Oct. 9, 2009
This is a digest of news features provided by United Methodist Communications for Oct. 5-9. It includes summaries of stories, UMTV video reports and additional briefs from United Methodist News Service. Full versions of the stories with photographs and related features can be found at http://umns.umc.org.
Stories this week:
Plus
UMTV
Top evangelist gives glory, credit to God
CAPE CORAL, Fla. (UMNS)—Average attendance at Grace United Methodist Church was 488 when the Rev. Jorge Acevedo was appointed senior pastor in 1996. By 2008, it had risen to 2,388 congregants spread among three campuses. The growth is a key reason Acevedo was recognized by The Foundation for Evangelism as the 2009 Distinguished Evangelist of The United Methodist Church. Acevedo, however, gives glory and honor to God. “First and foremost, (our growth) is by the grace of God,” he says. “Anybody who experiences the favor of God knows that it’s not self-generated.” {396}
Coaching forum to aid church planters
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS)—For the first time in more than a century, The United Methodist Church is putting a national priority on planting new churches. And it is looking for 150 women and men to help lead others in the work of building new congregations, church leaders said. “We used to have the habit as United Methodists or the Methodist Church in the 1800s of planting a church a day,” said the Rev. Tom Butcher, executive director for Path 1, the denomination’s new church growth program. “Ultimately we hope to get back to that – and even more.” {397}
Kidney donation leaves two students closer to God
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (UMNS)—Amanda Sentz prayed with a classmate needing a kidney donation at the Wesley Foundation campus ministry at Florida State University. The senior also knew she had the same blood type as Noel Hutchinson, 23, and could see the graduate student becoming weaker. Considering giving a part of herself to someone else was not an easy decision, particularly with her parents struggling to support her in a decision that involved health risks. What the two women prayed for – and in the end what both received – was the strength, step by step, to take a leap of faith. And last May, Sentz, 21, donated a kidney to Hutchinson. {398}
Advice columnist stands on her faith
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS)—Amy Dickinson, the columnist chosen to follow in the footsteps of the legendary Ann Landers, has been blessed with many “incidents” – good and bad – in her life. From suddenly becoming a single mother to suddenly becoming a grandmother, from homemaker to syndicated advice columnist, Dickinson has handled life’s ups and downs with wit and grace. She credits her faith, family and a foundation in The United Methodist Church for getting her through. {399}
‘Little church with big heart’ catches Yankees’ pitch
NEW YORK (UMNS) – It is a story as old as the Gospel parable of the rich man’s banquet and as new as the $1.5 billion sports palace where the New York Yankees are making another run at the World Series. Through a partnership with Woodycrest United Methodist Church and an antipoverty think tank, the latest incarnation of Yankee Stadium – complete with 51 luxury suites, $2,500 box seats, a members-only restaurant, martini bar and a concierge to assist with theater tickets or restaurant reservations – also is catering to the hungry. The uneaten hot dogs, hamburgers, sushi and other food from game days are being packaged up and sent for immediate distribution to neighborhood feeding centers, such as one six blocks away at 166th Street near Woodycrest Avenue. {400}
Committee begins looking at denomination’s future
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS)—A committee charged with looking at the future of the denomination is conducting research and gathering data to be presented to the Council of Bishops and Connectional Table in November. “We’re looking at a number of critical areas, from the frequency and format of General Conference, to the size and number of boards and agencies, to creation of a global office, to development of leadership systems and addressing effectiveness of clergy,” said Bishop Larry Goodpaster, project director. The Call to Action committee was formed in response to the call issued by the Council of Bishops in May.
Advent devotions: What do you hope for?
BIG ISLAND, Va. (UMNS)—The theme for this year’s Society of St. Andrew’s annual Advent devotions is “Prayers of Hope: What do you hope for in the coming of Christ?” The Society of St. Andrew (Advance #801600) is a national nonprofit hunger-relief ministry that distributes rescued food to agencies across the country at no cost. During Advent, the Society of St. Andrew asks for donations. Last year, donations provided more than 1.2 million servings of food to the hungry. All materials for this Advent devotional program are free. Go to www.endhunger.org/advent.htm or call (800) 333-4597 for more information.
Ecumenical effort takes aim at HIV/AIDS
BATON ROUGE, La. (UMNS)—Led by the Louisiana Annual Conference, a free HIV/AIDS testing program was held recently in area churches, the first in a series of ecumenical efforts to raise awareness of the illness. “Baton Rouge is ranked third in the nation for new cases, and New Orleans is second. Through this pilot, we were able to offer free HIV/AIDS testing to the public as well as offering counseling and educational materials,” said Margaret Johnson, Conference Vision Team.
The Aug. 29 program used seven churches as testing sites, and the minister of each church set an example by being the first tested. “We were very pleased to work with the churches on this important initiative,” said Eugene Collins, state Department of Public Health. Many people don’t want to know whether they are HIV-positive because they are “afraid of the repercussions,” he said. Planning is under way for events that will take place Dec. 1, World AIDS Day.
Ethnic churches receive grants from general agency
LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. (UMNS)—The United Methodist Board of Church and Society awarded $83,100 in grants to 11 ethnic local church programs during its meeting Sept. 23-27. Two programs shared $32,200 for Human Relations Day grants. A program that provides mentors for youth whose parents are incarcerated was awarded $7,200, and $25,000 went to United Methodist conferences outside the United States to conduct seminars on restorative justice.
UMCOR supports medical mission to South Pacific
NEW YORK (UMNS)—The United Methodist Committee on Relief is supporting a medical mission from Wesley United Methodist Church in Honolulu to facilitate community-level planning and immediate re-establishment of rural district health care services in the Aleipata and Falealili districts of Western Samoa. More than 170 people were killed and tens of thousands displaced when four tsunamis struck Tonga, Samoa and American Samoa. A church and a parsonage in Samoa were destroyed Sept. 29, said the Rev. Afereti Samuelu, president of the Methodist Church of Samoa. The Rev. Tom Hazelwood, UMCOR’s disaster response executive, spoke with Finau Ahio, president of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga, who reported that 90 percent of the homes were damaged. The church is helping families with immediate needs such as food and clothing. Donations can be given to “South Pacific Earthquake and Tsunamis, International Disaster Response,” UMCOR Advance #982450.
Bishop will address communicators’ gathering
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS)—Bishop Sally Dyck will be the keynote speaker when the United Methodist Association of Communicators meets Oct. 20-23 in Nashville. Dyck is the leader of The United Methodist Church’s Minnesota Area and president of the Commission on Communication, which oversees United Methodist Communications. The annual gathering will also include worship, workshops, award presentations and a visit with the Rev. Larry Hollon, top staff executive of the communications agency. The registration deadline is Oct. 15. For more information, go to www.umcommunicators.org online.
BloomBytes: Feeding one small part of the Bronx
NEW YORK (UMNS)—In her blog, UMNS writer Linda Bloom reflects on the community she found when she visited Woodycrest United Methodist Church for a story. About a hundred people gathered for Woodycrest’s weekly meal program, she writes. “They seemed to enjoy the food, but, more importantly, they seemed to enjoy the company – both of their fellow diners and the church members who treat them with respect and kindness. Like a neighbor.”
UMTV: Student AIDS Educator
TUCSON, Ariz. (UMTV)—At a time when many young people are still in school, young United Methodist Natalie Brown is saving lives all over the world. Her passion is AIDS education geared toward her at-risk peers. Brown is reaching kids in her hometown, across the border in Mexico, and as far away as Africa. She isn’t deterred by recent violence along the border as she heads south to a free clinic where she volunteers. Brown is a member of First United Methodist Church of Tucson and serves on the Desert Southwest AIDS Taskforce. UMTV’s “Student AIDS Educator” can be seen at http://www.umtv.org/archives/student_aids_educator.htm.
News In Brief
Bishop Robert Schnase, author of “Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations,” will lead Candler School of Theology’s Fall Congregational Conference Oct. 11–13 at Gainesville (Ga.) First United Methodist Church and on the Emory University campus in Atlanta. For more information or to register for the event, visit http://www.candler.emory.edu/. | 
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