Cont
ents
sprin
g 20
09 Special Features05 What’s in a name? The Desert Southwest
Conference print piece naming contest produces the name for this new publication.
08 United Methodists join protest against Arpaio Thousands march against Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s abuse of the 287(g) agreement and his violations of civil and human rights.
12 The Strategic Direction The Strategic Direction guides churches all around the Desert Southwest Conference
United Methodists Join Protest Against Arpaio Page 08
The Strategic Direction Page 12
Contents03 Publisher’s Pen
04 Across the Connection
06 One in Christ
07 One With Each Other
22 One in Ministry
24 Pastor’s Perspective
27 Order Form
A UMNS photo by Kathy L. Gilbert.
2 | Transformation | Spring 2009
For more news and features from
around The Desert Southwest Confer-
ence, be sure to check out The Desert
Connection, the Conference online
newsletter, by going to
www.desertsouthwestconference.org/
desertconnection.
What a long journey it has been
to bring you this first issue of
Transformation, the Ministry
Magazine of the Desert Southwest Confer-
ence! It has been over three years since
there was any form of regular printed
communication put out by the Desert
Southwest Conference, but now, unless
you are reading the online version of
Transformation, you are holding the first
issue of the Conference’s new ministry
magazine in your hands. As one of the
largest supporters of printed communica-
tions in the Conference, I have to say I
feel a great sense of accomplishment and
gratitude as we are finalizing this first
issue. I’m excited about what is to come,
but I’m also grateful for the journey that
got us here.
Although, by some, there has been
frustration and even anger at the loss of
regular printed communication, the last
three years have forced our entire Confer-
ence to find new and exciting ways to
communicate. This time has helped us re-
design our overall Communications plan,
and it has made us denominational and
even ecumenical leaders in electronic
communications. As we forged a new path
we’ve been able to directly and indirectly
help countless United Methodist confer-
ences, organizations, districts, and local
churches grow in their web ministries, and
we have earned enough awards and recog-
nitions to cover a small wall at the United
Methodist Center in Phoenix.
Still, even with all the good that has
come out of this focus on electronic com-
munications, questions persisted about
what role, if any, regular printed commu-
nications should play in the Desert South-
west Conference’s overall communica-
tions plan. Who was not being welcomed
at the table when all regular conference
communications were online? Finally, in
2007 a task force was empowered by the
Communications Commission and the
Program Cabinet to look at these con-
cerns, and by Annual Conference 2008 a
proposal was made that would bring regu-
lar printed communication back to the
Desert Southwest Conference in a form
that would both support and enhance the
great work that had been done in elec-
tronic communications.
The important work of the Print Piece
Task Force can be viewed online at
www.desertsouthwestconference.org/com-
munications, but even if you do not take
the time to read this informative report,
please know that the decision to bring reg-
ular printed communications back to The
Desert Southwest Conference was based
solely on ministry. Simply put, there are
people that are missing out on hearing our
story as Christians and United Methodists
if there is not a print element to our com-
munications plan. It’s also interesting to
note that the people we are failing to reach
are not necessarily in demographics based
on age or population centers. By a dis-
turbingly great margin, the greatest deter-
miner of whether someone has access to
electronic communications is income
level.
With all of this in mind, Transforma-
tion Magazine has been designed to share
the stories of ministry around the Desert
Southwest Conference and The United
Methodist Church with a world that is
starving for our good news. The vision is
that someone who has been a member of
The United Methodist Church will be able
to look through Transformation and find
inspiration for continued ministry and
growth, while a first time visitor to a
church will be able to find inspiration to
continue their spiritual journey. Many of
the stories will be written entirely for the
magazine, but some stories will come
from other Conference or United
Methodist communications channels. All
stories will be chosen because they speak
to a broad audience about who we are as
TransformationM i n i s t r y M a g a z i n e o f t h e D e s e r t s o u t h w e s t C o n f e r e n C e
Spring 2009Volume 1, Issue 1
Transformation is provided quarterly
in Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter by
the Communications Department of
The Desert Southwest Conference.
Transformation is also available online
by going to www.desertsouthwestcon-
ference.org/transformation. Individual
articles and photos may be used by
DSC churches and organizations.
Views in Transformation come from
representatives of official Conference
groups or by request of Conference
Staff. Viewpoints may only be those of
the writer and may not be representa-
tive of the entire Conference. Ques-
tions about the reproduction of
individual articles or photos should be
directed to Stephen J. Hustedt, Confer-
ence Director of Communications
(602-266-6956 ext. 220 or
Contributors Rev. Rosemary Anderson, Ryne Brinks,
Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño,
Kathy Gilbert, Stephen J. Hustedt,
Rev. Gary Kennedy,
Rev. Candace Lansberry,
Valerie K. Maravolo, Susan Passi-Klaus,
Rev. Michael Pearson, Pat Pillsbury,
Rev. Sharon Ragland
For general inquiries or subscription
information email:
[email protected], call
602-266-6956, or mail Communica-
tions Department, 1550 E. Meadow-
brook Ave., Phoenix, AZ, 85014-4040.
Publisher’s
Pen
A transforming journey
Story continues on page 7
By Stephen J. Hustedt, D
irector of Comm
unications
Spring 2009 | Transformation | 3
Stephen J. Hustedt
The buzz has begun. Even be-
fore the first ads hit the pages
of national magazines or TV
commercials begin to air, United
Methodists are talking about a new aware-
ness campaign.
United Methodist Communications is
calling it Rethink Church. As United
Methodists take on the challenge of re-
thinking what it means to be church and to
do church, they will also rethink what it
means to advertise and market the third-
largest denomination in the United States.
Rolling out on May 6, Rethink
Church will be unique because digital
media will be a priority. Along with TV
and print ads, Rethink Church messages
will appear on YouTube and iTunes and
through cell phone text messages.
“The idea is to provide a way for peo-
ple to connect with the church in as many
ways as possible,” said the Rev. Larry
Hollon, General Secretary of United
Methodist Communications. “Rethinking
church and denominational marketing
calls for an ability to tell the church’s sto-
ries in many, many different ways, through
many media and with different audiences.”
The campaign was introduced at the
denomination-wide training event for an-
nual conference leaders at the end of Janu-
ary in Florida. In the months following, it
will be featured in conference, district and
regional events.
To some, Rethink Church will be an
advertising campaign to continue the posi-
tive work of the successful “Open Hearts.
Open Minds. Open Doors.” campaign that
began in 2001. Others will find it a con-
versation starter, inspiring church leaders
to find creative ways to do church in dif-
ferent, more relevant ways. Rethink
Church will also be a personal wake-up
call inviting many to change old ways of
thinking, believing and expressing faith.
“The advertising is perhaps the most
visible ingredient of the campaign, but the
strength of the campaign is the conversa-
tion it inspires and encourages,” Hollon
said. Bishop Sally Dyck, president of the
General Commission on Communication,
calls Rethink Church “the self-study that
the denomination has needed for a long
time.”
“Rethink Church will be an opportu-
nity for people within the church to go
deep into what is the meaning and purpose
of church,” Dyck said. “It will help the
church make a transition into a new way
of being in a rapidly changing world. Un-
less we Rethink Church, we won’t be able
to make the needed changes.”
The campaign will use traditional and
nontraditional mass media, everything
from basic bumper stickers and T-shirts, to
print ads in Parents magazine and radio
ads on programs like “American Top 40
with Ryan Seacrest.” The heart of Rethink
Church, however, will be in the hands of
local church leaders and congregations
who will explore and live out the ques-
tions the campaign will pose. Most of the
The Rev. Larry Hollon, top staff executive of United Methodist Communications, addresses the Commission on Communication meeting in
Nashville, Tenn. Hollon and his staff presented the Rethink Church awareness campaign to the commission during its Sept. 25-27 meeting.
To the right is the Rev. Mark Conard, of Hutchinson, Kan., a member of the Commission. A UMNS photo by Ronny Perry.
United Methodists asked to ‘Rethink Church’By Susan Passi-Klaus, United Methodist Communications
Acros
s th
e Co
nnec
tion
By S
usan
Pas
si-Kl
aus,
Uni
ted
Met
hodi
st C
omm
unic
atio
ns
4 | Transformation | Spring 2009
Courtesy Rethink Church
Story continues on page 25
questions start with “what if?”
* What if church was less about Sun-
day, and more about the other days of the
week?
* What if church wasn’t just a place
we go, but something we do?
* What if church wasn’t just a build-
ing, but thousands of doors, each opening
up to a different concept or experience of
church?
Bohan Advertising/Marketing in
Nashville, TN, is crafting the campaign.
Agency president Kerry Graham hopes
Rethink Church will help shake United
Methodist churchgoers out of a Sunday-
only malaise.
“Sometimes, those of us who attend
church on a regular or even a sporadic
basis get lulled into a bit of a ‘Sunday ex-
perience’ hypnosis,” Graham said. “We
forget we are all called to live church and
the teachings of Jesus every day.”
“Sunday will continue to be an impor-
tant time for the church to express worship
and honor the Sabbath,” Hollon explains,
“but we are saying that there are many
doorways through which individuals may
engage the Christian faith.” As more and
more people do not know or understand
the practice or language of worship, “we
need to provide alternative entry points
that are relevant to them and that commu-
nicate in language they understand.”
Graham suggested that church leaders
will need to embrace the idea that it is OK
for “church” to start out as day care, a ski
trip, a basketball league or a Habitat for
Humanity build. “Rethink Church is a
wake-up call to remind us of the many
needs in our own backyards and around
the world, and to call us to action in any
one of the thousands of programs, mis-
sions and initiatives The United Methodist
Church is already engaged in,” he said.
Hollon adds, “Engagement is not an
end point, however. It is to provide deeper
knowledge and experience of the life of
faith. It is about providing people with a
community in which to experience for-
giveness and acceptance before God in a
society that increasingly denies our deeper
spiritual nature.
“The end result of connecting with the
church is to enter into a community of
faith that seeks to make disciples of Jesus
Christ engaged with God in the transfor-
mation of the world, even as we are our-
selves are being transformed.”
Creators are aiming the four-year, $20
million advertising campaign at 18- to 34-
year-old “seekers” — people on a spiritual
journey looking to fill the hole in their
souls. United Methodists have been on a
mission to bring three generations into the
life of the church: baby boomers (born
1945-1964), post-moderns or Gen X
(1965-1977) and millennial, Mosaics or
Gen Y (1978-2000). Research shows that
these generations have been difficult to in-
volve in mainline churches. The reasons
cited include church relevance, negative
impressions of Christians and limited op-
portunities for involving young people.
“Younger people and people who
haven’t been a part of the church will be
attracted by the ads,” said Dyck. “I also
Spring 2009 | Transformation | 5
Editor’s note: At the end of 2008 the
Communications Commission an-
nounced that the new Print Piece
would receive its name through a contest.
The contest was open to the entire Desert
Southwest Conference, and a promise was
made to feature the person who submitted
the award-winning title in the first issue of
the new printed communications piece.
The following letter was the winning print
piece naming contest submission.
I am writing to submit Transformation
as the title for the new printed magazine of
the Desert Southwest Conference. I am sub-
mitting this name anonymously because it is
not really mine to submit. This name be-
longs to the people of The United Methodist
Church and The Desert Southwest Confer-
ence. It is our mission as United Methodists
What’s in a name?
Story continues on page 27
Do you want to stay in the loop? The new DSC Weekly Digest is your source for allthe news highlights from the preceeding week and a glimpse of whats to come. Tolearn more about full color HTML email, visit www.desertsouthwestconference.org/digest. If you would like to begin receiving the DSC Weekly Digest, send yourname and email address to [email protected].
Courtesy Rethink Church
Transforming our lives By Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño
Transformation! We are indeed
transformed by the power of Christ
Jesus who rose from death to life.
All over the world persons are hearing the
good news of Christ Jesus and are being
reborn. Because Christ lives among us,
every day is an opportunity to be revital-
ized in life, in faith, in hope.
The United Methodist Church is ex-
periencing such a transformation. Led by
the Holy Spirit we have been led to focus
our ministry in four areas:
1. Planting new churches to reach out
to new people, younger people, and people
of color;
2. Raising up principled Christian
leaders for the church and the world;
3. Eliminating poverty in community
with the poor;
4. Conquering illnesses that contribute
to poverty through a global health initia-
tive.
We in the Desert Southwest Confer-
ence are aligned with the areas of focus of
The UMC. We are planting new churches
and our fastest growing new church plant
today, is in the community of Maricopa.
Started in mid July 2008, by February of
this year Journey United Methodist Fel-
lowship had gathered 142 persons who
want to be disciples of Jesus Christ. Jour-
ney UMF then launched its first worship
service on Easter Sunday, 2009! Maricopa
is a brand new community and already
lives are being transformed because you
have seen God’s vision of reaching out to
others. Your gifts, and prayers, have en-
abled The UMC to be present in this com-
munity among several others, giving a
new and faithful witness of God’s trans-
forming love.
Principled leaders of all ages are also
being prepared. Spiritual formation is a
core value for us in the DSC. One of the
ways we are shaping and raising up princi-
pled spiritual leaders is through our
Bishop’s Confirmation Retreat. Every
spring I invite congregations to allow me
to spend a weekend with young people
who are preparing to be confirmed as dis-
ciples of Jesus Christ and to join a UMC.
With the help of a wonderfully committed
cadre of adult leaders I guide these young
people through a time of examining what
it means to be a spiritual leader in the
world in the name of Christ Jesus. What a
rich experience I have had! I will never
forget a young 12 year old who upon
being asked what prayer meant to him
said, “It is the Holy Spirit speaking to that
deepest part of our spirit,” his voice calm
and assured. Quite a faith statement for
one so very young!
Some months after one of our confir-
mation retreats, I was at a retreat where we
were learning how to lead all the work of
the church as an expression of our spiritu-
ality and deep faith in Christ. I was at the
registration desk when I felt someone
come very close to me and then just stand
there by me while I completed what I was
doing. When I was freed from my task I
turned around and there stood a confirma-
tion retreat participant. I said to him,
“What are you doing here?” With a great
big smile he responded, “I’m here to be-
come a spiritual leader!” There is no
doubt in my mind that God’s own Holy
Spirit is lifting up strong and passionate
principled spiritual leaders who will lead
us out into the world with the gospel good
news of Christ Jesus.
We are also fighting poverty in the
communities God has placed under our
care. Poverty is a mighty foe to God’s de-
sire that we all live life’s of abundance.
You know this because of the deep love
Bishop Carcaño had the opportunity to spend time with, and spiritually mentor, Conference
youth at the Confirmation Retreat held March 28-30, 2008.
Story continues on page 26
Photo Courtesy of Jim Parkhurst
One in
Chr
istBy
Bish
op M
iner
va G
. Car
caño
6 | Transformation | Spring 2009
Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño
Transforming our lives
Christians and United Methodists in The
Desert Southwest Conference.Because this first issue of Transforma-
tion Magazine is coming out in the spring,
following Lent and Easter, the theme of
the issue is Resurrection, Renewal, and
Rebirth. We will explore what we must do
to get ourselves right so that we may bet-
ter do ministry. We will explore the steps
that we are taking to better do ministry,
and we will explore how these steps are
beginning to make a difference.The journey we have taken together
through communications ministry has
taken more than three years to get to the
point of launching this new ministry tool,
and we’ve seen a lot along the way. There
were many times that I wished we could
change the pace or change the direction,
and there were plenty of times I became
frustrated with myself and others along
the way. I’m sure this could be said for all
of us in our ministries.
The good news is that we’ve always
had a guide; even in spite of ourselves, at
times. The view from here is pretty good,
but I’ve got some news to share… this is
not a destination! We don’t have time to
stop. Our work is far too important.
There will be plenty of bumps and
plenty of obstacles as we continue to find
the best ways to share our story with the
world. Things will not always be perfect,even when the view is great, but we’ll ad-
just and continue with a greater sense of
purpose. We’ll find different mediums
and new methods to share our story, but
our journey in ministry together will never
be done. We are called to always walk
down the road together looking to share
our story in every way we can and with
everyone we can. We must use the gifts
that we have been given to make our
world better and we must continue to
make disciples of Jesus for the transfor-
mation of the world!
PUBLISHER’S PEN | continued from page 3
In December, driven by a desire to help
hungry people in the Bullhead City
area, a group from Hope United
Methodist Church’s new Missions Out-
reach Committee formed “Hope’s
Kitchen.” The soup kitchen is meant to
serve the community’s hungry people-
whoever they are. Working with the
health department, planning the first din-
ner, and raising funds in preparation took
several weeks.
As facilitator of this new kitchen, Pat
Pillsbury knew opening the first commu-
nity-wide soup kitchen in the area would
have its challenges. They were certainly
aware that some people in the community
did not have enough food. There was
plenty of anecdotal evidence, even among
their own acquaintances. There have been
a lot of layoffs in the community, and
work is scarce. But actual statistics were
hard to come by. So it was hard to know
how much food they would need, or if
people would even come. They decided to
open for one meal a month and felt that if
this service was needed, God would lead
the people to the door. The group elected to have a dinner onthe last Saturday night of the month, whenpeople’s food supplies were most likely tohave been used up. The first dinner washeld from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. The menu wassimple, filling and nutritious, and includedbeef stew, chili, bagels and breads, crack-ers, fruit salad, potato salad, and bever-ages. An invitation to dine was extendedto everyone, through flyers, radio andnewspapers. Free tickets were distributedin an effort to get a tally in advance of thedinner. One hundred tickets were pickedup by February 26, and some people saidthey would be bringing others. They had49 guests, enjoyed their company, and in-vited them back. Leftovers were donatedto a men’s ministry in Bullhead City.After evaluating the experience they real-ized they’ll need to refine the program andsee how it can be improved but believe itwill grow.
The church is blessed to have Chef
Roy Connor and his wife Valerie running
the kitchen, they are tremendous assets.
Together they bring years of experience in
By Pat PillsburyHope’s Kitchen feeds the hungry
Story continues on page 25
One W
ith Each Other
By Pat Pillsbury
Spring 2009 | Transformation | 7
Photo Courtesy of Pat Pillsbury
Tough times inspired members of Hope United Methodist Church to start Hope’s Kitchen,
where members aim to serve the area hungry.
UniTed MeThOdiSTS jOin
PrOTeST AGAinST ArPAiO
Photo By Don Benton8 | Transformation | Spring 2009
UniTed MeThOdiSTS jOin
PrOTeST AGAinST ArPAiO
Photo By Don Benton
By Kathy L. Gilbert
United Methodist Bishop Minerva Carcaño offered a blessing and words of peace to thou-
sands gathered to march in protest of the treatment of immigrants by Sheriff Joe Arpaio.
“Help us, O God, help us to move the people of this country toward a reformation of these un-
just laws of immigration,” said Carcaño, United Methodist leader of the Phoenix area. “We pray you
will touch the heart of Joe Arpaio, that you will turn it from stone to a living heart of justice.”
Her words stirred strong emotions in a crowd of up to 5,000 that gathered at Steele Indian School
Park on Feb. 28 to participate in a “March to Stop the Hate.” The march ended about four miles later
at the federal courthouse, after passing more than 100 Arpaio supporters gathered at the Wells Fargo
Tower where the sheriff has his office.
Arpaio supporters held up signs that read, “We Support Joe” and “We Support 287g Enforce-
ment” while thousands streamed by carrying signs declaring, “Arpaio is Not My America,” “Revoke
Arpaio’s 287g” and “Reform Not Raids.” Story continues on page 10
Spring 2009 | Transformation | 9
Several United Methodists from the area
joined Carcaño in the march, carrying red
signs proclaiming, “The United Methodist
Church supports Immigrant… Civil…
Human… Rights!”
The protest was organized after
Arpaio, sheriff of Maricopa County,
marched more than 200 detained immi-
grants dressed in prison stripes through the
streets of Phoenix to a tent city facility in
the desert earlier in February.
Arpaio and his deputies have contracted
with the federal Department of Homeland
Security under a program identified as
287g that allows local police officers to
enforce immigration laws. The sheriff has
said he is enforcing the laws that he was
elected to uphold.
“But we believe he has gone beyond
the law, beyond the contract, certainly be-
yond the civil and human rights and con-
stitutional rights of these people because
even undocumented immigrants have
human and civil rights and certain rights
under the constitution of this country,”
Carcaño said in a United Methodist News
United Methodists across The
Desert Southwest Conference
have continued to voice their
concerns over the ongoing mistreat-
ment of undocumented persons that has
resulted in the destruction of families
and violations of human rights. In an effort to coincide with the Febru-ary 13-22 Congressional recess, severalevents-all leading up to the February 28protest against Sheriff Arpaio-provideda platform for the community and peo-ple of the Desert Southwest Conferenceto take a stand on immigrant abuse. People gathered in Arizona, both atthe El Tiradito Shrine in Tucson and atBirchett Park in Tempe, to pray for thefamilies victimized by the immigrationraids and inhumane treatment of un-documented persons. Rev. Saul Mon-tiel, associate pastor at Epworth UMCin Glendale, encouraged participation atthe Tempe prayer vigil, “God will listento us. God indeed is asking us ...to be a
Speaking out against immigrant abuse By Valerie K. Maravolo
(To the right) United Methodist Bishop
Minerva Carcaño marches Feb. 28 in
Phoenix with demonstrators to protest
crackdowns on illegal immigrants by
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio.
Under a deal allowing them to enforce
federal immigration laws, deputies have
arrested more than 1,500 people that
they determined were in Arizona ille-
gally. The detainees are housed in a tent
city located in the desert.
MARCH | Continued from page 9
Story continues on page 20
Story continues on page 21
Photo By Billie K. Fidlin10 | Transformation | Spring 2009
Photo By Kathy L. Gilbert.
Story continues on page 21
Spring 2009 | Transformation | 11
Originally adopted in 2006 and revised in 2008, The DesertSouthwest Conference Strategic Direction represents theguiding principles by which we perform ministry in theDSC.
Represented in our vision and mission, “We believe God’svision for us is a transformed world through Jesus, thus, ourmission is to Make Disciples of Jesus Christ. One withChrist, One with Each Other, One in Ministry to All theWorld.”
The Strategic Direction
GUIDING CHURCHES AROUNDTHE DESERT SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE
(To the right) Green Valley UMC Mission
Committee members, Jan and Don Linch
work at El Buen Pastor to paint the struc-
ture and install/improve electrical service
to the church.
12 | Transformation | Spring 2009
When I was asked, “Where is the
Strategic Direction guiding a
church in the South District?” I
immediately reviewed the charge confer-
ence season because a version of that
question was asked of all congregations:
“How is the Strategic Direction guiding
your church?” Green Valley Community
UMC was best able to articulate how this
process was happening. So let me share
with you how it is working in that congre-
gation. Let me first offer a slight dis-
claimer: the Conference Strategic
Direction’s chair, Jim Jennings, is a mem-
ber at Green Valley Community UMC. In
fact, it was he that I turned to for more in-
formation.
This congregation has a long history
of outreach and missions work, but the
Strategic Direction has provided some ad-
ditional focus. Most recently, the Strategic
Direction has informed the decision mak-
ing process in their creation of a job de-
scription and hiring of a Volunteer Coordi-
nator. The Volunteer Coordinator has
taken the social holiness aspect of the
Strategic Direction as a major part of her
job description. She is seeing to it that new
opportunities for service and experiential
learning are in place for the congregation.
Let me share a brief listing of ongoing
activities that demonstrate a high commit-
ment to both new and ongoing programs:
Food Bank Sunday (last year over $6,000
and two tons of food raised), UMCOR
special offerings, funding for the women’s
shelter, and assistance for a local single
parent. On border issues the church has
been at the forefront of the Conference
Church-to-Church program, and has a re-
lationship with four border congregations:
three in Mexico and one in Nogales, AZ,
El Mesias UMC. It also has recently part-
nered with the Claremont School of Theol-
ogy to sponsor a lecture for the church and
community on Christianity and Immigra-
tion. The lecture was given by Dr. Helene
Slessarev Jamir and was delivered in con-
junction with a course of study class
hosted by the church. Dr. Jamir taught the
class.
With regard to the second priority, to
develop an ongoing culture of leadership
development, the church and its two pas-
tors, Rebecca Oakes Long, Senior Pastor
and Jeanne Festa, Associate Pastor, have
both attended leadership development
classes and have participated in training
new church leaders. In addition, lay speak-
ing classes at the church have helped new
leaders develop skills and enabled others
to preach in four care centers in town.
Also, youth are involved in leading two
worship services and are being mentored.
Our third direction centers on encour-
aging a culture of planting new churches
and communities of faith. Green Valley
Community has paid almost three quarters
of its Forward in Their Footsteps Cam-
paign goal. In addition, they have been fi-
nancially supportive of new faith efforts in
By Rev. Michael Pearson, South District Superintendent
Green Valley Community UMC,guided by the Conference Strategic Direction
Rev. Michael Pearson
Photo courtesy of Jim Jennings
Spring 2009 | Transformation | 13
Take a church with a heart for social
holiness, wrap it up with a pastor
whose specialty is leadership devel-
opment and flavor it with emerging faith
communities of cultures from around the
globe, and you begin to get a glimpse of
the ministry of University United
Methodist Church.
In 2008, University UMC offered its
portable building to United Methodist So-
cial Ministries for its day-to-day opera-
tions, its primary center for WEAP
(Weekend Emergency Assistance Pro-
gram) and its emerging foster care pro-
gram. With that move, University UMC
once more positioned itself as a church
with social holiness at its center in its de-
sire to support and undergird ministry to
the poor and the oppressed. Their work
with Sidewalk Sunday School has long
been an integral part of who they are and
what they do as a church with a heart for
outreach.
Under the guidance of Rev. Art Gafke,
the staff has been training and growing in
its understanding of leadership, of the staff
person’s role in equipping the congrega-
tion for ministry, and of the need to iden-
tify and train leaders for the work of the
church in the transformation of the world.
Rev. Candace Lansberry, North District Superintendent
Strategic Direction takes hold in theNorth District
Nogales, Sonora at El Divino Redemptor,
and the Crossroads Mission. Finally, they
continue to be supportive of Santa Cruz
Valley UMC, a congregation they par-
ented several years ago.
When I asked if there was a good un-
derstanding of the Strategic Direction and
how it was guiding the congregation into
the future, Jim responded that this was a
growth area for the church. The Green
Valley Community UMC has already
been doing many of the things that fit the
measurable objectives. Therefore, the
changes have been by addition rather than
by taking a completely new direction. Jim
noted that the outward focus of the Strate-
gic Direction has been one of the direct
benefits to the church.
(left) Two children benefit from the ef-
forts of Green Valley UMC members at
the Nogales, Sonora Mexico dump.
(right) Israel Ramirez, music leader for
the English speaking contemporary
worship, also leads the Las Naciones
band at the Spanish service at Univer-
sity UMC. Also pictured, Mariah
Marsalla, singer; Cordova Hicks,bass;
and William St John, drums.
Rev. Candace Lansberry
Photo courtesy of Jim Jennings
14 | Transformation | Spring 2009
The greatest success in implementing the
Strategic Direction, however, comes in
University UMC’s vision for planting new
faith communities, multi-cultural congre-
gations that are reaching people of differ-
ent ethnic groups who are living around
the church. Currently, there are seven
United Methodist worshipping congrega-
tions at University UMC and two non-
UMC congregations who utilize space for
worship and study.
The earliest addition to the three
Anglo congregations, who meet for wor-
ship on Sunday mornings, is the Filipino-
American congregation who began
gathering under the leadership of Rev. Dr.
Julian Miguel, a retired pastor from Ne-
braska. Initially part of the church-within-
a-church model, this congregation grew to
the point where it decided it would launch
as a separate fellowship, First Filipino
American UMF, while still maintaining a
physical presence on the UUMC campus.
Las Naciones, the Hispanic congregation
at UUMC, began meeting at Daniel
Gomez's home as a bible study group.
When they out grew Daniel’s home in
2005, they arranged to meet at UUMC and
eventually became incorporated in the
UUMC church as a fellowship in the
church-within-a-church model with Daniel
serving as its lay pastor. They meet Sun-
day afternoons as a multi-generational
worshipping community and again on
Thursday evenings, which is designed for
all the youth of the worshiping congrega-
tions of UUMC.
UUMC’s African congregation began
last summer when Pastor Alexander Ba-
hati, along with 35 African refugees flee-
ing from the warring countries of Congo,
Rwanda and Burundi to America, showed
up at worship one Sunday and asked what
they would have to do to become part of
UUMC. The congregation extended help
to the refugees (there’s that heart for social
holiness again!) by helping the children
get shots for school and school registra-
tion, providing clothing and household ar-
ticles, and taking the new African
members shopping for groceries and other
needs.
The African refugees’ languages in-
clude several dialects of Swahili, French,
and English. Some speak no English,
some, a little, and some are fluent. Pastor
Alexander Bahati speaks fluent English,
Photo courtesy of Ann Heardt
Spring 2009 | Transformation | 15
which he taught himself in a Kenyan
refugee camp. The Africans meet both in
worship led by Alexander and with the
greater congregation. The Anglos, Africans, and Las Na-
ciones come together for the Thursday
evening service in which the youth of the
church attend. Originally it was a His-
panic service, all in Spanish. Now Daniel
Gomez conducts the service in Spanish
and English. Alexander Bahati then trans-
lates the service to his son, Oliver, from
English to French. Oliver then translates
the service from French, to the African
youth, to Swahili. All the youth of the
church meet together for youth activities
and are forging a multi-cultural identity
that is contagious. Under the enthusiastic leadership of
Pastor Daniel Choi, the Korean Campus
ministry meets at UUMC and in July 2008
gave birth to a new congregation, A Grain
of Mustard Seed UMF. While the former
churches were a church-within-a-church
model, AGOMS was intentionally started
as a stand-alone fellowship with the sup-
port, prayers and blessing of the UUMC
congregation. In addition to these United Methodist
faith communities, two groups from India
meet at UUMC to worship and to study:
Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church and
Blessed Mother Theresa Church.
It’s pretty obvious that University
UMC has continually promoted the prac-
tice of establishing churches within the
greater church to meet the diverse needs of
the surrounding community. They have
caught the vision of what the church can
look like when they are about making dis-
ciples for the transformation of the world
and are striving with all their heart to be
one with Christ in reaching those in their
community who experience injustice;growing in leadership development as they
learn what it means to be one with each
other as they lead an ever changing and di-
verse congregation; and exploring in a tan-
gible way what it really means to be one in
ministry to all the world.
Strategic Direction makes a difference in the Central West DistrictRev. Gary Kennedy, Central West District Superintendent
The Strategic Direction has been a
document that reflects the life of
our Conference because it captures
the very essence of the Spirit of God with
us and directing us. From the beginning it
has been a living document in that it
guides a church in the transition of the
many phases of life and call. Currently we
are a church in the midst of change and
challenge because of economic realities
that impact all of our churches and ex-
tended ministries. Yet in the midst of this
challenge we have the privilege of truly
being the church, a beacon of light and
hope for a world that has seen the light of
direction shining forth from the people of
God in the past and in the present. During the past few months the sub-
jects of the economy and finances have
surfaced during all sorts of conversations,
meetings, and calls to the District Superin-
tendent. Churches are dealing with finan-
cial shortfalls in many different and
sometimes creative ways. There are folks
stepping up to the plate with greater finan-
cial commitment. There is budget adjust-
ing and staff shifts and program
reemphasis. I want to speak to the concern
that I have seen on the faces of those
working on these realities and the transfor-
mation of those expressions when we then
talk about the God of hope and the people
of faith. It seems that several of our con-
versations turned positive when we shared
about how other churches are facing the
same things. In some ways, with the
thought of other churches came the re-
minder of how we are all in this together.
Even the words printed in our mission,
“One with Christ, One with Each Other,
One in Ministry to All the World,” are re-
minders that God is with us. We are about
God’s business. We have been called to
Community UMC’s Opportunity House provides ESL instruction, tutoring, meals, and men-
torship as well as summer programs to keep kids safe and involved.
Photo courtesy of Veronica Schwake
16 | Transformation | Spring 2009
this ministry together as God’s church.
There then is a new sense of calm and
resolve. We operate not in fear but in the
assurance that God is with us. This past
charge conference season saw the same
kind of reminder and transformation when
we moved beyond financial reflecting with
the question, “What is happening in your
church that is exciting?” I have heard so
much joy, purpose and excitement about
the future with every discussion of what
God is doing among the people called
United Methodist.
In further capturing the essence of the
Strategic Direction in the Central West
District, let me share that many of the
churches have been intentional about coor-
dinating goals and ministries along the
lines of the Strategic Direction priorities.
Some churches have not intentionally
done this, yet the end result is that they
often match. To list some faithful expres-
sions of ministry in line with our vision,
our mission and various priorities of the
Strategic Direction would include but cer-
tainly not be limited to: the continued
community outreach done by The Com-
munity UMC of Avondale through the Op-
portunity House. These hands-on
educational programs are administered
and taught by members of the church and
reach hundreds of community folks. Cal-
vary UMC is involved together with ex-
tension ministries of the Wesley
Community Center and Grupo ministries
on the Calvary site. Mentoring and leader-
ship development can be seen with the
helping relationships of the pastors in the
Yuma area. Retired pastor Bob Ray has
been working with seminary-bound Edgar
Vergara at Somerton and Tweedy Som-
brero has offered very helpful cultural
input for Lilda Burnham at Ft.Yuma
UMC. Frank Peters has mentored an
emerging Hispanic ministry and its pastor
Arturo Gutierrez at Prescott Valley.
Various levels of training, cultural
awareness, conversation, and leadership
development go into the planning and im-
plementation of outreach mission trips.
Some examples include the mission trip to
Africa coordinated by the Prescott UMC
and others, the India mission trip organ-
ized by Calvary UMC and a South Ameri-
can mission trip organized by Yuma First
UMC. These are a few highlights, yet I
can safely say that all our communities
around our churches are impacted in posi-
tive and wonderful ways by our church
people. We share a vision together, a God,
and through the church a Strategic Direc-
tion that help give shape to the transforma-
tion of the world by the people of God.
Volunteers help to serve refreshments at Opportunity House’s 2008 Easter celebration.
The Strategic Direction is alive in theCentral East District
Rev. Gary Kennedy
Photo courtesy of Veronica Schwake
Photo courtesy of Veronica SchwakeRev. Sharon Ragland, Central East District Superintendent
In planning for this article, I sent an
email to pastors in the Central East
District with the subject line “Help for
Article!” I said we were trying to tell
about the ways that churches are living
into the Conference Strategic Direction. I
asked, “What are the stories about creating
a culture of social holiness, leadership de-
velopment, and starting new churches and
faith communities?” This article contains
clips from those stories. I’m grateful to
the churches and pastors who contributed.
One church provided a creative way
for the congregation to learn about and
connect the Conference Strategic Direc-
tion with its own mission. As a way of
learning about the Conference Strategic
Direction and planning for ways to imple-
Spring 2009 | Transformation | 17
ment it in their own church, in the fall of
2008, Payson UMC offered SOULinten-
tions, a day long mini version of SOULfi-
esta. Rev. David Rennick is the pastor at
Payson UMC.
Other churches shared information
and stories about specific areas of the
Strategic Direction. Around “Creating a
culture of social holiness”, Rev. Mike
Kerr-Osman, the pastor of the UMC of
Casa Grande, reports that the church is
pursuing a prison ministry. With a major
prison system in Florence, located east of
Casa Grande, this is an important way of
reaching “the least of these.”
Grace UMC, Mesa, has worked to-
ward integrating social holiness into the
ethos of the church by intentional reading
and discussion of “Three Simple Rules”
by Rueben Job. The entire congregation
received copies of the book and it was
lifted up in worship, classes, committees,
and conversation. The leaders embraced
this as a way of integrating their experi-
ences at Soul Fiesta at Gold Canyon,
Tending the Soul in Casa Grande and
Imaginative Leaping.
First UMC, Tempe, has expanded
their ministry to the homeless by being
open 30 hours a week for direct services,
including an evening drop-in center
(called Potter’s House) where 50-100 per-
sons come each night for food, hospitality,
and spiritual care. First Tempe has also
just decided to join Valley Interfaith Proj-
ect so they can more effectively work on
the underlying conditions and justice is-
sues that move people into poverty and
keep them there.
White Mountain UMC, Show Low,
has a team of four-eight persons that
serves lunch at Love Kitchen in Pinetop
every Tuesday. “The Love Kitchen has
said that the good folks of White Moun-
tain are their most consistent supporter,”
reports Rev. Michael Higgs. To support
this ministry, the Youth Group of White
Mountain serves breakfast the first Satur-
day of each month. The congregation
comes and eats and donates toward the
Love Kitchen ministry.
The Arizona State University Wesley
Foundation students and alumni initiated
an interfaith group that provides scholar-
ships to undocumented ASU students who
graduated from Arizona high schools.
These students do not have access to in
state tuition or any other sources of public
funding. This year, in cooperation with
two other faith communities, students
have been awarded $4,500 in scholarships.
Also, one of the freshmen in the ASU
Wesley Foundation has taken the lead in
starting an Open Table. Wesley Founda-
tion Director, Rev. Rob Rynders says,
“The table will be made up of ASU stu-
dents from different faith backgrounds and
they will be seeking to help bring a person
or a family with an ASU connection out of
poverty. They hope this table will launch
Rev. Sharon Ragland
Volunteers from White Mountain UMC’s Love Kitchen take a moment from food preparation to pose for a photograph.
Photo courtesy of White Mountain UMC
18 | Transformation | Spring 2009
in August and hope it will be the first of
many to come at ASU.” We know that the three priorities ofthe Strategic Direction overlap and dove-tail with each other. Some of the abovestories tell about a culture of social holi-ness and lead us into the priority of “Cre-ating a culture of leadershipdevelopment.”
The last Sunday in January is Youth
Sunday at Dayspring UMC, Tempe. The
youth pick the theme for that Sunday, and
plan and lead worship for both services,
including providing leadership for the
music and message. Rev. George Smoot,
who works with the youth at Dayspring
says, “Through this the youth learn and
grow and pastors hear comments like,
‘You have to do this every week? How do
you do it?’” While past years have seen
high school seniors as speakers, this year
three freshmen and two seniors were the
speakers. Through this, the youth grow
into leaders, and the congregation grows
in its appreciation of the youth as thought-
ful disciples and leaders. This year the
children’s choirs also sang in the service,
so it was a children & youth Sunday.
Part of leadership development calls
for the sharing of resources. Shepherd of
the Pines in Overgaard purchased and used
the resource, “Seeing Gray in a World of
Black & White” by Adam Hamilton.
Through the weekly E-Notes, Shep-
herd indicated a willingness to share this
resource, which is now being used by
Cross in the Desert UMC in Phoenix, and
will then be shared with Grace UMC in
Mesa.
Shepherd of the Pines, located in an
area of many summer residents and fewer
winter, found a creative way to develop
musical leaders. When the paid pianist
left, they recruited a summer resident who
had assisted in the past and cultivated an-
other summer resident with a long church
music background. When both went south
for the winter, four members who played
for their own enjoyment but could not
commit to regular service each agreed to
play for a few Sundays at a time. “This
has worked out well for them and for the
congregation,” reports Pastor Noni Dye.
Shepherd of the Pines also cultivates lead-
ers through pastoral care. Like some other
churches in Arizona, about half of the
members are seasonal residents. At least
once during their season off the mountain,
a fellowship event is held in the Phoenix
area which is attended by the pastor. In
addition, two dedicated leaders make reg-
ular contacts and visits in Phoenix on be-
half of Shepherd of the Pines. This
provides good pastoral care, cultivates
leaders, and helps people stay connected.
Photo courtesy of White Mountain UMC
Bobby Safley and Yun Sil Kean sort grapefruits for White Mountain UMC’s Love Kitchen
Photo courtesy of White Mountain UMC
(Editor’s note) “The Strategic Direction is alive in the Central East District” first ran in the March 1, 2009 edition of The
Desert Connection. To view the rest of Rev. Ragland’s article as well as to learn more about the Desert Southwest Conference
Strategic Direction, please visit the Communications Resources area of the DSC website by going to www.desertsouthwestcon-
ference.org/communicationsresources.
For more stories, see editor’s note.
Spring 2009 | Transformation | 19
Service interview before the march began.
The United Methodist Church has a clear
stand on immigration that is based in
Scripture, she said.
“Holy Scripture says we should walk
with the immigrant, we should welcome
them as our own, we should love them as
we love ourselves,” she said.
“Jesus calls us to be compassionate to-
ward the immigrant, to love our neighbor
without condition, and so we come to this
task out of our biblical understanding of
Christian discipleship.”
We Are Human
After praying in the park, Carcaño
joined other religious and community
leaders at the head of the crowd holding a
banner, which read, “We Are Human.”
Men, women and children walked in the
hot Arizona sun for several hours holding
signs, chanting and calling for change.
Activist Alfredo Gutierrez, a former state
lawmaker, stood beside Carcaño during
the march and praised her for her stand on
immigration reform.
“This is the fundamental message of
Christianity isn’t it?” he said. “How one
treats another human being, that is the fun-
damental message. What we have here is a
sheriff who is using the laws to abuse —
(To the right) United Methodists are among the
estimated 3,000 demonstrators rallying Feb. 28
in Phoenix to protest the crackdowns on illegal
immigrants by Maricopa County Sheriff Joe
Arpaio. Under a deal allowing them to enforce
federal immigration laws, deputies have ar-
rested more than 1,500 people that they deter-
mined were in Arizona illegally. The detainees
are housed in a tent city in the desert.
Photo By Kathy L. Gilbert.
Photo By Kathy L. Gilbert.
(Above ) United Methodist Bishop Minerva
Carcaño prays Feb. 28 for the immigrant de-
tainees housed in the Maricopa County sher-
iff's S.M.A.R.T. Tents outside Phoenix. Earlier
in the day, Carcaño marched with thousands of
demonstrators to protest crackdowns on illegal
immigrants by Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Under a
deal allowing them to enforce federal immigra-
tion laws, deputies have arrested more than
1,500 people that they determined were in Ari-
zona illegally.
PROTEST | Continued from page 10
20 | Transformation | Spring 2009
voice for the undocumented family...wecan be their voice... God is calling us tocome down in the valley - be the voice forthose who have a voice no more.” Prayerwas lifted up for not only the immigrantsand their families, but for the faith com-munity so they may speak out againstthese abuses and for the United StatesCongress to work diligently towards morecomprehensive immigration reform.
“I pray that we will not be silent. I mustspeak. I can do no less than that as a per-son of faith...We are called to care for thewanderer, the person who struggles,”prayed DSC Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño.Over 150 people combined, participated inthe events along with many DSC churcheswho took time during Sunday services to
pray.
Several key Arizona faith leaders in-
cluding Bishop Carcaño, called out against
local and federal immigration policies that
have provided a way for Maricopa County
Sheriff Joe Arpaio to enforce the laws in
ways that violate both civil and human
rights. “No public servant should ever be
allowed to promote racism, and the viola-
tion of basic human and civil rights…
enough is enough,” said the Bishop to
local news affiliates. “We must remember
that racial abuse … affects all of us, as it
shapes the character and spirit of our com-
munity.” She continued by calling on
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security,
Janet Napolitano to “abolish immigration
enforcement measures, including 287g,
which allows local police to enforce fed-
eral civil immigration law. “Such an abol-
ishment of locally enforced immigration
law should begin with Sheriff Joe Arpaio
before he becomes an embarrassment not
only for the state of Arizona, but for this
entire country. Enough is enough.”
Following these events faith and com-
munity leaders continue to call for the fair
treatment of the immigrant reminding us
that, “We too, were once immigrants in
this land.” Bishop Carcaño calls all peo-
ple of the Desert Southwest Conference to
continue to lift in prayer, those immigrants
and their families touched by the abuses
they must endure.
SPEAKING OUT | Continued from page 12
More than 50 people gather at Birchett Park
in Tempe, AZ to pray for immigrants and
their families that have fallen victim to recent
raids as well for people of faith that they
might speak up against these abuses.
Photo By Billie K. Fidlin
in increasingly horrendous ways — a par-
ticular community, the Hispanic commu-
nity. He is doing it on the basis of race. He
is using the excuse of law and abusing it
for the purposes of exploiting a particular
group of people in Arizona.”
Zack de la Rocha, who described
himself as a “poet, activist and singer”
with the rock group Rage Against the Ma-
chine, also took his place in the front of
the march. Speaking through a megaphone
after the march ended, he read a prepared
statement about Arpaio’s actions.
“By parading human beings shackled
in chain gang stripes in a misguided effort
to collectively humiliate and to dehuman-
ize an entire population, he reopened the
wounds from which we all still suffer, by
invoking the painful memories of the era
of slavery and segregation. ... By doing so,he has not only brought shame upon the
state of Arizona, but is bringing shame
upon the entire nation.”
Stand forJustice
Carcaño said she hoped the march
would bring attention to the sheriff’s ac-
tions in Maricopa County and open peo-
ple’s eyes to abuses that may be happening
in their communities. “We are hoping people across thecountry will see what is happening hereand notice that perhaps it is happening intheir communities and join us in facingthese very racist actions that we are expe-riencing. “We are hoping our march will bringattention to the violation of human andcivil rights that can so easily lead to the vi-olation of all our human and civil rights.We are hoping we will inspire persons offaith to join in taking a stand for God’sjustice.”
Photo By Kathy L. Gilbert.
Spring 2009 | Transformation | 21
A transforming ministryBy Ryne Brinks
Photo courtesy of Michelle Scott
RELEVANCE | real. relational. revolutionary.
One in
Min
istry
By G
len
Sim
pson
, DSC
You
ng A
dult
Cord
inat
or
22 | Transformation | Spring 2009
Arevolution brews on a journey of
the young people of this genera-
tion and as Glen Simpson, Coordi-
nator of Young Adult Ministries to The
Desert Southwest Conference tells me,
“Young adults want four things in a
church: relationship, community, social
action, and a genuine church.” With the
transformation of our society and church,
Relevance was created to serve the young
adults of our conference. The question is,
are you ready for the revolution?
Relevance is the new official young
adult ministry of The Desert Southwest
Conference. It strives to be relevant and
productive to society and the church.
Through connecting with one another,
Relevance exists to improve personal spir-
itual lives, the spirituality of the church,
and the hurts of society. Thus, their mis-
sion is to be grounded in scripture, while
using their own traditions, experiences,
and reason, as they actively seek God and
social justice in all that they are a part of.
“I am excited to lead a team rather than a
committee of young adults on this jour-
ney- not battle-that we embark on,” shares
Glen. “Together we have created a min-
istry that will work to transform and re-en-
ergize as one. We are working under the
umbrella of being real, relational, and rev-
olutionary.” Glen goes on to further say
that, “The road ahead is a challenging one.
One that we can’t take on alone, rather we
will need the help of our local churches.
We have to realize that young adults are
important to the future health and strength
of our church, and once we embrace this,
together we must strive as one and trans-
form together!”
A lot of planning and preparation is
coming from the team that is Relevance
and the goal will be to help the local
church, and revitalize young adult min-
istry. By this summer, Relevance will have
a place on the internet; with a fully inter-
active site that will provide local churches
with resources for young adult ministry. In
addition, this spring, Relevance will an-
nounce dates for “Relevance X,” a leader-
ship conference for young adults that will
take place in Las Vegas in 2010. Churches
will be encouraged to bring their groups of
young adults together and experience “The
power of 10.” “Young Adult Ministry is
alive and moving at a fast pace,” assures
Simpson. Relevance is gearing up for an-
nual conference this June 23-28, 2009, and
excited by the opportunity that awaits
them to share with the church the road
ahead. “We are preparing for an exciting
time at this year’s session, with informa-
tion that we want to share with our
churches. You will see young adult min-
istry in a way unlike ever before,” he con-
tinued.
Single or married. From those prepar-
ing for the MCATs, or having already fin-
ished college, young adult ministry is as
diverse as it gets. Together we must be
one in ministry and embark on the jour-
ney!
A transforming ministry
Photo courtesy of Michelle Scott
RELEVANCE | real. relational. revolutionary.
Relevance is currently undergoing a transformationon the web. Visit the workbeing done by going to www.relevanceonline.com.
Questions? Comments?Input? Email:[email protected].
Check Relevance out on Facebook, too!
Spring 2009 | Transformation | 23
Although often-times wonderful,
the problem with renewal is that it
seems it is something which must
be accomplished in the dark, where you
can’t see it. Take for example, a bulb that
must be planted deep in the ground during
fall, submitting it to the freeze of winter
before its roots and green leaves enjoy soft
places to emerge from when the bulb
thaws in the warming grounds of spring.
It is renewed in this way, and becomes a
blazing transformation of glory in the
form of a colorful tulip or daffodil. Fruit
trees must lose their leaves and appear
dead in winter in order to renew them-
selves before their summer crop, in fact,
the harder the freeze that winter, the
greater the crop.
Like plants, people can also experi-
ence renewal in “the dark.” There are two
times in my life when I can recall feeling
emptied of everything: emotions, re-
sponses, of knowing what to do with my
life. The first time this happened, it was
very scary for me. I cried and cried, not
understanding what was happening to me.
The only thing I knew to do was pray and
to seek out people mature in their faith to
help me through this time. When God
began to fill me, I then understood that I
needed to be emptied first. There was too
much of me in there, I suppose. When this
happened a second time, I felt secure
through the emptiness, knowing God
would do God’s great work within me
again. I welcome these times of waiting
for God’s fullness now. Although it is im-
possible to predict what will happen dur-
ing these times or how long they will last,
for renewal is accomplished in the dark.
We cannot always see or understand
the ways of spiritual renewal, yet we have
seen and read accounts of these mighty
acts by God. We know them often as res-
urrection or transformation. When we link
these words together, we sense a bright
glory from transformation. Think of the
transfiguration of Christ, happening spon-
taneously on the mountain top. If only our
own transformations were to be as won-
derfully transparent, that we could see
clearly, the effects of renewal-without the
times of waiting in the dark!
I am in ministry with a church in
need of renewal. I know renewal is ac-
complished in the dark, and that is a prob-
lem for me. Is the church coming together
or isn’t it? I just want an answer or a sign,
though renewal requires patience, as well
as nourishing care. As with a garden or an
orchard, one needs to be at work tend-
ing, even in the times when all seems to
be withering up, in the times when one
knows nothing visible will grow. For in
those empty times, God can accomplish
a great work within the church.
As pastor, I want to provide the oppor-
tunities for God to touch and mold the
lives of those within this church, for the
renewal of the church rests upon the
people yearning for renewal within
themselves. Renewal is scary. We don’t
want to cry or spend time waiting for
God to fill us. We need to see results
and be able to predict where we will be
next year. Besides, haven’t we spent
enough time waiting and praying? At
my church, Primera Iglesia, we have
waited years to feel the reassuring touch
of Christ that will heal and transform.
So we search for signs of our fruits,
our renewal. Would the new piano
player and her spouse who will join the
church soon be a sign of renewal? Is our
Sidewalk Sunday School, which attracts
over 50 people a week, a solid sign of re-
newal? Is it our food bank, our clothing
room? Is it the special event we offer that
attracts people of other churches to come
join in, showing diversity in culture and
race? Is it the increased number of people
in worship on Sunday mornings? Or is it
the increased number of volunteers com-
ing in throughout the week to work at vari-
ous projects at the church?
Our offering plates on Sunday morn-
ings do not offer any sign of renewal.
With 90% of our congregation on food
stamps and/or fixed incomes, the people
cannot afford to stock a food bank or run a
big, yellow truck for Sidewalk Sunday
School. The answer comes from our
United Methodist connection. We have a
Sidewalk Sunday School, a food bank, and
a clothing room to offer because sister
churches have supported these ministries.
Other churches have donated funds and
items. The people of these sister churches,
individuals and groups, have reached out
to empower the people of Primera to ac-
complish ministry that is so needed in
inner-city Phoenix.
Ultimately, I find the answer for re-
Renewal has roots in darknessBy Rev. Rosemary Anderson
FreeDigitalPhotos.net Design, Valerie Maravolo
Past
or’s P
ersp
ectiv
eBy
Rev
. Ros
emar
y An
ders
on
24 | Transformation | Spring 2009
the food industry, and also have been in-
volved in the operation of church soup
kitchens in Oregon, so they have a lot of
information Hope can draw upon to run a
successful program. Valerie’s resourceful-
ness helped everyone work through the
biggest challenge right away. Since
Hope’s kitchen was built many years ago,and is not a commercial kitchen in the
eyes of the Health Department, Valerie
recommended starting with commercial
preparations such as number 10 cans of
beef stew, and enhanced it with canned
potatoes and other ingredients. This plan
worked especially well because the
kitchen staff could start with a relatively
small quantity of food and expand based
on the demand. This seemed to work per-
fectly by keeping our leftovers to a mini-
mum. In an effort to make guests of the
church’s kitchen feel welcome, the dining
room was managed with the same care and
efficiency as a good restaurant, under the
stewardship of Hope’s Trustee Charlie
Greer. Charlie made sure someone
greeted each person at the door, someone
else escorted each guest or group of
guests—if they came as a family—to the
cafeteria-style serving line. Smiling ladies
ladled generous portions of food for guests
and invited them back for seconds. Tables
were set with placemats, napkins, and
plastic dinnerware. Servers brought bev-
erages to each diner. Others cleared and
reset the tables when the guests were fin-
ished dining. Still other church members
made a point of stopping by tables, chat-
ting with diners, and having a bite to eat
with them if they were alone. It was Char-
lie’s purpose that all who dined be treated
with dignity, be made to feel welcome,
and be invited back. All together, 26
church members served at the first
kitchen. Hope’s Kitchen is not the first time
the church has reached out to the commu-
nity to provide real assistance to the
needy. Over many years the church has
been supportive of a wide variety of local
programs. Currently, Hope numbers
among its outreach support programs to
feed school children over the weekends, to
provide food to the local food banks and
baby layettes to young mothers in preg-
nancy counseling. But Hope’s Kitchen
does represent the culmination of an effort
to reach out more into the community to
draw area residents who need help into the
arms of the church family. This effort,
fostered in the recent past by Rev. Marc
MacDonald, Hope’s previous minister, has
now reached fruition in Hope’s Kitchen
through the efforts of Rev. Jimelvia Mar-
tin. Rev. MacDonald prepared the ground
and planted the seeds for change, growth
and renewal. Rev. Martin is doing the cul-
tivating. Harvesting will be left to the
Lord.
think it will invite people who have been
disappointed with the church or even hurt
by it to rethink and reconsider what
church is really about.”
When it comes to reinventing the
church experience, many United
Methodist churches are ahead of the
game.
- Centenary United Methodist Church,
Richmond, Va., has a feeding and foot-
washing ministry for the homeless.
- Flowing Grace United Methodist
Church, outside of Chicago, created a
portable house of worship.
- Pets are welcome and ushers collect the
offering in minnow buckets for a floating,
boating congregation at Warwick (Ga.)
United Methodist Church.
- Paul’s Restaurant, operated by Oakland
United Methodist Church, Charleston,
W.Va., offers two kinds of soul food:
home-cooked meals and spiritual nourish-
ment.
Levin Van Sant, chairperson for evan-
gelism and outreach in the Peninsula-
Delaware Conference, saw a United
Methodist News Service story about the
upcoming campaign and was quick to get
on the Rethink Church bandwagon.
“It’s the perfect platform for us to
show people that church can be fun and
flexible,” Van Sant said. “And to show
United Methodists aren’t stuffy — that we
do things for others. We’re a very mis-
sions-minded people, and for us, church
isn’t just a noun. We are a verb.”
“Rethink Church is ultimately an in-
vitation to missional Christianity,” Hollon
said. “It’s about being transformed, doing
those things that transform us individually
and transform the world. If we rethink
church, our spiritual yearning and our de-
sire for change become integrated. We
focus on faith as life lived in mission, be-
cause we are called by God to be people
who serve.”
RETHINK | continued from page 5
newal comes from the congregation of
Primera Iglesia. For renewal comes from
within and is usually accomplished in the
dark. My faith tells me God is working on
the hearts and minds of the people of
Primera, even if I can’t see it, and, it ap-
pears, the cold freeze of winter has done
its work for as Spring comes upon us,
there are signs of green and growth, so we
know the roots are there and still strong.
HOPE’S KITCHEN | continued from page 7
Byron Petty and Val Connor
Spring 2009 | Transformation | 25
Connect your church!Do you want to do your part to help the people of your church stay connected to
the rest of the Desert Southwest Conference? Be sure to visit www.desertsoutwestconference.org/ourconference to download and print copies of Our Conference,a bulletin insert designed to communicate important news from the Conferencewhile remaining easy and cheap to reproduce. This tool can be simply inserted intoyour existing church bulletin or can stand alone. For questions about the bulletin in-sert or learn more about how you can help your church connect with the Conferenceand the General Church, email [email protected].
Photo Courtesy Patt Pillsbury
that God has placed in your hearts for God
and neighbor. So you are working hard to
eliminate poverty. There are so many ex-
traordinary examples of your good and
faithful work, but allow me to lift up two.
In Safford, Arizona the local United
Methodist Church has taken on the feed-
ing of all who are hungry in that commu-
nity! Through a USDA grant and many
donations from church and community
members, they have built a state of the art
food distribution center. The center is a
20 by 30 foot building with a porch that
extends a welcome to all, and contains a
freezer the size of a semi-truck! Its heart,
though, are the disciples of Christ Jesus
who are preparing to feed both bodies and
spirits. The town of Safford is being revi-
talized as neighbors of many faith persua-
sions are joining together to serve those
who hunger for bread for the body and the
bread of life.
In Las Vegas, Nevada the United
Methodist Social Ministries of Las Vegas
(UMSM) has transformed an old building
on the campus of University UMC into a
warm center of hospitality for those whose
lives are afflicted by the vicious impact of
poverty. A well stocked food pantry feeds
the hungry, the poor are given counsel as
they seek help to meet the many needs
they face, and children are surprised by
Christmas gifts when their families aren’t
able to provide even the smallest of gifts.
UMSM is also helping reunite parents
with their children. In a lovely and wel-
coming room that feels like a nice den in a
home, parents who have lost custody of
their children are able to spend some time
with them at UMSM. In this sacred and
safe space parents and children are learn-
ing to rebuild their lives, and in some
cases love is being reborn. You have
proven that even poverty can be over-
come, a family at a time.
Finally, did you know that global
health is being promoted from right here
in our area? The DSC helped send a team
to Ethiopia to teach a community how to
fight against an HIV/AIDS epidemic that
has stricken our brothers and sisters on the
continent of Africa. We are actively col-
lecting our dollars to meet our goal of $1
per church member to fight this deadly
disease that has blanketed the world with
death and suffering. Here at home we
continue our Strength for the Journey
camps for those afflicted by HIV/AIDS.
What a privilege it is to embrace these
beloved ones, for in embracing them we
experience the very presence of Christ
among us and all of our lives are trans-
formed!
Each winter, UMSM’s Hats ‘n Hands program distributes clothing items to the homeless in partnership with other area agencies where
homeless services are provided. People all over the Las Vegas valley knit or crochet hats and scarves throughout the year in preparation for
winter distribution. Thousands of homeless individuals have directly benefited from the generosity and caring of so many who care about the
homeless.
TRANSFORMING | continued from page 6
26 | Transformation | Spring 2009
Photo Courtesy UMSM
PHOENIX (UMNS)—Leaders from
around the Western Jurisdiction gathered
in Burbank, CA, Jan. 10-11 to begin to
focus in on the work that lays ahead for
this quadrennium. It was a time of team-
building, information sharing and decision
making; as well as a time of dreaming
about possibilities. During the gathering,
the leadership team received insight into
what is needed for ministry in the Western
Jurisdiction by the Council of Bishops. A
new “Strategic Priority” of a commitment
to the development of new churches and
communities of faith was brought forward.
It encompassed elements of the mission
statement of The United Methodist
Church, the Four Areas of Focus presented
at the 2008 General Conference, and the
vision of the Western Jurisdiction. “What I
like about this (Strategic Priority) is that it
gives us something solid to hold onto,”
said Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño, of the
Desert Southwest Conference. “It is the
house that lets us model our values.”
TransformationM i n i s t r y M a g a z i n e o f t h e D e s e r t s o u t h w e s t C o n f e r e n C e Order Form
Free copies of Transformation can be obtained by inquiring at
your church. If you would like to receive Transformation at your
home, detach and complete this form. Send this form and pay-
ment to: The Desert Southwest Conference,
Attn: Transformation Subscription, 1550 E. Meadowbrook
Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85014-4040.
Orders may also be placed online by going to
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rder Form
Spring 2009 | Transformation | 27
Please send a subscription to:
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to make disciples of Jesus for the transfor-
mation of the world, and our Conference
Strategic Direction states, “We believe
God’s vision for us is a transformed world
through Jesus, thus our mission is to make
Disciples of Jesus Christ.” We are a people who believe transfor-
mation is possible through Jesus and thatis exactly what this new ministry maga-zine should be about. The magazineshould help us all to see how the ministrywe do is transforming the world andshould give us a drive to want to trans-form the world further, even when we aretired. I believe the title Transformationwill reflect our mission, our strategic di-rection, and everything we are about.Please give this title consideration foryour contest.
-- A proud member of the Desert
Southwest Conference
Western Jurisdiction explores ministry possibilities
Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño
NAME | continued from page 5
DSC Photo
Are you the last one to know about Conference events and other important news? If so, its time to make a change. Be
sure to sign up to receive immediate and timely email from the Conference Notes listserv. To be added to the list, send
an email with your name and email address to: [email protected].
Staying Connected
Photo Courtesy UMSM
One with Christ“. . .‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.‘ “
- Matthew 25: 40Priority: Develop and encourage an ongoing culture of Social Holiness
Measurable Objectives:1. We will work toward educating our churches and communities about Social Holiness in the Wesleyan tradition by pro
viding all congregations opportunities for Christian conferencing, spiritual formation, and leadership development inresponse to the pressing social issues of our area.
2. We will work toward the elimination of poverty in the communities where we serve, connectionally supporting everychurch to walk each year compassionately with one family afflicted by poverty that they may come to live in theabundance of God's grace.
3. Each church will take at least one decisive social justice action in each of the following areas:a. Border Concerns b. Children and Youth at Risk
4. The Annual Conference will take at least one decisive action annually to strengthen partnerships in each of the following areas of relationship:
a. Northwestern Annual Conference of The Methodist Church of Mexicob. Urban Ministriesc. Rural Ministriesd. Interfaith and Ecumenical Ministries, with special consideration for the historic black Methodist churches
5. Other measurable Objectives that will be developed by the assigned ministry team (s).
One with Each Other "And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.‘ “
- Matthew 4:19Priority: Develop and encourage an ongoing culture of Leadership Development
Measurable Objectives:1. Annually, inspire, identify, recruit, develop and deploy 120 laypersons for leadership in The United Methodist Church,
at least 30 of whom will be ethnic persons and/or youth/young adults. 2. All clergy complete at least one leadership development program, annually, that is related to their specific ministry
settings and relevant to their individual needs. 3. Other Measurable Objectives will be developed by the assigned ministry team(s).
One in Ministry to All the World "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations . . ."
- Matthew 28:19aPriority: Develop and encourage an ongoing culture of Planting New Churches and Communities of Faith
Measurable Objectives: 1. Plant at least 4 new churches annually-at least 1 of which is an ethnic church, and assist every established church and
campus ministry to initiate a new community of faith each year.2. Build and maintain an on-going, trained pool of new church planters to serve the needs of the Conference. 3. Train new Christians/members of new faith communities in the Wesleyan tradition.4. Create an endowment fund designated for new church planting. 5. Other Measurable Objectives to be developed by the assigned ministry team(s).
Our Vision, Our MissionWe believe God’s vision for us is a transformed world through Jesus,
thus, our Mission is to Make Disciples of Jesus Christ.One with Christ, One with Each Other, One in Ministry to All the World.
Strategic Direction for The Desert Southwest Conference
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