Joining Hands Magazine/Spring 2011

East Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church SPRING 2011 | Volume 11 | Issue 3

joining hands east ohio

- informed, inspired and in touch.

Changing the world

The Vision of the East Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church is to make and mature disciples of Jesus Christ.

East Ohio Joining Hands Spring 2011

Vol. 11 No. 3

East Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church Office of Communications Editor/Director of Communications Rick Wolcott wolcott@eocumc.com

We are the people of

The United Methodist Church

1 2 3 4

We believe in making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

We live by two kinds of holiness.

Personal Social

Graphic Designer Sue Zakovec sue@eocumc.com Subscriptions/Administrative Lois Speelman lois@eocumc.com Contributing Writers Peter Chakerian Deanna Bottar Under the direction of: The Conference Board of Communications, Rev. Steve Bailey, Chairman Mail: Editor East Ohio Joining Hands 8800 Cleveland Ave. N.W. North Canton, Ohio 44720

We follow three simple rules.

Do no harm.

Do good.

Stay in love with God.

Phone: ext ext. ext.

We work in four areas of focus.

Developing leaders Creating places for new people Eliminating poverty Improving health globally

Submission of articles is encouraged.

The deadline is May 23 for the Summer 2011 issue. Our theme is “A Day in the Life (of the Church)”

800.831.3972 118 Editor 105 Graphic Designer 119 Subscriptions

Web site: www.eocumc.com

East Ohio Joining Hands USPS (005-882) is published quarterly by the East Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church, Office of Communications, 8800 Cleveland Ave. N.W., North Canton, Ohio 44720. Periodical Postage paid at Canton, Ohio.

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Postmaster: Send address corrections to: East Ohio Joining Hands 8800 Cleveland Ave. N.W. North Canton, Ohio 44720

Changing the world

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Changing the world

Walk,don’t run As Jesus walked along the shore of Lake Galilee he saw two brothers who were fishermen, Simon (called Peter) and his brother Andrew, catching fish in the lake with a net. Jesus said to them, “Come with me, and I will teach you to catch men.” At once, they left their nets and went with him. - Matthew 4: 18-20, Good News Bible

By Rick Wolcott*

I

was born two years before man walked on the moon. Growing up my family had three channels on our black and white television. If we wanted to change the channel, someone had to walk over to the set and turn the dial, manually. No remote control. Can you believe it?

My best friend, Tom, lived right up the street.

When I would call him to see if we could play I used the rotary dial phone that was mounted on the wall in the kitchen. The call required me to dial two nines and a zero, no easy feat for a kid with little fingers.

When it came time to do reports in school most kids had to spend hours at the library. Not us. My brother, sister and I were lucky. Dad was a teacher so we had our own encyclopedia set.

Of course it was a few years old but history never changes, right?

It’s 2011. During the past 44 years we’ve not only landed on the moon but designed and launched a reusable space shuttle and established an international space station.

Television has evolved from three channels on a box in a console that took up a quarter of our living room to hundreds of channels on a set that is flat and can be mounted on the wall.

Telephones became touch tone then cordless and now cellular.

I can’t remember the last time I opened an encyclopedia. Are they still in print? I don’t know but I can find out. Let me Google it…. something else that didn’t exist during my childhood, not to mention while I was in high school or college…. the internet.

Technology has allowed us to do things that we didn’t dare dream before. It has put the world at our fingertips. But it has also isolated us like never before.

Have you seen people at the mall walking side by side texting each other? Or the family watching television together? Or I should say

the family in the same room while the TV is on.

One person in the room is probably on Facebook, while another could be texting or tweeting. Sound familiar? In not one of these examples are people talking to one another, let alone truly relating with each other.

Easier and faster doesn’t always equal better.

Jesus walked. It doesn’t get more basic than that. It wasn’t fast and I am sure it wasn’t easy. Some experts have calculated that Jesus walked 3,125 miles during his three years of public ministry. Suddenly complaining that we have to get up and walk to the TV to change the channel because someone moved the remote seems trivial, doesn’t it?

As Jesus walked, he talked. Face to face.

Meeting people where they were. The longer the walk, the more time to relate with those who accompanied him. Imagine the conversation between Jesus, Simon and Andrew as they walked recruiting disciples. Life-changing moments don’t get much bigger than that.

This is how Jesus taught. Face to face.

People who heard Jesus preach would tell their friends. Stories of his healings spread through word of mouth. One person, relating with another, telling of the miracle they had witnessed.

In our rush to use technology to “improve” our lives and make us “better” we often times have lost focus on what is truly important: relating with other human beings. This issue of Joining Hands highlights those who have gone the extra mile to assist others, meeting them where they are, learning of their needs and offering ideas that are Changing the World. *Rick Wolcott is the Director of Communications for the East Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church.

© iStockphoto.com/Peter Brutsch

Online It is a joy to me that there are more examples of East Ohio Methodists reaching out to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world than there are pages to tell their stories. After you read this issue, please visit us online for additional examples of how 30 other churches are making a difference every day in the lives of people not only in East Ohio but around the world. The extended edition of Joining Hands can be found at www.eocumc.com/ joininghands

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New skins for new wine

By Rev. Michael J. Teston*

I was received into the East Ohio annual conference as a probationary member in June 1986. I remember I was young, my hair was dark and life was ahead of me. Today, I hardly recognize the person staring back at me in the mirror. Sadly, the biggest change since 1986 among the people called Methodists appears to be the color of my hair. You see in 1986 The United Methodist Church was hemorrhaging members and attendees at an alarming rate. That trajectory has continued. There are places and sites that defy that trend, but on the whole, according to all the vital signs, we are slowly and painfully dying.

I, like you, have sat through years of annual conference sessions listening to speaker after speaker address this decline content to do what I could at my local site. But all the while I was growing more and more frustrated with the larger picture. At the 2009 Annual Conference the passions within stirred me to call our District Superintendent, the Rev. Dr. Valerie Stultz, after hearing of another United Methodist Church closing in the city of Akron.

But this closing was different. Northampton United Methodist Church (Canal District), seated in the suburbs of Akron, would claim that former church’s location and begin plans to extend its ministries through a site known as “Heart for the City.” Stultz had been working with almost 18 churches in the Akron area in an attempt to strategically plan, band together, and deploy the varied ministry resources among those churches. In that phone conversation, I asked her to contact the Montrose Zion United Methodist Church (Canal District) and me, as she heard of possible closures of other United Methodist Churches.

Our vision at Montrose was to partner with other sister congregations desiring assistance in areas of Children’s, Youth or Campus Ministries, Adult Education and Indigenous worship venues on the west side of the city of Akron and into the city itself.

The West Akron Regional Ministry, or W.A.R.M. as we have come to speak of it, emerged as a result of purposeful and meaningful partnerships. Specifically, Bishop Hopkins encouraged the concentration of disciple-making efforts among seven local United Methodist church communities.

These seven churches -- both laity and clergy -- were involved

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in serious conversations surrounding ministry leadership and the deployment of missions on the west side of Akron.

Toward that end, three mission sites, Montrose Zion UMC, Christ UMC and Akron First UMC, have been chosen as strategic geographical platforms. Each has the potential to connect with an array of God’s children, thereby reaching new generations and embracing the multicultural distinction that is Akron.

The “Church” is a movement, not a building. As such, it is being re-purposed. W.A.R.M. is one mission utilizing many missionaries across three different locations. W.A.R.M.’s appointed clergy will be accountable not simply to a single church location but to a broader mission of making and maturing disciples across the entire region. Each W.A.R.M. site now will operate under a common vision that includes:

Inviting - creating environments where God’s children are welcome, loved, and cared for just the way they are.

Showing - through intentional biblical and theological education, God’s children will be encouraged into a deeper walk with Christ through spiritual formation, and the integration of faith with daily life. Sending - God’s children will be equipped, trained, and authorized as leaders to be an integral part of the continual mission movement of The Church Body, in the world and in West Akron.

Over the years, fear has set the table for us, leaders in the Body of Christ, in addressing what we knew was happening around us. Until now that fear prevented us from changing and being transformed both internally and institutionally. That day is over.

It is time for the Body of Christ to set the table for extending ourselves in new, risky ways -- to interpret to God’s children the radical love of Jesus, our Lord, and our Savior.

Certainly, W.A.R.M. is a paradigm shift not yet experienced or entertained within our East Ohio Conference. Yet, in Luke chapter 5, Jesus speaks of old wine in new wine skins among his own institutional dryness -- traditions and institutions -- that block the God movement in the world.

Now is the time to courageously consider your role in embracing the Spirit that is undeniably moving around us.

Jesus puts us on notice that “newness” is indeed an acquired taste. Isaiah asks, “Do you not perceive it?” *Rev. Michael J. Teston is the lead pastor of the W.A.R.M. pastoral leadership team.

© iStockphoto.com/kedsanee

T

he Prophet Isaiah spoke to his own people, “Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing, now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?”

- Isaiah 43:19

Innovation - Changing the world

C-Son’s at the Shore: A story of community

By Rev. Dr. Jan Yandell*

East Shore United Methodist Church (North Coast District) in Euclid is changing the world of worship by creating a new concept that gives worshippers a choice of styles, while keeping a sense of community. C-Son’s at the Shore includes three, 30-minute worship segments: The Classic, The Community and The Catalyst.

The Classic is very traditional worship: Older hymns, traditional liturgy, the Chancel Choir, the Gloria Patri, creeds, scripture and pulpit preaching. East Shore uses many lay people to lead worship, read scripture and share in other aspects of the service.

The Community service includes: Children’s Time, Offertory, Prayer Requests, Community Prayer and the Passing of the Peace. Laity oftentimes are involved in the Children’s Time and the Community Prayer Time during this portion of the service.

The Catalyst service consists of modern praise and worship music in three sets played and led by guitars, drums, and eight singers younger than 30. Director of Music Ministries, Justin Hayman, leads the core worship team that designs the service, selects the music and rehearses the band.

Hayman is also the director of the Chancel Choir during the Classic Worship.

People who worship God best in a traditional setting come at 10:30 am for the Classic Service and stay through the Community Worship time.

Those who enjoy the more upbeat, non-traditional worship come at 11:00 am for the Community and stay through the Catalyst.

The transitions between the three segments flow easily.

At 11:00 am the doors open to the sanctuary to welcome in the children from the nursery for Children’s Time. The Catalyst worshippers enter at this time as well. At 11:30 am the people at East Shore are up and in the aisles greeting, hugging and Passing the Peace of Christ to one another. The Classic Worshippers leave and the Catalyst Worshippers join in the lively music that opens that segment.

The benefits are many: The Classic has been described as

comfortable and familiar. The Catalyst is said to be energetic and exciting. Parishioners say it’s wonderful to see the youth involved in the leadership. The Community brings both worshipping groups together for common time of seeing the children, sharing prayer concerns and celebrations and hugging one another during the Passing of the Peace. Communion, baptisms and other special occasions also take place during the shared Community Service.

During Passing of the Peace, members of the Catalyst band, “The Christian Gift Company,” pick up their microphones and instruments and hang a backdrop that transforms the look of the sanctuary. The worship center already has projection screens in place that are used in the Classic for hymns and liturgy and then in Catalyst for videos, song lyrics, and illustrations. The Catalyst message is preached from the aisle often using questions and answers, meditation, or illustrative videos. Besides the pastor, two of the leaders of “The Christian Gift Company” also share their witness of God’s work in their lives or other relevant stories.

This concept sounds crazy to some, but it is working! When East Shore tried two separate services, the congregation felt as if it had been split. The blended service of the past three years was received well, but many longed for one type or another to avoid the theological whiplash some experience when both styles of worship are poured into the same hour.

This gives people the opportunity to worship in a way that is most comfortable for them, but allows for the fellowship of the full community. The congregation has responded. Since this concept was launched, attendance is up 15%.

If you have questions, or would like to visit a service, please contact Pastor Jan Yandell at 216-261-1688 or jan@eastshorechurch.com. *Rev. Dr. Jan Yandell is pastor at East Shore United Methodist Church.

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Changing the world…

$1

at a time.

By Jessica Vargo*

I

am still amazed even after nine years with the East Ohio Conference how many congregations do not realize the positive impact they are making on the world through apportioned shared ministry giving. We, The United Methodist Church, are able to do together more than any one church, one district, one conference could ever do alone.

In the East Ohio Conference 517 churches paid 100% of their shared ministry amount in 2010. Of those churches, 353 felt so strongly about the impact we have that they not only paid 100% of their shared ministry funds they also paid the shared ministry challenge goal, which assists churches struggling to pay their share in full.

THANK YOU! East Ohio Conference churches paid $614,645 (not counting any contributions paid directly to UMCOR) for Haiti Emergency Relief in 2010. Another $855,515 – above and beyond the apportioned shared ministry amounts -- was paid to other missions that are spread around the world. The churches that make up the East Ohio Conference contributed a total of $1.47 million in special giving in 2010 compared to $894,000 in 2009. We were able to do this even while in the midst of dealing with the necessary increases in pension and health care costs. Wow!

THANK YOU! The East Ohio Conference was one of 15 conferences (out of 59) that paid General Church apportionments at 100%. This marks the fifth year in a row that we have been able to achieve this goal.

THANK YOU! The shared ministry funds help to support programs and ministries in our backyard, elsewhere in the conference, the United States and around the globe. Whether it is the hurricane and tsunami in Japan, a neglected child, a woman without a home, a man fallen on hard times, a child with malaria or helping a student try to get an education, we are impacting lives through your generosity.

We could spend all day sharing amazing stories of ways in which the dollars contributed are changing individual’s lives. What I tell congregations when I visit is that this pooling of resources is what makes us different from other churches that might be up the street. It is our challenge as United Methodists to not only make a difference in our community but around the globe! The good news is … together, we are making a difference. Together, we are changing the world! *Jessica Vargo is Treasurer for the East Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church.

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Partnering - Changing the world

East & West

Unite

By Deanna Bottar*

S

ometimes they sleep in their cars, under highway overpasses, or on sheets of cardboard stretched out along sidewalks.

Some you can see – in big cities and small towns - on park benches and along the streets.

Others conceal the fact that they live without a home.

In Central Ohio, the vision of one woman, Shirley Stewart, led to the formation of a nonprofit organization known as Concerned Citizens Against Homelessness.

Across the past four years, plans were made and partnerships strengthened to bolster how the Delaware, Ohio, community addressed the needs of homeless families.

CCAH, as it’s known, works with area churches, city and county agencies, plus other faith-based organizations to provide advocacy,

shelter and referrals to ensure homeless families and individuals have access to the services they need.

Its mission involves the eventual creation of temporary and permanent housing to shelter homeless people, including teenage runaways and victims of domestic violence.

With support from national Family Promise, a New Jersey-based organization that seeks to help homeless and low-income families to achieve sustainable independence, a local chapter emerged known as Family Promise of Delaware County that seeks to meet the needs of homeless families.

Nationally, there are nearly 700,000 homeless people on any given night – roughly 22 of every 10,000 Americans, according to data from the National Alliance to End Homelessness in Washington, D.C. Estimates for specific cities aren’t easily defined.

Although Stewart’s initial vision was for a homeless shelter in Delaware County, the steps toward eradicating homelessness are falling into place through programming, supplies and strategy before a shelter is established.

Support for the movement and leadership members come from Delaware Asbury United Methodist Church (Mid Ohio District, East Ohio) and Williams Street United Methodist Church (Capitol Area North District, West Ohio), plus help from the Methodist Theological School in Ohio.

A second program, called Share Our Best, assembles and distributes handmade sleeping bags and health care kits.

“Since there is no place for the homeless in Delaware, I personally will give out a sleeping bag and health kit if anyone contacts me and tells me they have spotted someone they believe is homeless,” said Donna Imel. “Or I may come across them myself.”

These items also are on hand at Helpline of Delaware and Morrow Counties Inc., a local, toll-free crisis support, information and referral hotline, and the volunteer-run Common Ground Free Store Ministries, a partnership among Delaware churches, businesses, civic organizations and citizens that provides clothing, shoes, diapers and household items free of charge. They also are distributed via soup kitchens in Columbus, Imel said.

“I have been working with them for two-plus years,” said Jeannette Kraus. “Mid-Ohio and East Ohio have given grant funds for all areas of homeless needs.”

Even with such a cooperative environment with support from so many, the problem isn’t easily solved. Some are homeless because of mental illness, physical disability or emotional trauma. About 20 percent of all homeless are U.S. veterans, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness.

Many are homeless with children. Often substance abuse is part of the problem as are complicated family and health situations.

“How do you address the issue when there are no shelters and many parts to the problem?” Kraus asked.

There isn’t an easy answer, but CCAH knows its mission is simple: To continue to move toward addressing the many facets of homelessness one day and one program at a time. *Deanna Bottar is a free-lance writer who grew up in Simpson United Methodist Church in Canton.

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Divine intervention

By Peter Chakerian*

P

astor Ray Ake of Henrietta United Methodist Church (Firelands District) in Amherst and Pryde Bass of Werner United Methodist Church (North Coast District) in Cleveland had a chance meeting last fall at a People Reaching People training day.

The result? The duo came to a working relationship epiphany: a Farmer-To-Farmer ministry project.

What if like-minded farmers, parishioners and residents in the East Ohio Conference were to recondition under-utilized or discarded farm equipment -- and then donate them to a farm family on the other side of the planet in Liberia?

What if those individuals also collected seeds, tools, implements and the like until there was an entire shipping container full of beneficial farming provisions?

What if these items “rode for free across the ocean in the ships of Firestone Natural Rubber Co,” which usually return to Liberia empty before collecting another load of raw rubber?

What if an idea hatched between two men could change the course of an entire community in the African republic? And, in the process help to put behind struggles complicated by a 13-year-long devastating civil war?

“I’m convinced that Pastor Ray and I met by arrangement of God that day,” says Bass, a Liberian who is active at Werner UMC.

“I’m always trying to figure out ways to help people back in Liberia - the civil war over there devastated the country - and find new ways to assist them and give them hope based on the 3C’s Initiative [Churches, Clinics and Classrooms],” Bass said.

“This idea seemed like a perfect way to do it, to move people forward, but I was stuck and didn’t know how to move. I rely on God to guide me and that’s how I met Pastor Ray.”

“Pryde was sharing how back home in Liberia with subsistence farming and agriculture they are struggling to cultivate the land by hoe or machete and without electricity,” Ake said.

“The economy there is devastated, but farmers (here) have big hearts and know what it’s like when crops don’t come in.

“In my area, most farms are 1,000acre grain or specialty niche farms so the possibility of these local farmers and church members having equipment they may never use again was there,” Ake said.

“If it’s just sitting in a shed and not appropriate for current crops, or for Ohio, why not donate it?”

Ake and Bass met with a group of farmers and they “drove him [Pryde] nuts asking questions about what was needed,” Ake said with a laugh. “They wanted specifics about farming, climate, crops, what the land and soil was like ... basically technical questions that only farmers would understand!”

Since last fall, Ake and Bass have been gathering equipment, seeds, implements and other items -- including an old Ford 400 tractor that is being refurbished.

The hope is that crops resulting from the donations will meet the needs of the local community, “but can be sold at market and help bring in income for residents, enabling the people to address the basic needs for themselves,” Ake said.

The pair also located a 20-foot oceangoing shipping container, which will hold the tractor and all the items. “The hope is it could be a storage shed or garage for repairing things ... a resource for the com-

munity once the goods are delivered.”

Ake and Bass are hoping their plan to donate modernized farming equipment will spread to other churches, as well as transform the everyday lives of the people of the St John’s River District of Liberia. The district is home to St. John United Methodist Church -- founded in 1895 by Connecticut native Alexander Harris.

The duo also is working, as part of its endeavor, to aid St. John UMC. The place of worship is in desperate need of repair and updating and its leader is in need of assistance in spreading the gospel.

“The pastor in Harrisburg walks three and a half hours to preach and does so in both directions,” Ake said.

“Here’s a man walking seven hours to do this. We have a commitment for a simple little gas scooter, so he can ride back and forth to church and maintain his commitment. Helping him with transportation, knowing his (current) means of travel, seemed like an important commitment for us as well,” Ake added.

“That’s always the concept,” Bass said. “Talking about rethinking church, this is rethinking missions, empowering people to help themselves. Helping is empowering. We’re gonna work night and day to help give those people some hope.”

Are items still being collected?

“Yes,” says Ake, unequivocally.

“We’ll take almost anything that people have used either for gardening or farming as a donation.”

Changing

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Partnering - Changing the world

Appealing to inner city youth

By Peter Chakerian

The Farmer-to-Farmer ministry program is only the beginning of the work and Good News being spread by Werner United Methodist Church (North Coast District).

The Cleveland-based church, led by Rev. Dogba Bass**, believes that children are the future. To that end, Bass and the church are spreading the gospel throughout the inner city by mentoring students on the athletic field and working with them in the classroom to help improve scholastics.

Werner UMC has teamed over the last several years with neighboring Cleveland schools, introducing kids to soccer, basketball, and track and field.

“We’ve had about 100 kids come through our [soccer] program, which works with fourth- and fifth- graders,” says Bass.

“We don’t have a gym, so we use the gyms or cafeterias of the schools, help teach them the game and teamwork, buy them uniforms with funds from our church and from small grants we have written, and we’ve involved them in the Nothing But Nets soccer and basketball program in Akron and Green.”

Werner UMC has taken local children to play in soccer tournaments in Euclid and Akron, and helped them prepare on the track to qualify for the national Hershey Track and Field race held each August in Hershey, Pryde Bass, Werner PA. UMC and Pastor “We want Ray Ake, Henrietta UMC pair to create to sponsor

the Farmer-to-Farmer ministry program.

the local races as a first level of competition and help inspire the winners to move on to the state race in Columbus in July, then on to Hershey,” Bass says.

“After four years of sponsoring the local race, it’s a whole lot bigger this year -- we now have the backing and support of the City of Cleveland Parks & Recreation Department, so it should be a bigger race and hopefully will attract some of the stronger jumpers and throwers. We’re the only church [regionally] that does something like this on the sports side.”

Winners from the Columbus race get an all-expense paid trip to run the Hershey race. “We have not had anyone win at that level to qualify, but we’re working on it,” Bass says.

In terms of scholastics, Bass is working with local schools to try to get kids feeling good about education and to strive for excellence.

“In that regard, we’ve written small grants to help put together an Academic Challenge [game show program] for local cable access television,” Bass says.

“The program puts kids on teams and helps them work through questions that -- as the basis for

the quiz -- is information found on the Ohio Achievement Assessment [OAA] and Ohio Graduation Test [OGT/OGE].”

“Werner UMC resources help tutor the students, with the reward of being on a pilot show being produced by Cuyahoga Community College,” Bass said. What’s the grand prize?

“The person in each grade level who answers the most questions will win a mini laptop, purchased with a grant from the Neighborhood Connections local arm of The Cleveland Foundation,” Bass said.

“The grant really allows us to do whatever it takes to get kids excited about learning.

“Kids sometimes shy away from being sports stars and gravitate toward academics, but those that do are sometimes teased by other kids -- called names like ‘weird’ and ‘bookworm.’ We’re trying to say, ‘it’s smart to be smart.’ Even if no one else is in their corner, we are.” *Peter Chakerian is a free lance writer who has focused on arts, entertainment, business, features and religion during his 20year career as a journalist.

the world **Rev. Dogba Bass and Pryde Bass of Werner UMC are brothers.

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Young adults - Changing the world

Students of change

By Michael Patterson*

Steve Kramer has been changing the lives of his students at the University of Mount Union for nearly four decades. For the past 20 years he has been challenging them in ways that have left an undeniable and profound lasting impression.

Kramer is a psychology professor at the Steve Kramer university and an active participant in the life of Union Avenue United Methodist Church (Tuscarawas District) in Alliance. Since 1992 he has taught a course called Social Responsibility and Personal Well-Being. The class includes an international mission trip during spring break. It is a life-changing event for the 12 students who accompany him.

The idea for the course was spawned from Kramer’s own college-age experience.

“My volunteer teaching experience in Iraq after I graduated from college enabled me to see how valuable it was to experience life outside of the U.S. as well as the impact that service of this nature had on me and the others with whom I worked,” he said. “I wanted to provide an opportunity for our students to experience something like this to broaden their perspective on the world and to come to see themselves as citizens of the world rather than just citizens of their local community or country.”

His students have traveled to the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama.

For 12 of the last 14 years they have worked with the rural poor in El Salvador through an organization in Santa Ana called ASAPROSAR (the Salvadoran Association for Rural Health). The work usually involves digging latrines, but the major impact the students make involves getting to know the families they serve and playing with their children.

The work they do is for the native Salvadorans, but it’s the Mount students who really benefit, and that is the

objective of Kramer’s course.

“I hope they (the students) come to recognize the problems of developing nations in a more personal way and that they come away from it with an increased commitment to improving the lives of people who have very limited resources,” Kramer explained. “I hope they feel a connection to the people of El Salvador and that they feel a deeper commitment to service in general. I also hope that they come to realize that one person can make a difference.”

The experience allows students to grow in ways they never dreamed as they suddenly see the world beyond the narrow scope of their hometown or college classroom. They develop a better understanding of how they can connect with other cultures through hands-on experiences and they learn the joy of helping others.

“Generally they come to realize that they have lived their lives in a ‘privileged environment’ and that they can live with much less than they might have thought prior to this trip,” Kramer said. “It enables them to better see what really does matter in their lives. They have a better appreciation for what they already have and feel a greater desire to share this with others who don’t have nearly as much.”

The students often share their experience when they return by giving programs to church groups, schools and community organizations. One student on each trip is selected to write a story for the local paper which, along with pictures from the trip, ends up being a full-page feature.

A recent trip participant sums it up this way: “Although our ‘job’ is to build latrines, it’s much more than that. We bring hope to the people who have none of the things we take for granted. You can see it in their faces and in their tears as we leave. For the rest of their lives they will remember that one week in early March when a group of college students from Ohio thought enough about them to come down and dig holes and get dirty – and to care about them. It changes their life forever, and it changes ours, too.”

One of the highlights of each trip is the nightly meeting where students share their stories and impressions of the day’s experience. One evening a student asked Kramer, “What’s it all about?”

Kramer responded, “Leaving the world a little

© iStockphoto.com/Chris Pecoraro

better than you found it. I think that’s what it’s all about.”

It’s a good bet the more than 200 students who have gone on the trips would say he’s accomplished that. *Michael Patterson is Communications Committee chairperson at Union Avenue UMC in Alliance.

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Ben Wilde

Camp memories last a lifetime Summer is right around the corner. We can look forward to: warm weather, green grass, leaves on the trees, fragrant flowers in bloom, blue skies filled with sunshine, splashing in a pool or crystal clear lake and the sound of children at play. Each of these elements by themselves is nice, but put them all together and you have the unforgettable setting that greets you at summer camp!

Each year thousands of kids count down the days until it is time to pack the car and head to one of our East Ohio ministry sites: Camp Aldersgate, Camp Asbury or Camp Wanake. When the week is over, participants leave the camp, but camp never leaves them.

The same can be said for the many dedicated workers who staff each camp site. Joining Hands asked staff members :

“How has working at summer camp changed your world?”

Ben Wilde

My time at Camp Asbury as a camp counselor has been a life changing experience and spiritual journey beyond my imagination. Being a counselor at Asbury has taught me so much about myself and my spiritual journey. When I first became a counselor, I wasn’t sure how I was going to do and if it was the place for me to be. However, when the summer began and I got the chance to work with the campers and grow in friendship with the rest of the staff, I knew this was where I was supposed to be. I realized that God placed me at Asbury for a reason, and I have the chance to share my faith and God’s incredible love with campers and the rest of the staff. It is empowering for me to use the skills and traits that God gave me in a beneficial way to teach others about God’s love because it reminds me of how lucky and blessed I am to have this job. To have the chance to work with young campers and help them grow in their faith is an experience that just puts me in awe. I look forward to the beginning of summer because with that comes another great year of camp. Asbury holds so many beautiful traits of the world that God has created and He has truly blessed me by placing me in this beautiful gem of the world called Camp Asbury.

(Ben will return to Camp Asbury in summer 2011 for his third summer as a small group counselor.)

Alison MacDonald

I have worked at Camp Asbury for the past three summers, and the experiences I gained and memories I made will remain with me for the rest of my life. When you are there, you are having a great time with the kids and other staff members, and you can feel the presence of God everywhere. But the amazing thing is that when you reflect back at the end of the summer that is when you realize the true value of what you just experienced. The memories make you laugh and make you think. It doesn’t stop a few weeks later, or even a few months later. These experiences and memories stay with you wherever you go and whatever you do. I find myself in dayto-day situations thinking, ‘How would we handle this at camp?’ Camp Asbury made me a better Christian and taught me so much about God. Those lessons stay with me and are extremely relevant in my life. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about camp and the things I learned there, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Alison MacDonald

Summer camp ca n change your world, too.

For more information and to register for the summer session, visit www.EOCSumm ercamps.org Visit www.eocum c.com/ joininghands (Jo ining Hands Online) to find ou t how camp counselors from Aldersgate and Wanake resp onded to the same question.

(Alison will return to Camp Asbury in summer 2011 for her fourth summer as “music specialist.”)

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Blue Rose Mission

Tending God’s garden

By Deanna Bottar

T “We know we can’t do it all, but together we can do much.”

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rue rose enthusiasts – who tend and nurture, feed and water their rose gardens with more patience in the details than most of us can muster – might not see the beauty in a blue rose.

Blue roses don’t spring forth from spring soil like other well-known varieties in hues of red and pink and white. They are created.

So were the humble roots of the Blue Rose Mission, an organization born of the desire to nurture all the children planted in God’s garden.

Among the first projects the mission undertook were raking leaves, removing shrubs and giving a groundhog its walking papers. From that beginning grew a multi-congregational, multi-denominational mission that reaches into yards and homes, affecting people and their neighborhoods by improving living conditions and tending to their spiritual needs.

“If there is one thing I would like people to know about Blue Rose Mission, it is that we desire to be the hands and feet of Jesus,” said Jane Sterken, mission secretary. “We know we can’t do it all, but together we can do much. We may be doing work for one client, but the whole neighborhood is watching and being witnessed to.”

Five years ago, a group of adults and youth from Main Street United Methodist Church (Mid-Ohio District) in Mansfield returned from a mission trip to Steubenville in southeast Ohio.

The trip went well, but it left those who attended wondering: “Why can’t this happen here?”

After a second trip to Steubenville, the seeds planted began to bloom into full-blown conversations back home about how to create a mission destination in their own neighborhoods, helping the people in need in their own area.

In 2008, the meetings began – with the Rev. Dr. Jan Yandell of the Nehemiah Mission (North Coast District) in Cleveland, with their

pastor the Rev. Doug Lewis and with District Superintendent, the Rev. Dr. Peggy Streiff.

The groundwork was laid and hands were outstretched to other Mid-Ohio congregations, including Main Street UMC, Three Crosses UMC in Butler, Faith UMC, Lexington Church of the Cross, Adario and Mansfield Trinity, plus St. Timothy’s Lutheran and Maddox Memorial Church.

“Our clients are referred to us by District 5 Area Agency on Aging, Kinship Navigators, pastors and articles in the newspaper,” Sterken said. “We are looking for homeowners with a handicap, low-income and/or elderly.”

All clients are visited by a committee member before and after the work is done, so they can talk and pray with them. Projects include home repairs, yard work, painting and electrical work.

The mission also believes strongly in helping people to help themselves. To that end, it has run one-day workshops in connection with North End Community Improvement Collaborative in Mansfield on topics such as building steps, installing door locks, and patching and painting.

“We want to know if there are other ways we can help, or agencies we can direct them to,” Sterken said. “We leave a Bible with them and cards they may send us with comments and prayer concerns.”

Planning already has begun for groups to come during the summer months. They will come from the East Ohio area as well as faroff places, including a group already on the calendar to come in from Illinois and inquiries logged from Indiana and Michigan.

But, like roses in the first dewy rays of spring warmth or during the last inklings as summer turns to fall, the Blue Rose Mission is known to spring into action when the sun shines.

Local Missions - Changing the world

A “solutions center” rooted in the gospel

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onsider a place where people can find peace from the stresses of poverty, unemployment, addiction, health problems and more. Where the weight and burden of monumental worries and troubles can be shared and solutions with warm, friendly people are discovered.

If it sounds a bit like heaven, you’re not that far off. It is square one for the Starting Point Outreach Center in downtown Willard -- a “solutions center” of sorts rooted in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Starting Point is a ministry program of Willard First United Methodist Church (Firelands District), helmed by Pastor Doug Beggs.

Both Beggs and Starting Point Director Don Peeler found that parishioners and non-members alike were experiencing an increase in life stressors during the past several years and decided it was a good time to reach out and help.

“It’s a place where people can come to a relaxed, comfortable environment and talk with people about anything that is going on in their lives,” says Peeler.

“Friendly, helpful listeners provide them assistance with problems, encouragement with whatever difficulty they have and connect them with valuable resources to help maintain the solutions.

It’s a refuge in the midst of the hustle-andbustle of day-to-day living.”

By Peter Chakerian

Those who partake in Starting Point are given the tools and shown ways to receive help they need in a safe, relationshipbuilding environment.

Through those relationships, “the gospel message of a new life through Jesus Christ” is offered, Peeler said.

Willard First UMC’s congregation decided to take a leap of faith with Starting Point in early 2010, founding their outreach center outside the church in the Willard community.

They did so with the church’s mission statement firmly in mind: “To know Christ and to make Him known.” Beggs and Peeler agreed that the church could no longer await “un-churched and underchurched” to come to them.

Starting Point is an Ohio Benefit Bank site, utilizing the OBB program to discover eligibility for benefits and prepare applications for those seeking out the center.

The services offered by Starting Point are many and varied: Free income tax preparation for low income individuals and families, help for senior citizens with Social Security questions, finding paths to job application/training for those in need and free legal assistance to the immigrant population in the area through the center’s Immigrant Worker Project.

To date more than 300 individuals and families have received encouragement, hope and assistance at Starting Point

-- “not counting people who walk in with quick questions,” Peeler said.

“At Starting Point, we advocate for our visitors as much as we provide them with the tools necessary to work through their difficulties,” he said.

“Some days are relatively quiet and other days can be non-stop busy. Lately we’ve had people arrive battling drug and alcohol problems and we’ve helped point them to outpatient treatment.”

One referral Peeler offered was to a senior having trouble applying for Social Security disability benefits. As it turned out he had disconnect notices for utilities, no source of income, and no way to pay rent, let alone the utilities. Starting Point connected him with resources for food stamps, helped get 100% of his rent paid by the metro housing authority, helped him get a utility bill allowance, food from the food bank and transportation for doctors appointments.

“He’s been at church for the last three weeks in a row, his attitude is better and hopefully will continue to get better,” says Peeler. “That’s a real success story of Starting Point, though there have been so many success stories during the past year.”

Willard First United Methodist Church is hoping that this exciting new ministry model -- combining community service with the gospel message -- will spread to other area United Methodist churches as well.

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Mission work begins at home “Thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you did for me.”

- Sue Stuckey “To the people of Trinity United Methodist Church I wish to express my thanks and appreciation for all the work that was done for me and all the gifts and goodies that were given to me during mission week.

- Helen Gerber “Words cannot express our feeling for all the group did for us. It really gave us both a lift.”

- Claude & Lauvone McHenry “Actually being God’s hands, having people say we are answering their prayers, working side-by-side with people that just needed help, it was wonderful.”

- Sharon Kowaleski of Trinity UMC

By Rick Wolcott

Our mission is to inspire persons to discover their God-given gifts, and empowered by the Holy Spirit, to serve humankind in the name of Jesus Christ.

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There’s no place like home. People spend a lifetime trying to recapture the feeling of “home.” If only it were as easy as clicking our heels together, as Dorothy did at the end of “The Wizard of Oz.” The reality is the things we remember from our childhood that made our house a “home” were not easily achieved. It takes additional hard work, over time, to keep our home the way we remember it.

With that in mind, Stay at Home Work Camp was launched last year at Trinity United Methodist Church (Canal District) in Orrville. The church decided to use its resources to better the local community, bringing “home” back to the neighborhood houses.

The Mission of Trinity UMC is to “inspire persons to discover their God given gifts, and empowered by the Holy Spirit, to serve humankind in the name of Jesus Christ.”

The church did just that. More than 100 people volunteered 661 hours over four days to complete 17 projects in and around Orrville and Wooster.

Project coordinator Dan Holderman has been on more than a dozen mission trips, serving many times as team leader. He used

his past experiences to gather support for the Stay at Home Work Camp.

“I made an announcement in church listing all the excuses I have heard over the years about why people hadn’t done a mission trip: ‘I can’t get off work to go,’ ‘I don’t want to ride in a car that far,’ “I don’t want to stand in line 20 minutes for a shower,’ ‘I don’t think I would like the food there,’” he said. “I told the congregation, ‘Have we got a mission trip for you!’ I was encouraged by the excitement I saw in the faces of the folks sitting in the pews.”

That excitement wasn’t just limited to church. It spread through the community.

“Where do we begin to say ‘thank you’ when our hearts overflow with gratitude?” Bob and Suzanne Steiner ask. “The Trinity home mission project is a great program.”

Holderman says everyone was eager to pitch in and do their part. “We had something for everyone. Worker crews, Feed the Worker crews, Feed the Clients crews, Pray for the Teams and Clients crews, Financial Contributors crews, etc. We wanted everyone in the congregation to be involved somehow,” he said.

“The week before the mission we had 70 people (signed up), then as the project started I saw more and more people working that hadn’t signed up to work at all and they were all excited to help.”

Crews were busy inside and outside of area houses. Meals were prepared, closets were built and home interiors were cleaned and painted. Outside, new doors and windows were installed, a car port was built and all facets of yard work were done.

“Thanks to the mission team, our windows are brighter to see God’s world, our gutters will no longer overflow and our flower beds are ready. God bless all who helped in any way,” say the Steiners. “We are grateful recipients.”

“What a week! I saw more excitement than I had seen in our congregation in years!”

Holderman recounts. “People out of the pews and getting their hands dirty doing Christian love, it was fantastic! People are already starting to ask about the next local mission week.”

Get involved - Changing the world

Get involved and

change a life Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

We have all heard this saying at some point in our life. Here is your chance to show those individuals and churches highlighted in this issue how much their experiences have had an impact on you.

We are blessed in East Ohio to have opportunities in the coming weeks to work side by side, reaching out in mission. Let’s build on the momentum that has already begun across our conference and The United Methodist Church.

Together we can continue to make a difference in the lives of those in our local community, in Ohio, across the country and around the globe. The time is now to Change the World.

Churches,Clinics & classrooms

The Bishop’s 3Cs Mission Initiative

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n early April, a 40 foot container carrying much-needed medical supplies arrived at Ganta United Methodist Hospital in Liberia. The shipment was a cooperative effort between East Ohio, Medwish International in Cleveland, OH and Brother’s Brother Foundation in Pittsburgh, PA. Residents of Sierra Leone also benefit from the passion and generosity of the East Ohio Conference and The United Methodist Church. As part of the Bishop’s 3Cs Mission Initiative, we are actively providing health care, community based health programs, education, evangelism and pastoral care in the West African nation.

We are also building classrooms in Zimbabwe and churches in Russia. Earlier in this issue you read about the newest initiative, Farmer-to-Farmer. To learn more ways you can become involved, please log onto www.eocumc.com/3cs.

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he second annual Change the World event is May 14-15. The United Methodist Church - sponsored event asks everyone across the denomination to make a positive impact both locally and globally.

Last year 100,000 people from over 1,000 churches across the country participated in the inaugural event. This year, half a million people are expected to get involved by feeding the hungry, aiding the homeless, visiting the homebound and doing manual labor for those who can no longer do the work themselves.

“The phenomenal participation in last year’s Change the World tells us that people are hungry to make a difference,” says the Rev. Larry Hollon, chief executive of United Methodist Communications. “In ways big and small, United Methodists actively show love by serving others—especially the poor and the marginalized. The combined capacity of so many churches working together to make a life-changing difference on one weekend is a powerful concept.”

The Change the World event was originally created as part of the ReThink Church campaign. It embraces the concept of outbound church to make a positive difference in the world beyond the church doors. For more information about Change the World, or to learn how you can create an event for your church, visit umcom.org/changetheworld.

The Bishop’s 3Cs Mission Initiative - Liberia: Nurses help sort Medwish container supplies.

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Where: Lakeside, Ohio 236 Walnut Ave. Lakeside, Ohio 43440 www.lakesideohio.com When: June 13-16, 2011 Theme: The theme for the 2011 Annual Conference is “If We Are the Body ...”

With this theme we will take a look at one of the four foci of The United Methodist Church – “ministry with the poor.”

Featured Preachers: Bishop John L. Hopkins, resident bishop to the East Ohio Conference Rev. Jorge Acevedo, lead pastor at Grace Church, a multi-site, United Methodist congregation in southwest Florida Bishop Julius C. Trimble, resident bishop to the Iowa Annual Conference Rev. Dr. Gary George, assistant to the bishop, East Ohio Conference Online registration: for delegates is now open.

Visit www.eocumc.com to register.

Website: Visit www.eocumc.com/ac2011

Theme: The song If We Are the Body by Mark Hall and made popular by the group Casting Crowns speaks to our need to be the body of Jesus Christ for the world. Prayerfully reflect on the words of this song (to the right) as you prepare for our 2011 Annual Conference.

elections: 2011 Elections for East Ohio Lay and Clergy Candidates to the 2012 General and Jurisdictional Conferences will be held during the East Ohio Annual Conference at Lakeside, June 13-16, 2011.

What is General Conference? General Conference is the top policy-making body of The United Methodist Church.

The 1000-member assembly meets once every four years to consider revisions to church law, as well as adopt resolutions on current moral, social, public policy and economic issues. It also approves plans and budgets for churchwide programs for the next four years.

What is Jurisdictional Conference? The constitution of The United Methodist Church established five jurisdictions within the United States and it specifies which states will be a part of each. Each jurisdiction is responsible for boundaries of annual conferences within those states and electing its own bishops. East Ohio is part of the North Central Jurisdiction.

It’s crowded in worship today, and she slips in, trying to fade into the faces.

The girls’ teasing laughter is carrying farther than they know, farther than they know.

A traveler is far away from home; he sheds his coat and quietly sinks into the back row.

The weight of their judgmental glances tells him that his chances are better out on the road.

But if we are the Body, why aren’t His arms reaching, why aren’t His hands healing, why aren’t His words teaching?

And if we are the body, why aren’t His feet going, why is His love not showing them there is a way?

Jesus paid much too high a price for us to pick and choose who should come, and we are the body of Christ.

Jesus is the way.

CCLI #3245220

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The Bucyrus United Methodist Cooperative Parish (Mid-Ohio District) is re-thinking church.

Epworth UMC, First UMC and Grace UMC are engaged in plans to merge the congregations into a Strategic Mission Partnership. The three churches have a combined 425 year history in Bucyrus and Crawford County. Last fall the cooperative parish formed a work ministry called Bucyrus L.I.N.C. (Loving In the Name of Christ). This ministry provides home repairs and other types of assistance to disadvantaged citizens in the Bucyrus area, working with local contractors and businesses and not in competition with them. L.I.N.C. has completed over $3500 worth of work and repairs to the Legend Lighthouse Homeless Shelter, raked tons of leaves, done landscaping, trimmed trees and shrubs, and shoveled snow and ice from the sidewalks and driveways of the physically challenged and senior citizens in the community. The past two years the cooperative parish has held a “School Supply Carnival” and handed out over 500 bags of school supplies to students of the Bucyrus Elementary School.

Grace United Methodist Church (Firelands District) sponsors and hosts Release Time Bible Education. Every Wednesday, 30 second grade students walk during the school day from Central Elementary to Grace UMC for Bible education and prayer time. The church is one of three churches in Willard to participate in the program.

Grace UMC was also instrumental in helping start the “Starfish Project.” The program provides information and funding to help individuals in the Willard community, who are addicted to drugs or alcohol, enter Teen Challenge centers. At the centers individuals receive faith-based programming to transform their lives.

Local Missions - Changing the world

And the list goes on ...

Seville United Methodist Church (Canal District) serves 400 persons a month through a “choice” food bank operated out of the former village hall. The food bank, opened in October, allows clients to choose foods they want instead of being given items they may not be able to eat. The pantry is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10a-1p and Wednesdays from 5p-7p. For more information, please call pantry director Courtney Harlan at 330-769-3470.

Willoughby Hills United Methodist Church (Western Reserve District) is partnering with several local churches and ZOE Ministry to connect directly with an African village. The Giving Hope Program will assist AIDS orphans and child-led families who are currently facing starvation to become self-sufficient in 2-3 years. Twelve year old Mason Lovell is spearheading his own initiative to assist with fundraising. Lovell discovered that Capri Sun pouches can be recycled and that $0.02 could be earned per pouch. Through his collecting efforts and matching contributions from congregation members, hundreds of dollars for AIDS orphans were collected in just over one year.

Garfield Memorial United Methodist Church (North Coast District) and Miles School are working together to stimulate educational excellence and spiritual enrichment through the Urban Reach Tutoring Program. Approximately 75 students in grades 3-8 receive tutoring in math and reading as part of the program. Tutoring is provided by members of the congregation, community residents and students from Beachwood High School. Congregation members also serve as chaperones, host students on enrichment trips and donate Christmas and other gifts for students and their families.

Since the program began 4 years ago, Miles School has improved on the state’s rankings from Academic Emergency to Academic Watch and was 1.4 performance index points shy last year of reaching Continuous Improvement. east ohio joining hands

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And the list goes on ...

Faith United Methodist Church (Tuscarawas District) went “fishin’ to grow the mission” in January. A group of 85 “fishing buddies” gathered for a ministry training retreat at the church. Eleven ministry teams planned and contributed to the day, which was attended by members and non-members alike ranging in age from teenager s to nonagenarians.

Part of the day saw participants fishing with magnetic poles. Each participant caught a postcard that was attached to a gift card. The “catch” was that each person had to take the postcard, which contained information about the church and its services, and gift card into the community and present it to someone else.

This means church members will have face to face encounters with 85 strangers, introducing them to Jesus and inviting them to worship.

The day ended with renewing of baptism for those in attendance and an even greater appreciation of what it means to be “fishers of men.”

Lockwood United Methodist Church (Mahoning Valley) is in the first year of a successful new outreach ministry called S.O.A.R. (Social Outreach Action Renewal). The group offers a free community dinner every other month. Each meal is given a theme and the social hall is decorated to match. As part of the evening prayer request cards can be filled out by those attending the meal. Church members then pray for family members or particular prayer concerns. The 20 volunteers who prepare and serve each meal have fed up to 120 people in an evening.

Local Missions - Changing the world

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Doylestown United Methodist Church (Canal District) spent one Sunday last spring rethinking church. Over 175 members spent the day in the community, taking church to the streets of Doylestown. Pastor Dale Warrick explains, “John Wesley said that the world is our parish. I think that the world starts in our backyard. We can and do travel to mission trips, but I also think that is important to take care of the needs in our own community.” The church has a history of sending teams to help with disaster relief, assist in Appalachia, build churches in Costa Rica and clothe orphans in Armenia. On this day members replaced a garage roof, put new flooring in a living room, replaced gutters pulled down by ice, dismantled and removed a storage shed, performed yard work, visited shut-ins, performed a puppet show at a local nursing home and maintained a prayer vigil at the church.

Fredericktown United Methodist Church (Three Rivers District) is part of an ecumenical group known as ROCC (Real Outreaching Christian Community). The group uses music as a way of reaching out to teens and young adults. The ROCCFEST concert is open to all. It focuses on bringing together unsaved teens and young adults to hear testimony and Christian music. The yearly event features alternative Christian rock music, testimonies from band members and inspirational messages from notable speakers. This year’s ROCCFEST is May 21, 2011. Seventh Day Slumber, Stellar Kart, Kiros and several local bands are scheduled to appear. For more information, please visit www.roccfest.com.

Christ United Methodist Church (Three Rivers District) hosts Christ’s Kitchen every Monday night. The community meal began in the spring of 2009 as the brainchild of Christ UMC member Dick Miller, owner of Dick’s Place restaurant in Newcomerstown. Miller wanted community members to have a place where they could get a free meal and not have to eat alone. Last year Christ’s Kitchen served more than 5,500 meals.

Church members dedicate approximately 80 hours a week preparing food, baking cookies and pies and serving the meal. Journey’s End food bank provides a lot of the food at little to no cost. The rest is purchased with the help of donations. The meal caters not only to those who can physically come to the church but is also delivered to shut-ins.

and on ...

O2 Ministries is an outreach ministry of Otterbein United Methodist Church (Tuscarawas District) in Navarre. After attending a mission conference, the church launched the Blue Bag Food Drive. The program is aimed at individuals in the community who may want to be involved in mission work but don’t know how to start or where to get involved. The church delivers blue bags to each house in the surrounding community. Each bag has a note attached inviting the homeowner to become involved in a food drive to benefit those in the community that may need assistance. The instructions state to put any non-perishable food items the household wishes to donate into the bag, which is to be hung on the outside door of the house for pickup the following week. This is a non-threatening way to meet neighbors and be in ministry with them. The program has been held the past two years and each time over 1,000 foot items have been collected.

Attica United Methodist Church (Firelands District) is changing the world one child at a time. The church is sponsoring 14 children through World Vision. The program provides each child with sustainable access to nutritious food, clean water, healthcare, and education.

Two of the 14 children are being sponsored by the church’s youth group. In addition, the church raised $5,000 in January/February of this year to help rebuild an orphanage in Haiti. Kokosing Construction then matched the donation.

Local Missions - Changing the world All God’s Children United Methodist Church (Mid-Ohio District) is an inner city mission ministry in downtown Mansfield. The church reaches outside the walls and invites the “whosoever wills” to a life with Christ.

Many of those served by the mission ministry are impoverished and unchurched but they know who Jesus is and are thirsting for Him. All God’s Children UMC embodies the love of Jesus. People touched by the ministry are now not only attending church but many are also being baptized and renewing their covenant with God. Port Clinton Faith United Methodist Church (Firelands District) is honoring the past by helping to ensure the future. The church maintains and administers the Faith Bloom Art Scholarship. Richard Bloom was an art teacher in the Port Clinton schools for 30 years. The World War II Navy veteran was an outstanding athlete who always encouraged his students to pursue their creative side. His family and church family began the scholarship in 2003. The onetime $500 scholarship is for a student pursuing an education in an art related field. The 2010 Faith Bloom Art Scholarship recipient is Taylor Sijan, a Port Clinton HS graduate pursuing an art degree at Firelands Campus BGSU. Thoburn United Methodist Church (Ohio Valley District) has created a missions period for children. The church has replaced arts & crafts and game time during its Wednesday night children’s ministry. Kids are being taught that they can change the world and make a difference in the lives of others by caring for their neighbors and sharing God’s love.

Some of the projects completed to date by the children: baked cookies and delivered them to road crews in appreciation for plowing our streets; made travel mugs for the fire department; packed outreach boxes for soldiers; added treads to slipper socks which were delivered to local nursing homes and compiled “Project Care” boxes for college students.

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Andover United Methodist Church, Cherry Valley United Methodist Church, Leon United Methodist Church and Richmond United Methodist Church (Western Reserve District) have partnered with other churches to create Common Cup Ministries. Once a month, with the help of the Cleveland Food Bank and its community distribution trucks, the team of volunteers distributes food to families and individuals in need. The program has assisted 400 people, on average, each month! In the summer months this distribution network also provides a fresh produce distribution. It has been a blessing to the community and, just as importantly, to the volunteers and the spirit of cooperation between congregations.

Andover UMC has also begun a new Parish Nursing Ministry. Recently certified parish nurse, Carol Loveland, has begun providing services to our faith community and those in the surrounding Andover community on a weekly basis. The initial kickoff of the program was in early January with blood pressure monitoring and health advice. In response to a request for a specific need Nurse Carol has provided a twice a week “Simple Steps” program to provide opportunities for the local senior citizens to gather for physical and spiritual exercise.

Nurse Carol has the assistance of Sue Panak, a certified fitness instructor and coach. Together they are providing a great opportunity for exercise and fellowship. This program is provided in the new Andover UMC community room (fellowship hall).

nd on ...

Adena/Harrisville United Methodist Churches (Ohio Valley District) are using their talents to reach out and help those across the ages. The Adena UMC Women on Missions joined the Little Dresses for Africa program three years ago. The church received a pattern and sewed dresses out of pillow cases. The dresses will clothe African children. The group also started a soup ministry. Once a month homemade soups are delivered to shut-ins, people undergoing cancer treatment and anyone who may have difficulty getting around. The Harrisville UMC Women of Faith visits nursing homes once a month for prayer, singing and craft time as a way of thanking individuals for all they have done for others during their lifetime.

Bennett’s Corners Community United Methodist Church (North Coast District) has been “serving Christ at the crossroads since 1844.” Pastor Martha Mathatas says the church is extremely giving. She credits Deb Petcher for searching out the right mission projects and lay leader Greg Shaffer and treasurer Barb Shaffer for keeping the church focused outward.

Last year the church worked with Red Bird Mission and gave toward Haiti earthquake and Pakistani flood recovery. In the past Bennett’s Corners Community UMC has sent health kits and flood buckets plus worked with the Heifer project to send two water buffaloes to the Philippines. The church has an ongoing food and cash ministry with the Brunswick Food Pantry and pays its shared ministry askings at 110%. Pastor Mathatas says, “the church sees the whole world as its place of mission and wants everyone to know the peace of Jesus Christ.”

Local Missions - Changing the world

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and on ...

Trinity United Methodist Church (Tuscarawas District) is moving away from “just striving to be in the presence of God, to one of thriving to do His work and receive His blessings,” says lay leader Ray Gabriele. The arrival of Rev. Wayne Scott, his wife Tricia and their four daughters “helped energize the congregation and stopped the flickering flame of our church from going out,” proclaims Gabriele. The church responded by starting several new outreach efforts. Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Friends invites local high school teen athletes and their friends to the church every Friday at 6:30am for a breakfast buffet, prayer and Biblical message of the day. Perry Helping Perry is a joint community outreach program of other churches, local schools and businesses to address the needs of those hit hard by unemployment and home foreclosure. The project addresses the need of food, clothing, furniture, shelter and counseling. 2020 Mission takes a look at where Trinity UMC will be in the year 2020. Part of the vision involves acquiring additional property to build a facility that could shelter the most-needy in the community and help them re-establish their lives.

Mayfield United Methodist Church (Western Reserve District) is changing the world by helping youth become involved in mission and ministry outside the walls of the church. Each year the church pledges funds to make sure that youth are part of the mission teams that span the globe. Mayfield UMC each summer sends teams to Kursk, Russia (working with developmentally challenged children), El Girron, Guatemala (working to build a church) and Kentucky (rehabbing homes). This summer a 16 year old, a 19 year old and a 23 year old will be part of the trip to Russia. Several teens will be part of the team heading to Guatemala and at least 10 teens will accompany the group to Kentucky. Associate Pastor Jan Fillmore says, “we believe that our young people will change the world and we have to make sure they get the opportunity to do that.”

Local Missions - Changing the world

and on.

North Olmsted United Methodist Church (North Coast District) has launched a new mission to bring clean drinking water to the village of La Pena, Honduras.

The church is working with a Honduran non-profit agency (ASEGUAL) and an engineer to replace the currently contaminated drinking supply with a large water storage tank. The tank would then pump water to 33 homes. Cost of the project is $14,000. Any church, Sunday school class, mission committee or individual interested in helping bring clean water to La Pena should contact Rev. Don or Tammy Kuntz through the church at 440-779-6634. A volunteer team will travel to La Pena next summer. An informational meeting will be held at North Olmsted United Methodist Church on November 14, 2011.

First United Methodist Church (Mid-Ohio District) in Cardington took place in the inaugural Change the World event sponsored by The United Methodist Church. The church worked with the Village Administrator in designating yards or village areas that needed clean –up work done. At least 50 people from the church, along with other churches, the community and a Girl Scout troop pitched in to assist at homes, parks, roadways and the river banks. The group is proud of the work that was accomplished and the pioneering spirit to get involved in a project that will be back again this year.

Union Avenue United Methodist Church (Tuscarawas District) is reaching out in ministry to the Alliance community. Rev. Hoyte Wilhelm and deacon Rebecca Innerst challenged the congregation during December’s Advent Conspiracy to “Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More and Love All.” The church responded in a big way. Food, clothes, coats, boots, bedding, books, and games were collected for five church families in need. Church sponsored Cub Scout Pack 52 collected and distributed food and gifts to three community families, two of which are homeless.

The pack also sang Christmas carols to area nursing homes. Hundreds of school supplies were collected and distributed to five Alliance public schools for use during the second semester. The advent offerings supported the Canton Calvary Mission, the new Alliance Community Food Bank and the chruch’s Community Outreach Fund. $5,700 was collected for the Alliance Habitat Humanity’s Apostle Build that will take place this summer. Sunday school classes are studying the homeless and marginalized and the church took part in the recent Poverty Summit that was coordinated by the University of Mount Union and other local agencies.

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Part II: Aldersgate Counslors

Camp memories last a lifetime “How has working at summer camp changed your world?�

Corey Stocksdale

Working at Camp Aldersgate changed my world more than I ever could have imagined.

Even being someone who had recognized a call to youth ministry, I came to camp because it seemed like a fun thing to do for the summer. I saw pictures of the lake and the blob and was sold. Little did I know, God had much more in store for me. I never realized the amount of true life transforming ministry that happens at Christian youth camps. After my first year as a counselor I came back as the Spiritual Life Director. The second summer was so hard with lightning strikes, flooding, and staff issues. But I saw so many kids come to Christ despite these issues, because God had such miraculous events in store for that summer. Many of my ideas and philosophies of camping ministry come from working at Camp Aldersgate.

(Corey is an Associate/Youth pastor in Illinois. He directs two weeks of youth camp for Church of God.)

Charles McDonald

I worked at Camp Aldersgate for three years. It changed my life in many ways. Working at camp increased my faith, made it stronger, and helped me become comfortable sharing my faith with others. Camp Aldersgate provided me with opportunities to help others with their faith and help them become better Christians. Camp helped me become a mentor of faith.

Corey Stocksdale

(Charles attends Penn State Univ. majoring in bioengineering. He started and is president of a local chapter of Campus Crusade for Christ.)

Charles McDonald

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Part III: Wanake Counselors David Glasgo

Wanake has been a Christian community longer than I’ve been alive. To see it still functioning towards a common goal to reach youth and adults by sharing the love and joys of Christ is an absolute rare find these days. I have met role models for life at Wanake. They have instilled a desire in me to be the same example to youth throughout the summers. You can show kids that you can be a Christian, serve God first, and still have good clean fun in life without sacrificing Hannah Tucker principles and morals. Maybe it helps that my character likes to have a lot of fun, but this is one of the greatest lessons I’ve learned from Wanake and continue to take along with me in my new adventures of life.

David o Glasg

Han Tuck nah er

(David has served on staff and as a volunteer since 1994. Most recently David served as Wanake’s health director for summer 2010 and will be a volunteer this summer in a variety of ways. David is a nursing student.)

Hannah Tucker

Through my past six summers on staff at Wanake and my many years as a camper before that, camp has definitely changed my life. I started on staff the summer after I graduated high school, knowing that I wanted to spend my summer in ministry and having a pretty good idea that I wanted to spend the rest of my life in ministry in the church as well.

Through working at camp, I have come to understand God and my call in a very real and experiential way. As I witnessed the comforting presence of God with a homesick camper, experienced the unconditional love shown to me by our Special Persons Campers year after year, learned how to serve without anybody noticing, and really saw the idea of grace click with a group of junior high girls, I learned that God is a present God full of comfort, love, and grace, and that I was called to share this God with our churches. At camp, I saw church in action, by being a part of countless communities of campers, staff, and volunteers who come together to worship and serve God. And that changed my life.

(Hannah has been a Wanake summer staff member since 2005. Last summer she served as Wanake’s Director of Spiritual Formation and Special Needs Resource. This coming summer Hannah will serve her 7th summer on staff as the Operations Manager. Hannah is a student at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington DC.)

Lisa Winchell

Lisa Winchell

Being on staff for several years, I have watched as many children have met God at camp. I want to share a story about a wonderful girl named Kate. She came to camp to ride horses, and ended up in a group of girls who wanted to ask questions, as 4th – 7th grade girls are prone to do. However, I could tell that this group was different.

On the first night, we sat on the basketball court in the front lawn talking about our Bible study for an hour and a half. Because of the strong examples of other young girls who wanted to share their faith and grow that week, Kate and five other campers from that group accepted the Lord into their lives on Monday night of their week at camp. Six campers came to a personal relationship with God at one time. I will never forget this experience.

That moment changed Kate’s life, but it also changed mine. God allowed me to watch the face of a confused child fill with the peace and joy of Christ. See, because of Camp and Retreat Ministries, she learned that God loved her personally, and she reminded me that He loves me too! That is our purpose at Summer Camp.

(Lisa has served on staff or as a volunteer at Wanake since 2004. This summer she will be Wanake’s Director of Spiritual Formation and serve as a unit leader. She teaches high school science in Rittman. Lisa is a part-time student at Ashland Theological Seminary.)

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