Area United Methodist Churches Share In The Power Of Connection
By Mike Beezley
Pastor at Atwood Aldersgate United Methodist Church and Clunette United Methodist Church
KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — Several area United Methodist churches in Kosciusko County are sharing in the power of connection to spread the good news of Jesus Christ in word and deed. These churches include: Atwood Aldersgate UMC, Celebration UMC, Clunette UMC, Trinity UMC, Walnut Creek UMC and Warsaw First UMC.
Last fall the churches discovered that the Salvation Army food pantry was severely depleted due to higher than normal need. They developed a mission project titled “Feed My Sheep” where the six congregations were divided into two teams — “Peanut Butter and Jelly” and “Cereal and Pasta” — and competed to collect the most food donations. It was so successful that the churches plan to do the same again this fall.
Also last fall the churches formed “The Youth Network” to share in resources and facilities to educate the children of the congregations together. This consisted of game and pizza nights, band led worship nights, shared mission projects and a sleepover at United Methodist Camp Adventure. They are currently working on pulling their schedule together for the coming year that will kick off at the end of summer.
Most recently the churches worked together to present a Vacation Bible School titled “Fishin’ on a Mission” which led 70 kids through a week’s worth of Bible lessons, games, crafts, food while raising money for implementing water pumps in Africa. The huge success was in part due to the enormous 43-foot inflatable replica humpback whale that allowed the children to actually go inside the whale to to learn the story of Jonah as well as the whale’s incredible anatomy.
Several of the children in these churches also attended the three area United Methodist camps this summer, including Camp Lakewood (elementary camp in Lake of the Woods), Camp Adventure (middle school camp in Pierceton) and Epworth Forest (senior high camp in North Webster).
At the end of July a number of youth from this collective of churches will be attending the “Better Way Youth Trip” to Detroit, Mich., organized by the North District of the Indiana UMC Conference. The trip will lead the youth in an immersive experience of other Abrahamic faith traditions and cultures through shared learning, fellowship and mission.
Future combined efforts are forthcoming, including a planned community service collaboration July 17-23. If you would like to learn more about each of these churches or find out their Sunday service times, check them out online at:
