If it s summer, it is Salkehatchie time for many of us. Many are involved in this youth volunteer mission of repairing homes in South Carolina. In our district churches are involved in hosting, feeding, and helping the camps of Chester, Lancaster, Catawba, Clover, and Rock Hill. Others participate in camps throughout the state. Thanks to all of you who make this mission possible. Do you know how Salkehatchie started? In 1974 the Rev. John Culp, as a young pastor, was appointed to serve in Hampton County. There he met Roman Catholic nuns who lived there at a center of prayer and presence among the rural poor. The sisters of St. Mary showed John the impoverished homes of the area. They asked, What are you going to do, John? God stirred in John s heart the idea of a youth work camp. He was inspired by United Methodist efforts in other places. He connected with SC Conference Youth Ministries and UMVIM. Then in June of 1978 the first Salkehatchie camp began. Forty went to Hampton County to make basic repairs on substandard homes. It was hot, dirty, and hard work. It was life changing for the families helped and for the volunteers. A few weeks after that first camp the validity of this service was affirmed. John Culp, as a volunteer fire department chaplain, responded to a house fire in which three children were killed. The fire was caused by faulty wiring. John knew the little wooden shack could have been made safe with a little know how and basic materials. Compassion moved John to continue connecting volunteers to people in need. And Salkehatchie Summer Service continues to do just that. The story of Salkehatchie Summer Service started in John Culp s heart invites these questions of us all: Do you see your neighbor in need? Does God s compassion to help move you? What are you going to do? Learn more about Salkehatchie Summer Service by reading Send Me! The Story of Salkehatchie Summer Service or visit www.salkehatchie.org. Joe July 2016 South Carolina United Methodist Conference Rev. Joe N. Long, Jr., District Superintendent Lollie Haselden, District Secretary 139 Elizabeth Lane, Rock Hill, SC 29730 803.328-0218 803.328.6209 fax rhdist@umcsc.org Inside this issue: Important Dates and Local District News Conference Announcements District Website 2-6 7-12 http:// rockhill.umcsc.org
July 2016 Page 2 Important Dates and Local District News Dates to Remember: Wed, July 20 District Clergy Family Welcome Gathering Kings Mountain Chapel UMC, 6:00 8:00 p.m. RSVP online: http://goo.gl/forms/3yj1d6mbcr3eatc13 Thurs, August 18 District Set Up Meeting for Clergy Adnah UMC, 9:30 a.m. Gathering & 10:00 am Meeting Summer Office Hours The Rock Hill District Office will be open Monday-Thursday, 8:00 am 1:00 pm for the months of July and August. You are always welcome to call (803-328-0218), email (rhdist@umcsc.org) or stop by. We look forward to hearing from you! Apportionment Update We are halfway through 2016. At present, the Rock Hill District churches have submitted 37.4% of apportionments. Together we can make a big difference. Please, do your part.
July 2016 Page 3 Celebrations of Ministry At Annual Conference last month, Rev. Sharon Gamble was ordained a full elder and Rev. Brian Preveaux was commissioned a provisional elder. We celebrate with both of these pastors as they continue responding to God s call for their lives. Ministry Transitions We welcome the following pastors to appointments in the Rock Hill District: Belair/Osceola Mallory Forte Christwalkers New Church Start Brandon Candee Church of the Good Shepherd/Trinity Marge McLean Grace (Lancaster) Glenn Ribelin Hickory Grove Ed Reynolds Kershaw Charge Pam Ledbetter Lynnwood Yvette Pressley Rock Hill Central Allen Nesmith Trinity (York) Josh Blackwelder York/St. James Robert Shuler We bid farewell to the following pastors that have moved from their appointments: Jackie Carter-Harris to Salem, Pageland John Dicks to Unity, Lugoff Linda Dunn to Pond Branch Bob Dunn to Red Bank We celebrate the ministry and faithful service of our newest retirees: Harry Gindhart, Betty Kay Hudson, Pat McCain, Jonathan Smith, Deborah Taylor India Hook United Methodist Church would like to invite your Youth Group and Young Adults to join us for an end of summer concert. The attached flyer has all the details. When: Sunday, August 28, 2016 Time: 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm What: Christian concert featuring "About A Mile" Where: India Hook UMC, 3300 Mt. Gallant Rd, Rock Hill, SC 29732 Who: Target audience is youth and young adults, but all are welcome Cost: $5.00 per person We would love to have your youth group join us for a fun concert, fellowship and joyful worship. Doors open at 6:00 pm, the concert begins at 6:30 and should last about 2 hours. For more information please contact Stacy Sindell at 803-818-1735 or the office at India Hook UMC 803-329-7787. See page 5 for flyer!
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July 2016 Page 6 Bud and Suzanne Jones Trinity UMC-York Marlene Spencer SC UMW President Many thanks to those in our district who participated in the Missions Fair at Annual Conference this year. Keep up the great work! Mt. Holly UMC will be having a Service of Consecration for their new Sanctuary on Sunday, July 10th, at 4:00 p.m. Everyone is invited to share in this special time with us. An Ice Cream social will follow in the FLC.
July 2016 Page 7 Conference UMMen teaching church set for Aug. 20 LEXINGTON United Methodist Men will offer One: A Journey Toward Life-Changing Community, a teaching church event, Saturday, Aug. 20, at Mount Horeb United Methodist Church. Led by Nick Cunningham, One is designed for church leaders (lay and clergy) eager to move their people into intentional community and grow their small group ministry. The event will help people move past surface-level relationships and into authentic, Christ-centered relationships with one another. Christ-centered community doesn t just happen on its own, Cunningham said, but is intentionally built and carefully sustained. One will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cost is $25 and includes lunch and a copy of the book. Register at mthorebumc.com/one
July 2016 Page 8 Men N Ministry Weekend We were excited to see around 1,000 participants at our Men N Ministry Weekend Event at Christ United. We should have the final count soon and we are still receiving your evaluations. We are grateful for your participation and feedback. We are growing and are excited by your interest in Men N Ministry locally, statewide, and nationally. Together we can make our mark on the world. Next years Men s Weekend 2017 Feb. 17th & 18th, 2017
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Quest: Pursuing God s Call July 2016 Page 11 The South Carolina Conference is excited to launch a brand-new youth event in the fall of 2015 for teenagers who are feeling called into ministry. Quest is a weekend retreat designed specifically for youth ages 13 18 to explore and discern God s call on their life. The retreat will be held September 9-11, 2016 at Asbury Hills Camp. During the weekend, participants will join pastors and leaders from all over the South Carolina Conference as well as other young people who are also exploring God s call to ministry. The weekend will include: discovering different types of ministry learning about the United Methodist ordination process and ministry next steps sharing stories with other youth and adults receiving guidance and prayers from adult mentors, both laity and clergy, already living a life of service to our Lord having fun and praising God with new friends As baptized believers in Jesus Christ, we are ALL called to be in ministry. The question is not whether we are called to ministry, but how we are called to ministry. Even if you are not sure of whether God is calling you to be a vocational minister, you are welcome to come and explore God s call with us. Thanks to a grant from the Young Clergy Initiative, the total cost for the retreat is $50 per participant. Registration for QUEST will open soon and you can check back here regularly for more registration info. QUEST QUICKLINKS
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