Two Sections – Section A
Volume 154 Number 18
072000
September 7, 2007
Methodism’s Breadbasket serves from two sites
BY MILSE FURTADO
Communications Fellow
M
ethodism’s Breadbasket is a nonprofit organization
founded in 1970 as
a mission of the
UMC North Texas Conference
(NTC).
As one of the oldest North
Texas UMC food pantry
outreach efforts, Breadbasket
has been serving thousands of
neighbors in need for almost
40 years.
The agency continues to
reach out from its two food
pantry locations in East Dallas
and Seagoville. In 2006, more
than 128,000 lbs. of food were
collected and distributed to
3,400 families, more than
6,200 people, who live within
its service areas and meet
TEXCAP Income Eligibility
Guidelines.
Its mission is to share
Christ’s blessings with neighbors in need. Families, individuals and children of all
colors, creeds and needs are
welcomed with respect and
given food staples and clothing, helping to restore their
dignity and hope in times of
daunting challenge.
“It means doing what God
has called us to do, feeding and
clothing the needy,” said
Cynthia Martin, Executive
Director of Breadbasket.
“It is an awesome program,
and they don’t turn you around.
I thought they would turn me
down because I do not have the
legal custody of my grandchildren,” said Gladys Atkinson,
who has eight of her 15
grandchildren living with her.
The Methodism’s Breadbasket serves an average of 200275 people per month. The
staff is equipped to attend to
every situation. If the need is
beyond Breadbasket services,
they are prepared to redirect
clients to specific agencies
according to their needs. Their
typical clients are single
mothers, homeless persons,
and people with physical and
mental disabilities.
“People do not get assigned
for government assistance like
food stamps
because they just
don’t know about
it,” said Paul
Anderson, emeritus
chairman of the
Breadbasket Board.
Breadbasket
targets the needs of
persons living in
designated zip
codes in the East
Dallas area: 75206,
75210, 75215,
75217, 75218,
75223, 75228,
75253, or 75159,
and in Seagoville:
75114 or 75213.
Even with the zip Highland Park and St. Luke “Community” volunteers work together. From left
code restrictions, are: Julia, Lauren, and Malcom Hicks; Mia Morgan, Allyson Gordon, Taylor
the number of
Washington, Deja Knight, and Chase Davis.
people in need is
outgrowing the resources
helped to organize the clothes,
more volunteers. With the great
available.
put together hygiene packages
demand of people per zip code,
“If every church would do a
and everything else they could
sometimes the work can get
food drive, one can of food per
put their hands on. Breadbasket
overwhelming. Thankfully, this
member or a dollar per member
also had two young men from
summer the project counted on
once a year, it would help a
the Cottrell House, which is a
the help of the youth from St.
lot,” said Anderson.
transitional home for “troubled”
Luke “Community” UMC,
Breadbasket is in need of
youth, who helped out on their
Dallas, on their Youth Revival
several kinds of help. One very
weekend Aug. 8-11. The young
particular and vital need is
people collected canned goods,
See “Methodism’s”on Page 8A
Northern Ireland tour
Denton Wesley Foundation observes moves to peace
T
he Denton Wesley
Foundation arrived in
Northern Ireland May
15 following a historic
agreement between the
Irish Republican Army
leaders and the Unionist Party
to move toward a powersharing government. Old
enemies Ian Paisley and Martin
McGuiness promised to work
together as they shook hand as
a symbol of peace.
During the past 14 years
Rev. Cammy Gaston, currently
the Campus Minister at The
University of North Texas
(UNT) and Texas Women’s
University TWU), has forged a
relationship with the
Glengormley Methodist Youth
Choir in Belfast and heard
stories of tension, bombs and
riots. With the promise that
peace was coming soon she
made arrangements for The
Denton Wesley Foundation
choir to tour and sing in
Northern Ireland following
final exams in May.
“The experience was amazing,” said Lisa Coleman, “the
hospitality of the people was
great.” Lisa and her 30 peers
gazed out the windows of the
bus in the heart of Belfast where
painted walls tell the drama of
the recent past. But the most
amazing sight was watching a
fence dividing the Protestant and
Catholic neighborhoods being
taken down. There is new hope
in Northern Ireland.
A group of 30 students
from The Denton Wesley
Foundation sang at a Belfast
elementary school, offered
several concerts, and enjoyed
the beauty of Northern Ireland.
They spent the final days on
their trip singing in Dublin at
Saint Patrick’s Cathedral and
doing mission work through the
Methodist Church in the city.
The choir, led by Trevor
Shaw “is one of the great
treasures of our campus
ministry program,” said Janie
Fritcher, a member of Lake
Cities UMC and a sponsor on
the trip. The students performed songs by American
composer’s including compo-
sitions written by
their director, Trevor
Shaw.
“We know our
relationship with our
sister church in
Belfast will continue,” said Rev.
Gaston, who announced that the
Glengormley Choir
would be returning
to the North Texas
area next summer to
be a great witness of
faith and hope.
For more information, please call Rev.
Cammy Gaston, 940382-3813 or: www.
dentonwesley.org.
David McFall, of the Glengormley Choir,
signs during a concert.
4 A NTCcircuit
Plymouth Park UMC, Irving
Responding to domestic violence workshop
S
tephen Ministers,
pastors, crisis counselors and others who are
called upon to respond to
domestic violence issues
are invited to a Sept. 22
training event from 8:00 a.m. to
noon at Plymouth Park UMC,
Irving. The workshop is being
offered free of charge to those
who register.
When the family unit
becomes a venue for violence
and abuse will be a special
focus of the morning’s programming.
Speakers for the workshop
will include Joel Steven
Tankersley, licensed clinical
social worker, Children First
Counseling Center, who
specializes in programs dealing
with anger management and
juvenile and family violence
services, and Caitlin Coyner,
licensed master’s social
worker, Domestic Violence
Program Coordinator at
Brighter Tomorrows, an
organization empowering
survivors of domestic and
sexual violence.
Coyner specializes in
individual and group therapy,
outreach education, legal
advocacy and protective
orders. She received her
bachelor of arts in psychology
with a minor in criminal justice
from the University of North
Texas in May of 2003. While
completing her master of
science in social work at the
Tankersley
Rev. Norton
Coyner
University of Texas at Arlington,
she interned at Genesis
Women’s Shelter as an outreach
counselor. After completing her
graduate degree and passing the
Texas licensing exam for social
work in December 2005,
Coyner joined the staff of
Brighter Tomorrows.
Tankersley graduated from
Stephen F. Austin State Univer-
sity in 1989 with a bachelor of
social work degree and from the
University of Texas at Arlington
in 1993 with a master’s in social
work. He has worked at
Women’s Haven and Huguley
Memorial Medical prior to
becoming Director of Clinical
Services at Children First
Counseling in Grand Prairie.
Rev. Dana Norton, associate
pastor at Plymouth
Park UMC, will
also be on the
program, offering
insights into how
crisis counselors
can find helpful
resources in
biblical passages.
She holds a
bachelor of
science degree in
special education
from Texas A &
M, Commerce; a master of
science in clinical psychology
from the University of North
Texas; and a master of divinity
from Brite Divinity School,
Texas Christian University.
Prior to entering United Methodist ministry, she was clinical
director at a not-for-profit
agency and volunteered
extensively with groups dealing
with child abuse, domestic
violence and at-risk children.
“Aiding an individual who is
a victim of domestic violence is
an important endeavor, but it
can at the same time bring
about questions and a need for
reassurance that one is carrying
out God’s will,” Rev. Norton
explains.
Some of the passages she
will reference include: “The
Levite and the Concubine,”
Judges 19; “Jesus is on the side
of the oppressed,” Luke 4:1819; “The Good Samaritan,”
Luke 10:25-37; and “Against
Verbal Abuse,” Proverbs 10:11.
To register for the workshop, or for more information,
please visit Website: www.
ppumc.org, or contact Rev.
Dana Norton, 972-225-4185,
e-mail: [email protected].
Help offered to parents of troubled teens
If your child exhibits any of
the following, you are invited
to attend this free informational
workshop at Christ UMC,
Farmers Branch, Sept. 26 from
7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
• Defiant behavior
• Truancy
• Sex
• Drug abuse
• Runaway
• Alcohol abuse
• Stealing
• Depression
Men’s Revival…
Wednesday - Friday
Oct. 10 - 12 • 7:00 pm
Hear testimonies from other
parents who have shared the
same experiences, and who
understand the difficult
circumstances. Learn about a
program that can take your
teen’s inappropriate behavior
and lifestyle and create a
positive outcome for the entire
family.
• Learn the 50 warning signs
that can lead to reckless
behavior.
• Hear about the power of the
program from teen graduates.
• Meet and hear of successes
from parents of teens in
crisis.
• Learn what is
happening in the
middle and high
schools from
Police Gang Unit
members
• Get direct
answers to your
questions about
this process.
• Help teens regain academic
standing to attain a high
school diploma.
When parents feel that the
programs and schools have
‘made a difference’ in their
family, they often want to
share this with others. This
desire to share what has
worked for their families is
further propelled by compassion for other families in
breakdown, a desire to
express gratitude by
‘giving back’, and/
or a desire to ‘make
a difference.’
Please register
by calling Amy
Couvillon, 972418-2472, or email:
amycouvillon@verizon. net.
Those who are unable to
attend, but would like to have
further information, please visit
Website: www.couvillon.
parentshelpingteens.com.
For more information, visit
Website: www.parentshelping
teens.com.
NTC women clergy Juarez mission
…Men’s Day
Sunday
Oct. 14 • 3:30 pm
Warren UMC, Dallas
3028 S. Malcolm X Blvd
Perry N. Crenshaw, Senior Pastor
P.O. Box 151112, Dallas 75215 • 214-928-7373 • [email protected]
S EPTEMBER 7, 2007 | N ORTH T EXAS C ONFERENCE N EWS
The women clergy of the
North Texas Conference (NTC)
will join the all-women’s Build
with Amor Ministries, Oct. 2529 in Juarez, Mexico, to help
build homes for the poor.
Cost of the trip is $200, which
covers food, supplies, accommodations and ground transportation. Excludes travel to El Paso.
Registration information may
be obtained from Highland Park
UMC, Dallas, Website: www.hp
umc.org/pages/juarez-women.
For more information, please
contact either Rev. Becki Frank,
University Park UMC, 214-3681435, [email protected], or
Rev. Linda Roby, Highland Park
UMC, Dallas, 214-523-2279,
[email protected].
2008 AMIGOS DAYS
April 18 - 19
April 25 - 26
Rain - May 2-3
Contact:
Rev. Diane Presley
214-906-7198
[email protected]
Dale Long, Hamilton Park UMC, Dallas,
named BBBS Board Member of the Year
Dale Long, a longtime “big”
with Big Brothers Big Sisters
(BBBS) of America, has been
named BBBS Board Member of
the Year. Long, a member of
Hamilton Park UMC, Dallas,
has been mentoring children
through the program for more
than 30 years.
Since he first became a Big
Brother in 1974, Long has
helped guide more than six
“littles” and has made it his
personal mission to recruit
10,000 volunteers to follow in
his footsteps as mentors. He
signs up “bigs” in his church
and throughout the community.
“I’ll talk to anyone who will
listen. I tell my stories. I tell of
the excitement that young people
have when there’s someone who
cares about
them,” he
says.
He has
many
stories to
tell –
inspiring
ones that
show how
mentoring
saves lives.
Dale Long with “Little Brother” LaDruss Douglas
He takes
the youngsters with whom he
works to many different
activities, including fishing
trips, movies, museums, and
church at Hamilton Park. He is
currently a Big Brother to 15
year-old LaDruss Douglas.
“Our young people are our
future. In order for our young
men, especially, to be men,
they’ve got to see a man…
what is most rewarding about
being a mentor is when you
know that they’ve grown up
and not become a statistic –
when they have a diploma in
their hands instead of handcuffs,” he declares.
For more information on
BBBS or how to become a
mentor, contact Regional
Executive Director Todd
Bristow, 888-887-BIGS or email: [email protected].
NTCcircuit 5A
Family show set
at First UMC, Plano
Join Mark Thompson, a performer with “for HIS
kidz,” at 6:00 p.m. Sept. 9, at First UMC, Plano.
Thompson’s high energy presentation for all ages
is full of music, stories, puppets, comedy, and fun
audience participation.
Tickets are now available with a suggested donation of $5.00 per person with a $20.00 family
maximum. Tickets are available by contacting Kathy
Richmond, Minister with Children at 972.423.4506.
First UMC, Plano, is located at 3160 E. Spring
Creek Pkwy. at the intersection of Spring Creek and
Parker Road.
Ogden Fellowship awarded to Rev. Gary MacDonald
The Steering Committee of
the Graduate Program in
Religious Studies has announced that Rev. Gary B.
MacDonald is the 2007-2008
recipient of the Schubert M.
Ogden Fellowship for Academic Excellence in Theology.
The Ogden Fellowship,
established in 1993, is accompanied by a financial award and
is named in honor of Professor
Schubert M. Ogden, University
Distinguished Professor
Emeritus of Theology.
As stipulated by the donors,
it is a dissertation fellowship to
be awarded each year to the
student, or students, who best
exemplifies academic excellence and shows the greatest
promise of significant contribution to the field in general and
to his or her sub-field in
particular. The award is based
on the student’s overall record
in the GPRS and on the
promise shown by the
student’s dissertation proposal.
Rev. MacDonald received
his B.A. from Northeastern
University, where he majored
in journalism, and a master of
divinity degree from Perkins
School of Theology in 1994.
He was ordained as an elder in
the New England Annual
Conference.
MacDonald’s dissertation
examines the resources for
contemporary social ethics
regarding the place of the
church in public dialogue
emerging from the 1937
Oxford Conference on Church,
Community and State. It
explores underlying
ecclesiological themes from the
Conference, placing them in
conversation with contemporary critics of ecumenical
social ethics and in the context
of post-Cold War geopolitics.
Perkins School of Theology
is one of five university-related
official schools of theology of
The UMC. The school was
founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church South,
now The United Methodist
Church.
Degree programs include the
Master of Church Ministries,
Master of Divinity, Master of
Sacred Music, Master of
Theological Studies, and Doctor
of Ministry degree, as well as
the Ph.D. in cooperation with
SMU’s Dedman College of
Humanities and Sciences.
For more information, visit
www.smu.edu/theology.
Methodist Circuit Rider Preacher
Rev. John Kay, pastor of First UMC,
Iowa Park, portrays
an early day
preacher who rode
horseback
to
preach at area
Methodist churches
in the 1900s. Rev.
Kay was invited to
participate in the
Aug. 1 closing program
of
the
Boomtown Bible
School at First
UMC, Burkburnett.
PHOTO BY
ANNE STROME, BURKBURNETT CHURCH HISTORIAN
Mark Thompson-for HIS kidz
Around the Conference
NTC Volunteers In Mission,
announce a free “Disaster
Recovery Team Leader
Training,” Sept. 27 at 7:00
p.m. at Holy Covenant UMC,
Carrollton. For more information, please contact Rev. Marji
Bishir, 972-526-5000, 800-9698201, or [email protected].
***
Lakewood UMC, Dallas,
announces its “Fourth
Annual Arts & Crafts Bazaar,” Oct. 5 from 12:00 p.m.
to 5:00 p.m., and Oct. 6 from
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For
more information, please call
972- 380-7349.
***
NTC ArtSpirit, Dallas, and
the Bishop Arts District
Merchant Association, announce “Free Range Art
Competition,” Oct. 27-28.
For more information, please
call Rev. Linda McLemore,
214-288-5225.
Custer Road UMC, Plano,
presents its “Fall 2007 Music
Series,” Oct. 8, 7:30 p.m. and
Oct. 14, 4:00 p.m. For more
information call 972-618-3450.
North Texas Conference
United Methodist
Reporter
Joan Gray LaBarr editor
Lee Zastovnik prod. assistant
Milse Furtado, staff writer
Becki Ozmun circulation
[email protected]
P.O. Box 866128
Plano, Texas 75086-6128
972-526-5000 • 800-969-8201
Fax 972-526-5003
www.ntcumc.org
NORTH TEXAS CONFERENCE NEWS | S EPTEMBER 7, 2007
8 A NTCcircuit
River rite reflects ‘John the Baptist’ style
San Juan UM Fellowship celebrates baptisms
Some might regard cancelling a Sunday worship service
as a serious sin.
That was not the case for
San Juan UM Fellowship,
Garland, when it decided to
cancel the regular June 29
Sunday worship to travel to
Dinosaur Valley, located near
Glen Rose, about two hours
from Axe Memorial UMC,
where the fellowship gathers
each week.
“The purpose was not to
delve into the ancient past, but
to look to the future and
celebrate the baptism of nine
persons “John the Baptist”
style,” says pastor Rev. Javier
Escalera.
Those baptized in the Paluxy
River included three youth and
six adults.
Following the baptism, the
60 San Juan members celebrated with a barbecue meal
and then an opportunity to
swim and play in the river.
San Juan UM Fellowship
regards itself as a congregation committed to reaching
out to first and second
generation Hispanic/Latino/a
individuals as part of its
mission to make disciples of
Jesus Christ in the Dallas
area.
For more information,
please call Rev. Javier Escalera,
972-278-2175, e-mail:
[email protected].
UM Men of
St. Luke “Community”
UMC, Dallas
present
Cajun Feast n’
Family Game
Night
Sept. 22 • 6 pm
Zan W. Holmes, Jr.
Community Life Center
6211 East Grand
Adults $10 • Children $5
San Juan Fellowship member Ramon Perez assists Rev. Javier
Escalera with a baptism in the Paluxy River.
Supporting
Methodism’s Breadbasket
Jazz, art, and drama festival at Northaven UMC, Dallas
Northaven UMC, Dallas,
will host a festival of the
performing and visual arts,
Sept. 14-16, featuring the
Freddie Jones Jazz Ensemble,
a silent art auction, a book
fair and a staged reading of
“Jonah and God,” a new oneact comedy by Dallas playwright Vicki Caroline
Cheatwood.
All performances will be
held in the North Dallas
church’s dramatic circular
sanctuary, completed in 2005,
which features state-of-the-art
acoustics.
The event is free and open
to the public. Donations to
support the church’s ministries
and defray expenses are
welcomed.
The arts festival is planned
in conjunction with
Northaven’s Feast of Beginnings, an annual event that
ushers in the church’s fall
programs.
“The congregation traditionally sits down for a Sundayevening meal together,”
explains event organizer Ellen
Key. “But this year, we’re
hoping to create a feast for the
eyes and ears as well.”
The Feast will be celebrated
during the 11 a.m. worship
Sunday, Sept. 16, and the
buffet dinner and “Jonah and
God” will follow that evening.
Cheatwood, who also is a
Northaven member, has had
numerous works produced by
several Dallas-area companies,
as well as by regional theaters
from coast to coast. Her plays
have been praised by The
Dallas Morning News as full of
“freshness and originality,” and
the Dallas Observer has hailed
her writing as “startlingly
poignant.”
The Freddie Jones group,
which performs Saturday,
Sept. 15, has recorded several
albums and is a popular fixture
at Dallas-area jazz clubs. A
coffeehouse-style performance
on Friday, Sept. 14, will
feature Jack Kennedy, Rick
O’Connor and Rev. Eric
Folkerth, all folk musicians
who have performed extensively and recorded in the area.
Rev. Folkerth is Northaven’s
senior pastor.
For the book fair, gently
used books, compact discs and
DVDs will be on sale, and
SCJ Singles Annual Retreat at Mount Sequoyah
Navigating the Single Life
Annual Jurisdictional Retreat for Single Adults from
more than ten states for a weekend of fellowship, training and spiritual renewal. Over 30 workshops from SAM
leadership to individual Bible studies and personal
growth sessions.
NOVEMBER 2 - 4
Mount Sequoyah Conference
and Retreat Center
Fayetteville, Arkansas
For more information
call 800-760-8126
www.sequoyahsingles.org
funds raised will benefit the
church’s library. The silent art
auction – featuring works
created or donated by church
members and local artists –
will benefit Northaven’s yearround arts programs.
On Saturday, Sept. 15,
Dallas artist Joan Hogge, also a
church member, will conduct a
painting workshop, helping
adults and children to complete
works on canvas as well as a
mural for a portion of the
church’s upstairs gallery area.
Northaven is a 51-year-old
congregation of almost 600
members known for its vital
worship and music, interest in
the arts, outreach to the
community and sensitivity to
inclusiveness. The church is
located at 11211 Preston Road,
between Royal and Forest.
Methodism’s Breadbasket…
Continued from Page 1A
day off.
“It feels good giving back to
the community. It is a good
program; people really need the
help and I get to help others
too,” said one of the young
men, whose names must be
kept confidential conforming to
Cottrell House security policies
“It also helps me to make
better choices,” he added.
Highland Park UMC, Dallas,
and its Cornerstone (contemporary worship) congregation are
also examples of solidarity. This
is Cornerstone’s second year
working with Breadbasket. Last
year the congregation collected
50 backpacks for the back-toschool program. This year they
collected 100 backpacks and
also had a food drive.
“It was so successful! I
hope we can collect 200
[backpacks] next year,” said
Rev. Elizabeth Ethun, Associate Pastor at Cornerstone. “It
is something so simple but it
makes a big impact in
people’s lives.”
Breadbasket is inviting all
churches that want to become
partners in ministry to contact
them. The agency also offers
its partners new insights based
on leaders’ knowledge of
community work. Churches
interested in starting similar
outreach efforts in their
communities are also invited to
contact the Breadbasket staff,
which will be glad to assist in
any way possible.
For more information,
contact Cynthia Martin, 214887-4005; e-mail: martin@
methodismbreadbasket.org
DALLAS AREA OFFICE
Rev. Ed Kilbourne,
featured speaker
and his band,
“Sounds of Victory”
OF THE BISHOP
Bishop Alfred L. Norris • [email protected]
972-526-5015 • P.O. Box 866188 • Plano, TX 75086-6188
Executive Assistant - Joell Stanislaus [email protected]
OFFICE OF THE AREA PROVOST
Rev. Jim Dorff • [email protected] • 972-526-5112
S EPTEMBER 7, 2007 | N ORTH T EXAS C ONFERENCE N EWS