Brite Ideas -- May 2002

In 1999, Kendallville's Faith UMC, Fort Wayne District, spearheaded the Kid Kits program, a community-wide effort touching the lives of children in the East Noble School Corp.

Through individual and local business donations, the program provides back-to-school supply kits to needy students at nine elementary and six middle schools in the area. Kathryn Maxson, Kid Kits program coordinator, explained that each kit is created from supply lists provided by each school and grade level.
Program volunteers work directly with school counselors to identify children in need of a kit. When families apply for the school reduced-lunch program, they receive a voucher for a free Kid Kit.

Last year, Rome City UMC, Calvary UMC and LaOtto Wesleyan Church joined the efforts by acting as distribution sites near the schools. "You wouldn't believe the joy that the kids get when they receive 'new' school supplies," explained Maxson. "The children and parents have tears in their eyes when they pick-up their kits."

In the first year, Faith UMC supplied 330 kits to children in need. The need has grown. The program supplied 391 kits in 2000 and 494 in 2001. "A number of the companies in Kendallsville are going out of business. We're going to see an increase of need for the kits this year," said Maxson.

If your church would like to participate in the Kids Kit program or make a donation, please contact Kathryn Maxson at 260/347-3256. Matthew Carlisle

Seder meal unites Christians

On March 21, more than 150 participants from 10 area churches joined New Life UMC, located west of Peru, Kokomo District, for a Seder meal. The Seder is the focal point of the Passover celebration, an eight-day observance commemorating the freedom and exodus of the Israelites from Egypt.

Micha Cohen, a student at Moody Bible Institute, described the 16 different foods, including six symbolic foods served for the meal, along with pastries and cakes. Following the meal, the Rev. David Schramm, superintendent of the Kokomo District, blessed the communion elements with a traditional Hebrew prayer. Six area pastors served Communion.

Host pastor, the Rev. Daniel Helm, said, "The Lord is bringing our hearts together, our congregations together, to glorify the Lord in unison." Helm further explained that the day's Seder meal was birthed out of a weekly prayer meeting, sponsored by the north Miami area pastors.

Youth have something to offer for Easter

The youth group at Epworth Memorial United Methodist Church in South Bend wanted to be a part of this year's Easter Liturgy, but was not sure what they had to offer. Then during a pizza party about a month before Easter, several in the group shared their passion for theater and an idea was born: they would put on a play for Easter.

With no time to spare their youth leader, Lynda Ward, searched the Internet for a play and found the web site christianteens.about.com/cs/dramasites/, which not only offers a variety of skits and plays for youth groups but is also an excellent resource site for youth leaders and teens.

The parts were quickly divided up between the actors. The stage, lighting, sound and advertising crew discussed their duties. The group set practices for each Saturday night prior to Easter, and the pastor, Steven Brey, shopped for Roman Soldier costumes and accessories, including a sword, a cat-o-nine-tails and fake blood at a local costume shop.

On Easter morning, to a packed sanctuary, the youth presented their play, depicting what happened to the Roman soldiers who were responsible for Jesus' execution, and to their surprise and delight received rave reviews! Now everyone in the church is asking, "When will our youth be putting on another play?"

Christian approach to business eases
'hat changing' for pastor

By Cynthia Dougherty

Like other part-time local pastors who also work in the secular world, Fuzzy Lake finds himself "changing hats" many times during the day.

"Quite regularly, I am talking to someone about a job we are doing and, in the middle of the conversation, have to stop and talk about the surgery a spouse or loved one is having the next week and how scary it is, or about what church they should be in, or something like that. Then I have to switch hats back to being a business man again," said Lake.

Lake, associate and youth pastor of College Corner UMC and owner of Lake Innovative Group in Connersville, has found that a Christian approach to business is just the "hat rack" he needs. "I was on a Walk to Emmaus and realized I had to let Him run my life and everything that I have or I would never be able to grow and flourish as I have since. Before I became a Christian, the business was not doing so well. Now it is growing like crazy."

What Lake started in 1977, as a part-time welding operation, has grown into a full-time business offering numerous services in a 20,000-square-foot facility.

"Most of our customers know our stance as a Christian-based company, and feel very good about being treated fair with regards to the amount of work we do for them and the billing that is expected," said Lake.

Lake has 13 employees, all of whom understand and support his dual responsibilities. He says this gives him time, when needed, to provide pastoral care during the day. "There are many people in the community who come in or just want to talk because they know I am a pastor. I tend to do a lot of funerals for friends or family of acquaintances through the business. It makes you look at business in a whole new way. While you have to make enough money to keep the bills paid and to keep everybody making a decent living, you have to remember that it is not all yours anyway. God has given us everything. He is just letting us borrow it."

"If you need time, he makes the time," said Brad Hassler, president of Hassler Textile Services and customer of Lake Innovative Group. When Hassler's mother passed away in 1992, Lake was there to comfort the family. "He really cares about what he does and his customers and his friends. Even people he doesn't even know, he gives them the same amount of time."

Lake's employees also say they can count on their boss for concern, fairness and honesty. "He's very understanding when someone has a problem at home," said Dawn Lattimer. "He doesn't have a problem with people taking off when they need to be home with a sick child."

"I have the unique opportunity to witness to people every day that would not see the inside of a church normally," said Lake. "That said, there are also some drawbacks to this opportunity. I would have to think that all of my colleagues would have to agree that there is no such thing as 'part-time' in ministry if you follow the Lord. There are a lot of part-time local pastors out there that struggle every day with the same hat changing I do. There should be a class on it."

Cynthia Dougherty is the communications coordinator for the Rushville District.

Kid Kits: Creating learning opportunities

Seder meal unites Christians

Youth have something to offer for Easter

Christian approach to business eases 'hat changing' for pastor

Christian approach to business eases
'hat changing' for pastor