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WINNERWriting,Photography and OverallPublication

$2 copy or by subscription May 2020

By Jessica BrodieSouth Carolina has postponed its Annual

Conference gathering and issued a call that churches remain closed to in-person worship and other activities until at least May 20.

The announcements, released April 23, cited concern for public health and a con-

viction to do no harm amid the coronavirus pandemic.

A new date for Annual Conference has not been set.

The annual gathering—a time when 2,000 South Carolina laity and clergy gather to consider resolutions, ordain new pastors, approve budgets and do other necessary

work of the denomination in this state—was supposed to have been June 7-10 at the Flor-ence Center.

This latest postponement follows news last month that both General Conference and the Southeastern Jurisdictional Confer-ence have also been postponed. General Conference had been slated for May 5-15

in Minneapolis, with SEJ July 15-17 in Lake Junaluska. As of press time, the Council of Bishops had circulated Aug. 31-Sept. 10, 2021, as prospective dates for a rescheduled General Conference, though conference or-ganizers have not yet confirmed those dates.

Annual Conference postponedBishop also urges no in-person worship, church activities until May 20

See “Annual Conference,” Page 11

By Jessica BrodieThe social and emotional impact

of the COVID-19 pandemic is already difficult for some people, who struggle with being forced to stay inside, avoid friends and extended family, home-school their kids and steer clear of large gatherings.

But the financial impact is taking a toll, too. Many are furloughed from work or newly unemployed, facing pay cuts and other economic issues.

Church giving is down, too, in many areas of the state.

Beth Westbury, treasurer for the South Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church, said ap-portionments were down as of the end of March.

“It’s significant compared to the prior year, maybe $500,000,” Westbury said, though it is not all pandemic-ori-ented, and some of the decrease might be because the conference center was closed and they were not able to get the mail as readily.

Still, as the economy begins its slow upturn and churches—and church members—get increasingly confident with online giving, many conference leaders are feeling optimistic that giving will rebound, both giving to churches

Apportionments down, but not

necessarily giving

By Jessica Brodie, Jill Evans and Billy RobinsonTornados swept across South Carolina in the early morning of

April 13, leveling homes, claiming lives—and providing an oppor-tunity for people of faith to step up as God’s hands and feet.

The National Weather Service confirmed at least 20 tornados touched down in South Carolina in the wee hours after Easter Sunday. It was the biggest tornado outbreak in the state since 1984.

Nine people were killed, 150 homes destroyed, nearly 1,500 homes damaged and almost 300,000 homes lost power. Several of the tornados were classified as EF3 twisters, meaning their winds were as high as 165 mph.

That afternoon, South Carolina United Methodist Volunteers in Mission Early Response Teams sprang into action, with major aid

A disaster within a disasterERT crews rush in to help after tornados devastate multiple areas in S.C.

By Jessica BrodieTo help ease financial burdens created by the pandemic, conference

benefits leaders have approved a three-month direct billing holiday for churches in South Carolina.

“Churches are reeling from financial issues right now,” said the Rev. Chris Lollis, conference pension and health benefits officer. “We have reserves invested at Wespath, and part of those reserves are for emergency situations, and we know this is one of those times we have the funds avail-

able to help local churches. We want to extend that so they can continue doing ministry during this time.”

Lollis said the three-month direct bill holiday will be for July, August and September. Initially, they were going to do it for April, May and June, but they realized churches needed to incur the billing in order for those churches to take full advantage of the paycheck protection program portion of the $2 trillion stimulus package known as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief

Churches to get three-month direct-billing holiday

See “Giving,” Page 11

See “Direct Billing,” Page 22

See “Disaster,” Page 12

‘So many creative ideas’Churches adjust to new normal as distance worship enters month three

By Jessica BrodieWith in-person church gatherings cancelled

because of coronavirus through at least May 20, churches are settling in with a new routine of vir-tual connection. Across South Carolina, YouTube and Facebook Live worship services and Zoom

ministry moments are quickly becoming the new normal, as other churches explore even more creative ideas, such as “TikTok Tuesdays” or “egg drops.”

Read on for our roundup of ways South Caro-lina United Methodist churches are sharing the

Good News amid the pandemic.

Clemson UMC, Clemson The Rev. Fran M. Elrod said her church

Volunteers work hand-in-hand with homeowners in North after tornados swept through South Carolina the day after Easter.

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See “COVID Creativity,” Page 10

Page 2, May 2020 Advocate Advocate May 2020, Page 3

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By the Rev. Tom Wall with Elsa Compton and Mackin Wall

As we gathered at the Brownsville, Texas, bus station, the January darkness was falling on our team from the Methodist Student Net-work (Wesley Foundation) at the University of South Carolina.

The food we had spent all day preparing was loaded into some 25 small hand-pulled wagons to be taken across the bridge and over the Rio Grande into Brownsville’s sister city, Matamoros, Mexico. Immediately after we crossed the border, we were met by a tent city that is the temporary home to about 1,500 people as they wait to seek asylum in the Unit-ed States. Tents are set up in any vacant area in the plaza, on the sidewalks and in what was once a park just beyond the riverbank. People from Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Cuba and other countries have been living in and around the Matamoros tent city in hopes of a better life for themselves and their families.

Many have fled their countries of origin to escape gang and police violence, extremely poor economic conditions, death threats, rape and other serious oppression. We heard stories of systematic terror and intimidation. We listened to people describing the incom-prehensible events that led them to make the long and dangerous journey, a true testimony to the terrible conditions they were facing and the desperation that was driving them toward the border.

On this particular night, we were joined by Team Brownsville, a local nonprofit, volun-teer-run organization that crosses the border three nights a week to provide meals and re-sources to those living in the tent city. We had spent the majority of the day preparing more than 800 burritos along with fresh fruit and lemonade to serve in the Matamoros Plaza.

We quickly realized the women, men and children living in the tents heavily relied on Team Brownsville and other churches and organizations based in Mexico for their meals and other resources, such as diapers, formula and medication.

The next evening, we met a well-known, much-loved and much-appreciated man named Pastor Abraham. He is the pastor of a Matamoros-based hip-hop church where former cartel members make up the congrega-tion. Pastor Abraham and members from his congregation travel the 30 minutes from their church to the border twice a week to serve a meal. Before the meal was served, several men led a short worship service of hip-hop songs and prayer of encouragement and hope.

One afternoon, we were met by Pastor David, who is the superintendent of the Meth-odist churches in and around Matamoros. He led us on a walking tour of the tent city where we were greeted by people with whom he had developed a close relationship. We learned that he and his church members walk around the tent city every morning offering water, hot chocolate and coffee to those living there. They pray and form relationships with the asylum-seekers to ensure they are cared for.

We were humbled to meet people like these who work endlessly to serve the asylum-seekers living on the border. It was apparent to us that Christian teamwork and compassion cannot be stopped by the border wall and the immigration policies making the asylum-seek-ing process so unbelievably difficult to attain.

There in the tent city of Matamoros, where the “other side” in the United States is clearly visible just beyond the Rio Grande, hundreds of people wait with hope and optimism. Our team had the honor of meeting Rich, who spoke with our group one morning about the U.S. immigration system, particularly as it relates to asylum-seekers and refugees at the southern border. Rich shared with us that about a year ago he worked as an immigration attorney for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, where he worked to prove the government’s case against asylum-seekers and refugees seeking passage into the U.S. to start a

safer and better life. He spoke passionately and precisely.

He expressed the discomfort he felt when he witnessed the poor conditions in ICE detention centers and the children living in cages—reasons that led him to leave his job as an ICE attorney and take a large pay cut to work for immigrant rights. Rich now works through The United Methodist Church as an immigration attorney in a program called “Justice for Our Neighbors.”

He explained the RIM Policy, or “Remain in Mexico,” where asylum-seekers are forced to stay in Mexico as they await their court date, making it difficult to work and make money as they wait. He explained to us that because of this policy, many people continue to live in danger in Matamoros and other areas along the border because of the cartel and other dangerous situations.

A person seeking asylum in the U.S. needs to physically cross the border at an official entry point where they will then be met by an immigration officer and begin the paperwork to claim asylum. In recent months this has become nearly impossible because the U.S. government has placed two officers on the exact border line to prevent asylum-seekers from stepping onto U.S. soil to ask for asylum. They tell seekers to line up, where they have ended up waiting for weeks and months on the bridge with hopes that one day they will be allowed to cross and receive a court date.

Unfortunately, when the waiting asylum seekers press the immigration officials, they are told, “Sorry, we are full.” This has spurred people to cross illegally.

There is a popular misunderstanding that those who cross the border illegally will then run away into Texas, never to be found again, some committing crimes. We learned that this is usually not the case. People will make the dangerous swim across the Rio Grande, some dying on their way, only to sit on the other side and wait for an officer to meet them so they can ask for asylum. But now they are ar-rested for illegal entry and immediately sent to Guatemala (unless they are from Guatemala) where they will have forfeited any right to future asylum in the U.S.

A stricter interpretation of the law ordered by the attorney general has made it nearly impossible to assert the argument of “credible

fear” of persecution in one’s home country. Rich explained that even if someone’s

family member has been murdered and the implication is that they are next, that is not reason enough to be granted “credible fear,” unless they have been directly threatened by the police (not a gang). Additionally, someone seeking asylum in the U.S. must have been denied asylum in the country they passed through (Mexico) before arriving at the U.S. border, even if their staying in Mexico would be equally as dangerous for them.

There are several directives made to U.S. immigration lawyers by the U.S. Justice Department that have restricted the process even further, making it nearly impossible to be granted “credible fear” and asylum in the U.S.

During the last day of our trip, our group had a fascinating session at an immigration courthouse where Rich, along with a cur-rent ICE attorney and a private immigration attorney, spoke with us about their jobs. They shared their perspectives and personal stories about the jobs they do and the immigration system. They all agreed that between the three of them they could work out a more fair and just immigration system—one that is not driven by fear and politics.

The people living in the tent city of Mat-amoros continue to suffer today. The U.S. immigration conundrum has divided our country, split families and injured many al-ready vulnerable. We traveled to the border to see the many sides of the issue as we met with all kinds of people—asylum seekers, border patrol, ordinary citizens, pro-immigration and ICE attorneys, and church leaders. We saw fear and hope up close and personal on both sides of the border. We witnessed Christian faithfulness to the gospel, and we met Christ many times each day.

We were reminded to ask ourselves not simply about the legalities of a socially constructed line on a map or human-made wall, but we were forced to tackle questions of morality and Christ-like behavior. We were reminded how Jesus, Mary and Joseph were refugees and asylum seekers in Egypt, as Herod sought to kill the infant Jesus.

We met a God not bound by nationality or political party or economic self-interest, but a God calling out for compassion and justice, a God who claims everyone as God’s own child.

Above is a tent city in Matamoros. Below, the MSN group gathers with the Methodist pastor of Matamoros while touring the asylum seekers’ tent village.

Border trip offers Methodist Student Network new perspective on asylum-seekers The newest book from the Advocate Press

is a collection of faith-based essays by United Methodist pastor the Rev. Tony Rowell.

“What Would Granny Say? And Other Somewhat Embellished Memories” is a 276-page testament to faith and family written over the years by Rowell, an elder in the South Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church who currently pastors Beulah UMC, Gilbert.

For decades, Rowell—a mission trip leader, songwriter, photographer and storyteller—has made it his passion to experience, gather and share stories of the Lord at work in big ways and small. Now, a lifetime of memories is offered in one collection of 79 essays. From fishing with his granny in the Florida Panhandle to stum-bling into boars and bear alike in the Carolina wilderness to ministry in Bolivia, Colombia and Latvia, Rowell weaves beauty with simplicity and good old-fashioned humor.

His photographs of both nature and people are peppered throughout, along with a healthy dose of Granny’s wisdom, prompting the title.

Rowell was born in Circleville, Ohio, and as a young child, he and his family moved up and down the East Coast from Upstate New York to Florida. His family settled in South Carolina during his teen years, which was also when he truly came to know Christ. Through music ministry and mission work, he realized his call to full-time ministry in 1993. He has served as both vice chair and chair of the United Methodist Volunteers in Mission in South Carolina

and has pastored seven churches. Married to his high school sweetheart, Mary, they have three children and seven grandkids.

“I wish I could say that my writing is strictly a self-sacrificing and noble venture, but in truth, I am just trying to keep my priorities in line. I wander off in the wrong direction, and the Lord pulls me back with a story or two, until I wander off again. This process has gone on for a long time; consequently, this book was produced,” Rowell said. “My prayer is that those who read this will renew their love for God,

family, country and the beauty of nature. Finally, in this worrisome world, I pray that a little rest, peace and comfort might bless a heart or two through this work.”

“We are thrilled to offer this book as our latest venture from the Advocate Press, which is committed to producing quality, God-centered books for United Methodists across South Carolina and beyond,” said Jessica Brodie, editor of the Advocate and chief editor of this book collection. “Tony Rowell’s writing has long been a favorite, and he has such a beautiful way with words. I’m certain his essays will reignite your faith, as well as your appreciation for family, nature and what it means to be centered in Christ.”

“What Would Granny Say” is available for purchase at www.advocatesc.org/books. Cost is $15.95 (plus shipping and handling) paperback and $6.99 eBook.

To order by mail, send a check for $15.95 plus $3 ship-ping and handling per book to Advocate, 4908 Colonial Drive, Columbia, SC 29203.

New Advocate book features essays by Rev. Tony Rowell

Rowell

Advocate Awareness Day to be celebrated online May 17Want to help? Share our video and ‘What’s the Advocate?’ blurb with your congregation

With churches shuttered amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Advocate newspaper is tak-ing its annual Advocate Awareness Sunday online.

“We’re asking church members to share our video and ‘What’s the Advocate?’ blurb with their congregation,” said Jessica Brodie, the Advocate’s editor since 2010. “You don’t need to be a pastor to do this—just go to Facebook or our website and share.”

Pastors and church secretaries are also asked to put information about the Advocate in their eNewsletters and other church communications.

This year’s Advocate Awareness Day is May 17.The Advocate marks 183 years of its newspaper and communications ministry this year.

Founded as the Southern Christian Advocate, the Advocate was first commissioned by the General Conference of 1836 to be published in Charleston, one of three papers authorized by that conference. Highly respected across the denomination, it is currently the oldest newspaper in Methodism and has won 116 journalism excellence awards in the last decade.

Find the video, blurb and other resources at www.advocatesc.org/awarenessday or on the Advocate’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/advocatesc, or email Brodie at jbrodie@umcsc.org.

What’s the Advocate?A blurb you can share with your church

The South Carolina United Methodist Advocate is the oldest newspaper in Meth-odism and has won 116 journalism excellence awards since 2010. Founded in 1837, it is a print newspaper delivered every month to your mailbox at home; there is also an online subscription. Highly respected across the UMC, the Advocate’s mission is to inform and connect South Carolina United Methodists by independently reporting relevant news, engaging readers, providing a forum for dialogue and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

You can subscribe to the Advocate at www.advocatesc.org/subscribe, by calling 803-786-9486 ext. 335, or by mailing a check to Advocate, 4908 Colonial Dr., Co-lumbia, SC 29203. The cost is $15/year print and $8/year online.

You can also read some stories for free at www.advocatesc.org and on Facebook @advocatesc.

In a unanimous decision and for the good of public health, as well as the intense plan-ning needed, the Salkehatchie Board of Man-agers has announced all 2020 Salkehatchie camps are cancelled.

Kathy Hart, chair of the Board of Manag-ers for Salkehatchie Summer Service LLC, called their decision “heartbreaking” but necessary.

“Without a crystal ball to see June and July and all the complexity brought about by this coronavirus, we are erring on the side of caution,” Hart said. “We place our hope in God’s plan and trust that He will deliver us from this unprecedented crisis.”

Hart said the decision to cancel the camps was made following a March conference call of the Salkehatchie Board of Managers, the

bishop with representatives of the cabinet and conference office staff.

Camp directors and campers were imme-diately notified and fees were refunded.

“Some may question why the decision was made in March when camps are not held until June and July,” Hart said. “Part of the reasoning is that camp directors spend March, April and May preparing for camp by visiting potential homeowners, setting up meals with churches, confirming locations for lodging and many activities that require face to face contact. Visiting our dear elderly homeowners with many underlining health conditions by Salkehatchie home selection teams was too risky. It would be devastating if even one person was infected by the coro-navirus because of Salkehatchie.”

Hart said they are so thankful for their many partners including schools, churches, local businesses, and friends of Salkehatchie.

“You have supported us for 42 years,”

she said. “We love you. Salkehatchie will be missed this summer by many, but with God’s will and a COVID-19 vaccine, Salkehatchie will be back stronger than ever next year.”

All 2020 Salkehatchie camps cancelled because of COVID-19

ERTs give out COVID protectionWhen South Carolina’s Early

Response Teams learned of a desperate need for personal

protective equipment for emer-gency responders and others

on the front lines of COVID-19, they sprang to action. As of

April 14, ERTs have given out 1,310 N95 masks, along with

Tyvek suits, safety glasses and sanitizer. Here, Billy Robinson,

ERT coordinator (left) stands with a box of donated supplies.

Page 4, May 2020 Advocate

Viewpoints

4908 Colonial Drive, Suite 207, Columbia, SC 29203888-678-6272 or 803-786-9486

advocate@umcsc.org | www.advocatesc.org

PublisherThe S.C. United Methodist Advocate Trustees

Dr. Christopher Greene, chairperson; Dyron Anderson, vice chairperson;the Rev. Steven King, treasurer; Creg Smith, secretary;

the Rev. Carleathea Benson; Dr. Bill Click; Linda DuRant; the Rev. Sh’Kur Francis;Dr. Sheila Elliott Hodge; Enid Jenkins; Glen T. Levine; the Rev. Karen Radcliffe;the Rev. Chrisie Reeves-Pendergrass; Selena Ruth Smith; Dr. R. Phillip Stone;

the Rev. Cameron Levi, ex officio; and Dan O’Mara, ex officio

Editors emeritusMaryneal Jones, Willie S. Teague, Allison Askins, Karl F. Davie Burgdorf, Emily L. Cooper

StaffEditor: Jessica Brodie, jbrodie@umcsc.org

Assistant Editor: Allison K. Trussell, atrussell@umcsc.orgSales Representative: Toni Strawther, advocatesales@umcsc.org

Our MissionTo inform and connect South Carolina United Methodists by independently reporting relevant news,

engaging readers, providing a forum for dialogue and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

SubscriptionsThe individual subscription rate is $15/year for the print and online version ($13 for renewals) and $8/year for the online-only edition. To subscribe or for information about discounted church plan

rates, call 888-678-6272, e-mail advocate@umcsc.org or visit www.advocatesc.org.

The S.C. United Methodist Advocate (ISSN 1078-8166) continues the Southern Christian Advocate, authorized by the General Con-ference of 1836. Publication began Annual Conference-July 24, 1837. The paper is published monthly by the S.C. United Methodist Advocate Trustees. We cannot be responsible for unsolicited manuscripts.Please direct all inquiries regarding commentary submis-

sions to the editor, 4908 Colonial Drive, Suite 207, Columbia, SC 29203-6070. 803-786-9486/ FAX 803-735-8168.Periodicals postage paid at Columbia, S.C.

Postmaster: Send address changes to: S.C. United Methodist Advocate, 4908 Colonial Drive, Suite 207, Columbia, SC 29203.

May 2020 • Volume 184 • No. 5

Letters PolicyWe welcome letters to the editor. We urge brevity, as succinct writing often produces clarity. Letters should be no more than 450 words. All letters are subject to editing as needed to meet standards of grammar, space and interest. We will not publish anonymous letters, letters praising or criticizing businesses by name, endorsements of or letters from political candidates, fundraising appeals, or letters containing inappropriate language or personal attacks. All letters will be verified, so you must include a name, daytime phone number, church membership and hometown. Letters should be sent to The Advocate, 4908 Colonial Drive, Columbia, SC 29203, faxed to 803-735-8168 or e-mailed to advocate@umcsc.org. Deadlines are the 10th of each month.

I’m astounded by the beauty of God’s glory shining across every single page of this month’s newspaper. Take a look and tell me if you don’t agree!

On every page, you’ll find examples of regular men and women—and sometimes children!—doing something extraordinary for the Lord, living beyond themselves to

spread the Good News or to help others in His name.And all this is happening when many of us are stuck at home, quarantined for the most

part because of the coronavirus. In our front-page article, “So Many Creative Ideas,” we have example after example of

churches doing everything they can possibly think of to reach out virtually to their commu-nity.

We also see how, in spite of the worst band of tornadoes to hit our state in 36 years, the pandemic was an unexpected blessing. Because many people were out of work or had un-expected free time, they were able to volunteer in droves to help the hardest hit areas of the state—Orangeburg County, Seneca and Clemson, and the Hampton-Walterboro area, in one week finishing up the early response phase of the storm so crews can shift into long-term disaster recovery.

Another exciting thing I’m practically gushing over this month: our brand-new book from the Advocate Press. This one, by United Methodist pastor Tony Rowell, is a collection of 79 faith-based essays he has written over the years. It’s called “What Would Granny Say? And Other Somewhat Embellished Memories” and is a 276-page testament to faith, family and the beauty found in nature and simplicity. I know you will love it! If you don’t know him, “Pastor Tony” is a phenomenal storyteller and longtime missioner with a heart for God and God’s people. His photographs of both nature and people are peppered throughout the book, along with a healthy dose of his granny’s wisdom. (Learn more about the book on Page 3.)

I close with wise words from someone else who is on my heart this month. In the Page 1 article on the direct-billing holiday, Valerie Brooks-Madden, chair of the Conference Board of Pension and Health Benefits, offered a quote from Theodore Roosevelt on why her board chose to help churches by giving them a three-month “vacation” from paying their pension/insurance direct billing—a bill they will not have to pay back.

“In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing and the worst thing is nothing,” Brooks-Madden said, citing the 26th president’s famous words. “I thought this was right thing to do and the right time to do it, and people deserve some good news,” Brooks-Madden said. “I trust God and I believe in God, and we’re going to get through this.”

Amen. We’ll get through this indeed.

Bishop’s Cornerby Bishop L. Jonathan Holston

Just for today

Advocate VIEWPOINTS Page 5, May 2020

Editorialby Jessica Brodie

Such beauty“The steadfast love of the Lord never

ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithful-ness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him.’”—Lamentations 3:22-24 (NRSV)

The famed Dear Abby advice column offers wisdom wrapped in empathy and practicality. One such insightful column includes

ways to have a chance for a fresh start today. There is no need to wait for a new week, a new month, or a new year. We don’t need to feel overwhelmed by the enormity of the long term.

“Today is the day that we have the op-portunity to discard destructive old habits for healthy new ones,” writes Abby, who then expands on things to do just for today:

“JUST FOR TODAY: I will live through this day only. I will not brood about yes-terday or obsess about tomorrow. I will not set far-reaching goals or try to overcome all of my problems at once. I know I can do something for 24 hours that would overwhelm me if I had to keep it up for a lifetime.

“JUST FOR TODAY: I will be happy. I will not dwell on thoughts that depress me. If my mind fills with clouds, I will chase them away and fill it with sunshine.

“JUST FOR TODAY: I will accept what is. I will face reality. I will correct those things I can correct and accept those I can-not.

“JUST FOR TODAY: I will improve my mind. I will read something that requires effort, thought, and concentration. I will not be a mental loafer.

“JUST FOR TODAY: I will make a con-scious effort to be agreeable. I will be kind and courteous to those who cross my path and I’ll not speak ill of others. I will improve my appearance, speak softly, and not inter-rupt when someone else is talking.

“JUST FOR TODAY: I will refrain from

improving anybody but myself.“JUST FOR TODAY: I will do some-

thing positive to improve my health. If I’m a smoker, I’ll quit. If I’m overweight, I’ll eat healthfully—if only just for today. And not only that, I will get off the couch and take a brisk walk, even if it’s only around the block.

“JUST FOR TODAY: I will gather the courage to do what is right and take respon-sibility for my own actions.”

We are living in the midst of a pandemic. The best that we can do right now is to live just one day at a time. When we are await-ing medical results for a loved one, time slows to a snail’s pace and one day can seem longer than a year.

My daughter is a healthcare professional who was required to undergo mandatory testing for COVID-19. That test came back positive even though she did not show symptoms, and immediately she was required to self-quarantine. Because we had been in contact with her, Felecia and I were also required to self-quarantine. Praise God that we all made it through the quarantine without ever experiencing any symptoms, but we had to face each day as it came, uncertain of what would happen next. We had to live just one day at a time, focusing on the good and not promised anything beyond that.

Every day can be a good day. It is up to you to choose to see it that way. When we choose to follow in the way of Christ today, and then to continue going tomorrow and the next day and the next, one day we look up with eyes wide open to see that we are different from when we started. Our default outlook becomes choosing to see the good in each day. We are looking for the good every day, even when it is hard to see.

With every step and every day, the stead-fast love of God sustains us. God’s mercies flow abundantly, promising to be new every morning. Great is thy faithfulness. Great is thy faithfulness. Amen.

Letters to the Editor

Let us go forward hand in handAs I opened the April issue of the Advocate, I began reading a letter from Ralph Johnson,

a member of Memorial United Methodist Church in Greer. The self-belittling humor with which he began made me smile.

Proceeding to the second paragraph, however, my smile turned into a frown. I was stunned that the writer had questioned the integrity of the Rev. John Culp. He believed that John had unfairly referenced a statement from a Christian journalist that was not com-plimentary of President Trump. I was also concerned that the writer placed blame on the Advocate for printing such “political drivel,” as he called it.

Please allow me to assure our brother from Greer and all other Advocate readers that Rev. Culp is a decent and honorable retired pastor. It is true that John has very strong convictions about right and wrong, nor is he timid about sharing them. He has even been known to trample roughshod on people’s toes. But those who know him know that he cares deeply about people and the pursuit of justice for all, especially the poor and powerless. Furthermore, we are all indebted to John Culp for his having, many years ago, founded the Salkehatchie ministries through which countless young people and adults have had the op-portunity and sometimes the life-changing experience of helping to repair and upgrade the dilapidated homes of poor and elderly people across South Carolina.

As for the Advocate, I have been reading it for over 60 years, and in my opinion, it has never been better, thanks to the very talented and Christ-centered approach of Jessica Bro-die, the editor.

I am confident that brother Ralph Johnson is a good man who loves God and his church and that he has every right to share his views in the Advocate. At the same time, I felt com-pelled to correct what I believed was an error in his judgment of a retired pastor for whom I have a very high regard.

May the Lord Jesus hold us together in troubled times even though some of us view life through different lenses. We are all God’s children. Let us go forward hand in hand to do his work in our neighborhoods and in the world. Amen.

Rev. Mike Cox, retiredEasley

Having a conscience“A conscience is not a gadget built for comfort but an internal time bomb. It ticks away

the days, ready at a decisive moment to blow your life apart by turning you against self-interest or setting you apart from your neighbors.”—Robert Raines

Scripture refers to our conscience, especially in the New Testament. Acts 4:19-20 says, “But Peter and John said in reply: ‘Is it right in God’s eyes for us to obey you rather than God? Judge for yourselves. We cannot possibly give up speaking of this we have seen and heard.’”

Thank God for our conscience. “Conscience is God’s presence in man,” said Swe-denborg, and “He that loses his conscience has nothing left that is worth keeping,” said Cassin.

Lord, give us the courage for our convictions. Captain Brett E. Crozier, commander of the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt, was

fired for pleading for help as his crew tested positive for COVID-19. His conscience, his moral code, guided his plea. 1 Timothy 1:19 urges, “Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their conscience as a result, their faith had been shipwrecked.”

The consciences of the medical world and the scientists will save us, not the politicians.Psalm 19:14, “May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleas-

ing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Pray for the consciences of our leaders and citizens.

Rev. John Culp, retiredColumbia

A poem: Trials, Tribulations—TrustWhen your faith is tested beyond belief …Where do you go? Where do you find relief?Trials and tribulations may be hard to bear,But trust in God! Have faith! And, to others share!Tell others the blessings that come from faith.“Come to Jesus, trust Him, don’t wait!”In the dark of night or in the early morning light,You’ll never be alone; peace and trust will be your delight!Trust in the Lord; the Bible tells us so.Your life will be full! Peace enters—faith grows!

Margaret Faulkenberry, memberHolly Hill UMC, Rock HillSee “Letters,” Page 5

LETTERS: Readers sound off From Page 4

The first-time I felt God moving in my life was at the age of 12. I was a member of St. James United Methodist Church (now New Harmony UMC), Seneca. The Rev. Granville A. Hicks was my pastor.

I loved church and worked in the Methodist Youth Fel-lowship, which became the United Methodist Youth Fellow-ship after merger. My interest in getting to know people and meeting the needs of anyone anywhere was triggered after a UMYF Meeting at Lake Junaluska, North Carolina. With en-couragement from adults like Rubielee L. Addison and Willie Lee Washington, I began to attend district and conference events. I had a desire to know more about this church and this God that was moving in me.

Fast forward a few years, and I’m now out of high school, married and working. I hear God’s call. I go to the Walk to Emmaus. I was sponsored by the Rev. Julian Ford and wife, Jane, which was amazing. After this amazing spiri-tual encounter, I started speaking at churches frequently. I participated in more church-wide events. I worked with the Anderson District United Methodist Women. The Confer-ence UMW sent me to Vanderbilt University to be trained in leadership development, which I taught all across South Carolina for the Conference UMW. God was still moving in my life, preparing me, educating me and guiding me for things to come.

I contacted our district superintendent about my call, and he and I met to discuss the process. I could feel and hear God calling me, but I ran in the opposite direction.

A few years pass, and I now have two daughters. As I was about to accept the position of vice president for the Ander-son District UMW, I was elected to serve as the coordinator of the Southeastern Jurisdiction Black Methodists for Church Renewal Inc. caucus. I also became the first chairperson of the South Carolina Ethnic Local Church Concerns Commit-tee, which provided me membership on the SEJ Administra-tive Council as its first SEJ ELCC chairperson.

With SEJ BMCR, God blessed us to resurrect SEJ Haram-be. God was teaching me how to use my leadership skills to reach the masses. We had a Laity Academy to train and edu-cate laypersons from local churches. It is during this time that I met the Rev. Cornelius Holland from the North Carolina Annual Conference. He was a quiet man. I would see him at the SEJ BMCR meetings every year, but we didn’t have much interaction.

Yet, a year after I was no longer the coordinator, I got a call from a friend of mine who said she had been contacted by a friend who had been contacted by the Rev. Holland. He was trying to reach me. She was told that Rev. Holland said, “God told him to talk with me.” I was given his phone number, and I called him. He invited me to his home for a talk. I drove to his home in North Carolina.

Rev. Holland shared with me how, one morning as he was leaving his home, he backed out of his driveway, unaware that his 2- or 3-year-old son had come outside and was behind his car. He felt a bump and pulled forward. He had backed over and pulled forward over his son.

He picked up his son’s limp body and prayed to God for his son’s life. He told God that if He would restore his son that he would serve Him until he died. Then, he drove his son to the hospital.

The Rev. Holland invited me to get into his vehicle and ride with him across town. He had someone he wanted me to meet. When we arrived at a house, the door opened and a tall, nice-looking young man walked out holding the hand of a little boy. The Rev. Holland told me that was his son that he had backed over. He was fully restored and had no residual issues from the accident.

Back at Rev. Holland’s home, he said to me that God had instructed him to show me that if I would answer my call to serve Him, He would take care of me. Rev. Holland encour-aged me to answer God’s call to ministry. He affirmed God’s faithfulness by telling me his story and showing me his son

and grandson. I thanked him, drove home and continued to run from my

call. I was working at Clemson University and involved in so many church-related programs, committees, etc., but I had no real joy. I went through a divorce and got my home, which needed lots of work.

I heard God call me again. How could I answer when I had lost two-thirds of the income in my home and so much work was needed? God spoke to me and said, “I will supply your every need. Trust me.”

I called our district superintendent, the Rev. Bob Stillwell, and he again walked me through the process. This time, it was different. I remembered what Rev. Holland told me about God’s promise. God stepped in and opened doors for me that no man could have opened.

Everywhere I went, I would find coins on the ground. One day, with my youngest daughter with me, I stopped at a shop-ping center in Seneca and opened the car door to get out. To my surprise, there was a mound of coins on the ground—like someone had opened a change purse and poured coins on the parking lot. I knew then that God was seriously going to take care of me if I would follow Him by answering my call.

There is more, but this was the turning point. And answer-ing my call has been the best journey I could have ever been a part of. In my lowest points, God was there. When I was so lonely, God put good Christian folks there for me. And, when I needed a friend, there was no better friend than His Son, Jesus Christ. God prepared me, educated me and sojourned with me on my call journey! He gave me great and memo-rable successes at each appointment, and I am forever grateful to Him.

Benson is a retired local pastor in the Anderson District.

‘Trust Me’

How I Got My Call to Ministryby the Rev. Carleathea M. Benson

Your call story wanted!Call stories (how we heard or felt God calling us to

ministry) can be powerful testimonies, as well as inspir-ing. Sometimes they are uplifting, sometimes they are painful, but they are all real ways the Lord speaks to us today. The Advocate invites you to share your “call story.” We are also exploring using these stories in an upcom-ing book. Email your story (500-1,000 words in length) to jbrodie@umcsc.org. If you do not have access to email, mail to Advocate, Attn: Call Story, 4908 Colonial Dr., Columbia, SC 29203. Include name, whether you are clergy, your church and a photograph.

The COVID-19 pandemic is difficult for pastors like myself who do a terrible job at delegating tasks to church members. For the last several

weeks, I’ve felt a lot of extra pressure on mak-ing virtual church happen for those who can access the internet. This, of course, leads me to a lot of anxiety about my church members without access to the internet. As a result, the last few weeks have been a flurry of creating online newsletters, printing newsletters and recording daily devotionals for social media. 

I am adjusting to “shelter-in-place” ministry. I only go out to get groceries and to deliver meals with a community feeding program. But I know I cannot go forever like this—which is why I’m turning to my seminary friends for help.

I had the great fortune of graduating from Candler School of Theology in 2018. My classmates are brilliant, collaborative souls who give me hope for the mission of the church. Just before Holy Week, my friend Linda Stephan (Michigan Annual Conference) reached out to several of us to see if we were interested in putting together a digital Seven Last Words Service. Because this is my favorite type of Holy Week worship service, I jumped at the oppor-tunity.

The project includes other colleagues from Candler who reflect the depth and breadth of the school’s diversity (race, age, gender, ability, denomination, career background, etc.). It’s a multimedia experience utilizing word, song, art, etc. as we reflect on the seven last words Jesus uttered from the cross.

By the time this reflection is published, the video should be available on Candler’s social media pages. I invite you to take a look at it and

share any feedback you have.Projects like this help me understand not

only the future of ministry, but also its present state. No longer can pastors jealously guard their pulpits and audiences. We have entered a new era of sharing viewpoints, resources and experiences. If my parishioners are already watching at least two church services on Sun-day mornings because of the pandemic, then I need to be prepared to not only collaborate, but also adopt a multimedia approach. I need to learn how to cut and edit videos on a computer. I need to learn to reach out when my artistic ideas for worship reach beyond my capaci-ties. Most of all, I need to learn how to accept invitations from unlikely ministry partners in order to be relevant to my community. 

We worship a God who is able to reach all of us through different means, whether it’s through art, nature, music, poetry, sermons, home improvement projects, etc. We don’t have to do it all, but we should be able to name someone who can help us reach out to those whose learning styles we are not drawn. And if we fail along the way, God is present with us to help us try again.

I have recently taken great comfort in the words from Mark Hewerdine: “Hey, church people faithfully streaming low-budget, shaky, amateur daily prayer or Sunday service from your messy house because you want to serve your church community and offer what you can to God in love: That’s your perfume poured over Jesus’ feet. It’s beautiful. Keep going.”

May we remember to have grace for our-selves as we forge these new relationships and new patterns for ministry and mission! 

Taylor pastors the Bethany-Zoar Charge in Saluda.

Guest Commentaryby the Rev. Hillary Taylor

Delegate, collaborate and ask for help

Advocate Features Page 7, May 2020Page 6, May 2020 Features Advocate

By Jessica BrodieThis month, nearly 30 local pastors will gather by Zoom

for the first-ever online version of pastoral licensing school.The three-session course of study, led by the Rev. Mel

Arant, will still be held in the same format: all day Monday through Saturday, April 27-May 2, then two weekend ses-sions May 8-9 and May 15-16. However, instead of being held at the South Carolina United Methodist Conference Center in Columbia, the class will be taught by video con-ference.

“In some ways, this is a great learning experience for those taking the licensing school—it’s a perfect example of having to adapt and to solve problems and figure out new ways of doing ministry,” said Arant, dean of the school for the past four years. “I’ve said to a couple individuals anxious about participating in school this way that this might be the best training you’ll ever get to lead a church, because every pastor, no matter what kind of church you are serving—a large downtown church with a lot of resources or a small church not known for many resources—is having to figure out how to do ministry electronically and at a distance. If

you can’t adapt to this, you are probably not going to be able to adapt to ministry.”

The curriculum for the licensing school, called School of Pastoral Ministry, is prescribed by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry’s Division on Ordained Ministry to teach the pastors everything they need to know as they prepare to pastor their first church. It is not intended to replace seminary, he said, and is considered a first “course of study” class.

The sessions cover basic Methodist history, theology, polity, basic fundamentals for church administration, wor-ship, preaching fundamentals, spiritual formation, mission and outreach, Christian education, best practices in pastoral care and counseling, sexual ethics and safe sanctuaries training, continuing education. They spend significant time on racial and gender sensitivity, Arant said, plus get insight from guest pastors, who share their process, and meet with some unique ministries of the Annual Conference, such as congregational specialists.

In all, students get 80 contact hours. Arant said instructors are getting “very creative.” One,

who typically starts each year with an in-person getting-to-know-you icebreaker, has figured out how to do an online Jeopardy-style game as an icebreaker.

“My biggest fear is how do I create collegiality in a distance-learning setting, so we’ve poured a lot of energy into thinking about that,” Arant said.

They are going to try to do that as best as they can, utiliz-ing small breakout groups throughout and other ways to foster relationships and community.

Arant said he’s optimistic this will be a good way to help students learn what they need, as he has been pleasantly surprised with the success of online outreach recently started at the church he pastors, Pendleton UMC, Pendle-ton. In the past, he has led Bible study in person, but for the last month he has been leading that study using Zoom with huge success and attendance.

“Now I have shut-ins participating in the Zoom Bible study who haven’t been able to participate in person in years,” Arant said. “Another member recently moved back to Mexico to care for ailing family, and she’s been able to call in and participate.”

Local pastor licensing school goes online because of pandemic

By Elaine JenkinsMerriam-Webster defines the word “ser-

endipity” to mean “the faculty or phenom-enon finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for.”

That definition was made concrete for me around 2010, when I attended the Peace Conference held at the United Methodist Retreat Center in Lake Junaluska, North Carolina. During one of the sessions, I was seated next to a Caucasian woman, Sara, who shared my surname. When I told her I was born and reared on Johns Island and still claimed it as my place of residence, she shared with me her paternal ancestors were owners of a rice plantation on Johns Island before the Civil War.

She and I probably had the same thought: My ancestors were more than likely enslaved on that rice plantation owned by her paternal ancestors. Hence, the same surname.

Sara Jenkins and I remained in communi-cation over the years. I learned that she had worked as an art historian and book editor, that she is a published author and that she is the owner of a small publishing company. I also learned she is a Zen student of more than 30 years and has worked on the issue of racial reconciliation for many years.

When the back panels of our parents’ 1966 Volkswagen microbus were selected to become one of the permanent exhibits for the new Smithsonian National Museum of Afri-

can American History and Culture, I invited Sara to travel to Charleston to attend the 2014 sendoff hosted by the City of Charles-ton. She came with a friend.

Sara wrote about our initial encounter in an article that is one of many included in the book “Slavery’s Descendants: Shared Lega-cies of Race and Reconciliation,” edited by Dionne Ford and Jill Strauss and published by the Rutgers University Press in 2019.

When Sara learned I had resigned my

position as director of planned giving with Africa University, a United Methodist-related institution of higher learning located at the Methodist mission site at Old Mutare, Zimbabwe, she informed me she wanted to establish a scholarship at Claflin University, another United Methodist-related institution of higher learning located in Orangeburg, in memory of my parents and designated for the young men and women of five of the Sea Islands of South Carolina who yearned for a

college education. She requested my assis-tance to achieve her goal.

In her letter to several of her close friends inviting them to contribute to the scholarship fund, Sara wrote in part: “Nothing can repay the debt to people who were enslaved, and my purpose is suggested in these words from Dr. Tressie McMillan Cottom (The Sun, Feb 2020): ‘Nobody needs reparations more than white people. It will end up freeing white people more than it will benefit any individu-al black person.’ To me, personal reparations ... address the moral need of white people. The possibility of small-scale individual contributions, it seems to me, deserves wider attention.”

The Jenkins family is honored and humbled by this singular radical act of gener-osity, which will provide scholarship support for the young men and women of the five Sea Islands who yearn for a college education.

For others who may wish to contribute to the Esau and Janie B. Jenkins Endowed Me-morial Scholarship Fund, please make your check payable to Claflin University, indicate on the memo line that it is for this scholar-ship fund, and mail it to the attention of Michelle Manning Henry, Claflin University, 400 Magnolia Street, Orangeburg, SC, 29115. Or you may give online: https://alumni.claflin.edu/jenkins-memorial-esf.

Jenkins writes for the Esau and Janie B. Jenkins Family.

Photo by Corie Hipp Erdman This photograph was taken June 1, 2014, at the bus sendoff in Charleston. Sara is seated on the second row directly behind the author’s brother, Abraham B. Jenkins Sr. To his imme-diate left is the author’s niece, Maxine L. Jones, and to his immediate right is her sister-in-law, Emily Smalls. Sara’s friend Lidia is seated next to her.

A radical act of personal reparations

By the Rev. Jamie McDowellBeing a working single mom of three in a small town is

hard. Throw in that one child is 36, has survived a kidney transplant and has cerebral palsy and other medical con-ditions makes it really hard. Now throw in the theft of a treasured three-wheeled trike and a worldwide pandemic that puts this mother unemployed.

This would be enough to break most people—I said, “Most people.” It did not break Karen Marcengill Tompkins.

Tompkins has a strong faith in God. She can often be found at a weekly prayer meeting held on Tuesday mornings in town. She is known to go above and beyond for everyone she encounters. 

Tompkins’ daughter, Lori, used to watch her older brother and sister ride their bikes with hopeful anticipation. Because of her medical conditions, she could not participate in the same activities. Five years ago, Tompkins, who works at a

local restaurant, took a chance and purchased Lori a three-wheel trike for Christmas. The chance paid off. 

Lori was not only able to ride the trike, but she eventu-ally also started delivering messages between Karen and her brother, who lived just a short distance down the road. Lori developed a sense of importance being entrusted to carry these valuable words between her mom and uncle. 

On March 27, with the coronavirus pandemic gaining national attention, Lori’s three-wheeled trike was stolen from their home, where it had been chained and locked. Not long after, Tompkins found herself applying for unemployment because of the pandemic.

Buying a new trike was not a financial option. Tompkins posted the information on Facebook to make

her friends and family aware of the situation. Her post woke up a small Upstate town, including United Methodists and many other people of faith across the community. A local

Facebook group dedicated to uplifting the town shared the information that evening, along with a cry to help find or replace the trike. Yousef ’s Kitchen, a local restaurant, agreed to be a collection point. Another friend started a Go Fund Me page to replace the stolen trike. 

By 7 p.m. the day after the trike was stolen, more than enough money had been raised to replace it. The Go Fund Me page returned all donations, as the goal was not only met, but exceeded the need to replace the trike. A new trike was ordered with the hopes to have the townspeople be there when it was presented to Lori. 

Unfortunately, with the pandemic and the subsequent stay at home orders, a large gathering would not be possible. But on April 9, a brand-new trike was delivered to Lori.

This small act of kindness affirmed to one of God’s special children that there is still good in the world—and affirmed it to her daughter, as well.

A town comes togetherMethodists, others help buy new trike for woman with cerebral palsy after hers is stolen

By Donna L. HolmanReprinted with permission of the Times & Democrat

In the early hours of Monday, April 13, just before dawn, a simple, white structure stood steadfast facing into the howling winds that bore down on her.

Massive trees, tin siding, fiberglass shingles and other projectiles were violently flung from nearby homes and businesses into the four-lane road in front of her. Tree tops and hardwood limbs were ripped from the large trees that shade her courtyard and heaved in her direction, cracking her outer covering.

Building pressure from the force of a fast-moving squall line and powerful winds forced her wooden doors open, exposing her inside to the driving rain. The powers of na-ture lashed at her sides and top leaving their mark upon her shutters and roof cap. Yet, she stood firm on her foundation as she has for the past 170 years. Not one piece of stained glass was broken. Yet, the windows in a nearby house were shattered.

White House United Methodist Church, located at 3517 Five Chop Road, Orangeburg, was established in 1788 as a place of worship on the 4-acre tract of land 10 miles east of the city of Orangeburg on U.S. Highway 301 North.

According to the historical marker placed in the fore-ground, White House UMC was given to the Methodist Episcopal Church along with an earlier structure known as the “White Meeting House” in October of 1790 by a

deed that is said to be the earliest record of Methodism in Orangeburg County.

“From what I understand two people lost their lives in Orangeburg County. It is a tragedy and we pray for their families,” said the Rev. Mike Written, White House UMC pastor. “Here at the church … we have mostly trees down, with the exception of the playground. All those things can be replaced where life can’t be.”

“When we are faced with adversity, a lot of people will ask, ‘Why did God allow this to happen?’ It might be to bring the community together. It might be to bring new people to faith in the Lord.”

As a retired Navy hospital corpsman with a medical background, Written weighed in on the current response of the United States to the COVID-19 virus.

“If you listen to the president and his Coronavirus team, what they have put in place is exactly one of the simplest ways to counter this thing with social distancing, washing the hands, etc., and we are starting to see the results of that. My wife has been following the numbers and she says for the past two days now, Orangeburg County has not had a single case. So we are starting to see where it’s leveling off and before much longer it will start going down,” he said.

“Again I go back to the question, ‘Why does God allow this sort of thing to happen?’ and we don’t have an answer. It could simply be that there are people out there who are hungry for the word of God right now. Ever since we were

not able to gather inside the building, because the church is made up of the people, not the building, I have been posting my sermons online, both on Facebook and YouTube and there are a lot of people viewing them,” Written said.

Written is also the pastor of Ebenezer United Methodist on Ebenezer Road in Orangeburg and Wightman United Methodist Church located in downtown Bowman.

“We have the technology today to get the message of God out to the masses through these social media sites: YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. I think that word will spread. At this time where people are searching and having all these different feelings, they will be able to come to the word of God. They will be able to get it online now which is different from any time before. I think going forward, looking out into the future, it will change the way people view religion and how they go to church,” said John Bagwell, chairman of WHUMC board.

“All praise to God for sparing the church. The church is still here and will still be in operation after we get every-thing cleaned up and come out of the COVID-19 virus,” Bagwell said. “We encourage anybody and everybody that wants to come, to come out and see this historical church and to be a part of this ministry that we have here. We want people to bring their children to enjoy the playground.”

In 1974, WHUMC was named to the National Register of Historic Places, making it the fourth Orangeburg County site to be added to the National Register.

Little church that stood: Damage all around but historic White House UMC spared

Connect on social media @advocatesc

By Cynthia KeeslerTrinity United Methodist Church, An-

derson, has supported sending a mission team to Costa Rica for the past 10 years. Each year, the team has partnered with the Methodist Rural Center in Ciudad Quesada, Alajuela Province, affiliated with the Evan-gelical Methodist Church of Costa Rica.

This year, the team of 13 missioners (10 men and three women) journeyed to Costa Rica Jan. 18-26. They stayed at the center as home base. On some previous trips, the teams have had the privilege of being the guests of partner churches in different rural communities.

All of the mission team members had been on a Costa Rica trip multiple times, except for two newcomers this year. Some represent other churches that have become Trinity’s mission partners.

The team’s familiarity and relationship with the director and the staff at the center is a great advantage as all serve together in ministry.

Construction is always a major compo-nent of these trips. The center’s foreman knew the team’s skills and talents, and both sides were eager to get started. This year’s missioners caught the tail end of the rainy season, so they had to be flexible, a key element of any trip. Depending on the day’s weather, and how thick the mud was, project work included work on a building (in progress) that will be used as an educa-tional/tech center; drywall, plaster, sanding; work on a covered football (soccer) field with concession stand and locker rooms; laying concrete block for the foundation of that attached building; concrete work to extend the area under an existing carport; and painting, welding and woodwork.

Funding for construction and ministry projects came from fundraising efforts (such as Trinity’s annual Chicken BBQ & Silent

Auction) and donations, which allowed mis-sioners to provide support to four churches through a gift bundle containing resources for children’s Sunday school leaders and women’s ministry; wooden toy vehicles made and donated by Toys For God’s Kids; food bags (10 for each church for a total of 40) filled with pantry staples purchased there and distributed them to those in need with assistance from local lay leaders; and Gideon Bibles in Spanish.

Also, 75 pocket-sized Bibles were donat-ed to a local men’s correctional facility that had granted permission for Kairos Prison Ministry to enter there for the first time. The Bibles were picked up by a pastor/volunteer and would be used that very weekend. God’s timing is amazing.

Much was accomplished in a short visit, but Trinity missioners still desired to do more before they had to say our goodbyes. While evangelism and mission service of this nature is truly rewarding, they are mindful to focus on the joy of relationships both among fellow team members as broth-ers and sisters in Christ and the people with and for whom they are serving.

Missioners said they are grateful to UM-VIM for the example of and the opportu-nity to be “Christian Love in Action.” They

returned with spirits renewed to continue sharing the good news of Jesus’s love and grace with the world.

The team gathers for a smile.

Trinity journeys to Costa Rica for annual UMVIM mission trip

Crews wait to lay down concrete blocks as the foreman measures from the cornerstone.

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Advocate Viewpoints Page 9, May 2020Page 8, May 2020 Features Advocate

2020

Summer Service2020 Camps Canceled

With heavy hearts and an abundance of caution,the Board of Managers for Salkehatchie SummerService announced that all 2020 camps are canceledbecause of the coronavirus.

The board remains hopeful that the camps will return in 2021 stronger than ever.

www.salkehatchie.org

By Billy Robinson“Glory Hallelujah!” This praise phrase was heard over

and over by Roslyn Schuler, of North, as members of North United Methodist Church took on the very challenging task of first tarping her badly deteriorated roof, then replacing it.

The roof, which had many holes, was tarped by the North UMC team in November. They replaced the roof in early April.

“There were many ‘Glory to God and Hallelujah!’ mo-ments for all involved in the project,” said the Rev. Richard Toy, North UMC’s pastor. “Many challenges and obstacles had to be overcome, including raising the funds, acquir-ing willing volunteers and especially the dangerous aspect of such a steep roof while dealing with the serious threat of coronavirus/COVID-19. It truly was a God-given vision!”

While several North UMC members volunteer through United Methodist Volunteers in Mission Early Response Teams and other programs, this was the first major volunteer project North UMC had taken on by itself in many years.

Toy delivered a sermon on service and outreach at North UMC in November. He stated there was a home only a short walking distance from the church that had the ragged rem-nants of an old blue tarp and an obvious hole at the top of the roof line.

I was astonished, as I am the ERT coordinator for our annual conference, and our first ERT trailer was put together with funds from our local church in 2004.

How could I—we—have been so blind as not to see such

a need so close to our church? Sometimes you can’t see the forest for the trees.

We contacted Mrs. Schuler, the homeowner, and found there was a legitimate need for dire help. She had purchased the home awhile back but could not afford a roof and could not get insurance on the home because of the bad roof, which also was causing much damage throughout the home. There were multiple leaks throughout, including a two-foot by four-inch hole through the peak of the roof.

The roof is a steep one, thus there were many challenges. On Nov. 29, we placed a tarp on it and found that the only possible way to do it was for it to be tied off with harnesses and ropes.

Funds were raised through North UMC, Pine Hill UMC and a few individuals. Volunteers signed up to do everything from feeding the teams, providing additional supplies, sup-plying ground crews and supplying the daring roof crews.

COVID-19 threatened to stop the mission, but safety implementations were put in place to allow the mission to be accomplished, such as temperature-taking of all volunteers, safe distancing as much as possible, sanitizing and special food/drink preparations.

As we started into the mission, we learned of other needs inside the home, such as a shower connection, and we gladly supplied it, especially when we found out Mrs. Schuler was a loving servant of God also, as she was gathering supplies and taking them to people in need. Toilet tissue was one of the prized items she was giving out.

God used 19 volunteers spaced out over four days, plus some professional help from St. Mark UMC, to

make this God-given vision a reality. Praise the Lord! Glory to God! Glory Hallelujah!

Volunteers included the Rev. Richard and Lorean Toy, Dagen Schofield, William and Jacob Robinson, Brodie Cook, Mike and Michael Hughes, Edward Robinson, Amanda Robinson, Christopher, Garrett and Grant Livingston, Roslyn Schuler, Brian Williams, Timmy Amaker, Felix Vazquez, and Billy and Trudy Robinson.

North UMC plans on making such missions at least an annual event, but hopefully multiple times a year.

Robinson is North UMC trustee chair and South Carolina ERT coordinator.

Edward Robinson works on the roof. This was the first major volunteer project North UMC had taken on in many years.

North UMC pastor the Rev. Richard Toy, William Robinson, Brodie Cook and Eddie Boland work on the roof.

North pastor the Rev. Richard Toy and Brian Williams nail down starter shingles.

‘Glory Hallelujah!’ North UMC builds new roof for neighbor

Photos by Billy and Trudy Robinson Rev. Richard Toy prays with volunteers Amanda Robinson, Grant and Christopher Livingston, Trudy Robinson and homeowner Roslyn Schuler.

NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Her-man Lightsey, a men’s ministry specialist and former president of the South Carolina Confer-ence United Methodist Men, was elected president of the Na-tional Association of Conference Presidents of UMMen during the March 5-8 session of that leader-ship team.

Meeting two days after a devasting tornado tore apart the eastern side of the city, some 85 conference presidents elected Lightsey by unanimous consent.

Lightsey succeeds Steven Nailor who served as president from 2016 to 2020. Light-sey assumes the post July 19.

Lightsey and his wife, Mary, have been United Methodists since 1972 when the couple accepted an invitation from their neighbors to attend a United Methodist church service,

“Mary was a Lutheran and I was Baptist when we married,” Lightsey said. “I knew our faith was a topic that had to be addressed, but before it even came up for discussion, God placed us next door to this Methodist family.”

The Lightseys became United Methodists and raised their two daughters in Ashland UMC in Columbia.

“In 1973, a group of UMMen started mentoring me, and I became a part of the UMMen group at St Paul UMC,” he said. “At the same time the pastor began mentoring me, and I became the youngest person to chair the Administrative Board.”

In 2007, Lightsey was approached about becoming a men’s ministry specialist. He was

already teaching an adult Sunday school class and serving as lay leader and a lay speaker. Light-sey completed the course and became the first men’s ministry specialist in the South Carolina Conference.

A retired colonel in the South Carolina Army National Guard and a member of the Guard’s Hall of Fame, Lightsey is also now

retired as deputy director of South Carolina Accident Workers’ Compensation Fund.

He continues to be active in Ashland UMC as a teacher and leader. He has served on the Finance Committee, the Board of Trustees, the Stewardship Committee, the Administrative Board and the Pastor/Staff Relations Committee.

Herman serves the Columbia District as a certified lay servant, a member of the Connectional Ministries Committee, past president of Columbia District UMMen, a member of Midlands Emmaus Commu-nity and a facilitator of the Forward Focus Committee. He has served South Carolina Conference as president of Conference UM-Men, past chair of the Conference Pension and Health Benefits Board, a member of the Bishop’s Advisory Team, a member of the Connectional Ministries Committee and a member Board of Ordained Ministry. He also serves on the South Carolina Commit-tee on the Episcopacy. He is a three-time delegate to General Conference (2012, 2016 and 2019), first vice president of the National Association of Conference Presidents and a member of the 2016-2020 Wespath Benefits and Investments Board.

Lightsey named president of UMMenNational Association of Conference Presidents

Lightsey Clearly, anyone who has been cognizant in the past several weeks can attest to the fact that our lives have dramatically changed since we encountered COVID-19.

Schedules have changed. Itineraries are modified. Social norms have been altered. We have been forced to become different in multiple ways.

Can you recall the last time you extended your hand to someone when you greeted them? What about giving or allowing someone else to give you a hug? Do you even remem-ber what it was like to be able to travel freely in your community or beyond? As lightly as some individuals may be taking what we are now experiencing as our current new norm, it is not something any of us should take lightly.

I express these words after learning that some persons I grew to love and respect have had their lives adversely impacted by COVID-19, or the coronavirus. It’s one thing to read or hear that others have been impacted by it. It’s another thing when we are able to connect a name and face to this crisis.

My prayer is that all of us, lay and clergy, do our utmost to try and abide by what is being directed by persons who have our best interest at heart. Please take every precaution you can. Follow the advice given to consistently wash your hands and maintain social distances. Move about only when necessary! Try to take care of yourself, as well as others, in whatever manner is feasible.

This thing is real, and we all have a responsibility to do our part to curtail the spread of this deadly epidemic. Even with this devastating crisis we have been exposed to, we can still rely on our God to give us wisdom and common sense along with our faith to persevere until we are able to see a breakthrough. Until then, we will still encounter those “this thing is real” moments like I experienced today. As we encounter them, please remember that we are not alone. We have God and we have one another to share in these life-changing occur-rences.

As we worship and share God’s word in alternative ways, remember that we are all af-fected by this epidemic. May our ongoing prayers be with healthcare providers, patients, lo-cal, state, national and world leaders, as well as for clergy and laity desiring to see a change from our current reality. I also ask that we solicit God’s help for intervention and assistance in helping us regain a sense of normalcy that we are more comfortable with.

May it be so in God’s own time and through God’s chosen medium or mediums. Hodge is pastor of Cumberland UMC, Florence.

Guest Commentaryby Dr. Anthony Hodge

This thing is real!

We are living in the midst of a pandemic that is sweeping across the world. It approach-es in silence and remains

invisible to the eye. It has no respect for class, status, race, religion, borders or anything we have established to keep ourselves and our kind separated from those “different” from us. At this point in time, there is no cure. It must run its course in those who are infected. Many survive. Many do not.

The medical experts and scientific com-munity are working to identify treatments and to develop the all-important vaccine to prevent further spread of this virus. They confess it will take awhile.

Meanwhile, we watch the news reports. We hear of the suffering, the deaths, the heartbreaking stories of families whose loved ones are in the hospital without a familiar face to comfort them. We see the nurses, doctors and others on the medical team not only caring for physical needs but also the emotional needs of their patients, taking the place of family who must remain outside.

We are told we must practice “social dis-tancing,” the only effective solution we cur-rently have to prevent more infections. We wash our hands repeatedly. We venture out to the grocery store with our face covered, only our eyes saying hello and a quick nod to strangers and friends, as well—trying not to appear too frightened of them just in case they have COVID-19 but don’t know it yet. When we get home, we clean our cans, boxes, even our produce to destroy the invisible killer maybe lurking in our grocery bags.

Our lives have changed. The world has changed. We may never be quite the same as we were, and let’s hope that we are not.

As a result of this new social distancing, there are lessons to be learned. First, this is a different kind of social distancing than what we usually practice. This separation now

includes folks beyond our homes who look like us, who worship the way we worship and who go out to lunch with us. They come into our homes and we into theirs. Our children and theirs are part of each other’s family. We share the same values and confirm to one another our way of life is the best way. But now, we must physically stay apart.

Second, this new social distancing is dif-ficult because it limits us. It hurts. We feel isolated. We can’t go where we want to go. Shops and restaurants are closed. We can’t be on the team because we are not allowed to play the sport. Our job, the means to support our family, may be in jeopardy because we are not allowed to do the work we are capable of doing. The education of our children may be limited because of circumstances beyond our control. In numerous ways we seem less significant and out of control.

Finally, if we have some sense of empathy and can see beyond our current state of af-fairs, we just might realize the social distanc-ing practiced in the past was hurtful to others and needs to change. Any time society or an individual acts in ways that make someone feel insignificant or “less than,” pain results. When opportunities are denied because of social injustices, all God’s children suffer. As individuals, we may not mean to cause hurt or deliberately act in a way to demean someone. But the effects of our actions are still the same.

As this pandemic runs its course, in the midst of its horror, may we discover a new way to think about those who are different from us. Presently, we need to practice social distancing to prevent the spread of a deadly virus. But equally important is the need to prevent the continuation of the silent and invisible prejudices that separate and kill the spirit of those affected.

Baker is a member of Bethesda United Methodist Church, Easley.

Guest Commentaryby Margaret Comer Baker

Lessons learned from social distancing

Occasionally we—or at least I—have been reminded that “we may have come to these shores on different ships, but we’re in the

same boat now.”For some reason when I hear that, my

mind goes to comedian Flip Wilson as something he would have said, if he didn’t. However, the point I would like to make is so consequential that it is certainly not funny. It’s life or death, heaven or hell, everybody or nobody.

Like so many of you, I am sitting around, and mostly in, the house these days in at-tempted obedience to the Centers for Disease Control’s recommendations to mitigate our self-risk and our risk to others from this un-welcomed visitor, COVID-19. As troubling and challenging as this and the barrage of news reports have been for me and (proba-bly) you, this has also been a subtle reminder of a fact that seems to eludes, get covered up or simply dismissed by far too many of us—that we are inextricably linked to each other.

For much too often and too long, es-pecially in this so-called God-fearing and God-loving nation, our individual worth is associated to our ethnicity, color of skin, gender, economic status, sexual orientation, national origin, religious affiliation (or lack thereof), etc. That makes individuals who are not in sync with us in most or all areas “inferior,” and that in and of itself relegates us as “superior.”

But that runs counter to God’s teaching of one body with many members, each with something of worth to compliment and make the body complete. And if there is injury or schism in any part, the whole body is affected negatively and vice versa. If all parts are nourished, maintained and functional, the body is better able to do what it is designed to do efficiently.

When I look around as of late, I feel sick in my spirit as I see, hear and feel the symptoms of a virus thought long passed—a virus that has made the nation and world sick for years, decades and centuries. One would think that, even if the world didn’t get it, surely, this greatest nation on earth, with all of its SMART and MOST religious people, would have used the plasma that flowed from Emanuel that infamous Friday long ago for the inoculation of the nation’s and world’s infected.

I thought maybe it did, when I saw “e plu-ribus unum (out of many, one)” and “In God we trust” written on the money—or is it the money that is god? If we received God’s glori-ous gift and rid ourselves of the virus that made us sick, we apparently went back and consumed it again, as mentioned in Scrip-tures (2 Peter 22). Some have resources to last them for a thousand years, if God would allow them to live, yet they think it’s a carnal sin for others to have the simple basics: abil-ity to go to the doctor, have a decent meal and roof over their heads and get a decent

education for their children. Our political leaders sit around day and night, it seems, devising and writing rules to legally write-off and disenfranchise over half of their constit-uents. The evil one is at it again, or still.

A different trick, maybe, but for the same purpose—to foil God’s plans by separating us from God and dividing us from each other. How quickly we forget that our greatest strength lies in Him who rushes to join our struggles when we are touching and agreeing in His name. Again, we were told we could be gods and lord over others, especially the weak and defenseless, and all the loot would be ours—and that it didn’t matter to God because He only loves us, anyway.

Oh, we fools. Are we so slow to realize that if God put all of us on the boat together, it will take all hands on deck to bring it safely to the other side? God is too wise to be wrong. So we either make it together or per-ish together. We are in the same boat.

There are some among us who have declared that the event in which we find ourselves is an indictment of us by God for our many sins, and we are being punished, but I don’t claim to know the mind of God. However, may I suggest that we stop killing and abusing each other under the guise of doing God a favor, for He is more than able to be God all by Himself. Since we can’t seem to agree on what God meant at any given time, let’s just stand down. I’ve been told that if anyone takes on too much, he or she winds up doing nothing, which leads me to the final point.

Let’s make this simple and not overwhelm ourselves by just concentrating on the two that He said were the most important two and all rest the were embodied in them: 1) Love the Lord with everything, i.e. heart, mind, soul and strength; and 2) Love our neighbors (all of them) as ourselves.

Now that wasn’t so hard, was it?Love is so big and strong that it over-

whelms and conquers hate, isms, self-righ-teousness, arrogance, ignorance, selfishness, injustices. It heals broken hearts, lifts up the downtrodden and sets the captives free, and never gives up on seeking the good for and in everyone.

God is love. This moment reveals our common frailty

and interdependency. Death is visiting and has visited every population in our world, and this is what death has done since the be-ginning of “Man born of a woman … .” Will we just dry our tears, pretend that these were the last and return to our old ways or make preparations for our appointments?

Oh God, our help in days past and our hope for our uncertain tomorrows, we thank you for it all, especially for the opportunity to consider the state of our souls. If just one more is able to say today, “It is well with my soul,” we’ve received another undeserved blessing.

Amen.

Guest Commentaryby the Rev. Joseph Abram Jr., retired

We are all in the same boat

Thinking of publishing your church’s history?Contact the Advocate Press.

We can help produce your book.Email advocate@umcsc.org or call editor Jessica Brodie directly at 803-807-0018

is posting both traditional and modern services on Facebook and YouTube. Youth and children are gathering regularly using Zoom, and church staff are posting “medita-tion moments” three times a week on the church Facebook page using their own gifts of prayer, devotion or music. Small groups, including United Methodist Women, are also meeting virtually. Elrod sends a weekly church email with updates, they are accept-ing prayer requests online, and their newly formed Stephen Ministry Team, which re-cently “graduated” from their initial course-work, has stepped up in congregation care.

“Whew! When I type all of this out it’s hard to believe we have done so much in such a short amount of time,” Elrod said. “Has there been a learning curve? Yes! But we have remained faithfully connected as a staff team and as a community of faith! As a good Clemsonian would say, ‘We are all in this together!’”

Asbury-St. James UMC, CharlestonHerb Spear, church administrator, said

their church did their first livestream March 22, airing on Facebook, YouTube and the church website, and continue their efforts after vastly positive feedback. “We thank God for the modern means of communication that are present so we can convey the Good News of Jesus Christ and to bring comfort to a troubled world today,” Spear said.

Calhoun Falls UMC, Calhoun FallsThe Rev. Franklin D. McCoy has been

reaching out to every member of the church by phone to stay in touch and to be sure they are doing what they can do to stay clear of the coronavirus.

“I try to make sure each person, especially our more senior members have what they need: food, medicine,” he said. “If they do have need, they know to call their pastor and he will take whatever the need may be and leave it somewhere convenient to them without us making physical contact.”

He’s been encouraging them to watch church services on television, even services outside the denomination.

“I’m sure I’m not doing enough, but I am doing all I know to do,” McCoy said. 

O’Neal Street UMC, NewberryAmanda Richardson said her church

now has a Facebook page and YouTube. On Easter, they did a “socially distant Easter flowering.” People brought flowers and added them to a cross placed outside the church. Also, since many members do not have inter-net or a computer, Richardson mails worship packets each week to all members with a letter from the pastor, an in-home worship bulletin and a sermon. In lieu of Easter lilies, the congregation was invited to give a dona-tion in memory/honor of someone and the money be designated wherever they saw fit, such as Ministries or the General Fund.

“For small congregations with people who do not have internet, this worshiping while social distancing is hard! But we will make it through,” Richardson said.

Owings, Gray Court and Bramlett UMCs, Gray Court 

The Rev. John Fahrney said his churches are holding “Parking Lot Church” Sundays. People stay in cars or sit in lawn chairs, and they use the front porch as a stage for speak-ing and music. “Attendance has been great, and it has been good medicine,” he said.

Inman UMC, InmanThe church launched a new website, www.

inmanumcsc.org, right around the time the pandemic hit. They are also holding a devotional service every Sunday morning on Facebook Live, a Youth Zoom gathering Tuesday evenings, a Bible study with pastor Ed Stallworth on Wednesday evenings, and

a weekly children’s lesson on their website. Members are also making cloth masks for those who need them, plus checking in with each other throughout the week.

“We are pulling together during this time of isolation,” said Vicki McCartha.

Goose Creek UMC, Goose CreekThe Rev. Debra Dowdle said they are do-

ing all they can to stay connected, including daily encouraging Facebook posts, such as youth playing inspirational instrumental pieces, people sharing drawings, families singing songs together and poems and other pieces written by members and friends. They hold worship virtually including children’s time, videos and special music. They have had groceries delivered to the elderly and im-mune deficient by the younger adults.

Other members are sewing masks that are given to local hospitals and our members. Several small groups, including one for grief support, are meeting by video.

“It is so amazing how God works to bring us together even though we are physically apart. As many have said, the church is not the building. The church is the people,” Dowdle said.

Parnassus UMC, BlenheimThe Rev. Alex Stoops said his church has

been conducting Bible study, Sunday school and abbreviated worship (message delivery with prayer) via Zoom.

“It started out with a handful of members but is growing,” Stoops said. ”Last Sunday we even had a visitor from Texas who enjoyed Love Feast with us.”

Ruffin Circuit, RuffinThe Rev. Cheryl Yates said her churches

are holding live worship services every Sun-day, a Facebook Bible study of “Anxious for Nothing,” a phone committee that is calling all elderly members, online giving for tithes and offerings, weekly youth and children’s group Zoom meetings, a live Bible story reading on Monday and Wednesday eve-nings for children, a live Children’s Moment devotion at noon on Wednesdays.

Beyond that, they have delivered goodies to their local hospital weekly for those on the front line; for Easter they “egged” the homes of all their children and youth (delivering bags filled with candy-stuffed eggs, including one empty egg to remind them the tomb was empty because Jesus is alive; and have col-lected items to take to the Hampton County community hit hard by recent tornados. 

“Through all of this we are reminded that we are the church, not the building, and there are so many ways available for us to share God’s love even though we have to social distance,” Yates said.

St. Matthews Charge, St. Matthews The Rev. Lois Helms said her churches

don’t have live streaming, so she has been posting Sunday services on YouTube. They also held a “parking lot service” on Easter. Someone brought a trailer bed, someone brought sound equipment, their musician brought her keyboard, someone brought flowers, and Helms did the preaching through a loudspeaker. Helms said the Calhoun County Sheriff ’s Department gave permission for them to do it as long as every-one stayed in their cars.

“We had non-members from the commu-nity, as well as church members attending. I counted 32 vehicles,” Helms said.

Shandon UMC, ColumbiaThe Rev. Shannon Bullion said her

church is focusing hard on outreach. She has distributed her entire discretionary fund through outreach to Homeless No More to keep people from being put out on the streets. They have asked members to donate to Family Promise for the same reasons, and they are donating church Lenten Funds to local charities, including Epworth Children’s Home. They are also asking members to give to Harvest Hope and volunteer to serve in a drive-through emergency food bank where volunteers put food in the trunks or help bag products all while monitoring a safe distance.

To communicate, they utilize mass email, Constant Contact, their website and Face-book, and they have moved all services to livestream/online. In addition, they have instituted a prayer text feature.

“We are trying to maintain faithful social connection during this time of physical dis-tancing,” Bullion said.

She said senior pastor the Rev. Smoke Kanipe has a sermon series on lessons from quarantine that has been extremely well received by church members. A recent ti-tle: “Everything I Needed to Know I Learned from Quarantine.” (Watch his sermons at www.youtube.com/user/SUMCLifeLine; his are in the traditional service videos.)

Grace UMC, North AugustaYolanda McCabe, director of children and

family ministries, organized an alternative Easter egg hunt, called “You’ve Been Egged,” with church families after she found out children were disappointed their regular egg hunt had to be cancelled because of social distancing requirements. 

Church staff dropped Easter eggs in the families’ front yards, plus left a family goody bag with crafts and an Easter devotion.

“It was so incredibly satisfying to see the pictures and videos of the children getting so excited with our ‘You’ve been Egged’ social distancing Easter activity! My heart was full of love for the day,” McCabe said. “This certainly is a crazy time that we are living in. God designed people to thrive when we are socializing with one another. We are not meant to be alone and isolated from one an-other. I am thankful for the technology that we do have to keep us temporarily connected with one another. This is certainly forcing me to think outside of the box!” 

Beverly Blevins, director of adult minis-tries, said their Bible Studies Series lessons, along with hymn singing, are taped weekly by class members and put on church website, as well as emailed to all Sunday school classes. Small groups—including their uku-lele class—are connecting through Zoom and other virtual methods. Others are keeping in contact through texts and phone calls.

Many church members are making masks and holding prayer walks, as well as collect-ing food for their local food pantry.

Winthrop Wesley FoundationThe Rev. Ricky Howell is doing weekly

“Drawvotionals” where he posts videos with a short devotion accompanied by a drawing that goes with the topic and Scripture (view the first video at https://youtu.be/ Uzn8d5BqJ14). He’s also encouraging stu-dents to create cards or write notes to people in healthcare thanking them and offering encouragement. 

Mount Horeb UMC, LexingtonIn addition to online worship services,

Bible studies, student ministry and more, senior pastor the Rev. Jeff Kersey said the church has invited six of their partners around the world to share as part of Mount Horeb’s current Ascension sermon series. The partners—from Liberia, India, Indone-

sia, Eastern Europe and Asia—are sharing a COVID-19 video report and prayers from their part of the globe. 

Pendleton UMC, PendletonThe Rev. Mel Arant said his church

organized a community ministry making groceries available to families identified by the school district as possibly needing help. Some church members started an initia-tive asking persons who don’t necessarily need their stimulus check to donate it to the church to help others who can’t pay utility bills. Another church group has made more than 500 masks for the local hospital, which has requested an additional 2,000. 

Also, their children’s ministry, youth and adults meet weekly via Zoom, Google Hang-outs or conference call.

 Lake Point UMC, Lake City

The Rev. Willie Lawson said his church is “very blessed.” He’s been giving a devotional message on Facebook each Sunday, which he plans to continue until they can gather again in person.

Nichols UMC, NicholsThe Rev. Tim Burleson said they have

launched a church website (www.nichol-sumc.com) and started an online worship at noon on Sundays, with roughly 100 people worshipping with with them weekly from across the globe. He has also started a week-day video blog called “From Six Feet Away.”

Mount Carmel UMC, BambergThe Rev. Nathan Smalls said they have

held “car church” with much success. Attend-ees drove to the church but stayed in their cars as a husband-wife team, Anthony and Nancy Rivers, gave a devotion. Smalls then delivered the morning message from another podium. They used a portable amplifier that was borrowed. A representative from each car deposited their offering in a tithe bucket.

“This was our way of practicing social distancing while having an hour of fellow-ship,” Smalls said.

Anderson Circuit, AndersonThe Rev. Annie Jackson has been or-

ganizing creative ways for her churches to say connected. Right before Easter they held a “shoebox worship,” where members were asked to bring an empty shoebox that would represent the empty tomb; she placed Scripture on the resurrection in the boxes for them to read early Sunday morning. The fol-lowing week, she asked members to bring an empty water bottle, in which she placed her typed message for Sunday.

Advent UMC, SimpsonvilleThe Rev. Laura-Allen Kerlin said they

already livestreamed their worship services every Sunday, so that was less of an adjust-ment for them. Because of that, she said, the church has been able to put more energy into connecting with people in other ways. 

Student ministry goes live on Instagram every Monday and Wednesday, and their director of children’s ministry goes live every weekday on Facebook. Their adult disciple-ship team has been sending weekly devotions to all group leaders.

In addition, every Tuesday is “TikTok Tuesday,” with various staff members filming a fun, 15-second video on TikTok that they then share on social media. On Wednesdays, Kerlin and the Rev. Michael Turner go live on Facebook for “What’s Up Wednesday.”

Franklin UMC, DenmarkThe Rev. Minnie Anderson is doing a

once-a-week YouTube message and post-ing an inspirational word on the church’s Facebook account daily.

St. John’s UMC, Aiken The Rev. Tim McClendon said his church

Advocate Page 1 Jumps Page 11, May 2020Page 10, May 2020 Page 1 Jumps Advocate

Coronavirus, or COVID-19, was first identified in Wuhan, China, in 2019. It spreads person to person, and there are currently coronavirus cases across the globe and in every state in the United States. As of April 23, the World Health Organization re-ports more than 2.5 million confirmed cases worldwide and more than 175,000 deaths.

The decision to postpone South Caro-lina’s Annual Conference was made with the health and safety of attendees as top priority, conference leaders noted in their announce-ment. State and federal health officials recommend against large gatherings as one way to contain the spread of infection.

“As United Methodists, we often are guided by three simple and important prin-ciples that summarize our general rules—do no harm, do good and stay in love with God,” said the Rev. Ken Nelson, conference secretary. “To do no harm means we will be on guard so all our actions and even our si-lence will not add injury to another of God’s

children or to any part of God’s creation. “As a people of faith, our witness of doing

no harm honors the sacred worth of every life.”

South Carolina Resident Bishop L. Jonathan Holston said he appreciates the flexibility of the conference’s clergy and laity, who are navigating many changes as they continue doing God’s work.

“We appreciate your flexibility as circum-stances prevent us from gathering as origi-nally planned, and we look forward to wit-nessing how the Holy Spirit will move in our midst at that time when we are able to safely gather to celebrate the ministry and mission made possible because of faithful United Methodists in South Carolina,” Holston said. “Truly, we are living beyond the bounds of expectations, yet we are assured of God’s steadfast presence guiding us.”

Most other annual conferences are also being postponed, including those in North Georgia (now set for Aug. 28-30), South Georgia (now Aug. 14-17), Western North Carolina (Aug. 8), Virginia (Sept. 18-19) and

Florida (Sept. 19). Others, like the North Carolina Annual Conference, are shifting to virtual sessions.

South Carolina is urging people to be sure to cancel their Annual Conference hotel reservations for June 7-10, be on the lookout for information about the resched-uled Annual Conference and read all reports and other materials as they are distributed and made available at www.umcsc.org/ac2020.

As for the cancellation of church gath-

erings through May 20, Holston said he is heartened that South Carolina United Methodists continue to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world in spite of unprecedented restrictions on established ways of doing ministry.

“You are standing steadfast in spite of this extended period of isolation we are all living through. You are creatively staying connected with your communities, even as we continue to observe social distancing and other safety advice from health experts,” Holston said, noting we all serve a loving God whose word is a light that brightens our path even when it is difficult for us to see.

“The time will come when we will be to-gether again physically. Together in worship. Together in service. Together in fellowship. We will pass the peace again. We will stand shoulder-to-shoulder again, praising our Savior in word and song,” Holston said. “In the meantime, I know that you will remain persistent in finding ways to be in com-munity with your sisters and brothers in Christ.”

and giving from the churches to the annual conference. And much of that, Westbury said, has to do with people being receptive to online giving.

“I want the people in the pews to under-stand this can be an easier form of giving rather than writing a check each week,” West-bury said about online giving. “I’m hoping this will help people see the benefits.”

Across the conference, some churches are doing well, while others are struggling.

The Rev. Jim Arant, director of Con-nectional Ministries, said he and conference congregational specialists have been calling pastors to check in, and their consensus is many churches are doing well, with some even seeing an increase in giving.

The Rev. Tim Shaw, pastor of Asbury-St. James UMC, Charleston, said his church’s giving has been slightly higher than normal since the pandemic shut things down.

“We have been receiving tithes and offer-ings via PayPal, mail and members dropping offerings by my front door at home, along with homemade masks,” Shaw said.

Also, during each broadcasting, he has been intentional in telling viewers the church mailbox is checked daily, and staff is wanting to make sure their needs are met.

The Rev. Kenneth Middleton said Bluff Road UMC, Columbia, has also noticed an increase in giving during the pandemic.

“We are experiencing this spike because of the social media platforms used, Go To Meeting and Zoom, to reach our target audi-ence and beyond,” Middleton said.

He and computer-savvy church members are also being intentional about training aging members how to use Cash App as a means to give, and they have made available a post office box for those who prefer mail.

“I have discovered that my consistent engagement, beyond Bible study and church

services, with the members encourages giving, especially among the aging in our church,” Middleton said. 

However, Arant said, many small, rural churches are not doing well.

“Many are not able to use virtual worship because of lack of internet in rural areas, and people are not giving. There is an old saying, ‘If they plop it in the pew, they plunk it in the plate.’ If people don’t go to church, often they don’t give,” Arant said.

He also said many African-American churches they have talked to are not doing well, and many people do not trust online giving, as most services charge a 2 percent fee. Arant suggested one way to give online is through “Bill Pay,” a service banks offer where you enter payment information to your online account, the bank writes a check and mails it to the payee. There is no charge.

The Rev. Bill Masciangelo said Smyrna UMC, Moncks Corner, is on budget so far.

“We mailed a letter to all giving units and included two self-addressed envelopes to make it easier to respond. It worked,” Mas-ciangelo said, noting they are getting ready to send another letter with financial updates and Scripture readings for May.

The Rev. Jamie McDowell said Zion UMC in Walhalla and Hopewell UMC in Westmin-ster are giving at rates fairly close to normal.

“Most members are able to just go by the bank and deposit their tithes,” he said.

Wendy Parnell, treasurer for Springhill UMC, Rembert, said her church’s giving is about the same as pre-pandemic. Members can mail checks to the church, give online through Givelify.com or drop their envelopes at church on Sundays at a designated time.

“The addition of the online option has been the only change in our financial opera-tions, and it has made a huge difference in what we receive versus what we were likely to receive,” Parnell said. 

Tommy Hill, pastor of El Bethel UMC,

Spartanburg, said so far the church is “OK” financially. “Giving is through mail and drop-in through a slot in the door (where mail comes),” Hill said. “Nothing creative yet!”

Judy Chapman, treasurer for Epworth UMC, Charleston, said they have also stayed about the same. “Pastor Rabenstein has com-municated by email, texts and Facebook so that the congregation was aware of the differ-ent ways we could continue our giving,” she said, noting most choose to mail their tithes to the church, though a few use Vanco. “The offering counters are at the church on Sunday mornings for anyone who wants to donate cash, but that has only occurred once.” 

Jeffrey Salley, pastor of Canaan and Sand Hill UMCs, Ridgeville, said their giving is also about the same. Offerings are received via online giving as well as by mailing in weekly offerings, and Salley, along with class leaders and finance teams, is in constant con-versation with members to encourage them to continue in being good stewards.

Other churches are down, though most are saying it’s not terrible so far.

The Rev. Daniel Eplee, pastor of First UMC, Laurens, said they had only one week that was about one-third of their usual Sun-day giving, and overall giving has been down 15-20 percent, but that is quickly changing now that they have started online giving.

Now, Eplee said, “Every other week has been about the same amount as a usual Sun-day. We just got online giving through Vanco. The application, process and time waiting to be approved was long. However, the setup and even payment process are both extreme-ly easy. ... We’ve had it up for a week now and have already received funds from people we do not usually receive funds from.” 

The Rev. Jeff Kersey, pastor of Mount Horeb UMC, Lexington, said his church has seen a decrease in giving during the pandemic, with the most significant losses incurred in the first three weeks.  But despite

the decline, they have stepped out in faith. They designated $50,000 of their Easter of-fering for COVID-19 relief for Harvest Hope, Mission Lexington and financial assistance to smaller-membership UMCs in South Caro-lina hit hard financially. Since then, giving has surpassed even their initial projections. 

“We believe the reason for the large initial losses is due to our folks slowly and gradually adapting to a new way of ‘normal’ giving,” he said, noting the church offers both online and mail-in giving. “It is also our belief that, once it was acknowledged that we may not be returning to the physical church for an extended time, our givers gave in surplus to compensate for weeks of missed giving.” 

Colette Duncan, financial secretary at Bethel UMC, Spartanburg, said their church members continue to send in their offerings, and their givings-to-budget percentage is nearly the same, while dollars-wise they are about 5 percent lower. “I would say about a third give online, with new enrollees each week. The other two-thirds or so still mail theirs in, and a few even bring theirs by—usually with a mask on,” Duncan said. ”We are doing what we can to have someone in the office Monday through Friday, and we have cut back expenses where we can.”

The Rev. Lois Helms said giving is down at the St. Matthews Charge, Orangeburg District, in spite of her posting weekly ser-mons on YouTube and Facebook. “As part of those postings I remind them we need their offerings in order to meet the budgets, and display a placard with the addresses to send the offerings to,” she said. “They are mailing checks in, plus one of the churches has online giving, and they are using that method, too.”

Diane Ford, financial chair at Wesley UMC, Moncks Corner, said offerings have gone down, “but we are grateful to God that donations are still coming in.” Their members donate online, by mail or through “curbside offering.”

ANNUAL CONFERENCE: Health, safety of attendees priorityFrom Page 1

Bishop’s prayers and other COVID resources

Bishop Holston invites all to meet him each morning as he shares prayer

with the South Carolina Conference. Visit www.umcsc.org.

Also, the conference is offering a regularly updated collection of

resources to help local churches at www.umcsc.org/coronavirus.

GIVING: Some see increase, some decrease, many about the sameFrom Page 1

COVID CREATIVITY: From phone trees to social media videosFrom Page 1

We received a number of photos of churches doing new and creative things to stay connected given

social distancing restrictions. We plan to

run those photos in next month’s edition.

COVID CREATIVITY: From phone trees to social media videosFrom Page 10

is using YouTube to publish new sermons and combining traditional and contempo-rary music. During Holy Week they posted last year’s Living Last Supper on Maundy Thursday and Night of Shadows on Good Friday. Children and youth ministry staff and volunteers did door stoop drop-offs of Palm Sunday and Easter bags with palm fronds. Sunday school classes meet through Zoom, and they use Zoom for weekly staff meetings.

They also did their usual order of Easter

lilies to support small business, donating the lilies to Aiken Regional Medical Center.

Smyrna UMC, Moncks Corner The Rev. Bill Masciangelo said his church

is using the One Call Now phone system to send out a daily Bible word of the day, which he said has been a huge hit. They do a Facebook Live worship service every Sunday morning that reaches far beyond their typical church attendance.

They also call people weekly and deliver food if requested.

Livingston-Pine Hill Charge, Livingston

They are posting online Sunday worship services on Facebook and YouTube. The Rev. Graham Bennett is also doing daily devotion-al callouts to every member with Scripture and news to share with both churches.

Bethany UMC, Charleston The Rev. Cindy Muncie said her church

is staying connected through its website, Facebook, online classes and meetings, and online giving.

Lamar UMC, LamarThe Rev. Mark Bowling is posting daily

devotionals on Lamar’s Facebook page as they “walk through” their current sermon series, “The Long and Winding Road,” fol-lowing Jesus from Capernaum in Matthew 18 to Jerusalem, the cross and beyond. On Sunday mornings, Bowling posts a short video message.

They also did a “drive-thru” communion on Palm Sunday and “parking lot church” on Easter Sunday.

Continued next page

Advocate Page 1 Jumps Page 13, May 2020Page 12, May 2020 Page 1 Jumps Advocate

rendered in the three hardest-hit pockets of the state: Orangeburg County, Seneca and Clemson, and the Walterboro/Estill/Hamp-ton community.

“At 6:04 a.m., I received a tornado warn-ing call over my North Volunteer Fire/Rescue radio,” said Billy Robinson, who is both South Carolina’s ERT coordinator and the fire chief for the North Fire Department. “At 6:19 a.m. we were called out to our first entrapment call to 449 Sharpe Road out of North for two people trapped inside an over-turned mobile home by an EF-3 tornado. We (including Rev. Richard Toy of North UMC, who is also a volunteer firefighter and chap-lain) responded immediately in pouring rain and very hazardous conditions toward the trapped couple, but massive debris piles of large trees entwined in downed power lines and poles had to be cut out and pathways cleared before we could reach them.”

Ambulances could not make it through because of low-hanging power lines and trees, so crews had to make their own access in their personal trucks. Two severely injured survivors were freed from their demolished mobile home, placed on spine boards then put into the back of Robinson’s personal truck and rushed to a waiting ambulance.

“We were then off to another location where three survivors were freed from an-other destroyed home, and we made access to other injured survivors. Unfortunately, one married couple died in the area we were working,” he added.

In Seneca, tornados started just after 4 a.m., and within the first hour, local agen-cies were responding to address emergencies within a defined grid established by an up and functioning command post, reported Jill Evans.

“The word ‘overwhelmed’ doesn’t describe the magnitude of the debris field of power poles, power lines, trees and parts of build-ings making navigation within the zone difficult,” Evans said.

Matt Brodie, disaster response coordina-

tor for the South Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church, said the church has truly stepped up to help.

“Areas around our state have been devastated by tornados and strong storms. Families around the state have lost homes, jobs and even loved ones,” Brodie said. “But the people of The United Methodist Church continue to bring hope in the form of vol-unteers willing to help. Our early response teams have been working to clear debris, cut trees off homes and tarp damaged roofs.”

Brodie said the ERT phase is now over, though there are still a few pockets where ERT work might be needed.

“But there will be recovery efforts going on for a while,” he added.

Robinson called the outpouring of help “a wonderful, loving and caring response to the deadly and very devastating” disaster.

“Many very challenging and difficult situations were faced and overcome with God’s power, strength, resources and insight,” Robinson said.

While COVID-19 was a real threat that kept some responders away because of health

concerns and fears, those who did respond took special precautions and made huge progress, he said.

Orangeburg County responseERT Teams went immediately into action

in Orangeburg County April 13, the morning of the storm, alongside fire, rescue, emergen-cy management services, law enforcement and others.

On Preserver Road, Robinson said, they were able to rescue five people, taking more than an hour to cut through the debris.

A command post was set up at the Pig-gly Wiggly in Neeses, emergency and fire services continued with a coordinated search and damage assessment throughout the morning into early afternoon. There, the EF-3 tornado was 700 yards wide and cut a path 30 miles long, Robinson said, with 14 homes destroyed and 17 with major damage; many others had moderate to slight damage.

ERT members came to help right away from Greenwood, Summerville and North. They started by cutting out access to a man on oxygen with various other health is-sues and no power. Fire personnel and law enforcement worked side by side with ERT members and had him freed, with a genera-tor on the way, within 45 minutes.

“We then moved onto cutting trees off of homes and placing tarps on damaged roofs,”

Robinson said. “Each family had exceptional stories of storm survival, including the first people rescued in the early morning, as we tarped a shed and helped move debris for them with family members as the parents were still in the hospital.”

The family had heard the tornado warn-ing, he said, and placed a mattress over the teenagers. Just as the parents got a mattress on top of them, the mattress and they were lifted into the air. The mobile home was picked up into the air and rolled over several times. The teenagers were unhurt, but the parents both had serious injuries.

The following day, ERT members helped cut a tree off an RV for the family; it was pulled into the newly cleared position of their old home. Community and family volunteers poured into the devastated site and retrieved many valuables for the devastated family, in-cluding three vehicles from under the trailer’s remains. Bonnie Robinson and Michael Hughes from North UMC came with 45 sandwiches and fixings for lunch, which they continued to do for several days. They were followed by others bringing food to various sites where volunteers had gathered to follow the golden rule and truly “love their neigh-bors as themselves” despite the coronavirus.

“One minister and his family barely escaped death as four family members hun-kered down in their bathroom and constant-ly prayed to God for the winds and damage to go away and leave them unhurt,” Robinson said. “A massive tree literally split their home in two and missed crashing through the bathroom by inches. No one was injured and all were very thankful to be alive.”

More ERT began to respond across the state the next day, April 14, in North—cut-ting out egress routes to homes, removing trees off of homes and placing tarps on damaged roofs—as well as in the Seneca-Clemson area and the Lowcountry.

Nearby United Methodist and other churches and individuals offered housing and meals.

“It was a beautiful thing to see the com-munities, faith-based originations, power and phone companies and even strangers coming together to help others during their dire times of need,” Robinson said. “They brought their food, tools, tractors, equipment and passion to help—but especially their hearts of love.”

DISASTER: Church ‘has truly stepped up to help’ after tornadosFrom Page 1

Seneca-Clemson responseMore than 400 UMVIM and ERT volunteers responded after tornados swept

through the Upstate. An EF3 tornado touched down on the west side of Seneca and cut a half-mile-

wide by 16-mile-long path of unimaginable destruction across the city of Seneca and the eastern part of Oconee County, Evans reported. 

“By evening civic organizations, local churches, construction crews and arborists had flooded the area providing food and clothing and starting the cleanup,” Evans said.

In the midst of the COVID-19 global pandemic, relief volunteers found them-selves called to serve others in Seneca. ERTs mobilized Monday and arrived Tuesday from Spartanburg, Greenwood, Anderson and Columbia districts, working hand-in-hand with the Caney Fork River District ERTs, who arrived from the Tennessee Conference with trucks, men and heavy equipment in tow. Community volunteers also lined up to help.

Ann Hope and St. Mark UMCs were in the center of the disaster zone, Evans said, and their parking lots were used to feed people and provide bathrooms all while having no power to the buildings.  

“Our purpose is to love one another and although the destruction and the per-sonal losses are heartbreaking, the outpouring of help and support from the com-munity has been incredible,” Evans said. “By the end of the week, we became family after spending 24/7 living, working and crying together. The Christian Life Center was the refuge where out-of-town volunteers bunked for the week. A volunteer commented after working the zone, ‘This has been the best and hardest week of my life.’”  

Evans said while the landscape of the area will be forever changed, so will the hearts of the people.

“This storm should provide a great reminder that you must be prepared and have a plan in place before the weather alert sounds. In fact, because this tornado was moving at 60 mph across the ground, with sustained winds of 165 mph, many didn’t have time to make it into their shelter area from the time their phone warning system sounded,” she said.

Stephen Turner was the Seneca Disaster lead, Chuck Marshall led a team from the Spartanburg District, Phil Grizwold led a five-person team from New Begin-nings UMC in Boiling Springs, John Elmore Jr. led a team from the Greenwood Dis-trict and Nick Shelly led a seven-person team from the Columbia District Lexington ERT Team. An eight-person team also came from the Tennessee Conference.

Walterboro/Estill/Hampton response The Rev. Fred Buchanan headed up the response in the Lowcountry and as of

press time was in the midst of a big chainsaw and tarp disaster response in Varnville that will take several days.

Robinson said Buchanan’s team was not able to get into the worst-hit areas until Tuesday after the storm and started work on Wednesday doing mainly chainsaw work clearing driveways and access to homes. 

To help the work of the UMC in disaster response and recovery, visit www.umcor.org.

Amanda Thompson rests beneath an umbrella held by her neighbor after a tornado demolished her mobile home in North. In the background, crews rescue her husband, Devin, from the rubble. Both are recovering.

Pho

to b

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Photos by Matt BrodieMany homes in the Seneca-Clemson area were leveled.

Trees crashed through many homes, like these in the Seneca-Clemson area, and ERT crews removed the trees and tarped the roofs.

Continued next page

Advocate District & Local Church News Page 15, May 2020Page 14, May 2020 Education & Youth Advocate

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Greenville DistrictDr. Johannah Myers, director of Christian Formation at Aldersgate United Methodist

Church, Greenville, was interviewed for the Lewis Center’s “Leading Ideas” podcast about the church’s participation in the program, Messy Church. Myers also serves as the Regional Coordinator for Messy Church USA for North and South Carolina. To hear the podcast, vis-it www.churchleadership.com/podcast/episode-49-what-is-messy-church/?id=lit20200222.

Greenwood DistrictTranquil UMC, Greenwood, has tentatively rescheduled its bicentennial celebration to

June 21. The church had planned to hold the event May 17.

Hartsville DistrictCongratulations to the Rev. David Day on the birth of his grandson. Lincoln Briggs

Moore was born April 3. Rev. Day is the pastor of Aldersgate UMC, Sumter.

Marion DistrictCongratulations to the Rev. Debra and Mark Armstrong on the birth of their grand-

daughter. Kaya Reyne Sugarman was born March 28 to Martha Armstrong and Rueven Sugarman. Rev. Armstrong is the pastor of Christ UMC, Bennettsville.

Around the Districts

Communion at home The Rev. Frank McCoy and his wife, Bennie, have been celebrating communion every week. Because of the coronavirus, they must do so in their home. They are inten-tionally lifting up the church, their family and everyone affected by the virus.

Photos by Billy Robinson

Easter Sunrise Service The Orange Circuit held at Easter Sunrise Service at Ebenezer UMC at 7 a.m. They used social distancing as some sat in cars and others spaced themselves out in the church yard at least six feet apart. Some families huddled together on the cool 55-degree morning. The service was recorded by Cooper Toy and streamlined on social media. Above left, the Rev. Richard Toy preaches from the front steps of the church. Above right, Brodie and Kathryn Cook gather with Pierson and Whitley, with the Easter cross in background. Below, John and Cheryl Knight huddles on Easter Sunday with daughters Leah and Lauren.

LANCASTER—As a part of celebrating Black History Month, Grace United Meth-odist Church welcomed Jennifer Pinckney as their guest speaker during their 11 a.m. worship service Feb. 9.

Pinckney is the widow of slain South Carolina State Senator and pastor, the Rev. Clementa C. Pinckney, whose life was taken in a Bible study group at the historic Mother Emmanuel AME Church in Charleston June 17, 2015.

Pinckney spoke on “The Power of Love” and how this power can bring peace and healing even in the midst of tragedy. Their two daughters, Eliana, age 15, and Malana, age 10, also attended.

Since her husband’s untimely death, Pinckney has answered God’s call to con-tinue her husband’s work with the estab-lishment of a charitable foundation in his honor, the PinckneyFoundation.org.

The Rev. Sh’Kur Francis is the pastor of the Grace-Lynnwood Charge.

From left, Jennifer Pinckney gathers with the Rev. Sh’Kur Francis, Eliana Pinckney and Malana Pinckney.

Pinckney speaks at Grace UMC Black History Sunday

Jennifer Pinckney delivers the message.

COLUMBIA—Columbia College has made the decision to expand its coeducational practices and policies beginning this fall.

Leaders said this decision, made after careful delibera-tion, is an important milestone for the Columbia College community as the college transitions from single-gender to coeducational in their undergraduate day program. The col-lege will begin admitting male students to the undergraduate residential day program.

Columbia College, founded in 1854 as Columbia Female College, is traditionally a women’s college. However, in 2017 the college began exploring enrollment models to strengthen the college’s position. With this announcement, the college declared its decision to accelerate the process of going coed, providing an exceptional opportunity for all students to ben-efit from the Columbia College experience.

Columbia College President Dr. Peter T. Mitchell and the college board of trustees have taken the first steps to refine the vision and attribute this decision to two unexpected im-pacts of the COVID-19 pandemic:

1) The possibility that all colleges and universities will be forced to continue conducting courses remotely via distance learning and online platforms; and

2) Many students and parents are already declaring that if campuses are open in the fall, they plan to attend college close to home or to commute locally to avoid the possibility of hav-ing to leave in the middle of a semester again.

“These factors are likely to make the summer 2020 a crucial window in which to enact the expansion of our brand of high-quality, leadership-focused, liberal arts education at a time when it is sorely needed,” Mitchell said. “This is the same motivation that compelled the college to open to men for a brief period after World War II.”

Although male students will begin being admitted for Fall 2020, they will be admitted only as commuter students as the school continues to prepare to support male students in residential or athletic programs. These options will become available Fall 2021.

Columbia College leadership, faculty and staff are continu-ally planning for this transition, and they said are confident in

the future of Columbia College as they position themselves as a national model for coeducational higher education.

For 166 years, Columbia College has provided opportuni-ties for women to develop their voices and their leadership potential. This commitment to empowering women remains central to the college’s mission and vision for the future. Becoming a coeducational college provides the unique op-portunity for the college to design the ideal learning environ-ment for women and men to master the knowledge and skills necessary for success in their careers, and to craft a life of meaning and purpose in the post-COVID-19 world.

“We are living in an unsettling time,” said Toby W. Good-lett, chair of the Columbia College Board of Trustees. “The COVID-19 pandemic has shifted the way we all go about our daily lives. As an institution, it’s changed our operations and the way our students learn. In turbulent times, it is important for Columbia College to focus on the needs of our students, while also preparing for a post-COVID-19 future.”

For more information: https://www.columbiasc.edu/about/envisioning-the-future.

Columbia College to expand coeducational practices, policies this fall

COLUMBIA—On March 24, Dr. Carol A. Moore announced her deci-sion to step down as president of Co-lumbia College after four years in the top leadership role.

Former president Dr. Peter Mitchell is serving as the interim president while the board starts a search for a permanent president. 

During her time at Columbia College, Moore helped strengthen its mission of

providing a strong liberal arts educa-tion and professional programs emphasiz-ing service, social justice and leader-ship development. 

“The Colum-bia College fam-ily thanks President Moore for her

tireless effort to make our school a special place for so many. She has taken on reposi-tioning Columbia College with leadership and strength,” Board of Trustees Chair Toby Goodlett said. “Since her arrival in Septem-

ber 2016, Dr. Moore has been invaluable to our mission. We respect her decision to step away at this time to care for her family and her health, and we want to express our appre-ciation for her unwavering dedication to our school and mission.” 

The extraordinary planning necessary for a smooth transition to become a coeduca-tional college, as well as the challenges facing senior management to provide a compre-hensive response to COVID-19, convinced the board to consider a familiar voice to lead in the interim. As former president of Co-lumbia College from 1988-97, Mitchell has a passion for the school and an understanding of and appreciation for the leadership role

the college plays in South Carolina. During his tenure the Women’s Leadership Institute was established, the Johnnie Cordell Breed Leadership Center was built, and Mitchell helped secure funding for the Barbara Bush Center for Science & Technology. For the past 13 years, he has served as a consultant to college and university trustees and presidents in the areas of strategic planning, enrollment management and fundraising.

“Dr. Mitchell worked with Dr. Moore for four years, and they have remained friends for decades. We have no doubt this transition will be seamless, and the students and staff will be thrilled to have Dr. Mitchell’s excite-ment and energy on campus,” Goodlett said.

Columbia College announces Mitchell as interim president as Moore steps down

Mitchell Moore

Immerse, South Carolina Methodist Youth Program’s youth discipleship event, is con-tinuing with its plans to offer two youth events this year: one at the beach in August and one in the mountains in November.

As of press time, the Immerse Design Team told the Advocate, they are “moving forward” with plans to host the Beach Immerse event, set for Aug. 5-8 at Surfside United Methodist Church.

Those plans will be evaluated as the COVID-19 pandemic progresses. Should it become necessary to adjust or postpone the event, a decision will be made by July 1.

The Mountain Immerse event is also still planned; that event is set for Nov. 13-15 at Asbury Hills Camp & Retreat Center in the Upstate.

The purpose of the events is to immerse youth in their faith—to help them dive deeper into what it means to live as a young disciple of Jesus Christ. Through worship, challenging messages and community-building family groups, youth will find themselves stretched to draw closer to God through this event.

Family groups, small groups that gather throughout the event, have been a founda-tional element that have set Immerse apart as youth have an opportunity to connect with peers to discuss the content of the event and think about how the theme of the event can be applied to their personal lives.

This year Immerse plans to offer three different “tracks” (Discipleship, Leadership and Exploration) for youth to choose a focus for their family group.

The Discipleship track will be similar to the family group experience that has been a part of Immerse up to this point. It offers young people the opportunity to dive deeper into the content of the event and consider how what they are learning throughout the weekend may impact their everyday lives.

The Leadership track will offer youth leadership skills in order to equip them to serve in leadership within their youth groups, local church and beyond.

The Exploration track is designed specifically for youth who may feel that God may be calling them into vocational ministry. This track is to be an aid in answering many ques-tions youth may have about a call to ministry including: what vocational ministry can look like, how to know if they are called and more.

Cost for Beach Immerse is $60 per person (program only); each youth group is respon-sible for securing lodging and meals for their group on top of the program fee.

Mountain Immerse in an all-inclusive weekend retreat that will cost $170 per person which includes meals, lodging, and programming.

Registration is open at scmyp.org/immerse. For questions or more information, email immerse@scmyp.org or follow @scmyp on social media.

Plans for beach, mountain Immerse events continue amid COVID

SPARTANBURG—Opportunities for a four-year bachelor’s degree at Spartanburg Methodist College continue to expand, with SMC faculty voting Feb. 14 to add a sixth concentration, criminal justice, to the program.

“SMC is committed to expanding the programs we offer to fit students’ needs,” said Mark Gibbs, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs. “With the high volume of participation in our as-sociate of criminal justice program, we saw a clear need to add it to our to bachelor’s degree concentrations.”

The first class of juniors started their path toward a four-year degree last fall. Bachelor of Arts students choose two concentrations—offerings include business, English, history, religion and, beginning this fall, psychology and criminal justice—and

must take a number of professional develop-ment courses, called the Camak Core after SMC’s founder.

Camak Core classes teach “soft skills”—such as problem solving, working as part of a team and leadership—that have been identified as critical areas all employers want.

In the associate degree program, students take classes geared toward different aspects of the criminal justice system: police and law enforcement, courts, corrections and criminology, or theories of why people commit crimes. Four-year students will take a research methods class, a criminal justice policy class and their choice of electives. Electives will evolve as the program does, but so far will include investigations and forensics, juvenile justice, criminal law and procedure, and the death penalty.

SMC faculty approve adding criminal justice concentration to B.A. program

Sixth concentration for the college

Flamingo awards honor young Christians Every January, Manning UMC, Manning, recognizes youth of the church with youth Flamingo Awards. The awards are named in honor of the church’s youth group mas-cot, a flamingo. “We have the mascot of a flamingo because we are like flamingos. We can stand on one foot, like flamingos do, but God is like our second foot, always there to steady us if we fall or become unbalanced and helping us walk along life’s path,” said youth director Kelly Gottheiner. Flamingos also come in many colors, not just pink, just as people do, Gottheiner added. Some of the awards given out are for Christian spirit, Christian service, excellence as a Salkehatchie mentor, Salkehatchie survivor, college crusader and an intern recognition award. Here, award winners stand with their flamingo “trophies.”

Advocate Ministries & Mission Page 17, May 2020Page 16, May 2020 Ministries & Mission Advocate

It is especially comforting knowing our United Methodist Women have been busy serving together in mission all over the world for 151 years. With the chal-

lenges and uncertainty of living today, the stability of our organization is both reassur-ing and inspiring. We bring comfort to wor-ries, confidence to confusion and sustenance to those hungry for spiritual knowledge.

The Legacy Fund will assure our future (excerpts from unitedmethodistwomen.org).

On March 23, 1869, in Boston, Massa-chusetts, Clementina Butler and Lois Parker informed six women members of the Meth-odist Episcopal Church about the desperate health care and educational needs of women in India. Their call to action raised funds to send Isabella Thoburn, a teacher, and Clara Swain, a doctor, to India. Their meeting led to forming the Woman’s Foreign Mission-ary Society, first of many Methodist women’s mission organizations to address injustices imposed on women and girls in the 19th century. United Methodist Women is their successor. We celebrate 151 years of changing the lives of women, children and youth.

United Methodist Women continues to build upon the foundation begun by our founders 151 years ago. Difficulties encoun-tered by women, children and youth around the world continue to sustain separation from life affirming compassionate care and support that heals, restores and empowers. Imagine what is achievable if United Meth-odist Women had the resources to deepen and expand its mission to transform lives and ignite change in places near and far.

In 2014, the Board of Directors launched the Legacy Fund Endowment Campaign, setting a goal to raise $60 million. The Legacy Fund Endowment Campaign is both historic and unprecedented, with the campaign’s

theme, Together We Are Building Our Leg-acy, celebrating the legacy of the courageous women who founded this mission move-ment. Additionally, it celebrates the legacy today’s members will leave for future genera-tions of United Methodist Women, to create their legacy to carry the mission of faith, hope, and love in action forward in the world for years to come.

From the beginning, United Methodist Women have led the way in countless en-deavors. Our membership comprises women from all backgrounds and experiences, com-pelled by Christian faith to serve and lead in places and in ways never imagined.

This includes tutoring children and youth in after-school programs, volunteering at community food pantries, teaching Bible study in churches, visiting the infirmed in hospitals, advocating against legislation and policies that marginalize women and children and supporting the 100 National Mission Institutions in the United States and the 107 international organizations in 110 countries that provide a pathway to healthy, productive and empowered living.

The reach and presence of United Meth-odist Women is felt far and wide, efforts having a deep and lasting impact on the lives of women, children and youth daily. 

This is what distinguishes United Meth-odist Women from other organizations and attests to its longevity and relevance, today and especially in the years to come.

We were founded by eight brave, compas-sionate, bold Christian women on March 23, 1869. We celebrate the spirit, strength and generosity of these pioneers. We honor their legacy and pledge to continue their good deeds into the distant future.

Ford is South Carolina Conference United Methodist Women President 2019-2020.

The Legacy Fund

United Methodist Womenby Cathy Ford

Epworth Children’s Home

During this COVID-19 pan-demic, our Epworth staff have shown tremendous dedication, leadership and strength as they

continue to serve and provide for the needs of our youth. Staff are not only helping with home-based school instruction, but also get-ting creative in keeping the kids entertained and engaged during this time of social isolation.

Dantzler Cottage, one of the cottages for high school girls, decided to create their own board game. Similar to the popular board game “The Game of Life,” Cottage Coordinator Cheryl Singletary came up with the idea, calling their version “The Cottage Life.” She thought it would be a fun way to get the girls engaged and to relieve bore-dom.

“The Cottage Life” is simply a game where residents get to move around the board, avoiding or overcoming obstacles/setbacks to reach a specific destination (for example, a trip to the mall).

The girls came up with their own trivia questions and cottage card questions. It allowed them the opportunity to apply criti-

cal thinking skills, work cooperatively as a team and be creative. Singletary, along with Cottage Case Manager Mary Lillard, helped design the board and also came up with some questions. It was exciting for everyone to work together as a cottage to share ideas and come up with strategies for the game.

According to Singletary, the game has taught the girls a lot about teamwork and working together to accomplish a task. Throughout the process of creating the game, the girls were able to learn about themselves in identifying their strengths and weaknesses.

Next for Dantzler Cottage, Singletary is planning a sewing session with the girls and staff where they will create face masks, aprons and other crafts.

In spite of this difficult time, it is great to know that our youth are having some posi-tive experiences with their staff and with one another. Even though our kids are having to stay in more than usual, our wonderful staff are working hard to make sure that “The Cottage Life” is still good!

—By Victoria Shedrick, Ed. D., LPC, NCC, CCTP, director of social services.

The Cottage Life

The girls came up with their own trivia questions and cot-tage card ques-tions.

Reaching out with careMount Elon UMC, Jefferson, held a pregame “Souper Bowl of Caring” event this win-ter to foster a spirit of community outreach and help others. An invitation was given to high school football teams, coaches and their families to come worship at Mount Elon for a morning message, followed by soup, games and words of encouragement from the coaches to the teams. Linda Mungo-Blakeney (below left) organized the event with others from the church, including the pastor, the Rev. Loretta Cooper.

Thanks to additional funds from South Carolina United Volunteers in Mission, a relief ministry in Haiti is helping people in the coronavirus pandemic.

A medical team has formed in the Jeremie/Grande Anse region of Haiti to combat the coronavirus outbreak. United States teams are not able to help in person in Haiti right now, but Next Generation of Special Advance Haiti Children’s Project doctors and nurses are working hard to do what they can. They are partnering with the Haiti Children’s Project to

fund the medical outreach program. This program entails an all-out blitz of the entire region with visitation by doctors and nurses to all the villages in that region, not only to treat patients but also to educate people on how to avoid the virus.

They are going house to house to provide both medi-cal care and food kits to help sustain the families of about eight villages in that area. The food kits help them stay home and, thus, reduce the propagation of coronavirus.

The main objective is fighting against coronavirus by

showing people to protect themselves from infection and prevent the spread.

The project is considered a “special mobile clinic,” as they cannot gather in large groups.

The villages include Bass Voldrogue, Chirac, Despagne, Bois Neuf Malot, Fond du Caque, the jail of Jeremie, Bonbon (TI Plaine) and Ravine Sable.

UMVIM in South Carolina is among the groups helping to fund this effort.

UMVIM-SC funds coronvavirus outreach with Haiti Children’s Project

Photo by Billy Robinson

Helping handsOn April 15, South Carolina United Methodist Early Response Teams cleared mas-sive tree damage from an EF-3 tornado that hit the historical Rocky Swamp United Methodist Church American Indian Ministry near Neeses and Springfield April 12. The large majority of the roof was blown off, causing structural damage. ERTs also placed tarps over valuables inside the church to prevent further damage until a new roof can be placed on the steep roof. The tornado also caused much damage in the grave-yard. Above, Don Beatty assesses the damaged church.

New blessingsThe newest outreach at Republican UMC, McCormick, is a brand-new blessing box built by Donald Holloway and Alvin Swann. The box was installed by the two builders along with Terrell Holloway and Mickey Goff. “May God use this project to help those in need,” said church pastor the Rev. Tim Jones.

South Carolina Lay Servant Ministries has welcomed its first two certified lay ministers: Annie Crocker, Spartanburg District, and Howard Thomas, Greenwood District.

Laity have long been a part of ministry in Methodism. Lay preachers, exhorters and class leaders have served the church since its earliest days. The South Carolina Confer-ence Committee on Lay Servant Ministries said they are thankful for these laity who have taken the steps to complete the journey of becoming a certified lay minister, much like the Wesleyan heritage modeled so many years ago.

Certified lay ministry is long-term, inten-tional ministry for persons who are “called and equipped to conduct public worship, care for the congregation, assist in program leadership, develop new and existing faith communities, preach the word, lead small groups or establish community outreach ministries as part of a ministry team with the supervision and support of a clergyperson” (2016 Book of Discipline Para. 268.1).

The process to become a certified lay minister is complicated and can take years to complete, with the first step that of becoming

a certified lay servant. Certified lay ministry is housed under the

umbrella of Lay Servant Ministries. As such, there are many requirements and safeguards in place for the CLM process, demanding more than just completing some online courses. One such safeguard is that the South Carolina Conference requires lay servants to become certified lay speakers before begin-ning the process to become a CLM.

These certified lay speakers then complete the four certified lay ministry training mod-ules under the supervision a of mutual minis-try team and a mentor. Once that educational component is completed, a certificate of completion will be issued and forwarded to the district director of Lay Servant Ministries along with the required local pastor and charge’s recommendation, the completed conference-required paperwork and docu-mented completion of required conference training. The district director then forwards the completed file of information to the Dis-trict Committee on Ordained Ministry and the Conference Committee on Lay Servant Ministries, where these applicant files will be prayerfully evaluated.

If you have questions or seek more infor-mation on pursuing this avenue of ministry,

talk with your district director of Lay Servant Ministries.

Crocker, Thomas are S.C.’s first two certified lay ministers

By Dr. Evelyn FulmoreI have been blessed to have served for the past three years as the Florence District Lay

Servant Ministries director. Prior to my role as director, I was active as a certified lay servant on my district. I loved being called upon to be an instructor of several lay servant courses in my district when requested. Upon retirement of our beloved JoAnne Ross, she asked if I and the late Jim Haynes would take on the leadership as co-directors to grow and move forward the ministry. I was quite reluctant to do so at first, but joining forces with another person who loved this ministry as much as I do made the decision to accept the call much easier.

I have to admit the first year was a challenge in learning the process of conducting respon-sibilities of a district director. However, under the leadership of Jackie Jenkins, our South Carolina Conference director for Lay Servant Ministries, the training opportunities afforded me over the years have helped to empower me with the skills to serve in local, district and conference roles when needed.

Each district director attends the conference district directors training meetings held at the conference center in Columbia, usually twice yearly. I really enjoy these meetings because Jackie makes every effort to extend extravagant hospitality and an atmosphere for fellowship as well as work. Each district director gets to share what’s going on in his or her district, which has been a great help to me when trying new ways of doing things or offerings of courses in our schools.

We spend time planning the Annual Lay/Clergy Luncheon, held during Annual Confer-ence in June each year, as well as the Annual Lay Servant Academy Training, held the first weekend of August each year in Columbia. The Annual Lay Servants Academy allows for lay servants across the conference to come together and participate in a weekend of worship, fellowship and study. This training has grown over the past two years to be more focused on empowering the lay servant to better serve in leadership roles as instructors and district directors of Lay Servant Ministries. The 2019 academy weekend definitely set the bar for all lay servants as Dr. Junius B. Dotson taught us from several of his published works, including “Developing an Intentional Discipleship System” and “Engaging Your Community,” how to be empowered to serve.

Under Jackie’s leadership, I have seen communication from the conference to the district improve greatly. She utilizes technology to inform us of upcoming events and planning, but she also takes time to call each of us to check and see how we are doing and to assist us however and whenever she can. We are able to know about personal joys and sorrows that our brothers and sisters may be experiencing across our connection so that we can covenant together in prayer, phone call, text or visit.

When my co-director, Jim Haynes, passed on last year, Jackie called me to extend her con-dolences, but she also took the time out of her busy schedule to reach out to his family and to attend his funeral services in Lake City. I don’t know if she really knows how much that meant to me then, and even the memory of her act of kindness then brings a smile to my heart today.

Jackie has also worked to improve communication from the Lay Servant Ministries by hav-ing district directors and lay servants throughout the conference write articles throughout the year for the Advocate. It is always great to see what lay servants are doing as well as see photos of these events. I see these articles become a positive representation of what Lay Servants Ministries is and has begun to generate more interest in participation of lay servants on the local and district level.

Thanks, Jackie, for being an inspiration to myself and others by the graceful way you have led this ministry over the years! God has indeed blessed you with many gifts but above all a great love for His people. When Jackie speaks, we all listen! We have listened as you have spent endless hours planning and growing this ministry into a vital part of our churches’ mis-sion. We have listened when you may have thought it futile in your efforts to clarify the new lay servant, lay speaker, lay minister structure for the South Carolina Conference. We have listened as you have chaired the 2020 South Carolina Delegation to the General Conference of The United Methodist Church and coordinated laity and clergy sessions in efforts to hear the voices of the people in the local churches across this conference.

I know that it is time for you to move on from director of South Carolina Conference Lay Servant Ministries in June, but remember your legacy for Lay Servants Ministries here in South Carolina is one of excellence and empowerment to serve all of God’s people will live on. May the next decade of Lay Servant Ministries continue to flourish.

Fulmore is director of Florence District Lay Servant Ministries.

Lay Servant Ministries

Empowered to Serve

The Thursday before Easter is known as either Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday. Maundy is derived from the Latin word for “command” and refers to Jesus’s command-ment to the disciples to “Love one another as I have loved you.”

Maundy Thursday commemorates the last supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles.

Because of the pandemic, the Dorches-ter Parish may not have been able to gather as a parish, but they were able to provide outreach and share in the spirit of Maundy Thursday within their community.

Under the leadership of the Rev. Lisa M. Way, Oak Grove United Methodist Church, Ridgeville, and St. John UMC, Dorchester, were able to put into motion one of the largest service initiatives for the year for the Dorchester Parish.

Through coordination by Dr. DaNine J. Fleming, minority veteran vendor “A Taste of the South” from Dorchester was contracted to provide the meals for two local healthcare centers, Trident Medical Center (Trident Sur-gical Services) and The Medical University of South Carolina (Public Safety, Mail Services, Transportation Services, The Urban Farm and University Records).

Dorchester Parish member Judean V. Pryor, R.N., was available to accept and orga-nize distribution of meals at Trident Surgical Services. In the spirit of diversity and inclu-sion, the parish sponsored 100 meals.

“When Rev. Way approached us with the idea of outreach for the week, it was quite simple,” said Kesha McNeil, board chair-woman for Oak Grove UMC. “How could we best show the love of Christ in the communi-ty we serve, especially to those that are often overlooked and sometimes undervalued? Having the opportunity to put our faith into action is an amazing experience.”

“In observance of Maundy Thursday and amid the pandemic, we at the Dorchester Parish wanted to give back to first responders

who are risking their lives every single day,” Way said. “Matthew 20:28 says, ‘Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many,’ we, too, have come to be of service in our communities, churches and to all the world. It is the gratitude of the many who have, even before receiving the meals, sent a text, email or made phone calls to say, ‘Thank you for thinking of us,’ that lets us know Jesus is alive and well.”

There are many more that are behind the scenes that many never see, Way said. Without them so much would not get ac-complished on a day-to-day basis.

“We wanted to spread cheer to various areas—to those in mail services, transporta-tion, public safety, auxiliaries, those on the front lines, respiratory therapists, doctors, nurses and so many more,” she said.

“We encourage everyone to be creative in finding ways to serve in the community,” Fleming said. “It may be virtually, hav-ing groceries delivered to a family in need, filling blessing boxes, virtual Bible studies and Sunday school, calling members of the community, FaceTime (to) those who may live alone—there are many ways to continue to be connected. We want you not to think of social distancing as being in isolation, but rather distancing yourself socially for the time being while still maintaining active engagement.”

Although it is unfortunate that it took COVID-19 to begin many of these opportu-nities in our religious community, Dorches-ter Parish members said they are grateful they have brilliant minds birthing new ideas to serve their neighbors.

According to Mary Brown, board chair-woman at St. John UMC, this Maya Angelou quote summarizes the spirit of this endeavor: “Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to ar-rive at its destination full of hope.”

Dorchester Parish marks Maundy Thursdayby honoring local healthcare heroes

Dorchester Parish provided meals for two healthcare centers in honor of Maundy Thursday.

Advocate Obituaries Page 19, May 2020Page 18, May 2020 History Advocate

JOHN WESLEY ANDTHE BEGINNINGS OF

METHODISMBy Roger M. Gramling

Recounts the story of Wesley’s earlylife, schooling, the mission to Georgia,

the Aldersgate Experience, and thebeginnings of Methodism in

England in the 1740’s

Seventy-Four Pages, Softbound$5.00 Each Includes Postage &

Handling

THE AMERICAN METHODISTS

ORGANIZATION, DIVISION, REUNION

By Roger M. Gramling

Describes major developmentsin the history of American Methodism

from the 1760’s through 1939

Sixty Pages, Softbound$3.00 Each Includes Postage &

Handling

Make Checks Payable To And Send Orders To The Author,

The Reverend Roger M. GramlingP. O. Box 4355

Irmo, South Carolina 29063

Rev. Joe Kirkpatrick BrownPEACHTREE CITY, Ga.—The Rev. Joe Kirkpatrick Brown, a retired elder of the South Carolina Confer-ence of The United Methodist Church, died April 13, 2020.

Prior to his retirement in 1997, Rev. Brown served the Chester Circuit, Greenwood-Tranquil, Pendleton, Victor, Sardis and Arcadia-Saxon charges. He also served Tri-County Tech, as director of the Clemson Wesley Foundation and director of special programs at Spartan-burg Methodist College.

A memorial service will be held in Spar-tanburg at a later date.

Rev. Brown is survived by his daughter.

Francis M. BurchPAGELAND—Francis M. Burch, father of the Rev. Mary Burnell, died April 13, 2020. Rev. Burnell is the pastor of the Kellybell-Sandy Bluff Charge, Hartsville.

A graveside service was held April 19 at Oro Community Church Cemetery.

Rev. William Martin BurkeOCALA, Fla.—The Rev. William Martin Burke, a retired local pastor of the South Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church, died March 20, 2020.

Prior to his retirement in 2014, Rev. Burke served the Berkeley Circuit,

Branchville and Olar charges.Rev. Burke is survived by his wife, Judith.

Gladys Davis Powell Fludd

CHARLESTON—Gladys David Powell Fludd, widow of the Rev. Melvin Fludd, died March 7, 2020.

Funeral services were held March 14 at Mount Carmel United Methodist Church with burial in Sunset Memorial Gardens.

Mrs. Fludd is survived by her son and daughter.

Anne Blackburn FrygaWEST COLUMBIA—Anne Blackburn Fryga, widow of the Rev. Michael Fryga, died April 10, 2020.

A memorial service will be held at Mount Hebron United Methodist Church at a later date.

Memorials may be made to Samaritans Purse, P.O. Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607.

Mrs. Fryga is survived by her son and two daughters.

Robert Glenn Fulmore Jr.COLUMBIA—Robert Glenn Fulmore Jr., brother of Dr. Evelyn Fulmore, died March 26, 2020. Dr. Fulmore is the Florence Dis-trict lay servant director.

Funeral services were held April 3 at Leevy’s Funeral Home with burial in Fort Jackson National Cemetery.

Mr. Fulmore is survived by his wife, Wanda Bernita Fulmore, two daughters, son and mother.

Plennie Eunice DixonGresham

LYMAN—Plennie Eunice Dixon Gresham, mother of Tommie Gresham Hammett, died

April 7, 2020. Mrs. Hammett is the wife of Rick Hammett, the Spartanburg District lay leader.

A graveside service was held at Wood Memorial Park.

Memorials may be made to Lyman United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 190, Lyman, SC 29365; or to Agape Hospice, 516 E. Main St., Spartanburg, SC 29302.

Mrs. Gresham is survived by her two daughters.

Herman HouserSANTEE—Herman Houser, brother of Alzine Smith, died April 15, 2020. Mrs. Smith is the wife of the Rev. Calvin Smith, pastor of Dunton United Methodist Church, Gaffney.

Graveside services were held April 18 at Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

Billy James “BJ” HunterROCKY MOUNT, N.C.—Billy James “BJ” Hunter, father of the Rev. Jim Hunter, died March 18, 2020. Rev. Hunter and his wife, Kathryn, are both retired elders of the South Carolina Conference of The United Meth-odist Church.

Funeral services will be announced at a later date.

Memorials may be made to Englewood UMC, 300 S. Circle Drive, Rocky Mount, 27804; or to Shriner’s Hospital for Children, 950 W. Farris Road, Greenville, SC 29605.

Mr. Hunter is survived by his two sons.

Marian Hopkins SimpsonWEST COLUMBIA—Marian Hopkins Simpson, mother of the Rev. David Day, died April 8, 2020. Rev. Day is the pastor of Aldersgate United Methodist Church, Sumter.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorials may be made to Caleb Ministries. 608 Matthews-Mint Hill Road #109, Matthews, NC 28105; or to Trinity UMC, 12001 Mohawk Drive, West Colum-bia, SC 29169.

Mrs. Simpson is survived by her three sons and stepson.

David Damond SingletaryLAKE CITY—David Damond Singletary, grandson of the Rev. Gracie Singletary, died March 21, 2020. Rev. Singletary is the pas-tor of St. John United Methodist Church, Shiloh.

Funeral services were held March 27 at Green-Cooper-Gaskins Funeral Home.

Mr. Singletary is survived by his parents, two sons and daughter.

Scott Douglas TempletonPELION—Scott Douglas Templeton, son of the Rev. David Templeton, died April 6, 2020. Rev. Templeton is a retired elder of the South Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church.

A memorial service will be held at Calvary Chapel, Lexington, at a later date. Burial was in Dust to Dust Green Burial and Nature Reserve Cemetery, Swansea.

Memorials may be made to Cimarron Outdoors, P.O. Box 84039, Lexington, SC 29073; or Freedom and Hope Foundation, 598 Hollands Landing Road, Prosperity, SC 29127.

Mr. Templeton is survived by his wife, Kathy Tedford Templeton, father, son and five daughters.

Obituary PolicyThe Advocate prints death notices of clergy and their immediate families and laypersons who have served on conference boards and agencies or who work for the S.C. Conference of The United Methodist Church.

Brown

Burke

A new story book that aims to help chil-dren understand and come to terms with COVID-19 has been produced by a collabo-ration of more than 50 organizations work-ing in the humanitarian sector, including the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Inter-national Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and Save the Children.

With the help of a fantasy creature, Ario, “My Hero is You: How Kids Can Fight CO-VID-19!” explains how children can protect

themselves, their families and friends from coronavirus and how to manage difficult emotions when confronted with a new and rapidly changing reality.

The book, aimed primarily at children aged 6-11 years old, is a project of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Reference Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings. The group is a unique collaboration of United Nations agencies, national and international non-governmental organizations and interna-tional agencies providing mental health and

psychosocial support in emergency settings.During the early stages of the project,

more than 1,700 children, parents, caregiv-ers and teachers from around the world shared how they were coping with the CO-VID-19 pandemic. The input was invaluable to script writer and illustrator Helen Patuck and the project team in making sure that the story and its messages resonated with children from different backgrounds and continents.

In order to reach as many children as possible, the book will be widely translated,

with six language versions released initially and more than 30 others in the pipeline. It is being released as both an online product and audio book.

Download the book at https://tinyurl.com/myheroisyou.

New free COVID book to help young kids understand pandemic

I recently listened to the Jesus Calling Podcast “Women Leading Through Forgiveness and Grace: Nona Jones and Alex Seeley.” Jones leads faith-based

partnerships at Facebook. When I was thinking about how to answer

the question, “How can social media be help-ful to history in the church,” I think you first have to ask, “How can social media be helpful to churches?” 

Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg wanted to focus on community building and focus on communities of faith. Jones was called by Facebook to work with leaders of faith to use Facebook for ministry, which is community building. Jones said two out of three churches are declining or plateauing in attendance. People are not physically showing up for church. At the same time, many people are searching for faith online—wanting to see church services livestreamed or recorded. People are searching for faith. Many church-es’ online views are double their in-person attendance. Potential congregations are huge.

“If you look at the life of Jesus, he didn’t tell people, ‘Hey guys, come see me in the temple on Sunday at 11 a.m. I have this amazing series that’s coming up.’ He minis-tered to people wherever they were,” Jones said. “Social technology enables leaders to get back to a biblical model.” 

Jones’s view on social media use is es-pecially helpful in this time of COVID-19, where we are faced with virtual worship services as one of the best options for com-munities of faith to worship. The church is the people. In my view, we are tasked with incorporating education of our church his-tory in our worship services.

Keep church history alive by constantly referring to specific aspects of your history on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, You-Tube, etc. If the history of our churches is embedded in our messages, then we can better retain our identity. Consistently run promotions for Sunday services or weekly programming on social media and embed fun historical facts. Film a Bible study or devotion where each session is in a differ-ent historical location of your campus. For example, session one could be in front of the stained-glass windows, session two in your sanctuary, section three in your cemetery, etc. On Instagram, post Scripture where the background picture could be a histori-cal aspect—a portrait of a church saint, a sculpture donated by a revered parishioner, etc., and explain the history in the post. 

The bottom line: The best way to lose our history is not to talk about it. Therefore, incorporate your church history in fun and creative ways so folks can learn, be a part of your church community and feel at home on-line. The online community you are creating is just as important as the in-person commu-nity you come in contact with.

When we get back to physical worship after COVID-19, many congregations will have grown because of our online outreach, so make meaningful posts. Matthew 5:14 says, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.”

Go and proclaim the Good News in all the ways you can. While doing so, incorpo-rate your church identity through historical aspects—and have fun doing it! 

Dark is the Nurture Pastor at First United Methodist Church, Myrtle Beach.

Conference Historical Societyby the Rev. Meredith M. Dark

Social media helps keep church history alive

Instead of talking about the past this month, I want to talk about the history that we are all living through right now and suggest ways we can preserve

today’s history for the future. I’ve said before that history happens on

ordinary days, and most of the time, it hap-pens unexpectedly. Major events can change the world between breakfast and dinner, and historians spend years trying to under-stand and explain them. And in some cases, history unfolds over days and weeks and can have just as profound an effect on us.

I think that’s what we’re going through now. Part of the challenge with living through history is that we don’t know the end of the story because it hasn’t happened yet. I’ve pointed this out to students in my Western Civilization classes when I talk about the outbreak of World War II in 1939. We have the advantage of hindsight, I like to point out. The British didn’t know in the dark days of 1940 how the war was going to turn out, while we know how the story ends. That affects how we see those events, whereas they had to live with the uncertainty and fear of not knowing what was going to happen. So today, we are living with uncertainty.

Often, people probably think about archivists and historians as people who deal with the past. And part of what I do is to maintain the records of the past so that people today can appreciate where we’ve been, and I help people—genealogists, local church historians, conference staff—learn more about the past. However, archivists have to look forward, as well; for if we don’t collect the records of today, then archivists, historians and other researchers in the fu-ture won’t have any way to understand what we are going through right now.

So I have to be aware that we are making history right now and make sure that it gets documented. That might mean keeping track of messages that get sent to the public. It might mean collecting news articles and other types of documents. It might involve asking others to be sure they are keeping good records of what’s going on. It might

even mean taking a more intentional act, like keeping a journal.

In addition to the routine things that I do, I decided a few weeks ago, actually at my mom’s suggestion, to start keeping a journal. I try to take a few minutes each evening to write a few memories of the day. I don’t know what I’ll do with it in the end, but it might become part of my own file in the Wofford archives so that down the line, some future researcher will be able to see a little of what went on in Spartanburg and at Bethel United Methodist Church and at Wofford during the spring of 2020. That’s how historians a century from now will piece together what this experience was like—by reading the words of people who kept records.

So what can you do? You can keep a journal, as well. Write about what happened today, what your own experience was, how unusual everything seemed. Even mundane thoughts, added to those of others, might be able to paint a picture of life for someone in the future. You can make sure that your church is keeping an account of how it is dealing with this situation. What messages are going to members? How is your leader-ship managing the church’s work? How is this affecting your members?

Beyond writing, take time to think and recognize what an unusual time this is. I certainly have never worked from home for weeks on end before, and I’ve never tried to figure out how to teach a class without seeing my students face-to-face. You are certainly doing things differently now, so reflect on that. I know that clergy are trying to figure out how to do ministry without seeing their congregations. What’s that like for you?

Another thing to consider is how will this change us as individuals, communities and a nation? What’s going to be different in the future because of this experience?

Take some time to think, reflect and maybe write some history of your own.

Stone is archivist for the S.C. Conference and Wofford College. Read his blog at blogs.wofford.edu/from_the_ archives.

From the Archivesby Dr. Phillip Stone

Living through history

Lightsey in Societyof John Wesley Herman Lightsey, former chair of the South Carolina Confer-ence United Methodist Men, was honored recently with a surprise induction into the Society of John Wesley for his long and outstand-ing service to men’s ministry. The award is named after Methodism founder John Wesley. Bishop Jonathan Holston, along with cur-rent UMMen Chair Marvin Horton, presented Lightsey with the honor at the men’s retreat held Feb. 29. “Of whom much is given, much is required, and you have been faithful to that task,” Holston said, presenting Lightsey with the award.

Advocate Page 21, May 2020Page 20, May 2020 Resources & Global News Advocate

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• Flexibility to Adjust or Expand Safety Measures as Required

• Community-Wide Preventative Efforts Include Ongoing Cleaning, Sanitization, and Housekeeping

As the leader in Senior Living in the Florence Community since 1991, The Manor is no stranger to emergency management. The health and safety of our residents has always been andcontinues to be our top priority. AlthoughCOVID-19 is a new threat, we have seenuncertain times before and have always faced them head-on.

The benefits of living in a community setting like The Manor are especially evident duringemergency situations. From constantcommunication and information sharing with both family and residents, to enhanced sanitization and housekeeping efforts, to individual mealpreparation and deliveries, you can be confident in our ability to provide a safe and healthy living environment even in the face of COVID-19.

We lean on our past experience, financial strength, and national resources to provide and implement enhanced safety protocols andoperational procedures immediately. AtThe Manor, you or your loved ones can be as proud as we are in our strategies and efforts to combat the spread of this virus and stay safe.

Photo by Billy Robinson

Strong in the LordSpringfield UMC, Springfield, put up this church sign immediately following the April 13 tornados, which damaged the church roof and downed many big trees in its yard and cemetery. They already have the roof repaired, and the trees were being taken care of as of press time.

Global Briefs

Protecting women from violence during pandemicGENEVA—In many countries, the rise of domestic abuse is being called “a new COVID-19 crisis” as movement restrictions aimed to stop the spread of the coronavirus are making violence in homes more frequent, more severe and more dangerous. Supporters of Thurs-days in Black, the global campaign for a world free from rape and violence, are calling on everyone to protect women from this emerging threat.

Georgians sew masks for patients, workersALBANY, Ga.—In the midst of the coronavirus crisis, it often helps to focus on what you can do rather than what you can’t. That’s what many South Georgia United Methodists are doing by sewing masks for patients and health care workers.

Mission hospital sends pregnant women home to waitMANICALAND, Zimbabwe—A United Methodist mission hospital is sending pregnant women home to protect them from the coronavirus while they wait for labor to start. Mean-while, the number seeking shelter has surged.

The need for giving when church doors closeNASHVILLE, Tenn.—Although there are no offering plates making their way down the pews these days, pastors are still at work and ministry needs are growing. Crystal Caviness writes about how United Methodists can help. 

Church leaders: Iran sanctions hinder COVID-19 careWASHINGTON—Ecumenical church leaders are urging the U.S. to lift crippling sanctions against Iran that are greatly impeding response in that nation to COVID-19. As of April 13, Iran had more than 73,000 confirmed cases and nearly 4,600 documented deaths because of COVID-19, making it one of the most affected countries in the world. 

Joining alliance for net-zero carbon emissionsGLENVIEW, Ill.—Wespath Benefits and Investments has become the 22nd member of the United Nations-convened Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance. The alliance is a group of pension funds and insurers that pursue investment strategies to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. 

Far-reaching permission for online worshipNASHVILLE, Tenn.—The United Methodist Publishing House says each church is free to reproduce liturgical text as needed. During the COVID-19 crisis, the publishing house also has waived the need for churches to ask permission to use liturgical texts in livestreamed or recorded worship. 

Emory leans on lessons learned from EbolaNEW YORK—As part of the NBC News series “On the Front Lines,” senior investigative and legal correspondent Cynthia McFadden reports on United Methodist-affiliated Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, where staff are leaning heavily on lessons learned during the Ebola outbreak to deal with the coronavirus crisis.

Church agencies get go-ahead to seek U.S. loansNASHVILLE, Tenn.—The General Council on Finance and Administration board gave approval for the finance agency and other general agencies to apply for small-business loans under the U.S. CARES Act.

Mission continues despite pandemicATLANTA—The COVID-19 pandemic challenges the ways United Methodists usually stay connected in global mission and ministry. To show how the work continues, the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries is connecting with faith leaders, health care workers, disaster response coordinators and missionaries for conversations on “Global Mission Dur-ing a Pandemic.” New videos are posted online every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. 

Mississippians supply needed gear to hospitalsJACKSON, Miss.—Mississippi United Methodist disaster response teams are collecting and distributing needed supplies to hospital staff on the front lines. To provide personal protective equipment, volunteers are disassembling cleaning kits usually used after natural disasters.

How a new law helps churches amid COVID-19DALLAS—Under the new U.S. CARES Act, churches are eligible to apply for small business loans to keep staff on the payroll and to pay utilities.

How to identify public domain hymnsNASHVILLE, Tenn.—Which hymns and other songs qualify as public domain is based on current copyright law in each country. Most hymns have three parts that can be copyright-ed—the tune, text (lyrics) and arrangement—and each part may have different copyright dates, writes Ask The UMC, a ministry of United Methodist Communications.

Solar power improves hospital careKABONGO, Congo—Doctors at Kabongo United Methodist Hospital often had to perform surgeries, deliver babies and care for sick children and emergency patients by candlelight. But that’s all changed with the addition of a new solar panel station that is providing reliable power to the hospital and building trust in the community. 

Mississippi church property dispute settledLOUISVILLE, Miss.—The Mississippi Conference and a Louisville congregation settled a two-year-old lawsuit filed after most of the congregation voted to leave The United Method-ist Church.

Building capacity for coronavirus responseATLANTA—The United Methodist Board of Global Ministries is developing an ongoing, flexible plan to help communities implement infection control aimed at breaking the coro-navirus transmission chain. The United Methodist Committee on Relief and the agency’s Global Health unit also are working on ways to increase the capacity of United Methodist networks in global and local settings.

—Courtesy of United Methodist News Service and other sources

If you are a new pastor or a pastor moving to a new church/charge, this resource is for you!

The Right Start: Beginning Ministry in a New Setting (2014) (DVD1495L=) Author: Weems, Jr, Lovett H. 6 segments, CD with outlines

and worksheets/2014. “The Right Start” is a video-based training resource for clergy preparing to begin min-

istry in a new setting. It includes video instructional segments, resources, planning aids and supplementary materials. The current version has been revised and enhanced with new material on the relational aspect of transition, such as how to handle social media and issues of concern to single clergy and associate pastors. Age: YAS.

New Vacation Bible School kits for 2020

Vacation Bible School 2020 Knights of North Castle (K982VB) North Castle is hidden in a frozen land. The king’s valiant knights are on a quest in

search of the king’s armor. But the armor isn’t what they think it is. Cokesbury’s 2020 VBS, “Knights of North Castle: Quest for the King’s Armor,” invites children to be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power! Kids will take on the role of brave knights and begin their quest each session by opening the king’s book. They’ll explore Old and New Testament stories and discover different pieces of protective armor—the Belt of Truth, the Breastplate of Justice, the Shoes of Peace, the Shield of Faith, and the Helmet of Salvation—at work in the lives of familiar Bible characters, and explore how that armor works in their own lives as they follow and serve God. Age: PeE.

Vacation Bible School 2020 Rocky Railway (K983VB) Climb aboard for mountains of fun at Rocky Railway! Your “Rocky Railway” Ultimate

Starter Kit is packed with everything you need to get started on this faith-filled adventure where kids discover that trusting Jesus pulls them through life’s ups and downs. The starter kit includes Rocky Railway Ultimate Director Go-To Guide: The ultimate step-by-step resource for planning, recruiting, promoting, training and-well, everything a successful director needs. Age: PeE.

The S.C. Conference UMC Resource Center is your connection to DVDs and seasonal musicals. We are here to serve your church family. To reserve resources, call 888-678-6272 or 803-786-9486, or visit www.umcsc.org/resourcecenter.

Resource Centerby Betty Stalnaker

VBS and moving resources

Advocate Bible Lessons Page 23, May 2020Page 22, May 2020 Upcoming Events Advocate

PART-TIME PIANISTNortheast United Methodist located in Northeast

Columbia has a need for a permanent, part time pianist, primarily for the 9:00 AM traditional worship service.

This person will play for the weekly service as well as for rehearsals; and as needed for special services/programs/events and children’s events.

This self-motivated individual will collaborate effectively with the Music Director, Pastor and Worship Committee with additional interaction with the 11:15 Praise Band Leader, as necessary.

Requirements for the position include: training and skills in piano; experience in accompanying choirs and congregational singing; having an awareness for traditional and new music for instrumental specials; a passion for the music ministry of the church; ability to sight read anthems; high standards of conduct and commitment to Christ; and the ability to work well with adults and children. Organ experience is a plus.

The time commitment will vary with more time required during the seasons of Advent and Holy Week. Extra consultation with our Music Director will be held before and after rehearsals. The average commitment would be 8-10 hours per week, including individual practice. Salary is commensurate with experience.

Applicants are requested to send resumes to Search Committee, Northeast UMC, 4000 Hardscrabble Road, Columbia, SC 29223 or by email to neumc.com. Please list names and contact information for at least two references. Due to Covid-19 crisis we cannot establish interview and hiring timeline just yet.

Classified Advertisements

To place your ad,contact Allison at 888-678-6272

or atrussell@umcsc.org.

Classifed ads start at $19 per inch tall.Website ads are also available

(www.advocatesc.org).

Deadlines are the 10th of the monthfor the following month’s paper.

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Here are Christian or Christian-run businessesseeking your patronage.

Want to advertise your business in this section?Cost is $30/card.

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Rex Wilson, President • Harry Metz, Jr.

Donna Lollis • Carolyn Lucas

May 3The River of Life-Giving WaterLesson Scripture: Revelation 22:1-5Background Scripture: Revelation 21:9-

22:5Key Verse: Revelation 22:5, “Night will be

no more. They won’t need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will shine on them, and they will rule forever and always.”

May’s Bible lessons center on grace: how we see grace in the stories of the Bible and how we experience grace in our own lives. As we explore these stories, let’s begin with a quick definition of grace: the movement of the Holy Spirit in, through and among us.

God gives us grace as a gift and invites us to participate in the work of grace. Grace is not an object or thing. Grace is an action—the action of the Holy Spirit. So, as when you see the word “grace” in these lessons, consider “grace” interchangeable with “the Holy Spirit.”

As I write these reflections in April, COVID-19 has spread globally, and I fear imagining the terror and death it will have caused by the time you read them. In the midst of this pandemic, the Holy Spirit is working. Grace surrounds us. Read these Bible stories, find grace within them and then look for grace in your life.

In Revelation, an angel guides John through the City of God. In Revelation 22:1-5, John learns that in the City of God, grace has made all curses disappear and has healed all nations. Granted, this Scripture passage does not use the words “grace” and “Holy Spirit,” but we still see the work of the Holy Spirit. Who else can heal creation and save it from all curses?

Grace does not wait for the full resto-ration of God’s city. Grace works today, working with us and around us to restore creation into the eternal city of God. In your life, where do you see glimpses of grace working to restore God’s creation? When have you caught grace removing curses and healing nations? How does grace call you to participate in its work?

May 10God’s Grace toward Adam, Eve and CainLesson Scripture: Genesis 3:21; 4:10-16Background Scripture: Genesis 3:21; 4:1-16Key Verse: Genesis 3:21, “The Lord God

made the man and his wife leather clothes and dressed them.”

In Week Two, we hear Cain’s conversa-tion with God. Cain has killed his brother, and Cain receives his punishment. Yet, God does not punish Cain with death, which one may consider an appropriate punishment for murder; rather, God promises Cain life, marking him so no one can harm him. Cain receives grace that he does not deserve. He sins, but God still saves him.

We all need that grace. We need the Holy Spirit’s movement that saves us from our sins. COVID-19 isn’t the only terror in our lives. We did not cause COVID-19, but each of us commits terrible and destructive sins. We hurt our relationship with God, each other, ourselves and with all of creation. Though we sin, the Holy Spirit moves in us. Grace forgives us and helps us create new habits of God’s love. We can’t love with

God’s love without the work of the Holy Spirit, without grace.

Salvation from our sins does not equal the removal of all consequences. Cain still lives with the consequences of his sin. He can no longer farm but must wander, moving from place to place to find suste-nance. In our lives, grace saves us from our sin, saving us from death into eternal life; however, we suffer the consequences of our sins. Even others suffer consequences of our sins, just as Abel suffered the consequences of Cain’s murderous sin.

Certainly, much pain in our world does not come from the effects of our sin—our sins did not cause COVID-19 or its devasta-tion. Yet, our sin can create awful conse-quences. We need the salvation that grace brings.

What do you need forgiveness for? How have you sinned in thought, word or deed? How have you sinned in things done and left undone? Can you ask the Holy Spirit for the courage to repent?

Do you invite grace into your heart so you and the Holy Spirit move together to make new habits of God’s love? How have you seen grace working within you now, saving you from the repercussions of your sin?

May 17God Provides Food in the WildernessLesson Scripture: Exodus 16:2-15Background Scripture: Exodus 16:2-30Key Verse: Exodus 16:12, “‘I’ve heard the

complaints of the Israelites. Tell them, “At twilight you will eat meat. And in the morning you will have your fill of bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.’”

Week Three brings us a story about the Israelites wandering in the wilderness. God has just saved them from Pharaoh and from slavery, and they have begun their journey to the Promised Land. Earlier in Exodus, the Israelites had to flee Egypt with few posses-sions. Now, they must rely on God for food.

The Israelites fear the scarcity of food in the desert. Out of that fear, they cry out, asking why God has taken them from Egypt, where they had food. God hears their fears, and grace moves.

The Israelites have already forgotten how God cared for them by freeing them from slavery. They have stopped trusting God. Still, God provides for them. Every morn-ing, grace will bring them bread. Every evening, grace will give them meat.

We, too, succumb to fear. As with the Israelites, we particularly fear the unknown. COVID-19 has brought certain fears: Will I lose my job? How will I pay my bills? Who will watch my children? What if we run out of basic necessities? Will my loved ones or I die from COVID-19? In fear, we forget that grace has always provided for us. Grace will continue to provide for us. Will life lose all suffering? No. However, grace abides with us, comforts us and advocates for us. Grace hears our cries and responds with love.

Grace also calls us into action. Grace calls us to provide for each other. Do we hoard toilet paper, or do we share a roll with our neighbor? Do leave our homes because we are bored, or do we stay home to protect

each other? Grace provides, so let us pro-vide for each other.

What do you fear? What do you cry out for? How has grace provided for you? How can you trust God when trusting God proves difficult?

What do your neighbors fear? What do they cry out for? How can you live in grace and provide for your neighbors?

May 24Grace to the Dying ThiefLesson Scripture: Luke 23:32-33, 39-43Background Scripture: Luke 23:32-43Key Verses: Luke 23:42-43, “Then he said,

‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ Jesus replied, ‘I assure you that today you will be with me in paradise.’”

Week Four’s lesson takes us to Jesus on the cross. The One who committed no sins hangs between two sinners. The first criminal jeers at Jesus, yet the second rec-ognizes Jesus as the Savior. He asks Jesus to remember him after death. Jesus replies, “I assure you today, that you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).

Grace defeats death, and God offers this salvific gift of grace freely. The criminal hanging next to Jesus cannot save himself from his sins, yet Jesus gives salvation to him.

Like the criminals on the cross, we can-not overcome death by our own means. Jesus overcomes death for us. We will die, but we will also live eternally.

In this season of Easter, we celebrate that we are people of the Resurrection. We celebrate that grace died and rose again to defeat death and to welcome us in God’s eternal city, where peace replaces pain, com-munity replaces isolation and joy replaces suffering.

Since God offers salvific grace to you, how do you respond? How do you testify to that grace? How does the promise of salva-tion from death change how you live? How do you see glimpses of peace, community and joy that we find in the movement of grace?

May 31The Holy Spirit Inspires Jesus’ FollowersLesson Scripture: Acts 2:1-21Background Scripture: Acts 2:1-41Key Verse: Acts 2:21, “And everyone who

calls on the name of the Lord will be saved”

In the final lesson of May, we move from the season of Easter to the day of Pentecost. On Pentecost Sunday, we remember the day when the Holy Spirit hovered above a crowd of Jesus’ followers.

Considered the birthday of the church, Pentecost celebrates the community of Christ, in which people of all nations and identities gather in the Holy Spirit. In Acts 1, Jesus ascends into heaven, and then in Acts 2, the Holy Spirit gathers Jesus’ people as one community. This community testi-fies to God’s powerful love and to how the movement of grace saves creation from the effects of sin. This community participates in the movement of grace, striving to live with God’s love and to share God’s love with each other and with all people.

Acts 2 shows us that grace involves com-munity. God does not offer grace to one, but God offers grace to all. Grace gathers us up, uniting us in the salvation we have in Christ. In community, we share grace with each other. In community, we share grace with all of creation. We act in God’s love, we testify to God’s love and we point to the eternal community at Christ’s heavenly table.

During the pandemic of COVID-19, a deadly virus has separated us physically, but we remain united in Christ. How have you experienced the community that grace has spiritually gathered? What new ways has grace shown up to connect you with others?

How do you participate in this new form of Christian community? How do you live with grace so that you may act in God’s love, testify to God’s love and point to the eternal community at Christ’s heavenly table?

Fink, a deacon in the South Carolina Conference of the UMC, is a chaplain with Prisma Health Department of Spiritual Care and Education.

On grace and love

by the Rev. Adrienne Fink

Leave A Legacy To Change Lives

The South Carolina United Methodist FoundationP. O. Box 5087, Columbia, SC 29250-5087

scumf@bellsouth.net

April Religion in American Life Month

April 27-May 2—School of Pastoral Ministry (Licensing School), online.

April 28—Drive-In Food Drive for The Coop-erative Ministries 2-4 p.m. at Wash-ington Street UMC, 1401 Washington Street, Columbia. A volunteer will receive food and load it onto the truck. Items requested are grits, corned beef hash or beef stew, cereal, canned vegetables, pasta sauce, spaghetti noodles, canned chicken or tuna, Ramen noodles, baked beans, boxed macaroni and cheese, and dry peas or beans.

April 29—Drive-In Food Drive for The Co-operative Ministries 10 a.m. to noon at Washington Street UMC, 1401 Washington Street, Columbia.

May Asian Pacific American

Heritage Month Christian Home Month

May 1—May Friendship Day May 7—National Day of Prayer May 8-9—School of Pastoral Ministry

Weekend I, online.

May 10—Mother’s Day

May 10—Festival of the Christian Home

May 10—Epworth Mother’s Day Offering

May 15-16—School of Pastoral Ministry Weekend II, online.

May 16—Armed Forces Day

May 17—Advocate Awareness Sunday

May 21—Ascension Day

May 24—Ascension Sunday

May 24—Aldersgate Day/Heritage Sunday

May 25—Memorial Day

May 31—Pentecost Sunday

June June 7—Peace with Justice Sunday

June 7—Trinity Sunday

June 14—United Methodist Men’s Day

Scouts celebrated Scout Sunday and 100 years of scouting in Methodism were celebrated Feb. 9 during the morning worship service at First UMC, Cheraw. Members of Boy Scout Troop 655 and Cub Pack 653 participated in the presentation of colors and the Pledge of Allegiance. An introduction of scouts and adult leaders was given by John Moore, FUMC’s chartered organization representative. Scout Master Gus Anderson and Cub Master Kyle Wanger presented each scout a patch celebrating 100 Years of Scout-ing in Methodism and Scout Sunday. Troop 655 Scouts Leighton Becker and Sawyer Becker participated during the worship service. The dismissal with blessing was given by Assistant Scout Master Jimmy Duffy.

Every year, the Bishop’s Award of Excel-lence honors people for scouting excellence.

This year, because of COVID-19, the

banquet for the award winners has been cancelled. However, the Bishop’s Award of Excellence will still be awarded through the

mail and possibly at Annual Conference. Applications for the award are online

at https://www.umcsc.org/home/wp-content/

uploads/2019-Bishops-Award-of-Excellence-nomination-form-Scouting.pdf.

The application deadline is now April 30.

Bishop’s Award of Excellence scouting banquet cancelled because of coronavirus

and Economy Security Act—or the CARES Act. “It’s an invoice adjustment,” he explained. “Whatever their

normal cost is will be waived.”Lollis said the direct billing holiday is for church’s portion

only; the church will still need to remit the pastor’s payroll deductions monthly.

He said the three-month holiday will not have to be paid at a later date.

Direct billing has to do with pension and insurance coverage for clergy. As part of their service as a pastor, South

Carolina United Methodist clergy are entitled to insurance and pension coverage, and the church they serve is supposed to pay for this. The conference pays the bill, then in what is termed direct billing, sends the church a bill for its share of the pastor’s coverage.

“The biggest ‘why’ behind this is so churches will have a break from this billing so they can continue to be the hands and feet of Jesus in the communities they serve,” Lollis said. “I’ve spoken over the past couple weeks with pastors con-cerned they personally weren’t going to be paid, and their financial teams are meeting and they’re picking and choosing what they’re going to pay, and so it’s hitting a lot of churches.

The giving has decreased significantly.”Valerie Brooks-Madden, chair of the Conference Board of

Pension and Health Benefits, said the direct billing holiday is one way they can help during a difficult time.

“I love quotes, and throughout this whole ordeal what first stuck out in my mind is a quote from Theodore Roosevelt: ‘In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing and the worst thing is nothing.’ I thought this was right thing to do and the right time to do it, and people deserve some good news,” Brooks-Madden said. “I trust God and I believe in God, and we’re going to get through this.”

DIRECT BILLING: Giving local churches a much-needed breakFrom Page 1

Page 24, May 2020 Advocate

Photos by Billy Robinson

Easter beautyThe pandemic didn’t stop people from decorating beautiful Easter crosses in North. One was on the town square, which North UMC had been placing there for 30 years; the other (above) is at North UMC.

Photo by Austin Bond

Extra-special Easter décor The pandemic didn’t stop Belin Memorial UMC’s seawall cross, Murrells Inlet, from getting some extra beauty for Easter Sunday. Two church members, George Fain and Henrietta Huff, decorated it.

‘God always shows up’The Rev. Tim Jones of the Plum Branch Charge shared this picture, which was taken by the Republican UMC, McCormick, financial secretary during the church’s drive-in service on Palm Sunday. If you look closely, you can see the image of a cross across the scene; Jones is preaching in the picture at right. “This picture has not been altered,” Jones said. “When she got home from the service, she sent it out to all of us, and we are just astounded in how God always shows up.”

SPARTANBURG—Twenty Wofford College students used their hands during Interim 2020 to help build two Habitat for Human-ity houses in the Drayton Mills community. Now, they’re using their hearts to provide move-in funds and purchase lawnmow-ers for the families who will live in those homes.

Dr. Bill DeMars, professor of government and international affairs, built $100 per stu-dent into his course fee that would be used as the students saw fit after completing the course, “Build an Affordable House, Save the Environment, Transform a Community.”

The students have decided to provide $500 to each of the two families as move-in

gifts along with a little more than $1,000 to Habitat for Humanity to be used for lawn-mowers for these families and others.

“Students were taken with the idea of providing some extras for the participating families,” DeMars said. 

Sarah Burnett, Habitat’s family services coordinator, and Cindy Johnson, one of the organization’s homeowners, met with the class to give other perspectives of how the organization does its work and what a Habitat home can mean to a family.

DeMars said his interim had three components: building affordable housing, saving the environment and transforming a community.

Wofford College students provide funds for Habitat homeowners