AC DAILY

Saturday, June 7, 2025

Bishop Blake tells ordinands they're carrying on centuries of tradition

Frequently intoning "clanging symbols and noisy gongs" from 1 Corinthians 13:1 and the concept of agape love, Bishop Bruce Blake told Great Plains Conference ordinands that they're carrying on centuries of tradition, from Biblical times to Methodist circuit riders.

In speaking about the circuit riders, Blake said, "All they had was agape love, and lo and behold that was enough.

"Faith and hope were not enough," he added. "They had to be wrapped in agape love."

Bishop Blake served as episcopal leader of the Dallas and then Oklahoma areas from 1988-2004, following a faith journey that included 10 years as senior pastor of Derby Woodlawn UMC and four years as president of Southwestern College.

While in Oklahoma, he served as a mentor for Bishop David Wilson.

The retired bishop said he was grateful for the time he was spending at the 2025 Great Plains Annual Conference.

"What a day of memories this is for Blake," he said.

Bishop Blake spoke during the ordination, commissioning and recogniton and reaffirmation of ministry ceremony that closed the 2025 annual conference at Kansas Wesleyan University.

Elders ordained in full connection were Heureuse Kaj Ayukwend, Maddi Baugous, Brennan Cummings, Brenda Hogan, Changhyun Kim, Hyunsook Kim, Lydia Kim, Yves Kinangwa, Jane Langat Bellarmee Milosi, Helen Paus, Serene Samuel, Venedith Vargas and Jimmy Yoo.

Seulki Choi and Grace Woods were commissioned as deacons in full connection.

Provisional elders commissioned were Trista Boling, Debbie Dellinger, Jeff Graber, Anny Kapundu, Peter M’Tuamwari, Mathew Musyoki, Kita Jean-Marc Mutwale, David N’Shikala Makobo, Joyce McCarty, Matt Ozment and Michael Park.

Commissioned as provisional deacons were Liz Emis, Courtney Fellers, Rachel Fetters, Jin Hee Han and Valecia Scribner.

Newly licensed local pastors were Larry Alexander, Suzy Ayres, Kristi Bishop, Melissa Byerly, Lisa Dale, Christine Deeds, Heidi Doell, Diana Fajardo, Cathy Fitzgerald, Jennifer Gibbs, Neil Glaser, Jinhee Han, Jeff Hart, Deontae Hayden, Lillian Jone, Tendrese Kapalang A Sul, Joy Lenz, Michelle Loeffelholz, Rachel Nkonge, Kara Stanley, Klint Stewart and Margaret Thomas.

Valerie Nagel's membership was transferred to the Great Plains from the Rio Texas Conference.

Earlier in the week, Jennifer Anderson, Hollis Patterson, Daniel Vandenburg and Brad Zimmerman were recognized for completing course of study.

Youth speaker promotes
idea of 'angelic troublemakers'

The speaker at Saturday morning's youth service used their experience in theater as a springboard for the idea of shaking up the status quo as a Christian.

Char Pyle from Papillion St. Paul's UMC told of the several theater groups in which the high school junior is involved, and how their purpose is to tell stories.

"Telling stories is a form of activism, outreach and love," Pyle said.

One tells the stories of "angelic troublemakers," Pyle said, whose purpose is to "make good, holy trouble."

Pyle also told the audience of Bayard Rustin, who inspired and mentored Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., but did not get as much appreciation from history because he was gay.

"Love may falter and love may trip," Pyle said, "but love will never leave us."

Budget approved unanimously
without discussion, debate

With no discussion and no questions, a budget of $14,421,442 was unanimously approved by the conference Saturday morning.

The 2026 budget represents a decrease of nearly 5% from the 2025 budget approved at last year’s annual conference and flat to the current year following reductions made by the conference Council on Finance & Administration and staff.

Evangelism, innovation
awards given by conference

The Laity Evangelism Award, formerly known as the Harry Denman Evangelism Award, was given to Mapolo Chali, who will be entering the eighth grade this fall.

According to her nomination, written by Rev. Bev Baumgartner, youth director at Wichita College Hill UMC, Chali has invited friends to church since her early grade school days, and continues to be involved in the life of the church.

Mapolo is the daughter of Rev. Dr. Kalaba Chali, South Central Kansas District superintendent, and Rev. Jill Sander-Chali, senior pastor of College Hill.

The Move the Chains Award was given to both Pastor Juan Carlos Veloso, whose growing Omaha Iglesia Comunitaria is serving the Hispanic population in the south part of the city; and Rev. Changhyun Kim, whose new church start, Olathe Bonfire Korean UMC, serves the Korean population of Johnson County.

The award was named in honor of Rev. Nathan Stanton, congregational excellence director and a former football player for Kansas Wesleyan, who died in 2022 after complications from ALS.

Take a look at our photo gallery
with hundreds of pics from AC2025

Our annual conference Flickr account continues to grow. Thanks to photos from Todd Seifert, Michael Turner, Will Ravenstein, Michelle Ferris and David Burke.

Click here or on the photo above.

Many photos from the Saturday morning ordination ceremony will not be available until next week.

Conference, district offices
will be closed on Monday

Bishop David Wilson has given conference and district staffs Monday off as they re-energize and recuperate after annual conference this week.

See you next year!

Conference secretary Ben Hanne announced that the 2026 annual conference will be May 27-30, the Wednesday through Saturday following Memorial Day, at the Younes Center North in Kearney, Neb.