District Roundup
Abingdon: Jim Beasley has accepted the direc- tor's post at Camp Ahistadi, the district office reports. Beasley is a retired United Methodist minister who served as director of the camp in the 1970s.
Big Stone Gap: The Rev. Roy Corbin, pastor at St. Charles and Robbins Chapel UMC, recently attended the Evangelism Leadership Summit in Havana, Cuba.
Chattanooga: Youth at Burks UMC are get- ting used to being on TV. That's because a couple of church members work in advertising and have featured the youth in local commercials. Last month, youth were invited to a skating party to tape a commercial. The ad can be viewed on the church's website at www.burks.org. Click on "Youth Forums," then "Youth News & Announcements," then "Hamilton Skate Place Commercials."
Cleveland: Twelve years ago, R. L. Haney was elected Children's Home Representative at Wesleyanna UMC. "Over those years he has led and challenged the congregation in giving to Fifth Sunday offerings," helping the small church in Athens become a "leading giver" to Holston Home for Children, according to pastor Gary Baker. Haney was recently honored with a painting, created by Lonnie Eldridge, of Holston Home's old campus.
Johnson City: Taylor Memorial UMC recently experienced smoke damage after the furnace malfunctioned. The congregation is meeting in the basement until the sanctuary can be repaired.
Kingsport: The Youth Council at First Broad Street UMC recently presented the "Two-Coke Challenge" to raise money for Youth Ser- vice Fund (YSF). Students were asked to give up two sodas per week and instead give the money equivalent ($1.50, at 75 cents per Coke) to YSF. Youth Director Janie Hobbs says the challenge was presented over the past two Advent seasons; $400 has been raised in all. "The emphasis allowed our stu- dents to be personally involved whether they had extra time during a hectic holiday season or whether they had very much financially."
Knoxville: Inskip UMC, which houses the conference's Pastoral Counseling Center, is undergoing a renovation. Pastor David Lewis says the project is called "Grace Lift/ Face Lift." In addition to remodeling the sanctuary, a circular driveway has been added for the child care center. The parking lot has been repaved and the steeple has been repaired. Future projects include renovating the classrooms and "throwing away of tons of junk," Lewis says. "Churches are notorious for gathering junk." So far, the congregation has spent $86,405. They've raised $19,000 and are launching a campaign for $68,000 more.
Maryville: Sycamore Tree UMC, one of Holston's new church development projects, is up to more than 100 in wor- ship attendance. The Blount County church has purchased and renovated a former construction company office as its new home, according to Pastor Jeff Wadley. New ministries include Wednesday Night Prayer, an outreach to teen mothers, and "Fathers for the Fatherless" for foster-care children.
Morristown: Seventeen months ago, Wooten's Chapel UMC had three children in the congregation. Today, 32 chil- dren and youth participate in a Wednes- day night program, while 11 attend Sunday school and worship. Pastor Bill Hill says a visioning group of about 20 created the Wednesday program (includ- ing a meal, fellowship, spiritual time and play time) after realizing, "We've got to do something or we're going to dry up and blow away." After gain- ing advice from nearby George Street UMC, which has a successful children's ministry, Wooten's Chapel members visited 42 homes in the community to invite kids to the church. Two Change for Children grants have been important in developing the ministry, Hill says.
Oak Ridge: The district is launching its second "Kid Connection" Feb. 29-March 5. The idea is for min- isters' spouses to read stories to kids in elementary classes or in weekday children's programs within the church or community. Organizer Anita Hen- derlight says the effort is inspired by Hebrews 10:24: "Let us think about each other and help each other to show love and do good deeds."
Tazewell: When the Rev. Rick Franco married in November, his wed- ding nearly became a district event. Superintendent Gene Lovell officiated, while the Rev. Kenneth Fields served as best man. Also attending: Alan Ash- worth, Doug Hyndrich, Aubrey Whit- low, Wayne Monroe, Tony Collins, and Fred Austin. Franco is pastor of Pearis- burg Circuit.
Wytheville: First Galax UMC is studying Rick Warren's 40-day "Pur- pose-Driven Life" over 40 days of Lent. Pastor Tom Ballard says he was excited when 45 people signed up for the study immediately after it was announced: "For a church that has 160 in worship on Sunday morning, that's a pretty good response." So good, in fact, that the local Wal-Mart sold out of the book and had to quickly re-stock.
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