TransformationV o l u m e 4 I s s u e 1

m I n I s t r y m a g a z I n e o f t h e D e s e r t s o u t h w e s t C o n f e r e n C e

sprIng 2012 | Desert southwest ConferenCe CommunICatIons | www.DesertsouthwestConferenCe.org

Transformation Spring 20122

Special Features

ContentsCan we reallyChange the world? 3

The transformation of ourselves and the world 4

Students gather onCapitol Hill to supportglobal fight against malaria 5

Gila Mountain’sMedical Mission 6

Where will you seethe face of Jesus today? 8

Faith in Action 10

LEAD and Relevance XImpact young lives andthe greater community 14

San Francisco Mission tripchanges students andthe world 16

Pied Pipers for God 17

Hands-on mission 18

For the good of the world 22

Living like Jesus

AFRICA UNIVERSITY:Your ministry dollars at work

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UMNS Photos by Mike DuBoseImagine No Malaria Distribution site.

By Stephen J. Hustedt, D

irector of Comm

unications

TransformationMinistry Magazine of the Desert southwest ConferenCe

Spring 2012Volume 4, Issue 1

Contributors

For general inquiries or subscription information, e-mail: communications@desertsw.org, call 602-266-6956, or mail Communications Department, 1550 E. Meadowbrook Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85014-4040.

Transformation is provided quarterly in Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter by the Communications Department of The Desert Southwest Conference. Transformation is also available online by going to www.desertsouthwestconference.org/transformation. Individual articles and photos may be used by DSC churches and organizations. Views in Transformation come from representatives of official Conference groups or by request of Conference Staff. Viewpoints may only be those of the writer and may not be representative of the entire Conference. Questions about the reproduction of individual articles or photos should be directed to Stephen J. Hustedt, Conference Director of Communications (602-266-6956 ext. 220 or steve@desertsw.org).

Publisher’s Pen

Spring 2012 Transformation 3

What are we doing when we go to church on Sunday morning? Why are we there? Of course,

we are there to go deeper into our spiritual journey to feel the Holy Spirit at work within us and feel an intense connection to God. We are there to worship and to hear the word. We are there to commune with other people of faith. That seems like a lot, but is it enough?

In some ways it seems absurd to sit in a small congregation, or even a large one, on Sunday morning and decide that we are going to change the world. In fact, it could be said that it would be a tremendous act of faith for a congregation, a conference, or even the entire United Methodist Church to decide that with all the pain and suffering in the world a relatively small group of people can do something to make it better. However, that is exactly what we are charged with doing as followers of Christ. It’s a good thing that we are a people of faith.

This issue of Transformation will focus on how local congregations, The Desert Southwest Conference, and The United Methodist Church are actually changing the world. Everything from local food banks to international mission efforts will be examined through two lenses. The mission work will be celebrated and hopefully inspire others to follow in the footsteps of the incredible mission work that is already being done. However, the deeper question of why we do mission and what it means in our individual spiritual development and the life of The United Methodist Church will also be closely examined.

As Mike Slaughter, author of the book Change the World and guest columnist for this issue of Transformation points out, “In Luke 4, Jesus makes it clear that his followers are not to wait passively for a disembodied heaven that we will

finally attain to in the afterlife. Instead, we are to actively deploy the Kingdom of God on Planet Earth.”

A great responsibility has been put on us as followers of Christ, but God does not give us too much to handle and the gifts we receive for the work of changing the world are too great and numerous to be counted! †

Can we really change the world?

Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño, Christina Dillabough, Hillary Ekstrom, Billie Fidlin, Sandi Heilman, Stephen J. Hustedt, Marcella Ruch, Sherrill Severe, Pat Shaw, Mike Slaughter, Chris Spencer, Billy Still, Connie Whitener, General Board of Church & Society

Stephen J. Hustedt

UMNS Photo by Mike DuBoseChildren try out an

insecticide-treated blanket.

Transformation Spring 20124

and the worldThe transformation of ourselvesBy Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño

Revelation 21:1-7

Photos by Mike Dubose, UMNS

So what does transformation look like? Some simple images might be the change in an angry man

who finally learns that anger will not solve his problems and finds a better way to deal with the struggles in his life; a shift in a woman who finds the courage to confront her insecurities becoming strong and confident; a child who grows from rebellion to good manners; a family climbing out of poverty; a society moving from racism and homophobia to the realization that we are all made in the image and likeness of God; or a land of conflict and war that finds peace. These are all good things, but God’s vision of transformation for us is so much more!

According to the Book of Revelation, already God is envisioning for us a new earth and a new heaven where there will be no more tears of human suffering, no more death; mourning, and crying and pain will have ceased, and the thirsty will receive the water of life! A good world indeed! The greatest sign of transformation will be that we will find ourselves living in the presence of God

as God’s own people. Can we see it? Can we hope for our transformation and the transformation of all creation? Yes! We can hope for transformation because it is God’s work among us, and what God proposes, God does! Our work is to live into the transformed world that God is creating.

The first Christians left their old lives behind, choosing to live in the world God is creating. The mark of their having chosen life with God was that they became disciples of Jesus Christ. As disciples of Jesus they were known for being different than the world around them. They loved each other, forgave each other for offenses they committed against each other, grew to welcome all people into their family, and sought to be a people of truth and justice. Through their faithful living they loved God. They actively lived into God’s preferred world for us, trusting that God was with them. God is with us today beckoning us to live in a world God is transforming!

I would invite us to wake up each day remembering that God through the power of the Holy Spirit is transforming us and the world around us, a job God does even while we are sleeping! I would also pray

that we would meet each day committed to being God’s own people as disciples of Jesus Christ living into the transformed world that God is creating within us and all around us.

As United Methodists we believe that we live into our transformation by seeking each day to do no harm to anyone or anything that lives and breathes upon God’s good earth and in the realm of God’s good heaven. We show the world that we are being transformed as we do all the good we can to everyone we encounter on the journey of life. And, because we know that this is holy work that we cannot possibly do alone, day by day we seek to stay in love with God, nurturing our relationship with God through prayer, through worship, through the study of Holy Scripture, and through every means that will help us surrender our lives to God more and more, and thus open ourselves up to receiving the grace and power that only God can give us to live as a transformed people.

God is doing a new thing, transforming us and all God’s creation! Can we not see it? We will see it best when we take that step to live into God’s transformed world! Be of good courage. God is with us! †

The transformation of ourselvesand the world

Spring 2012 Transformation 5

and the worldThe transformation of ourselvesWASHINGTON, D.C. — Forty-

five students and their leaders representing 15 colleges and

universities have come here for an educa-tion and advocacy event called “Imagine No Malaria Student Days on the Hill.”

The College Connection is providing training on how to be an effective advocate to members of Congress. The group will then make visits to their elected officials to urge the U.S. government to continue its support of efforts to eradicate poverty-related diseases, such as malaria.

The event is co-sponsored by the United Methodist General Board of Church & Society (GBCS) and the Imagine No Malaria College Connection.

Imagine No Malaria is an effort of the people of The United Methodist Church to put their faith into action to end prevent-able deaths by malaria in Africa, especially the death of a child or a mother. As a life-saving ministry, Imagine No Malaria aims to empower the people of Africa to overcome malaria’s burden.

Schools represented March 4-6 are Al-legheny College, Meadville, PA.; Ameri-can University, Washington, D.C.; Bennett College, Greensboro, NC; Columbia Col-lege, Cola, SC; Lebanon Valley College, Annville, PA; Paine College, Augusta, GA; Shenandoah University, Winchester, VA; Simpson College, Indianola, IA; Spartan-burg Methodist College, SC; the University of Mount Union, Alliance, OH; University of Virginia, Charlottesville, WV; Wesleyan University, Buckhannon, WV; Willamette

University, Salem, OR; Wofford College, Spartanburg, SC; and Yale University, New Haven, CT.

“This is a critical time for global health funding because the U.S. Congress is feeling pressure to cut spending,” said the Rev. Clayton Childers, director of advo-cacy for Imagine No Malaria. “The U.S. government has been a world leader in the fight against malaria and we are seeing significant progress. Our interventions using treated mosquito nets, education, timely diagnosis and treatment are clearly working.”

Childers said death rates have declined, but added that potential funding cuts are a real concern. “If the U.S. government cuts back on its support, other nations and non-governmental organizations could follow suit,” he said, “and deaths from malaria could escalate. That’s what we don’t want to see happen, not after all the progress we have made.”

This past October, college students were among those attending Imagine No Malaria Days on the Hill. Sarah Roncolato, chair of the Imagine No Malaria College Connection committee and a staff member at Allegheny College in western Pennsyl-vania, said these students were excited to be part of the political process, advocating for an important cause.

“When they returned to campus, they thought, ‘We’ve got to do this again and get even more students involved,’” Roncolato said.

The students are meeting at the Kel-

logg Conference Center on the campus of Gallaudet University here. Besides learning how to make an effective visit on their congressional representatives, they are learning about the malaria crisis in sub-Saharan Africa where malaria claims a life every 60 seconds.

They are also learning about the ongo-ing support The United Methodist Church is providing through its Imagine No Malaria campaign. The United Methodist Church has operated hospitals and clinics throughout Africa for more than 160 years. Just last year, the denomination helped train health boards in Zimbabwe, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Democratic Republic of Congo. These health boards will oversee the planning and implementa-tion of in-country malaria programs.

Through its Nothing But Nets effort, the denomination was part of a huge, multi-organization effort in November that distributed more than 3 million nets in Sierra Leone. The United Methodist Church provided 640,000 bed nets.

The Imagine No Malaria College Connection students’ message to Congress: “We are proud of what the U.S. govern-ment is doing to support global health and to fight diseases like malaria. We want U.S. government investments in global health to continue in the future. Our nation’s generosity is saving lives every day. We need to not waver in our work to support global health.”

Participating students are expected to take what they learned to their campuses, according to Roncolato. She said it is hoped they will organize events to raise malaria awareness, and raise funds for Imagine No Malaria.

The Rev. Clayton Childers can be reached at cchilders@umc-gbcs.org or (202) 488-5642. †

Students gather on Capitol Hill to support global fight against malaria

General Board of Church & Society

Donate to Imagine No Malaria bysending your donation to:

Desert Southwest ConferenceImagine No Malaria1550 E. Meadowbrook AvenuePhoenix, AZ 85014-4040

Transformation Spring 20126

In January 2012, I was part of a twelve-person medical mission team led by Dr. Marcella Ruch that served for

two weeks in Kakata, Liberia, Africa. On the second day during the devotional led by Roosevelt Dickson, associate pastor of the Philadelphia Church, we were told that we had no business being in Kakata. These words definitely surprised us, brought laughter, and were a recurring theme during our stay. Something I often pondered. Roosevelt was correct! We had no business in Kakata, but God did and He was using us!

The medical team made a huge contribution to the Liberians who came to the medical clinic by treating them with the best medical care possible and providing medications for their illnesses. The medicine and care was provided at no charge and had no strings attached. People who needed medical care had come from far and wide. Some people were from as far away as Monrovia, Liberia, the capital city. Even local chiefs and the local mayor

came for treatment. We were visited by two Liberian Senators who thanked us for treating their people and toured our clinic. The people who came were in great need of medical care and they were very grateful for the help they received.

Working in Kakata, Liberia, one learns about true misery. There had not been a dentist in Kakata in over 20 years. You could imagine the abscessed teeth and tumors that can occur from years of neglect. For two weeks the lines formed at our dental clinic and each person who came to the dentist received a worm pill as part of their loving care. One woman had a hole in her lower cheek where pus dripped out, and some people had as many as 11 infected teeth. We treated as many people we could. Antibiotics were given to all dental patients who came with infected teeth. It is the work of the church to heal the sick in the name of Jesus. We will go back.

The medical/dental clinic treated 1,549 patients with illnesses such as malaria, STD’s, pelvic inflammatory disease, TB, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, fungus, eye infections, ear infections, pneumonia, bronchitis, sinus infections, malnutrition, hemorrhoids, GERD, muscular-skeletal issues, mastitis, urinary tract infections in both men and women, worms, HIV, amoebic dysentery, various skin infections, and many wounds. Some patients suffered from tumors, hernias, hydroceole, and cancer. We left follow-up money to see that the patients went to Monrovia to the John F. Kennedy Hospital. All medical patients were given worm medication and vitamins. We had $9,000 worth of medications to treat a variety of illnesses.

A common complaint from the patients was the feeling that worms were moving around inside their bodies when they tried to sleep. One woman was vomiting worms; another woman said she was coughing up worms. Many patients complained of feeling itchy, and uncomfortable. There were those who were malnourished, and we knew they had worms.

One of our nurses accidentally got a needle stick in the course of her duties, only to discover that the patient from whom she got it was HIV positive. She panicked, as would any of us, fearing that she would die an early death from AIDS, and ran from the clinic straight to Marcella, where she took her in her arms and held her while she sobbed. She led her outside and let her tell what happened and Marcella prayed over her. Our partner pastor came and shared with her the story of the viper biting Paul from the bonfire, and how he walked away unhurt. Soon one of our doctors came and shared the facts with her, that no one had ever gotten AIDS from a needle stick from the type of needles we were using. However, our team came prepared, and we started her on antivirals immediately to protect her young body from any germs that may have entered her blood stream. Missionary work is not without its hazards. The next day she was back on the horse, testing patients for AIDS, malaria, diabetes, etc. God gave her a great grace in that she was able to keep on serving Him where she was so needed.

As a result of the fifteen-year Civil War in Liberia, the people do not have treated water unless they buy bottled

Gila Mountain’s

Medical MissionCo-written by

Mission trip participants: Marcella Ruch and Connie Whitener and Administrative Assistant, Sherrill Severe

Gila Mountain UMC

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Spring 2012 Transformation 7

water. And they probably do not have running water inside their homes. At the guest houses we stayed in, we had no hot water to bathe in. Luckily the temperature ranged from the 70s to in the 90s.

Another by-product of the war was that the medical care is almost nonexistent especially for women. The leader of our Medical Mission Trip, Marcella Ruch, has taken on God’s task of raising money for the medical care of the 2,000,000 women of Liberia by asking for commitments from women and men in the United States and all over the world to donate $50 a year for a ten-year period. The web site is www.healthywomenliberia.org. Dr. Chris Hena is donating her guest house which will become the first women’s health clinic in Liberia. The plan is to buy a lot next to it to be used for parking. By summer the hope is to have one doctor and eight nurses working in the clinic. We are hoping for 100 United Methodist Churches and mission groups to adopt this project and donate $1,000 each to provide health care for women in Liberia. This will be the first health care clinic professionally staffed that focuses on women.

Another unexpected and wonderful experience was that the Philadelphia Church in Kakata partnered with us and provided us with a physical location for our Medical Clinic and also provided us

with wondrous daily spiritual nourishment for our mission there. It was certainly an ecumenical movement with Methodists and Philadelphians working together and the citizens of the United States working with citizens of Kakata, Liberia. The Philadelphia Church made us honorary Kakatonians on our last day there.

As a result of this Medical Mission trip I experienced a part of God’s creation that I did not know existed. People there are so poor and do not have many material possessions, but they have this incredible joy within themselves, and share it readily with whomever they meet. I came away from that experience envying them and feeling sorry for myself and the rest of my countrymen who have so much but are still looking for happiness and joy perhaps in our next purchase. No matter what a person’s lot may be, or how bad their finances, health, or day, there is capacity in the human spirit to be joyous. To take it a step further I think this incredible joy can only be received through the Holy Spirit and with God’s help. I believe it is worth the effort.

Our church has always been supportive of local missions. However, Dr. Marcella has taught us the value and blessings of coming together to reach out and help others beyond our community. Dr. Marcella knows the value and power

of prayer and allowing God to lead the way and provide the means to change the world. †

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“You cannot do everything, but you can do some-thing.” This was the

theme for the Change the World event organized by Payson United Method-ist Church’s mission committee in May 2011. Forty-seven members gathered in the sanctuary on that Saturday morning to be inspired, motivated, and blessed before leaving to participate in six planned projects for the world, for the Payson community, and for the church members. The question was planted in each volunteer’s mind, “Where will you see the face of Jesus today?”

Members selected the project of their choice. Some worked raking leaves in the yard of a member with cancer; some repaired cupboards and items in an elderly couple’s home. Several members prepared and delivered meals to shut-ins. Some people cleaned up the Habitat for Humanity construction site known as the Longhorn Project where fourteen homes have been built.

People dismantled old playground equipment and helped prepare the Payson Community Kids’ site for an addition to their gathering place.

Payson Community Kids is a non-profit which provides a supportive group for “at risk” children in Payson. This after school program provides children with an afternoon snack, art, projects, and dinner before they go home. This program helps keep seventy children off the street and gives them a place of hope and care that they may not otherwise get at home during that after-school time frame. The program had outgrown its facility, which no longer met city code and would have closed its doors had it not been for our volunteers who donated a few hours of time to prepare the site for future building.

Several volunteers prepared fifty birthing kits for UMCOR and learned more about UMCOR’s work in Africa and around the world and how the birthing kits were being used to provide the essential items to promote a safe, clean delivery and to encourage good aftercare for newborns.

The Change the World Day had a profound effect on our church. Even though Payson United Methodist Church members have historically been involved in mission and outreach,

many repeatedly asked, “When can we do this again?” Volunteers experienced tremendous personal joy from giving to others, building relationships, and observing the results of their work.

Excited to do more, a second “mini” Change the World Day was held Saturday, February 4, 2012. Meals were prepared, cupcakes were baked, and valentines were made. All were delivered to selected member’s homes, the police department, the sheriff department, the fire departments, Rim Country Care Center, and Powell House Assisted Living Center. The interaction and visiting seemed to have the greatest impact on participants, both giving and receiving. The cold weather made it impossible to continue with the painting project at the Payson Community Kids site so many volunteers braved the elements cleaning up the church yard instead.

God works in mysterious ways. A request came in just two days before the February Change the World event to repair a member’s landlord’s home. She wanted to keep feral cats from going under the house. Two volunteers

Where will yousee the face of Jesus today?

By Chris Spencer, Payson UMC

8

Spring 2012 Transformation 9

PHOTO 1 (Far Left): Dismantling playground set at Payson

Community Kids site; Phil Heyl, Pat Skelpsa, Pat Blanchfield, Vince Skelpsa, Bobby Tucker; Photo by Chris Spencer

PHOTO 2 (Left Center): Preparing Birthing Kits; Alma Olivares, DeEtta Maloney, Jackie Badger; Photo by Chris Spencer

PHOTO 3 (Right Center): Raking leaves; Jim and Sue Reed; Photo by Tom Spencer

PHOTO 4 (Far Right): Preparing cupcakes; Cindy

Harvey; Photo by Tom Spencer

inspected it, bought fencing, and returned three days later to make the necessary repairs. The renter was excited and grateful that strangers would offer to do this work.

Gently-used T-shirts were packed in a suitcase to be taken to Africa University, the site of the Desert Southwest Conference’s mission trip. The T-shirts were donated to an outreach program of the Health Sciences Department for people living with HIV/AIDS and for some of their caregivers. The program is called Tariro, which is Shona for “hope.” The women in this program use the old T-shirts to make diapers for babies, sanitary pads, and some bags that they sell.

I am reminded of a story adapted from The Star Thrower by Loren Eiseley.

Once there was a wise man that walked on the beach each morning before he began his work day. One day he saw a human figure moving like a dancer. As he got closer, he noticed it was a young man who was reaching down to the shore, picking up small

objects, and throwing them into the ocean. He came closer and called out “What are you doing?” The young man replied, “Throwing starfish into the ocean. The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them in, they’ll die.” The wise man commented, “But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can’t possibly make a difference!” At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, “It made a difference for that one.”

If we made a difference for just one person during our Change the World Days at Payson United Methodist Church, it was worth everything. †

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Transformation Spring 201210

On April 3, 2011, First United Methodist Church of Mesa held their first “Faith in Action”

service Sunday event. Most people arrived wearing a red First United Methodist T-shirt creating an ocean of red in the sanctuary. Even before worship began at 9:00 a.m., the energy and enthusiasm was overwhelming as the congregation gathered for service. The congregation’s high spirits evoked camaraderie by all.

The “service” plan for this weekend was not the typical Sunday worship that most would imagine as customary. Following a brief worship service and communion, participants filed out of the church and gathered in the courtyard just before heading out to the designated campus or off-site work locations.

Projects for the event were designed to directly or indirectly benefit the community around the church. One of the major beneficiaries of the projects was Guerrero School, a Title I school in which almost 100% of the student population qualifies for free or reduced-price meals. The school needed more than just painting and sprucing up for the grounds. Library books were donated and the existing books were repaired. Shoes and socks were donated in abundance for the students.

Additional projects that day benefited two other elementary schools, the police department, the fire department, the Mesa Center, Friendship Village, the local homeless population, and some of the resident neighbors of the church. The on-site campus projects included painting the exterior curbs and parking lot lines at Friendship Square. There were plenty of projects and an overwhelming number of people that were willing to help in whatever way they could. It was amazing!

Since this first “Faith in Action” day of the service, the congregation never really returned to “business as usual.” The church and its neighborhood, had been transformed that weekend. As a result a new Sunday school class was formed called the “Faith in Action” group which became heavily involved in Habitat for Humanity and other short-time projects. The Children’s Ministry and the Youth Ministry have expanded their programs to include more outreach projects. The Missions/Outreach Team has completely changed focus and is no longer a “meet-once-a-month group.” It is now a very active group with the objective of seeking Outreach Projects as well as partnering with the Children’s Ministry and Youth Ministry to fulfill other community needs.

One of the new congregational goals is to partner with Mesa iCan to identify community needs and participate in ongoing projects. Without a doubt, providing an opportunity for folks to be involved, whether on a one-time basis or ongoing projects, has made a large difference in meeting the vision and core values of our church. As new members join the church, they are enthusiastically becoming very active in the programs that are being offered. Members of the church are embracing the opportunities to offer time and resources to help those in need.

On April 3, 2011 at least 250 members of First United Methodist Church of Mesa, their families, and friends participated in the first of many, “Faith in Action” service Sunday events. Most of the participants were directly involved in the projects, while others made donations to support the projects if they were physically unable to participate that day. Their donations were greatly appreciated and were a vital part of making this day a success.

Another “Faith in Action” day will be held at First United Methodist Church on Sunday, October 21, 2012. †

Faith in ActionBy Pat Shaw, First UMC of Mesa

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Hand-made fleece blankets: for shut-ins and/or the elderly of the neighborhood or retirement center.

A large map of the USA re-painted and refreshed at several neighborhood schools.

Nourishing snack packs for displaced church visitors and for distribution to vagrants in the street.

Dozens of cookies baked and delivered to local Police and Fire Departments, the Half-way house next door to the church, and to shut-ins.

Shoe/Sock collection for children in need. (Virginia Piper donations cover clothes for children, but not shoes.)

Assemble toiletry kits for Mesa Center Against Family Violence: Abused women and children come to this shelter, with nothing but the clothes on their backs.

Neighborhood Clean-Up: Sweep and gather trash. Respond to neighborhood requests for assistance.

Decorate cookie boxes: Small children participate by decorating cookie boxes and completing cards for each box.

Face lift for church grounds. Exterior curbs and parking lot lines repainted.

Extend the life of school library books. Over 100 paper-back library books covered with plastic to protect the covers.

Entertain an Alzheimer unit with singing and craft projects.

Trees, shrubs, rocks and fencing added to the entrance of Guerrero school.

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Photos of First UMC Congregation during April 3, 2011Faith in Action event were provided by Pat Shaw.

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Transformation Spring 201212

Living like JesusBy Mike Slaughter,

Lead Pastor of Ginghamsburg Church and author of Change the World

Jesus boldly proclaims in his mission statement that the gospel is good news for the poor. If it doesn’t cover

the poor, it is not the gospel. His mission statement is to become our mission state-ment. However, the seeker model prac-ticed by so many of us over the past three decades has unintentionally lowered the bar on what it means to make the radical commitment to become a Jesus follower. We have deployed evangelistic method-

ologies that have sold grace at wholesale prices. We try to cajole people into making decisions for Jesus rather than truthfully challenging people to calculate the cost of following Jesus in a lifestyle of sacrificial service.

In Luke 4, Jesus makes it clear that his followers are not to wait passively for a disembodied heaven that we will finally attain to in the afterlife. Instead, we are to actively deploy the Kingdom of God on

Planet Earth. Isaiah 61:4 says followers “will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.”

Frankly, this is a great time to be a true Jesus’ follower, the right time to be the Church. There is a growing gap between the rich and the poor. The global economic crisis that began in 2008 has only acceler-ated the erosion of the middle class. Day-ton, Ohio, the closest city to Ginghams-burg Church where I serve as lead pastor, lost 14,000 of its manufacturing jobs between fall 2007 and fall 2011. That’s a loss of almost 30 percent. Nearly one-fourth of the children in Dayton live below the poverty line, and one out of three kids have gone to bed hungry at night at some point over the past year. Globally, 2.2 billion children live in poverty. That’s why since 2005 Ginghamsburg and its partner churches have been actively working in Darfur, Sudan, investing a total of $5.1

The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. Jesus’ mission statement in Luke 4

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million in agriculture, child development and, safe-water projects. In Dayton, we are re-starting inner city churches that had ceased to be relevant to the needs of the communities in which they stood. Our non-profit ministries and unpaid servants are working to empower people to new life pictures and purpose through GED programs, after-school tutoring for at-risk students, community development, jobs training, and more.

Many in our culture view the church as being irrelevant. In the book UnChristian by Kinnaman and Lyon, research revealed that many 18 to 35 year olds primarily view the church as hypocritical, judgmen-tal, and anti-homosexual. That keeps me up at night! We as the church can’t keep a “hunker down in the bunker” mentality. We shouldn’t be known more for what we are against than by Whom we are work-ing for. We have got to be involved in the culture in both spiritual and physical need-meeting ways, expecting nothing

in return. If we do that, then the gospel of Christ will be meaningful in the world again. They will know we are disciples by our love. A great question for each of us to ask ourselves is this–If my church closed its doors for the last time today, would any of our neighbors notice?

I am convinced that spiritual drought precedes time of economic doubt. Not only is this a time of economic correction; it’s also a time for spiritual recommitment and connection. Within our churches, we’ve become inward-focused. We have turned active faith into easy believe-ism, failing to call people to make the commit-ment to follow Jesus in sacrificial disciple-ship. We’ve lowered the bar of expectation for our members and continue to attempt to transform Jesus into our own cultural world view instead of being transformed

into his. So, what should we do? First, it’s critical that we call people to being disciples, not just to making decisions. Next, we open our eyes to our neighbor-hoods and the world around us, allowing our hearts to be broken by the same things that break the heart of God. Then, once we have identified that place of great need, that place of calling, we go fill it.

If the world is ever going to take the good news of the gospel seriously, we as disciples and all of our churches have got to stop looking so much like our material-istic and “me first” culture and start look-ing more like Jesus. Remember, religion that honors God is religion with feet. If every church identified that passionate place of mission and served it sacrificially, then we truly would change the world. †

Darfuri children welcome the Ginhamsburg team.Photos courtesy of Ginghamsburg Church

The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. Jesus’ mission statement in Luke 4

LEFT:Baptism on lawn at

Fort McKinley

RIGHT: Working with Clubhouse kids

Spring 2012 Transformation 13

Transformation Spring 201214

As leaders in young adult minis-try gathered for the inaugural LEAD event on February 16,

2012 in Las Vegas, participants and designers of the event, alike, were not entirely sure what to expect. This is the first year the separate leadership pod has been added to the popular young adult gathering, RelevanceX, and there was some question to how it would all fit together. However, it soon became ap-parent that the spirit was at work among those gathered. Conversations about the current state of the United Methodist Church that could have easily taken on a tone of negativity or lead to the placing of blame instead took on a hopeful tone and brought about an honest look at where the church is and where the Mil-lennial Generation is being ministered to.

“My toolkit expanded while I was at LEAD. Frankly, it was life changing,” said Billie Fidlin, Director of Outreach for The Desert Southwest Conference.

“Rev. DJ del Rosario, of the General Board of Higher Education & Ministry said something that I will always remember and seek to implement in every area of our ministry together, but also in my life. ‘If you are not pouring yourself into 4 people every year, what are you doing?’ I really thought about that. Another statement at LEAD was the notion to change ‘What If’ questions to ‘Let Us’ statements. So putting these two concepts together… ‘What if’ every team, board, committee etc… ‘what if’ every team picked four people every year to ‘pour’ ourselves into? Then… ‘What if’ every member of every team personally picked four people to ‘pour’ themselves into every year? ‘Let us’ do so! How would that change the face of your ministry, your local church, our Conference…or perhaps…the Christian faith? That could be the most life altering, transformational ‘let us’ action we could do!”

As the group of more than 100

leaders taking part in LEAD continued their conversation on Friday evening the rest of the participants in Relevance X began to gather outside the doors University UMC for the opening session of Relevance X and worship. The LEAD participants were joined by hundreds more as they were addressed by the hosts of the event including a video address by Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño, who was preparing to travel to Africa University for a mission trip. Following a powerful worship service, participants had time to gather and participate in late night options.

The next morning there was a brief gathering and worship, before the hundreds of young adults attending Relevance X and LEAD were joined by hundreds more from throughout the Las Vegas area to participate in Impact Las Vegas. Around 500 participants of countless ethnicities and social statuses, ranging in age from children to grandparents, donned bright red Impact

LEAD and RelevanceX Impact young lives and the greater community

By Stephen J. Hustedt, Director of Communications

Spring 2012 Transformation 15

T-shirts and participated in a variety of community service activities. Following the Impact event all participants were invited back to University UMC for a lunch and time of celebration.

“It was so much fun helping all those people who really needed it,” said the second youngest participant in Impact Las Vegas, four year old Page Elisabeth Hustedt. “It was hard work but we helped a lot of people who needed it. I really earned my red shirt, and I can’t wait till the next Impact!” Page hung her red shirt on her wall so she would never forget the experience.

The afternoon consisted of small group workshops and continued opportunity for fellowship, while the evening brought more inspiring words from keynote speaker, Jim Walker, and powerful worship. All the while, the young adults were making full use of social media outlets such as Foursquare, Facebook, and Twitter to allow those who could not be physically on site to be

a part of the event.“What is happening in the Desert

Southwest Conference is nothing short of amazing,” said Josh Hale, who helped to coordinate the various aspects of social media for the event. “It’s hands-down the best young adult event I’ve seen sponsored by an annual conference or regional judicatory… and I’ve seen a few.”

The final day brought the third and final part, Pastor Dale Fredrickson’s three-part sermon series titled, Lost, Located, and Leading, and a closing worship sequence that called upon participants to literally go outside the walls of the church. As the invocation was given in the parking lot participants knew they had a lot of

work to do as they went forward, but they were inspired and motivated enough to tackle the tasks ahead of them, and quite literally change the world. †

Photos courtesy of Glen Simpson from flickr.com/relevancex andfacebook.com/relevancex of Impact Las Vegas 2012.

Transformation Spring 201216

In May 2011, the Wesley Foundation sent eight students, one adult chaperone and of course

Reverend Dee Dee Azhikakath off to San Francisco for an eye-opening and view-testing mission trip.

On my first working day in San Francisco we went to Glide Memorial UMC, a soup kitchen, help center, and religious celebration extravaganza. After learning about the various programs it offers we stood out in the food line and blended in with the local people who frequented Glide. Two other girls and I stood in line and were quickly engaged in conversation with the woman behind us. She immediately accepted us as one of her own. Before we knew it she was tossing out tips on the best food lines and where we could get clothing. She so honestly wanted to help us and share her knowledge about life on the San Francisco streets. People show up and are instantly a part of the community, supporting and assisting each other. The friendliness continued on into our meal where not only our new friend but everyone around us sat swapping food and sharing what little they had with one another. It was such a warm and friendly atmosphere.

On our last day in San Francisco,

we returned to Glide Memorial UMC for their “celebration” service. It was a joyful and beautiful sight, but where God really showed himself to me was later that day when we attended the Outdoor Cathedral service.

This is an ecumenical Christian ministry that holds services every Sunday out on the street. What was so amazing is they have a parish, a community of homeless men and women who come consistently to worship together. It still gives me chills to think back to that service and witness the love and compassion of these people. During prayers a man offered up a prayer that everyone there could be as happy and as in love as he and his girlfriend. Not a single soul prayed for their life to improve or for their situation to become better, it was always about God and loving and supporting others.

The main thing I took away from this trip is that those who have so little are so much more willing to share what they have than those of us who have plenty. It was a wonderful thing to witness first hand and is a constant reminder to me to always give help to those I can and to live unselfishly. †

San Francisco mission trip changes students and the world

By Hillary Ekstrom,Sophomore

University of Arizona

Transformation Spring 201216

Last year, Change The World occurred at the same time as University of Arizona’s week-long mission trip to San Francisco. They held a seminar at Glide UMC and volunteered at St. Anthony’s, SF AIDS Foundation, Project Open Hand, Jones Memorial UMC, and attended ecumenical services at Open Cathedral. Event photos provided by De De Azhikakath

Spring 2012 Transformation 17

San Francisco mission trip changes students and the world

Pied Pipers for God

By Billie K. Fidlin, Director of OutreachSidewalk Sunday school photo provided by Billie Fidlin

In 1995 when I first experienced Sidewalk Sunday School Ministries, it was as if John Wesley had been reborn.

The thought of being on the streets, sharing the Good News with people who had yet to hear, yet to embrace a Love that is so freely offered to them; to offer hope and love in the face of poverty and despair, it seemed not only Wesleyan theology at its core, but something that powerfully compelled me to service. Now in 2012, I stand in family with thousands of other United Methodists across the connection in Sidewalk Ministry.

Sidewalk is a street ministry. It is a traveling church in the form of a refurbished box truck. We travel to outdoor worship sites weekly to bring the Gospel in a unique and energetic way. Sidewalk is not a “program.” Sidewalk is a worship service, and as time passes it is a multi-generational service. Our Sidewalk faith communities are made up of people from all walks of life from our “shepherds,” the kids and parents on the tarps, to the homeless people that listen from afar.

The Sidewalk faith communities come in all shapes and sizes. From Primera Iglesia’s Sidewalk in Phoenix, a small but robust ministry to Hispanic families, to Grace UMC in Mesa with its puppet ministry and Christmas services swelling to 200. At Safford UMC, a clergy-led Sidewalk is just fun, fun, fun, even when the wind howls. The United Methodist Outreach Ministries (UMOM) and the kids on the campus have a Sidewalk ministry too. The Desert Southwest Conference has a fleet (yes a fleet!) of Sidewalk traveling churches (some would say trucks) that are shared resources for our churches who engage in adding this style of worship

service to their ministry.But Sidewalk doesn’t stop there. Many

of our sites feed our Sidewalk kids and families after every worship service. All our site churches pray for our kids and families. There is a Christopher Beal Memorial Fund for families who are in need of financial assistance, which can help with rent or utility bills. Whether Sidewalk is in Safford, Globe, Gold Canyon (Apache Junction), Tucson, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Sierra Vista, or Tempe, volunteers are there to be the hands and feet of Jesus as they are needed by the families.

It’s not always easy. Many of our sites have weathered changes that certainly gave pause when they appeared on the horizon. When Los Arcos church became an Elijah Church with Scottsdale UMC, we weren’t exactly sure how the change would affect our Sidewalk site. The new Scottsdale UMC site has continued the ministry in great faith and stride. Many years ago the same happened when First UMC of Las Vegas closed; Heritage carried forward with Sidewalk and is still in ministry today.

One of the sites that this Conference helped birth in El Paso, Texas was a very large and successful ministry, one that helped heal the church itself. But when a known sex offender moved into the neighborhood, understandably parents no longer allowed their children to walk to Sidewalk. That has since been worked out, and the church even built a park on the once dirt lot where Sidewalk met. Faith community members each even have their own tree!

Truck acquisition can be a challenge for us, though honestly the Desert Southwest

Conference is greatly blessed. However, this conference once had a Sidewalk ministry on the border where the kids and volunteers sat on blankets outside. We just talked really, really loud!

Some sites have hit a complete roadblock and have shut down (we hope in a temporary way), but God is good and has something even more wonderful planned ahead I am sure. There are neighborhoods throughout the Conference where this ministry is needed. Is that your neighborhood? Do you know of such a neighborhood? Throughout Sidewalk’s history we have had the schools ask us, “When is Sidewalk starting back up? The kids are so different when Sidewalk is in session.”

It was Becky Cowart, our first Sidewalk director in Tucson so many years ago, that coined the phrase that our trucks were the “pied piper” for God. And this still holds true today. God is acting in the lives of our children and families all the time. Children like Topeka, who had always believed she would never live beyond the age of 16, because no one she knew in her world ever did. She survived because she said no to gangs. Another child, Meghan, who started coming to Sidewalk when she was just a little girl, participated in Sidewalk. It was the only church her family knew when her father became terminally ill. We still hear from Meghan today, as she shares stories of her high school experience with us and all is well. Eddie, who within a juvenile detention center, looks to us for the same hope he learned at Sidewalk.

Sidewalk does not boast a hundred percent success rate. But it is one hundred percent ministry, one child at a time. †

Transformation Spring 201218

Early in 2011, St. Mark’s UMC in Tucson formed a planning team to coordinate its participation in

the global United Methodist “Change the World” event, scheduled for May 14-15, 2011. The team quickly determined that a congregation as mission-oriented as St. Mark’s couldn’t be limited to one project, so they created a smorgasbord of options to choose from!

When Change the World weekend arrived, St. Mark’s members could be found throughout the Tucson community, engaging in a wide variety of projects, such as:

• Cleaning-up a roadway in NW Tucson

• Sorting, organizing, shelving and cleaning in an elementary school library

• Painting, caulking, cleaning and landscaping at TMM Family Services (one group home in Children’s Village

and another home in the transitional housing program)

• Investigating the immigration issues through a Borderlinks delegation to Nogales, Sonora

• Creating ceramic beads for Ben’s Bells (a local project that encourages kindness to one another)

• Providing a lunch, Mother’s Day gifts, and children’s clothing for a women’s shelter

• Providing indoor cleaning and outdoor maintenance at Tucson Hospitality Inn (which provides affordable temporary lodging to patients and caregivers who visit Tucson for medical treatment)

But that wasn’t all! To include those with mobility issues, several projects were offered on the church campus. Attendees could choose:

• Decorating bags used by TIHAN (Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network) to distribute donations of personal care items

• Assembling Manna Bags containing non-perishable food and water, for distribution to the homeless

• Praying in the sanctuary for the work teams both on and off campus

Additionally, several members of the St. Mark’s family were instrumental in the creation of an online philanthropic effort called The $5 Project. Run completely through the social networking site, Facebook, its launch was coordinated to coincide with Change the World weekend! (Visit http://facebook.com/thefivedollarproject to learn more!)

On Saturday evening, everyone was invited to gather in the fellowship hall for dinner and the chance to share their stories about the day’s experiences. The meal was

Hands-on missionBy Sandi Heilman, St. Mark’s UMC

Transformation Spring 201218

Decorating bags for TIHAN.

Spring 2012 Transformation 19

identical to the one other church members were providing that very evening at the Primavera Men’s Shelter: enchilada casserole, salad, and cookies. St. Mark’s youth held an overnight lock-out, obtaining pledges for each hour slept outside (netting included). Their proceeds supported the Imagine No Malaria campaign (as did a congregational bake sale on Sunday morning).

The children’s Sunday School program expanded the Change the World theme throughout Lent, making cards for home-bound members, gifts for the new members class, collecting money for earthquake relief in Japan, and learning what it’s like to have physical challenges (by holding discussions with a dwarf and a quadriplegic).

The team that worked at TMM Family Services gave rise to the formation of a Men’s Service Group, now actively pursuing projects for agencies in town that lack the manpower for necessary maintenance and repairs. And one of the St. Mark’s women who decorated bags for TIHAN took the activity to her mobile home park’s craft group, which now decorates bags each month, often giving them a seasonal or holiday touch.

The weekend provided ways for some members to become involved for the first time, while others branched out and tried something new and different. Follow-up stories and photos in the church newsletter during the weeks and months that followed allowed members to vicariously experience the activities. While St. Mark’s participated in hands-on involvement before “Change the World,” and certainly has continued to do so (including activities not even mentioned here), the Change the World focus did have a measurable impact on our church and the community we are actively a part of. †

St. Mark’s, known for it’s strong culture of reaching out into the community began in May of 1957. One month later St. Mark’s UMC was already hosting Vacation Bible School for the children of the area.

Photos courtesy of Sandi Heilman,Communications and Outreach Coordinator for St. Mark’s UMC, Tucson

Creating manna bags for the homeless.

Rev. Sharon Ragland with one of the youngest residents at the women’s shelter.

A single librarian and many helping hands.

Roadway clean-up.One of the work teams at TMM Family Services.

Spring 2012 Transformation 19

Transformation Spring 201220

The trip to celebrate the Joel Huffman Chair of Health Sciences endowment and Africa University’s

20th Anniversary was a long and difficult journey of amazing commitment and faith. In the connectional method that the United Methodist Church is known for, churches across the Desert Southwest Conference partnered together, pledging and giving what each church could. At the 2011 Annual Conference, Bishop Carcaño handed Bishop Lawrence McClesky of Africa University (AU) a check for the remaining $100,000 of the endowed

Health Science Chair. An invitation to visit AU was extended to the entire Conference. Forty-two people signed up, obtained the necessary vaccinations and documentations and journeyed to Africa to be a part of the historic celebration.

Joel Huffman, the former DSC Treasurer was one of the travelers. He spoke during the dedication celebration and gave an emotional and moving speech. Randy Bowman, the current DSC Treasurer and fellow traveler shared the experiences through http://facebook.com/dscumc and http://

desertsouthwestconference.org/blogs .AU is a large campus with 35 modern

(debt-free) buildings and hosts over 1,500 students from all over Africa. Thanks to the continued ministry dollars from around the world, AU has remained open even during economic difficulties while other universities were forced to close. At AU students graduate and return to their countries in Africa with the knowledge to provide needed services and leadership to address the many challenges facing the continent of Africa.

Just across the way, at the Old Mutare hospital there is a lack of qualified personnel to run the lab and diagnostic work. The hospital has equipment but not enough people that know how to use it. The Health Sciences endowment from the Desert Southwest Conference will help to resolve that issue as AU produces graduates that can go and serve in places like this and even more remote outposts where their skills are greatly needed.

The groups toured the various buildings, and returned with concern for the Old Mutare mission which includes two schools, an orphanage, and a hospital. They spent time with many children, a doctor, and some patients at the hospital. “There is great work that is being accomplished at the mission, and there are still many needs. We were all touched and spent time discussing how

AFRICA UNIVERSITY: Your ministry dollars at workBy Christina Dillabough, Designer/Editor

Transformation Spring 201220

Spring 2012 Transformation 21

we can respond institutionally (through our apportionments and advance specials) to the many needs and great work. It is humbling to me when I think of how much I have and yet how much I often worry. Who am I to complain?” said Bowman.

The group’s experiences were quite different from any tours in the United States. For example, the meals do not change from breakfast to dinner as we are accustomed. Instead of sunscreen applications, the travelers applied heavy doses of DEET and took anti-malaria medication as their defense against the harmful mosquitoes which are known to carry deadly disease like malaria. Town celebrations were cause for concern and extra safety measures. The group was advised to stay indoors while the locals celebrated the President’s birthday. Travel to and from Africa presented several hiccups. The trip began late because a truck crashed into their plane. On their way back the airline was on strike and charters were not easy to acquire. The delays resulted in a longer trip than anticipated but it also allowed time to digest the trip’s experiences and discuss the next steps for the Conference.

Before the group even stepped back onto US soil, plans to return to Africa were discussed. Strong goals were already laid out, goals that included lifting up Africa University once again, help for

the Old Mutare Mission, a stronger push for the Imagine No Malaria campaign, and assigning the Annual Conference worship offerings to Global AIDS Fund #982345, Old Mutare Fairfield Children’s Home #11713T, and Imagine No Malaria #3021190.

All of the travelers were renewed with a sense of commitment and faith. “The people of the Desert Southwest Conference are engaged in mission and ministry in a global sense. God’s people are all around the world and this experience helped us to understand the enormity of the nature of the love of God

and in the power of prayer,” said Gary Kennedy, West District Superintendent.

They saw a rich land of possibility where great things are happening not because of government funding but because of generous people around the world. The travelers walked among dreamers who dared to believe in themselves because of the faithful giving of The United Methodist Church. The Desert Southwest Conference will continue to give and the African continent will continue to learn, provide for their families, and improve their quality of life. Through God all things are possible. †

Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño and African child during the Africa University trip with the Desert Southwest Conference. Photo by Rolly Loomis Additional photos of Africa University and Imagine No Malaria courtesy of UMNS.

Spring 2012 Transformation 21

Transformation Spring 201222

At St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Tucson, Arizona our mission statement says, “We are

called to be a community of generosity and love where we invite others to join us in making disciples of Jesus Christ for the good of the world.”

When we first adopted this statement there were people who challenged it. They wanted to know if we really believed that our community could make a substantive, measurable difference for the good of the world. The world is a very big place and we are a pretty small church.

St. Paul’s UMC expresses our “for the good of the world discipleship” in many ways. We provide school supplies, clothing, and food for children in local schools. We operate a food bank that services 16,000–20,000 clients a year. We provide temporary housing for the homeless. We practice generosity through Upward Sports. We invite children from the neighborhood to play ball and cheer in a positive environment where trusted adults engage them in the Bible and prayer as well as sports. We also work in cooperation with folks in rural Liberia as they continue to recover from a devastat-

For the good of the world

By Reverend Billy Still,St. Paul’s UMC

Spring 2012 Transformation 23

For the good of the world

ing 17 year civil war. They have invited us to join them in the creation of a school, a medical clinic and the delivery of clean water. Together, over many years, we have done these things as well as training local people to become nurses and teachers. Nothing like this has existed in this particular region before.

Last year we observed that January 1 was going to fall on a Sunday. Realizing that it was likely to be a day when the church would be quite empty during wor-ship, we began to wonder how we could accomplish three objectives:

1. Create a memorable worship experi-ence.

2. Create an event significant enough that our many Christmas Eve guests would return (even on January 1!).

3. Create an event that, when success-ful, would be for the good of the world.

While that seemed like a huge task we found a partner in “Stop Hunger Now.” This organization believes, quite simply, that world hunger is a solvable problem. We sponsored a January 1 food packaging event. At all of our major Advent gather-ings we showed a brief “Stop Hunger Now” promotional video. We announced that if you came to worship on New Year’s Day you would save lives. We made a commitment to give 100% of our Christ-mas Eve offering to fund a “Stop Hunger Now” food packaging event with the promise of packaging no less than 20,000 meals. We also said we would do all of this in less than 2 hours.

As we gathered in the sanctuary on New Year’s Day we suffered a brief moment of anxiety… Would there be enough people to make this work? Who would get out of bed on New Year’s Day? While on an average Sunday in January we would have three worship services with a combined attendance of 750. Close to 500 people showed up at 10:00 a.m. on New Year’s Day for worship and service. The best news is that almost 25% of those folks were visitors!

The visitors included my neighbors, who do not attend worship at any church. They tell me that they are not sure if they

are Christians or not, yet they came to St. Paul’s UMC on Christmas Eve so that they could make a financial contribution to ensure the success of this event. They even brought guests with them on New Year’s Day.

We have come to realize how deeply people want to make a measurable dif-ference for the good of the world. We are now considering the development of a new ministry task force entitled “Invitational Service.” Through this task force we will explore how we can be intentional as we welcome unchurched people into the com-munity of faith by inviting them to join us in acts of service.

Two weeks after this event our 20,000 meals were loaded with another 85,000 and shipped to a school in Honduras. Chil-

dren will go to school, get an education and be able to learn because their bellies will be filled with good, nutritious food.

My neighbors may come back to wor-ship and explore other ways that faith in Jesus transforms lives.

People have begun to read our mission statement and believe that we do indeed “invite others to join us in becoming disciples of Jesus Christ for the good of the world.” †

Photos courtesy of St. Paul’s UMCTop Left: Group of children in LiberiaBottom Left and Right: St. Paul’s January 1, 2012 congregational food packaging event partnering with “Stop Hunger Now.”

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Transformation is intended not only to serve as a tool to inspire current members of The Desert Southwest Conference, but also to help tell visitors the story of what it means to be United Methodist in the Desert Southwest. Because of this the DSC Communications Commission is asking every member of The Desert Southwest Conference to prayerfully consider

not only purchasing one subscription, but two. The first subscription would be for you to read before giving it away to a church seeker in the spirit of evangelism. The second subscription would be for someone you know who may not otherwise become connected, or someone who may be looking for a means of evangelizing. What a wonderful way to be a part of telling our story!

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