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FUTURE IS BRIGHT
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Discovery youth meet with Bishop Swanson, learn about ups and downs of full-time ministry
Last year, Discovery was canceled for lack of interest and participation. Last weekend, 28 high school students revived Holston's tradition of gathering, nurturing, and informing young people who feel God may have chosen them for full-time ministry.
Bishop James Swanson spoke to the youth of the joys -- and difficulties -- of serving in full-time ministry: "Only do this if you can't do anything else."
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Evangelism Conference
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Low attendance,
high satisfaction
About 160 church members gave up portions of two sunny spring days to attend the Evangelism Conference at Cokesbury Center, April 1-2 in Knoxville. The lead speaker was the Rev. Charles Kyker, who shared his experience in growing churches in Hickory and Statesville, N.C.
"There are people who think that chicken pie suppers and bake sales are ministry," Kyker said. "No. Let's go out and blow the minds of the community without always trying to get money from them."
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Elementary yet brilliant
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4 Kingsport churches reach out to families at spring break
It's common for churches to offer Vacation Bible School during summertime. How about VBS at spring break? "As a teacher, I know how many kids are on free or reduced lunch," says the Rev. Grover Starnes, pastor at Holly Springs UMC and veteran teacher at Sullivan East High School.
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Hellfire, brimstone, and Wesley
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Old debate fires up the web
(UMNS) Chad Holtz, a United Methodist student pastor and Holston Conference native, received international news coverage when his Facebook post supporting Rob Bell's book resulted in his departure from a North Carolina congregation. Bell, an evangelical megachurch pastor, has caused a stir with his take on hell in the best-seller "Love Wins." But the debate that has heated up blogs and Facebook is almost as old as Christianity itself. And it's a dispute Methodism's founder John Wesley knew well.
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