VIM: Being the Hands and Feet of Jesus

By Darlene Thomas

Shiremanstown United Methodist Church (SUMC) just celebrated seven years of their HANDS & FEET ministry. Over these seven years, we have completed over 300 projects and served over 100 households in the surrounding area. 

Hands and Feet volunteers are comprised of not just members of SUMC but include youth and adults from several area churches. They meet monthly on a designated Saturday and form teams comprised of adults and youth to serve the community. The workday starts with a hot breakfast for the volunteers, followed by a worship service to help us focus on why God has called us into missions. 

The projects are identified through various referral sources and each site is assessed for viability prior to the workday by our Sites Manager. Materials, tools and supplies are organized ahead of time, so each team is ready for work at the beginning of the day. Each team has a lead who is experienced in the Hands & Feet procedures. Various leadership team members visit the sites throughout the day to ensure the teams have what they need and do any trouble shooting needed. We undertake projects such as: painting, yard work, repair, clean up/organization, small construction, etc.

We feel the work is important; however, we know God calls to each of these homes for a purpose that sometimes isn’t visible to the human eye. We trust God has us there for a reason! Building relationships with the people we serve is part of what God calls us to do. We invite them to share lunch with us and have a devotional during that time. This is a wonderful time of fellowship for the team and the neighbor they serve.

If your church is within the local community of SUMC, we invite you to join us on an upcoming Saturday. Adults and youth are welcome!

If you know of someone who could use our help, and they are within approx. 20-30 minutes drive of SUMC, please contact us. We would love to show God’s love to these neighbors.

If your church is outside of our designated radius and you are interested in starting up a similar ministry, we would be happy to share our processes to help you build a similar ministry in your area.

We look forward to being in service with your church in whatever capacity God has planned! There is plenty of need in this hurting world. Won’t you partner with us to serve others and share God’s love??

For more information, contact: Darlene Thomas, Director Hands & Feet at gabrielt0303@gmail.com or call Shiremanstown UMC at 717-737-6621.

This ministry is a certified Volunteers in Mission (VIM) ministry recognized by the Susquehanna Conference. Leadership positions of the ministry participated in VIM training several years ago and we report our monthly workday information to the conference for record keeping.

Finding your “What” in the “Why”

By Sandii Peiffer

Smashed Hopes, Confusion, Tragedy, Loss. Most of us have experienced at least one of these, and some of us have experienced it all. The recent global COVID-19 pandemic multiplied these experiences. And many of us are left wondering, “Why?”

Ron Reitz, a member of Halifax UMC, has had many reasons to ask, “Why?” during the course of his life. His experiences led him to write a book, “Why vs. What: One Man’s Spiritual Journey Through Tragedy by Embracing God’s Plan.” The book tells how his faith in God helped him ride the storms and overcome his challenges to discover “what” God was and is doing in and through him.

“We will suffer greatly if we constantly seek answers to unanswerable “why” questions,” says Reitz in the book. “This is where our faith and God’s grace come into play, as we try to shift our thinking and focus on “what” God can accomplish through all of this,” he said, referencing Romans 8:28 among other Scriptures. 

In 1984, Ron lost his first wife of 15 years, and her mother, in a tragic car accident. They had three young children; 8, 11, and 14 years old. In the bedlam and grief at the news of their mother’s and grandmother’s deaths, they were filled with “why” questions. Unanswerable “why” questions. Then one child asked, “What are we going to do now?”

Faith has been the foundation of Ron’s life since he was 12, and carried into his marriage and family life. Through prayer, Bible study, discernment, and with the help of pastors, friends, and family, he and his children focused on “what” God could accomplish in and through them in the wake of this tragedy. And Ron kept notes throughout their journey.

His youngest son, Adam, expressed himself through controlled physical activity, that included weightlifting and sports. His daughter, Heather, developed organization and helping skills, and his eldest son, Bryan, developed artistic skills he had shared with his mother. These skills carried into their adult lives and chosen careers, demonstrating God’s grace and honoring their mother’s memory.

As for Ron, his “whats” were expressed in many ways, including sharing the Gospel and the assurance of God’s salvation through pulpit supply/cover as a Certified Lay Leader and Certified Lay Minister; sharing his testimony with several thousand people at a Fellowship of Christian Athletes event; marrying again and continuing to grow his blended family adding four more sons. 

Then, in 2004, Ron’s 29-year-old son, Adam, committed suicide after exhibiting signs of schizophrenia. In the midst of his grief and even more “whys”, God had more “whats” to accomplish. With encouragement from his father, and referencing the notes he had taken over the years, Ron wrote this book 10 years later, hoping to help others.

“Why vs. What” was published by Sunbury Press in July 2020 – some might say with ‘Divine timing’ – just as the COVID-19 pandemic was taking hold and creating more challenges and “why” questions than ever. In August 2020, it was their #1 best-selling non-fiction book.

“Why vs. What” is filled with “why” questions that have touched Ron’s life and the lives of family members and friends. “Time and time again, we are faced with the challenge of getting off the human focus of “why”, when tragedy occurs, and getting onto the divine focus on “what” does God want to accomplish,” says Reitz.

“When Jesus was on earth, God demonstrated His powerful miracles through Jesus. When Jesus returned to heaven, God provided those of us who have accepted Jesus as our Savior, with power in the form of the Holy Spirit residing inside us. Through this book you will see how God accomplishes the “what” parts of His plans through His children. You will also see how even devoted Christians need to be pushed, prodded, and challenged, at times, in order to accomplish “what” God needs to accomplish through us.”

In June 2022 a “Why vs. What” Leader Guide was published. It was co-written by Rev. Brendan Hock, Senior Pastor at Halifax UMC, Pastor Su Rider, Associate Pastor at Halifax UMC, Rick Stence, Certified Lay Minister at Halifax UMC, and Reitz, also a CLM. It contains 12 small-group study sessions, each with an accompanying video, and questions to initiate thoughts and discussions. An ideal small group size would be 6-12 participants, but one church that studied the book had a group of 25 people. The 12 sessions would fill the weeks of Fall small groups or can be broken down into blocks of 4-6 weeks.

Reitz has received positive feedback from a number of readers. One lady wrote that she was very sad at his experiences but trying out some of the ideas in her own life. Another reader now gives a copy of “Why vs. What” to others he knows who are experiencing tragedy. A former college roommate ordered 10 copies, and sent 9 of them to others. A friend who lost a brother and son in 2021 was helped by Ron’s book to “…see things differently…”

Ron’s greatest desire is to point people to God in sharing his life experience and testimony. He hopes that, “When I am in heaven one day, [to] have people walk up behind me, place their hand on my shoulder, and say “Thank you. Because of your book I am in heaven today!”

There are no limits to the challenges we might face in our lives. There are also no limits to the grace of God and the things He wants to accomplish in and through us if we stop focusing on the unanswerable “why” questions and instead ask God, “What now?” 

Find out more and order the “Why vs. What” book and Leader Guide at www.halifaxumc.com/why-vs-what/ (in time for Fall Bible study groups.)

***

Author Ron Reitz holds a degree in Secondary Education Mathematics, a Stonier Graduate School of Banking Degree, an Associate Management Degree, and Certified Lay Minister (CLM) credentials from the United Methodist Church.

These educational experiences, along with 40+ years of experience in the Human Resources Management, Consulting, and Lay Ministry fields, have enabled him to effectively interact with a variety of people. Ron’s approach as he interacts and shares the Gospel is to plant “seeds” of truth into their minds and then waits for watering and harvesting instructions.

By staying in close contact with God through prayer and Bible reading, Ron continues to receive direction from God. This enables him to stay connected with God as He helps people get off the “why” questions and get on with the “what” questions and seeing how God works!

Is There More to the Disaster Response Ministry?

Douglas Hoy, Conference Disaster Response Coordinator

At Annual Conference this year, I had the opportunity to speak with attendees about the Disaster Response Ministry. It was a joy to share all the opportunities the ministry has to offer. During one of those conversations, after explaining to connection to UMCOR and how we respond to “headline” disasters, I was asked whether there was more to the ministry. My reply was an emphatic “YES!”

The mission of UMCOR and the Disaster Response Ministry is to provide assistance to alleviate human suffering as the result of disaster. And, most people associate that with helping people after they have been the victims of a natural disaster, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and flooding. While this is true in the traditional sense, human suffering can occur on so many levels in so many places. All we need to do is watch the news every evening to know our neighbors are hurting as the economy continues to slow down and inflation continues to rise. The everyday problems we face as a result are becoming problematic and these problems present an opportunity for the church to help.

In the last issue, I explained that the ministry works during “blue skies” and “gray skies.” And, part of that process involves training congregations to recognize the needs of their neighbors and doing something to meet them. The ministry does this through the Connecting Neighbors: A Disaster Ready Congregations Curriculum of the United Methodist Church program. This UMCOR developed program was created inspire congregations and communities to be better able to minimize the harm caused to people by disasters. To encourage them to respond to our neighbors’ needs in helpful, cooperative and caring ways on behalf of the church and in the spirit of Jesus Christ. And, it enables them to practically and proactively support the most vulnerable, while honoring cultural and faith values and differences within the community.

Attendees learn how to identify types of disasters likely to impact the community, assess the immediate needs of their neighbors, and identify resources the church may have to meet those needs, while connecting the church with the community.

The modules in this training focus on preparing congregants for disasters and guiding them through a process to help others. It also addresses how churches can protect its property and people before and immediately following a disaster, as well as how to appropriately use church property in disaster response. Finally, the training encourages churches to explore their capacity for various disaster response ministry opportunities and to consider ways to become engaged in, and become an integral part of the fabric and culture of the community.

What if America’s greatest asset—its faith-motivated and God-centered people—rose up to embrace the belief that protecting people, places and ministry is our responsibility? What if we saw preparation and planning to be equal partners with building projects and new fellowship halls? What if we understood that stewardship of our bodies (eating healthy foods and exercising) and stewardship of our gifts (teaching, praying, tithing) are twin pillars supporting stewardship of our church family and church home to become the best gifts we have to give to our communities when trouble comes? As one attendee described it, disaster response is about “RESPONSE-ABILITY.”

Scripture tells us to “hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10: 23-24). And, “faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11: 1).

As followers of Christ, we are all called to be engaged in strengthening our communities, making them resilient, and being the hope and comfort in time of need. We are encouraged to earnestly live out our faith in ways that can transform communities—and the lives of those who are our neighbors—to alleviate suffering, including disaster response. As the visible presence of the body of Christ, the local church is well equipped to minister. And, when it gets involved, the door is opened to more ministry opportunities than the headlines will ever reveal.

Congregants and churches that are prepared to respond to their neighbors needs have an opportunity to restore hope, be a caring, Christian presence, and, share the love of Jesus to a world (and community) that is desperately searching.

For more information about the Disaster Response Ministry and the Connecting Neighbors program, contact me.

Douglas Hoy, Disaster Response Coordinator

Email: drc@susumc.org

Phone: 717-766-7441, ext. 3402

Website: www.susmb.org

Facebook: @SUSDisasterResponse

Twitter: @UMCDisasterResp

Disaster Response Ministry Blog:  susdisasterresponse.blogspot.com/

The Power to Make a Change!

By Douglas Hoy, Disaster Response Coordinator

“If you walked by a house fully engulfed in flames and you could hear people screaming, would you keep walking? If a car crashed in front of you, would you drive by it? If a child was about to cross a busy street without looking, would you stay quiet? Well, it’s not a fire, or a crash, or a busy street, but people ARE dying and our health-care workers are drowning, and they are seeing things they will never forget….”

These words were shared by a friend on social media a few months ago. Like many of us, she has been frustrated with the pandemic, a lack of concern for those who are suffering, and the declining support for the decision-makers attempting to guide us. 

My friend went on to share that “we have the power to change the outcome, to lessen the burden. We can be part of the solution.” 

As I read her post, my thoughts turned to a cold day in October when I met with some residents of Knoxville (Williamsport District). That meeting was born out of frustration. Flooding had affected this community in August and, because there was no disaster declaration, it was difficult for them to get the assistance they needed. As I listened to their stories and pleas for help, I couldn’t help but think about their suffering. Most were without heat, their furnaces ruined. Some had mold growing in their basements. I could see the suffering in their eyes and hear it in their voices as they shared their circumstances. Colder weather was coming and snow was in the forecast. Without help, they would spend the winter without heat.

As I left that community, I knew something had to be done. After making some phone calls and sending some emails, I was able to arrange some help. With help from an UMCOR Solidarity Grant, our Volunteers in Mission (VIM) teams and VOAD partners went to work. And, by Christmas, the majority of the needs had been addressed.

Recently, I received a text from one of the families thanking me. As a result of the “help your group has given to our family after the flood it is slowly looking like a house again.” 

As I shared in the January issue of the Susquehanna LINK, your generosity allowed the Disaster Response Ministry to support this work, share in their burden, and make a difference.

This month, we will celebrate UMCOR Sunday (March 27). And, communities around the Annual Conference, across the nation, and worldwide continue to suffer from hurricanes, flooding, and wildfires. Your support on this special Sunday allows UMCOR to train Conference Disaster Response Coordinators like me, certify Early Response Teams, keep the office lights on, and maintain its promise that 100% of any financial support to a specific UMCOR project will go towards that project and not administrative cost.

Your sustaining gifts on UMCOR Sunday and throughout the year lays the foundation for UMCOR to equip local churches, annual conferences and nonprofit organizations to be in mission with their communities, respond to those left most vulnerable during these challenging times, and share God’s love with communities everywhere.

To be part of the solution, make a change, and share the burdens of other, support UMCOR Sunday by giving during your congregational offering time. Financial contributions can be collected and submitted through the Conference Treasurer’s Remittance Report in Section A and mailed to the Conference Office. Checks should be made payable to the Susquehanna Conference, with the UMCOR Sunday designation in the memo. To support the ongoing work of UMCOR, please include the appropriate Advance:  UMCOR US Disaster Response and Recovery (Advance # 901670); or, UMCOR International Disaster Response and Recovery (Advance # 982450). If you wish to allow UMCOR to determine where to use the funds, the offering can be designated “Where Most Needed” (Advance #999895).

For individual giving, these same options are available and can be accomplished online by CLICKING HERE: www.umcmission.org/umcor/give/how-to-give#Your_Gift

The Susquehanna Conference Disaster Response Ministry Advance (Advance # 8055) provides another opportunity to support disaster response. Funds designated to this Advance will support response, relief, and recovery efforts within the Conference as well as support Conference teams when they mobilize to other areas.

For more information about UMCOR, visit www.umcmission.org/umcor. To learn more about the Conference Disaster Response Ministry, visit www.susmb.org/ and click on the Disaster Response tab; or follow on Facebook: @SUSDisasterResponse and on Twitter: @UMCDisasterResp

Douglas Hoy
Disaster Response Coordinator
717-766-7441, ext. 3402
drc@susumc.org

Thank You For Supporting Mission Central

As a monumental year comes to a close, we wanted to take a moment to thank all the Susquehanna Conference United Methodist Church churches for your support throughout 2021! We recognize that this year continued to bring many challenges, and we are incredibly grateful for the support that has been shown to Mission Central. 

Every item, every prayer, every dollar and every shared gift has assisted us in fulfilling our mission of ‘connecting God’s resources with human need.’  We are thankful for each of you and appreciate you sharing your gifts with us. 

This was a record breaking year for Mission Central and, while numbers aren’t final, we assisted close to 4 million people with over $15 million in resources. We couldn’t have done this without your support!

Our medical ministry continues to be the fastest growing ministry and grew by 300% this year over 2020 (which was a record-breaking year as well). Our school program quadrupled and we continue to assist students and their families with medical equipment, food, clothing, school supplies and hygiene/cleaning items. Mission Central continues a big focus on disaster relief and are still the largest warehouse for UMCOR. 

Next year is a big year for us – we celebrate 20 years of this important work! Check out our end-of-year Mission Link for ways that you and your church can support us as we work toward another 20! If you have the opportunity, please follow us on Facebook and subscribe to our MissionLink (a weekly eNews letter). 

Also, please make sure you “Save the Dates” for a few Mission Central events of 2022: 

• Mission Central Gala: May 15, 2022 (at Liberty Forge)

• Mission Central Monster Mash and Dash (our virtual run): October, 2022

We wish you a Happy New Year filled with many blessings. 

Thank you for everything you do for Mission Central! 

www.missioncentral.org

Disaster Response Ministry: What’s the Catch?

Douglas Hoy, Disaster Response Coordinator SUSUMC 

Have you ever seen those advertisements offering an all-expense paid, week-long vacation to a tropical location? It’s an offer that seems almost too good to be true, right? Just spend a few hours touring a vacation resort and listening to a salesperson attempting to sell you a condo. No strings attached. Just give them a few hours of your precious time. How bad could it be? Fill out the registration form. Provide them with your mailing address, telephone number, and e-mail address. Convinced it’s worth it because all expenses are paid? It’s a great opportunity because you were planning to take a vacation anyway. Then, you start receiving junk mail and spam e-mails. Your phone rings constantly. The texts never stop. You discover the airfare is free—well, except for the taxes and fees. Suddenly, what seemed like a great opportunity with no “catches” has turned into an expensive, time-consuming nuisance.

Recently, I felt like one of those sales persons. I was assessing a home that had been damaged from one of the storms that passed through Knoxville in north-central Pennsylvania. As the homeowner accompanied me, we documented the damage and discussed what needed to be done to fix it. Remove the mud. Dispose of the debris. Re-build the basement staircase. Replace the hot water heater. Inspect and repair the electrical service. As we talked, I could see the concern becoming evident in his eyes. He was already overwhelmed by the circumstances surrounding the flood and being forced from his home. 

Then he asked the question, “What is this going to cost me?” What’s the catch?

This year, the Disaster Response Ministry was active in supporting the relief and recovery efforts for multiple disasters. Of course, supporting the on-going pandemic is at the top of a list that also included helping with storm clean-up at Camp Penn; resourcing various Conference and local church ministries, providing national crisis hotline operators to record disaster needs; doing flood relief, cleanup, and rebuilding in multiple locations throughout the Conference.

We learn from scripture that “God loves a cheerful giver.” More specifically, 2 Corinthians 9:7 clarifies that we should give without reluctance or compulsion. The people of the Susquehanna Conference have been generous with its financial support. And, that generosity has enabled the Disaster Response Ministry and UMCOR to be a caring, Christian presence in the aftermath of these disasters. We have been able to meet the needs of survivors by providing them with temporary heating, replacing medical equipment, paying for utilities, meeting essential needs, and awarding grants to assist with recovery to name a few.

As I spoke with that homeowner a few months ago, I thought about your willingness to give without hesitation. I turned to the homeowner and confidently shared that he would not incur any costs. Immediately, I could see the relief in his eyes. The stress he was experiencing faded quickly as he processed that idea that there was no “catch.”

As we move into a new year, I look forward to continuing in ministry and mission with you, being the hands and feet of Jesus, and sharing His love with those who are suffering ... with no catch! Contact me at drc@susumc.org or call 717-766-7441 ext. 3402.

 

 

Your Neighbors Need Your Help

By Doug Hoy, SUSUMC Disaster Response Coordinator

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”  Galatians 6:2

Since recent hurricanes and storms passed through the east coast, your neighbors and friends have been working to address the destruction that has been left behind. Many are cleaning out flooded, wet basements, removing debris from their properties, and making necessary repairs to their walls and roofs. And, they need your help.

In Galatians 6, we are called to share one another’s burdens. And, as you can imagine, recovering from a disaster can be accompanied by some very heavy burdens. Are you called to be the “hands and feet” of Jesus? Do you have the gifts to be a caring, Christian presence in the lives of those who are struggling to address their disaster needs? In scripture, Jesus offers rest to those who labor and are burdened. Can you carry your neighbor’s burdens and provide them with an opportunity for respite? Matthew 11:28-30 also tells us that we are to take up the yoke of Jesus, one that is easy and light. Consider becoming yoked with Jesus and one another to lighten the load of your neighbors. And, as you do, know you will “fulfill the law of Christ.”

The Disaster Response Ministry has been awarded an UMCOR Solidarity Grant to assist in the disaster relief efforts taking place within the Annual Conference. In addition to the need for volunteers, there is also a need for local coordinators to assist with organizing the effort and working with other organizations to provide for community needs.

Williamsport District

The community of Knoxville (Tioga County) is struggling to recover from flooding left behind by Hurricane Henri. Many households have reported some kind of damage and indicated they have a need for help. The Knoxville UMC sustained a flooded basement that damaged everything and the church was without gas and electric service for some time.

York District

Communities throughout York County are working to recover from Tropical Storm Fred and Hurricane Ida. Efforts to provide assistance to nearly 500 households are ongoing. Work includes mucking out basements, clearing outside debris, assessing and tarping roofs, mitigating mold, removing drywall, and beginning the rebuilding process.

If you are interested in helping your neighbors in their time of need, please contact the Conference Disaster Response Coordinator, Douglas Hoy, at drc@susumc.org or call 717-766-7441, ext. 3402.