Rethink Church Story Archive

By Matthew Oates*

Under the banner of Rethink Church, more than 1,000 Hoosier United Methodists fanned out across Muncie, Ind. for a day of mission and outreach as part of the 2009 Indiana Annual Conference.

The ten districts of the conference met in locations across town. Following a box lunch, volunteers served in nursing homes, building projects, food pantries, gathered litter from city streets or walked a neighborhood in prayer.

Ann Newton of Greencastle Gobin Memorial UMC was excited about the day of mission. “I do a lot of mission projects. Action is an important part,” said Newton. “The way to do church is different than what most people think. This is quite a witness.”

Rev. Colin Cress, pastor at Freedom and Worthington UMCs, was spreading mulch at A Better Way, a domestic violence shelter and transitional housing program.

“I really think it is a good thing to demonstrate as a conference body what we should do. Church is more than just Sunday morning,” said Cress. “This is the work of the church.”

The Rev. Greg Pimlott of Mohawk UMC worked with Rev. David Neuen of Muncie High Street UMC picking up trash on the West End of downtown. “There’s no limits or bounds to what your work as a minister is,” said Pimlott as they walked down the sidewalks and alleys hauling trash bags.

Pimlott added that having a hands-on project such as picking up trash or participating in a prayer walk or other community project affirms some of the other mission projects and passions that the Mohawk church and other churches are active with.

“By actually seeing people live it out gives the church a new vitality. It helps build trust,” said Neuen. “It should become part of our life. Think about what you could do all year.”

The Rev. John Keller of Patronville UMC, the Rev. Honna Schloss of the Lynnville-Spurgeon Charge and Rapid Watters of Muncie Avondale UMC went on a prayer walk.  They had stopped at the edge of an industrial area to pray for the community when something happened.

“A car pulled up and we heard the doors close and the next thing we know, a man was in our circle and he needed prayer. He thanked us for praying,” said Keller.

“We just put our arms around him,” said Schloss. “He knew the power of God. It sill gives me goose bumps.”

This was Watters' first prayer walk and he did not know what to expect. “I felt this hand on my shoulder and I heard someone crying,” said Watters. “God told me to start another prayer for the gentleman who I was embracing.”

After talking to the man for a while, he returned to his car and left.

“It was just an experience I will never forget,” said Watters.

The conference celebrated their day of service during a worship service in Emen Auditorium at Ball State University. Bishop Mike Coyner preached a sermon saying open doors swing both ways: in to welcome members and out to serve the world. Still pictures and videos of the day’s activities were shown to more than 2,000 conference members.

*Matthew Oates serves a correspondent for the Indiana Conference of The United Methodist Church. He is a member of Trinity UMC in Lafayette, Ind.