Dallas pastor pushes for DREAM Act

WASHINGTON — Dallas pastor Owen Ross was among a multifaith group of religious leaders who gathered in prayer at the Capitol in late December to urge the Senate to pass the DREAM Act. The DREAM, or Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors, Act would make illegal immigrants brought to the U.S. before age 16 eligible for citizenship. They would have to be in the U.S. for at least five years, have served or entered the military or attend college. In his quest, Rev. Ross, pastor...

Behind the Music

Behind the Music, a videocast on ntcumc.org coming in January...

Blessed are the peacemakers in the struggles of work

BY WILLIAM K. MCELVANEY Special Contributor Many years ago, a teacher of faith, hope and love offered these words: “Blessed are the peacemakers.” Blessed are the peacemakers? How is it that peacemakers are blessed? Peacemakers are not blessed because the percentages are favorable; the odds seldom favor peacemaking, especially on a global scale. Peacemakers take on entrenched powers and principalities. Big systems. Big money. Big violence. Peacemakers are blessed because the God...

'Writing the vision and making it plain'

BY ALEZE M. FULBRIGHT Center for Leadership Development The buzz of the New Year brings about reflection of the past and a look forward to what is to come. This is also a time when we contemplate our New Year’s resolutions. Most popular resolutions concern breaking negative habits (saving more money, eating healthier, exercising more, getting organized). We place a lot of pressure on ourselves to keep these resolutions. The intentions are great around the beginning of January, but the...

From Bogotta to Burkbernett: Methodists needn't be disagreeable when they disagree

Many people, both United Methodists and non-United Methodists, seem to define us with regard to who we are and what we believe.  Much of the debate that takes place within our congregations and our communities centers on highly controversial, emotional social issues that affect our society. Those on the left and those on the right engage in highly charged conversations in which each side tries to demonize the other and to tell just enough of the story to make their point. Seldom does...

Grappling With Grief

How to find the resolve to move forward in dawn of the new year EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the first of a regular column on relying on faith in the face of grief. BY JULIE YARBROUGH Special Contributor I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.’ —John 16:20 For those who grieve while the world rejoices, getting past the holidays largely intact is an emotional and spiritual victory. With the...

Northaven to hold social justice series

Northaven United Methodist Church will initiate an ecumenical, interfaith monthly series to address the foundations of social justice.   The purpose is to educate, advocate and activate around God’s justice initiative in a way that will strengthen the individual’s commitment to justice, Northhaven’s understanding and practice of justice, and the justice ministries of other participating faith communities.  The inaugural event is from 7 to 8:45 p.m. Thursday,...

Facebook group backs bishop in weekly fast

Find purpose in the newyear through mission When two North Texas pastors heard about a call for prayer and fasting to provide spiritual power for the 2012 General Conference, they quickly got involved by combining social media with their desire to help. They want others to get involved, too.  Rev. Jan Davis, and Rev. Wes Magruder, pastor and associate pastor of First UMC Rowlett, recently launched a Facebook page, “A Call to United Methodist Prayer and Fasting,” dedicated to...

Overwhelmed? Heres how to beat the blues and gain the Christmas spirit

By Sheron C. Patterson Editor The holidays are here. Take care of yourself. We run the risk of running ourselves ragged and missing the true reason for the season, the birth of Christ. According to mental health experts, not only are the holidays a time of busy-ness, but also despondency. Depression soars and Jesus joy takes a back seat. Here are a few tips to help us hold on to our Hallelujahs during the holidays. 1. Do not attempt to attend every choir chorale, live manger performance and...

A very jolly visit in Grand Prairie

New Beginnings Fellowship UMC in Grand Prairie, located in a low-income housing complex,  sponsored a Thanksgiving meal for the residents. Twenty-seven volunteers from the church served the food. “God provided us with more than we needed,” said Dr. Lydia Waters, interim pastor. And, with the kickoff of the Christmas season, Santa Claus dropped by for a visit, with the children eager to crowd around him and tell him what they hoped he might bring them this season. ...

Campuses a springboard for leadership

At Denton Wesley Foundation, a young man answers his call to the ministry Second in a series on the work of the NTC Center for Leadership Development By Aleze M. Fulbright Special Contributor When we hear the words campus ministry, the immediate thought is the free lunch programs and fellowship activities at colleges. But there is more happening in campus ministry around the North Texas Conference than just serving meals and hanging out in the facilities. The Denton Wesley Foundation at...

From Bogata to Burkburnett: A terrible Christmas becomes most meaningful instead

Christmas is such a special time — a time for many of us to look back into our past to recall a magical time in our lives, oft times when we were very young, a time when the spirit of Christmas seemed to encompass all that we did. I shared this story the last two Decembers and I hope that you will forgive me for repeating it but it does illustrate to me the true meaning of the Christmas spirit. May each of you have a blessed and merry Christmas and best wishes for the new year of 2011 A...

El Salvador Habitat project provides two-way lessons

By Marji Bishir Center for Missional Outreach In October, a team of 15 UMC clergy and laity flew to San Salvador, El Salvador, for a Habitat for Humanity Global Faith Build. The Leaders Team consisted of those who needed experience on a Habitat mission before leading their own team. The team’s task was to construct homes for the poor, but their purpose was much larger. The team was there to be a witness to the love of Jesus Christ for all people. Patty Cordero de Arcia, who is...

Our Christmas card to you

James Pepper, a member of Highland Park UMC, has worked over 20 years to create the Pepper Bible, a hand-lettered, hand-illustrated Bible. After reproducing the Scriptures by hand in calligraphy, he added intricate illustrations in an art form known as illumination. They include gilded color pictures, intricate initials and ornate borders in a style practiced since the Middle Ages and predating the printing press. His works include the four Gospels, a separate and complete New Testament and...

A day in the life of a student

Roxana Rodriguez rises at 4:30 a.m. and doesn’t stop until late in the evening BY ROXANA RODRIGUEZ Special Contributor There I am in a cloudy, peaceful place where worries and responsibilities seem far away, but then something disturbs my thoughts and everything dies away quickly. What could have caused such distraction? Soon I realize it: The 4:30 a.m. alarm is ringing, which means time to wake up. My name is Roxana Rodriguez, and I am senior at Lydia Patterson Institute. My school...

Christ's Foundry is a livinglaboratory in leadership

First in a series on the work of the NTC Center for Leadership Development BY OWEN ROSS Center for Leadership Development Christ’s Foundry United Methodist Mission has always been an experiment. How is the United Methodist Church going to reach the poorest in our society with the good news of Jesus Christ? In the nine years since the North Texas Conference voted to plant a holistic mission in the north Love Field neighborhood, in one of the most oppressed areas of Dallas,...

UNT Wesley students talk about thanks

DENTON — College students offer profound gratitude for the small blessings. On the campus of the University of North Texas, students find a haven at the United Methodist center known as the Wesley Foundation. Rev. Cammy Gasto, the campus minister, conducts weekly gatherings. Here are some of the students’ thoughts. CONRAD STATON, senior psychology major “I am a social justice person. Over the summer, I spent a week on the streets and I met marginalized people. I lived...

Dallas Peace Center to honor UM clergyman

The Dallas Peace Center will host its 24th annual Peacemaker Awards Dinner on Thursday, Dec. 2, at the Double Tree Hotel, 4099 Valley View Lane, honoring Rev. Bill Matthews, Larry James of Central Dallas Ministries and the Texas Muslim Women’s Foundation for their diverse efforts in promoting peace, justice and human rights. Rev. Matthews, the Lifetime Achievement Award honoree, has been a cornerstone in the Dallas peace and justice community for more than two decades. Known for bringing...

Request turnsout to be a twin blessing

Earlier this fall, I approached First United Methodist Church of Duncanville about sponsoring a scholarship for Lydia Patterson Institute, our United Methodist high school in El Paso.  LPI provides what’s called a full scholarship-plus for an outstanding academic student with great financial needs — in almost every case, a student from Ciudad Juárez who crosses the border every day to attend class. This scholarship of $3,715 covers the books and tuition, uniforms,...

Faith alive and well in El Paso

BY BISHOP W. EARL BLEDSOE North Texas Conference Wow! This is the word I would use to describe the experiences we had at Lydia Patterson Institute in El Paso this month.   The North Texas appointive and extended Cabinet spent three days visiting the students there. What started as an ordinary Cabinet meeting of agendas, appointments and church-related issues ended in a sacred moment of celebration. It began with us meeting the LPI students at the bridge coming from Ciudad...