Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Bishop Park to retire in 2020

September 18, 2019

Dear Sisters and Brothers of the Susquehanna Conference,

Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace, Healer of our Brokenness and Hope of the World!

There are seasons to everything. I would like you to know that I will retire effective September 1, 2020. After a time of discernment and prayer, I am at peace with my decision and it is well with my soul.

In 2004 I was consecrated Bishop in The United Methodist Church. During 41 years of ministry in The United Methodist Church I have served as Residential Bishop for two Episcopal Areas in the Northeastern Jurisdiction; New York and Harrisburg. I have been exceptionally blessed and honored to serve as your Bishop of the Susquehanna Conference. With the deepest sense of joy and privilege and with gratitude I thank God for allowing me to serve the church with such faithful, committed, generous, and gracious people as those of the Susquehanna Conference for these two quadrennia.

There will be other occasions and opportunities for me to express my gratitude for you and the journey we took together and to communicate the needed transitions that will take place in the most beneficial way for our conference and the new episcopal leader. Together we will prepare our beloved Susquehanna Conference for the next chapter of God’s journey with us. Your prayers for the conference, conference leadership and me during this time of transition would be greatly appreciated. God has been faithful in the past and God will continue to do so in the future. What an awesome God we worship and serve!

Alive in Christ together, I look forward to what we will accomplish together over the next 11 months, all for the glory of God.

May God continue to richly bless and honor you and your ministry.

With You in Christ’s Ministry,

Bishop Jeremiah J. Park

Monday, September 16, 2019

Our Heritage: Celebrating the history of our faith

Dr. Milton Loyer, Conference Archivist

September – 100 years ago. 

Thursday and Friday, September 25 and 26, 1919, the Sunbury District of the Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church held two special events. On Thursday, 145 young men and women from across the district gathered with “wholesome vigor and intelligent purpose” at St. John’s Church in Sunbury for a youth Christian Activities Conference that was “a high day of interest and enthusiasm.” On Friday, 59 of the district’s 63 pastors met at the same location for their first annual retreat. “A program full and suggestive had been prepared, in which the ministers engaged in full and frank discussion of their various problems, and out of which conference and discussion came the program of the District for the year.” The Sunbury District of 1919 stretched all the way from Pleasant Gap to Hazelton. Wolfsburg native Rev. John S. Souser, who organized these innovative events, passed away 19 months later, in April 1921, in the third year of his superintendency. 

October – 50 years ago

Representatives from five United Methodist conferences [Susquehanna (former EUB), Central Pennsylvania (former Methodist) Eastern (former EUB), Philadelphia (former Methodist) and Western Pennsylvania (former EUB)] met in Harrisburg at the Scottish Rite Cathedral on October 18, 1969, in a uniting session to form the Central Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church. This was part of the state-wide re-organization of overlapping conferences created by the 1968 Methodist-EUB denominational union. In the weeks that followed, similar uniting sessions took place to form the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference and the Western Pennsylvania Conference. In 2010, in connection with receiving the Pennsylvania churches and pastors of the former Wyoming Conference, the corporation known as the Central Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church filed change of name papers to become the Susquehanna Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Discovery Place: Have You Reserved Your Fall Study?


Fall is here! Has your church reserved a study from Discovery Place? It’s not too late to do so!

The following studies are not new, but come highly recommended, and we have multiple copies of all of these.

Christian: It’s Not What You Think, by Andy Stanley. What does it mean to be a Christian? Ask 100 people that question and you are likely to get 100 different answers. One reason people have such difficulty defining what a Christian should be is that the Bible never gives a definition. The followers of Jesus did not refer to themselves as Christians; it was a label placed on them from the outside. The early believers called themselves disciples, and the Bible is very clear in defining what a disciple looks like. In this eight-session DVD study, Andy Stanley challenges us to change the name and reputation of Christianity by becoming a group of followers characterized by one thing---Love. (8 sessions. Includes DVD and participant’s guide with notes to leaders in the back.)

All the Places to Go, How Will You Know? by John Ortberg. Very rarely in the Bible does God command someone to “stay.” He opens a door, and then He invites us to walk through it into the unknown. How we choose to respond will ultimately determine the lives we will lead and the people we will become. In this DVD curriculum, John Ortberg opens our eyes to the countless open doors God places before us and gives us the encouragement to embrace all the extraordinary opportunities that await. (6 sessions. Includes DVD, participant guide, and book.)

Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World, by Max Lucado. Do you feel weighed down with worry? Does the uncertainty and chaos of life keep you up at night? Are irrational fears your constant companion? Could you use some calm? In this study, Max Lucado explores God’s promises in Philippians 4:4-8 and shows that while anxiety is part of life, it doesn’t have to dominate life. As you follow God’s prescription for worry -- celebrate His goodness, ask for help, leave your concerns with Him, meditate on good things -- you will experience His peace. You can stop letting anxiety rule your day and find true calm and contentment in Christ. (5 sessions. Includes DVD, study guide, and hardcover book.)

Fear of the Other: No Fear in Love, by William H. Willimon. Is there a distinctively Christian way to engage the “outsider” and “stranger”? This study helps small groups understand and respond to the good news of God’s command to love and embrace those considered Other by the surrounding culture and even many churches. These video conversations with author William H. Willimon will help your group identify the Other in their midst, train their fears by seeking information about and relationships with those they fear, renew their commitment to embracing the Other in obedience to God, and work to make their local church more welcoming of the Other. (5 sessions. Includes DVD, leader guide, and book.)

Restored: Finding Redemption in our Mess, by Tom Berlin. Look at Your Mess Through Christ’s Eyes. Using Scripture, stories, and personal affirmation, pastor and author Tom Berlin takes us on a journey from our own brokenness to redemption and restoration through Jesus. (6 sessions. Includes DVD, leader guide, and book. Available separately: Youth Study Book.)

A Grace-Full Life, by Jorge Acevedo & Wes Olds. God’s grace is like a big umbrella that covers us from the cradle to the grave. We all live under this grace. The question is: how do we experience it? In A Grace-Full Life, Jorge Acevedo and Wes Olds examine God’s Word and explore four distinct seasons in which we experience God’s grace along life’s journey, leading us to a better understanding and experience of the amazing grace of God that transforms us, those around us, and our world. (4 sessions. Includes DVD, leader guide, and book.)

It is very easy to place an order! Visit our website, www.discovery-place.org, and place an order through our online catalog, or send me an e-mail at discovery@susumc.org. We are open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., so stop in if you’re in the area, or give me a call at 717-766-7968 during those hours. (Leave a phone message at other times.) I’d love to help you find the perfect resource for your church!

Serving Christ with you,
Joni Robison

Continue Your Mission




A student from York helped provide handcrafted wooden benches for a new nature trail coming to West Manchester Township. The Senior Trail and Nature Park is a partnership between Normandie Ridge and West Manchester Township and will be for York County residents.

Eighteen-year-old Sabine Harvey, of York, is a member of the local Venturing Crew, a co-ed organization designed to help develop leadership and teamwork through outdoor adventures and activities. Sabine’s goal was to receive the Summit Award, which is the highest honor of the Venturing Crew. In order to qualify for the award, a crew member must lead a group and complete a community service project. Sabine met with Lori Trimmer, parks and recreation director in West Manchester Township, who told her that the new West Manchester Senior Trail and Nature Park needed benches. The groundbreaking for the trail is scheduled in late summer 2019.

Sabine decided to make eight wooden benches for the trail, and enlisted the help of her Venturing Crew volunteers. The township, along with a donation from Lowe’s in York, provided treated wood for the project, which can withstand the elements outdoors. Sabine then found multiple blueprints online for benches and shared them with Fran Ashby, Normandie Ridge’s Vice President of Donor Relations and Philanthropy. Once a design was selected, the crew got to work measuring and cutting the wood and putting the benches together. Sabine said, “This was a lot of volunteer work for the Venture Crew. There was plenty of time spent connecting with both Lori Trimmer and Fran Ashby and it took three months to make all of the benches.”

Sabine was thrilled with the finished product, “It was a lot of hard work and I never have worked on anything this big. I’m pretty proud of what we accomplished and I know the benches will be enjoyed by those using the nature trail.”

Sabine is now heading to college at Bloomsburg University and will major in psychology. She said, “I am thinking about volunteering at Bloomsburg University. I really enjoy helping people.” Sabine doesn’t want to be a carpenter, but did say woodworking would be an interesting hobby to continue.

Sabine Harvey is a shining example of being called to serve, and Albright is proud that she is part of our family. Albright invites you to continue your mission by joining us at one of our six locations. Visit www.AlbrightCare.org for information on senior living, day programs, giving or volunteering.



Where Your Treasure Is: Congratulations on your retirement, Rev. Phyllis Bowers! Welcome new Interim Executive Director, Rev. Ed Bailey


Rev. Rebecca L. Holland, UMSF Board Secretary

The board of the United Methodist Stewardship Foundation would like to congratulate Rev. Phyllis Bowers on her retirement. As of July 31, 2019, Rev. Phyllis M. Bowers will be retiring from her position as the Executive Director of The United Methodist Stewardship Foundation, serving the Susquehanna Conference.  Thank you for your many years of service! 

The board of the United Methodist Stewardship Foundation would also like to welcome Rev. Ed Bailey as the new interim executive director of The United Methodist Stewardship Foundation. Ed Bailey is also the Executive Director of the United Methodist Foundation of Western Pennsylvania. His knowledge and experience will be an asset to UMSF as we continue to explore a future working partnership with the UM Foundation of Western PA. Rev. Bailey is passionate about the local church and promoting best practices in Christian Stewardship. He is an ordained Elder in the Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference and is a graduate of Roberts Wesleyan College and has a Master of Divinity degree from the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

Thank you, Rev. Bowers, for your many years of service! 

Rev. Bowers was appointed as the Executive Director of UMSF in November of 2005.  Prior to that, she served for eighteen years as Director of Planned Giving and Stewardship Services for The United Methodist Stewardship Foundation of Central Pennsylvania, the Central Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church. She has conducted more than 1,000 seminars over the past twenty-five years on wills, planned giving, Christian money management, stewardship development and related topics. She serves as clergy consultant and personal financial expert. She and her husband, Rev. Richard L. Bowers, have two adult sons, two granddaughters and two grandsons.

We are so grateful for Rev. Bowers many years of faithful service. Rev. Bowers has dedicated her generous spirit and her life to serving God’s kingdom here on earth. In 1999, she was consecrated as a Diaconal Minister and certified as a Christian Educator. In 2004, she was ordained Deacon in the United Methodist Church. She is a graduate of York College of Pennsylvania, The National Institute of Planned Giving at the College of William and Mary and is a member of the American Association of Fund Raising Professionals as well as the National Association of United Methodist Foundations. She graduated in 1999 as Deacon/Diaconal Minister from Wesley Theological Seminary.

The Rev. Phyllis Bowers Endowment- Benefiting Ludhiana Christian Medical College & Hospital in Punjab, India 

We are sincerely grateful for the many years of tireless work and her heartfelt dedication to ministry. She has inspired many people with her generous spirit and her leadership. Therefore, the board of UMSF has chosen to honor her by establishing the Rev. Phyllis Bowers Endowment. Funds from the endowment will be used to Ludhiana Christian Medical College & Hospital in Punjab, India. The Ludhiana Christian Medical College and Hospital was founded in 1894. It is a teaching hospital and was the first medical school for women in Asia. In 2012, Rev. Bowers represented The Stewardship Foundation’s Board of Directors at the Ludhiana Christian Medical College Board’s Annual Meeting in Punjab, India. During that time, she spent two weeks in India and her heart was deeply touched by the severe poverty and need throughout the country. She called the experience, “Eye opening and simply heartbreaking.”  Funds from the Rev. Phyllis Bowers Endowment will be used to help continue Ludhiana’s mission of healing and hope.

If you would like to make a donation to the Rev. Phyllis Bowers Endowment* in order to benefit the Ludhiana Christian Medical College & Hospital in Punjab, India, please mail a check to:
United Methodist Stewardship Foundation
3901 Hartzdale Drive, Suite 110 Camp Hill, PA 17011
*Please write Rev. Phyllis Bowers Endowment on the “For” line.
Thank you, Rev. Bowers, for your many years of service! Welcome, Rev. Ed Bailey!

- The Board of the United Methodist Stewardship Foundation

If it Doesn’t Challenge You, it Won’t Change You!


By Douglas Hoy, Disaster Response Coordinator

Last month, I had the opportunity to attend a sports training camp for diabetics. The mission of the camp is to provide attendees with Type One Diabetes (T1D) with an opportunity to learn more about the disease, train their bodies and minds, connect with others who have the disease, and grow in their management of it. The activities challenged my body and mind beyond understanding and expectation. Early on, during a 26-mile bicycle ride, I found myself falling behind a group of 20 riders. In my attempts to catch them, I exhausted myself and continued to fall back. After a few miles of pushing myself and struggling up the rolling hills of Lancaster County, I had become tired. My mind wrestled with the thought of quitting; wanting to return to my hotel room where it was much cooler. I could hide from the difficult situation and get some rest. But, one of the coaches had other plans.

Seeing me struggle, he fell back to join me. The first thing I noticed was his calm, reassuring voice. “You’re a powerful man. But you can’t keep up with the skinny kids.” (We were both what is considered in some circles ‘Clydesdale’ athletes.) He then began instructing me on the mental and physical techniques necessary to harness that power and overcome the challenges I faced, including those hills. As the week progressed, this coach stayed with me. He prepared me, reassured me, and rode beside me to complete every ride, all of which were over 20 miles.


Are you being challenged?

What challenges do you face? In your church? In your profession? In your personal life? Is it something you should consider leaving at the foot of the cross? Life can sometimes mimic my bike ride. We experience hills and valleys or good times and bad times. On some occasions, we are served with peaches and cream, while on other days we seem to get all the lemons we can handle. And, when it seems as though there is no way we can tackle another inch of that hill, God reminds us that He will be there for us. In fact, scripture tells us He has gone before us and will be with us. “He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deuteronomy 31:8). How encouraging is that?

In God, we have our own personal coach who is willing to leave the other 99 to come to rescue us. He will reassure us in our time of need. He will provide the reminder that the power resides within us. We just need to harness it. And, when it would be so easy to give in or take the easy way out, He will walk beside us and help us overcome the struggle we are facing. All we need to do is trust Him.
As I was being physically challenged by those rides, I found myself apologizing to the coach for keeping him from being with the group. I appreciated his help but felt badly that I was taking up so much of his time. His response added validity to the lesson he was trying to teach. “I’ve been there. I’ve ridden these hills before. And, when I was a camper, I spent my time with the group. But I am a coach now. It’s my job to make sure you get to the top of that hill, and the next, and the next.” Essentially, he was saying “been there, done that.” And, as I reflect on that experience, I realize God often tells us the same thing. He has spent time on earth, among us. He has been here and done it all. John 16:33 explains, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
He has overcome the WORLD! Not just my struggles up a rolling hill … not merely my diabetes … not only the heartache and stress that each of us may be experiencing daily. Our great, big God has overcome the world! He has conquered everything.

Are you being changed?

Sometimes, disasters come in the form of powerful winds and torrential rains. While other times, they appear during the quietness of a bike ride on a summer day when the sky is blue, and the winds are calm. These disasters in life should not surprise us or consume our thoughts for very long because scripture reminds us, they will happen. In James 1:2-4, we learn there will be “trials of various kinds” and our faith will be tested. But the encouragement in this message is that we should “Consider it pure joy” because, through these tests we will develop perseverance, which will allow us to “be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

While it was not necessarily a pleasant experience struggling up those hills, as the week ended, I came to the realization that I had developed some endurance and the ability to conquer them. And, I did feel a sense of joy and accomplishment. But that enjoyment and ability cannot be sustained without some persistence. If I stop working to develop and grow, I will slowly cease to mature. When I fail to face the challenges before me, I will not have the opportunity to change.

Disasters happen every day. Some of them are small and can be handled on a personal or one on one basis. Others occur on a larger scale and can be very destructive. Sometimes, we find ourselves as the victim, while other times we can be the person coming to the rescue. Both circumstances can be challenging. Where are you? And, what is God calling you to do? Will you trust Him? Will you allow Him to change you?

For more information about Susquehanna Conference Disaster Response email drc@susumc.org or call 717-766-7441 x3402. You can also find out more on the web at www.susmb.org or www.facebook.com/SUSDisasterResponse.

VBS Collaboration Grows Relationship Between Churches

Pastor Andy Ervin of Uriah UMC worked with Mt. Victory UMC, both in Gardners, Pa., to run VBS in June.

By Sandii Peiffer

When it came time to plan the 2019 summer Vacation Bible School, Pastor Andy Ervin of Uriah United Methodist Church in Gardners, York District, struggled to find the number of volunteers he needed. So he started thinking outside the box.
Ervin suggested they team up with a sister church and do VBS together. They chose to partner with Mt. Victory UMC, a mile to their north.

Everybody who wanted to be part of the steering committee came together and the first thing they did was pray. “We prayed that the Lord would open our minds and hearts to this possibility,” said Ervin. After praying they started the conversation and it rolled along and took off.

Together, the two churches laid the foundations for the VBS program. It was a huge leap of faith because each church had their own way of doing things, so there were some logistics that had to be figured out. One of the churches didn’t have many children and hadn’t done VBS for awhile but they provided leadership and new volunteers.

First, they decided to host the VBS at Uriah UMC. The marketing materials emphasized the church partnership, including contact and location information for both churches, while steering participants to Uriah UMC for the program. “People said, ‘Wow, you’re doing this together. That’s going to be really cool.’”
The steering committee put together a budget that covered what they typically do and added a wish-list of what they would like to do, then both churches looked at how they could contribute and pooled their funds. 

Pastor Tom Phillips of Mt. Victory UMC in Gardners, Pa., worked together with Uriah UMC to run VBS in June

It wasn’t one church doing VBS and inviting another church to come along, but a real partnership to make something bigger and better, something that made people say, ‘Wow, there’s a whole different feel about this.’

The VBS was a week-long event in June with an energy level that had not been seen in previous years. About 35 kids participated. “The first night was really exciting and energizing,” recalled Ervin.

For their missions project they chose to support Cure International, a local Pennsylvania-based organization with global impact. As an incentive to raise funds, Mt. Victory came up with the idea that the kids who brought in the most money for the missions project could “sweeten” the pastors by dumping all kinds of ice cream toppings on them. The winning team raised over $300 of the more than $800 total. Ervin and Mt. Victory’s pastor, Tom Phillips, wore trash bags and put swimming goggles on and the kids poured on chocolate, caramel, and strawberry toppings with whipped cream. “I’ve done pies in the face and  have taken one for the team many, many times over the years. This was really fun!” laughed Ervin. “The cool thing was seeing how the kids really got into this and the parents too.”

Pastors Andy Ervin (left) and Tom Phillips (center) and their churches, Uriah & Mt. Victory UMCs in Gardners, Pa., worked together to run VBS in June. The rewards were "sweet"!

Sunday worship following VBS usually includes a recap and celebration of the event. What happens when two churches are involved? Mount Victory UMC talked it over and decided to worship at Uriah UMC so both congregations could celebrate together. “That brought an incredible energy,” said Ervin. “Our churches normally have 50-60 people each on Sunday mornings. We had over 130 for our combined worship, including new families from the community. It was a great witness to our community to see our churches working together.”
It was a shot-in-the-arm for both churches,” he said. “When churches invest in something together like this, it creates a sense of ownership. It wasn’t just something that we attended or consumed or benefited from. We were all a part of the mission. I think that’s very contagious.”

In the wake of this collaboration, the Gettysburg Cluster has been talking about doing some Wednesday night services in September that would involve combined fellowship and worship, and next spring, doing some Wednesday night services for Lent where each cluster church would host a Lenten service that would prepare for and lead up to Holy Week. As they do these projects together in intentional, strategic ways the blessing moves forward to the next gathering and people begin to feel more comfortable with each other. “Shouldn’t we feel comfortable to be together as the body of Christ?” asked Ervin rhetorically. “I think this fosters that kind of working relationship. It’s not about my turf vs. your turf. It’s not about my budget vs. your budget. It’s about us - small country churches seeing that there really is beauty in working together. It’s only going to bless our churches.”

Ervin’s tips for working with another church include having both churches come to the table with people that are there as leaders and as helpers. Gather people who understand or ‘get’ the event or mission. Although you might already have ways of doing things, be open and ready to do things differently, but don’t reinvent things entirely. Talk openly about logistics, finances, schedules, and marketing. It’s a partnership, so include all churches’ names, addresses, and contact information, and all pastors’ names. Show everyone that it’s two churches coming together, planning, promoting, and doing it. Talk about Safe Sanctuary protocols and make sure that both churches have copies of the volunteers’ background checks and records.

For more information, contact Pastor Andy Ervin at aervin@susumc.org.

Calvary UMC, York - Genesis, a Hispanic Ministry




By Sandii Peiffer

This is the third installment in a series of stories highlighting some of the ways God is at work in and through Calvary UMC and it’s many partner churches to transform the community of York, Pa.

Four years ago, pastors Josué Marrero and Vivian Rodriguez came to the United States from Puerto Rico with their three children to help establish a Hispanic ministry at Pine Grove UMC in York. In the course of their ministry there they were introduced to Rev. Mike Brossman who invited them to help build a Hispanic ministry at Calvary UMC in West York, in a community that is one-third Hispanic/Latino.

They called their ministry Genesis, the place of a new beginning, and built it from scratch starting in January, 2017. The congregation began with around 13 people, including their family of five.

They prayed for musicians.“Hispanic people love music. So, I started to pray to God,” said Vivian. “The Holy Spirit said to me, ‘Why are you looking for a musician? You are a musician. There are musicians in your house,’” referring to their children. So, she learned to play guitar on YouTube, while their oldest daughter plays keyboard, their son plays bass and drums, and their youngest daughter sings.

Genesis exists to reach the Hispanic population in the City of York. They have reached out to youth in particular inviting them to be part of shadow theater, black theater, and a dance team. “We want be attractive, to reach the people in the community, and its working!” said Vivian.

In black theatre, performers dress in black with white gloves and hold fluorescent cardboard with words and pictures for the songs and stories under black lights to make them glow. Shadow theater involves putting a projector or light behind the actors so their silhouette can be seen on a screen in front. These unique forms of theater allow shy youth to take part because their faces aren’t shown and people can’t see them directly, but the cards and shadows tell the story. Some of the youth have grown in confidence and now sing and read the scriptures aloud. There are about 12 kids involved so far, many of them doing all three worship arts. When other youth come and see it, they want to be part of it and they tell their friends.


“We’re doing something fresh and using wisdom – not typical religious techniques – to try to reach the people in a way they feel comfortable and not intimidated. We are in 2019 and this generation is different. We have to use new ideas,” said Josué.

While Vivian focuses on youth and worship, Josué concentrates on evangelism and reaching out in the community. “We build relationships first and then talk about Jesus, and then talk about the congregation and church.” He plays softball with the Perros in the Liga Hispana De York, participates in local missions, and uses social media – YouTube (Josue ‘jossie’ Marrero Sánchez) and Facebook (Genesis Iglesia (page)) – to extend his ministry to a cyber-congregation. The hope is for the cyber-viewers to come to the church when a relationship has developed and they feel more comfortable.


The goal of Genesis is to develop leaders to prepare a new and growing generation and bring more families to Jesus. The congregation is growing. There were 48 people on Easter Sunday. One of the challenges is the transient Hispanic population. “We have reached many families who came to York to establish themselves and their families but it didn’t work out and they had to move again, so we have to start over continually,” said Josué. Right now their congregation is established, committed, and the environment is full of excitement.

A typical service at Genesis starts at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, but there is no ‘end time.’ It may end around 2:30 p.m., sometimes 3 p.m. “If people come to the front and the Holy Spirit moves, or if I’m preaching and the Holy Spirit moves, we follow the Spirit,” Josué said with a grin. “Sometimes in the worship it’s so beautiful and the presence of God is there and we take more time.” They pray, read the bible, then worship through music and dance. The lively environment is such that people don’t feel they have to be quiet in church but they feel free to express themselves. They include black theatre or shadow theatre on special occasions. And there’s a sermon. They plan the worship service but follow the Spirit’s lead.  “We prepare but we give the Holy Spirit space to do what He wants to do. God wants us to be organized and prepared and have a foundation. We have a program but don’t have a time limitation,” said Josué.

The services are primarily in Spanish. For those who don’t speak Spanish they have translators and earpieces. They sing bilingual. “We sing traditional songs from Puerto Rico, and some of the songs from the radio translated into Spanish. We alternate from English to Spanish as we sing through song verses,” said Vivian. Josué noted a pattern with immigrant Hispanics. The first generation mostly or entirely speak Spanish, the second generation is bilingual, and the third generation mostly speak English, and a little bit of Spanish. “When we came from Puerto Rico our kids could not speak English or understand at school. They wanted to go back to Puerto Rico. But they learned English and now I have to tell them to speak in Spanish!”


“We open our doors to everyone; those that struggle in life, that may have problems, that might need a helping hand to get back on their feet. We spend time with the people and listen to them. We’re not just behind the microphone on Sunday preaching.” They recalled a former prison inmate who came to the church looking for a place he felt welcomed. “We’ll send texts, call people and ask how they are doing.” “Hispanics love food!” said Vivian, so they invite people to eat and spend time together, going bowling or doing other fun things.
They recently started a satellite ministry at sister church Asbury UMC in East York, also with a significant Hispanic population surrounding it. “We visited people in their homes, talked with them, shared, and prayed. We developed relationships. When they felt comfortable we asked if they wanted a service in their home, with singing, a spiritual reflection and prayer.” It worked. They now hold a Tuesday night worship service at Asbury UMC, as a ministry of Calvary UMC, and hope to add a Friday night Bible Study.

Behind the scenes there’s a lot of hard work, struggles, frustrations, and even tears. There is also joy, laughter, and victory. They pray, fast, and talk with God about how they are going to do it. They bounce ideas off others. At the end of the day there’s satisfaction and blessing as they reach their goals and feel the presence of God. “We thank God for the success we have,” said Josué.

You can reach Josué and Vivian at genesisyorkpa.umc@gmail.com or call 717-475-7332. Experience Genesis at Calvary UMC, 11 N. Richland Avenue, York, Pa.

Pathways of Spiritual Leadership: What Does a Coordinator for Pathways of Spiritual Leadership Do?

By KIM SHOCKLEY, Coordinator for Pathways of Spiritual Leadership

One of my most significant memories is the day that the Evangelical United Brethren Church of Hummelstown voted on a new name as we became a United Methodist congregation. I was ten years old then, but clearly remember voting for the name “Evangelical” while the majority of the congregation voted for “Trinity”.

That congregation provided a place to belong, a way to grow as a Christian young person, and encouragement to explore a variety of ministry options. Today, as I live into the role of Coordinator for Pathways of Spiritual Leadership, I can honestly say that my pathway was set on a firm foundation by a congregation of people and pastoral leaders who did their best to transform the world through relationships of love.

So, what does a Coordinator for Pathways of Spiritual Leadership do? Great question! I am discovering that every day! Right now, that means that I am working with Kevin Witt, who is the Director of our Annual Conference focus on GROWING Spiritual Leaders. We are developing plans, working on new initiatives, and collaborating with partners who also focus on the formation of spiritual transformational leaders.

I am particularly good at “how”, so determining how we become spiritual leaders and how we make more spiritual leaders, and how we put this into action will be the biggest part of my job. That is the pathway that I will be coordinating, primarily as it relates to youth, young adults, and those on a ministry-focused path. But, don’t breathe a sigh of relief! In order to help our young people be spiritual leaders, the adults in our congregations must also develop as spiritual leaders – transforming ourselves and others through relationships of love!

You may have read in the previous edition of Susquehanna LINK, my husband, Gary Shockley, and I have served in many places beyond our Central PA roots in the past 30 years. Each of those moves to a new place gave me the opportunity to reinvent myself – from preacher’s wife and mother, to Christian Education trainer, to resource center director, to coach, researcher, and most recently vitality strategist for local churches. As a lay person in ministry, my pathway has been invigorating! Part of my work as a growing spiritual leader has been paying attention to God’s work along the way. It has been fascinating for me to learn to look sooner rather than later for how God uses circumstances and other people to provide the right next step for me to grow in skills and attitudes that God then uses to help local congregations become more vital in the impact they make in their communities. The opportunity to serve God’s people – especially those in leadership in local United Methodist congregations – has been most fulfilling, and I am thrilled to be here for such a time as this!

One thing that I really need is a clearer sense of how God has been working with the local congregations to develop spiritual leaders. Please feel free to contact me by phone at 717-766-7441 x 3604 or email kshockley@susumc.org if you want to share your story with me.

Some evidence that we are making spiritual leaders can be found in how well we are building relationships with others, how we take risks to do things beyond what we have always done – especially in meeting a specific need within the community, and how well we make disciples of Jesus Christ in intentional ways.
I want to hear how God is moving throughout the Susquehanna Conference!

Susquehanna LINK - September, 2019

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