We are an Acts 1:8 Church,” indicated Bryson. The last words of the resurrected Christ before the Ascension are: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the early. Our mission structure has four teams For us, Jerusalem (Team One) is nearby mission in Davidson, Williamson, Rutherford, and Maury Counties. Judea (Team Two) is nearby, the geographic area of the 15 Annual Conferences in the South Eastern Jurisdiction. Samaria (Team Three) is outreach to persons within our Jerusalem who do not look like us economically, educationally, ethnically, or even religiously. Finally, Ends of the Earth (Team Four) is our mission to the remainder of the U.S. and the rest of the world.
Men of the church at the men’s breakfast down beside a nearby river
Connecting Churches and Connecting Lives Between the U.S. and Estonia
Five persons from Estonia made presentations at the Friends of Estonia meeting, from the left Artur Pold, Taavi Hollman, Meeli Tankler, Ullas Tankler, and Robert Tscherenkov
On April 16-17 the 13th Annual meeting of the Friends of Estonia was held at Calvary United Methodist Church in Nashville, Tennessee. Many of the attendees were persons representing local United Methodist congregations in the United States who have a direct connection (a “Connecting Congregation”) to a United Methodist church in Estonia, others served as mission volunteers in Estonia, but there were also a cluster of persons from Estonia itself including one Estonian District Superintendent, Taavi Hollman.
The concept of “Connecting Congregations” may be unfamiliar to many United Methodists but it stands firmly in the line of what makes Methodism a “connectional system.” Eddie Fox, World Director of Evangelism for the World Methodist Council explains: “The Connecting Congregations share with each other what they have. If they have faith, they share faith; hope, they share hope; gifts, they share gifts. Each end of the Connection needs grace and salvation. We need one another and the Holy Spirit blesses the connection.”
This creative new ministry of World Methodist Evangelism began after the collapse of communism in Czechoslovakia and has spread to every continent. Through World Methodist Evangelism, emerging congregations are connected with congregations in other parts of the world and these connected congregations are encouraged to “share fully with one another what each one has to give.” The Connecting Congregations share faith, hope, love, vision, prayer and resources with one another “that the world may know Jesus Christ!”
Mary Danforth strongly feels the love she experienced on visits to Estonia.
Today, the Connecting Congregation model has been duplicated by the mission agencies of many groups and churches and is a key ingredient in planting new churches around the globe. Since 1992, World Methodist Evangelism has provided connections to begin, restore, and strengthen congregations on every continent (for more details visit www.WorldMethodist.org )
The Friends of Estonia gathering was a celebration of what can happen when a congregation in the United States connects with and supports a congregation overseas.
Mary Danforth of Ann Arbor, Michigan, can get very emotional when she recites her personal story. She first went to Estonia in about 2005 on a trip organized by her pastor. Four persons were on the tour to learn more about the church, life, and culture in Estonia. Danforth admits her reasons for going were non-religious. She likes to travel.
The group toured seven different mission outreach programs, went to seven different churches and met the pastors of those churches. Danforth and the others were struck by the love of Jesus they found, and ended up touched and committed by the love they experienced.
The next year a group of ten persons went on VIM trip to Estonia to refurbish a local church (which was the basement of an apartment building). Among other things they put in a walkway, put in walls, and painted. A good connection was established with the people in the congregation, a Russian speaking group of Methodists—this was due to the fact that the American group brought with them a translator. They also brought with them a church sign to replace what was just basically a typed notice that this was a United Methodist Church.
The story continued as groups returned in 2007 and 2008 – 2008 together with some group members from a second conference church.
“We became a Connecting Congregation with the church in Estonia,” says Danforth. “Because of the economy that is not easy this year*, but what we are doing is helping our congregation as much as the church overseas.”
Rachel Hyde’s church in Morristown, TN is related to the Aseri Church in Estonia and has been supporting it since the mid-1990s. She and her mom Debbie visited Estonia and Aseri Church in 2008 to help build a personal relationship with the congregation and its pastor. In 2009 Aseri pastor Viktor Batov and his wife Raja visited Morristown UMC and at the end of 2009 Rachel went back to Aseri to work on further building the relationship between the two churches. Her role, she feels, is to help find where God wants us.
The stories of the growing Estonian church and strong efforts to reach out to children and young people are sometimes dramatic. Estonian pastor Artur Pold presented information that the United Methodist camp facility has 1500 participants each year as well as being the site of weddings, and baptisms by emersion. His narrative contained information about a joint Czechoslovakian and American VIM group, and a great deal about the important work of the Generation 2 Youth Center. Even in economic hard times the Estonian Church took up an offering for Haiti.
Sadly there are some great difficulties that are being faced by the Estonian church because of the downturn in the economy. Pold indicated that the Youth Center director continues to minister even after not receiving a salary for 5 months. District Superintendent Taavi Hollman shared special challenges faced by the church:
• The unemployment rate was 15.5% in 2009
• Low winter temperatures mean that heating costs, and electrical costs are high. The low temperatures can also lead to frozen pipes and extensive repair costs.
• In the winter months there is only 6 hours from sunrise to sunset. “There are weeks when we do not even see the sun.” Personal depression becomes a factor in this type of situation.
• Pastor salaries, because of the economy, were decreased by 5-10%. Some by as much as 25%. Some salaries were decreased by 50% if the pastor had a full time job outside the church.
*The financial support provided by an American Connecting Congregation is now $5,500.00 annually. All of that money goes directly to the Connecting Congregation overseas whether in Estonia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Hungary, Latvia, Slovakia, Macedonia, Poland, Kenya, Indonesia, or Costa Rica.
Lest we forget: Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, First UMC, Gainesboro, Tennessee
Kathie Bowles
Gainesboro First UMC held a Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) service for the 11:00 a.m. worship on Sunday, April 11. The United States Congress established the Days of Remembrance as the nation's annual commemoration of the Holocaust and created the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum as a permanent living memorial to the victims.
This is the 65th anniversary of the liberation of Nazi concentration camps. The Museum has designated "Stories of Freedom: What You Do Matters" as the theme for the 2010 observance.
Kathie Bowles, now pastor of Gainesboro First United Methodist Church, grew up in an area where there were many Jewish people and she become familiar with Jewish customs and traditions. As a TSU history major and later as a grad student at MTSU she became interested in World War II history with special interest in the Holocaust. Her fascination was increased by contact with some university teaching staff who had special knowledge of Holocaust history.
Cut through the years and Kathie was invited to be involved in the “Lift Every Voice” project at the World Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. Not only that but she was invited back to a second event, and received special training on presenting the story of the Holocaust. Since 2001 she has been doing presentations at schools, churches, civic organizations, and even at an Adult Education Conference in Charleston, South Carolina.
A handout “Stories of Freedom: What you do matters” published by the US Holocaust Memorial Museum shares a few stories of the first Americans to view first-hand the horror of the Nazi concentration camps: As Allied soldiers were closing in on Germany in the spring of 1945, they encountered dozens of concentrations camps and were suddenly confronted with the reality of Nazi atrocities. The few surviving victims fully experienced the depths of human evil and depravity. For the soldiers, however, even the brutality of war did not prepare them for what they encountered.
“After photographing Buchenwald, Margaret Bourke-White wrote to her editor at Life magazine, “The sights I have just seen are so unbelievable that I don’t think I will believe them myself until I’ve seen the photographs.” One American journalist wrote, “Buchenwald is beyond all comprehension. You just can’t understand it, even when you’ve seen it.”
And that was the problem. Survivors and other eyewitnesses understood and believed. But would the world? General Dwight D. Eisenhower grasped this problem and, after visiting a subcamp of Buchenwald, he addressed his staff: “I want every American unit not actually in the front lines to see this place. We are told the American soldier does not know what he is fighting for. Now, at least he will know what he is fighting against.”
Eisenhower not only understood that this was a war that at its very essence was a struggle for the freedom of peoples and the ideals on which civilization is based but also that the horror was so extreme that it might not be believed. Realizing that a failure to believe would be a danger for the future of mankind, he ordered other soldiers to visit the camps, and encouraged journalists and members of Congress and the British Parliament to bear witness as well.”
Kathie Bowles feels that it is important for churches to participate in the annual Days of Remembrance. In her sermon Bowles said, “We are remembering today because of the determination of Holocaust survivors to not let it be forgotten. A man who managed to live through several years of incarceration says there was a common prayer in the death camps, ‘Dear God, let there be survivors who can bear witness to this horrible nightmare.’ Elie Weisel, probably one of the most famous survivors because of his many books and lectures, says that memory is a shield, and the mightiest weapon for prevention. His quote is in bold letters of the outside of the Washington, D.C. Holocaust Museum, ‘For the dead and the living, we must bear witness.’
Later in her sermon Bowles says, “There is no easy way to explain how the Holocaust was allowed to happen. It took place while governments, private citizens, churches and Christians stood by. Some were ignorant of it . . . many more claimed to be. The majority of those doing the killing were baptized Christians. What happened? Can the goals of war anesthetize us to the murder of guiltless missions? Can political promises persuade us to be unfeeling, or inactive? How easy is it to follow leaders who preach hate and intolerance?
Bowles tells about returning from her first trip to Washington and attending a choral program in Nashville that included her granddaughter. On the stage were 250 beautiful, innocent children smiling and singing. Suddenly one of the Holocaust Museum’s logos flashed in her mind, “Remember the children.” 25% of those murdered in the Holocaust were under the age of 14.
The liturgy for the Yom Hashoah remembrance service used at Gainesboro First UMC came from different parts of the book Liturgies on the Holocaust (An Interfaith Anthology) edited by Marcia Littell and Sharon Guttman. Kathie Bowles feels this is an excellent source for a variety of commemorations. For persons or churches wanting to delve into the subject of the Holocaust further can contact her at First UMC, P.O. Box 206, 302 South Main Street, Gainesboro, TN 38562-0206. (931) 268-4771.
May 9, 2010, Golden Cross Sunday Offering to Support Benevolent Care at McKendree Village
Founded in 1963 by the Tennessee Conference, McKendree Village isn’t a place or institution. It is home to hundreds of middle Tennessee seniors living in a variety of residential settings—independent cottages and apartments through assisted living to complete skilled nursing care.
In good faith, the founders of McKendree Village decided that no resident living at McKendree Village for a minimum of ten years would be asked to leave due to outliving their financial resources. Today, cost of care continues to climb above the ability to pay for some of our residents. Through generous support of the McKendree Village apportionment and the Golden Cross offering by United Methodist churches in the Tennessee Annual Conference, McKendree Village has made good on the founders’ commitment for over 43 years.
Sunday, May 9, is the conference designated date for the Golden Cross offering for benevolent care at McKendree Village. 100% of your contributions to McKendree Village go directly to benevolent care. Of course, this support is done confidentially with dignity, love and respect. Please send Golden Cross offerings directly to the Tennessee Conference Treasurer.
In your congregation, it is your option to choose another date more appropriate for the Golden Cross offering. Some congregations are utilizing a communion offering. The date or manner of your Golden Cross offering is up to your local congregation. But, please know that your support of this ministry is crucial.
If you need additional information or resources, please call the McKendree Village Foundation at 615-871-8598 or e-mail information@mckendreefoundation.org
Thank you, in advance for your continuing support of this covenant ministry that together we provide in the name of Christ.
Rev. John H. Collett, Jr. ,
Chairperson, McKendree Village Foundation Board of Directors
Kent McNish,
Executive Director, McKendree Village Foundation Board of Directors
Tennesseans Attend International Medical Volunteerism Conference
Sarah Matthews and Peggy Ward are members of Lynnville United Methodist Church, Pulaski District, and obviously share an interest in all types of volunteer mission work. From April 16th to 18th, 2010, they attended the International Medical Volunteerism Conference 2010 at Emory University in Atlanta.
From the left, Peggy Ward, UMCOR’s Barbara Stone, and Sarah Matthews
This major national event attracted some 1700 participants and had over 200 speakers. While there they met Barbara Stone from the United Methodist Committee on Relief out of New York and attended her lectures. “It was a great event and we were very happy to attend from the Tennessee Conference,” says Matthews as she recalled the three days.
During the Conference Matthews and Ward were invited to join mission groups to Peru and Kenya, and are looking forward to their participation in the fall of 2010. They are not involved in the Medical field but have skills in assisting patients waiting to see doctors.
In the meantime Matthews plans to keep busy. From June 19-28 she will be leading a Volunteer in Mission group of 48 persons from seven different churches within the Pulaski District. The team will be going to San Jose, Cost Rica, to do church construction work and have Bible School with as many as 400 children. “This year,” says Matthews, “we are blessed with 22 youth going out of the 48 participants. We plan to put a Spanish language version of the Bible in the hands of each child with whom we work.
For persons wishing to find out what went on at the International Medical Volunteerism Conference you can check the conference website at IMVC.org
“Be the Change” day, April 17th, marks a new chapter in Tennessee Conference Young People’s Ministry
Youth groups from Belmont UMC and White House UMC spent time loving, serving, teaching, and playing with the children and youth from the Golden Triangle Fellowship at Turtle Creek Apartments in Nashville.
A young man from the Belmont and White House group plays soccer with the children and youth from the Golden Triangle Fellowship at Nashville’s Turtle Creek Apartments.
On April 17th young people in the Tennessee Conference were urged, as groups or as individuals, to help make a difference in their communities. “Be the Change Day is an opportunity for you and your friends to serve others in the name of Jesus Christ,” the promotional flier promised. A series of questions were circulated that obviously caught the attention of a number of youth groups around the conference:
• What if each of us decided to help someone else just because they needed our help?
• What if each of us decided to “do small things with great love?
• What if in the process we were also served?
• How will you be the change where you live?
The response was great. Brad Fiscus, Conference Director of Young People’s Ministry, was pleased with what he saw. “It was wonderful to see how the youth, young adults, and adults in our churches throughout the conference worked to ‘do small things with great love’ in their communities. It demonstrates that each of us have the ability to reach out to someone in need with God’s love not because we are expected to do it but because we desire to be about creating a different world for ourselves and our neighbors.”
Providence UMC in Mt. Juliet spent Sunday, April 11, out in their community being the change
Jon Goodwin of Homestead UMC, Cookeville District, speaks of the day as a blessing. “Saturday was a great blessing for our youth and adults who participated in “Be the Change.” Our youth put together some very nice gift baskets and delivered them on Saturday to our church shut-ins (12 in all). While we were at their homes we did any yard work that they needed done. You could tell by the expressions on their faces and their kind words that they felt very blessed by the youth. One lady gave me a car on Sunday telling us how special our visit was to her. She said we had no way of knowing but the 17th was the 11th anniversary of her husband’s passing and that out visit brought joy to her day. She said God always provides?
Wesley Height UMC gave rolls of toilet paper wrapped in scripture to their neighbors as they shared the love of Christ on Be the Change Day.
Saturday evening over 200 people of all ages gathered at Franklin First United Methodist Church for the Be the Change Celebration. The Re Worship Band led the group in passionate worship and Shane Claiborne, well-know author, missionary, and Ordinary Christian Radical gave an inspiring and deeply personal message. Shane shared about his experiences throughout the world serving alongside Mother Teresa in Calcutta as well as time spent serving and being served by the people of Iraq. He talked about how Christian s must be about tearing down walls that have separated us from sharing God’s love with each other and our neighbors.
At the Donelson Heights UMC youth helped prepare the gardens. The vegetables grown here are given to Second Harvest.
The Epworth UMC youth prepare to share God’s love with other youth at the A▪Game Sports Center
One Shane Claiborne comment resonated with many of the participants in the event. He said, “We have a God that is about loving people back to life. A God that did NOT come for the healthy, but for the sick, not for those who have it all together, but for those who are willing to admit together that we are falling part, and NEED God and we NEED each other.”
Franklin First UMC youth and adults help sort items in the warehouse at the Nashville Rescue Mission
Members of all ages from Clarksville’s New Providence UMC shared the love of Christ and some mulch.
At the end of the day it was obvious that Be the Change Day will not end in 2010 but will be a major part of young people’s ministry for years to come. Hallelujah!! Be sure to start planning for Be the Change Day 2011. Individuals wanting to see additional pictures or stories from Be the Change Day 2010 can check out the website http://bethechangeday.tnumc.com/ and you will also be able to click on to a video tape of Shane Claiborne’s presentation.
Harvest of Hope mission program celebrating 25 years of teaching youth about the problem of hunger and how to be part of the solution
The Society of St. Andrew, a Virginia-based national hunger relief organization and Advance #801600, has been gleaning America’s fields and feeding America’s hungry for over 30 years. This year, they celebrate the 25th anniversary of their Harvest of Hope program. Harvest of Hope (HOH) is a mission retreat program that focuses on hunger issues and the Christian response. This life-changing event has impacted over 12,000 participants during the last 25 years – and it continues to grow. “In fact, more first-time groups are attending than ever before,” reported Scott Briggs, Director of Harvest of Hope.
Harvest of Hope gleaning potatoes
“I believe that Harvest of Hope truly embodies the mission statement of the Society of St. Andrew: to provide food for the body, God’s word for the spirit, a community of love for the heart, and an opportunity for those who desire action,” said Julie Taylor, former HOH director. Worship, study, and gleaning – the biblical practice of picking leftover crops after the harvest – are integral aspects of the HOH experience. In addition, good nutrition and a simplified and sustainable lifestyle are both strongly emphasized. The week-long and weekend events are targeted toward specific audiences – Jr. High, High School, College-age, and intergenerational groups. Each event is focused on gleaning and education of hunger issues. Participants are from all walks of life and are bonded together by a common purpose – to do something about hunger. “It has been a great, enlightening experience. I think I found a new kind of faith that I never thought I would experience in my life. Thanks for opening me up to a spiritual reality that I wouldn’t have otherwise seen,” said a recent participant.
Alternative Spring Break participants loading a truck
An alternative spring break event was added last year and proof of its success was demonstrated this year as participation tripled. Four colleges that had previously never volunteered with Harvest of Hope sent groups this year. The event was a huge success with many of the participants making plans to attend HOH Phase II – an opportunity in our nation’s capital for participants who have previously attended an HOH event. Phase II picks up where Harvest of Hope leaves off and offers a more intense study on hunger and poverty issues. Phase II takes place in Washington D.C. and is centered around agency work and advocacy efforts. “I have been changed for the better. My eyes have been opened about hungry people in the area, country, and the world,” remarked Helen Melshen, a college student who attended the 2010 HOH alternative spring break.
Many of Harvest of Hope’s past participants have been so impacted by their specific experience at an event that they have gone on to careers in mission and social work in adulthood. “Although I have many fantastic memories from recent Harvest of Hope events my favorite one actually took place at my very first event, which I participated in with my youth group in 1995,” said Lauren Holcomb, who is a former HOH director and currently pursuing a career in social work. “Six of us attended the weeklong Eastern Shore event that year, and it was the first time at HOH for all of us. Needless to say for anyone who has gone to an event, the Hunger Awareness Meal was really shocking to us! I realized that I needed to learn to be more giving in my own life. The event demonstrated exactly how God wants us to live... and how He gives so abundantly and freely to us despite our shortcomings.” Betsy Edwards, former participant and HOH summer intern, is another example of a person directly influenced by the HOH experience – she has worked for a food bank in Oakland, CA in an advocacy program and currently works for FRAC (Food Research and Action Center).
Harvest of Hope is already well into the 25th year of impacting the lives of volunteering participants and the poor that are fed through their efforts. A very successful alternative spring break event has been wrapped up and HOH is looking forward to Phase II in June and 11 more week-long and week-end events before the end of the year. There is still time to join with others who intend on doing something about hunger this year. Contact Scott Briggs for more information about the 2010 Harvest of Hope schedule: 800-333-4597 or email sosahoh@endhunger.org
Society of St. Andrew is an ecumenical nonprofit ministry that saves fresh nutritious produce from going to waste and donates it to critical feeding agencies all across the country. Started in 1979 it has grown to be the nation’s leading gleaning operation – working in all of the lower 48 states. There are three main programs – the Gleaning Network, the Potato & Produce Project, and Harvest of Hope. More information about the Society of St. Andrew and its work to feed the hungry of America is available online at http://www.endhunger.org/
1. Weekend event moves Epworth United Methodist Church to increased mission activity.
2. Connecting Churches and Connecting Lives Between the U.S. and Estonia
3. Lest we forget: Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, First UMC, Gainesboro, TN.
4. May 9, 2010, Golden Cross Sunday Offering to Support Benevolent Care at McKendree Village
5. Tennesseans Attend International Medical Volunteerism Conference
6. “Be the Change” day, April 17th, marks a new chapter in Tennessee Conference Young People’s Ministry
7. Harvest of Hope mission program celebrating 25 years of teaching youth about the problem of hunger and how to be part of the solution
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Weekend event moves Epworth United Methodist Church to increased mission activity
It’s difficult to totally characterize the April 16-18, 2010, “Outflow” weekend at Franklin’s Epworth United Methodist Church. Using a model created by the Mission Society (website: the missionsociety.org) nearly the total Epworth congregation was immersed in a deep reflection of what it truly means for a Christian to be the loving heart of Christ in the World. “It was an inspiring weekend of filling up and overflowing with the love of Jesus Christ,” wrote pastor Chip Hunter. “The goal of the event was to encourage each member and friend of Epworth’s United Methodist Church to join in God’s mission of sharing the love of Jesus Christ with others.”
Lanecia Rouse explains the Golden Triangle acculturation ministry for folks from Thailand, Laos, and Southeast Asia
Adam and Mary Hoyt speak to visitors about the Friends of Refugees, Clarkston, Georgia
Between a dramatic opening worship service on Friday evening with Dr. Alan Weatherly as preacher to two worship experiences on Sunday with preachers Shane Claiborne and Dr. Steve Dodson, there was a Men’s Breakfast in a tent set up by a nearby river, and a women’s luncheon. Both the breakfast and the luncheon featured presentations by several missionaries, each sharing the stories, the goals, the dreams of their mission—whether in Pommern, Tanzania, the mountains in Alabama, Guatemala, or the Nashville inner city. Months of planning went into the event and it showed. A devotional booklet with writings by church members provided guided prayer leading up to “Outflow.” Representatives from over thirteen mission organizations were present to speak, pass on explanatory material, answer any questions persons might have about their individual missions.
Ellen Bryson, the Epworth Chairperson of Global Outreach, described the final outcomes in four words or phrases:
Challenge: High point of the week end was the way the church was challenged –challenged by the music and the speakers and the call to be in mission.
Part of the Epworth Praise Team leads worship
Transformation: This experienced transformed persons. I am absolutely blown away! I’m excited about what God is doing in our church. We are being transformed from a mission committee to a church with a mission heart. The Holy Spirit is working overtime I think,” noted Bryson. “The congregation members were asked on Sunday morning to make a faith promise.” A “Faith Promise” offering is a commitment to give what we trust God to provide. Eighty-two persons pledged $66,200.00 to missions at the service – this is over and above their existing church pledge. “This was five times the amount budged for missions last year.”
Commitment: During the Life Commitment Service on Sunday evening any person was asked to come forward if he/she felt called into full or part-time mission, full or part time ministry, short term mission trips or project, local missions, serving on one of the Go Teams (four teams focus on a specific area of missions), even serving on church committees “Lots of people came forward,” said Bryson, “and the altar was stained with tears.”
Acts 1:8—“We are an Acts 1:8 Church,” indicated Bryson. The last words of the resurrected Christ before the Ascension are: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the early. Our mission structure has four teams For us, Jerusalem (Team One) is nearby mission in Davidson, Williamson, Rutherford, and Maury Counties. Judea (Team Two) is nearby, the geographic area of the 15 Annual Conferences in the South Eastern Jurisdiction. Samaria (Team Three) is outreach to persons within our Jerusalem who do not look like us economically, educationally, ethnically, or even religiously. Finally, Ends of the Earth (Team Four) is our mission to the remainder of the U.S. and the rest of the world.
Connecting Churches and Connecting Lives Between the U.S. and Estonia
On April 16-17 the 13th Annual meeting of the Friends of Estonia was held at Calvary United Methodist Church in Nashville, Tennessee. Many of the attendees were persons representing local United Methodist congregations in the United States who have a direct connection (a “Connecting Congregation”) to a United Methodist church in Estonia, others served as mission volunteers in Estonia, but there were also a cluster of persons from Estonia itself including one Estonian District Superintendent, Taavi Hollman.
The concept of “Connecting Congregations” may be unfamiliar to many United Methodists but it stands firmly in the line of what makes Methodism a “connectional system.” Eddie Fox, World Director of Evangelism for the World Methodist Council explains: “The Connecting Congregations share with each other what they have. If they have faith, they share faith; hope, they share hope; gifts, they share gifts. Each end of the Connection needs grace and salvation. We need one another and the Holy Spirit blesses the connection.”
This creative new ministry of World Methodist Evangelism began after the collapse of communism in Czechoslovakia and has spread to every continent. Through World Methodist Evangelism, emerging congregations are connected with congregations in other parts of the world and these connected congregations are encouraged to “share fully with one another what each one has to give.” The Connecting Congregations share faith, hope, love, vision, prayer and resources with one another “that the world may know Jesus Christ!”
Today, the Connecting Congregation model has been duplicated by the mission agencies of many groups and churches and is a key ingredient in planting new churches around the globe. Since 1992, World Methodist Evangelism has provided connections to begin, restore, and strengthen congregations on every continent (for more details visit www.WorldMethodist.org )
The Friends of Estonia gathering was a celebration of what can happen when a congregation in the United States connects with and supports a congregation overseas.
Mary Danforth of Ann Arbor, Michigan, can get very emotional when she recites her personal story. She first went to Estonia in about 2005 on a trip organized by her pastor. Four persons were on the tour to learn more about the church, life, and culture in Estonia. Danforth admits her reasons for going were non-religious. She likes to travel.
The group toured seven different mission outreach programs, went to seven different churches and met the pastors of those churches. Danforth and the others were struck by the love of Jesus they found, and ended up touched and committed by the love they experienced.
The next year a group of ten persons went on VIM trip to Estonia to refurbish a local church (which was the basement of an apartment building). Among other things they put in a walkway, put in walls, and painted. A good connection was established with the people in the congregation, a Russian speaking group of Methodists—this was due to the fact that the American group brought with them a translator. They also brought with them a church sign to replace what was just basically a typed notice that this was a United Methodist Church.
The story continued as groups returned in 2007 and 2008 – 2008 together with some group members from a second conference church.
“We became a Connecting Congregation with the church in Estonia,” says Danforth. “Because of the economy that is not easy this year*, but what we are doing is helping our congregation as much as the church overseas.”
The stories of the growing Estonian church and strong efforts to reach out to children and young people are sometimes dramatic. Estonian pastor Artur Pold presented information that the United Methodist camp facility has 1500 participants each year as well as being the site of weddings, and baptisms by emersion. His narrative contained information about a joint Czechoslovakian and American VIM group, and a great deal about the important work of the Generation 2 Youth Center. Even in economic hard times the Estonian Church took up an offering for Haiti.
Sadly there are some great difficulties that are being faced by the Estonian church because of the downturn in the economy. Pold indicated that the Youth Center director continues to minister even after not receiving a salary for 5 months. District Superintendent Taavi Hollman shared special challenges faced by the church:
• The unemployment rate was 15.5% in 2009
• Low winter temperatures mean that heating costs, and electrical costs are high. The low temperatures can also lead to frozen pipes and extensive repair costs.
• In the winter months there is only 6 hours from sunrise to sunset. “There are weeks when we do not even see the sun.” Personal depression becomes a factor in this type of situation.
• Pastor salaries, because of the economy, were decreased by 5-10%. Some by as much as 25%. Some salaries were decreased by 50% if the pastor had a full time job outside the church.
*The financial support provided by an American Connecting Congregation is now $5,500.00 annually. All of that money goes directly to the Connecting Congregation overseas whether in Estonia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Hungary, Latvia, Slovakia, Macedonia, Poland, Kenya, Indonesia, or Costa Rica.
Lest we forget: Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, First UMC, Gainesboro, Tennessee
Kathie Bowles
Gainesboro First UMC held a Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) service for the 11:00 a.m. worship on Sunday, April 11. The United States Congress established the Days of Remembrance as the nation's annual commemoration of the Holocaust and created the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum as a permanent living memorial to the victims.
This is the 65th anniversary of the liberation of Nazi concentration camps. The Museum has designated "Stories of Freedom: What You Do Matters" as the theme for the 2010 observance.
Kathie Bowles, now pastor of Gainesboro First United Methodist Church, grew up in an area where there were many Jewish people and she become familiar with Jewish customs and traditions. As a TSU history major and later as a grad student at MTSU she became interested in World War II history with special interest in the Holocaust. Her fascination was increased by contact with some university teaching staff who had special knowledge of Holocaust history.
Cut through the years and Kathie was invited to be involved in the “Lift Every Voice” project at the World Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. Not only that but she was invited back to a second event, and received special training on presenting the story of the Holocaust. Since 2001 she has been doing presentations at schools, churches, civic organizations, and even at an Adult Education Conference in Charleston, South Carolina.
A handout “Stories of Freedom: What you do matters” published by the US Holocaust Memorial Museum shares a few stories of the first Americans to view first-hand the horror of the Nazi concentration camps: As Allied soldiers were closing in on Germany in the spring of 1945, they encountered dozens of concentrations camps and were suddenly confronted with the reality of Nazi atrocities. The few surviving victims fully experienced the depths of human evil and depravity. For the soldiers, however, even the brutality of war did not prepare them for what they encountered.
“After photographing Buchenwald, Margaret Bourke-White wrote to her editor at Life magazine, “The sights I have just seen are so unbelievable that I don’t think I will believe them myself until I’ve seen the photographs.” One American journalist wrote, “Buchenwald is beyond all comprehension. You just can’t understand it, even when you’ve seen it.”
And that was the problem. Survivors and other eyewitnesses understood and believed. But would the world? General Dwight D. Eisenhower grasped this problem and, after visiting a subcamp of Buchenwald, he addressed his staff: “I want every American unit not actually in the front lines to see this place. We are told the American soldier does not know what he is fighting for. Now, at least he will know what he is fighting against.”
Eisenhower not only understood that this was a war that at its very essence was a struggle for the freedom of peoples and the ideals on which civilization is based but also that the horror was so extreme that it might not be believed. Realizing that a failure to believe would be a danger for the future of mankind, he ordered other soldiers to visit the camps, and encouraged journalists and members of Congress and the British Parliament to bear witness as well.”
Kathie Bowles feels that it is important for churches to participate in the annual Days of Remembrance. In her sermon Bowles said, “We are remembering today because of the determination of Holocaust survivors to not let it be forgotten. A man who managed to live through several years of incarceration says there was a common prayer in the death camps, ‘Dear God, let there be survivors who can bear witness to this horrible nightmare.’ Elie Weisel, probably one of the most famous survivors because of his many books and lectures, says that memory is a shield, and the mightiest weapon for prevention. His quote is in bold letters of the outside of the Washington, D.C. Holocaust Museum, ‘For the dead and the living, we must bear witness.’
Later in her sermon Bowles says, “There is no easy way to explain how the Holocaust was allowed to happen. It took place while governments, private citizens, churches and Christians stood by. Some were ignorant of it . . . many more claimed to be. The majority of those doing the killing were baptized Christians. What happened? Can the goals of war anesthetize us to the murder of guiltless missions? Can political promises persuade us to be unfeeling, or inactive? How easy is it to follow leaders who preach hate and intolerance?
Bowles tells about returning from her first trip to Washington and attending a choral program in Nashville that included her granddaughter. On the stage were 250 beautiful, innocent children smiling and singing. Suddenly one of the Holocaust Museum’s logos flashed in her mind, “Remember the children.” 25% of those murdered in the Holocaust were under the age of 14.
The liturgy for the Yom Hashoah remembrance service used at Gainesboro First UMC came from different parts of the book Liturgies on the Holocaust (An Interfaith Anthology) edited by Marcia Littell and Sharon Guttman. Kathie Bowles feels this is an excellent source for a variety of commemorations. For persons or churches wanting to delve into the subject of the Holocaust further can contact her at First UMC, P.O. Box 206, 302 South Main Street, Gainesboro, TN 38562-0206. (931) 268-4771.
May 9, 2010, Golden Cross Sunday Offering to Support Benevolent Care at McKendree Village
In good faith, the founders of McKendree Village decided that no resident living at McKendree Village for a minimum of ten years would be asked to leave due to outliving their financial resources. Today, cost of care continues to climb above the ability to pay for some of our residents. Through generous support of the McKendree Village apportionment and the Golden Cross offering by United Methodist churches in the Tennessee Annual Conference, McKendree Village has made good on the founders’ commitment for over 43 years.
Sunday, May 9, is the conference designated date for the Golden Cross offering for benevolent care at McKendree Village. 100% of your contributions to McKendree Village go directly to benevolent care. Of course, this support is done confidentially with dignity, love and respect. Please send Golden Cross offerings directly to the Tennessee Conference Treasurer.
In your congregation, it is your option to choose another date more appropriate for the Golden Cross offering. Some congregations are utilizing a communion offering. The date or manner of your Golden Cross offering is up to your local congregation. But, please know that your support of this ministry is crucial.
If you need additional information or resources, please call the McKendree Village Foundation at 615-871-8598 or e-mail information@mckendreefoundation.org
Thank you, in advance for your continuing support of this covenant ministry that together we provide in the name of Christ.
Rev. John H. Collett, Jr. ,
Chairperson, McKendree Village Foundation Board of Directors
Kent McNish,
Executive Director, McKendree Village Foundation Board of Directors
Tennesseans Attend International Medical Volunteerism Conference
Sarah Matthews and Peggy Ward are members of Lynnville United Methodist Church, Pulaski District, and obviously share an interest in all types of volunteer mission work. From April 16th to 18th, 2010, they attended the International Medical Volunteerism Conference 2010 at Emory University in Atlanta.
This major national event attracted some 1700 participants and had over 200 speakers. While there they met Barbara Stone from the United Methodist Committee on Relief out of New York and attended her lectures. “It was a great event and we were very happy to attend from the Tennessee Conference,” says Matthews as she recalled the three days.
During the Conference Matthews and Ward were invited to join mission groups to Peru and Kenya, and are looking forward to their participation in the fall of 2010. They are not involved in the Medical field but have skills in assisting patients waiting to see doctors.
In the meantime Matthews plans to keep busy. From June 19-28 she will be leading a Volunteer in Mission group of 48 persons from seven different churches within the Pulaski District. The team will be going to San Jose, Cost Rica, to do church construction work and have Bible School with as many as 400 children. “This year,” says Matthews, “we are blessed with 22 youth going out of the 48 participants. We plan to put a Spanish language version of the Bible in the hands of each child with whom we work.
For persons wishing to find out what went on at the International Medical Volunteerism Conference you can check the conference website at IMVC.org
“Be the Change” day, April 17th, marks a new chapter in Tennessee Conference Young People’s Ministry
Youth groups from Belmont UMC and White House UMC spent time loving, serving, teaching, and playing with the children and youth from the Golden Triangle Fellowship at Turtle Creek Apartments in Nashville.
A young man from the Belmont and White House group plays soccer with the children and youth from the Golden Triangle Fellowship at Nashville’s Turtle Creek Apartments.
On April 17th young people in the Tennessee Conference were urged, as groups or as individuals, to help make a difference in their communities. “Be the Change Day is an opportunity for you and your friends to serve others in the name of Jesus Christ,” the promotional flier promised. A series of questions were circulated that obviously caught the attention of a number of youth groups around the conference:
• What if each of us decided to help someone else just because they needed our help?
• What if each of us decided to “do small things with great love?
• What if in the process we were also served?
• How will you be the change where you live?
The response was great. Brad Fiscus, Conference Director of Young People’s Ministry, was pleased with what he saw. “It was wonderful to see how the youth, young adults, and adults in our churches throughout the conference worked to ‘do small things with great love’ in their communities. It demonstrates that each of us have the ability to reach out to someone in need with God’s love not because we are expected to do it but because we desire to be about creating a different world for ourselves and our neighbors.”
Providence UMC in Mt. Juliet spent Sunday, April 11, out in their community being the change
Donning “Worship Without Walls” shirts Providence UMC members young and old chose to worship God through serving others.
At least one group and one church leaped ahead in faith even before Be the Change Day. Providence United Methodist Church in Mt. Juliet participated in Be The Change Day by a “Worship Without Walls” experience on Sunday, April 11. Instead of having their traditional Sunday gathering, the Providence folks went out into the community and worshipped God by serving others.
Jon Goodwin of Homestead UMC, Cookeville District, speaks of the day as a blessing. “Saturday was a great blessing for our youth and adults who participated in “Be the Change.” Our youth put together some very nice gift baskets and delivered them on Saturday to our church shut-ins (12 in all). While we were at their homes we did any yard work that they needed done. You could tell by the expressions on their faces and their kind words that they felt very blessed by the youth. One lady gave me a car on Sunday telling us how special our visit was to her. She said we had no way of knowing but the 17th was the 11th anniversary of her husband’s passing and that out visit brought joy to her day. She said God always provides?
Wesley Height UMC gave rolls of toilet paper wrapped in scripture to their neighbors as they shared the love of Christ on Be the Change Day.
At the Donelson Heights UMC youth helped prepare the gardens. The vegetables grown here are given to Second Harvest.
The Epworth UMC youth prepare to share God’s love with other youth at the A▪Game Sports Center
One Shane Claiborne comment resonated with many of the participants in the event. He said, “We have a God that is about loving people back to life. A God that did NOT come for the healthy, but for the sick, not for those who have it all together, but for those who are willing to admit together that we are falling part, and NEED God and we NEED each other.”
Franklin First UMC youth and adults help sort items in the warehouse at the Nashville Rescue Mission
At the end of the day it was obvious that Be the Change Day will not end in 2010 but will be a major part of young people’s ministry for years to come. Hallelujah!! Be sure to start planning for Be the Change Day 2011. Individuals wanting to see additional pictures or stories from Be the Change Day 2010 can check out the website http://bethechangeday.tnumc.com/ and you will also be able to click on to a video tape of Shane Claiborne’s presentation.
Harvest of Hope mission program celebrating 25 years of teaching youth about the problem of hunger and how to be part of the solution
The Society of St. Andrew, a Virginia-based national hunger relief organization and Advance #801600, has been gleaning America’s fields and feeding America’s hungry for over 30 years. This year, they celebrate the 25th anniversary of their Harvest of Hope program. Harvest of Hope (HOH) is a mission retreat program that focuses on hunger issues and the Christian response. This life-changing event has impacted over 12,000 participants during the last 25 years – and it continues to grow. “In fact, more first-time groups are attending than ever before,” reported Scott Briggs, Director of Harvest of Hope.
“I believe that Harvest of Hope truly embodies the mission statement of the Society of St. Andrew: to provide food for the body, God’s word for the spirit, a community of love for the heart, and an opportunity for those who desire action,” said Julie Taylor, former HOH director. Worship, study, and gleaning – the biblical practice of picking leftover crops after the harvest – are integral aspects of the HOH experience. In addition, good nutrition and a simplified and sustainable lifestyle are both strongly emphasized. The week-long and weekend events are targeted toward specific audiences – Jr. High, High School, College-age, and intergenerational groups. Each event is focused on gleaning and education of hunger issues. Participants are from all walks of life and are bonded together by a common purpose – to do something about hunger. “It has been a great, enlightening experience. I think I found a new kind of faith that I never thought I would experience in my life. Thanks for opening me up to a spiritual reality that I wouldn’t have otherwise seen,” said a recent participant.
An alternative spring break event was added last year and proof of its success was demonstrated this year as participation tripled. Four colleges that had previously never volunteered with Harvest of Hope sent groups this year. The event was a huge success with many of the participants making plans to attend HOH Phase II – an opportunity in our nation’s capital for participants who have previously attended an HOH event. Phase II picks up where Harvest of Hope leaves off and offers a more intense study on hunger and poverty issues. Phase II takes place in Washington D.C. and is centered around agency work and advocacy efforts. “I have been changed for the better. My eyes have been opened about hungry people in the area, country, and the world,” remarked Helen Melshen, a college student who attended the 2010 HOH alternative spring break.
Many of Harvest of Hope’s past participants have been so impacted by their specific experience at an event that they have gone on to careers in mission and social work in adulthood. “Although I have many fantastic memories from recent Harvest of Hope events my favorite one actually took place at my very first event, which I participated in with my youth group in 1995,” said Lauren Holcomb, who is a former HOH director and currently pursuing a career in social work. “Six of us attended the weeklong Eastern Shore event that year, and it was the first time at HOH for all of us. Needless to say for anyone who has gone to an event, the Hunger Awareness Meal was really shocking to us! I realized that I needed to learn to be more giving in my own life. The event demonstrated exactly how God wants us to live... and how He gives so abundantly and freely to us despite our shortcomings.” Betsy Edwards, former participant and HOH summer intern, is another example of a person directly influenced by the HOH experience – she has worked for a food bank in Oakland, CA in an advocacy program and currently works for FRAC (Food Research and Action Center).
Harvest of Hope is already well into the 25th year of impacting the lives of volunteering participants and the poor that are fed through their efforts. A very successful alternative spring break event has been wrapped up and HOH is looking forward to Phase II in June and 11 more week-long and week-end events before the end of the year. There is still time to join with others who intend on doing something about hunger this year. Contact Scott Briggs for more information about the 2010 Harvest of Hope schedule: 800-333-4597 or email sosahoh@endhunger.org
Society of St. Andrew is an ecumenical nonprofit ministry that saves fresh nutritious produce from going to waste and donates it to critical feeding agencies all across the country. Started in 1979 it has grown to be the nation’s leading gleaning operation – working in all of the lower 48 states. There are three main programs – the Gleaning Network, the Potato & Produce Project, and Harvest of Hope. More information about the Society of St. Andrew and its work to feed the hungry of America is available online at http://www.endhunger.org/
posted by TN Conference UMC @ 3:05 PM
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