Every year, Discipleship Ministries partners with annual conferences by offering the One Matters Award (OMA) to one eligible congregation at each annual conference. At the 2024 Susquehanna Annual Conference, the One Matters Award was given to one church in each of our districts.
This award has a strong focus on making disciples because, by integrating into the church body, the individual may experience the personal transformation to potentially engage in the church’s mission for the transformation of the world. While most Discipleship Ministries programs focus on existing members, OMA focuses on new members. After all, ONE Matters.
The following congregations received the One Matters Award in 2024:
Freedom Trail District: Claysburg UMC Charge
Mountain Valley District: Greater Buffalo Run Valley UMC
North Central Rivers District: Mehoopany UMC
Northern Wilds District: Holy Trinity UMC
River Valley District: Fishing Creek Salem UMC
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Claysburg Charge, Freedom Trail District
The One Matters Award is exactly that: one matters. To go from zero professions of faith to one is something to celebrate. It brings to mind John 15 where there is much celebration in heaven over the one who comes into the fold. Accepting the award is pastor Calvin Miller and his wife Trina. Claysburg United Methodist charge is their ministry.
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| Claysburg UMC |
Claysburg UMC went from zero to one in their professions of faith. On the other side of the spectrum, Weyant UMC went from zero to 13 professions of faith. The third church in the charge Queen UMC also had a profession of faith following additional professions of faith from the previous year.
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| Weyant UMC |
A couple of the stories: one woman connected through the love of the congregation; the congregation supported her through a number of surgeries; she attended worship; she participated in the ministries of the church; and she could see God working in and through the church as well as in her own life. She especially grew through conversations of doctrine and in her understanding of grace.
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| Queen UMC |
Another story: a single mom struggled with drugs for years. While on parole, following her arrest and serving her sentence, she entered and encountered the love and acceptance and support of these churches. She is baptized into a new life in Christ and growing in her relationship with Christ, she has gained employment, and the church celebrates that she has gained custody once again of her three children.
Through conversations, confirmation, and new member classes many are encountering God’s grace, love, forgiveness, and provision and experiencing the love and support of the faith community.
Some are beginning their journey through the churches outreach events at Halloween, egg hunts, community days, a wild game dinner. Claysburg UMC hosted back to school event and in addition to giving away school supplies and refreshments they offer a clothing giveaway and free haircuts. The children of Queen UMC held a spaghetti dinner and raised $900 for Operation Christmas Child. This small congregation also donates over 250 boxes for OCC each year. Weyant UMC kicked off “Building Bridges.” The seeds were planted by the previous pastor and stalled during the pandemic. Now every two weeks a dinner is provided and a study using the Bible Project.
Here are three churches and three communities doing some of the same ministries and some ministries that are unique to their setting—three churches in love with Jesus and shining bright in their communities.
