Lydia Patterson students cross border to forge futures

BY SHERON C. PATTERSON Editor EL PASO — Hope rises from the most desperate and dangerous places — even Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. Nestled directly beside El Paso, Juárez has become the murder capital of the world, with 2,600 dead last year. The death toll is on track to hit 3,000 this year.  It is here that cadres of dedicated young people awake before sunrise, walk the dark, dangerous streets to the U.S. border, cross the bridge and go through customs —...

2 dads, 2 perspectives on organ donation, both thankful

BY SHERON C. PATTERSON Editor COPPELL — They were two dads who had only seen each other from a distance. Their paths occasionally crossed at the local coffee shop or community events. But they recently they became a team at First UMC Coppell, where they shared a pulpit, a Sunday and a cause — the importance of organ donation. On Nov. 14, “Donor Sabbath” at the church, both men shared their personal experiences from different perspectives. David Carey, a member of...

The Bishop from Panama: Join me in a challenge

BY BISHOP W. EARL BLEDSOE North Texas Conference At the writing of this article, I am attending the meeting of the Council of Bishops in Panama City, Panama. This meeting is a defining moment for the council as we deal with steering team recommendations in the “Call to Action” report. After hearing a powerful, stirring sermon on “The Church at Its Best” by Bishop Julius Trimble and a dynamic address by the President of the Council, Bishop Larry Goodpaster, called...

Lucas' Good Shepherd burns its mortgage

BY NANCY SHERMAN Special Correspondent Good Shepherd United Methodist Church in Lucas recently had the opportunity to host a celebration few churches ever see — a Burning of the Mortgage Celebration Worship Service as the result of a bequest from longtime member Velma Spurgin. The worship service and our celebration of Velma Spurgin in October was like a slice of heaven. Ms. Spurgin attended Good Shepherd her entire life. She was a spiritual woman with no children, but as a child of...

We've got cancer of status quo, but there's a cure

BY RICHARD B. HEARNE NTC Board of Laity, Chair “Crisis is a good time to clarify the meaning of many things — including our economics, our values, and our religion. When crisis hits, it brings us to the place where we begin to question some of our most basic assumptions. It is exactly when the world seems most confusing and events seem most inexplicable that we are forced to go deep, find past mistakes, and begin to build anew.” This is the opening paragraph in a...

Goodpaster: 'Lean into God's future'

PANAMA CITY, Panama — In his presidential address to the Council of Bishops, Bishop Larry M. Goodpaster challenged the UMC bishops to “lean into God’s future” by turning the focus of attention to what is about to happen rather than what has always been. “We have the opportunity to lead the church toward greater vitality, impact and influence in the world,” said Bishop Goodpaster. “By our decisions and actions this week in Panama, we will either lean...

Amigos lining up new friends for workdays

Congregations are getting excited because Amigos Days are approaching. “Amigos Days is like Christmas for our church!” says Bill Ferguson of First UMC Mesquite about the home renovation outreach program. April will mark the 14th year of Amigos Days, the popular NTC outreach program connecting churches throughout the Metroplex as members work in service to homeowners unable to repair and paint their own home exteriors. The People Helping People Department of the City of Dallas...

Pastor tells secrets to spurring growth

BY SHERON C. PATTERSON Editor “Crisis is a good time to clarify the meaning of many things — including our economics, our values, and our religion. When crisis hits, it brings us to the place where we begin to question some of our most basic assumptions. It is exactly when the world seems most confusing and events seem most inexplicable that we are forced to go deep, find past mistakes, and begin to build anew.” This is the opening paragraph in a challenging new book...

Church News From Around The World

CHICAGO (Associated Press)—Illinois State Sen. James Meeks has reversed himself, saying he will drop his church duties as pastor to devote all his time to his campaign for Chicago mayor. Mr. Meeks told the congregation of 22,000-member Salem Missionary Baptist Church he has delegated “all day-to-day responsibility” for church operations to his senior staff. In a Nov. 1 statement Mr. Meeks, a Democrat, said he made the move “so that he can fully prepare for his impending...

NTC provided hand in global AIDS conference

BY DENISE JOHNSON STOVALL Special Correspondent While people from around the world met in Dallas for the third international HIV/AIDS conference sponsored by the United Methodist Global AIDS Fund Committee, the North Texas Conference played a visible role in the event. The NTC arranged site visits to Dallas organizations that care for people infected with AIDS: Bryan’s House, AIDS Interfaith Network, Resource Center Dallas and AIDS Arms. There, participants in “Lighten the...

Bushes lead off award recipients

For the first time, the United Methodist Global AIDS Committee presented awards to people and churches for leadership in the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic. “In different ways, each honoree has helped to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS, sought to reduce stigma and discrimination, and promoted education, prevention, care and treatment,” said Dr. Pauline Muchina, senior partnership adviser of UNAIDS. The first award went to former President George W. Bush and his wife,...

Around the Conference

EVENTS Health fair and Wiley College Choir The Church of the Disciple in DeSoto will have a big weekend Nov. 13–14. It is holding its annual Health Fair and Fall Festival on Saturday, Nov. 13, and on Sunday will host the choir of Wiley College, home of the Great Debaters. The fair, sponsored by Methodist Charlton Hospital, will offer health screenings including cholesterol and blood pressure checks and on-site mammograms (pre-registration required at 214-947-0026), as well as sickle...

Laity Sunday speakers offer a word from the Lord

On Oct. 17, the United Methodist Church worldwide observed Laity Sunday, when lay members of local congregations lead worship services. An all-call went forth for Laity Day sermons from our North Texas lay speakers, and many responded but space limits us on how many could be presented in this newspaper. Jackie Trenholm First UMC Leonard Psalm 51:1–2 “Repentance: An Awesome Concept” As many of you know, I have only been a Christian for 18 years. God is so good! Over...

District UMW celebrates the old and the new

BY JOE DAN BOYD Special Correspondent It was about growth, geography, good intentions, the Good Shepherd and a good ol’ girl turned local pastor at 67 who shifted worship into a love feast for a district meeting of United Methodist Women at First UMC Quinlan. This district meeting was, in no small degree, also about the old and the new.    “Welcome to the final meeting of the ‘old’ Paris-Sulphur Springs District UMW,” said District President Nell...

Spanish ministry builds leaders

Casa Linda UMC’s Spanish ministry, under Associate Pastor David Rangel, is developing new leaders who are growing together in their desire to build the church that God wants.   In April and May, the Casa Linda ministry formed three groups in training sessions to make sure to cover the needs of new believers, new leaders and existing leaders. Sessions focused on the basics of who Jesus is, the purpose of becoming a leader and, for the most advanced, doctrine and even...

Around the Conference

EVENTS Health Fair and Wiley College Choir are scheduled The Church of the Disciple in DeSoto will have a big weekend Nov. 13–14. It is holding its annual Health Fair and Fall Festival on Saturday, Nov. 13, and on Sunday will host the choir of Wiley College, home of the Great Debaters. The fair, sponsored by Methodist Charlton Hospital, will offer health screenings including cholesterol and blood pressure checks and on-site mammograms (pre-registration required at 214-947-0026), as well...

Around the Conference

EVENTS Health Fair and Wiley College Choir are scheduled The Church of the Disciple in DeSoto will have a big weekend Nov. 13–14. It is holding its annual Health Fair and Fall Festival on Saturday, Nov. 13, and on Sunday will host the choir of Wiley College, home of the Great Debaters. The fair, sponsored by Methodist Charlton Hospital, will offer health screenings including cholesterol and blood pressure checks and on-site mammograms (pre-registration required at 214-947-0026), as well...

Meet the Core Leadership Team

This week meet: Richard Hearne Church: University Park UMC District: Metro Occupation: Director of Development, Lydia Patterson Institute Education: B.B.A., University of Texas, 1966 Home Life: Married to Candy for 37 years, three grown children, 8½ grandchildren  Annual Conference involvement: Conference Lay Leader, 2008–2012; Dallas Denton District Lay Leader, 1998–2008; General Conference Delegation, 2004 and 2008; Jurisdiction Conference Delegation...

From Bogata to Burkburnett: UMW ministries move society forward

BY RICHARD B. HEARNE NTC Board of Laity, Chair This month I had the blessing of attending the annual meeting of the North Texas Conference United Methodist Women. It was a unique experience being one of three or four men that were in attendance and to learn more about what the UMW is doing across our conference. Led by President Ruth Robinson, the day was a fast-paced celebration of the many ministries supported by this committed group of women.  The two ministries highlighted were...

The Bishop: Venturing into the wilderness on our journey

BY BISHOP W. EARL BLEDSOE North Texas Conference I’ve just returned from a three-week renewal/study leave with my wife, Leslie. Of course, I was asked, “What did you do?” Although this was both a renewal and study leave, my response was more renewal than study, but that is not entirely the truth. I had the opportunity to read Gil Rendle’s new book entitled, Journey in the Wilderness: New Life for Mainline Churches. In the book, he describes what it is like to live...