August 2003

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Fort Wayne Calvary gives thanks, asks help for flood recovery

FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- Calvary United Methodist Church here was drenched in flood waters when the St. Mary's River overflowed its banks in early July. The waters receded but left extensive damage to floors, carpeting, furniture, doors and walls. Tile and carpeting throughout the building need to be replaced.

Calvary's Pastor Chris Madison said, "our congregation has been touched by the acts of kindness, generosity and Christian love shown to us in this crisis. We will always remember July 2003 as a time we met many friends who cared in a difficult hour."

He thanked Fairfield Chapel, Waynedale, Leo, Good Shepherd, Simpson, Christ, Bethel, and Avalon United Methodists churches, many other neighboring congregations and businesses, and the city of Fort Wayne.

Madison gave special thanks to Waynedale UMC for temporarily housing Calvary's Daycare and to the Klaehn, Fahl and Melton Funeral Home for providing space for Sunday services.

The Fort Wayne District Church Builders are asking congregations of the Fort Wayne District to assist Calvary members in their recovery efforts. Church Builders representatives Mel Arnold and Larry Ray said contributions may be mailed to the United Methodist Fort Wayne District Office, 9430 Lima Rd., Fort Wayne 46818. Checks are to be payable to Fort Wayne District Church Builders and designated for Calvary UMC.

Madison estimates that repairs and renovations may take from two to four months to complete. More information about the Calvary UMC flood is online at www.gbgm-umc.org/calvary-ftwayne.

Indiana United Methodists asked to celebrate Aug. 24 Prayer Sunday for Bishop White

The Indiana Area Episcopacy Committee of The United Methodist Church set Sunday, Aug. 24 as a Prayer Sunday for Indiana Area Bishop Woodie W. White.

The Episcopacy Committee of both the South and North Indiana Conferences have requested each United Methodist congregation in Indiana to celebrate Aug. 24 as a Prayer Sunday for Indiana Area Bishop Woodie W. White.

In an e-mail to SIC churches the committee asks each congregation "to lift Bishop White and his family in prayer. We also ask that each member join in with an individual prayer."

The announcement read: "We thank God for Bishop Woodie W. White, the spiritual leader of our conference.

"To express our appreciation and support for his abiding faith and spiritual leadership strength.

In an announcement on the North Indiana Conference Web site, the committee wrote: "On this day, the closest Sunday to Bishop White's birthday, we are asking all local congregations, in both the North and South Conferences, to lift up Bishop White and his family in prayer during their worship services.

"We can celebrate his ministry and bring God's power and strength to support him on his called journey," the statement said.

Liberians see glimmer of hope

By Daniel R. Gangler

Since peace-keeping troops arrived early August in Liberia, hope has been restored but the country and its 3.3 million citizens remain in deep trouble.

"The humanitarian situation is deplorable," said Liberians United Methodist Bishop John Innis, a vice president of the Liberia Council of Churches. Liberian church leaders are ready to begin the work of humanitarian response and peace-building. At a recent meeting in Accra, Ghana, they said they cannot respond without the assistance of the global Christian community. They also believe that, ultimately, Liberians must take responsibility for rebuilding a shattered society.

Thousands of civilians who fled the recent fighting near Monrovia are being hosted in United Methodist facilities in and around the city. Among the internally displaced are more then 10,000 United Methodists, including 126 pastors. Food is scarce in the city and cholera and other diseases are rampant. Many United Methodists have had their homes either destroyed, severely damaged or completely looted.

Indiana-based Operation Classroom coordinators the Rev. Joe and Carolyn Wagner expressed deep concern over Liberia.

In mid-July severe damage was done to the Ganta United Methodist Hospital and mission in north Liberia, a recipient of Operation Classroom and Operation Doctor projects. Also damaged were Gbason Town Mission Stations and the United Methodist University, as well as local churches and individual homes. Losses are estimated to be several millions of dollars.

As for Operation Classroom, the Wagners said, "we are putting everything on hold for now. Once peace comes, schools will be the first thing open." They encourage churches to continue to buy school supplies. The Wagners said they have a 40-foot shipping container filled with school, medical and refugee supplies ready to go to Liberia at anytime.

Church World Service, the ecumenical disaster relief partner of United Methodist Committee on Relief, has sent an emergency airlift of material resources to help provide immediate relief to families in Liberia, in response to a plea from Liberian church leaders.

The CWS supplies were airlifted to Freetown, Sierra Leone, the first week of August and arrived in Monrovia after peacekeeping troops restored order. Supplies included 25,000 pounds of canned meat, 5,000 health kits, 5,000 blankets and ten medicine boxes to support 10,000 people for three months.

Aid such as emergency food rations, medicines, and clean water must arrive, as Liberia faces an unparalleled humanitarian crisis in which its citizens will need emergency assistance for months.

In addition to Operation Classroom contributions, gifts to UMCOR's Liberia Emergency Advance #150300 will enable UMCOR to respond to this latest crisis in Liberia. Give through your local church or send financial contributions to: UMCOR, 475 Riverside Dr., Room 330, New York, NY 10115. Call 800-554-8583 to make a credit card donation.

For updated reports on the crisis in Liberia and the church's role to relieve suffering, log on to http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor.

Together fall issue highlights stewardship

The fall issue of Hoosier United Methodists Together magazine will soon be on its way to 19,000 homes across Indiana. This issue follows the theme "Defining Christian stewardship in the 21st century" and features a cover article by Ed Taylor, executive director of the Ecumenical Stewardship Council based in Indianapolis.

In addition to Taylor's article, there are other articles on teaching children about stewardship, environmental stewardship and church buildings, plus an article on ten steps to get out of credit card debt. New to Together are a news section and "The Chronicles" focused on Indiana congregations.

If you don't receive Together, send your name and address to Together, Indiana Area UMC, 1100 W. 42nd St., Suite 210, Indianapolis, IN 46208 or call 317-924-1321 or by e-mail to editor@inareaumc.org and you will be sent a complimentary copy.

9,000 youth 'reach' higher for God

By Linda Green

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - They were 9,000 strong. They came to learn about God and reach beyond what they already knew.

United Methodist youth from across the globe took over the campus of the University of Tennessee to participate in Youth '03, the international gathering for young people and youth leaders to grow in faith and learn how to live out their faith daily.

"I see 9,000 angels today," said Bishop Mike Watson of the South Georgia Conference. "You are children of God and are called to be God's chosen. There is something for you to do. I see in you the glory of God. Are you willing to reach higher to be disciples of God, to let someone see Jesus through you?"

Inspired by the theme "Reach," the youth spent July 23-27 learning how to do that. Through Bible study led by bishops and teens, participants received the key to focusing on Jesus and going higher. "The Scripture is teaching us that it is not the altitude but the attitude that makes a difference and determines how far you'll go," said Bishop Violet Fisher of the North Central New York and Western New York conferences.

Held every four years, the international gathering of United Methodist youth is sponsored by the churchwide General Board of Discipleship and provides youth with opportunities to experience God's love and return to their communities ready to do ministry.

Each day of the conference emphasized reaching higher, deeper and further in faith. The young people learned how to go beyond themselves and their immediate communities to help others.

Their communities are far flung. Young people came from the United States, Mexico, Germany, Poland, Kenya, Congo, India, Lithuania, Mozambique, Nigeria and Russia to attend the event. Several who were expected from countries such as Liberia could not obtain visas for the trip.

Jay Williams, co-chairperson of the denomination's Shared Mission Focus on Young People's initiative, "triple-dog dared" the youth to leave Youth '03 changed.

"What if 9,000 youth were to go back to their local congregation excited and renewed, movers and shakers to change their local communities?" he asked.

Addressing the gathering, he spoke of his work as an advocate to free slaves in many parts of the world and of his most recent efforts to emancipate slaves in the Sudan. He challenged the church to accept all ages, creeds, races and sexual orientations. He spoke of his dream of a church that "does not change with the times but changes the times."

The four-day gathering included workshops on topics such as the basics of United Methodism and teen issues, as well as recreation and opportunities to do service projects in the community.

Bethlehem youth honored for mission work

Youth of Bethlehem UMC's One Room Sunday School in Cass County raised more than $700 for the Surviving Child Orphan Trust, an AIDS orphan ministry in Zimbabwe this year. Class members were recognized this summer at the North Indiana Annual Conference in West Lafayette for their outstanding mission efforts in recent years, including collecting 1,500 pairs of shoes in 2002. The group also delivered blankets and school supplies to the conference.

At the NIC, the Bishops' Children and Poverty project received 2,500 blankets for varied ministries and $6,000 for the Orphan Trust.

Youth make U-turn in summer work camp plans

A busload of youth as part of the New Albany District's work camp to DuLac, La., was interrupted last month by Hurricane Bill, which caused their leaders to redirect their energy to Mississippi.

The 21 youth and 10 adult sponsors did spend a day on the Chickasaw Indian reservation, worshipped at a native American church and toured the Louisiana Marine Research Lab before being evacuated.

Campers were diverted to another work site in Jackson, Miss. There the group stayed at an inner city urban center operated by the 5,000-membert Christ UMC. The youth branched out in different directions. They helped cook and serve meals at a soup kitchen. Some helped with Meals on Wheels. Others went to a thrift store and the Bethlehem Center child-care facility. Some kids sorted clothes at the Good Samaritan warehouse.

Members of Christ UMC provided rides for the group.

Linda Van Doren, New Albany District's co-director for youth, said, "something happened everyday to show that we were exactly where God wanted us to be."

Carl Jenkins of Corydon, Ind., one of the drivers, said the youth got a good look at how the other half lives in Jackson. The kids worked in 9 lower-income neighborhood for four days.

Van Doren told the Corydon (Ind.) Democart that "Their perspective changed. We realized that God led us all the way. We needed to be in Jackson, Miss."

Slavery is not over

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - Francis Bok has survived the unimaginable. For 10 years, from the age of 7, the Sudanese man lived as a slave. He was treated like an animal, beaten every day and given rotten food to eat.

"It was very difficult to survive, but I stayed strong in my heart," he said. "I always prayed for God to save me."

Bok was introduced to the 9,000-plus United Methodist youth gathered for the international Youth '03 in Knoxville, Tenn. His friend, Jay Williams, a young person committed to abolishing slavery, brought Bok on stage July 26 to tell youth about slavery that still exists today.

"Over 27 million people live as slaves today," Williams said. "The CIA reports that 50,000 people are living as domestic or sex slaves in the United States."

Clarian Health seeks hospice volunteers

INDIANAPOLIS - The Ruth Lilly Hospice of Clarian Health seeks hospice volunteers to work with terminally ill patients and their families. Volunteers are needed primarily in the areas of home care and bereavement.

Volunteer training is scheduled for seven consecutive Mondays from Sept. 22 through Nov. 3 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Methodist Hospital.

Pre-screening and registration is required. For more information call Cathy Fowler at 317-962-0277 or by e-mail at cfowler2@clarian.org.

Congregations encouraged to celebrate Open House Month

Each September, the Igniting Ministry media campaign encourages congregations to celebrate United Methodist Open House Month. Open House Month is an opportunity to emulate Jesus' welcoming spirit with a special emphasis on inviting and welcoming newcomers. Hosting special events and worship festivals and making other efforts to welcome those in the community present perfect opportunities to intentionally recognize Christ in everyone - and to remember that guests may look for Christ in us.

Zionsville church to host Alpha evangelism events

ZIONSVILLE, Ind. - Zionsville United Methodist Church is scheduled to host two Alpha events this fall.

Zionsville UMC will host the Church Communication Network satellite broadcast of "Principles and Practicalities of Alpha" on Oct. 24, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Participants in this seminar will learn the six biblical principles of Alpha, discover the basic tools and techniques of Alpha, and find resources to help congregations implement the Alpha course.

For more information, contact the Rev. Matt Scholl at 317-873-2623 or by e-mail at mscholl@zumc.org. Register before Oct. 18.

As many as 800 people are expected to attend a national Alpha conference at Zionsville UMC Nov. 13-14. Sponsored by the North Indiana Conference, this conference is specially designed to provide practical, effective, and proven ways of bringing evangelism to the local church. It is for those who would like to start Alpha courses, as well as for churches already running evangelism programs. For more information or to register, log on to www.zumc.org or www.alphausa.org.

Started in England, the Alpha course helps people explore the validity and relevance of the Christian faith, introducing the basics of Christianity and providing the opportunity for debate and discussion in a relational environment.

UM movie reviews now available online

Movie reviews incorporating a faith-based messages are available online by United Methodist Communications. This month Gregg Tubbs, a freelance writer living in Columbia, Md., reviews current box-office hit Seabiscuit, produced by Universal, directed by Gary Ross with principal actors Tobey Maguire, Jeff Bridges and Chris Cooper.

In addition to Tubbs' review, there are discussion questions, movie trailers, audio interviews, links to the Seabiscuit Web site and color production photographs.

UMCom's review of Seabiscuit is available by logging on to www.umc.org/movie_reviews/seabiscuit/default.htm.

St. Mark's Bloomington seeks music director

St. Mark's United Methodist Church in Bloomington seeks a Director of Music Ministries. This is a part-time salaried position that coordinates and supervises the music ministry at St. Mark's under the direction of the senior pastor. For more information see the full position announcement at www.stmarksbloomington.org Applications are due August 29.

Piano needed at flood-soaked church

The Pleasant Mills United Methodist Church needs an upright piano. Pastor Chuck Sosbe informed members of the North Indiana Conference that July flood waters claimed the Pleasant Mills' piano. Donators may contact Sosbe at Pleasant Hill UMC by calling 260-592-7631 or by dropping him an e-mail message at PastorSosbe@kconline.com.

News Briefs

Farming faces the greatest decline of all occupations in America, according to government statistics. Some 328,000 farming and ranch-related jobs are expected to be lost during the decade that will end in 2010. Bill and Judy Heffernan wouldn't be surprised by that fact, which comes from the U.S. Department of Labor. The Heffernans see a farm crisis that Judy describes as "very undercover. It's very quiet." Both United Methodists and rural sociologists in Columbia, Mo., they did the first study of farm families in crisis for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 1985.

Society is at a threshold in how it responds to the needs of poor people in urban areas, and speakers at a United Methodist summit called for the church to make those needs a priority. "We stand on the threshold of health and wholeness or chaos," Bishop Felton Edwin May of Washington D.C. said July 25, during the United Methodist National Urban Summit. May suggested the church's National Urban Strategy Council develop a plan to "put urban ministry at the top of the agenda of the 2004 General Conference."

A churchwide youth convocation voted to endorse General Conference legislation that would create a Division on Ministries with Young People, following three days of debate and prayer. Consideration of the legislation, proposed by the denomination's Shared Mission Focus on Young People, was a major item on the agenda of Convo '03, held July 23-26 in Knoxville, Tenn., by the United Methodist Youth Organization.

Children's Defense Fund officials have urged a group of Methodist bishops to speak out on several pieces of legislation in Congress that would affect poor children. The bishops, representing the Commission on Pan-Methodist Cooperation's Children in Poverty initiative, met July 30 with the Children's Defense Fund staff in Washington. They heard concerns about legislation affecting the Head Start, child tax credit and welfare-to-work programs.

The church's social action board urges protection for migrant workers. The United Methodist Board of Church and Society has asked the United States and several European countries to ratify an international agreement that protects migrant workers and their families from exploitation. The agreement went into effect July 1 in more than 20 countries. Kathleen Stone, the board's program director for United Nations advocacy, told United Methodist News Service there is resistance in countries that are traditionally considered "receiving" states for migration. She urged U.S. United Methodists to contact President Bush; Secretary of State Colin Powell; the head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), a Hoosier United Methodists; and other senators, who are responsible for ratifying treaties. To contact Sen. Lugar's office call 202-224-4814 or by email: senator_lugar@lugar.senate.gov.

for more details and additional events, visit our Happenings page.

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