From church to church, amen!


AMEN to El Mesias UMC, Laredo, for its faithfulness as members awaited the consecration of their new building. It was consecrated June 24, with 102 people attending, including first-time visitors and invited guests.
AMEN to the district trustees for their diligence as they continue to work with the Camp Thicket staff and the district at large to continue to offer an improved Camp Thicket for use in transforming of lives for Christ.
AMEN to Vacation Bible School. Many of our churches invited community children to VBS. First UMC, Weslaco, had 100 children, with 50 church members helping with the program. First UMC, Port Isabel, plans a communitywide VBS for the first time in seven years with help from a visiting church mission team as well as many members. First UMC, McAllen, had an evening VBS that targets families. They had a study of modern day missionaries and
Bible study for all ages in their community.
AMEN to Boy Scout troops. Many of our churches sponsor a troop, using church funds and church volunteers to support this communitywide effort.
AMEN to prison ministries. In addition to the Kairos Ministry that many folks in our churches are involved in, individuals such as Bonnie Brown of First UMC, Raymondville, give their time holding weekly Bible studies in detention centers.
AMEN to apportionments. From the newsletter of Harlingen’s Wesley UMC, I was reminded how important apportionments are by the following words: While it would be wonderful if we could reach out personally to everyone who needs our help, we know that is impossible. So we gather regularly with our congregations and put money into the offering plate, and through a carefully crafted system of United Methodist mission and ministry, our gifts stretch around the world.
AMEN to reaching out to the military. First UMC, McAllen, prepared boxes with edible items, personal care items and notes of encouragement from the church’s children. First UMC, Port Isabel, adopted a soldier through Soldiers’ Angels and is adopting a group of soldiers under the Chaplains’ Support Team.
AMEN to mission work. Our churches offer support to missions by providing housing and behind-the-scenes assistance and by sending church members off to participate. Mission Service Project 2007 has been involved with home repair with the support of First UMC, McAllen. First UMC, La Feria, sent a crew on a Volunteers in Mission trip to Saltillo, Mexico, where one of the jobs was to install a suspended ceiling in one of the local churches.
AMEN to professions of faith. Los Fresnos UMC and St. John UMC, Rio Grande City, each recently had five people join by profession of faith. It was reported that their journey began by an invitation to accompany someone to church.
AMEN to raising them up and sending them on. Pharr UMC faithfully nurtured Miguel Ahumada from church member to leader to pastor. Bob Clark says, “One of the things expected of a local church is to identify and raise up leaders to serve in God’s kingdom through The United Methodist Church. Miguel is one example of the way that you (Pharr UMC) have responded to this charge in a positive way.” Miguel has been appointed by
Bishop Joel N. Martinez to serve the Le Fe UMC in Brady.
Do you have an AMEN to share for next month’s edition? If so, contact Mary Howard at (956) 421-3630 or
yard23@ aol.com.