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November/December 2006 |
Indianapolis church grows from Lilly Endowment renewal
INDIANAPOLIS - Bethel United Methodist Church in Indianapolis was one of the recipients of the 2005 Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Program grant for Indiana churches.
"Our spirit is renewing week by week."
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The Rev. Andrea Leininger, Bethel's pastor, told Together, "I can't begin to tell you the great blessings that have come our way! My own renewal titled, 'Journey with God,' was one of five great events of my life. I found my own soul on the many pilgrimages I made to Lourdes, Taize, Lisieux, Assisi, Rome, Florence and Ankaase, Ghana. At times I was overwhelmed by the unbelievable moments with God that at one point I said to God, 'hold on, I need a chance to breathe.'"
As part of Bethel church's renewal, members prayed for a greater diversity in their congregation.
"My Journey with God was intended to touch our senses of cultural diversity in faith, religious practice and music. While I was in New Mexico attending a Hispanic worship service, I had a Hispanic preacher speak and Hispanic music sung/played during worship at Bethel. While I was in France participating in a Taize service, Bethel enjoyed a Taize service. While in Assisi, a Franciscan monk with the Indianapolis Children's Choir led our worship at Bethel," reported Leininger.
Last year the 325-member Bethel UMC received five new members. So far this year, following the renewal, Bethel has received 26 new members and on Oct. 29 received five more. The congregation could have 40 new members by the end of the year.
Beyond this numerical growth, Bethel also hosts the eight-month-old Iglesia de Dios Monte Sinai, a Hispanic congregation, which came to Bethel Oct. 1. They begin their worship service at 12:30 p.m. and have more than 70 members.
The Hispanic pastor, who speaks only Spanish, co-celebrated communion with Leininger in two languages on World Communion Sunday this past month.
"Our spirit is renewing week by week. New visitors can be found most Sundays, many of them from diverse backgrounds," says Leininger. "Our weekly (financial) giving has increased."
As part of the Lilly Endowment grant, Bethel held a Future Search Conference in May. One goal was to expand mission focus. Last year the Vacation Bible School theme was African Serengeti and students collected $750 to create a new chapel and chaplain's office at the Ankaase Methodist Faith Healing Hospital in Africa, as well as provide new layettes for newborns.
Last Christmas Bethel collected more than $1,000 to help build a library in Ankaase, their first one. The foundation, roof and walls are up. Construction continues.
This year the Bethel VBS, along with the whole church, raised $2,315 to purchase uniforms and workbooks for elementary aged children in Honduras.
"It seems our renewal is continuing," said Leininger. "We just had eight people recently return from a mission trip to Biloxi, Miss. One volunteer was a Liberian from our congregation who in January was a recipient of a liver transplant. He wanted to give something back. Not only did he work hard, he presented an African outfit to the owner upon the completion of their work."
For more information about the Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Program in Indiana, log on to www.lillyendowment.org/religion.html.
Last updated on 25 Apr 2008