September 2017
A Message from Tim "Bring It" I once heard a story of a street artist who was drawing a landscape with pencils. A crowd had gathered to watch, and a child moved closer to see. The child was drinking a soda, and accidentally spilled a drop on the drawing, causing a stain. The people gasped, but the artist simply began to draw around the stain, and with her talent incorporated the stain into the picture as part of a waterfall. Matthew 14:13-21 tells of Jesus feeding the 5000. In the story, Jesus tells the disciples to feed the crowd, but the disciples announce they only have five loaves and two fish. In verse 18, Jesus says, "Bring them to me". He blessed the loaves and fishes, and the people were more than fed. It was not the only time Jesus said something like that. Once, a demon possessed man could not be healed by the disciples and Jesus said, "Bring him to me". The man was healed. Another time, children were kept from coming to Jesus and Jesus commanded for them to be brought to him. He blessed them. In the hands of Jesus, blessing occurs. Like the artist who takes the mistakes, the accidents, the "spills" and blends them into the beauty of the picture, so Jesus does with our lives. Whether a mistake, a failing, a sin in your life; or a concern for someone else, heed the call of Christ. "Bring it to me," he constantly told his disciples. When we take it to Christ, we will find blessing.
September Communion Offering Since 1968, the Ministerial Education Fund has helped thousands of men and women become pastoral leaders in The United Methodist Church. It is nurtured and funded by United Methodists to provide: •
Needed scholarships through annual conferences
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Funding for the support of our fifteen United Methodist seminaries in the United States: (Boston University School of Theology, Candler School of Theology, Emory University, Claremont School of Theology, Drew Theological School, Duke Divinity School, Gammon Theological Seminary, GarrettEvangelical Theological Seminary, Iliff School of Theology, Methodist Theological School in Ohio, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, Saint Paul School of Theology, United Theological Seminary, Wesley Theological Seminary)
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Programs that encourage men and women to respond to the call to ordained ministry
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Continuing-education opportunities for pastors across the connection
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Course-of-study education for local pastors
Through the Ministerial Education Fund, leaders in The United Methodist Church are being sent into the world to serve Jesus Christ and his church.