Christ's Foundry looks forward to future

BY DR. JOAN GRAY LABARR

In a very rainy North Texas spring 2007, beautiful, clear evenings have been rare. May 20 was just such an evening, a special gift for members and friends of Christ's Foundry UM Fellowship, who gathered at the site of the church they hope to build soon.

Children frolicked in bounce houses and all rejoiced at the clear sky and moderate temperature as members and friends of Christ's Foundry gathered for an evening of prayer and celebration.

The Christ's Foundry ministry, a VISION 2020 project, began six years ago as founding pastor Rev. Owen K. Ross took on the challenging task of planting a church among the primarily Spanish-speaking residents of Dallas' Bachman Lake area.

Originally known as Bachman Foundry, the congregation selected the name Christ's Foundry, or Fundicion de Cristo, in Spanish.

The Foundry concept goes back to John Wesley and the 18th Century Methodist Revival in England. Wesley purchased an abandoned canon factory, a "foundry," and established a place of worship and social empowerment for the poor.

"Five years ago I moved into this Spanish-speaking neighborhood, armed with a cell phone, new tennis shoes and a Bible, eager to plant a church," Rev. Ross says.

"While we have had many birthing pains, our worship attendance is now consistently above 70. We have three soccer teams, a summer program with more than 80 children, a 40-member children's choir, a growing youth group, a work program for adults, three weekly Bible studies, and an after-school homework help program," he continues.

Three years ago the late Jim and Jean Redman, members of Lovers Lane UMC, Dallas, gave a gift of $500,000 to purchase a one-acre site at the corner of Webb's Chapel and Park Lane. The land is near the apartment complex which has housed Christ's Foundry from its beginning and is within sight of two elementary schools.

A huge wooden cross made from a dead pine tree from the property marks the spot and signals the coming church building and ministries to people of the community.

The fellowship continues to worship and hold activities in the "Aposento Alto," or upper room, a remodeled storage area above the apartment laundry, and in a nearby apartment. In order to accommodate the growing worshipping community, Christ's Foundry also holds a Sunday service at Walnut Hill UMC.

To continue to grow, Christ's Foundry Fellowship needs its new building. After the purchase of the property and some additional gifts, the congregation will require an additional $500,000 to begin construction of its first ministry center.

Marilyn Oden, wife of retired Bishop William B. Oden, came up with a concept that helps focus the campaign to raise the needed funds. Rev. Ross shared the dream and the need when he talked with her Spiritual Formation group at Perkins School of Theology, SMU. A few days after Rev. Ross talked with her, Mrs. Oden sent a thank you note and a check for $500.

The note read: Surely you can find a thousand Methodists who will give you $500 to begin building. Now all you need is 999." The campaign to raise a thousand $500 commitments is off and running.

"My greatest excitement is that $500 is an amount which most of our community members can give, though it is a big challenge for many of them," Rev. Ross says.

Each gift will be recognized by inscribing the donor's name in the new church's bell tower and by presenting them with a commemorative bell. When the presiding bishop consecrates the new church and the ribbon is cut, the church bell will sound as the congregation prays for a thousand bells to "ring our great Redeemer's praise!" 'O for a Thousand Bells to Ring is the prayer and the expectation of Christ's Foundry Fellowship, and the people of NTC can help realize the dream.

For more information, please contact Rev. Owen Ross, 214-497-9552 or visit www.ChristsFoundry.org.