Growing Spiritual Transformational Leaders: Thanks, from a Grateful Heart

By Kim Shockley, Coordinator of Lay Excellence

As I move steadily toward retirement at the end of 2023, I want to reflect with you about how much I have enjoyed working throughout the Susquehanna Conference as your Coordinator of Lay Excellence. Most of my time has been invested in re-ordering how our Lay Servant Ministries function throughout the Conference. That has included working with the District Chairpersons and updating all of the certification processes for Lay Speakers and Lay Ministers. It has been a joy to see how many of our lay people are engaged in significant leadership roles throughout all of our Districts.

Developing and mentoring Goal Companions in a coach approach to ministry has also been quite fulfilling. As an International Coach Federation credentialed coach, I have helped to train and mentor this process in others. Right now, we have an active group of Goal Companions who will come alongside you as a leader, or your leadership team as all of us live into how God is calling us now. Goal Companions will help to focus, navigate through obstacles, and provide healthy accountability to the goals that you establish. There is a page dedicated to our coach approach through the Grow-Equip-Connect web presence: susumc.org/gec-coaching/

My greatest joy has been working with our Goal Companions to lead Clarity Days for local congregations. We help to clarify the foundation of why a church exists, how it behaves, what it does, and how it will be successful. This new foundation is used as a strategic focus for all decisions, planning and evaluation of the ministry. Thank you to those who have participated in this process!

Several times I have been asked what our congregations should be doing to make a difference today. There are three things that I would like to share with you:

Find ways to talk about how we see God at work in our communities. This is more than seeing a lovely bird or flower—it is about how we see the changes for good in our communities. Is there a teacher or community leader that is making a positive influence on others? Where do we see people gathering for positive conversation? Who is leading an effort to make other people’s lives better? These may not be overtly Christian endeavors, so look to see if the behaviors and values match your own for potential partnerships.

Encourage each person in your congregation to see every person they meet as a person who is loved by God. This is particularly hard in some communities where the hurt and pain from difficult experiences color our perceptions of the people we meet. These people are still loved by God and have value, so seeing them in that way may be helpful to overall transformation of our community and God’s redemption in their own lives. 

Remember, who we are is more important than what we do, and what we do is an opportunity to show who we are. Our behavior matters—everywhere we go! If I am grumpy with my server or don’t offer a gratuity, that affects my reputation. If I am a rude driver, that hurts my witness of Jesus. Everything we do, everything we say, is our witness of Jesus’ work in our own lives. Galatians 5:22-23 gives us the best formula for living like there is evidence of God’s Spirit within us: The Holy Spirit produces a different kind of fruit: unconditional love, joy, peace, patience, kindheartedness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. You won’t find any law opposed to fruit like this. (The Voice) Our behavior matters!

I want to leave you with this blessing that I discovered a few years ago. It comes from Brian as his gift offered at Burning Man in 2015.

The world now is too dangerous,

And too beautiful for anything but love.

May your eyes be so blessed you see God in everyone. 

Your ears, so you hear the cry of the poor.

May your hands be so blessed,

That everything you touch is a sacrament.

Your lips, so you speak nothing but the truth with love.

May your feet be so blessed you run,

To those who need you.

And may your heart be so opened,

So set on fire, that your love,

Your love, changes everything.

Growing Spiritual Transformational Leaders: New and Improved Opportunities for All!

By Kim Shockley, Coordinator of Lay Excellence

After my experience with our Annual Conference in May, I came away with a renewed sense of hope, especially for the lay people of the Susquehanna Conference. I spoke with many of you about our Lay Servant Ministry processes and felt great enthusiasm from you about discovering how God wants to use you now! While I continue to be the Coordinator of Lay Excellence, this is what gets me out of bed each morning - connecting lay people to mission and ministry!

We are offering a third Coach Approach Training on August 26, 2023 at First UMC Muncy, 602 S Market St, Muncy, PA 17756-1628, for $15 which includes lunch. The instructors for these 6-hour training events are ICF Certified Coaches in our Conference who are currently active members of our Susquehanna Coaching Network – Ron Doverspike and Kim Shockley. The purpose of Coach Approach Training is to learn the skills of coaching and how to put it into practice. Anyone who leads a group or team will benefit from this training because the end result of a coach approach is greater accomplishment of goals and engagement of people in those goals. 

The posture of a coach approach is curiosity, listening well, and asking powerful questions that lead to committed action steps. Come join us as we learn the basics and several different ways that a coach approach can be used within your local congregation’s ministry. .6 CEU will be offered. The flyer and registration can be found here: https://na.eventscloud.com/ereg/newreg.php?eventid=754045

The third opportunity in our Refresh series happens on September 30, 2023 at Christ Community UMC, 3939 Park Rd, Selinsgrove, PA 1787). Ken Willard, from the West Virginia Conference Development Office, will be with us to Refresh Our Plan! Our time with Ken will be to discuss how to create and/or refresh your ministry plan. He will offer training around how to have a strategic ministry focus. This event is open to everyone, and we especially encourage ministry teams to attend this training together! .6 CEU will be offered. The deadline to register for the third experience of Refresh is Saturday, September 23, 2023: https://susumc.org/refresh/

Don’t forget to check the Lay Ministry page on the SUSUMC website - https://susumc.org/lay-ministry/. Throughout the summer our District Lay Servant Ministry Committees will be developing their roster of courses for Fall 2023. Remember, Lay Servants and Lay Speakers must take 1 CEU (10 hours of instruction) every three years to stay certified. Certified Lay Ministers need 1 CEU every other year to stay in compliance. 

Our District Committees are working well to encourage and keep our laity engaged in mission and ministry! The One Matters Awards presented at Annual Conference showed us how fruitful this work is as we developed new and improved ways of seeing our communities and building relationships!

God is with us all!

Growing Spiritual Transformational Leaders - Ministry of Lay Excellence

Kim Shockley, Coordinator of Lay Excellence

It has been my great joy to work with wonderful lay people throughout the Susquehanna Conference to grow spiritual transformational leaders who engage others in abundant Christian love that transforms lives wherever they go! This has been evidenced through the testimonies of those who have completed “GROW! Living as Spiritual Transformational Leaders.” Each person is able to articulate a growing sense of personal calling for the work that God has for each to do, and awareness of the needs within everyone's communities. God is doing great work through our Lay People!

In the past two years our Lay Servant Ministries throughout the Susquehanna Conference have experienced quite a transformation! Each district now has an active Committee on Lay Servant Ministries that is planning and implementing regular training courses for Lay Servants, Lay Speakers, and Certified Lay Ministers. The chairpersons of each District Committee have joined together to become the Conference Committee on Lay Servant Ministries, and are responsible for final approvals for Lay Speakers, Certified Lay Ministers, and curriculum development beyond what is offered through Discipleship Ministries. To learn more about Lay Servant Ministries, click on this link to our Lay Ministry page: https://susumc.org/lay-ministry/. Right now we are adding new information regularly about Lay Servant Ministry classes that are available in Spring 2023!

Our annual Certified Lay Minister School has started and looks forward to two more weekends of training at Wesley Forest! This year seven participants are working toward their CLM status and the possibilities of serving local churches as lay ministers. We are learning about our United Methodist history and theology, how to build a covenant for the work we are called to do, and leading worship. In March we look forward to learning more about congregational care, faith formation and discipleship! As a participant myself, it is so exciting to see and hear how God is working through each of these persons! 

What is God placing on your heart? Have you been hearing the still, small voice that is nudging you to a closer walk with Jesus, or a way to use your skills to the benefit of your local church and community? How do you see God working among others in your family or congregation? How will you share an encouraging word to help them take their next faithful step? It takes all of us to pray for and support each other as we make disciples of Jesus Christ who will transform the world!

Growing Spiritual Transformational Leaders: What Do the Ninety-Nine Have to Say?

Kim Shockley, Coordinator for Pathways of Spiritual Leadership

Sometimes during a meal, my husband, Gary, and I will have a lively conversation about Jesus’ stories and parables and what they may mean for us today. Recently, we were caught up in Luke 15: 1-7 where Jesus tells the first of the “lost” parables. 

“Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” (Luke 15:1-7 NIV)

Granted, there are lots of sermon-making thoughts in this short parable, but considering that the sheep who was lost was originally part of the flock, causes me to reflect on what I’m often hearing from our congregation’s leaders now. The topic most often heard around the leadership table these days seems to be about how we get folks back into our worship services on Sunday morning. So, I thought it would be fun to unpack what the ninety-nine are talking about in regard to those who are considered lost.

The set up to this parable, verse 2, gives us some hints as to what the ninety-nine were talking about – the Pharisees and teachers of the law were grumbling – putting Jesus’ actions in a bad light, stirring up trouble, and generally sabotaging what Jesus was all about. Today, we hear statements like – “where is the pastor going, they haven’t visited me?” “Why aren’t these people back to worship? They spend too much time on their cell phones, and sports, and the convenience of online worship!” “Why can’t it be like it used to be?” While reminiscing, blame, and anger toward things we can’t control are all part of the grieving process, if we stay there, we will miss what God is doing around us! When the grumbling becomes the regular talk of the ninety-nine, then I wonder who needs to repent?

I’m thinking about another Old Testament story that is similar – when Moses went up the mountain to talk with God – he was gone for enough time for those “ninety-nine” to rebel and convince Aaron that a new god needed to be born. When Moses returned with God’s desires – those ten commandments – the people had formed a golden idol and completely sabotaged what God was doing. Instead of rejoicing over what had been found, Moses smashed the tablets and had to start over again!

So, what if we turned our thoughts and potential to action toward rejoicing! How can our ninety-nine begin to see that God is doing a new thing, and figure out how God wants to use us now? A big part of this shift will have to be what we talk about when we gather. First, who should be out looking for the lost? It is just the shepherd’s job now? Remember, we all have gifts that God wants to use to build up God’s Kingdom – is God calling you to action as a “sheep finder”? This would be rejoicing!

What if we understood that an on-line experience of worship is the right answer for some of our folks, and even other community people? What are the other opportunities for people to engage in the work of your congregation? What if a person is passionate about service, or small group study, or a prayer ministry – can we consider those things as valid expressions of Christian life and work, and an expression of their gifts! This would be rejoicing! 

What if our conversation took us out to our community to discover our own reputation? What might we discover about the quality of our relationships within our community? If we are brave enough to ask, would we find out that we are known for grumbling or rejoicing? Are we known for the way we love and care for others or ourselves? Could we be brave enough to change our reputation by focusing on abundant Christian love that transforms lives wherever we go? This would be rejoicing!

Growing Spiritual Transformational Leaders - What To Do?

By Kim Shockley, Coordinator for Pathways of Spiritual Leadership

At a recent God’s Call event our presenter shared information about the ongoing decline of Christianity. It was supported from an article in Patheos—Is Christianity Declining in Numbers by Alonzo Gaskill PH.D. This article shares the three reasons why, yes, indeed, Christianity is in decline. 

First, fertility rates are sharply declining. People simply are not having as many children. And for many of our communities in the Susquehanna Conference, those who are having children often have to leave the area in order to find work. There is not much we can do about that. 

Second, evangelism is not widely practiced by institutional churches in the United States and the average Christian is not comfortable speaking openly about their faith or living it in very public ways. 

And third, some people outside Christianity and many former practicing Christians find the faith (and church) to be unattractive and irrelevant. One point is often made that Christians seldom live the teachings of Jesus. Fortunately, there is something we can do about these second two reasons – and by “we” I am speaking to every person who considers themselves Christian and attends a local congregation. By the way, the information we glean from Mission Insite Ministry Priority reports verifies these two statements in our communities and around our churches. 

Evangelism is a really scary word! Does it conjure images of standing on street corners with a bullhorn? Do you think you have to know everything the Bible says and be able to quote chapter and verse? Are you concerned that you would have to lead someone through a “sinner’s prayer”? These are our own created perceptions of evangelism that keep us from being healthy faith sharers, and are NOT what other people want from us anyway!

To be a faith sharer, having a story to tell about what Jesus means in your life is important. Being able to lean into listening to others share their stories is even more important! What is your story about an answered prayer? Tell it, and ask – have you ever experienced answered prayer? I bet the other person has a story too! Before long, you are connecting your faith to actual living! Today, evangelism is about relationship and authenticity. No one expects you to have all the answers, but a real story about your relationship with God through Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit can be an exciting, authentic witness that other people want to hear. 

“Unattractive” and “irrelevant” are words that hurt us because we have invested so much of our lives into what we have now as “church” and we simply can’t understand how other people don’t want what we have. Unfortunately, these perceptions that others have about Christianity often come from one experience with one Christian during one part of their lives—and it simply (like prejudice) spreads to all who call themselves Christian. This is what we are up against when we move out from our pews into the community around us. We are called to be more like Jesus (loving, kind, graceful, etc.) everywhere we go in order to help other people realize that their perceptions may not be true about every church and Christian. 

A few weeks ago, while lunching at Olive Garden with a friend, our server came to our table flustered and concerned because we waited too long. We greeted her with smiles and said, “all is well.” During our interaction with her I noticed a lovely feather tattoo on her forearm, so I asked her to tell us the story of that art work. She quickly shared how it was a representation of a special relationship she has with her sister and was so grateful that we asked and were interested in her story. We all experienced an authentic conversation and felt a significant connection with another human being. 

My spiritual practice lately has been to see each person in front of me as a loved Child of God – no matter what. I’m hoping that our server felt that during our time together. We did the work of planting “love seeds” so that God can continue to grow them—that is evangelism—as we share abundant Christian love that transforms lives wherever we go!

Growing Spiritual Transformational Leaders - Youth Ministry Listening Posts – What Did We Learn?

Youth attending Youth Rally at Lake Winola UMC

Kim Shockley, Coordinator for Pathways of Spiritual Leadership, Staff Liaison to the Young People’s Ministry Council

On October 22 and 23 I partnered with Kenda Dean and Trey Wince from Ministry Incubators to talk with youth workers from around the Susquehanna Conference. Considering that we met by Zoom, we had an energetic conversation that helped us to learn what is changing in youth ministry from the perspective of those who are leading.

All of the youth workers (paid and volunteer) were able to name young people who are recognizing God’s presence in their lives and have some sense of their giftedness and how God may want to use them daily. Even the pandemic has not stopped the movement of God through our young people!

There are several ways in which youth ministry and a local churches ability to impact young people is changing. Most of our youth workers have indicated that the number of students and adult volunteers has lessened. We all know this and recognize it in the participation of all church events. That doesn’t minimize the discouragement that our youth workers feel! In some ways, this lessening has been happening before the pandemic as families have fewer children and younger families struggle with the demands of raising children in our hectic society.

One of the most significant changes that many of our youth workers noticed is that their students are mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually exhausted. One even suggested that there should be a social worker who comes to meetings to help keep an eye on the health of the students. Where are the support systems for helping our young people thrive in today’s world? Helping our youth workers practice a listening ear and a caring attitude is one of their best ways of doing ministry.

Youth at Spry UMC, York

Some of the more positive changes that our youth workers are noticing is that students love the opportunity to serve their communities – building sheds, serving meals – young people show up for these events more often and more consistently than they come to youth group meetings and worship. These event help youth workers to build relationships with their students and the students among each other. Adding a brief lesson and conversation to these events seems to work well! Just because we may not see these young people in worship on Sunday morning doesn’t mean that they aren’t actively being Jesus’ presence in the community!

Also, students will bring their friends when they are doing the kinds of activities that are helping them to develop as persons. One youth worker shared their emphasis on understanding personalities and giftedness as being a very positive experience for their teens.

In order for the Susquehanna Conference to offer youth ministries that thrive into the future, we all need to be praying for our youth workers and the young people they minister to. If you have a school in your community, then you have young people for which to pray!

 For those of you who have active prayer lives, consider this daily prayer:

“Holy God, watch over our young people. Keep them safe from the chaos of life during these strange times. (Name those young people whom you know!) I ask that Your Holy Spirit breathe inspiration into the lives of our youth workers, pastors, and church leaders (Name those you know) so that we can courageously make decisions that uplift our young people as leaders for today! Help me to see how I can be a positive influence on the life of a young person today. Amen.”

As you pray, listen for God’s message, and share it with your church leaders. Share it with me – kshockley@susumc.org or 407-276-5114. Every renewal of any kind always starts with prayer and recognizing the work of the Holy Spirit among us. Let’s continue the conversation as we look for ways to actively support our youth workers and our young people! 

Growing Spiritual Transformational Leaders: Courageous Conversations are Possible!

Kim Shockley, Coordinator for Pathways of Spiritual Leadership

One of my blessings during this pandemic and the resulting consequences of working from home, lots of Zoom meetings, and some opportunities for introspection has come through a new focus on the last statement of Micah 6:8 “...walk humbly with God”. The Courageous Conversations course became an avenue in which I learned more about how walking humbly is tied to listening to understand and even picking up the adage that, ‘I could be wrong.’ The humble statement about being wrong allows me to be more present with people as I learn from them and expand my understanding. Even if we disagree, we are able to preserve our relationship because we understand each other, without having to convince the other person that I am right. 

The Grow, Equip, and Connect ministry areas of the Susquehanna Conference are partnering with Discipleship Ministries to present Courageous Conversations, a four-session online course that will help us to gain confidence in how we have hard conversations. The instructor (and creator) of Courageous Conversations is Rev. Scott Hughes. Scott is the Director of Adult Discipleship and Executive Director of Congregational Vitality & Intentional Discipleship for Discipleship Ministries, an agency of the United Methodist Church. Our partnership with Discipleship Ministries will allow participants to use the course – a special edition that will be only available to the Susquehanna Conference – and offer CEU credits for taking it. 

Registration for the course is now open at: https://susumc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Courageous-Conversation-flyer.pdf. Be sure to use the special code that allows 100 participants to take the course without cost. 

The course is organized in four sessions which include a video teaching from Scott, additional articles to read, and an opportunity to answer questions in a format that will allow you to interact with Scott and others taking the course. There is a downloadable booklet that accompanies the course. This material embodies the Fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control in order to have Courageous Conversations! Against such things there is no law! (Gal 5:22-23) 

GROW: Let’s Have a Courageous Conversation!

By Kim Shockley, Coordinator for Pathways of Spiritual Leadership

We all know that we are living in unprecedented times that are characterized by our diversity of opinion, interpretation of information, and melatonin. Because of the COVID pandemic we have been staying at home and much of our interaction with others, especially face to face conversation, has been minimized to the point where at best we can tolerate opposing views, and at worst, demonize each other. And the issues that fuel our conversations are becoming more diverse and difficult from day to day! How will we function when we can be together again?

The Grow, Equip, and Connect ministry areas of the Susquehanna Conference have realized that we have a great opportunity to create better ways of communicating with one another, and there is a tool available to us for this purpose at no cost to you or your congregation. Coming this winter, we are partnering with Discipleship Ministries to present Courageous Conversations, a four-session online course that will help us to gain confidence in how we have hard conversations. Our partnership with Discipleship Ministries will allow participants to use the course – a special edition that will be only available to the Susquehanna Conference – and offer CEU credits for taking it. Registration for the course will open in January – watch QuikLINK for more information. 

The ultimate hope in providing this course is that clergy and lay people throughout the conference will have the skills and confidence to hold Courageous Conversations in their local areas. These types of conversations are a witness to our local communities that we can experience harmony of purpose even when we have different ways of understanding issues. 

The instructor (and creator) of Courageous Conversations is Rev. Scott Hughes. Scott is the Director of Adult Discipleship and Executive Director of Congregational Vitality & Intentional Discipleship for Discipleship Ministries, an agency of the United Methodist Church. Scott and I created an informational video that you can watch here: tinyurl.com/ybbqfy6z

The course is organized in four sessions which include a video teaching from Scott, additional articles to read, and an opportunity to answer questions in a format that will allow you to interact with Scott and others taking the course. There is a downloadable booklet that accompanies the course. I found the course to be extremely helpful to me as I seek to understand before I expect to be understood. This material embodies the Fruit of the Spirit – “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control” in order to have Courageous Conversations! “Against such things there is no law!” (Gal 5:22-23)