ISSUE 4 | SEPTEMBER 2015 EDITION
THE WOODLANDS UMC
MONTHLY THIS MONTH’S
NEWS:
LOVE IS... MAKING A DIFFERENCE BUILDING BRIDGES INTO SOMEBODY ELSE’S WORLD In reviewing content for our annual Missions edition of The Point Monthly, I am reminded of the many places in Scripture where Jesus went out of His way to care for the least and looked-over people of His day. Jesus made it plain that God’s love was for everyone, not just some. Friends, I can’t think of a more worthwhile use of our time and resources than to follow Christ’s example in helping those in need. I am always encouraged to hear stories of how you and your fellow church members are reaching out to impact the lives of people in our own community and around the world. From Tamina to interstate highway underpasses downtown to rural Guatemala and to the slums of northern India — our Missions ministry is thriving. There is strength
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SHARING GOOD NEWS
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ORPHANS NO MORE
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RESTORING FREEDOM
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LEARNING TO SERVE
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EXPLORE THE WORD
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CHURCH NEWS
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UPCOMING EVENTS
in numbers, and with 11,000 active members, think how much we are able to accomplish in the name of Jesus Christ. If you’re like me, you can hardly believe the news headlines. We live in a cruel, hurting world. This is no time for complacency, insecurity or judgment. Now is the time to act. Has it ever occurred to you that the Bible never tells the un-churched to come to church? Rather, it tells us, the Church, to “go into all the world.” He said, “ I came to seek and save the lost.” I invite you to pray and be open to the Holy Spirit’s leading as you read this issue of The Point Monthly. Look around and see where God is already at work, and go join Him there. The life that God changes the most might be your own. Your Pastor,
Ed Robb
Global Missions teams are planting the seeds of faith in post-communist Eastern Europe.
Casa Aleluya is changing lives of abandoned and abused children in Guatemala.
Local Missions partners are restoring lives of women rescued from human trafficking in greater Houston.
Perspectives from TWUMC members who ventured outside their comfort zones to serve people.
Adult discipleship opportunities offer ways to grow deeper in community and the Word this fall.
See names of new members, births, deaths, and Foundation donors.
Selected ministry programs and events coming in September and October.
GLOBAL MISSIONS
LOVE IS. . . CHANGING OUR WORLD WE LIVE IN A DANGEROUS WORLD
Introduction and Closing by John Hull, Article by Dr. Peter Kuzmic The world you and I grew up in is not the world your children and grandchildren know. This article by Dr. Peter Kuzmic, president of the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Croatia, speaks of both the dangers of our time and the real hope that only comes through Jesus Christ. The article emphasizes the importance and the urgency of our church’s support for these ministries and others: SAT-7 TV, which broadcasts in the Middle East, TransWorld Radio, the Church Planting Discipleship Ministry in northern India, scholarships for students at seminaries in 13 countries, the International Leadership Institute, and AFTE, which prepares evangelical pastors to serve the United Methodist Church. We live in very dangerous times. There is overwhelming and ever-increasing evidence that ours is an age of unprecedented crisis...and unparalleled violence. Daily we are bombarded with bad news, both globally and locally. Read carefully Matthew 24:4 - 12 and you will be surprised how contemporary
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Jesus’ “catalogue of evil” sounds: His warning of misleading and religious deception, wars and inter-ethnic conflict, famine and poverty, earthquakes, persecution and martyrdom... Just like today’s headlines or reading the front page of the New York Times. All bad news! Jesus does not, however, end with the bad news but with the announcement of the Good News. He moves from the negative description of the plight of fallen humanity to the redemptive solution: “This Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” The Gospel of the Kingdom replaces hatred with love, revenge with reconciliation, warfare with peace, and despair with hope. We do live in a dangerous world, but at the same time we are witnesses to the most amazing movement of unprecedented world evangelization. Today the life-transforming Gospel of Christ is changing the face of the earth as untold numbers all over the world
are realizing that the proclamation and practice of the Gospel of the Kingdom is the only hope for our dangerous times. Our generation is privileged to witness how the Gospel of the Kingdom is being proclaimed to all nations, including all the post-communist nations of Eastern Europe where until recently it was outlawed. Thank you for partnering with us in making the Good News a present reality in our dangerous and needy part of the world. In Eastern Europe, the Middle East, India, and right here in Montgomery County, Texas, the need to hear the Good News has never been greater. We are counting on your partnership in building God’s Kingdom and ask that you please submit a pledge to missions during our Missions Emphasis this fall. •
GLOBAL MISSIONS
LOVE IS. . . RESTORING HOPE By Barbara McGregor and John Hull
Casa Aleluya is a loving home in Guatemala to over 450 children who are abused, abandoned and without hope. Our church has been sending mission teams and financial support there for the past 18 years. Many of these children came to Casa as babies and are now studying in universities. Casa offers hope to the lost through Jesus Christ. Along with 15 other women, Barbara McGregor traveled with our mission team to Casa this summer. Barbara describes the trip in her blog: “At the helm of this remarkable orphanage are Mike and Dottie Clark, known by all as Poppi and Mommy, who have had the remarkable vision and faith to build what has now changed over 5,000 tender lives in the past 26 years. The kids arrive at CASA under the worst of circumstances — abandoned by their families, under court order due to abuse, neglect and worse, for protection and medical needs. What they get is LOVE, unconditional love, safety and security and to be part of the biggest family imaginable.” All week, the team kept busy serving the children. Special events including pizza, hot dogs and ice cream parties were featured as well. One of the
highlights each morning was gathering beneath a footbridge that leads to the campus school where the women gave the kids a hearty sendoff with words of encouragement and an abundance of hugs. While the kids were in school, the women split into small groups to pray over the needs of the children in each dorm. Barbara shares: “In our few short days, many prayers were answered and the power of prayer was affirmed.” Barbara writes, too, about how this team of 16 women bonded: “The bond of our team — although most of us had never met before preparing for this trip — was something special from day one. We shared a love and commitment to being part of something so much bigger than any of us. We laughed and cried and FELT so much just being together.” Barbara continues her blog: “When I reflect on the week I spent at Casa, my heart swells! I knew it would be emotional, but I didn’t anticipate the range and depth of emotion. The highs were incredible. I noticed the camaraderie of the girls taking turns and welcoming new arrivals to play, whether it was on the soccer field or jumping rope. If one fell, they stopped and helped each other. I never
witnessed an attitude of ‘me first.’ The simplicity of their lives demonstrated gratitude and happiness and love. The lows were gut–wrenching. Although they all played and laughed, there was a clear need to be held, to be listened to as an individual, to be remembered.” Barbara concludes by saying: “I realized that my life at home hangs pretty close to neutral, good days and bad days, but manageable, easy. I realized that my time at Casa touched my heart in places that had been dormant. It’s time to wake up those recesses and live life more fully.” •
What about you? Have you been on a short-term mission trip yet? Check out our list of 2016 trips at thewoodlands/missions and join us. You will be blessed as you serve and bless others.
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LOCAL MISSIONS
LOVE IS. . . SETTING THE CAPTIVE FREE REDEEMED MINISTRIES THROUGH MY EYES By Sherrill Spies
I am standing in a potter’s studio, watching the faces of women broken by sex trafficking as they gaze at the potter and her wheel.
There are gifts and hugs, prayer and encouragement. One sparrow says to me, “This is the best Christmas I’ve ever had.”
“God can take this misshapen, ugly lump of clay and shape it into a beautiful, useful vessel,” says the potter. “My life was broken and misshapen; I’d made a mess of it. When I let God hold me in His hands and shape me, I became beautiful and useful to Him.”
I SEE GOD AT WORK.
I see some of the young women with tears in their eyes, gazing intently as the potter works. I SEE GOD AT WORK. I am sitting in our family room at a Christmas party hosted by our church’s Breaking the Chains ministry for the “sparrows” of Redeemed Ministry. At first there is quiet as the women come together with our church members, and then food and games and laughter. 4
I am in a training session, learning about the horror of sex trafficking and what we can do to stop it and restore those trapped by it. There are people with me from churches across Montgomery and Harris Counties who have gathered to learn and be involved. I hear Dennis Mark, Executive Director of Redeemed Ministries, say, “Everything we need to end human trafficking is sitting in the pews of our churches.”
this facility because they have no place to take those identified as trafficked other than jail. I see a quote from a sparrow on Redeemed Ministry’s Facebook page: “Freedom is not being controlled and held back by an abusive and controlling man.” To come to this place, she has been surrounded by people who love Jesus, and she has worked hard through the services that have been offered her. • I SEE GOD AT WORK.
I SEE GOD AT WORK. I am celebrating the completion of an assessment center and short-term living facility that is scheduled to open soon — the first of its kind for our area. Local law enforcement is supportive of
If you want to see what I see, first pray. Then go to the Redeemed Ministries website, redeemedministries.com, or Facebook page to learn how you can be involved.
LOCAL MISSIONS
LOVE IS. . . REACHING OUT TO OTHERS TWO PERSPECTIVES ON SERVANTHOOD By Jane Jordan
The Woodlands UMC members Abby Salazar and Sabrina Horne took the plunge and put faith into action this summer. As a result, both saw God at work changing lives among “the least of these.” “With anxiety and timidity,” Abby says, “I stepped out of my comfort zone and made a call to our Local Missions department. It wasn’t long before I was ‘trying on’ new opportunities to serve through our church. Never in my wildest dreams would I have envisioned the incredible adventure I’m on. What a ride! “One Saturday while working with 45 & Hope, a fellow named Luis approached our van along with four or five others to receive a hot lunch, fresh clothes, and prayer. When we gathered in a circle to pray, Luis volunteered to lead us and said the most insightful, spiritfilled prayer I’ve ever heard. When
I opened my eyes, our small circle of volunteers, together with Luis and his friends, had grown to about 20. For those few moments we had church!” Sabrina’s faith challenge came at UM ARMY in Bryan in July. Reflecting on her week there, she says, “Each day the teams would go to the clients’ houses and build relationships as well as the project. By client night, after just four days of work, we heard from their testimonies that lives had been changed. As I reflected back on the week, God’s word came to my heart — leave everything and follow Me. With only a suitcase full of shorts, Target t-shirts and an air mattress, I experienced more joy and true sense of purpose than I had ever known.” “Getting away and being still before God taught me something else,” Sabrina continues. “I learned that I needed to allow Him access to my
thoughts and mind; that I had to quiet it from the noise of Facebook and emails and a million other distractions that fill it back home. I believe He revealed this to me because I created space for Him. That is what serving does. It allows God to use you as a vessel, His vessel.” We invite you to take the plunge, as Abby and Sabrina did, during this year’s Missions Emphasis. There will be three separate “Serve It Up” days (September 26, October 3 and 10) with literally dozens of opportunities to serve. In addition, we have ministries all year long where you are needed to be the hands and feet and heart of Christ. If you hear the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” (Isaiah 6:8), it is our hope you will reply, “Here I am, send me!”
“With anxiety and timidity,” Abby says, “I stepped out of my comfort zone and made a call to our local missions department.”
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GROW IN YOUR FAITH THIS FALL
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By Nathan Nix This fall, our Adult Discipleship Ministry will debut Explore the Word, a campuswide emphasis on studying the Bible in community. “The focus is to get more people in the Bible because it’s good for their soul,” says Rev. Jason Nelson, Pastor of Connecting Ministry. He explains that while it’s great to study the Bible on your own, Explore the Word is focused on discussing the Scriptures and making connections with those who might help you understand it better or offer a different perspective. “(Bible study) is a spiritual discipline,” he says. “You do it individually and in community. It gels community. That’s what the early church did. That’s the model. It’s important for people to find a group of believers that they can become friends with, who can hold them accountable, and whom they can call at three o’clock in the morning when all heck breaks loose.” Mary Anderle, a leader in the Break Free Bible study, echoes this sentiment. “You may not only end up learning the Bible, but you may also get involved with other ministries in the church or making friends or different connections that you wouldn’t have.”
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In addition to her role in Break Free, Mary and her husband have been involved with Under Construction Sunday school class for many years and enjoy the support studying the Bible in a small group setting offers. “We’re able to study the Word together without judgment and to ask questions … that you can’t ask in a church service,” she says. “We’re all learning together. You don’t have to know everything.” Part one of this year’s Deeper Lecture Series — The Reliability of the Gospels, taught by Melissa Travis, HBU’s Assistant Professor of Apologetics — was intentionally scheduled for Sunday, September 20 at 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. in Asbury Hall to set the groundwork for Explore the Word. “We’re starting with the basics, the historical Jesus,” says Jason. The goal is for Ms. Travis to explain why the Bible is a trustworthy guidebook for life. From there, you can choose whether to study the Old Testament, New Testament or the Bible as a whole through Sunday school classes and/or small groups. Whether you have never opened the Bible before or are looking for a graduate-level, in-depth analysis, Explore the Word has a place for you. •
THE POINT MONTHLY
Is published once a month by The Woodlands UMC. Dr. Ed Robb Senior Pastor Mike Sims Editor/Creative Director Scott Brinkmeyer Publication Design/Art Director Michelle “Micki” Mensio Traffic Manager Contributing Writers Dr. Ed Robb, John Hull, Dr. Peter Kuzmic, Barbara McGregor, Sherrill Spies, Jane Jordan, Nathan Nix Copy Editors Nathan Nix, Sally Bacon
FOUNDATION GIFTS JULY 11 – AUGUST 18, 2015 In Honor of Lila Jo Alexander, daughter of John and Robin Alexander Ken and Joyce Nesmith In Memory of Wayne Armbrust, father of Joyce Woodley Steve and Becky Hamrick Thom and Glenda Hudson Gary and Tami Laugharn In Memory of Marilyn Cochran, mother of Brad Cochran Caleta Linn In Memory of George Cornwell, father of Mike Cornwell Bob and Avalyn Naugle In Memory of Wendell Frerichs, brother of Bea Thompson Caleta Linn In Memory of Ray Green, father of Kathy Wilson Bob and Avalyn Naugle In Memory of Nancy Head, mother of Jane Ahrens Ken and Joyce Nesmith Patsy Tarvin Geraldine Uecker In Memory of Bernard Matyshak, father of Micki Mensio Kim and Sally Bacon Randy and Amy Jones In Memory of John Morgan, husband of Dee Morgan Rhonda Atchetee Neal and Helen Baker Andy and Sue Lacara George Menghi Jim and Betty Patton Peter and Elaine Poulsen Emptying Nest Sunday School Class In Memory of Elsa Pemberton Emptying Nest Sunday School Class In Memory of Bob Reynolds, husband of Margie Reynolds Bob and Avalyn Naugle Ron and Kathy Wilson In Memory of Rosemary Roe The Perspectives Sunday School Class
In Memory of Max Sharpe, brother-in-law of Aletha Harris Alison J. McMillian, DDS In Memory of Carol Koefoot Seitz, sister of Ann Snyder Kim and Sally Bacon Randy and Amy Jones Jeff and Susie Shipley In Memory of Bill Stanford, husband of Debbie Stanford Steve and Janet Anna Kim and Sally Bacon Casey and Karen Borowski Joni Cope Dan and Bryna Cox Linda Eissler Linda Feld Shannon Gratland Jeff and Aletha Harris Charles Jansky Family Richard and Rebecca Langley Lisa Lawson JoAnne Lowry Linda Manning Sandra Novak Tommy and Mamie Polk Jeffrey and Helen Runnels Mr. and Mrs. Mark Schwarz Thomas Scully Steve and Pam Tamas
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In Honor of Clarence Thompson’s 90th Birthday George and Sally Holtin Dave Thompson and Judy Jesiolowski Tom and Gail Thompson Tyler In Memory of Sarah Thompson, wife of Clarence Thompson Dave Thompson and Judy Jesiolowski Tom and Gail Thompson Tyler In Memory of Nathaniel David Trushenski, son of Ryan and Julie Trushenski Nancy Volmert In Memory of Abby Walker, daughter of Glynn and Deborah Walker Gary and Tami Laugharn FOUNDATION UNRESTRICTED Mary Jon Smith Vern and Judy Vincent FOUNDATION RESTRICTED The Woodlands Methodist School Scholarship Endowment Fund Kim and Sally Bacon
Make a lasting gift to The Woodlands UMC Foundation. thewoodlandsumc.org/foundation
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SELECTED UPCOMING EVENTS
Find details and event registrations at thewoodlandsumc.org/register
SEPTEMBER
10 | Radiant Bible Study Begins
10 | Fit Kids! Begins
OCTOBER
3 | Serve It Up
4 | High School “Go Big or Go Foam” Party
13 | Financial Peace University Begins
7 | Prime Timers’ Luncheon
14 | Single Life Bowling
9 | KSBJ Radio “Fight Night” with Les & Leslie Parrot
14 | GriefShare Begins
9 | High School Hometown Rivalry Tailgate
14 | Disciple Bible Study Begins
10 | Serve It Up
15 | re|engage Marriage Ministry Preview Night
12 | Single Life Bowling
16 | Women’s Fall Luncheon
15 | New Roots Begins 15 | Running United Begins
16-18 | Jr. High Wild Weekend Retreat
15 | Quest for Men Begins
22 | re|engage Marriage Ministry Begins
20 | Single Mom’s Night Out
24 | Special Olympics Bowling
25 | Special Needs Volunteer Training
26 | Serve It Up
30 | Seniors’ Afternoon at the Movies
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17 | Foundations for Marriage
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