Women s prison bed net project lowers malaria risk in Africa

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1 HOOSIER UNITED METHODISTS 1 Volume 39 Number 2 Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors. The people of The Methodist Church Women s prison bed net project lowers malaria risk in Africa Story and photos By Sharon Dunten INDIANAPOLIS The last week of 2008, groups of 30 mosquito bed nets were folded delicately into a large satchels made of upholstery fabric. Long straps were sown onto the bag to harness around a human shoulder to carry approximately 48 pounds. Days before, a dozen women swiftly sped the netting through professional sewing machines and sergers, constructing box-shaped canopies for the world s poorest of the poor. The tender hands creating the life-saving mosquito bed nets are tweleve inmates of the Indiana Women s Prison (IWP). Their goal is to provide hope, to make a difference, to construct a net to counteract a killer disease called malaria. This will be their second shipment to Africa. The first shipment of 30 nets was sent in spring Packed into an over-stuffed suitcase of a medical student traveling with the New Community Project Organization (NPC), the nets were delivered to Nimule, Sudan. Meanwhile, a Peace Care worker in Nkurenkuru, Namibia, is waiting for 150 mosquito bed nets. Her home church, The Journey UMC in Indianapolis, raised thousands of dollars for the construction and shipment of the nets through an Advent Conspiracy program during the month of December. Malaria is an infectious disease transmitted through a mosquito s bite; it can only take one bite to contract malaria. Through the bite, a parasite is released into a body and rapidly grows in the liver before spreading back into the bloodstream. As much as 90 percent of African malaria transmission can be reduced with the use of insecticide-treated bed nets; it provides a protective barrier against mosquitoes bites late at night and early morning when the vast majority of mosquitoes swarm. A bed net is usually hung above the center of a bed or sleeping space completely covering the sleeping person. I saw the prototype and got my brain twirling Sarah Buffie Global outreach In 2007, a dozen inmates of the IWP had an assignment in their college business class to develop an entrepreneurship. Constructing mosquito nets to fight malaria in Africa was an idea developed between their Oakland City University Professor Kristie Stewart, and David Ratliff of NPC. Two central Indiana companies donated sergers and provided free repairs, while a Benedictine nun, Sister Bernadine, pledged monies from craft sales to thread the machines. Acknowledging the seriousness of the outreach, NPC donated $15,000 for materials. The class project became a fully operational community outreach program within the Indiana Women s Prison touching hundreds of lives on another continent thousands of miles away. It has been an epiphany in my life, I want to put a child to bed at night (with the net), said inmate Denise. With $14.50 for cigarettes or a couple of cups of coffee, a child can have a mosquito net, she said. For inmate Leslie, taking pride as a prisoner has made her life more positive. I can make the most of my life while I am here, she said. In the beginning, after researching malaria and the country of Sudan, the prison outreach project searched for a prototype to build resilient and non-problematic bed nets. Brainstorming with Phil and Louise Rieman, co-pastors at Northview Church of the Brethren, Indianapolis, who were missionaries in Africa in the 1990s, the new bed net design added a solid, or un-netted, bottom to the bed net to prevent shredding from a rough mattress or bed. In addition, a canopy of solid muslin was added to protected individuals sleeping from droppings from rodents and lizards on the ceiling. I saw the prototype and got my brain twirling, said inmate Sherrill Russell. I was stoked. We Glenda Robinette and Paula Willoughby work on sewing machines to make the mosquito nets in prison. can do this. It was overwhelming, she said. At first, inmate Michelle Jones saw the project as useful because she knew how to sew. It grew into something that incarcerated my heart. The idea of an offender helping someone in Sudan made it real; we have a kinship, she said. With her serger sewing machine named Rufus, Jones with fellow inmates Glenda Robinette, Paula Willoughby and Sherrill Russell completed the doubleseamed mosquito bed nets. There is no other organization making this high quality of nets, said Professor Stewart. She said the nets cost $14 to construct. While many bed nets can be produced for as little as $10, these Cadillac nets longevity expands from years compared to the 3-5 years of cheaper nets. With the incentive to create superior nets, inmate Connie Tomich said the photographs of the young children from Africa motivated her to help someone halfway across the world. More than 7,000 miles away in Sudan, close to 90 percent of all deaths by malaria in the world occur in sub-saharan Africa, including thousands of babies and children. The International Medical Corps states that 1 in 5 childhood deaths are caused by malaria and HIV/AIDS combined. In between www. inareaumc.org 300 to 500 million people contract malaria annually with one million dying each year. To put this into perspective, consider every citizen of the States infected with malaria and the population of the Indianapolis metro area dying each year from the disease. But the distribution of mass quantities to large African populations has not always been successful. According to the World Health Organization, the wave of mass malaria net distribution from affluent nations through social marketing is corrupt or unbalanced; in other words, only five percent of the funding ended up in the nets and insecticide. Under social marketing, the richest of the poor had 38 percent coverage, while poorest of the poor received only 15 percent, said WHO. This is not exactly what the seamstresses of the IWP had in mind for their nets. Most people don t make a dollar a day, said inmate Laura Campbell in a class room presentation to visitors. Therefore, included in their business plan is an unconventional statement about the distribution of their nets. We have two conditions for receiving the nets, said inmate Paula Willoughby. First, everyone receives a net and it is not dependent upon economic situations, and second, the nets will not negatively impact the culture of those receiving the nets. In the class plan, Malaria: One Net-One Life Mosquito Net Project, it states: This project allows those involved to save lives and to give hope to the poor, a population often overlooked. Pronouncing herself as a naysayer, inmate Kim Baldwin said her personal belief is that westerners infringe on other cultures. In our own Christianity, are we always really helping them? she said. I am not doing lip-service. We cannot buy empowerment, but we can make a difference exactly where the natural culture is placed in the world at the time, said Baldwin. Student delivers first 30 Sarah Durnbaugh, 25, a second year Indiana University medical student, and member of the Northview Church of the Brethren, Indianapolis, arrived in Africa to endured a nine-hour bus ride with a poultry companion roosting on her foot. The first 30 IWP mosquito bed nets were handed to Girl Child Committee representatives, a grassroots organization advocating empowerment for women in Nimule, Sudan. Later, Durnbaugh did see the IWP mosquito nets used in Nimule s only hospital. During her three-month stay in Nimule, Continued on page 3.

2 2 FROM THE BISHOP The Fifth Gospel land of the Bible I write as I prepare to leave for a Holy Land trip to Israel. This trip is for the newly-ordained clergy of Indiana, their families and friends, and many other pilgrims who are choosing to make this journey with me. I invite your prayers for a safe and meaningful trip. I am indebted to Bishop Woodie White for beginning this tradition of taking our new ordinands on a Holy Land trip to enhance their ministry by exposing them to what many call The Fifth Gospel the land of the Bible. To see the lands of the Bible, to take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, to renew one s baptism in the Jordan River, to walk through the old city of Jerusalem and to stand on the Mount of Olives these and other experiences help us to learn about the Bible and the ministry of Jesus in ways which make the stories of our faith come alive. We also will learn about the contempo- Next steps to the new Indiana Conference By Bishop Mike Coyner Note: This E-pistle, which appeared online Jan. 30, continues reports about the next steps being taken as we move into the new Indiana Conference of The Methodist Church. You are welcome to share these reports. As we continue the transition into the new Indiana Conference, the next step is launching our Ministry Clusters. The Cabinets and I are hosting a series of Tip-Off Events in February and March. These events will be held within the bounds of the ten new districts, and invitations have been delivered to pastors and lay leaders from each church with information about Ministry Clusters. At these Tip-Off Events, I will be sharing more about the Ministry Cluster model. There will be a time for church representatives (primarily pastor and lay leader) to start choosing their Ministry Clusters with some guidance from District Superintendent and other lay leaders. The selections of Ministry Clusters will help the Cabinets to finalize the district lines of the ten new districts by Annual Conference in June. Ministry Clusters are a key component of the Imagine Indiana Plan adopted last year, and so I am eager to help launch these Clusters. As a part of the presentation, I will be answering the question, What is a Ministry Cluster? Here is a part of that answer: A Ministry Cluster is a group of four to nine local churches who choose to work to accomplish the Gospel mission in their area. It s also a group of local churches who share common ministry needs and work to learn from each other. Ministry clusters are designed to focus on answering two core questions: 1. How are each of our congregations doing in our local church ministries toward accomplishing our mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world? and 2. What can we do better and more effectively in our ministries to impact our area for Christ than we can do as individual congregations? Ministry Clusters are not about merging churches or closing churches or forcing churches to do joint programs they are about ministry and supporting one another as we seek to be faithful in ministry. In fact, the first task we ask of each Ministry Cluster is to pray for one another regularly. Support, resourcing The Imagine Indiana Plan calls for our ten districts to be grouped into five bi-districts with one office or Resource Center to house two District Superintendents and other staff. As the current Cabinets and other leaders have continued to plan for these Resource Centers, we have encountered concerns that are causing us to re-think that plan. Several leaders have pointed out that these large bi-districts would make participation in district committees, such as the Committee on Ordained Ministry, the Committee on Church Building and Location, the committees for Leader Leadership and Lay Speaking, and the rest, very difficult because each bi-district would encompass one-fifth of the entire state of Indiana. Another concern is that our District Superintendents want to be closer to their responsibilities in each district, rather than driving one to two hours to work out of a Resource Center. Others have raised the concern that these Resource Centers add another layer of administration rather than having a flat structure. A final concern is the added cost of having five Resource Centers staffed and equipped on a full-time basis. New option As the conversation has continued, this new option is being considered drop the Continued on page 3. rary situation in Israel, hear from Palestinians, visit Methodist ministries and see the amazing Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem. However, our primary focus is upon a having a spiritual journey. Such a trip to the Holy Land makes the Bible so much more real to our new clergy than studying Scripture alone. For the past several years, the Indiana Area Methodist Foundation has provided scholarships through Educational Opportunities to our newly ordained clergy to make this trip possible. Unfortunately, those funds have dried up and the new clergy ordained this year will not receive such a scholarship. While I understand the economic realities have caused these funds to be depleted, I am saddened to know that our future clergy will not be helped to have this unique educational opportunity. While it is certainly possible to read the Bible and to study the historical and geographic background of the Bible, our new clergy will likely miss the opportunity to see, touch, hear and know the reality of The Fifth Gospel. All of our churches will eventually see the shortfall for our clergy not having this unique opportunity. I hope some generous people who read this column will be inspired to make gifts to the Holy Land Scholarship Fund through our Indiana Area Foundation so that this tradition of Holy Land trips for ordinands can continue. Thank you. Bishop Michael J. Coyner Indiana Conference of The Methodist Church Making a Difference in Indiana and around the world HOOSIER UNITED METHODISTS Vol. 39 No.2 MISSION STATEMENT: To reflect the teachings of Christ through stories and pictures, thereby sharing key moments and concerns in the life of his Indiana church and its people. To share joy, to share personal faith, to share challenges, and to refresh the spirit. Indiana Area Bishop/Publisher: Michael J. Coyner Editor: Daniel R. Gangler Editorial Assistant: Erma Metzler Printed by: HNE Printers, Columbus with soybased inks on recycled/recyclable paper Editorial Offices: Together Indiana Area Methodist Church 1100 W. 42nd St., Suite 210 Indianapolis, Indiana Phone: Fax: editor@inareaumc.org Together (ISSN x) is a monthly (except June, August and December) publication of Indiana Area Methodist Communications, 1100 W. 42nd. St., Indianapolis, IN 46208, for clergy, laity and seekers. Periodicals postage paid at Members of the Indiana Area Communications Commission and Editorial Advisory Group: Steve Bahrt, chairman Char Harris Allen James Bushfield Bishop Michael J. Coyner Ida Easley Mark Eutsler Chip Gast If you feel led to give to the Holy Land Scholarship Fund, send your tax-exempt contribution to the Indiana Area Methodist Foundation, 1100 West 42nd Street, Suite 210, Indianapolis, IN Indianapolis, IN. Printed in the U.S.A. copyright 2005 Indiana Area of The Methodist Church. Postmaster: Send address changes to Together, 1100 W. 42nd St., Suite 210, Indianapolis, Indiana Subscription Information: Call One-year subscription, $12, single copy $1.50 Change of Address: Send the mailing label with your new address to: Erma Metzler, Together, Indiana Area UMC, 1100 W. 42nd. St., Suite 210, Indianapolis, Indiana or emetzler@inareaumc.org Commentaries and letters provided by Indiana Area Methodist Communications do not necessarily represent the opinions or policies of Bishop Michael Coyner, the Indiana Area or The Methodist Church. Mark Gough Jack Howey David V.W. Owen Bruce Palmer Matthew Stultz Bert Talbott Permission is hereby granted to Methodist congregations to reprint stories, not copyrighted, in church newsletters. Together is supported by the conference tithe.

3 Women s prison story she was assigned to work in a reforestation project near the Nile River and taught a biology class to high school students. After returning to the U.S., Durnbaugh shared photographs of Nimule with the IWP outreach group. We saw pictures of the village elders giving the nets to the mothers who were having children, said inmate Paula Willoughby. Through an incentive program to encourage women to obtain prenatal care, the nets were given to women with babies as a reward for seeking medical care, says Durnbaugh. Most women don t go, but the nets were made well enough to encourage the women to come and receive prenatal care, she said. With only four doctors available in Nimule, a town population up to 50,000, prenatal care is sparse. It is common for babies to die from malaria, said Durnbaugh. Over 3,000 children ages five and under will die daily in Africa Next steps Resource Center idea, move most of the administrative responsibilities of these Centers to the Conference Center, have a team of Administrative Assistants available there by phone or to respond to congregations (to process the information flow directly between the conference and local churches without going through the districts or resource centers) and keep the District Superintendents in their own districts with a modest part-time staff focused upon resourcing clusters and congregations. In this model, the district would of malaria. But malaria is treatable and preventable. The disease is marked by raging fevers, chills, nausea and headaches. Durnbaugh said she remembers a boy named Steven, 7, who dealt with a malaria relapse during her visit. I remember that he just sat in a chair, she said. Malaria has been eliminated in many parts of Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Yet in Africa, with increasing drug resistance and struggling health systems, malaria infections have increased during the last three decades. Jeffrey Sachs, director of The Earth Institute at Columbia University, said malaria is treatable with medicines that cost $1 per treatment. Simple remedies, such as insecticide treated mosquito bed nets, and distributing antimalaria drugs in villages, are key to combating the disease. Next set When Ron Branson, an Oakland City University instructor, Continued from page 2. no longer be a conduit for information to the conference, because that would happen directly by improved technology. Instead, each district superintendent and any district staff would focus upon helping local churches and clusters of churches with the ministry they choose to do, hence the phrase in the Imagine Indiana Plan about Inverting the Initiative. The Conference Transition Team will be reviewing this issue and considering what recommendations to bring to the Annual Conference in June. I know that the Transition Team welcomes WELCOME Hope has become the operative word this winter The word hope has been occurring everywhere in print and electronic publications from newspapers to TV and radio newscasts, even to sermon series. A sharp downturn in world economics, which has resulted in a downturn in business with lay-offs and increasing unemployment here in Indiana, across the country and around the world may be directly responsible for us seeing the word hope more often these days. In his inaugural address, President Barack Obama called for an end to vitriol in the political process, declaring that Americans chose hope over fear [and] unity of purpose over conflict and discord. In the midst of a national economic collapse in the 1930s, President Franklin D. Roosevelt spiced his speech with hope. He proclaimed, We have always held to the hope, the belief, the conviction that there is a better life, a better world, beyond the horizon. In light of the emancipation of slaves, Abraham Lincoln wrote to Congress in 1862, In giving freedom to the slave, we assure freedom to the free honorable alike in what we give, and what we preserve. We shall nobly save, or meanly lose, the last best hope of earth. A century later, the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., said, The hope of a secure and livable world lies with disciplined nonconformists who are dedicated to justice, peace and brotherhood. Centuries earlier Saint Augustine put a different twist on the word when in dire times he said, Hope has two beautiful daughters: their names are anger and courage. Anger that things are the way they are. Courage to make them the way they ought to be. These words resonate with today. Saint Thomas Aquinas came close to a biblical definition of hope when he wrote, Faith has to do with things that are not seen and hope with things that are not at hand. Hope is nothing new to our tradition. We believers just need to brush the word off when things go sour and remind ourselves that hope in something is only secondary to hope alone, if we are to see our way out of distressing times. In an online Web search at americanbible.com, hope is listed in 176 Bible verses. The Apostle Paul uses the word more than 40 times in his letters to the early church. Through advice like: Let your hope make you glad. Be patient in time of trouble and never stop praying (Romans 12:12) he gave early followers of Christ encouragement to continue to follow in the ways that lead to life eternal. The writer of Hebrews proclaimed: Faith makes us sure of what we hope for and gives us Continued from page 1. and member of The Journey UMC, Indianapolis, approached a fellow church member whose daughter was in the Peace Corps in Namibia, the link to send the IWP mosquito bed nets to Africa was activated. Through a counter culture response to Christmas, The Advent Conspiracy, the church raised funds close to $5,000 for 150 nets to be shipped to Nkurenkuru, Namibia. All the learners (school children) who live in the hostel school will receive a net, said Sarah Buffie, a Peace Corps health extension volunteer working on HIV AIDS related issues in Nkurenkuru. Every net will change the lives of the children. They usually sleep under ripped nets or no nets with two to a bed, said Buffie. But the hostel school is what Buffie calls utterly inhumane. Eroding walls and ceilings, including standing water in the bathroom and showers, perpetuate the malaria epidemic in areas situated in the malaria hot-zone. The your input as they do their work. You may write the team at ImagineIndiana@inareaumc.org or Conference Transition Team, Indiana Methodist Church, 1100 West 42nd Street, Suite 210, Indianapolis, IN I believe it is important to keep our focus upon resourcing congregations and their Ministry Clusters, and we are all seeking the best and most effective way to do that resourcing. The next step is launching those Ministry Clusters. Here is a list of those Tip-Off Events. proof of what we cannot see (Hebrews 11:1). Our faith tradition is abundant in hope and in the ultimate hope of faith in Christ. We can overcome if we preservere, if we put more emphasis on the intangible aspects of life and less on the tangible. The abundance of hope is around us and written into the pages of Together this month. You will experience: The hope of imprisoned women put into making bed nets to lower the risk of malaria in Africa, The hope of a new conference as step into the future with faith to make a difference in Indiana and around the world, The hope of North Indiana volunteers who build bunk beds for Pine Creek campers, Sherrill Russell uses a serger machine to make bed nets in prison. mosquitoes swarm and breed right next to the sleeping children. If learners are expected to be alert, productive and healthy students in their classrooms, they certainly deserve a suitable place to lay their heads at night, said Buffie. She says it is a matter of human rights being violated and we Bishop Mike Coyner and District Superintendents will meet in Tip-Off meeting about the formation of ministry clusters in each of the ten new districts. Each church is to be represented by a pastor and one or two key lay leaders. A map of those new districts can be found online at All events are on Sundays. District 2 Feb. 15, 3 p.m. at Fort Wayne Aldersgate District 5 Feb. 15, 7 p.m. at Noblesville First District 9 Feb. 22, 3 p.m. at Conference Tip-Off Events for forming Ministry Clusters in each of the ten new districts 3 The hope of Evansville youth who serve the less fortunate in summer camp projects, The hope of a newly crowned Miss America from Indiana with focus on community service, The hope of UM- COR to meet a 10-ton challenge for churches to use free-trade coffee, The hope Africa University students to continue their education despite a failing economy, The hope of Gaza civilians to survive their present crisis, and The hope LaGrange place in filling backpacks for school kids. We will overcome our present economic condition with a rearranging of values. In the meantime, read these stories of hope and share your stories of hope with others. Welcome, Daniel R. Gangler are trying to do something about using mosquito nets and providing healthy teaching environment. If the project is not implemented, learners will go on living in these terrible conditions, said Buffie. It will add to a mentality of hopelessness, she said. Therefore, in the eyes of Nkurenkuru, incompletion of the project is not an option. Along with the personal requests from the IWP outreach, Buffie said Africa needs to develop at a pace that doesn t bulldoze culture and language. Through partnerships and empowerment, the handouts making people and places dependent upon outsiders may be exchanged for hard work and commitment, she said. There needs to be recognition of one s humanity and an end to corruption in government, said Buffie. Sharon Dunten is a freelance writer and lives in Indianapolis. Santa Claus District 10 Feb 22, 7 p.m. at Edwardsville District 1 March 1, 3 p.m. at South Bend Grace District 3 March 1, 7 p.m. at Monticello District 6 March 8, 3 p.m. at Castleton District 4 March 8, 7 p.m. at Terre Haute Mt. Pleasant District 7 March 15, 3 p.m. at Muncie High Street District 8 March 15, 7 p.m. at Seymour First

4 4 INDIANA The gift of comfortable sleep Volunteers build bunk beds for Pine Creek campers PINE VILLAGE, Ind. North Indiana s Impact 2818 camping program is being blessed, and the campers will definitely notice. Pine Creek Camp, in Pine Village, Indiana, has been in great need of new bunk beds for each cabin. What started out as a 30- bed job quickly spread to over one hundred beds. Alan Riendeau and his group of volunteers stepped up for an exciting challenge full of construction. Riendeau began by building beds for the Habitat for Humanity, as well as, doing much mission work for several years, and has been involved with the former By Brenda Butman NEW HARMONY, Ind. Fifty people of Stewartsville Methodist Church, Cynthiana UMC, and Olive Branch Missionary Baptist Church of Princeton, Ind., came Jan. 18 at Stewartsville UMC and shared dinner followed by a service commemorating the celebration of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This event was the result of the admiration, friendship and love INDIANAPOLIS (UIndy) A noted authority on the music of Methodist worship will speak Feb. 17 at the University of Indianapolis. The Rev. Don E. Saliers, emeritus professor of theology and worship at Emory University s Candler School of Theology, is the featured speaker for the annual Showers Lectures in the Christian Religion. Two lectures, free and open to the public, are scheduled at 4 and 7 p.m. in McCleary Chapel, located on the second floor of Photo courtesy of Pine Creek Camp. A volunteer drills holes in the frame of a new bunk bed for Pine Creek Camp. More than 100 beds were donated to the camp. More than 15 volunteers at time build the beds. North Indiana Conference. In addition to building these bunks, he has built wooden chairs for Camp Adventure and picnic tables for Pine Creek. Normally, buying a manufactured bunk bed would cost from $400 to $600. Thanks to Riendeau and several other people, Impact 2818 has only had to pay around $60 per bed. Things were made even easier when Dave Shepler, Celebrating race relations among three congregations shown between the Revs. Andres Paris, Sr. and Bill Ping, an acquaintance, that began while Ping was working part-time as a Sears salesman in Princeton. Having been an activist in Decatur, Ill. during the height of the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s, Ping learned to treat all people with respect and dignity regardless of race or color. As Ping said, I did not notice that Andrew was black, and he did not tell me. Two men one white, one black; two congregations one rural, one urban; two denominations one Methodist, one Missionary Baptist; united in the celebration of faith and freedom for all. This was the eighth time these congregations have come on the eve of this holiday to commemorate King and his work for all the people of this country. The gathered members were reminded they celebrate this observance on the Sunday before the observance of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. s birthday because, as, they believe in the development of better human relations and seek to empower others to become people God intended. The 1972 Methodist General Conference established Human Relations Day to recognize the right of all God s children in realizing their potential as human beings in relationship with each other. Noted church music scholar to speak Feb. 17 at UIndy UIndy s Schwitzer Student Center, 1400 E. with his daughter Life to Live, written Hanna Ave. Emily, a member of Saliers has been organist/choirmaster at winning folk-pop duo the Grammy Award- Emory University s Indigo Girls. Cannon Chapel for He received his doctoral degree from Yale more than 30 years, and he has contributed to the University and taught Methodist Hymnal, the Method- at Yale Divinity School Saliers before joining the Emory faculty in He retired in ist Book of Worship and the Upper Room Worshipbook. He is the author or co-author of 15 books, in- The lecture topic at 4 p.m. is 2007 after 42 years of teaching. cluding 2005 s A Song to Sing, A Singing Faith, Singing Justice. Joy Moore to speak on new technologies at Our Life Together clergy retreat INDIANAPOLIS The Rev. Dr. Joy Moore will 3:15 p.m. on April 21. Moore will hold a be joining the ranks of workshop titled: other guest speakers at the upcoming Our Life Together retreat for Indiana s Methodist clergy. The conference is to be held April at Holy Friendships in an ipod, YouTube, Wii Environment. She serves as associate dean for Lifelong Learning in the St. Luke s Methodist Church in India- Duke University Divinity School in Moore napolis, 100 West 86th Street, one block west of North Meridian Street from 9 a.m. on April 20 to Durham, N.C. I am excited about this year s Our Life Together event for the clergy of our Indiana Conference, said Bishop Mike Coyner. We have some excellent workshop leaders, and we will be launching our Clergy Covenant Groups. Moore will join speakers Coyner, Bishop Janice Huie, Christian comedian Craig Tornquist and Dr. Matt Bloom of the University of Notre Dame. For more information and registration, log on to OLT2009Epacket.pdf. In this exploration of singing as a political act, examples will be drawn from the history of Christian hymns and song, especially from eras that cried out for justice. At 7 p.m. Saliers will talk on Terror and Beauty: Humanity at Full WASHINGTON (UMNS) Fifty-three will serve in the 111th States Congress, a decline of eight from the last three Congresses, but the denomination still ranks third in total congressional membership. While there are seven newly elected in the 111th Congress, compared to five in the 110th Congress, an unusual number of Methodist members retired, died in office or were defeated for re-election, resulting in the overall reduction. The new Congress convened Jan. 6. Nine will serve in the Senate, a decline of four from the previous Congress. One of the nine is Senator Richard Lugar, a member of St. Luke s UMC in Indianapolis. of Shepler Construction Company, offered to let Riendeau and his crew use space in his lumber yard in Logansport. Mike McCord from McCord s Do It Best Center hardware store, also contributed by discounting all the materials needed to build the beds. Local Boy Scouts troop also donated their time as well. Along with McCord and Shepler, Riendeau has recruited several people from other area Methodist churches. More than 15 volunteers at time build the beds, but there is always a need for more volunteers. They gather on Mondays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., on Thursdays from 6 to 9 p.m., and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Additional volunteers have provided meals for the workers. Volunteers have built 80 beds since September and have approximately 46 more to build. The staff of Impact 2818 and Pine Creek Camp are deeply grateful for the wonderful blessing of all the volunteers who have helped improve the experience for these campers. The Revs. Andres Paris, Sr. (left) and Bill Ping joined congregations for a commemorative MLK service. Stretch Before God. What does it mean to live fully in a world of both beauty and terror? What emotional resiliency is required of Christian existence, and what resources does faith offer? Admission is free. Fifty-three to serve in U.S. Congress Congressional are split almost equally between the two parties, with 27 Democrats and 26 Republicans. Indiana has two Representatives who are listed as. They are Representative Steve Buyer (R) of the 4th District, who resides in Monticello, and Representative Baron Hill (D) of the 9th District, who resides in Seymour and is a member of the First UMC of Seymour. remain in third place among religious groups represented in Congress, following Roman Catholics in first place and Baptists in second. Jews, Presbyterians and Episcopalians are in fourth, fifth and sixth place, respectively.

5 For those unfamiliar with Nomads On a Mission Active in Divine Service (NOMADS), it is a volunteer mission outreach ministry of The Methodist Church. The NOMADS program is specific to individuals and couples with RV s who wish to be involved in Christian service. Participants furnish their own RV and all costs for traveling to the mission sites, prepare their own meals while at a project and work four days a week for three weeks, totaling about 24 to 28 hours per week. NOMADS works for any agency that is associated with UMC. The host agency must provide water and electricity. NOMADS has teams that will install RV hookups for a host site that might wish to have continuing work teams. About one third of the NO- MADS budget comes from INDIANA Bishop names ten new districts and their superintendents Indiana Bishop Mike Coyner named the ten District Superintendents who will lead the new 10- district model of the Indiana Conference beginning in The final district lines will be tweaked by the Bishop and Cabinet after the upcoming Ministry Cluster Tip-Offs in February and March, a map from the approved Imagine Indiana Plan shows the current plans for those district lines is available online at District 1 will be called the North District and will be served by the Rev. Cindy Reynolds, current Warsaw Dis- Answering the call EVANSVILLE, Ind. Answering the Call To Serve (ACTS) celenbrates its tenth anniversary this past summer. Blue Grass Methodist Church, in the Evansville District, has sponsored this six-day work camp since June Methodist campers have come from every corner of the state to participate in this youth-centered program. Each year more than 80 youth and adult campers converge at Camp Reveal in Evansville to begin their lifechanging week. Blue Grass UMC facilities also are used for meals and worship. The purpose of the camp is to demonstrate God s love through acts of service (minor home repair, painting, small building projects, cleaning, yard work, and, yes, windows) for persons physically or financially unable to accomplish these tasks. In the past nine years, nearly 700 campers have participated in providing assistance for 400 homeowners in a five-county area. During each week, teams of six, including one adult and several youth from various churches, travel to the site for the day to accomplish the needed work. They also minister by visiting and praying with the homeowner. Along with the daily work assignment, campers enjoy swimming, volleyball, basketball, and other organized ac- By Scott Hall INDIANAPOLIS (UIndy) While her husband is serving in the Army in Iraq, Jimtown High School graduate and current University of Indianapolis student Sarah VanVlerah has received a scholarship to spend the next two months studying at Oxford University s Harris Manchester College in England. trict Superintendent District 2 Northeast District will be served by the Rev. David Michel, current superintendent of the Fort Wayne District. District 3 Northwest District will be served by the Rev. Craig LaSuer, the current superintendent of the Marion District. District 4 West District will be served by the Rev. Judi Purvis, current superintendent of the Vincennes District. District 5 North Central District will be served by the Rev. Frank Beard, current superintendent of the Kokomo District. District 6 Central District will I am excited about the ten individuals who will serve on the Cabinet beginning in Bishop Coyner be served by the Rev. Bert Kite, who has been named to serve the Indianapolis West District in 2009, effective July 1. District 7 East District will be served by the Rev. Dale Mendenhall, current superintendent of the Muncie. District 8 Southeast District will be served by the Rev. Brian White, current superintendent NOMADS is UMC s best kept volunteer-in-mission secret church donations, one third from individual donations and the rest from members dues, grants and interest. Overhead costs (only one paid administrator) are kept low by utilizing volunteers. At its recent National Reunion, NOMADS was challenged to look to God s guidance as it envisioned the next 20 years of service. After prayer and study, the group developed a visioning plan for the next five years and these goals fit in of the Columbus District. District 9 Southwest District will be served by the Rev. Glenn Howell, current superintendent of the Evansville District. District 10 South District will be served by the Rev. Charlie Wilfong, current superintendent of the New Albany District. ACTS celebrates tenth summer work camp Over the years, ACTS has developed a reputation as being a high-quality, Christ-centered work camp. tivities. Each day begins with devotions and each evening ends with lively worship and sharing of the day s experiences. Though much is accomplished in the community during the week, the greater work may be done in each camper s life. Each year, many campers make a commitment to Christ and respond to the call of ministry on their lives. Over the years, ACTS has developed a reputation as being a high-quality, Christ-centered work camp. ACTS will be held Sun., June 7 through Friday, June 12. Churches interested in bringing a group to ACTS or would like more information, are invited to visit the church s Web site at or contact the church at Teen volunteers paint a fence in Evansville during the church s summer work camp for youth. Daughter of Jamestown pastor to study at Oxford VanVlerah is a junior majoring in international relations and French, with a 3.7 GPA and a strong record of community service. As a member of UIndy s prestigious Honors College, she was eligible to apply for the annual Harris Manchester College VanVlerah two categories: increasing volunteer resources and increasing financial resources. The Board will conduct an Annual Giving Campaign to raise portion of the money needed to supplement the efforts of local in service to their communities. NO- MADS plans to actively recruit new members. All are encouraged to support this worthy cause. Clergy may suggest NO- 5 Transitional work into this new 10-district model will continue during 2009 with the current 18 districts in place. The current North and South Cabinets will continue to meet both separately and as these transitions are made. Coyner noted, We have all realized that 2009 will be a time of transition and even a messy time, but it is helpful to know where we are headed. I am excited about the ten individuals who will serve on the Cabinet beginning in 2010, and in the spirit of transparency it seems appropriate to announce these names as we continue in our transition. Photo courtesy of Blue Grass UMC Study Scholarship, which covers tuition, room and board for a term than runs from Jan. 14 to March 14. After her Oxford stay, she also plans to spend two to three months traveling and working on her required Honors College project in London, followed by six weeks studying in Aix-en-Provence in the south of France. This scholarship is something I ve been working for since my freshman year, said VanVlerah. I feel like the whole of UIndy has helped me, with countless recommendations, advice, books to read, scheduling, signatures and just plain excitement. VanVlerah is the daughter of David and Julia Henry. David Henry is the pastor of Jamestown Methodist Church. The Harris Manchester College Study Scholarship is made possible through a gift from the University of Indianapolis supporters Jerry and Elsie Martin of Indianapolis. MADS as a mission project, and encourage members with an RV to consider joining this mission organization. NOMADS remains willing to come to any church to make a presentation, either to a congregation, a senior group or a mission team. Please call Lynn Powers at for scheduling. For free brochures and additional information, you may contact NOMAD S director at

6 6 INDIANA The time is now NOW campaign pushes urgency of prayer and actions Imagine nine regional churches coming to speak the same language: the language of urgency for our congregations and community. Now. Not yesterday; not tomorrow; but Now. This message is being heard in Greene and Owen Counties through five Methodist congregations [Bloomfield, Freedom, Greene County Chapel, Solsberry, and Folsom Memorial]; as well as other local congregations Baptist, Disciples of Christ, Independent Christian and Full Gospel. The message is being carried out through various vehicles of media such as: billboards, removable bumper stickers, and large outside vinyl ban- ners. The campaign is called, Many Churches, One Voice Now Campaign. This is an amazing way to communicate the Gospel message to the community and with a sense of unity, explained the Rev. Kevin Raidy of Bloomfield. What would happen if we prayed now? You know when people say to you, I ll pray for you. Do they really pray with a sense of urgency? What would happen if the next time someone told you, I ll pray for you you might say, How about now? The same is true for believing, serving, worshiping, forgiving, and loving. Why wait? Why not do it now? The campaign will begin the Sample bumper sticker design being used in the NOW campaign by Greene and Owen Counties churches. first Sunday of Lent and will end on Easter. The Rev. Ed Beedle of Solsberry and Greene County Chapel UMCs elaborated, We believe this message is important reminder to our community and University of Indianapolis student crowned Miss America INDIANAPOLIS (UIndy) University of Indianapolis senior Katie Stam was crowned Miss America 2009 on Jan.24 in Las UIndy photo Katie Stam s involvement with UIndy campus TV, scholarship and focus on community service helped her achieve the 2009 Miss America pageant title. By Lindsey Junk Wesley Foundation* Intern Vegas. She is the first to claim the title in the pageant s 88- year history. Stam, a Missouri Synod Lutheran, daughter of Keith and Tracy Stam of Seymour, is a senior communication major and an honor roll student at UIndy. She battled illness during the week but still drew applause for her vocal rendition of Via Dolorosa during the evening s talent competition. That s the Katie Stam we know, said UIndy TV General Manager Scott Uecker, in an interview with WTHR Channel 13. She s always on stage and on camera been one that brings her A game and she certainly showed that last night. Her pageant platform issue is community service, reflecting her work as a volunteer and a leader of campus service projects. UIndy s motto is Education for Service. WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. To fix the problem of those stubborn leaves that invariably fall, Wesley Foundation has spearheaded a service project called Winterization Planning Crew for the past seven years. The aim is to gather Christian students from all of Purdue s various religious groups wanting to spread God s love to the community s elderly and disabled residents as they help them prepare their homes for winter. The volunteer crew began working months before its service day on Nov. 15. The group included leaders from the Baptist Student Foundation, Campus House, Alpha Phi Omega and Boiler Volunteer Network meeting weekly and putting in other time making phone calls and doing leg work. This, the seventh annual Winterization, crew members thought they knew what to expect in groundwork for this mega-service project. One of the aspects of Winterization that they all expected was for it to grow in scope from its already impressive volunteer numbers seen the previous year. They were We re just looking forward to what great things she ll do as Miss America. Scott Uecker She s very deserving, Ueker said. We re just looking forward to what great things she ll do as Miss America. Stam was among four pageant contestants who were voted into the finals by viewers of Miss America: Countdown to the Crown, a cable TV miniseries that led up to the live finals broadcast Jan. 24 on TLC. As Miss America, she claims a $50,000 scholarship and will spend the next year traveling and making public appearances. This is an amazing way to communicate the Gospel message to the community and with a sense of unity. Kevin Raidy the world, especially during Lent and Easter. What a great way for our congregations to be living witnesses of our faith through this campaign. It s a powerful statement of Christian unity, even across our differences, said the Rev. Colin Cress of the Folsom/Freedom NORTH WEBSTER, Ind. Fire destroyed Redwing, one of the cabins at Epworth Forest Conference Center in North Webster, Ind. on Jan. 14. The building was not occupied by guests and no one was injured during the fire. Epworth Forest is one of four camp sites of the Indiana Methodist Conference in North Indiana. Each summer, the grounds are home to week-long senior high ministry events, a special needs camp for more than one hundred unique adults, and a camp for at-risk children in partnership with Royal Family Kids Camp. During the other nine months of the year the building is rented to groups wishing to build community through retreats. Shortly after lunch one of the facilities crew at Epworth Forest saw flames inside the window of the Redwing cabin and began emergency processes. Fire crews from North Webster, Syracuse and charge. It s one thing for someone to say, Oh, all churches are the same, aren t they? But it s another thing when we actually do share and live our faith the way we should, and do it. If we re all living our faith in the now, people will see the Spirit we share. Fire destroys cabin at Epworth Forest in North Webster Turkey Creek Townships came to battle the blaze. Shane Hartman, camp director, said the building was a total loss. It had the capacity to house 34 guests. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined. Epworth Forest maintenance crews had been working in the building during the past 24 hours due to frozen pipes. Heat damage to nearby Northstar cabin is apparent, but appears as if the lodge will be available for occupancy this spring. Redwing, a deep red two-story cabin, located in the horseshoe, is often the home to 25 students of each week at summer camp. It is used by a number of groups for retreats as well. Plans are underway to move forward in providing housing for groups that may be displaced by this fire. For more information about Epworth Forest and other North Indiana UM campsites, log on to Students clean up yards for Lafayette area senior citizens Photo courtesy of Wesley Foundation. Purdue University students participate in the annual winterization project, sponsored inpart by the Wesley Foundation helping Lafayette area residents prepare for winter. right. For Winterization 2007, the Wesley Foundation building was filled to capacity with 234 volunteers, and this year they had 260 pre-registered. So they knew they would need much more donated food. They also knew they had to move to larger location next door for registration. The one thing they didn t plan for and didn t expect was bad weather. They spent Friday night worrying about the forecast for a windy mix of rain and snow. Surprise. The next morning their ranks swelled to 305 volunteers. All these volunteers braved the 38-degree drizzle to service 97 homes in a little under four hours of intense work. The residents living within each home were greeted by groups of students who wanted nothing better to do with their Saturday morning than to help others. This inspired residents to say things such as, You students, each one of you, are a blessing to me and the community. Following the Winterization, many students confidently said they would be back next year, as one student said, To bless others and be blessed in return. *Wesley Foundation is a campus ministry offered through The Methodist Church in North Indiana. It s primarily a ministry for and by students, serving them and helping them to grow in faith and Christian leadership. The Wesley Foundation is open to students, staff and faculty from all denominations and faiths.

7 By Wayne Rhodes WASHINGTON (UMNS) The Methodist General Board of Church and Society has set six legislative priorities for the 111th States Congress. The priorities address issues as sweeping as overcoming global poverty and as specific as increasing spending for international family planning. Systemic reform, however, stands out as the linchpin holding all of the priorities. The priorities support actions taken by the 2008 General Conference, the denomination s highest policy-making body. Meeting every four years, General Conference approves the denomination s Social Principles and The Methodist Book of Resolutions, setting forth Methodist stances on many issues. Jim Winkler, top executive of the Board of Church and Society, said the priorities represent areas where the faith community can bring a unique voice to the legislative process by focusing on justice and, increasingly, stewardship of creation. The six legislative priorities for 2009 are reform of the U.S. healthcare system; just, humane immigration reform; strengthening the social safety net; investing in a green-energy future; overcoming global poverty; and increasing levels of U.S. spending for international family planning. The health of people throughout the States is jeopardized every day by limited or lack of access to health care, according to the Rev. Cynthia Abrams, director of the board s work area on alcohol, other addictions and health care. She said 45.7 million Hopewell Methodist Church in Blairsville, Pa., has inherited $2 million from a former church member who was carrying out his mother s wishes. John Ferguson, 71, died in He had lived in a trailer without running water but prospered in business. The church received the money after the will went through probate. Church members knew the family intended to leave the money but had no idea how much it would be. We had our people are uninsured in the States, and increasing numbers are underinsured or have expensive and inadequate health care. Major health reform efforts are under way in Congress and with the new administration, said Abrams. She added that it isn t clear yet what the legislative package will look like. Faith groups have worked to develop a solid foundation of principles to guide legislative efforts, Abrams said, adding that the Methodist position on health care has heavily influenced this process. A society where each person is afforded health, wholeness and human dignity expresses God s intention for abundant life, she explained. An inclusive, accessible, affordable and accountable health-care system lives out God s intention. Immigration reform The board s civil and human rights work area has set just, humane immigration reform as its priority this year. Common sense tells us that the immigration system is badly in need of reform, said Bill Mefford, director. According to Mefford, effective reform must be comprehensive in nature and entail a path to citizenship for all undocumented immigrants, protection of the rights of workers and reunification of families. NATIONAL Scripture calls us as people of faith to welcome the sojourner, he emphasized. John Hill, director of the work area on economic and environmental justice, pointed to the uncertainty in the economy as a reason for strengthening the social safety net. As economic uncertainty grows, he explained, we must protect those living on the economic margins, particularly children. For example, he said, Church and Society will work to strengthen and expand programs to ensure every child has access to proper nutrition. Pushing for legislation that mandates investing in a greenenergy future is a response to the call to be faithful stewards of God s creation, according to Hill. The board supports a transition to green, low-carbon energy alternatives, he said. Adopting a new energy policy with a strong federal investment in clean alternative energy sources will reduce global warming pollution, generate jobs and lead us toward a sustainable future. The agency supports legislation that helps to end global poverty, said Mark Harrison, director of the peace with justice work area. He said foreign aid reform, fair trade, debt cancellation and major reform of international financial institutions, such as the World Bank and International Social action agency sets federal legislative priorities Faithful son leaves $2 million to small rural church The priorities address issues as sweeping as overcoming global poverty and as specific as increasing spending for international family planning. A UMNS photo courtesy of Hopewell UMC. Monetary Fund, are instrumental ways the States can lead to end poverty. Family planning Linda Bales, director of the Louise and Hugh Moore Population Project at Church and Society, has a 2009 priority of increasing funding for international family planning. She said the purpose is to ensure access to the full range of health services, including family planning. Increased spending on international family planning should include support for the Nations Population Fund, according to Bales. The fund estimates that one in three deaths related to pregnancy and childbirth could be avoided if all women had access to contraceptive services. That means some 175,000 women each year could be saved, Bales said, and many more could avoid severe or longlasting injuries. In many countries, however, funding for family planning has 7 A UMNS photo by Maile Bradfield. The Methodist Board of Church and Society has named six legislative priorities for the 111th U.S. Congress. UMCOR s 100-Ton Challenge is over halfway mark Since the Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) issued its 100-Ton Challenge for to increase their purchases of fairly traded goods on World Fair Trade Day 2008, 56.5 tons have been purchased towards this goal. The goods, purchased through the UMCOR Coffee Project and its partner Equal Exchange, ensure that small-scale farmers receive a fair wage for their crops. The 100-Ton Challenge which jaws in our laps for a couple of weeks, said the Rev. Jason L. McQueen, pastor of Hopewell, an 80-member congregation in rural Western Pennsylvania. ends on World Fair Trade Day, May 9, 2009, is just over the halfway mark. UMCOR is encouraging Methodist participation to help reach its record goal of 100 tons. In doing so, small-scale farmers across Latin America, Asia and Africa are ensured a fair wage for their labor, enabled to better support their families, live healthier lives, sustain the environment and help send their children to school. Participation in UMCOR s 100-Ton Challenge and support of the fair trade model shows that we can do justice everyday through our consumer choices. Last year, bought 68 tons or 136,000 pounds of fairly-traded products. With every pound of product sold through the UMCOR Coffee Project, 15 cents went to support farmers through UMCOR s Sustainable Agricultural and Development Program (SA&D). Your participation helped farmers like Famatta McGill of Caldwell, Liberia, succeed in her community. McGill is an UMCOR-SA&D Integrated Crop and Pest Management graduate who after completing UMCOR s Farmer Field School training, banded with other farmers to open a micro loan to purchase farming tools, supplies and seedlings for their first cabbage harvest. Today, this member group is planning to expand their farm activities to include beekeeping and livestock work. Through the UMCOR-SA&D program, and partly because of the portion of proceeds made available through fair trade purchases, farmers able to learn new methods of cultivating their crops that produce good yields and nutritious food for their families. Your purchases also been curtailed. The board will work with various population/reproductive health groups to secure additional funding for family planning services around the globe, she said, because the potential lifesaving benefits are so immense. She said greater access to family planning can reduce the spread of AIDS, allow couples to space their children, and reduce abortions and child and maternal mortality. As followers of Christ, we are called to bring health and wholeness to all God s people, Bales stated. Methodism s founder, John Wesley, had a burning passion for health and the desire to see people have access to goods and services needed to live life abundantly as well as faithfully. All priorities are available in pdf format by visiting the board s Web site at Wayne Rhodes serves as director of communications for the Methodist General Board of Church and Society based in Washington. help in sustaining their livelihood as well as keep their communities prospering. Join the Challenge now. Help farmers like McGill through your fair trade purchases. Log on to interfaith.- equalexchange.com/ and visit web page and click on Far Trade Coffee story for creative ways you can support fair trade practices in your community. Support UMCOR s Sustainable Agriculture and Development Program, Advance # which helps farmers and their families improve their lives. Gifts can be given through your local Methodist church or send your check marked with Advance # to Methodist Committee on Relief, 475 Riverside Drive, Room 330, New York, NY 10115

8 8 GLOBAL EVANSTON, Ill. (UMNS) The Methodist Board of Pension and Health Benefits, based in Evanston, Ill., has divested its 67,350 shares in the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. of Dehradun, India, because the company is engaged in Sudanese oil Pension board divests stock because of Sudan involvement exploration and production through its foreign exploration arm, ONGC Videsh Ltd. The company also owns shares in several Sudanese oil-producing ventures and helped build a pipeline in that African country. The 2008 General Conference, the denomination s top legislative body, called upon Methodist investors to consider divesting from any company doing business with the government of Sudan because of the humanitarian crisis there. Pension board directors voted to do so in November. The company had not responded to the board s request for information about its business operations in Sudan. Indiana Area church leaders actively pursued this divestment with the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits more than a year ago. UMCOR responds to Gaza emergency relief needs By Linda Bloom NEW YORK (UMNS) With a tentative cease-fire holding between Israel and Hamas, humanitarian organizations are stepping up their assistance to Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip. Action by Churches Together (ACT), representing more than 130 church-based relief agencies, including the Methodist Committee on Relief and Church World Service, has issued an appeal for $4 million to provide immediate relief there. UMCOR has requested that its $50,000 grant to ACT be implemented through the Department of Services to Palestinian Refugees of the Middle East Council of Churches. Melissa Crutchfield, who oversees international disaster response for UMCOR, said Jan. 26 that the organization is a long-term trusted partner of ACT estimates that 50,000 people are homeless The Methodist Church. Another $50,000 grant has been made to Muslim Aid, also an UMCOR partner. ACT estimates that 50,000 people are homeless and 400,000 are without running water. The coalition has targeted some 15,000 displaced people to receive food distribution and already has gathered nutritional biscuits, water, milk, milk powder and medicine. The Nations reported Jan. 26 that it had 10 distribution centers open and was feeding 25,000 people per day. The U.N. World Food Program also has distributed 95 tons of food aid to nearly 6,000 people in Gaza City and North Gaza. Critical needs include spare parts and fuel for the power plant, hospitals and water and sewage treatment facilities, and construction materials for rebuilding. Unrestricted access for humanitarian groups is critical as well. The U.N. press release said such groups have faced unprecedented denial of access to Gaza by Israel since Nov. 5 and that access remains unreliable. Liv Steimoeggen, the ACT representative in Jerusalem, has called for open borders for humanitarian relief, along with safe and free distribution. Working with UMCOR and other ACT partners, the Department of Services to Palestinian Refugees plans to improve food security through cash grants, cash for work or food to families; help cover health care fees and medical needs for the poorest families; tend to trauma and stress faced by families coming to the clinics; rehabilitate health facilities; and improve the livelihood of farming families. Special attention will be given throughout to women and children. can contribute to UMCOR s humanitarian work in Gaza by making donations to Middle East Emergency, UMCOR Advance # Donors can place checks in church collection plates; go to and click on Gaza Crisis ; call Africa University students struggle to pay fees By Andra Stevens MUTARE, Zimbabwe (UMNS) The economic climate of Zimbabwe is making it difficult for some Africa University students to pay their fees and continue their education without further scholarship and financial aid assistance. Although fees have not increased at the Methodist-related university, that fact hardly seems to matter to families trying to survive an unprecedented economic decline. Currently, the inflation rate is around 230 million percent. More than 80 percent of workers are unemployed. The vast majority of those who still have jobs are paid in Zimbabwe dollars which, due to inflation, are losing value by the hour. We have put measures in place and emphasized the need to collect meaningful fees from our students because we are committed to giving them an education that is of high quality, that is relevant and that equips them for professional and personal success, said Fanuel Tagwira, the school s interim vice chancellor. To do that, the university must be able to retain its lecturers with appropriate salaries and benefits, maintain and improve its facilities, and provide a good environment for the students, he added. If students and their families don t contribute through fees, then we are likely to suffer the same fate as other universities in Zimbabwe brokendown infrastructure, no lecturers to teach our courses and be forced to close our doors to students. Family sells livestock Students are trickling in to pay their fees and getting back to class. As of Jan. 19, nearly 700 students had paid their fees and registered for second semester courses. University officials are confident that most of the 1,500 students who enrolled at the start of the academic year will return to continue their studies. Evelyn Chipangura is the fifth of 10 children and the UMNS photos by Andra Stevens. Shelley Musandu (center) is determined to see her daughter, Fundai Musandu (right), and niece, Tatenda Kufa, graduate from Africa University in Mutare, Zimbabwe. first to attend college. She has finished two and a half years of a four-year degree program in health services management at Africa University, thanks to a combination of family support and university financial aid. This semester a brother in South Africa provided money for a portion of her fees, and her father is selling off some of the family s livestock to raise funds to pay the balance. For quite a number of families with precarious finances, the answer is a scholarship or financial aid grant from the university. In this academic year alone, Africa University awarded $1.2 million (US) in assistance to 430 students with the aim of ensuring that it is not an elitist institution. They have to finish A small minority of students and their parents say that although their incomes cannot cover the fees, they understand the institution must take steps to ensure that it remains open, fiscally sound and sustainable. One such parent is Shelly Musandu from Zimbabwe s joined with Indiana Roman Catholic and Jewish leaders in helping pass legislation two years ago to divest state pension funds in Sudanese companies involved with the military as a protest against the genocide in Darfur. Photo courtesy ACT Children at the Jabalya Internally Displaced Persons camp in Gaza eat food Jan. 10 provided by Action by Churches Together member ; or mail a check to Advance GCFA, P.O. Box 9068, GPO, New York, NY Linda Bloom serves as a reporter for the Methodist News Service. She is based in New York City. The fees are too much, not only for Zimbabweans, but for everyone. Evelyn Chipangura capital city, Harare. The (fees) policy may be out of our reach, but it is fair, Musandu said. I never realized the facilities that you have for our kids. After taking a tour of this place, my mind was changed. We speak from our homes with no idea of the good things our kids are being offered and exposed to. We don t want these facilities to go. Do I understand what the university is trying to do? Absolutely! said Musandu. We chose Africa University for my daughter s program in health sciences because it is the best. As I look around at the grounds, the buildings, the computer services, I see that there is a lot to maintain here, and I ask myself, how else are you to pay your bills? So far, the Musandus have only able to raise about a quarter of the money they need for the second semester fees, but Musandu is determined to see her girls graduate. Economy, currency collapse The fees are too much, not only for Zimbabweans, but for everyone, Chipangura said. In the past, students like Chipangura and Jasse and their parents would pay some or all of the required university fees in Zimbabwe dollars. Payment in Zimbabwe dollars worked well when the currency was stable. But, as Zimbabwe s economy collapsed, so did its currency. The rapid decline in the value of the currency, combined with increasing demands from suppliers for goods and services to be paid in foreign currency and a shortage of cash in the local banking system, left the university struggling to maintain the quality of its service. Andra Stevens serves as director of public information at Africa University.

9 By Jean Brindel My daddy used to say discernment requires asking the right questions. I agree. Take an apple orchard for example. One can look at the tree and ask how many bushels of apples are on the tree. Take a bushel of apples and count how many pies can be made. Finally, cut open the apple, take out the seeds and wonder how many trees are in the apple. The questions of discernment for the orchard are: Has the tree faithfully produced? Was the harvest received in hope? Has the future been claimed as blessing yet to come? Here s an example of being faithful to the Gospel s call. The folks in Charlotte, North Carolina, thought the evangelists were preaching way too radical a sermon for But evangelist Mor- Brindel VIEWPOINTS Discerning the right questions decai Fowler Ham discerned he was doing the will of God and kept on talking about sin and the need for grace. Some of the youth in the community decided to come and see what the uproar was about. That night, the Rev. Ham preached the Gospel with his direct message of salvation. At the service many youth came forward to give their lives to Christ. One of those youth was a young man named Billy Graham. The preacher was faithful, the youth received Christ, and the Rev. Billy Graham became a blessing to millions as he preached the Gospel of salvation. People look at the camping ministry and ask the questions of discernment. What was the attendance at camp last summer? How many youth gave their lives to Christ? Did any make a decision to go into ministry? Here are numbers that reflect the 2008 North Indiana Impact 2818 camps. In 2008, 3,000 children and youth took part in the camping ministry. Of those, 387 committed their lives to Christ for the first time, 815 recommitted their lives to Christ and 773 celebrated Christ as Lord and Savior. At senior high camp, 105 youth answered a call to Christian ministry. Discernment is asking the right questions so the answers make sense. Now that s a blessing. Jean Brindel, CFRE, AFP, serves as Development Officer of the former Northern Indiana Conference of the The States has power to do good By Larry Pickens A UMNS Commentary There we were, squeezing into a Metro train car in Silver Spring, Md. The train was so packed that no one had to grasp the handrail as we traveled to the Capitol. We were holding each other up. A spirit of hopefulness, pride and joy permeated the atmosphere at 4 a.m. on Jan. 20, even before the dawn. It was Inauguration Day, and 2 million people had gathered to see what is great about our nation. Witnessing the inauguration of Barack H. Obama as the 44th president reminded me of the awesome power that is inherent within our system of constitutional democracy. But what was more significant, as the president took the oath of office, was that our power is not merely military or political in nature; our nation also has the power to do significant good around the world. Cloud of witnesses The palpable spirit generating throughout Washington on Inauguration Day was the spirit of the cloud of witnesses, who also gathered to celebrate the first African- American president in this nation s history. This day came in the backdrop history of slavery and segregation. It came in the reality of too many dreams deferred. It came in the midst of financial crisis and corporate greed. It came as we face the reality of two wars, political strife and religious intolerance Pickens We are the change that is anticipated. around the world. Nonetheless, the hope of the day was seen in the eyes of the children and youth. It was the spirit of yes, we can. Through the charge to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin the work of remaking America, the new president challenged our nation to move forward and reach for our destiny. As a local church pastor, I worked with other clergy who witnessed the leadership ability of our new president when he was a community organizer in Chicago. He engaged our churches and solicited our ideas. What is exciting about President Obama is that he really understands the experience of the common man and woman; this is a president who gets it. At this moment in our nation s history, his experience will make him more resilient and open to the problems, hopes and dreams of all Americans. New way forward President Obama has also envisioned a new way forward as it relates to the Muslim world. He signaled clearly that we are not at war with Islam. He called for a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. This is a significant message to the world as we counter terrorism and distinguish that offensive from our respect of Islam and the benefit of living in the common values of all communities, despite our theological and ideological differences. Change is in the air, but the aegis of the change that we anticipate is not inherent in what President Obama or Congress does. It is a change that is created by our initiative and volunteerism. It is the change that will be spawned in our churches, synagogues and temples. We are the change We are the change that is anticipated. The inauguration was a great start. Now it is time for every American to roll up his or her sleeves and begin building a new reality. In Margaret Walker s poem, For My People, she encourages the creation of a new world. Here is a portion: Let a new earth rise. Let another world be born. Let a bloody peace be written in the sky. Let a second generation full of courage issue forth; let a people loving freedom come to growth. Let a beauty full of healing and a strength of final clenching be the pulsing in our spirits and our blood. Let the martial songs be written, let the dirges disappear. Let a race of men now rise and take control. Larry Pickens, the pastor of Northbrook (Ill.) Methoidst Church, and his wife, Debra, attended the inauguration ceremony. Methodist Church. She lives in Carmel, Ind. If you or someone you love would like to attend church camp this summer, or if you would like to make a gift to the By Todd Outcalt I m certain most Methodist pastors in Indiana have, at one time or another, been asked to pray with a parishioner over the phone. Sometimes these phone calls find us in early morning or in the sudden shock of loneliness or fear that the aged may experience. Sometimes the call comes in before an unannounced surgery, when family members call us at the last minute to pray up a loved one before the anesthesia is applied. And then, there are always those calls that come on a cell phone, usually when we are driving to another meeting or are in the throes of counseling a couple with marital problems. No doubt, the proliferation of cell phones and other technology has made all of us more readily accessible. That s not necessarily a bad thing. But there also are some destructive and socially-disadvantaged elements to being got at any hour of the day or night, 365 days a year. Even a cursory reading of the Gospels will show Jesus himself did not play this game and there are many instances where Jesus refused to meet a need, refused to speak in public and otherwise blockaded himself from the unrelenting needs of the world. Actually, I enjoy praying with people over the phone. I do it quite often and sometimes I call people just to let them know I m thinking about them or I am aware of a particular need. But increasingly I also find myself turning off my cell phone, or going off-line, or even taking a long walk or a kayaking excursion, so that I can actually pray for myself or refresh my own depleted ener- Outcalt 9 Has the future been claimed as blessing yet to come? Jean Brindel North Indiana camping ministry, or just want more information, log on to A similar Web site is available for camping ministry in South Indiana at BODY, MIND & SPIRIT Taking life off-line from time to time gy. Taking life off-line from time to time gives me the ability to exercise, meditate or even work on my sermon without interruption. Like you, I have witnessed my share of instances where people seemed enslaved to their own accessibility. During the high moments of a Bible study I was teaching, one woman took a phone call without leaving the room, and talked loudly with a friend about their social plans for that evening. At an important congregational meeting, a fellow booted his laptop and began working on a company Power- Point presentation. During youth meetings, I am amazed at how many teens text-message constantly with friends, even during study, reflection and prayer. No, I m not a Luddite (an opponent of technological progress), and yes, I am aware of generational differences. I mention these things, not because I am beyond guilt or because I eschew technology, but because I think we have something to teach the world about prayer, reflection, solitude and the meaning of connection with God and others. Some of these connections have nothing to do with accessibility, but with the ability to listen and to find God in the stillness or our own inactivity. I m not throwing away my cell phone, my Internet or my Blue Ray DVD just yet, but I m still waiting for one phone call from a voice that says, I just called to say I love you. * Todd Outcalt serves as senior pastor of Calvary Methodist Church in Brownsburg. *with apologies to Stevie Wonder

10 10 CHRONICLES Bishop names Cobb, Kite, Keith, Schaar to new posts INDIANAPOLIS Indiana Bishop Mike Coyner recently named current Superintendent of the Calumet District, the Rev. Michelle Cobb, to be the first Director of the Well-Lived Pastoral Life Project, funded by a Lilly Endowment grant received by the Indiana Area. THe project will work under the direction of the Rev. David V.W. Owen in Bishop Coyner s office, beginning July 1. (See Together, Jan issue for more information about this new program.) Cobb was ordained an Elder in the North Indiana Conference INDIANAPOLIS Help us celebrate what God is doing here in Indiana and include your church in the Methodist Foundation of South Indiana s 2008 Annual Report. This year, the Foundation would like to have digital pictures of Confirmation classes and/or Confirmation services. DEATHS THOMAS W. ABBOTT, retired pastor (former SIC), died Jan. 11, A memorial service was held Jan. 25 in Indianapolis. Memorial contributions can be made to the South Indiana Conference Retired Ministers Fund, Methodist Foundation of South Indiana, 3530 South Keystone Avenue, Suite 300, Indianapolis, IN INA PEARL BARNES, mother of Mary Barnes director of the South Indiana Media Center in Bloomington, died Jan. 11, A memorial service was held Jan. 16 in Linton. A second service was held Feb. 1 in Bloomington. Memorial contributions can be made to First UMC, 149 B St. N.E., Linton, IN 47441; First UMC, P.O. Box 936, Bloomington, IN (to the Charles Webb Endowment Fund, UMW or Shalom Center); or to Habitat for Humanity. Condolences can be sent to Mary Barnes, South Indiana Conference Center, 1520 South Liberty Drive, Bloomington, IN DANIEL A. BENGSTON, retired pastor (former NIC), died Jan. 26, 2009 in Richmond, Mo. A memorial service was held Jan. 29 at the Richmond UMC in Richmond, Mo. Survivors include: his wife, Jean Baker Bengston; her daughters, Cathy Habermehl, Ellen McDonald and Laura Baker; one sister, Doris Combs of Niles, Mich.; one son, Philip Bengston of Versailles, Ky.; daughter, Lois Douglas of Raleigh, N.C.; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Memorials can be made to the Richmond UMC, PO Box 406, Richmond, MO Condolences may be sent to Jean Bengston, 301 Morningside Dr., Richmond, MO EVALENA CLEMENTS, widow of the late Rev. Halden H. Clem- Cobb S. Indiana Foundation in need of digital images Kite in She has served churches in Gary (Marquette Park) and Merrillville. Previous to her current appointment as Superintendent of the Calumet District in The pictures don t have to have to be recent but if you have older photos, we ask that you scan them so they can be sent electronically. Digital images should be in jpg (preferably) or tif format. Please include the name of your church, approximate date or year of the confirmation and a signed photo ents, retired Elder (former SIC), died Feb. 1, Calling hours will be 4 to 8 p.m Tuesday, Feb. 3, A memorial service was held Feb. 4, at the at Murphy-Parks Funeral Service in Shelbyville, Ind. with burial at Forest Hill Cemetery in Shelbyville. Survivors include: son, David Clements of Cambridge City, Ind; and granddaughter, Tamra Clements of Williamsburg, Ind. M. ELEANOR SUE HEATH, widow of the late Rev. Charles R. Dick Heath, retired Elder (former SIC), died Dec. 16, Burial was at Round Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis. Survivors include: daughters, Maryalis Brindley of Augusta, Ky. and Didi Marie Shepherd of Naples, Fla.; grandchildren; sisters, Dorothy Hall of Big Bear, Calif. and Betty McInnes of Victoria, B.C. Memorial contributions can be made to Experience Crew Young Adults Ministry, 6017 Pine Ridge Road, Suite 201, Naples, FL DANIEL MORRIS, a retired pastor of the Western Pennsylvania Conference and father of the Rev. Tracey Leslie, pastor of Marquette Park UMC in Gary (former NIC), died Jan. 23, A memorial service was held Jan. 26 in Pa. Condolences can be sent to the Rev. Tracey Leslie, 8732 Lakewood Ave., Gary, IN or LILLIAN PERKINS, widow of the late Rev. E. T. Perkins, retired Elder (former SIC), died Feb.1, A memorial service was held Feb. 4,at the Franklin Methodist Community in Franklin, Ind., with burial at Memorial Park Cemetery in Vincennes, Ind. Survivors include: sons, N. Gene Perkins, 1521 Demaree Rd., Greenwood, IN Keith 2007, she served as Superintendent of the Lafayette District beginning in Coyner named the Rev. Marion Bert Kite II, senior pastor release. All pictures must be received by March 21 to be considered for inclusion. Please do not mail original print photos to the Foundation. If you have any questions, please contact Kathy Marquart at the Foundation office; toll free at or kathy@umfsi.org , Dr. R. Wayne Perkins, 720 S. Meadow Rd., Evansville, IN 47714, and Dr. Thornton D. Perkins, 2175 S. State Road 135, Greenwood, IN 46143; sister, Lida McLaughlin of Louisville, Ky.; and grandchildren. Memorial contributions can be given to the General Board of Pensions Ministers Retirement Fund, South Indiana Conference Center, 1520 S. Liberty Dr., Bloomington, IN SIDNEY SHORT, 80, a retired UM pastor from another conference living in Auburn, Ind., but not a member of either Indiana conference, died Jan. 16, A memorial service was held Jan. 20, at the First UMC in Battle Creek, Mich. A second memorial service was held Jan. 21, at the First UMC in Auburn, Ind. Survivors include: his wife, Alice; son Matthew of Auburn, Ind.; daughter Susanne of St. Paul, Minn.; grandchildren Emily and Sidney Short, Mattie and Henry Daub; and two sisters, Irene Sweet and Gwen Kile. Memorials can be made to the food bank of your choice. JOHN W. WALLACE, former pastor of Asbury Chapel UMC at Montpelier (former NIC), died Jan. 24, A memorial was held Jan. 31 at the Upland UMC. Survivors include: his wife, Doris; children: Debra Rice of Upland, Jan Reber of Upland, Jonna Jordan of Noblesville, and Jeff Wallace of Upland; ten grandchildren; one brother, Jerry Wallace of Summerville, S.C.; and one sister, Beverly Worthington of Richmond, Va.. Memorials to Upland UMC Building Fund, P.O. Box 11, Upland, IN or to the Wallace Family Social Work Scholarship at Taylor University, 239 W. Reade Avenue, Upland, IN of St. Mark s Methodist Church in Carmel, Ind., as the new Superintendent of the Indianapolis West District for 2009 and then to become the superintendent of the new Central District in This is the first appointment of a district superintendent in the new Indiana Conference. Kite was ordained an Elder in the South Indiana Conference in 1978 and has served churches in Marion, Ohio, and in Indiana at Epworth, Sellersburg, Southport and Lawrence before being appointed to St. Mark s in The Rev. Dr. Ned Steele, current Superintendent of Indianapolis West District, will receive another appointment later this spring. Coyner named the current Indianapolis East District Superintendent, the Rev. James W. Bill Schaar An Indiana Conference Volunteers in Mission Team Leader Training event will be held Saturday, March 14 at the New Life Methodist Church on U.S. 31 in Mexico, Ind., from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Penny Krug will be the trainer for this day-long event. Who should attend? Leaders and or participants of local church or district work teams, and youth leaders who are involved or would like to be involved in youth volunteer in mission projects. The cost is $10 per person and includes lunch and basic materials plus, $25 for a Volunteer in Mission Training Manual. Only Keith, Jr., to be the senior pastor of St. Mark s UMC in Carmel. Keith was appointed Superintendent of the Indianapolis East District in He was ordained an Elder in 1977 in the South Indiana Conference and has served churches in Hamlet, Petersville, Corydon, New Albany (DePauw Memorial), Columbus (Sandy Hook) and Bloomington (St. Mark s). Coyner also named the Rev. Dr. Gary M. Schaar, associate director of congregational development in the former South Indiana Conference to senior pastor of First UMC in Columbus. He was ordained an Elder in the South Indiana Conference in 1982 and has served churches in Mt. Vernon (First), Cloverdale, Paoli and Evansville (Old North) before his current 2001 appointment as an associate council director. All these appointments are effective July 1. Other appointments are listed on page 11. See page 5 for new districts list. Volunteer in Mission leader training coming March 14 one is needed per church. Topics include: How to plan a mission trip, Where to go when your church wants to send a team, Spiritual enrichment, Being a team member, Cultural sensitivity, Insurance and liability forms regardless of where you go, Issues of risk, and Answers to questions. The registration deadline is March 6. For more information and registration, contact Bonne Albert, North Indiana Volunteer in Mission coordinator, by at bonkay@hotmail.com or call Bishop encourages Greenwood church members, confirmands GREENWOOD, Ind. Bishop Mike Coyner came to Greenwood Methodist Church on Sunday, Jan. 11, worshiped and celebrated Communion with these confirmands (pictured). He shared words of strength and encouragement in light of the tragedy the church has been through in the past few years with a theft and financial struggles.

11 CHRONICLES The dates for the Evansville District Outdoor Ministries Camp dates for Summer 2009 at Santa Claus UM Church Camp are: June 15-20: D1A Elementary Camp, for campers entering grades 4-6. Director Jill Johnson; June 15-17: D1B First Timers Camp *NEW THIS SUMMER! For campers entering grades 3-4. Director Laurie Robinson; June 22-27: D2 Jr. High Camp, for campers enter- Church members put preachers on roof to complete service project LAGRANGE Ind. The Methodist Church of LaGrange, Ind., completed a successful fundraising campaign with an unusual twist. Volunteers swarmed the church parking lot this past August to fill backpacks with school supplies for LaGrange s children. The event was part of a program called Preacher on the Roof. Pastors Chris Danielson and Denise Heller used a fire truck-andladder to climb to the top of the church on Aug. 15 and did not climb down until the congregation had met their goal of filling 502 backpacks. By 11:30 the next morning, the church had met its goal. Janelle Godlewski, the event organizer, said she feels blessed and thankful with the outcome of the project. We couldn t believe it ourselves, but it just goes to show the power of prayer, the power of team work and the almighty power of Christ our Lord. The backpacks were delivered to the Fund of LaGrange County to be distributed to local schools. Members of LaGrange UMC pose with more than 500 backpacks, while their two pastors sit on the church roof. Annual Conference worship team being formed The Indiana Annual Conference worship team director is now recruiting musicians for the June session. Worship team members need to be self-motivated, college age and beyond, have theability to learn music quickly, the ability to receive music and work on learning their part ahead of rehearsals. Team members must have the availability to attend all day rehearsals in Indianapolis Saturday April 25, Saturday, June 6, and in Muncie at Ball State University afternoon day and evening Wednesday, June 24, all day and evenings during Conference June (Thursday-Sunday). We are looking for instru- APPOINTMENTS Bishop Michael J. Coyner has announced the following changes within the Indiana Area. All dates effective 2009 unless otherwise noted. These appointments are based on Cabinet reports received by Indiana Area Communication during the month of January. North Indiana Conference None South Indiana Conference Crow, Joe from Moores Ridge, Bloomington to no appointment, 1/31 Cummings, David Carlysle from Centenary, Evansville to Voluntary Leave of Absence, 2/1 Hastings, Janet from New Trenton, Rushville to no appointment, 12/31/08 Hizer, Jeannine S. from no appointment to Osgood, Columbus, 1/1 Irvine, Michael V. from Vienna, Columbus to Kent/Kent: Deputy/Kent: Pisgah, Columbus, 1/15 Jeffers, Terry from no appoint- mentalists who play: trumpets, trombones, saxophones and or woodwind multi instrument, string players, keyboard players. We are also looking for vocalists who may also play an instrument such as acoustic guitar or flute. Prospective worship team members please send a CD or cassette tape plus a mini resume of your musical experience and training. All Information and CDs or tapes must be received by Monday, March 2. Send information to: Chuck Scott, Saint Joseph Methodist Church, 6004 Reed Road, Fort Wayne, IN or by cscott@stjoemin.com ment to Lewis, Terre Haute, 10/ 1/08 Lipan, Matthew from no appointment to Indianapolis: Castleton, Indianapolis East, 1/1 Meeks, Carl R. from no appointment to Winslow, Vincennes, 1/1 Mincoff, Joyce from Tunnelton: Ft. Ritner, Bloomington to no appointment, 1/23 Parrott, Roger D. from no appointment to Aberdeen, Columbus, 1/1 Renick Christopher R. from Spiceland, Rushville to Crawfordsville: Christ/New Richmond, Indianapolis West, 1/1 Riggs, Glenda K. from Willey s Chapel, New Albany to Willey s Chapel/Memphis, New Albany, 1/1 Roberts, Gerald E. Sr. from New Beth: Paynesville/New Bethel, Columbus to New Beth: Paynesville, Columbus, 2/1 Schaar, Gary Marvin from South Indiana Conference to Columbus: First, Columbus, 7/1 11 Santa Claus Camp announces summer 2009 dates, seeks cook NASHVILLE, Tenn. In July 2009 the leaders of ministries with children are invited to attend a quadrennial event called Focus. The Focus 2009 event will be held July in Indianapolis and is sponsored by the Methodist General Board of Discipleship. Gordon Focus began 30 years ago in response to the International Year of the Child. The important thing is that children are ing grades 7-8. Directors Amy Steele & Jennifer Pusateri; June 29- July 3: D3 Sr. High Camp, for campers entering grades Directors Craig and Linda Duke;July 6-11: D4 8th, 9th & 10th Grade Camp, for campers entering these grades. Directors Perry Montgomery and Nathan Steele; and July 13-18: D5 Elementary Camp, for campers entering grades 4-6. Directors Linda Duke and Jayson Lenn. Registration for the 2009 Camping Season began in January. Camp catalogs were mailed to our campers from last year and to South Indiana churches. Evansville Outdoor Ministries is also looking for a Camp Cook for the five weeks of camp. The dates are June 15-July 18. Meals and lodging are provided. For more information on the job description and an application, log on to Church leaders to focus on children put in our care, says Melanie Gordon, director of younger children s ministries with GBOD. In order to care for our children we must stay current. Focus brings the people who are doing the research in a variety of areas with the people who are working with children. It enables all to receive training in working with children and keep it rooted in the Christian and Methodist tradition. This year the theme comes Photo courtesy of LaGrange UMC from Psalm 139, recognizing how we are fearfully and wonderfully made. There will be innovative workshops, unique worship experiences, inspiring preachers, dynamic speakers, relevant resources, and networking opportunities that will support attendees in creating, renewing and revitalizing ministries locally and globally. For more information or registration details, please visit the Focus 2009 Web site at or contact Melanie Gordon at mgordon@gbod.org. Hamilton UMC celebrates 170 years of ministry The Hamilton Methodist Church in the Fort Wayne District, celebrated 170 years of ministry during special services on Oct. 19 led by current pastor, Jack Smith (pictured to the right). Special guests included District Superintendent David Michel and four former pastors, (pictured here left to right: Amos McGinnis, Herschel Murray, John Cowan and Ed Clark, plus former members and friends. The church honored Alice Houlton, a member since 1925.

12 12 Preaching Good News from the whole Bible (Skill area 5, 7 9) FOR CLERGY ONLY April 28-29, Tuesday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Wed. 9 to 11:30 a.m., at Epworth Forest, North Webster, Ind. Leader: Rev. Dr. Gennifer Brooks Fee: $60 (Appointed NIC pastors, full or part-time) The responsibility of the preacher is to offer good news to the congregation at every event of preaching. The specific offering of good news emanates from the biblical text, and the preacher is often challenged by those texts that seem to represent anything but good news. This workshop addresses the challenge of finding and offering good news from the whole Bible and especially those texts that are considered difficult and challenging. Attendees are asked to bring a sermon that they have struggled to interpret and preach as good news. The Rev. Dr. Gennifer Benjamin Brooks serves as assistant professor of Homiletics and Director of the Styberg Preaching Institute at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Ill. She is an ordained elder and full Brooks clergy member of the New York Conference. Prophetic ministry in the midst of HIV/AIDS (Skill Area 1, 5, 6, 7) FOR CLERGY AND LAITY March 27-28, Friday 6 to 9:00 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Epworth Forest, North Webster, Ind. Leader: Rev. Edwin Sanders, Fee: $75 (Appointed NIC ministers, full or part-time, $60) This presentation is designed to help participants in developing an appreciation for how spirituality is integral to any effective response which addresses persons at risk for HIV/AIDS. Using anecdotal information, there will be an examination of how belief systems are a byproduct of cultural, social, environmental and intellectual experiences, which serve to inform individuals sense of self, and thus guide behavior. The Rev. Edwin C. Sanders, II, serves as Senior Servant and Founder of the Metropolitan Interdenominational Church in Nashville, Tenn. He serves on the Boards of Directors of the Black AIDS Institute, The National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS, The AIDS Institute, and The Drug Policy Alliance. Sanders North Indiana Conference Methodist Church Post Office Box North Western Avenue Marion, Indiana Web address: address: info@nicumc.org

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