Mid-America Messenger - NW Area Updates June 2010

"I was in prison and you visited me." Matthew 25:36 When Delbert Main first visited the Riverbend Treatment Center in St. Joseph, MO for at-risk youth he had no idea that within a year he and his wife Lee would help to create a not-for-profit corporation to help obtain supplies and services for the residents. The Wyatt Park CC Disciple is one of several members of the Genesis Men who have made a place in their lives to reach out to youth who are just one step removed from the penal system.

Visitors notice that Main and other local Disciples are treated as members of the Riverbend community by staff and students. It does not take long to understand the reason for their warm receptions. This small group from Wyatt Park comes every week to visit the youth, to learn their names and stories and to engage them in a Bible study that has been transformative for a few. "Since we began the Bible study some of the boys have asked to be baptized. We talked this over with Scott (WPCC Pastor Scott Killgore) and he invited us to consider performing the baptisms ourselves. . . that's going to be something special," noted Mr. Main with a twinkle in his eye.

The state-run facility that provides housing, education, and supervision runs on a limited budget. The work that Delbert and Lee and others are putting into creating a not-for-profit organization will help to fund educational, vocational, and relational opportunities otherwise outside the treatment regimen. We need to bring the community to these guys for their sakes and for ours. By doing this we build up the students and show them in practical ways that God cares for them, " says Main. For more information contact Wyatt Park Christian Church at 816.232.3374 or visit their website at www.wyattparkcc.org

Fairfax Christian Church serves a community of 645 in the far northwest part of the state. Three years ago, when they called Adam Magill to serve as their pastor, they averaged 30 in worship and wondered if they would have to close their doors within the next decade. Magill accepted a call to serve a community church in Iowa in June, 2010 but not before helping the congregation to double the number in worship, make the congregation more accessible to the un-churched, and refocused congregational energy into knowing and serving their community.

So when it became known that Pastor Magill was leaving, NW Area staff was invited to review options with congregational leaders for pastoral help in the interim. They were given an option made available to them because of an expanding volunteer area staff: call NW Area Evangelist Lavon Winkler to provide regular pulpit supply and coaching for a team of four congregational elders who, in turn, would carry out most of the pastoral duties. Structured less like a typical interim and more like a sabbatical leave, the congregation has the benefit of access to twelve very differently gifted area staff members who, at the invitation of the elder team and their "coach," can serve and support in specific instances - all without any cost to the congregation beyond travel expenses and their regular giving to the Disciples Mission Fund. In the meantime, the local search and call team will carefully prepare the congregational profile with special attention to the traits needed in their next pastor to help them to grow in their current and future missional focus.

On May 30, 2010 First Christian Church Waverly had much to celebrate about 150 years of continuous worship in their antebellum sanctuary. Former pastors Doug Gilpin and Bennie Yount joined a large crowd that came from long distances to give thanks for the legacy and to anticipate the rich opportunities before them.

Alexander Campbell's niece Margaret Campbell Carter (A.K.A. Barbara Schreiman) made an appearance and shared anecdotes and information that included two visits to the young congregation by Alexander Campbell and explanations for the mysterious bullet holes in the chancel (aimed at Confederate General Joe Shelby) made by a Union soldier who snuck into the sanctuary/field hospital.

Margaret Campbell Carter

Community Garden

Bell Ringing

Floyd Case, retired Disciples chaplain at the Marshall Habilitation Center, was a young man recently drafted into the Navy during World War II. Arriving quietly for the festivities, he told about how much he enjoyed participating in services at the Waverly Christian Church during that critical pre-induction period before going off to fight in the south Pacific theater. Later, Case would enroll in the Missouri School of Religion and complete his seminary education and enter the ministry.

One hundred and fifty years later, Pastor Bill Koch reports that the congregation baked over 205 pork chops recently for a weekly community meal begun during the economic recession. They take turns with other local congregations and civic organizations to offer food and fellowship to those who are struggling and the neighbors who care about them - in Jesus' name. The congregation is making other inroads into local missions including developing opportunities for community youth.

Pastor Bill Koch

Just east of the congregation's parking lot is a garden organized by Cheryl Cox (spouse of Oakland CC pastor Jim Cox) and tended by at-risk youth at the Waverly Regional Youth Center. Lafayette County CWF donated seeds for the large vegetable garden. According to Cox, some of the youth who work in the garden have never had an opportunity to be part of the cycle of sowing, tending, and harvesting and their experiences provide a common language to talk about other areas of life mysterious to them.

For more information about the congregation or the garden, contact FCC Waverly at 660.493.2824 or pastorwhkoch@embarqmail.com

What image comes to mind when you hear the term "Donut Sunday?" For many the term conjures up images of happy church members munching the sweet treats between Sunday School and worship. Larry Gray - pastor of FCC Carrollton - thinks more about the way that the youth of the congregation organized the event for members and neighbors to raise over $500 for community outreach. It was a tasty way to give twice. FCC Carrollton: 660.542.0247 or fcccarrollton@att.net

When the local rural school district must cut summer services due to shrinking income, what is the Church to do? Members of First Christian Church in Burlington Junction lost no time in coming up with a plan. Writing in the congregation's newsletter, pastor Matt Limback observes, "the church and school will be unofficially partnering to offer a cooperative summer project to provide students of the West Nodaway School District with transportation to the Maryville Swimming Pool on Wednesday, July 14, 21, 28, and August 4, 2010." The congregation will not charge the school for use of their church bus and passengers will also receive a large discount for use of the neighboring community pool. (Did we mention that Pastor Matt is also a qualified school bus driver?)

Along with the Summer Swim Bus, the Burlington Junction and Bethany congregations are just two of several area DOC's organizing Back Pack Buddy programs that provide food for some students over the weekend. Each of the backpacks costs $140 a year to stuff with nutritious food items that go to homes where some youth must fend for themselves if they want to eat. FCC Burlington Junction: 660.725.4580 or mdlmusic@yahoo.com

Conflicts are an inevitable byproduct of change. They can be productive - leading to growth for all parties or destructive. There is no middle ground. When individuals, groups, congregations and whole communities deal with big challenges, not all participants are equally prepared to assure that their conflicts turn out to be win-win situations. First Christian Church in St. Joseph decided to step up their level of contribution to positive conflict and offer a Community Mediation/Dispute resolution Program workshop at their campus on June 12, 2010. Disciples have already committed to developing such a program and are seeking partners from the community. The workshop is open to all who want to learn how "to resolve conflict in healthy ways." For more information, call 816.233.2556 or send an email to fccstjoe@sbcglobal.net

First Christian Church, Odessa has a long history of high investment in their youth. Many of their young people have distinguished themselves in service to God and community. This summer some of those younger adults with accomplishments in athletics are sharing their strengths with a new generation of Christian champions. Building on two successful Sports Camps beginning in 2008 and teaming up with athlete/coach counterparts among their Methodist and Presbyterian neighbors they are hosting the Odessa Sports Camp. Drawing from Colossians 1:11: "Strengthen your core," they hope to help young athletes of any ability to "Unleash the Power" - the theme for the week long Vacation Bible School. Contact FCC Odessa at 816.633.7726 or fccodmo4@iland.net

The Strategic Planning Board of the NW Area Center for Lifelong Learning has welcomed Erin Fly as the first volunteer Executive Director. Ms. Fly is a lifelong camping and retreat enthusiast and practicing music therapist who originally hails from Wisconsin. While much of her present work is to assist the board in completing its strategic plan she is also coordinating the growing number of construction and conservation projects beginning this summer on the 160 acre campus in Lathrop. Among these projects is construction of a band shell and amphitheater to host musical and educational productions and offer another space for worship on the campus. Burlington Junction First Christian Church is sending a mission team to work three days in July. Other congregations assisting in work projects are Disciples congregations from Cameron, Lathrop, and Plattsburg. An on-line volunteer registration is helping to create a data base of information about each volunteer so that new teams can be created around shared strengths, interests, and levels of availability. Volunteers from around the region are most welcome and there are initial plans in the works to invite Disciples Men from around the country to do a blitz build of a major project in the summer of 2011. To let the NW Area know of your interests and skill sets, go to: http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07e2woh3ccg9iv0t3w/start

Erin Fly

Ron Allen, CTS Professor of Preaching and New Testament, will lead a series of workshops designed primarily for bi-vocational and licensed ministers September 12-13. Dale Stewart, pastor at First Christian Church Maryville, is coordinating and hosting the event along with NW Area staff and local pastors.

There will be no registration costs for bi-vocational pastors and the schedule of workshops is actually being designed with input from these colleagues who might otherwise be unable to attend events planned for career clergy schedules.

It is hoped that this will be the first in a series of offerings in Northwest and North Central Missouri focused on the needs of pastors who serve part-time but all events will be open to all people with interest. For more information, contact Dale Stewart at 660.582.4101 or rednow@embarqmail.com

Ron Allen

On June 14 First Christian Church in Lathrop starts the New Beginnings program offered through Church Extension. New Beginnings helps congregations to assess strengths, community demographics and mission opportunities for a more hopeful future. Intended to be offered to clusters of congregations, the program was seen to be a timely and good fit given the Lathrop Disciples’ new outreach efforts and confronting the many challenges faced by congregations everywhere. Congregation leaders have decided to lead the way and serve as a pilot for neighboring congregations. Matt Rosine, director of New Beginnings, says that UCC and Presbyterian congregations are exploring the innovative 3 month process. This may lead to ecumenical cluster-congregation partnerships in the future. To send words of encouragement and/or inquiries to the Lathrop First Christian Church, call 816.528.3868 or email fccdoc@grm.net. Matt Rosine of New Beginnings can be reached at 317-713-2533 or at mrosine@churchextension.org

Reflections on Luke 8:26-39

Bill ambled into the noisy sanctuary ten minutes before the start of worship and spotting the amiable matron of the congregation talking with the pastor hurried over. A big grin on his stubble studded face he extended a large calloused hand to Esther Johnson and with the other squeezed her shoulder and remarked to Pastor Tom, "I love this woman! She brought me to Jesus." Turning to the pastor, Bill shook hands with the twenty-something preacher and darted off to greet more members of his new church family.

Bill Avery grew up in a farm family that had struggled desperately to keep the century-old 120 acre cow-calf operation going during the recession of the 1980's. Losing that battle meant moving into a rundown rented house in town and manufacturing jobs in the city - a 50 minute commute each way. While his parents both worked the thirteen year old Bill made sure that three younger siblings had breakfast and school supplies before he rode his bicycle to school. After classes Bill would make his way back home and start preparing supper. When his mother was laid off from the container plant Bill spent more time out of the house and began exploring the seamier side of adolescence.

By the time he had come to himself in a rescue mission in Dallas, Avery had trashed two marriages, seventeen jobs, and just about every commitment he had ever made in earnest. On those rare occasions when he stopped by a sanctuary it wasn't to pray. The staff at the rescue mission preached a hard gospel and Bill responded enthusiastically until the day came when he was told it was time for him to grow up and move on. He never went back to drinking but he never really sobered up emotionally. It was in that ambivalent state that following a long trip up I-35 that Bill Avery met Esther Johnson - a retired school principal who volunteered at the local food pantry. Esther saw something in Bill - she wasn't really sure what - and she invited him to worship the next Sunday not really expecting that he would make it.

Soon Bill's woodworking projects began showing up in the CWF annual Fall Bazaar. Painted wooden planks with sayings like, "Laundry today or naked tomorrow," and, "If you aren't selling chocolate, get off of my porch!" seemed like suspect sales items for a respectable church fund raiser.

It wasn't just the signs. Bill's sense of humor was quirky. He interrupted conversations - so eager was he to participate fully. His follow through seldom kept pace with his ability to make earnest promises and he had no sense of color or coordination when it came to dressing.

Most people at Community Christian Church tolerated Bill well enough. "Give him some time." " He'll come around eventually." He was always welcome at events but never invited to serve in a position of responsibility or leadership. Those were reserved for the more trusted and the reliable members.

One afternoon, while visiting with the secretary in the church office, a loud boom sounded and for a moment the ground shook. Bill got up to see a part of a nearby brick building enveloped in clouds of dust and steam. He and the secretary stood in the glass gathering space of the sanctuary and watch as emergency vehicles pulled in to assess the danger. Fortunately there were no injuries. A small old boiler unit had accidentally been turned on earlier that morning after years of sitting idle. It exploded sending steam out in every direction. The east wall was breached. Bill left the secretary's side and returned 15 minutes later with a card table which he set up on the sidewalk just outside the main doors to the sanctuary. Pulling out every soda can and water bottle from the Youth Room refrigerator and set up a soft drink station for the occupants of the battered building and emergency service workers who seemed to appreciate the gift.

Esther Johnson arrived at the church campus five minutes later to prepare her notes for a meeting of the elders. She walked over to the now broken but quiet building and then back across the street to the soft drink stand and asked Bill, "How's business?" Bill, thinking that Esther might think him a careless opportunist quickly explained that he only intended to give the drinks away to show the love of Jesus in a practical way and admitted that perhaps he should have asked permission before putting out the soft drinks. "Nonsense," Ms. Johnson snorted. "I suspect that you did what Jesus himself might have done under the circumstances. Those words cut through a wall in Bill Avery's heart. He had never heard anyone connect the dots between something he had done with what Jesus might do. He never forgot that moment.

Of course, there was no instant flash of light, no booming voice saying, "This is my beloved . . ." There was only a slight, almost imperceptible boost in Bill's confidence. He was still loud, crude, and an uncomfortable fit for the congregation but that's okay.

Healing is not a destination but a journey. One day the congregation will become healthy enough that all the Bill's and the Esthers will be equally beloved and each be well placed and supported in her missions and ministries.

"Fear knocked at the door. Faith answered. No one was there." (anonymous)

Bill Rose-Heim