What a Difference You've Made in My Life - Stewardship 2018 by Weddington Methodist Church

What a Difference Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve Made in My Life...

Dear God, I just want to thank you! You have made such a difference in my life. You have loved me unconditionally. You have forgiven me for my sins through your son, Jesus Christ. You have healed my brokenness. You have offered me everlasting life. You have promised to always be with me. You have taught me what real life and love are all about. I love you, God! I really love you! I praise you! You have blessed me in so many ways. You have changed my life. You have made me who I am. You have blessed me with so much. Saying, “thank you,” doesn’t even begin to express my gratitude. I can’t seem to find the words. I want to share your love and blessings with others. I want others to experience the difference you can make in their lives. I want to share with the world how much you love us all. I want everyone to know about Jesus Christ. I want everyone to fall in love with you, as I have. I want to share with the world the blessings and the gifts you have shared with me. God, I dedicate my life to you. All that I am and all that I have, I offer to you. You have made such a difference in my life. I want to make a difference for you. I want to make a difference in the lives of others for you. I want to serve you and your people in the name of and on behalf of Jesus Christ. God, please bless my life and work. Let it be pleasing to you. May it be a witness to you. May it lead others to you. May it make a difference in others for you. God, please bless our church so that we may be a faithful witness. Bless our ministries that lives may be changed. Bless our offerings that they may be used for your work. In the name of Jesus Christ my Savior and Lord, Amen! Rev. Dr. Terry Moore

Rev. Dr. Terry Moore Senior Pastor

Worshipping God with Passion MUSIC & ARTS MINISTRY

Mike Dey Praise & Worship Ministry

4 Campuses - 7 Worship Services - 1 Body

My faith in Christ has given new meaning to my life in every way imaginable. I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior during a very difficult period, back when I was going through a divorce with two young children in the picture. During the height of that turmoil, the company I was working with closed its doors. The pressure to support my family along with the pain of the divorce was overwhelming, until I gave it all to Christ. I give God all the glory for giving me the peace and hope I needed to get through that time. My life has since turned 180 degrees from those dark days and I give all the credit and glory to my rebirth and growing faith in Christ. The church has become a second family. In fact, the church was instrumental in helping me meet my second wife, who blessed me with two bonus daughters. We’ve been happily married now for over 10 years and have a wonderful and loving blended family. All of my close friends are members of the church or were once members. The church has helped me to grow in my faith and knowledge of the Bible. It has also provided many opportunities to serve others. I’ve been blessed with the gift of music and have used that gift to glorify God as a member of the Music Ministry for the last 20 years or so. Music is an important part of how we worship as a church. Hopefully, the music we make has helped open up hearts to Christ and helped people to get in the spirit during worship.

Wayne and Nancy Davis The Chancel Choir It is with great pleasure that I sit down and write and express our gratitude for the wonderful music program at Weddington United Methodist Church. The music brings warmth and joy to our worship experience. We have often spoken to friends about how we love the music program at Weddington, and have felt that our choir was just better than others we have enjoyed over the years of attending various churches. Our feelings and opinions were strongly endorsed by those attending the Metropolitan Music Concert this past year. Every choir was well received, but when the Weddington Choir finished their special song there was a rumble of “WOWWW” from the rows behind us and from those sharing our pew. Nancy and I were surprised at the spontaneous response from so many people within easy earshot. We even heard comments about the Dynamic Choir Director and the quality of voices. We love the music at Weddington and feel extremely blessed to have Dr. Houze as part of our congregation.

Intentionally Growing in Faith Linda Hastings Disciple Bible Study I’ve had nothing but love for my Disciple classes from the very beginning. I remember that first Disciple I class with Mary Ridenhour teaching. I thought I was in way over my head with this class and with Mary, who knew so much about the Bible. At the same time, the way she led our small group was heart-felt and welcoming. The intimacy of that Disciple group has never left me. I have truly loved the people I have shared community with over these nearly year-long studies. And have I learned! I am involved with children’s Sunday School and a Life Group, and am amazed by how the Holy Spirit brings to life the knowledge I have gained and has led me to share it with others. Disciple Bible Study has also created an immense hunger in me to know the Bible and, even more importantly, to seek God and a relationship with him. I remember a church friend telling me once that he rose at 4:00 in the morning to spend time in God’s Word before he headed to work. I thought, “Crazy,” right? But here I am now, jumping out of bed (ok, a bit of an exaggeration, but not by much) between 4:30 and 5:00 a.m. to dig into the Holy Book, pray, read, and journal. It has become my absolute favorite part of the day. Disciple has certainly guided that hunger and that thirst. It truly is manna from heaven. I truly recommend any Disciple class. It is a commitment, but worth it. You will learn so much and make lasting friendships. In fact, those bonds from Disciple are like those three cords bound together that Dr. Moore has preached on - not easily broken.

Bryan and Deb Abernathy Adult Discipleship Ministry Our journey to know God started slowly at Weddington. At first it was a Life Group, and then a men’s group, and a women’s Bible study. Seven years later, we have since added a few Disciple classes, three kids, Children’s Ministry, Weddington Christian Preschool, and Weddington Christian Academy. Along the way, each step in our journey of faith kept circling back to the same core question, “What does it look like to truly love God and love your neighbor?” Our answer came by altering how we view our roles in life as sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, and especially fathers and mothers. Watching our three kids love each other one second and torment each other the next has been an emotional roller coaster to say the least. If we can feel such a range of emotions, we can only imagine how God views humanity at our best and worst… His children bickering and judging, fighting, and tormenting. We definitely do not have the answers to seemingly insurmountable differences among “neighbors,” however, we do know that we are stronger when we share with our Christian brothers and sisters in our Life Group and teach with our fellow Sunday School teachers. Even our children are stronger with their classmates. Shared meals, blessings, sorrows, and praises continually strengthen our Life Group and have extended our perspective of a Christian family. We cannot be Christians or even attempt to “know Him” alone. It will absolutely be a life-long journey for our family to “know Him,” but it is a journey that would be impossible without our Life Group and the Ministries of Weddington Church.

“The Father has loved us so much that we are called children of God. And we really are his children. The reason the people in the world do not know us is that they have not known him.” 1 John 3:1

ADULT DISCIPLESHIP MINISTRY

In the past year, more than 843 adults have been intentional about growing in their faith through

Sid Duck Adult Discipleship Ministry

31 Life Groups 12 Sunday Morning Groups 17 Bible Study Groups

As a county boy from a small town in West Tennessee that grew up in a little, primitive Baptist church with no children’s program, Sunday School class, Youth Group, or Adult Discipleship program – the transition to Weddington Church was a very different experience. Honestly, it took a couple of years for me to fully come into my own and feel comfortable discussing my faith and being comfortable with “my story.” I have been blessed by the opportunity to grow through fellowship with other men in the church by way of the United Methodist Men (UMM) group and a men’s Life Group. The relationships built through these opportunities provided me with both the interest and the confidence to go deeper into studying scripture by taking my first Disciple I class, which then led to Disciple II, III, and IV. There are a number of extremely gifted pastors and teachers within Weddington Church, who have provided me with the opportunity to learn more about God’s Word and grow in my faith. This combined with the relationships built through the UMM and Life Groups, has impacted how I live my life. It has changed the type of husband and father that I am today and certainly the one I am called to be through my relationship with Jesus Christ. The ability to share this with youth and their families through the Upward Sports Ministry has only added to this blessing. As a member of the Life Group Leadership Team, I am passionate about the opportunity to assist others in connecting with fellow Christians through the variety of programs available within Weddington Church. Whether through a Life Group, Sunday School class, or Disciple Bible study, there are many opportunities available to take the next step to grow in your faith and in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. 5

Intentionally Growing in Faith CHILDREN AND YOUTH MINISTRIES Amy Hester Children’s Ministry We all have struggles in our lives, but knowing that I have a relationship with God helps ease the burdens that I experience. It’s in these difficult times that I feel led to lean on God with my troubles. Knowing that I have a God that loves me unconditionally strengthens my faith and knowledge that I am never alone. Being part of Weddington United Methodist Church has impacted my life as well as the life of my family. When my husband and I moved to North Carolina nearly 14 years ago, Weddington Church was the first and only church that we visited. From the moment that we stepped into the Sanctuary, we felt a connection that this was where we were supposed to be. Over time, the church has become such a big part of our lives. Weddington does so many wonderful things for our community by touching the lives of those less fortunate than us. We feel as though by being part of this congregation, we are given the ability to touch so many lives. I truly believe that when we work together to glorify God, we are stronger as a community. Knowing that we are involved in the work that so many do on behalf of Jesus Christ and for our community is truly awesome and together as a congregation we are stronger. There are so many examples of how I have been able to make a difference in the lives of others on the behalf of Jesus Christ. One of my longtime passions has been with one of the women’s ministries at Weddington, the Suzanna Wesley Circle. Through my involvement with this ministry, we’ve impacted thousands of women and children through the bi-annual Kids Consignment Sale. The proceeds from the sale go back to many missions in our county, with either financial donations or donated clothing and toys for children and families. Through my involvement with the sale, many families that may not have a church home have started attending Weddington Church. Most recently, I have felt the calling from God to get involved with a new ministry at our church – HISKids. This new ministry focuses on kids with special needs and allows them to foster a relationship with God. This ministry has brought such joy to my life that I can’t wait to see where God takes and develops this new program. Many times, I think we feel that being part of an organization is to bless those that we serve, but in retrospect, we are blessed by those we serve and make our relationship stronger with God.

Bill and Dorie Mayes Evangelism Ministry God has given me purpose, joy, and hope. He has provided for me in so many ways. He has given to the needs of our family in many ways.

Over 570 children attended Vacation Bible Camp in 2018.

330 children enrolled in Weddington Christian Preschool across 2 campuses. 132 children enrolled at Weddington Christian Academy in 2018.

Welcomed over 200 first-time worshipers, not including out-of-town visitors during holidays. Held 8 community events reaching over 5,000 people in our community.

We rejoice in the ministry of our church to the many families that attend here. The church has been faithful in many ways to give opportunities for people to hear the Gospel and become true disciples of Jesus Christ. I have been glad to be a missionary with my wife for 31 years advancing Bible translation and giving access to the Bible to millions over the years. I thank God for opportunity to share the Gospel in the Union County Jail via the Safer Communities Ministry and also through Adult Sunday School, Youth Ministry, and Prayer Ministry. 6

Proclaiming the Gospel with Grace EVANGELISM MINISTRY Chloe Whitesel Youth Ministry Hi, my name is Chloe Whitesel, and I am a part of Weddington United Methodist Youth. I am a sophomore at Parkwood High School. I first started coming to youth group in sixth grade, when I began Middle School. I was pretty nervous since I was younger than most. I was, and still am, the quiet type and it took me a good year to come out of my shell. Once I hit seventh grade, I discovered the Youth Praise Band. I have always had a love for singing! I sang in Children’s Choir at church all throughout Elementary School. I became interested in the Youth Praise Band, and I was also involved in a Life Group. I knew I couldn’t do both, due to them being at the same time on Sundays. I needed God’s advice and guidance on which path He wanted me to choose. I prayed that He would lead me to make that right choice, and He did! He gave me the strength and the courage to stand up in front of adults and kids to sing in the Praise Band! It was definitely the best decision that I have ever made, thanks to God! Senior High Sunday School, Sunday Night Youth, Wednesday Night Bible Study, and the Praise Band have given me a place of acceptance, helped me overcome my insecurities, and brought me closer to God! Weddington United Methodist Youth is a place where I can be myself, and not worry about being accepted. Just as I am is good enough in this setting. It has taught me to be secure in myself in any environment because Jesus is always with me. When we surrender to Jesus, He takes all the insecurities away. I am so proud and blessed to be a part of Weddington United Methodist Youth! Thank you to everyone who has been in my faith journey as a young teen!

Over 300 active families in Youth Ministry representing 26+ schools.

Angie Vollenweider Evangelism Ministry There is no question that God has made ALL the difference in my life! I hate to think what would have happened to me without Him. He has truly had his hand on me since birth. I have been blessed in so many ways over the course of my life. I know He has been with me at every turn and I am so thankful! Honestly, Weddington Church has made Charlotte finally feel like home. I am so thankful for the friends we have made here! We have been able to connect with a variety of warm, wonderful people and it means so much to us. Their love and support is invaluable. I am involved in the Evangelism Ministry, HISkids (Special Needs Ministry), Operation Sandwich, and the Empty Nesters Life Group. They allow me to serve and connect in many different ways. While I never see the folks who receive the sandwiches we make through Operation Sandwich, I know they are being taken care of for one meal. My Life Group offers me the opportunity to connect, study, and serve with other Christians. The HISkids Ministry is where my heart truly lies. I love sharing the love of Jesus with the kids! I began wanting to bless these families, but it is me who has been truly and thoroughly blessed. 7

Humbly Serving in Love PASTORAL CARE MINISTRY Lorraine Perkins GriefShare and Stephen Ministry For me April 8, 2017 was the beginning of my personal nightmare. My mother had a massive stroke on April 8, 2017. She had been sick with the flu the week before but the week before that she was a nurse working in the recovery unit at Novant Orthopedic Hospital, where she had been working since 1976. On April 8 I tried calling her to just check on her and could not reach her. I left work only to come home to find her in a chair and I knew then she’d had a stroke. She was strong in her Catholic faith. She said her rosary each evening but every morning read Billy Graham in the newspaper. As family came in and we all watched her lying there, we all struggled with how we should tell my dad, because in December of 2016 we had to place him in an assistant living facility. She passed two days later on April 10, 2017 and the only words I could say were, “Why mom did you leave me? Now what is going to happen? How are we going to go forward?...” because she was the rock of our family, just like her mother was the rock of our family before her. Weeks later I found myself so afraid and not sure what was going to happen to me. Would I be forced out of the home? Where would I go? The dynamics of the family had changed so much that I felt like I was walking on eggshells each day. Finally, I just knew I had to find a support group to deal with this sadness and the large hole that was in my heart. My desire to move on was gone. As I was searching, I stumbled onto Weddington United Methodist Church where they have a program called GreifShare. I picked up the phone and talked to the nicest person, explained my situation, and within 15 minutes Rev. Ed Briggs called me back. I was totally shocked but thankful at the same time. We talked about GreifShare but he then shared with me about the Stephens Ministry. I said yes to Stephen Ministry because at this point I wanted anything or really anyone to help me through this horrible period of my life. They connected me with a sweet and caring person. We talked weeks on end but never met in person; however, she reached out to me each week and just stuck with me. She told me in October the next GriefShare had started and I so wanted to attend. That was the first time I met her face to face. She walked in with me holding my hand... to be honest, holding me up. This is where I discovered the GriefShare Ministry. I was not sure if I could open up about the pain I was feeling about my mom. I choked up every time I said the word “mom” or even her name. Through this group I discovered the teachings of faith based in turning to His word. I always believed in the words and teachings of our Lord, but never knew what it was like to open up and to walk the faith. I have found that through all the darkest days, if we open our hearts and minds to His word we will find healing. Some days are better than others. I am 58 years old and I find comfort knowing that there are people who say to me, “let me know when you are home.” I asked my best friend Sondra why is it that I want or maybe need this in my life, and she said its normal. We all want to be needed and want someone to care about us. I am beginning to bring small pieces of joy back in my life. My friend Rachel tells me daily to be a blessing and don’t let anyone steal my joy. My friend Debbie and the staff of GriefShare keep telling me I am stronger as well. I am pretty sure I will go through another session of GriefShare because now I have lost both parents. I am blessed even in the darkest times. There is a light at the end, and it is the light of our Lord, Jesus.

We have 31 Stephen ministers who are available to offer one-on-one distinctively Christian care for people who are going through a difficult time. Our Caring Heart meal ministry delivers 50 meals a month to people who are home-bound. We have 7 recovery groups for people struggling with alcohol or drug addictions. 8

LOCAL MISSIONS Diane Stringer DivorceCare Ministry I attended a recent DivorceCare series and have an amazing story to share: the class itself was 13 sessions. Each session was dedicated to a relevant topic such as anger, depression, money, children, and forgiveness. The facilitators each survived divorce - so they didn’t teach a class but shared real life experiences through their perspectives. There was never a right or wrong answer, just discussions with people that are enduring similar life tragedies. The hardest part was walking in the first night. The best part was leaving the last night knowing that I built forever friendships. During the classes I sometimes laughed, sometimes cried, and sometimes just listened. I shared my struggles and supported new friends with advice and compassion - we all did. We were from different backgrounds and different stages of divorce but grew together with empathy in shared sorrows. DivorceCare didn’t take the pain away, but it provided tools for the recovery process. I would encourage anyone who is struggling with a divorce or separation to attend DivorceCare.

Rev. Rocio Ávila-Ramírez Local Missions God is transforming lives at our church. A great example is a family from our Monroe campus, who I will leave unnamed for their privacy. A mom with a teenage daughter and son began to worship on Sundays. She had been invited by her uncle. A few weeks later, she and her husband reached out for pastoral care and began worshiping as a family. The more we developed relationships with them nourishing trust, they began to share their need for counseling. Now that family is receiving professional counseling at the Weddington Christian Counseling Center at our Marvin campus. Like many others, they are receiving holistic blessing as God continues to work through the resources of our Weddington United Methodist Church. This will be our third year celebrating a Thanksgiving Feast with the children from Homework Help. For many of them, Thanksgiving is a new, exciting, and important holiday. For some, it is their very first time eating a traditional Thanksgiving meal. It may be due to their assimilation to U.S. culture and heritage; however, it may also be due to limited resources. Whatever the situation, we get the honor of teaching and celebrating with the community children of Monroe the great American feast of giving thanks to God for a blessed year of harvest. This summer, we have enriched our relationship with Benton Heights Elementary School. At the end of the last school year, we were invited by Homework Help families to attend two of our children’s 5th grade graduation ceremony. Katie Bradshaw from our Children’s Ministry team attended and heard Principal Dr. Boatright speak about the critical needs of the students and school. Since then, we have become a major part of the school’s PTA, providing teachers with monthly breakfasts. We have also provided the school with sports equipment and table games. Our relationship with the school is developing. It is exciting to see how God is helping us enrich relationships and become present in prayer and service.

This past year over 130,000 sandwiches were made and donated to the Urban Ministry Center. During the Great Week of Service in 2018, over 80 pairs of shoes were donated and given to the children in Monroe and 2 car loads of canned and dry food was donated to Crisis Assistance.

Humbly Serving in Love FOREIGN MISSIONS

Kelly Pierson Kenya Missions

Foreign mission partners in 4 counties, Bulgaria, Romania, Costa Rica, and Kenya

My life has been led by God even before I knew it. Looking back on my youth, God placed people in my path to lead me, teach me, and inspire me to follow Him and his plans for me during pivotal moments and at crucial crossroads through my journey. I’ve had many struggles and know more wait on the horizon, but leaning on God’s Word and His promise to all who believe in Him makes all the difference. As a child of God, I begin each day trusting in His timing and not my own, praying that I may be His servant to do His will and knowing I’m in the world, not of the world. Weddington Church has been such a blessing to my family. 17 years ago, we made the commitment to give our time, talents, and treasure to support and serve the ministries of this church. Both staff and congregants have helped raise our three children in the faith from preschool through mission work, deepened my walk through Disciple and Women’s Bible Studies, and allowed Tad and I to dedicate our time through teaching Sunday School, crafting the Upward Sports ministry, and creating an opportunity to connect with the Home of the Good Shepherd in Kenya. I vividly remember the first time I saw Bishop Simon Mwaura. Our former pastor, Dr. Lenny Stadler, introduced this person who came up to the pulpit in traditional tribal African dress and gave a mesmerizing sermon of how we were helping him spread the Gospel in remote villages in Kenya. Dr. Moore will often speak about the kids at the Home of the Good Shepherd and how he wanted to bring little Monicah home. During one of those times, God whispered to me, “We should know all of their names,” which led to establishing the Friends of the Home of the Good Shepherd five years ago. This is a mission project that allows members of our church to become “friends” with a child at the Home of the Good Shepherd and get to know, love, and support them through a letter writing campaign. I was blessed with the opportunity to go with my oldest, Anders, to Kenya in the summer of 2016 and finally get to meet the children whose names have been written on my heart. That experience led to Anders returning last summer so he and I could help Bishop Simon and God’s Grace For All Nations improve their website. As I seek to be the hands and feet of Jesus, I never would’ve imagined it would lead me to Kenya. That little girl Monicah that grabbed ahold of Dr. Moore’s hand on his first visit is my “friend” and I’ve had the joy of getting to know her as she grows into an amazing young woman who loves the color pink, loves to dance, and wants to be a teacher one day. 10

HOW IS GOD CALLING YOU TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE? CONSIDER TAKING A STEP FORWARD IN YOUR GIVING The New Testament teaches giving in proportion to the material blessing we have received. Jesus affirmed the Old Testament tradition of tithing – giving 10% of our income or blessings. He praised the sacrificial generosity of the poor widow (Luke 21:1 – 4). We encourage giving a percentage of your income and moving toward or beyond the tithe as your goal, as you grow in your generosity. You can use the charts to help you determine how much you commit to give.

Monthly Giving Levels Annual Income

$20,000 $40,000 $60,000 $80,000 $100,000 $150,000 $200,000

$33 67 100 133 167 250 333

$50 100 150 200 250 375 500

$67 133 200 267 333 500 667

$250,000

417

625

833

Proposed 2019 Spending Plan Worshiping God with Passion

$78,930

Intentionally Growing in Faith Children Youth Young Adults Adults

$44,675 $60,700 $2,500 $28,800

Proclaiming the Gospel with Grace Evangelism Pastoral Care

$17,100 $23,250

Humbly Serving in Love Local Missions Foreign Missions

$94, 800 $185,300

Supporting our Mission Communications Facilities/Operations Staff/Clergy UMC Ministries Debt Service Food Service

$16,540 $859,210 $1,723,807 $184,256 $150,000 $82,365

Total

$3,552,233

10%

12%

15%

$83 $100 167 200 250 300 333 400 417 500 625 750 833 1,000

$133 267 400 533 667 1,000 1,333

$167 333 500 667 833 1,250 1,667

$200 400 600 800 1,000 1,500 2,000

$350 500 750 1,000 1,250 1,875 2,500

1,667

2,083

2,500

3,125

1,042

1,250

“Everything comes from You; all we’re doing is giving back what we’ve been given from your generous hand.” 1 CHRONICLES 29:14 Ways to Give Our Biblical understanding of Christian financial stewardship expresses giving as a sign of gratitude and faithfulness to be who God has called us to be. We respond to the goodness of God, and we give thanks for the ways He has blessed us by giving to His church. We encourage you to speak to your financial, tax, or legal advisor. Please contact the financial office at 704.846.1032, if you have questions about these giving methods:

WWW.WEDDINGTONCHURCH.ORG/GIVING

• Online or Church App • Bank Draft • Check

• Credit Card • Stock • Annuity

• Charitable Trust • Bequest in Will • Life Insurance 11

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Our Mission is to fulfill our call to be the physical presence of Jesus Christ by worshipping God with passion, intentionally growing in faith, proclaiming the Gospel with grace, and humbly serving in love. Sunday Worship Services Weddington Campus: 8:15 AM Traditional 9:30 AM Praise and Worship 10:10 AM Acoustic Praise and Worship (FLC) 11:00 AM Traditional Bonds Grove Campus: 11:00 AM Traditional Second Sunday Bluegrass Monroe Campus: 6:00 PM Bilingual Worship Waltonwood Senior Living Center: 4:00 PM Traditional