National United Methodist Rural Advocates

April 2018 In This Issue:

INTERNATIONAL PEACE
CONFERENCE

NEW LIFE

LEGISLATIVE CONSULTATION

SCD 2018

WEBINARS

PRAYERS

SCHOLARSHIPS

MEMBERSHIP

WE ARE ... The Joy of a "Bread Run" while

THE UNITED
METHODIST
RURAL ADVOCATES
You would not ignore a community
more than seven times larger than
New York City. Yet the rural
population in the United States, with
over 60 million people, is often
overlooked because they are not all
living in the same area.
Whether your church is urban or rural
church, large or small, the UMRA
invites you to join our association of
Serving Small Membership
Congregations
by Rev. Alan Bolte, UMRA Vice President
I didn't plan to be a pastor for my life calling,
like many people I suppose. But at the age of 26 I
began answering the call to ministry as God was
doing a new work in my life. My roots are in the
country having grown up on a farm in Southern
Minnesota and attending a small open country
Lutheran Church where I met my future wife who also
was a farm girl.
Cindy and I made a move in the early 1980's
to central MN where we had the opportunity to
clergy and laity in reaching out to
meet the needs of people from rural
communities, their churches and their
pastors.
We provide advocacy at General
Conference and Annual Conferences
to affect rule changes that enable
churches to better minister in their
communities, provide educational
opportunities for the leaders of rural
churches to better serve their church
bodies, and support church leaders in
personal growth and ministry.
OFFICERS
Chair - Randy Wall -
RandyLWall@aol.com
Vice Chair - Alan Bolte
revahb@gmail.com
manage a cattle farm and that also is where we were
invited to a United Methodist Church for the first time.
Having recently accepted Jesus as my Lord and
Savior I was also trying to discern if God had
something more for me than farming. I was growing in
my faith and although very involved in the life of the
church began to have a sense of call to ministry.
I became a certified lay speaker and was
asked by the District Superintendent to serve a little
church about 25 miles from my home. About that
same time the job as a farm manager ended and I
started work as a carpenter for my neighbor. I was so
blessed to start my ministry in this church because
the folks there forgave my mistakes, encouraged me
as the call to Ordained ministry became clearer, and
supported me and my family as I began my college
education.
Over the last 32 years I have had the pleasure
of serving a variety of churches in Minnesota and in
Southern Ohio while I attended seminary. I have
served many years in part-time ministry as well as full
time. I have found that even though small churches
have their struggles with attendance numbers and
finances at times they can be places where the Spirit
of God is moving in many powerful ways.

Secretary - Sue Grace

smgrlg51@yahoo.com

Spiritual Dir - Peggy Jeffries

peggyx15@yahoo.com

Comm Dir - Michele Holloway

chele101953@gmail.com

Advocacy Dir - Mollie Stewart

Molliecstewart0128@gmail.com

Membership - Carl Ellis

ckellis70@gmail.com

Treasurer - Judy Hill

judyh@plainstel.com

Visit our webpage @

http://www.umruraladvocates.org/ One of joys I have discovered about serving
small membership churches is it is so much easier to
get involved in the lives of my parishioners, simply
because there is not always as much administration
to care for. One memory that touches my heart from
my student appointment during seminary was going
on a "Bread Run" with one of my older men. I was at
the church one of days when I was not in seminary,
so I was working on a paper when I got a call from
Ed. Ed was at the point in his life when he would drive
around town but not too much farther than that. Ed
asked what I was doing, and we had a little small talk
and then I asked what he was up to, thinking he must
want something from
me. Ed loved a
specialty bread called
"Salt Risen" bread and
there was a bakery
about 15 to 20 miles
away that made it. I
don't really remember
how the conversation
went but I volunteered
to take Ed to get his
bread. Of course, he
bought a couple loaves
for me too! I'll never forget the joy and the pleasure
of being so connected that we could go on "Bread
Runs" together. I think things like this are some of the
great joys and benefits of serving and being part of
small churches.

Since then I have served a 2-point county seat ministry, another single appointment
ministry, served as a District Superintendent in the largest geographically area in
Minnesota for 8 years where I had the privilege of working with many small membership
churches as well as a few larger ones. And then serving a larger Church in Northern
Minnesota. Last year my wife and I requested an appointment back in Southern Ohio with
the hope of an appointment close to where our son and daughter and families live, as we
had left them both here after seminary when we moved back to Minnesota.
For almost a year now I have been once again serving two smaller membership
churches here in Southern OH where I feel much more at home and have been enjoying
the opportunity to get involved in the lives of these families and their ministries. I know
there are a lot of people who don't always recognize the value of small church ministries,
but I know God's presence and Spirit can move in these places as well as any place.
I have been somewhat connected to the UMRA for many years and have served on the
Board for about 5 years and now as the Vice-President. The UMRA is an organization that
continues to work to encourage, teach and train clergy and laity about Small church
ministry. We have a heart for God's work in the rural communities, in the small towns and
in the cities where small churches continue to struggle and thrive. We desire to see small
ministry churches thriving and fulfilling the call God has for them in the place He has
planted them.
I hope and pray your ministry is joy filled and you are discovering the very presence
of God moving in and through you. I also hope you take time in your ministry days for a
"Bread Run" now and then! It will touch your heart!

MEETING THE OTHER: CAN WE TALK?

by Judy Hill, UMRA Treasurer
Meeting the Other: Can we Talk was the theme for the Interfaith Peace Conference I
attended at Lake Junaluska,N.C., March 1-4, 2018. As their literature states the" Interfaith
Peace Conference is an ongoing response to God's call to peacemaking and
reconciliation. Affirming the community of Abrahamic faiths the Peace Conference seeks
to work in partnership with Christians, Jews, Muslims, and members of other religious
traditions to advance the work of reconciliation and peace."

Outstanding Christian, Jewish and Muslim keynote speakers with a variety of workshops
all emphasized we listen and learn from each other. Conference participants experienced
"The art of building bridges of Godly love and participation in holy conversation. We can
disagree with civility and respect while upholding the core values of our various traditions."
Daily prayers for peace with opportunities to participate in Friday worship in Asheville at
the Beth Ha Tephila and Jumui'a Service at the Islamic Center highlighted a well-
organized conference.

Initially, I was reluctant to make the trip from Colorado to North Carolina; however, I
decided to attend since the Peace Conference was scheduled in conjunction with the 2018
Rural Chaplains Association Focus Event. The annual gathering for Rural Chaplains
provides both lay and clergy persons a supportive setting for sharing insights and
perspectives on the state of rural communities, institutions, environmental/economic
challenges and religious /family life concerns. In addition to certified Chaplains in the
United States, others serve in Russia, Canada, and UK. During the closing worship for
Rural Chaplains two new Chaplains were certified and introductions made of six beginning
the process.

For additional information on Rural Chaplains Association, please contact Judy Matheny,
administrator, jcm2174@gmail.com

For information on the Interfaith Peace Conference check out www.facebook.com/

LakeJunaluskaPeace Conference

Save The Date: November 21-24, 2019

 Interfaith Peace Conference/ Theme: Peace and the Arts

Matthew 5:9 "Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God."

From The Message "You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead
of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are , and your place in God's
family.

REMEMBERING NEW LIFE

from Randy Wall, UMRA Chair
As a pastor, I am not a stranger to hospitals. I find myself going there from
time to time to visit the sick hoping that as I come near that people might be
reminded of the nearness of the Great Physician. A few weeks ago, I found
myself on the ICU unit at our local hospital. When you are on the ICU unit
today, you are seriously ill. As I was there, I thought about another time
when I was on that same ICU unit for a happy occasion. The happy occasion
was to officiate at the wedding of a young man who had a brain tumor and his
fiancée. As I recall, the prognosis for the young man was bleak. As he
prepared for surgery, the young man and his fiancée wanted to get married
whether the future brought them "sickness or health". The ICU staff was very
accommodating even providing a small wedding cake for the occasion. In a
place often filled with the sound of beeping life-monitoring equipment, there
was the sound of wedding bells that day. In a hospital unit where people
sometimes hold on for their life, a young man and a young woman started a
new life.
I think of that story this time of year. There is much about the story of the
final days of Jesus's life that seems so dark- a betrayal, an arrest, beatings, a
trial, a cross,and a death. And then, there comes the first day of the week and
a visit to a cemetery. Like ICU units, cemeteries are not the kind of place that
often make us feel giddy and happy. A visit to a cemetery can be mournful
and painful. Yet, a visit to the grave was different that day for Mary, Peter,
and all the rest because the tomb was empty. New life began in an ICU unit
years ago as a man and a woman made vows to one another, and new life
began in that cemetery on that first Easter day because Christ Jesus lives. As
Christians, we are people of the Easter tomb. I celebrate all the ways that the
living Christ is touching lives and changing lives in the rural and small
membership churches across our land through the people called Methodist.
You can read some examples of the same in this newsletter. Thanks be to
God.
UMRA LEGISLATIVE CONSULTATION
By Deb Ketcham, Events Coordinator
UMRA 2018 Legislative Consultation
for Laity & Clergy
Oct. 2 - 5, 2018 in Minneapolis, MN

It's not too early to begin your plans to attend the National UMRA Consultation for Lay &
Clergy in Minneapolis, Tuesday, Oct. 2 through Friday Oct. 5th. Be part of a movement to
lift up rural and town & country churches across the United States and world.

We will plan for our UMRA work at General Conference, 2019 & especially 2020. If there
are places in the Book of Discipline which slow down or inhibit the work of rural, town, or
small membership churches, the Legislative Consultation is the place to discuss the
stumbling blocks, come up with a plan, write legislation, and plan how we will advocate.
We will share what is going well in rural churches. It will be a great way to build
relationships with people who are passionate about rural churches making a
transformational difference in our areas. In the midst of work, we will also have fun!

By meeting at the site of the 2020 General Conference, you will become familiar with the
layout of the downtown area and the convention center. The cost is $410.00/person
double occupancy. This includes 3 nights, 2 lunches and 1 dinner. Group rates are
available 3 days prior and post event. Those who are able to commute, the cost is only
$150.00 for the meals and hospitality room.

The brochure is attached!

I have already booked my flight! Hope to see you there!
Rev. Deb Ketcham

Click the link for the 2018 Legislative Consultation brochure for more details. The
registration deadline is August 23, 2018. See you in Minneapolis this October!

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FROM NORTH CENTRAL JURISDICTION TOWN AND

COUNTRY MINISTRIES FOR FIRST TIME ATTENDEES!

The Loren E. Maxwell (Clergy) and The Charles Guthrie (Laity) Scholarships
Since the United Methodist Rural Advocate Legislative Consultation is Oct. 2-5, 2018,
those in rural or town & country portions of North Central Jurisdiction may not be aware
that The NCJ Town & Country Association is offering scholarships for registration, room,
or meals for first time attenders. You may request up to $250.00.

The brochure is attached. If you have any questions, please contact Rev. Debra Ketcham
at revdsk@frontier.com

SCHOOL OF CONGREGATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Scholarships Available
 2018 School of Congregational Development
When: August 15-18, 2018
Where: Town & Country Resort
San Diego, California

6 Types of Scholarships are Available -Choose One

Scholarship applications are processed as they are received
COMPLETE YOUR APPLICATION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
before they run out

Global Ministries Racial Ethnic Scholarship: for people living outside of

metropolitan San Diego, CA.
Covers $300 of the $350 registration fee, one free night lodging at the Garden-Bungalow at the
the Town & Country Resort, San Diego and free buffet breakfasts.
A registration fee of $50.00 is required of each recipient, which must be paid at registration

Global Ministries Racial Ethnic Seminarian Scholarship: for persons living

outside of metropolitan San Diego, CA.
Covers $125 of the $175 Registration Fee, two free nights lodging at the Garden-Bungalow at the
Town & Country Resort, San Diego, free buffet breakfasts and $400.00 travel stipend.
A registration fee of $50.00 is required of each recipient, which must be paid at registration
(Note: students doctoral programs do not qualify).

Global Ministries Small Church Scholarship: for participants from congregations with
fewer than 150 in worship. Awards include two scholarships per church, one for the pastor and
one for an additional person. The pastor must be within the first ten years of service in the UMC.
Covers $300 of the $350 registration fee, one free night's lodging at the Garden-Bungalow Town
& Country Resort, San Diego and free buffet breakfasts (If needed, two rooms will be provided.)
A registration fee of $50.00 is required of each recipient, which must be paid at registration. Each
person must make a separate application.

Western Jurisdiction Scholarship: for participants from congregations with fewer than
300 in worship and serving in the Western Jurisdiction. Awards include three scholarships per
church, one for the pastor and two for two additional persons.
Covers $300 of the $350 registration fee for each person.
A registration fee of $50.00 is required of each recipient, which must be paid at registration
Each person must make a separate application.

Western Jurisdiction Local Seminarian Scholarship: Awards covers $125.00 of the

$175.00. Each local seminarians will be responsible for $50.00 of the registration fee, which must
be paid at registration.

California Pacific Conference Scholarship: for pastors and clergy who are or have been
part of a funded new ministry in the last five years or are looking to start a new ministry in the
next three years (Messy Church, Dinner Church, multi site, offsite experience, additional worship
service, etc.).
Covers $300 of the $350 registration fee..
A registration fee of $50.00 of each recipient, which must be paid at registration.
A travel stipend may be available for those from Hawaii. Contact Roxana Topete
at Rtopete@calpacumc.org.

To apply for a scholarships, go to www.scdumc.org

Click on SCHOLARSHIPS
Instructions
 Scholarships applications for SCD 2018 San Diego are processed in the order they
are received.
 Please do not register for the event or book lodging until you have received a
confirmation letter from Global Ministries, the Cal-Pac Annual Conference, or the
Western Jurisdiction, confirming that you have been awarded one of the
scholarships.
 Once you get a confirmation letter that your application has been approved, you
have until June 1st to register. If you haven't registered by June 1st, we will
understand that you are declining the scholarships, and we will give that scholarship
to someone else in the Waiting List.
 Once you get a confirmation letter that your application has been approved, you
have until July 9th to make lodging reservations in the assigned hotel (using your
credit card).
 When you register, you will need to use the same email address you used in your
application and pay $50.00 toward your registration fee. Each person from the same
church must submit a separate application (with an unique email address for each
person).
 You are responsible for the following optional items: parking per day ($10.00) and
the SCD 2018 Resource Kit ($60.00).
 Each person is responsible for expenses not covered by the event, including travel,
parking, food, and lodging (not covered by scholarship).
 There is no cost for the Pre-Conference Seminars - They are being sponsored
 by Upper Room.

Global Ministries
[458 Ponce de Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30308] - [404-460-7387]
[www.umcmission.org]

RURAL SEMINARS CONTINUE

by Carl Ellis, Membership Chair
THE UNITED METHODIST RURAL ADVOCATES PRESENTS FOUR WORKSHOPS
TO HELP YOUR CHURCH GROW IN THE AREAS OF MISSION, LEADERSHIP,
VISION, AND EVANGELISM. WORKSHOP LEADERS ARE EFFECTIVE LEADERS,
UNDERSTAND THE SMALL MEMBERSHIP CHURCH, AND WILL HELP YOUR
LOCAL CHURCH LEADERS DEVELOP AND LEAD BOTH CHURCH AND
COMMUNITY
The next webinar will be: Evangelism - See All the People: Intentional Discipleship in a Rural
Setting with Junius Dotson and Jodi Cataldo
Thursday, April 12, 2018 7:30 pm EDT

We encourage you to join us for these webinars. The UMRA Webinar Series is a great
opportunity to learn more about church growth for rural churches. For more information about
these webinars, click here.

PRAYERS
by Peggy Jeffries, UMRA Spiritual Director
The weather people keep promising sunshine. Tomorrow, they say.
Tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow. Tomorrow was supposed to be today, but
now it's tomorrow. One thing about it, whether today
is tomorrow, or tomorrow is tomorrow, one day the
sun will shine again. It's one of the beautiful things
about spring, and especially April...the promises come
to fruition. The snow melts, the rains come, the sun
shines, the trees bud, the flowers bloom, the
asparagus grows, and the misery that was late
winter fades from memory.

Scripture is full of promises. One is that Messiah would come, and after
much more time than people probably wanted, he came. One is that God
cares for us even more than for the birds of the air or the flowers of the field,
and in our best days we acknowledge that to be true. One is that Jesus
would return, even after being killed. I'm sure his followers doubted that one
during those few horrible days, but then, there he was. And one was that we
would not be left alone, but God's Spirit would be with us forever to lead and
guide, to comfort and challenge, and we know that to be true, as well.
Tomorrow, and the promises it holds, always comes.

God who holds our tomorrows, we acknowledge that in our darkest days we
find it difficult to hold on to the promises of tomorrow. We become bogged
down in whatever concern is overwhelming us at the time, and can't see the
way out. Help us, in those dark times, to remember that you are our way
out. Your Spirit will lead us and uplift us. Your promises are true and can be
trusted. And when the gray days are over, the sun will return. We will look
back and understand how you were with us through the
darkness.......Amen.

IGNITE! INITIATIVE
Help Us Reach Our Goal
from Rev. Peggy Paige

Our goal for our Ignite! Initiative: $75,000

Estimated pledge to date: $54,465
Gifts received to date: $44,441

A reminder that this was a three (3) year campaign which ends in April/May 2018. If
you have made a pledge but not fulfilled it, please consider doing so within the next month
or two.

Amounts received by year: 2015 - $15,878.33;

2016 - $20,488.88;
2017 - $6,061.00;
2018 - $1930.00

We would like to thank everyone who has participated to date.

It is easy to give by visiting our website: www.umruraladavocates.org (IGNITE).
We are seeking gifts to support and train rural ministry leaders and churches by:
1) Hosting Webinars and podcast
2) Providing scholarships to rural trainings, consultations & conferences
3) Connecting rural ministry leaders
4) Offering seed grants for new Program Development
For more information and how you can donate, go to: www.umruraladvocates.org/ignite.
Or you may make a check out to West Ohio Council on Development with Memo: UMRA
 Ignite! and mail it to:

Ignite! Initiative
West Ohio Conference
Council on Development
32 Wesley Blvd.
Worthington, OH 43085

NETworX INFORMATION
Submitted by Debbie S. Rice, Ph.D., MSW
Director of NETworX USA
NETworX-Securing Well-being Together

Measurable outcomes, measured at six-month intervals throughout NETworX

participation, include:

 Increase in income to at or above 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines,

 Decrease in use of public assistance,
 Decrease in revolving debt from credit cards, rent-to-own, or predatory lending,
 Increase in assets,
 Increase in safe, supportive, and nurturing relationships, and
 Increase in perception of overall quality of life.

If you are interested in hearing more, contact Alan Rice, a member of the UMRA
Executive Committee at 336-239-1526 or visit www.NETworXUSA.org

RURAL ADVOCATES SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE

by Judy Hill, Treasurer
The national organization, United Methodist Rural Advocates, is pleased to announce we
have a limited number of scholarships to offer for attending programs or trainings that can
enhance rural ministry. An applicant can be considered for a scholarship of up to the
lesser of $400 or one half of program/event fees, etc. It is through the UMRA IGNITE
fundraising campaign that these scholarships are being offered.

Please contact Treasurer Judy Hill to learn more. Contact information is listed below.

Judy Hill, Treasurer UMRA

3642 Road D
Joes, CO 80822

Email: judyh@plainstel.com
Cell Phone: 970-630-0320

SHARE YOUR STORIES

We Want To Hear From You
Are there ministries and outreach in your churches that you want others to know about?
We celebrate the truth that rural/town and country churches are vital and active within their
communities and we want to share that information around the country. Do you have a
story of joy or hope that you would like to have shared here? There are others who could
greatly benefit from what has worked for you and even what hasn't worked but that has
allowed you to grow. Send stories to Michele Holloway at chele101953@gmail.com and
your stories will be published in upcoming editions of this eCommunication.
This newsletter is published every other month: February, April, June, August,
October, and December. Please send all submissions to the above email address
no later than the 25th of the month prior to publication.

UMRA MEMBERSHIP
Memberships are available in the following categories:

Limited Income (What you can afford.)

Student $10.00
Basic One-Year $30.00
Church One-Year $40.00

Two Easy Steps to Membership

1. Please fill out membership form:

http://form.jotform.us/form/51087588857170Â

2. Pay Membership Dues through PayPal

For more information or membership, contact:

Email: ckellis70@gmail.com
Carl Ellis
590 120th Street
Fort Scott, KS 66701 785-445-2595

A Note from Carl K. Ellis

Membership Secretary

Five Reasons to Join UMRA

5. Network and collaborate with other rural groups and agencies around issues of concern for the rural
church and rural places.

4. Utilize technologies which will help us build relationships, share information and resources, and connect
rural leaders.

3. Discover and learn about sustainable, effective, replicable, generative ministries.

2. Be part of an organization which creates and advocates for General Conference legislation that has had a
positive effect on the rural church; such as NOW (Nurture, Outreach, Witness) leadership format,
development of "Born Again in Every Place," and the Certified Lay Minister. An Organization which will
continue to create and advocate for General Conference legislation that may affect ministry in town and
churches and their communities.

1. Together we can make a difference as we advocate for the work of Jesus Christ in rural and town and
country communities.

UMRA membership provides not only voice and vote in the organization, but also includes a subscription to
the UMRA E NEWSLETTER.

Michele Holloway, Editor

chele101953@gmail.com
971.225.8402

Advocating for the work of Jesus Christ in rural communities.