Family, friends mourn pastor who fell ill during Sunday worship

Thomas J. Wilborn, 60, an assigned pastor of the Great Plains United Methodist Conference to Curtis-Garden Prairie in Nebraska, died Oct. 25 from complications of a heart attack reportedly suffered while preaching.

His son, Bronson, posted on Facebook that his dad passed away from a heart attack suffered fulfilling his Sunday morning worship duties.

Wilborn worked as a substance abuse counselor and in the restaurant business until a series of life circumstances pushed him to seek a stronger relationship with Christ, which resulted in him serving in a leadership role at Park City (Kansas) United Methodist Church and eventually to a district superintendent assignment to lead the congregations at Curtis and Garden Prairie in Nebraska.

“Tom had a definite call on his life to serve the church in pastoral ministry,” said the Rev. Rick Just, lead pastor of Asbury Church in Wichita and a former Wichita East District superintendent. “He was passionate about it and willing to do whatever was asked of him or go wherever God would choose to send him.  Oh that all would be so willing and passionate to share the gospel of Jesus Christ!”

Family members shared that Wilborn felt an immediate and sincere love for every one of his parishioners. He was honored to assist them on their walk in faith and he looked forward to many happy years in the Nebraska community.

He is survived by all five of his children; Wayland, Brandon, Whitney, Taylor and Bronson. He is also survived by his father, Harold.

Services are planned for noon Friday, Oct. 30, at Asbury Church, 2801 W. 15th St., in Wichita, Kansas, with commital prior to the service at 10 a.m. Friday at Kansas Veteran's Cemetery in Winfield.

 To Top

Three generations view last Nebraska circuit rider’s saddle

Descendants of the Rev. Dr. Harold Sandall, widely credited as the last Methodist circuit rider in the former Nebraska Annual Conference, recently visited the Nebraska United Methodist Historical Center (NEUMHC ) to view several items the center holds in its collection on Sandall, including the saddle, clergy suit and traveling communion set he used when beginning his ministry in the Sandhills area of Nebraska at age 19 “with little more preparation than a dedicated heart and a love for people” (quote by Harold Sandall in “The Circuit Rider Returns”).

Ingrid Sandall Hutchings, and her husband, Bruce, brought their granddaughters, Halsten and Hathaway, to see first-hand the items their great-grandfather used in his ministry. Ingrid’s son, Mark, and daughter-in-law, Stacey Skold, were also able to join in the family’s visit.

From 1921 to 1922, Sandall rode a horse more than 40 miles each Sunday preaching at three churches on a five-point circuit in western Keya Paha County that crossed over into eastern Cherry County. He was paid $720 per year. “Meals came whenever I was invited, and I slept wherever night overtook me.” (Sandall quote from “The Circuit Rider…”).

Sandall’s saddle and suit were most recently displayed at the last Nebraska Annual Conference session (June 2013) to commemorate the pioneer spirit that resulted in the formation of Methodist and Evangelical United Brethren churches throughout the state starting as early as the late 1850s.

Commenting on the Sandall family visit, NEUMHC director, Karrie Dvorak, noted that part of the center’s mission is to inspire a new generation of leaders by sharing sources of Nebraska Methodist/EUB history with them. The center encourages students, family, church and local historians, scholars, film makers, etc. to make an appointment to view/conduct research in the NEUMHC’s collections. The center is currently one of two archival facilities holding conference records pertaining to United Methodist churches and their predecessors in Kansas and Nebraska. For more information on the types of records each facility holds, as well as helpful record-retention guidelines for active United Methodist congregations, go to www.greatplainsumc.org/archivesandhistory.

To Top

Care for the care giver workshop offered for clergy

Join Michael T. Curd, D. Min., founding director of Institute of Pastoral Care, and your pastor colleagues for a free psychodrama workshop 1-5 p.m., Friday, Nov. 6, at First United Methodist Church, (Parlor, 7020 Cass St.) in Omaha, Nebraska.

At the completion of this introductory self-care seminar participants will:

• Know the five basic components of the action therapy modality, psychodrama.
• See one or more demonstrations of the modality.
• Understand the history of psychodrama and its founder, Jakob Moreno, M.D.
• Be familiar with how psychodrama provides trauma resolution.
• Learn how pschodrama can be used for self-care by clergy.
• Receive a certificate of completion for five contact hours of training.

Fear not! The only thing participants will be expected to do is say their name, as a vow of confidentiality.

Please dress casually, bring throw pillows (if you like sitting on the floor) and enjoy light refreshments.

Contact Curd if you have any questions. Register via email to ipcsanantonio1@aol.com or call 402-802-7826.

To Top

Fort Hays State campus minister retires after 18 years of service

Steve Johnson began his ministry to college students at Fort Hays State University 18 years ago. He has ministered to an entire generation of young adults by offering Bible studies four days a week, mission opportunities and a place for students to connect at the United Campus Ministries Center. He has seen the interests of students change throughout the years and renewed his leadership for each genre of students that he encountered. He has spent countless hours meeting and connecting with students on behalf the United Methodist Church, offering a mainline Protestant voice in the midst of the religious landscape in campus ministries.

For the past nine years, he has lived in Hays, Kansas, while his family resided in Oakley, Kansas, embodying his commitment to ministering to college students. Steve has approached ministry with humility, commitment and oversight providing an environment for students to know that they are loved and that Christ loves them.

All are grateful to Steve for his ministry and continued love of college students. On Sunday, Oct. 25, there was a reception at the Fort Hays State Campus Ministry Building in Steve’s honor. Many people came to give thanks for Steve and his leadership. He will begin his retirement on Oct. 31 and looks forward to spending time with family.

Learn more about United Methodist campus ministry at Fort Hays State University.