Indiana UMs stand together against bigotry

“Pastor, come quickly!” the youth urged as he was filling up the church van. They were returning from a youth event and were at a gas station in northern Indiana. “There’s a problem inside the store!”

The pastor upon entering found a man berating his church’s youth because they were speaking Spanish to one another. The man said that in America we speak English, not Spanish. The pastor immediately intervened and tried calming the man down. He explained that it’s common for his youth to speak in Spanish among themselves, and that they meant the man no disrespect.

The man asked him who he was, and the pastor explained that he was a United Methodist pastor returning from a trip with his church youth. Two women witnessing this exchange went up to the man and laid into him, defending the pastor and youth, saying this was America and people can speak whatever language they want. They went on to point to the van at the gas pump and say, “We’re all a part of the same church. See that cross and flame? That’s our church, The United Methodist Church.”

The pastor told me that his people are very anxious because of the present climate in the state and country. So, may all of us United Methodists be quick to stand with our Hispanic sisters and brothers, whether they’re members of our churches or not. And may we speak up and confront bigotry and racism even when minorities aren’t present. The Bible makes it very clear that we are to do this, and if we have the heart and mind of Christ we can’t help but do this. So let’s do it!

— Ed Fenstermacher

“Vision Day” Fresh Expressions training coming!

Have you heard of Fresh Expressions but you don’t really know a lot about it? Are you interested in reaching and discipling persons outside your church? If so, now’s the time to sign up for the Fresh Expressions “Vision Day” training, August 17th at First United Methodist Church in Wabash, IN. It begins at 9:30am and ends at 3:30pm (Eastern Time) and will consist of a training especially for pastors and lay people from churches interested in exploring this missional outreach model.

Now is the time to register because the early bird discount rate ends August 10th! For United Methodist laity and clergy in the Indiana Conference, the early-bird rate is only $25 per person, which includes lunch. That’s 55% off the general admission price!

Fresh Expressions was developed by the Anglican and Methodist churches of England fifteen years ago because both denominations no longer were reaching the population, especially the huge part of the population no longer interested in attending church. The model follows the example that Christ shares in Luke 10, when he sends out the 72 to the surrounding towns. So although Fresh Expressions is new, in many ways it’s as old as Christ. Don’t miss out; sign up today!

For more information contact ed.fenstermacher@inumc.org.

— Ed Fenstermacher, Associate Director of Church Development