Conference and district offices will be closed
Monday, June 20, in observance of Juneteenth. 

Download the June 15 edition of GPconnect.

In this edition:

THIS WEEK'S NEWS
Gratitude abounds after successful annual conference
GCUMM shares a new path forward for Scouting ministry
Interns bond before going out to Great Plains churches
Williamston leads drive for historic marker for lynching victim

CLERGY EXCELLENCE
Threshold returns with real talk about clergy discipleship
Pastors are invited to a free virtual sermon series workshop
Childhood health, well-being sermon guide is released
Sept. 25-27 retreat will help clergy focus on plans for spiritual growth
Renewal Grant applications for 2023 are now available

EQUIPPING DISCIPLES
Institute alumni from 2020, '21 invited to return for in-person edition
After eight years, Lay Servant Ministries director is looking back?
Learning lessons from Pentecost, the birth of the church
Set your vision for children's ministry this school year in July 9 webinar

MERCY & JUSTICE
Wyandotte County group prioritizes less crime, more affordable housing

ADMINISTRATION
Mileage rate to increase to 62.5 cents, effective July 1
KMF announces 2022-23 seminary scholarships
Grant opportunity available from Kansas Methodist Foundation
Nebraska UM Foundation announces ministry grants for churches, agencies
June 30 is deadline for Nebraska UM Foundation scholarship programs 
GCFA adds Neighbor storage as newest ministry partner

RESOURCES
Online history courses available through new hub
UMC is a church of many languages
Worship series concepts sought by Discipleship Ministries

ACROSS THE CONNECTION
Olathe Center of Grace reopening today after renovation, pandemic
Wichita pastor’s golfer son qualifies for U.S. Open
In other news
Newsletters 
Commentaries
Classifieds

 

Gratitude abounds after
successful annual conference

Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice!  

Greetings to the lay members, clergy members and friends of the Great Plains Annual Conference. It has already been a week since we opened our first in person annual conferences session since 2019.  

What a blessing it was to meet and greet one another again after a two-year absence! The annual conference planning team wants to thank you for your gracious spirits as we adjusted to a new venue at La Vista.  

We want to thank Alex and Hannah Absalom for their presence with us as we reimagined what discipleship looks like in today’s world. We were inspired by the five P’s of Prayer, Parties, Person of Peace, Profound Conversations and Presence of God. (Opportunities to learn more are on the horizon.) 

We were inspired by the opening worship and sermon from Missouri Bishop Bob Farr as he asked us, "Do you see it?" We remembered those we see no more but who leave us the legacy of the sower of seeds preached by Rev. Hyemi Jones. We commissioned, ordained, and received new clergy members into the Great Plains Annual Conference. And our Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr. reminded us all to hold on to the plow as we move through the messy middle of life. 

We thank GP Camps and their diligent work and ministry with the children of the annual conference. And we praise the leadership of our youth in presence and worship. And we are hopeful at the presence of our youth adults and their growing involvement in the life of the annual conference.  

We are grateful for the leadership of our laity and how you continue to blaze the trails of innovation in presentation and education to strengthen the lay ministries of the annual conference with grace and passion. 

Finally, we rejoice in our vast diversity in the Great Plains Conference and are deeply blessed by the presence of the Lord in the mission field to make disciples of Jesus Christ in all we do.  

May we continue in the spirit of Reimaging Discipleship in the days, weeks and months to come! 

The 2023 Annual Conference Sessions will be held in La Vista, Nebraska, at the La Vista Conference Center, June 6-10.  

-- Rev. Dee Williamston,
director of clergy excellence and assistant to the bishop

Mark your calendars

  • Special called session of the annual conference – Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022 (Online meeting details are forming)
  • Jurisdiction Conferences, Elections of Bishops – Nov. 2-4, 2022 (Location TBD)
  • Great Plains Annual Conference June 6-10, 2023, in La Vista, Nebraska, La Vista Conference Center
  • Orders and Fellowship – Oct. 23-25, 2023, in Kearney, Nebraska, at the new Younes Conference Center

 

Download videos from annual conference

Videos of each worship service and presentation from the 2022 Great Plains Annual Conference session is either already available on the conference’s website or will be by the end of the week.

You can get to them one of two ways:

  • Go to the conference’s video player at www.greatplainsumc.org/videos. Click “Annual Conference” in the right-hand navigation. Then, look for videos with “AC 2022” in the title.
  • Go to www.greatplainsumc.org/annualconference. Each line in blue is a link to a video on that subject. Any line that is still black in color indicates that particular video is still being processed.
     

Daily recaps, photos are ready to view

Get a reminder of the daily happenings in La Vista with special reports from Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Our Flickr gallery has more than 700 photos of annual conference, including portraits of the ordinands with Bishop Saenz, "Boogie with the Bishop," and the ordination, memorial and opening worship services.

 

#BeUMC products available for purchase

On the final day of annual conference, many in the extended cabinet, staff members and others – including Bishop Saenz and Maye, shown here – wore black T-shirts with the #BeUMC logo.

Many of those attending and viewing the AC have asked about obtaining those shirts.

At this link, you can find T-shirts from small to 3X, as well as vinyl stickers and magnets.

Don’t forget to tell us how you #BeUMC – here’s our page that tells how to share videos.

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GCUMM shares a new path
forward for Scouting ministry

After months of negotiation between leaders of The United Methodist Church and Boy Scouts of America, a new affiliation agreement for United Methodist churches hosting Scouting troops has been finalized.

“The ownership of the local Scouting unit will reside with the local Scout Council,” a press release said Tuesday. “The support of the ministry with the unit will still reside with the local church.” A Zoom webinar explaining the new agreement is set for 6:30 p.m. CT today.

Read more here from GCUMM.

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Interns bond before going
out to Great Plains churches

Seven youth ministry interns, two pastoral interns, as well as the six members of the Micah Corps, gathered in person for the first time in two years from May 31 to June 2, at Rock Springs 4-H Ranch south of Junction City, Kansas. The conference provides matching funds for churches with interns, who are in place throughout the two states.

Read more and see a photo gallery here.

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Williamston leads drive for
historic marker for lynching victim

The Rev. Dee Williamston, clergy excellence director and assistant to the bishop, is one of the leaders of a drive to get a historical marker in Salina to commemorate the lynching of a Black man in 1893.

“Dana (Adams,) a 20-year-old Black man, was unceremoniously pulled from a Union Pacific rail car which was purposely uncoupled from the main train pulling out of the station and lynched on the property, by being hung by the neck on a telegraph pole at the train station on Ninth and North Street," Williamston told Salina Post. No arrests were ever made.

Commemoration in Salina this Saturday includes a luncheon, entertainment, and a dedication of the historical plaque.

Read more from the Salina Post.

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Clergy Excellence

Threshold returns with real
talk about clergy discipleship

 

In keeping with the 2022 annual conference theme, “Discipleship Reimagined,” Rev. Ashlee Alley Crawford and Rev. Dr. Shelly Petz are inviting clergy to consider their own discipleship in this season in order to lean more fully into the abundant life of Christ. They’re “going on the road” with their discussion/podcast series "At the Threshold" to invite conversation with several groups of clergy and will be having one-on-one interviews with a few more leaders. All are invited to watch videos of their conversations and clergy are invited to join in some “talk-back” sessions with some of the guests in the months ahead.
 
The first video is available now and mark your calendar to join one of two “talk-back” conversations!

  • Shelly and Ashlee talk first with Rev. Dr. James Bryan Smith, associate professor of religion and Dallas Willard Chair of Spiritual Formation at Friends University in Wichita, and Rev. Michael Tomson-DeGreeff, senior pastor at Hutchinson Trinity UMC.
  • Watch video here.
  • Join a live “talk-back” with Rev. Tomson-DeGreeff from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 6. Register here.
  • Join a live “talk-back” with Rev. Dr. Smith from 2-3 p.m. Friday, July 8. Register here.
  • More episodes coming July 2022!
Read more about this series and find previous episodes here. For questions, reach out to Ashlee or Shelly. Subscribe or follow for easier listening opportunities on the following platforms:

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Pastors are invited to a free
virtual sermon series workshop

Pastors are invited to join the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund for a free online sermon workshop: “Connecting Faith and Health: A Sermon-planning Workshop for Preaching with Impact.”

The Health Fund is dedicated to improving the health and wholeness of Kansans. Over the past year, the Health Fund has worked in partnership with Lisa Hancock, Ph.D, to develop a series of sermon guides that bring together scripture, theology, and health to help congregations connect their faith to health issues.

Each sermon guide contains multiple weeks; each week includes a call to worship, hymn selections, children’s sermon, call to action, and benediction, in addition to an exegesis and sermon notes section based on the week’s scripture passage.

Workshop participants will learn more about each guide, have time for writing and group discussion, and will leave with up to 25 weeks of their liturgical sermon calendar planned.

When: 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 19
RSVP: https://healthfund.org/a/connecting-faith-with-health-sermon-workshop/
Cost: Free
Who: Any UMC pastor is welcome to attend
Questions: Email Katie@healthfund.org

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Childhood health, well-being
sermon guide is released

The well-being of children in our churches and communities is an issue of great significance for the health and flourishing of children, families, and neighborhoods across the country and around the world.

Research has shown that well-designed early childhood interventions can provide the support necessary to foster healthy brain growth and buffer children from the effects of adverse childhood experiences. With adequate safe, stable, nurturing relationships during the first five years of life, children are more likely to succeed in school, become productive workers, and contribute to society.

In an effort to connect the science of early childhood development and proven public health interventions with the life and mission of the church, the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund has prepared a new sermon guide, “Let the Little Children: The Body of Christ and Childhood Health and Well-being.” This guide offers a three-week worship series that highlights three of Jesus’ interactions with children during his ministry.

Week 1 establishes the foundation for how and why Jesus welcomes and embraces children as part of God’s kingdom and invites the church to live into Jesus’ example by recognizing our Christian responsibility to nurture the well-being of children in our community.

Week 2 uses Jesus’ healing of the spirit-possessed boy in Luke’s Gospel as a model for how the church can tend to the physical health of children in our communities, paying particular attention to insurance coverage, wellness vaccines, and food security.

Week 3 then turns to Jesus’ Community Discourse in the Gospel of Matthew to explore Christ’s call to childlikeness as an invitation to promote children’s mental health by removing stumbling blocks and providing the relationships and skill-building necessary for children to build resilience in the face of adversity.

The guide is available at https://healthfund.org/a/childhood-health-sermon-guide/.

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Sept. 25-27 retreat will help clergy
focus on plans for spiritual growth

Great Plains Clergy, would you benefit from having a two-day, two-night guided retreat to give you an opportunity to connect with others through worship together, take an honest look at how you’re doing, and also learn about creating a Rule of Life and Learning Plan for focusing your plan for growth?

For your Life: Giving your soul time and means to grow is a retreat for clergy led by Rev. Ashlee Alley Crawford and Rev. Dr. Shelly Petz to help you create space to work on a plan for learning and formation for the year ahead. It includes time for honest reflection, introduces you to a template for growth in the year ahead, and helps you identify next steps in your individual development. You will have time to worship, space to spend time in solo reflection, and/or connection with others. The retreat will be held at the Heartland Spirituality Center in Great Bend, Kansas, with check-in at 9 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25 with rest for your time away. We will wrap up by 3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27.

The cost to participate is $50 and includes two nights of lodging, meals and a retreat notebook. Scholarships are available upon request. The deadline for registering is Thursday, Sept. 8.

To register and for more information, check out the website, www.greatplainsumc.org/foryourlife or email Ashlee Alley Crawford at aalleycrawford@greatplainsumc.org.

(Can’t attend in person, but still interested? You can register for a self-directed retreat! Learn more here.)

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Renewal Grant applications
for 2023 are now available

The Office of Clergy Excellence announces the third round of Clergy Renewal Leave Grants for grants distributed in 2023. Clergy renewal leave is one way that the Great Plains Conference invests in developing, equipping, and empowering today’s leaders for the church of tomorrow. Is God calling you into an extended season of attentiveness to your own soul so that you might be faithful to the work that Christ is calling you to in your congregation(s) and community? Consider whether a Renewal Leave or Clergy Wellbeing Mini-Grant might be a resource for you. And read more about Clergy Faith and Wellness here. 
 
Renewal Leave is a period of time (usually about 12 weeks) that is granted by one’s local church for pastors to take an extended length of time to take a respite from the normal pastoral ministries for the purpose of renewing one’s vision, restoring one’s soul, and refocusing for the season of ministry and life ahead. The Clergy Renewal Grants are up to $3,000 and are available for full or associate members of the Great Plains Conference or local pastors who have completed course of study who have served at least 6 consecutive years under appointment. Past grant recipients have used the funds to cover pulpit supply while they’re away or travel or program expenses for a program of their own design for their season of renewal. 
 
The process of applying for the Renewal Leave grant is one that includes approval from the District Superintendent and one’s local church. The inquiry form about eligibility for the grant is now available and once it is identified that pastors are eligible, they’re encouraged to begin creating a proposal for coverage of ministry responsibilities and plans for renewal during the time away. All Renewal Leave plans must be jointly approved by the District Superintendent and PPRC/Administrative Board of the church/charge. Grant applications for 2023 will be received through Aug. 1, 2022, and applicants can expect to hear within a month about whether their application has been approved. Late applications received after Aug. 1 deadline will be considered on a rolling basis while funds are still available.  
 
You can read more about Renewal Grants (including FAQs) at our website and hear from some past grant recipients here.  
 
All clergy serving under appointment in the Great Plains UMC are eligible for a Clergy Wellbeing Mini-Grant, up to $450. The next grant cycle will open July 1 and will be open through Nov. 1 with eligibility to be used through the end of 2022. Learn more here. 

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Equipping Disciples

Institute alumni from 2020, '21
invited to return for in-person edition

The decision has been made to allow all youth who have previously attended UMY Institute but did not have the opportunity to do so in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic to attend UMY Institute this summer. For the summer of 2022, there will be a specific young adult track for those Instituters who missed out on the experience of attending UMY Institute due to COVID-19.

Institute is July 25-30 on the campus of Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas.

Young adults will be part of the UMY Institute community but will also have their own specific track for the week of UMY Institute. In addition, all scholarship opportunities available to youth this summer will also be available for young adults attending UMY Institute. Register today at www.campchippewa.org.

Questions, shoot Kurt Cooper an email at umcmesu@gmail.com.

Registration is still open for all attendees, entering the ninth through 12th grades, at campchippewa.org.

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After eight years, Lay Servant Ministries director is looking back

After eight years as director of Lay Servant Ministries for the Great Plains Conference, Mary Feit is resigning.

"As sung by Frank and Elvis, and many others, 'I Did It My Way,' and with Jesus by my side, I used every possibility to promote Lay Servant Ministries," she writes in the LSM blog. "I was blessed with many people who have helped me along the way." 

Read more here.

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Learning lessons from
Pentecost, the birth of the church

“What are the three major Christian holidays?” Nancy Spearow, Prairie Rivers District director of Lay Servant Ministry, asks in the latest LSM blog.

Sure, we all know Christmas and Easter – but the third is Pentecost, which was celebrated on June 5.

“Pentecost is the birth of the church,” Spearow writes. “People remember the birth of Jesus Christ but forget about the birth of the church.”

Read more here.

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Set your vision for children's ministry this school year during July 9 webinar

Great Plains children’s ministry volunteers, staff and pastors are invited to join us in dreaming about kicking off the 2022-2023 school year!

Leaders across Nebraska and Kansas will be gathering to discuss how we can continue to impact the kids in our churches and in our communities. Choose from breakout sessions including:
Session 1 Choices:

  • World Changers – Kids are world changers! Explore different ways for kids to lead in missions by serving their neighbors near and far!
  • Where it Begins – There are so many curriculum options to choose from these days! In this breakout session you’ll learn how to select and evaluate the best curriculum for your ministry.
  • Help Needed! – Good volunteers make ministry a joy! Learn how to train, recruit, & appreciate those who are working with your kids.
Session 2 Choices:
  • Fall Planning & Outreach – The “why” and “how” of events like Blessing of the Backpacks, 3rd Grade Bibles and Trunk or Treat.
  • Kids in Worship – How can kids be incorporated into the worship life of your congregation? In this breakout session we’ll talk about some best practices for including children in worship.
  • Family Ministry – Faith formation is strengthened at home! Join us as we explore ways to equip parents and families to help their children grow in their faith.

REGISTRATION IS FREE! Register here: https://gp-reg.brtapp.com/FallFocus2022
We hope you will join us!

--Great Plains Children's Ministry Regional Coordinators: Ashley Prescott Barlow-Thompson, Rebecca Hjelle and Derek Steinacher

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Mercy & Justice

Wyandotte County group prioritizes
less crime, more affordable housing

Churches United for Justice, a coalition of churches in Wyandotte County, brought two issues to city leaders at its Nehemiah Action event last week.

The two main issues decided after interviews with residents were the proliferation of violent crime and scarcity of affordable housing.

The effect of redlining, where largely Black neighborhoods were deemed a financial risk during the mid-20th century, remains.

"So when it comes to owning homes, getting a good job, graduating from high school, what once was red-lined is still struggling today," Rev. Andy Frazier, pastor at Bonner Springs UMC, said.

See coverage from KSHB and KCTV.

Related: Bruce Draper, pastor of Kansas City Bristol Hill and Roeland Park UMCs, reacts to workplace shooting in KCK.

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Administration

Mileage rate to increase
to 62.5 cents, effective July 1

Dear Pastors, SPRC Chairs, and Treasurers of Local Churches,
 
I am writing to make sure you are aware of an unusual mid-year policy change from the Internal Revenue Service.
 
Last week IRS announced that effective July 1, 2022, the standard mileage rate for business travel will be 62.5 cents per mile, up 4 cents from the rate effective at the start of the year. In accordance with our Great Plains Conference policy, churches should reimburse qualifying business travel of their pastor(s) at the new 62.5 cents per mile rate beginning on July 1.
 
The 14 cents per mile rate reimbursement for volunteer travel for charitable organizations remains unchanged as it is set by federal statute.

 -- Scott Brewer
Treasurer and director of administrative services

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KMF announces 2022-23
seminary scholarships

The Kansas Methodist Foundation is pleased to announce seminary scholarship applications are currently being accepted for the 2022-23 academic year.

  • The KMF Seminary Scholarship provides support for ministerial students who are from or serving in Kansas and working toward ordination in the Great Plains Conference.
  • The Pass the Torch Scholarship is a ministry of retired clergy of the Great Plains Conference as well as their spouses and surviving spouses who are committed to providing funds to educate quality seminary students to lead the church. The scholarship is open to seminary students from the Great Plains Conference.

For more information on these scholarships, visit www.kansasmethodistfoundation.org/scholarships. 

The deadline to apply is July 15.

The Kansas Methodist Foundation is grateful for the many individuals, families, and churches who have given to make these scholarships possible. If you are interested in helping raise up the next generation of church leaders by supporting one of these scholarships or creating a named scholarship to honor your ministry, a mentor, or a loved one, contact Tyler at tyler@kansasmethodistfoundation.org or 620-664-9623.

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Grant opportunity available from
Kansas Methodist Foundation

The Kansas Methodist Foundation is offering Pathways for Discipleship Grants to Kansas churches and organizations in four key areas of ministry: Justice Ministries, Children and Youth Programs, Ministry and Outreach, and Leadership Education.

The matching grants are awarded to churches and organizations across Kansas to advance ministries, especially in ways that are creative, innovative, and new. Grant applications will be accepted from June 1 to Sept. 1. For more information, visit kansasmethodistfoundation.org.

The Kansas Methodist Foundation is grateful for the individuals and families who help make the ministry grants possible. If you are interested in learning more about how you can get involved in supporting ministries across Kansas to meet the needs of our changing world by exploring new possibilities, contact Tyler Curtis at tyler@kansasmethodistfoundation.org or 620-664-9623.

If you have any questions, contact KMF at info@kansasmethodistfoundation.org or 620-664-9623.

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Nebraska UM Foundation announces
ministry grants for churches, agencies

The Nebraska United Methodist Foundation is pleased to announce a ministry grant opportunity available to Nebraska churches and affiliated agencies of the Great Plains United Methodist Conference.  

The Foundation is able to award these grants due to the generosity of donors to the Gifts from the Heart Endowment Fund. These grant dollars are available to enhance and expand your ministries. The ultimate goal of these awards is to provide assistance, both for new ministries and thriving ministries wishing to grow.

These grants are made for programs and activities and include operating expenses and supplies necessary for those programs or activities. They are not made for building repair, replacement, or expansion. 

The application deadline is Sept. 30. For application materials and more information, please visit our website at https://www.numf.org/scholarships-grants.

If you have questions about the application process or would like to talk to the Foundation about how you can help grow these types of grants, call us 877-495-5545. 

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June 30 is deadline for Nebraska
UM Foundation scholarship programs 

The Nebraska United Methodist Foundation opened its scholarship season on April 1 with over $50,000 in scholarships available for undergraduate students, seminary students, and local pastors pursuing a career in church leadership:

  • The Seminary Scholarship Program has 24 seminary scholarships available.
  • The Course of Study Scholarship Program has seven scholarships available to individuals enrolled in a Course of Study program. Candidates must be a member of a Nebraska United Methodist Church and a Certified Candidate. They must also be available to be an appointed member of the Great Plains Area Conference with the intention of serving ministries approved by the Conference.
  • The Tither’s Scholarship is a $10,000 scholarship and is available to students who will attend or are attending an accredited two- or four-year college or university in Iowa or Nebraska, or any UM affiliated and accredited institution of higher learning (post-secondary) education. Parents must have tithed for at least five consecutive years prior to which the scholarship would begin. The students and parents must be members of a United Methodist Church in Iowa or Nebraska. 

For more information on these scholarships, visit www.numf.org. The deadline is June 30, 2022.

The Nebraska United Methodist Foundation would like to acknowledge the generous gifts donors have made to make these scholarships possible. Thank you for being our partner in ministry. If you would like to talk to someone about how you can honor the memory of a loved one through a named scholarship or provide further financial assistance for a student, please call the Foundation at 877-495-5545. 

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GCFA adds Neighbor storage
as newest ministry partner

The General Council on Finance and Administration-UMC Support (GCFA) Connectional Relations Team is pleased to report that Neighbor, a self-storage marketplace, has become a vetted ministry partner with GCFA. This is a program for churches to lease unused space like classrooms, or meeting spaces to provide safe, convenient, and affordable storage to the communities in which they are located. Connecting with Neighbor, churches can become a “host” for any unused space for people to reserve – for just a month, or longer, as the needs of the church or the renter dictate. 

Churches can set their own rental prices for space, and Neighbor provides host churches with up to $1 million personal liability insurance.

Kellie Schmeal, Relationship Director at GCFA said, “We are constantly looking for ways to help United Methodist churches and affiliated organizations raise funds to support all the ministries they are involved in. Adding Neighbor to our list of ministry partners helps us do that.”

"Neighbor’s platform allows churches and members to generate income on their unused space -- basements, garages, parking lots, and more," said Joseph Woodbury, CEO and co-founder of Neighbor. "We're excited to join hands with GCFA to help spread the word to potential hosts for our renters. We couldn't be more grateful for this opportunity." 

To learn more about the Neighbor program, visit https://www.gcfa.org/partners/neighbor/. To learn more about the GCFA Ministry Partner program, visit the GCFA Partner page: https://www.gcfa.org/partners, or contact the Connectional Relations team at ConnectionalRelations@gcfa.org or 615-369-3393.

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Resources

Online history courses
available through new hub

The United Methodist Commission on Archives and History has launched a new online teaching platform, the UM History Hub. The hub currently offers registration for the Local Church Historians' School; an online course that focuses on past splits, separations and reconciliations of the denomination; and another course for young people on Wesleyan heritage.

Read press release
Visit UM History Hub

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UMC is a church
of many languages

With more than 12 million members worldwide, The United Methodist Church includes people who speak many different languages. United Methodist Communications, the denomination’s communications agency, has made it a priority to communicate in the languages and cultural contexts of the church. Members and spiritual seekers can find content and resources in English, French, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish.

Read more here.

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Worship series concepts
sought by Discipleship Ministries

United Methodist Discipleship Ministries is in the market for ideas for worship series based on themes or special events. Concepts can be sent to the agency for consideration via a form on its website. Pastors, worship leaders and worship teams are encouraged to send their ideas.

Learn more and submit ideas
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Across the Connection

Olathe Center of Grace reopening
today after renovation, pandemic

 
Olathe’s Center of Grace has grown from a mission of Olathe Grace UMC to its own independent non-profit.
 
It provides food, clothing, medical supplies and more to Olathe residents and anyone in the Kansas City Metro area.
 
And it is reopening today, after a large renovation and precautions from the pandemic.
 

Wichita pastor’s golfer
son qualifies for U.S. Open

The son of a Wichita pastor has qualified for this year’s U.S. Open in a rags-to-riches story.

Luke Gannon, son of the Rev. Jeff Gannon, pastor of Wichita Chapel Hill UMC, worked at the church as a janitor for 10 years while pursuing his golf dreams. It was through the encouragement and instruction of a Chapel Hill member that the young Gannon improved his game.

Read more from Golf Digest.

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In other news

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Newsletters 

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Commentaries

   

  • Steps to avoid a GC2024 debacle: The Rev. Dr. Rebekah Miles from Perkins School of Theology and the Rev. David Livingston from Fairway Old Mission UMC, both veteran General Conference delegates, explain what steps United Methodists can take now to avoid “the debacle of General Conference 2019.”
  • Minimalizing pain in a denominational divorce: The Rev. Eric Folkerth says The United Methodist Church should recognize it’s going through a divorce and work for a “no-fault” process that includes favorable terms for churches seeking to disaffiliate. Folkerth, senior pastor of Kessler Park United Methodist Church in Dallas, adds that the denomination can learn a lot from the many honorable lawyers, mediators and judges who handle divorce cases.
  • The metaverse and Methodism: Online worship services are a great start, says digital marketing expert and lay minister Kelly Price, but it is time to move into digital spaces such as the metaverse if the church wants to be relevant in the future.

Classifieds

Classifieds are posted for 30 days unless otherwise requested.?Please allow three business days for your classified to appear on the website. Email jmcfarland@greatplainsumc.org to update or renew your classified. Submit your classified here.
 
 
 
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