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SPRING 2011
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Oklahoma Conference of The United Methodist Church

 D S
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Hands-on Mission: Leaving God’s Fingerprint on the World
I learned a lot of long, theological
words at seminary; you know, words
like “eschatological” and “ontological”
and “premillenialism.” As I started my
pastoral ministry after seminary, I quickly
discovered it was not a good idea to
inflict those words on my congregation.
However, there is one word that has
remained a part of my vocabulary and for
which I make no apology for using often:
“incarnation.”
Sure, it needs unpacking, but it goes
to the heart of our Christian gospel
and our understanding of who Jesus is.
Charles Wesley wrote one of the most
profound Christmas hymns ever; yet,
sadly, it is no longer featured in Methodist
hymnals. Here’s the first verse, in its
original form, (which used “men” where
we would use a more inclusive term
today):
Let earth and heaven combine,
Angels and men agree,
To praise in songs divine
The incarnate Deity,
Our God contracted to a span,
Incomprehensibly made Man.
Those last two lines are about the best
explanation of the incarnation of Jesus that
I have ever read, (or sung for that matter)!
The mystery of what God did in becoming
human, though, is only the beginning. This
act of becoming human also models for us,
as followers of Christ, how we should live
in the world.
Philippians 2:5-8 takes this idea to
another level. Here’s how “The Message”
translation puts it: “Think of yourselves
Visit our Web site at http://www.okvim.org
Rev. Jeremy Basset in
South Africa – Spring 2011
the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status
with God, but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to
cling to the advantages of that status—no matter what, not at
all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and
took on the status of a slave and became human, and he stayed
human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He lived a
selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—
and the worst kind of death by crucifixion.”
Our role as Christ-followers is to live like Christ in the
world, often at the margins of the world, serving others in
Christ’s name—hands-on ministry to the least, the last, and
the lost.
Therefore, our theme for this edition of “SHARE”—and
a reminder that our work is not about sending money, or
building churches, or running programs. Rather, it is about
seeking to be the incarnated presence of Jesus in the world; a
physical and clear reminder that God chose to live among us
and show us love in his own body, all the way to the cross!
It is not about us; it is about God and the Kingdom of
God. Therefore, we remind ourselves that we seek to leave
God’s fingerprint on our work, and not our own! Of course, in
another sense, God’s fingerprint is already there. Often, all we
do (unintentionally) is erase God’s imprint on our world by
drawing the focus on ourselves.
We hope that the stories you read here, along with your
own stories of participation in God’s mission, reminds us all to
keep the focus where it belongs—on God. People will see God
best when we put our own lives on the line to demonstrate,
through our presence, that God is here among us to share with
us every part of our human existence!
Thank you, faithful VIMers, for being willing to be the
hands, feet, and heart of God to a hurting and struggling world.
Jeremy
“Hands-on” (i.e. incarnational) mission is what gets the
Good News across to the world.
Yours for the joy of serving God’s mission,
 SHARE is published twice a year by Oklahoma Volunteers In Mission
Design and layout by the Oklahoma Conference Department of Communications
1501 N.W. 24th St. • Oklahoma City, OK 73106
(405)530-2029 • (800)231-4166 • FAX: (405)530-2048
okvim@okumc.org • http://www.okvim.org
Copyright © 2011

cOntentS
Volunteers In Mission

Hands-on Mission:
Leaving God’s Fingerprint on the World

Hand of God leads youth to missions and full-time ministry......4

Commitment to Liberia ministry continues ................................... 5

In Mission with our Missionaries

A Journey in Patience… ........................................................................7
Educating young people for servce in the Church ....................... 8
Philippines Scouting Mission .............................................................. 9

Building Lasting Relationships through Mission ...........................10

There is a hunger of another kind! .................................................. 12

Hands-on Mission with our Neighbors ............................................ 15

When the World Rocks, UMCOR Rolls—in the West......................16

Paradox, Maybe? Truth, Most Certainly! ........................................18

Big Friends, Make Strong Shoulders ..............................................20

Front Cover – In the Philippines See related story on page 8

 Rev. Bennett (at far left)
with Bishop Warner on
recent mission to Liberia.
See related story on page 5

Hand of God as faith was concerned there was none). I struggled

as an adolescent with social anxiety, anger issues,

leads youth
and a stutter (which most people were unaware of;
everyone thought I didn’t talk much because I was
shy). By the time I was 14 years old, my parents had
to missions separated and I was moving on into high school. I
remember in those days being a very scared, confused

and full-time young man.

However, I did have one very good friend, who

ministry
started inviting me to go with him to the youth
group at the United Methodist Church. From my
perspective, the individuals who went to that church
by Barry Bennett, Victory Memorial UMC, Guymon were just a bunch of snobby rich people and I didn’t

I grew
up in a
poor family in Frederick, Oklahoma. The youngest
of four children, we were functionally unchurched (I
suppose we swam in the nominal Christian waters
of American culture just like everyone else, but as far
want to have anything to do with them. Still, my
friend was very persistent. Finally, after insufferable
pleading, I relented when he told me they had an air
hockey table in the youth room.
I remember the first time I attended United
Methodist Youth Fellowship, (UMYF). I was my
usual reserved self; sticking close to the wall and
behind the crowd.

4 Visit our web site at http://www.okvim.org

 Hands-on Mission: Leaving God’s Fingerprint on the World SHARE • SPRING 2011

The youth ministry in
Frederick is unique (at least it
was at the time) because they
ended every Sunday night
gathering with worship. There
was something very odd to me
about this activity of worship.
Something about this “God”
struck me as different from
words I was used to using. They
used words like “savior” and “love”
and “grace” and “joy.” Frankly,
words that I did not understand
at all.
I attended UMYF for a
few more weeks, but had then
decided it was time to end my
dalliance into things spiritual.
Ann Clayton, the youth director,
approached me before I could
reach this final conclusion and
said, “Have you ever been to
Mexico?” It was a dumb question,
of course, I had never been to
Mexico. Honestly, I had barely
even been out of the state of
Oklahoma.
Every year, the youth of that
church extended themselves as
volunteers in mission. It was a
defining characteristic of their
work of making disciples of Jesus
Christ.
I told Ann that I couldn’t
pay the $150 (or whatever
amount it was) to go. So this
church, that barely knew me, did
the strangest thing—they paid
my way. I was not a member
of the church. I wasn’t even
baptized. Still, their mission was
not to take a group of young
people to Mexico; their mission
was to share the love of Jesus
Christ in ways that make a
Christian difference. It started
with me standing right there in
their midst. A child of God in
need of grace.
I went to Mexico. At the
time it seemed so exotic to me—
maybe it still does. Everyday we
worked and sweated, met new
people, played with children,
prayed with families, and
worshipped with the people.
Everyday we found Christ
walking among the poor and we
had the privilege of going to meet
him there.
I found Christ alive, moving,
and active for the first time in
my life because of Volunteers in
Mission.
I can look back now and see
the hand of God leading me the
entire way. Grace works that way
– it draws us toward God even
when we are not aware of it. It
took persistence on the part of
my best friend. It took conviction
on the part of the youth director.
It took courage on the part of
the church to take a risk and
trust in God’s call. I now have
the honor of leading VIM teams
and I am completely committed
to this work. I never take a team
anywhere – whether it is across
town, across the state, or across
the world – in which I do not
see lives touched, changed, and
transformed.
Thanks be to God for grace
that leads us to do such mighty
things.

Commitment to Liberia
ministry continues
by Jeremy Basset, director OKVIM

In 2009, a part of our Annual

Conference special offering was
assigned by our bishop to the work
of the UMC in Liberia.
Bishop Hayes had been invited
to be their Conference speaker
the following year and he was
accompanied by an OKVIM team;
a part of their work was to explore a
deeper relationship with the church
in that country.
Ultimately, the money raised by
Oklahoma United Methodists went
continued on next page

5
continued on from page 5

to support pastors’ salaries, dig water wells and contribute get someone to come to your church to speak about this
towards a new elementary school being built on land exciting opportunity for “Hands-on” ministry, contact
donated for this use by retired Bishop Bennie Warner Lori, (405)530-2070 or lfoster@okumc.org or Kristin,
(Bishop Warner is well-known in Oklahoma and was also (405)530-2029 or kterrell-wilkes@okumc.org in the
a previous bishop of the Liberian Annual Conference). OKVIM office.
This year Rev. Jeremy Basset, OKVIM director, and
Rev. Barry Bennett, associate
pastor, at Victory Memorial
UMC in Guymon,
attended the 2011 Annual
Conference gathering
in Liberia to take our
relationship to the next level.
They met up with
another OKVIM team, from
Wesley UMC, Oklahoma
City (co-led by Gaye Abarr
and Bishop Warner) who
was already tackling the first
stage of the construction of
the school.
This year Bishop Hayes
will again ask us to support
the work in Liberia through
our special offering (which
also includes Cookson Hills
and our work in Bolivia).
This will go towards the
emerging picture of how
Oklahoma will continue
to support the United
Methodist family in Liberia
which is still recovering
from almost 30 years of civil
war. Our major focus will
be the New Hope school
in Bishop Warner’s home
area of the country and the
much-needed development
of medical facilities and
capacity at the historic Ganta
Methodist Hospital.
Victory Memorial
UMC is already starting
to form teams to respond
to both areas of need and
we are looking for more
teams to follow in their
footsteps. If you would like
to get involved, just find
out more information, or

6 Visit our web site at http://www.okvim.org

In Mission with our Missionaries
A Journey in Patience…
by Kristen L. Brown, missionary, GBGM
Seeds
of long-term mission
were planted within my spirit many years ago. The growth
and cultivation of this calling has happened throughout
my lifetime. I have been actively involved in short-term
mission through Highland Park UMC, First UMC
Tahlequah and youth groups, then at university—both
Oklahoma City University and Duke Divinity School—
and then in the local churches I have served as a pastor
and campus minister.
I believe when God called me into the ordained
ministry it was to prepare me for the mission field, and
truly the mission field is everywhere we serve. Having
grown up partly in Africa, and traveled a portion of God’s
world, I have had a global perspective and outlook in my life.
Now after many years of serving God in the
Oklahoma Conference of the United Methodist Church,
I will be serving God as a General Board of Global
Ministries missionary in Jerusalem. As I prepare to move,
I am even more aware that I do not go alone. My family,
friends, churches, and conference have had a hand in
molding, praying, supporting, and encouraging me. A part
of you will always be in my heart.
Faithfulness and patience are gifts of the spirit. To
follow God’s call into mission I have had to practice
continued patience with open hands as I have faithfully
followed God’s lead. Along the journey I have met
real people who also respond to God. I have worked
with colleagues and church people who have inspired,
challenged, and supported me.
I will serve with an Ecumenical Theological Center
in Jerusalem, which works with the local Christian
community as well as the international Christian
communities around the world. I look forward to
welcoming you to Jerusalem as we continue to work
together following God’s lead in our lives.
If you would like to follow this journey, my blog is
womanatthewell2008.blogspot.com.
Rev. Kristen L. Brown, Advance Special # 3021280
7

Graduation day at Asbury College Inc. in the Philippines
8 Visit our web site at http://www.okvim.org
In Mission with our Missionaries
Educating
young people
for servce in
the Church
There are over 300
Global Ministries missionaries who are supported
through Covenant Relationships serving in over
60 countries. These partnerships are much more
than just financial commitments. They are dynamic
relationships where churches and missionaries pray
for one another and communicate regularly.
Rev. Marsha Gail Alexander is a missionary
with the General Board of Global Ministries of
The United Methodist Church and is related to our
Oklahoma Annual Conference.
She is currently serving in the Philippines as a
professor at Asbury College in Anda, Pangasinan
in the Baguio Episcopal Area. She returned to that
country in the fall of 2010, having served more than
5 years in Mexico.
Asbury College is a United Methodist-related
school on the island of Anda in the northern Luzon
Province of Pangasinan. Classes begin at the pre-
elementary level and extend through college level
instruction. The school is instrumental in educating
young people for service in the church and equipping
them for productive roles in society. Asbury was
opened in 1947, following World War II, when
it was difficult for students on Anda to go to the
mainland for schooling. The school today has 400
enrollees, about 100 in the college and the other 300
in the elementary and high school divisions.
 Hands-on Mission: Leaving God’s Fingerprint on the World SHARE • SPRING 2011

Marsha was previously at Asbury

for 15 years, teaching theology, Christian
education, English, and sociology. After
leaving the Philippines, she served as
director of outreach ministries at the
UMCOR Sager Brown relief supply center
in Baldwin, Louisiana. She then went
to Mexico, where she served as director
of Manos Juntas Mexico in Rio Bravo, a
construction/medical ministry closely
related to the UMVIM organization of
the Oklahoma Annual Conference.
She says, “I see my mission as
an opportunity to share the love of
Christ, and to help people to recognize
themselves as children of God and fellow
sojourners in the task of sharing God’s
love and living together as neighbors.
This mission is about enabling people to
see themselves as whole beings through
Christ, spiritually, emotionally, physically,
and mentally healthy.”
Marsha is an ordained deacon of the
Oklahoma Annual Conference, and is
certified in Christian Education. Prior to
serving in the Philippines, she served with
United Methodist churches in Oklahoma,
Louisiana, and Mississippi. She also has
served as co-leader of a volunteer mission
team to Montego Bay, Jamaica, West
Indies, and has been a team member in
South Africa and Mongolia.
A native of Paris, Kentucky, Marsha
holds a Bachelor of Arts in Christian
Education from Asbury College in
Wilmore, Kentucky. She earned her
Master of Arts in Christian Education
from Scarritt College in Nashville,
Tennessee, and has earned units toward
her Doctoral of Ministry degree from
Union Theological Seminary, Cavite,
Philippines. (reprinted in part from the General
Board of Global Missions website)
Philippines Scouting Mission
by Rev. Rudy and Piper Freese, Quinton/Canadian UMC
(Piper) Let me begin with WOW! The Philippines scouting mission was exciting
and inspiring. Marsha Alexander was a wonderful host and you can see the
love she has for the Philippines and the people. There is great opportunity
for VIM teams to get involved. Many construction projects are needed on
churches, parsonages, wells, and at Asbury College Inc. VIM teams are also
needed at Asbury College Inc. for Bible school, music and English education.
If you have a desire, Marsha can find a place for you to minister! What was
truly exciting to me was that every place we visited, the people were not
waiting for us to show up and build for them, but they were already engaged
in building and constructing. The congregations want to help the teams that
come to help them. It’s about building relationships between the two countries.
The Philippines would not be a hard transition for teams to go, most people
speak English and there is not a lot of culture differences. The people of the
Philippines are excited to partner with VIM and ready for us to arrive. Please
pray and if God puts it on your heart to create a team or join another team to
go—then LISTEN TO GOD AND GO! You will be blessed beyond measure.
(Rudy) It was a great joy to visit with Marsha Alexander; our very own
Oklahoma GBGM Missionary at Asbury College Inc. in the Philippines. The work
that she and her team are doing on the Island of Anda is phenomenal with
the limited resources they have. I witnessed first-hand the deterioration of
facilities on the school campus, yet the ministry and education of young boys
and girls have never faltered. The staff, though paid less than public school
teachers, were enthusiastic and excited to be a part of the Methodist system,
and it poured out in their relationships with the children and the other staff.
I am excited to see where VIM can partner with the Methodist Church of the
Philippines to create mission opportunities, not only in building projects, but
also in medical teams, vacation Bible schools, and youth leadership training.
One of the things that touched me the most about the churches we visited
was the great need for children’s ministry facilities. The churches we visited
all had a teeming population of children, yet, their facilities for children were
often times a covered patch of dirt where the kids met for Sunday school and
other Bible lessons. It was exciting to see the willingness of the people there
to be engaged in working on their facilities, and I know with a little help and a
partnership, their ministries will continue to flourish. To God be the Glory!
Rev. Marsha Gail Alexander – Advance Special # 10772Z

rld
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Philippines
ingerprin
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 Building Lasting
Relationships Through
Mission
by Josephine Deere, director of Interpretations The Conference has responded since then by sending
Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference three teams to Dulac, Louisiana to work with the

For
Houma Indians. (One team went in the late summer of
2009 and two teams responded in 2010.)
When asked about her experience, Colleen Argue
over fifty years the Oklahoma said, “It meant that I could be in service to someone else
Indian Missionary Conference, (OIMC) has been and help wherever it was needed. It meant a fellowship
recipient of numerous VIM teams. Not only have these with people I didn’t know and sharing the word of God.”
teams come to work, build, clean, repair, but also to Rev. Michael Eddy said, “Our mission to Dulac
build lasting friendships. They not only shared their was, for sure, a
talents, but shared in the culture of the OIMC whether very memorable
in tribal singing or eating an Indian Taco. What a blessing experience!
these teams have been to the churches and the people of We had an
OIMC! opportunity
Now it is our time to be in mission! to make a real
difference in the
Missions to Dulac lives of the two
The Conference began responding to the mission families we served.
project at Dulac, Louisiana after the campus ministry I think they will
team coordinated by Conference Superintendent, Rev. always remember
David Wilson, returned stating there was a great need for fondly what we
VIM teams in Dulac. accomplished in
In the spring of 2009, a call went out from the the name of Jesus Fran Cady from the Oklahoma
Christ! May God Indian Missionary Conference
Conference Council on Local Church Ministries that we,
prepares for a day of painting.
the OIMC, needed to respond and be in mission. bless us all!”

10 Visit our web site at http://www.okvim.org

 Hands-on Mission: Leaving God’s Fingerprint on the World SHARE • SPRING 2011

Students from OIMC Campus Ministries

actively participate in mission by helping
OIMC churches.

Campus Ministry
The OIMC has been blessed to have a campus
ministry that has laid the groundwork for being in
mission.
Rev. Wilson shared his experience with the
campus ministry team: Students representing the
OIMC campus ministries have gone in mission
each spring for the past three years. It has been
a great experience for the students and I am
impressed with their willingness to give up their
break to go and help others.
This year we went to the Clinton Church
and Community Center to help work on their
building and to have afternoon activities with the
children. We had a small group that went this year,
but the students worked hard in helping to reorganize
the building; clean and to liven up the building. I know
a highlight for the students was the opportunity to
interact with the children each afternoon. They made
crafts, taught songs, and had games each afternoon.
The students also cooked and prepared the meal each
night. I was impressed with their desire to serve the
children at this center and they were anxious to share
their love for Christ and for the church. Our group was
very talented and I also believe the children enjoyed
their presence. It was also important for the children
to see Native American students attending college.
The students were good role models and inspired the
children and parents who came on our last day there.
“It was such a spiritual blessing,” said Fran Cady,
“I didn’t realize when I signed up to be on this
team how God was going to change my life—what
a blessing!” These statements are what we
continue to hear from OIMC VIM teams.
Preparing for Missions
Because of the desire to be in mission and to prepare
our people to respond in other places, a Volunteer In
Mission leader training was held. It is through this
training and future trainings that will enable the people
of OIMC to be in mission throughout other parts of the
country. We will be able to share not only in the cleaning,
building, and repairing, but, also in lasting friendships
while we share our love of God and what he is doing in
and through us.

e World
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Oklahoma - OIMC
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11
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 A supply of vegetables at a local food hut where local Cubans walk to receive their produce.
There is a hunger of another kind!
by Susan Rice, Claremore First UMC
Going
out as
representatives of the Oklahoma Conference, we had
the privilege of working with the Buenaventura United
Methodist Church in the eastern province of Holguin,
travelling by bus some 500 miles across Cuba to reach
our destination. This church currently has about
200 members and had been planted by an American
missionary in 1940; however, we were the first Americans
many of the younger Cubans had ever met. But that did
12 Visit our web site at http://www.okvim.org
not squelch the warm, yet anxious, welcome we received
as they introduced themselves to us. Our hearts melted
as we saw their joy in our visit; as they opened the bag
of tools we brought into the country to assist with the
task. We were literally greeted with “a holy kiss” by these
wonderful people.
The Methodist Church in Cuba is thriving. Currently
there are more than 400 churches, close to 700 missions
and house churches and more than 700 missionaries
and lay leaders. In 2001 the church had 9,000 members.
Currently there are more than 30,000 members, with a
gathering of visitors and regular attendees of more than
40,000. Women play an active role in the leadership of the

Cuban Church: many pastor’s wives
or the “pastora” are highly respected
ministers. In this communist
country with a population of 11
million, 30,000 UMC members
may seem small; however, more
than 70% of these members are
under age 30.
Outside countries stopped
sending aid in the past 20-40 years;
therefore, Cuba had stopped basic
upkeep and maintenance—the
failing infrastructure is evidence of
the economic poverty.
The cost of living is high
compared with the low wage of the
average person, which is about $20
(USD) per month. To put this in
perspective, we purchased a simple
garden hose in the local economy
for about $20 (USD) so that our
host Church could more effectively
prepare the floor to lay the mortar
and tile.
One block from the UMC
Center in Havana, is a small blue
booth, something similar to a
concession stand one would see
at a baseball game. Every morning,
families from each neighborhood
would line up at a similar booth
to receive their ration of bread,
just as they do with much of their
daily food as it is distributed
and carefully monitored by the
government. It is illegal to serve
beef, except in the hotels or some
restaurants. We were graciously
served eggs almost every morning
despite the high cost per egg. Food
generally costs more than we would
World
e
th
on
d’s F erprint
Cuba
ing
Go
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Hands-on Mission: Leaving God’s Fingerprint on the World
pay here in the United States for
the same item, even though the
average wage doesn’t even come
close to comparison.
The communist structure of
governance allows for everyone to
have something, so the economic
poverty may not seem as dire
as other countries, but Cuba
experiences a hunger of another
kind. We heard time and again
that “Cuba is in crisis!” Freedom of
choice is curtailed.
The UMC of Cuba has
found favor with the government,
but freedom of worship is not
something to be taken for granted!
There are many characteristics
seen in the Church of Cuba that
parallel that of the early Christians
as seen in the book of Acts. In the
midst of oppression, the Church
scattered, thus the spread of the
gospel and the formation of the
Church. Is it any wonder that this
younger generation in Cuba is
seeking Christ—looking to their
Creator to fill the hunger of the
soul? The future Church of Cuba
has much promise, for decisions
to serve Christ are not made
lightly. Discipleship is a serious,
intentional journey!
Our task was
to assist the local
church in laying a
new marble tile floor
in the temple. To do
this the existing two-
inch concrete floor had to
be broken up and leveled out
SHARE • SPRING 2011
with dirt. Much of our first day of
hard work consisted of tearing up
concrete, moving dirt, and tossing
stones. Ironically, the daily Upper
Room devotional scripture for that
particular day was Ecclesiastes
3, “There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity
under heaven:…a time to plant
and a time to uproot…a time to
tear down and a time to build…a
time to scatter stones and a time to
gather them.” Working alongside
many church members, we had a
very productive first day, trusting
that God was with us in a very real
way.
Once the dirt was evenly
spread throughout the temple floor,
the mortar had to be mixed. We
saw early on in this visit to Cuba,
that every project had to begin
from scratch, whether it was sifting
and cleaning the rice we ate for
each meal, to the mortar that was
prepared to lay the tile. We started
with the raw materials, sifting
several different kinds of sand
before mixing them together with
water to create the necessary bond
needed to cement this floor.
13
 Linda Nigh and Cuban child after Sunday service.
Much of the physical work
was completed by skilled labor;
therefore, our team had the
privilege of spending quality
time with the people of this dear
community. As a team, we sensed
that the real purpose was not to
be met through physical sweat
and sore muscles, but in the depth
of relationships that were born on
this trip. Perhaps misconceptions
were torn down, dreams fulfilled,
and vision planted.
Due to the broken up temple
floor, all weekend services were
held outside in the church yard—
worship took place under the stars,
drawing 450 people on Sunday
evening. Curious people passing
by would stop to watch dynamic
worship through singing, dance,
vibrant music, and the gospel
message presented by microphone
outside in the middle of this
small communist community.
What a glorious phenomenon!
With hands raised these people
14 Visit our web site at http://www.okvim.org
boldly sang praises to the God of Christ seen in these tenacious
of the universe in the midst of a believers.
predominantly atheist country, It was truly a life-changing
evidence of a deep soul hunger. experience to serve on this VIM
Clearly the passage in mission to Cuba.
Ecclesiastes appropriately
describes Cuba, “What does the
Ok l ahOm a VIm
worker gain from his toil? I have
Team
seen the burden God has laid on
leader and
men. He has made everything
mIssIOn sITe
beautiful in its time. He has also Tr aInIng
set eternity in the hearts of men; 2011
yet they cannot fathom what Sept. 17
God has done from beginning to • Oklahoma City,
end.” There is a core of believers Nov. 5
in Cuba and their worship burns • Oklahoma City
bright with the flame of Jesus $50 per person
Christ. Their mission is clear,
strategic as they partner with the For more information contact
Holy Spirit, seeking to reach their Kristin Terrell-Wilkes:
communities with the gospel—to (405)530-2029
awaken the inward appetites of kterrell-wilkes@okumc.org
all men and women to be united On-line registration is
with their Creator. The task is available at
grueling and difficult because www.okvim.org
the darkness is very dark, but it on the VIM training page
cannot stamp out the light and joy
 Hands-on Mission: Leaving God’s Fingerprint on the World SHARE • SPRING 2011

Oklahoma
Hands-on Mission with our Neighbors
by Richard Norman, associate director, OKVIM

Neighbor
helping neighbor, is a heritage that many times seems lost
in this fast paced world in which we live.
The challenge and the opportunity we have in
meeting these requests lies in the key element of all VIM
missions—LEADERSHIP.

If you would like to restore that kind of servant Our “BarnRaisN Ministry,” just like our OK VIM
attitude in yourself, your family, your church and your mission ministry, needs leadership both in helping to set
community, consider helping us form and (or) join the up the projects and also as team leaders who will organize
“District BarnRaisN Ministry” family. teams that enables others to serve their neighbors in need.

Over the last two years, since its inception, many As a connectional church, we are all uniquely
churches have greatly benefited from this special ministry. intertwined and a part of each other. Our churches belong
Here are a few examples: to all of us.

¡ When the only stairs leading into a church were
broken, access was not possible for many potential
worshipers, but a project like a wheelchair ramp
enabled them to, once again, enter the church.
Now their community knows their United
Methodist neighbor’s doors are open and entrance
is available to ALL who wish to enter.
In the spirit of the barn raisings of our American past,
where neighbors pitched in to help neighbors, our VIM
“BarnRaisN Ministry” enables us to continue to serve our
neighbors in need, to be good stewards of what God has
given us, and to open doors to our neighbors as we minster
together as the body of Christ.

¡ When the dilapidating appearance of a local

United Methodist Church made the community
wonder if the church was on its last leg, a “District
BarnRaisN Ministry” team came in and gave that
church a complete outside makeover. Now the
community realizes that congregation is
a vibrant light in their community
with open doors for worshiping
and praising God for all of its
neighbors.

Almost every week the

OK VIM office receives calls
from churches looking for help
with projects that are beyond
the scope of their abilities and/
or resources—and just as often; we
receive calls from churches looking for
ways to be active in local mission.

15
 When the World Rocks,
UMCOR Rolls
—in the West
by Marsha Purtell, Muskogee Wesley UMC
Blessed
or blessing
always seems to be the on the “scales” regarding missions
and since I have always been one of those where the
blessings were 10-fold, UMCOR West was no exception
to wonderful experiences.
Our Muskogee District Mission Committee had
decided it would be good to have mission teams that are
made up of many parts (several churches) making one
body (a team).
Two of the members of the committee had heard
about this “new Sager Brown” opened in 2009 called
UMCOR West in Salt Lake City. It functions much like
Sager Brown in Louisiana and collects the same items for
kits in regional and national disasters and needing relief.
With 16 individuals representing four churches, we
16 Visit our web site at http://www.okvim.org
set out. Six wanted to enjoy the travel scenery, so they set
out in RVs the week before. Ten flew from Tulsa to Salt
Lake City. We were so excited and our RV’er had the area
scoped out when we arrived.
Now I have been on missions inside and outside
the U.S. I have been to places where we set up and
disassembled the classroom, in remote and primitive areas
of the world, for a place to lay our bedrolls at night. I must
tell you, I have never been treated with such luxury and
hospitality as we were at our host lodging at the Wasatch
Retreat and Conference Center, Episcopal Center of St.
Lake City. It even came with a fully equipped, modern
kitchen. Now I know a VIM mission is not about
the sight-seeing and there were spectacular things to
see including the Catholic Cathedral, The Episcopal
Cathedral, the magnificent libraries and gardens and
of course the LDS Square, but Salt Lake City even has
covered parking at WalMart! Some of us were first-time
missioners and we reminded each other often —including
 Hands-on Mission: Leaving God’s Fingerprint on the World SHARE • SPRING 2011

during our devotion times— that rarely would we find a together to donate school kits build cohesion within the
mission with these accommodations. community. This became our mission. People we might
Yet just around the corner we saw lines of people, never see need us; children we might never share a smile
waiting at the food distribution center at the Episcopal with were counting on us. So we met the challenge with
Church; and people being received and cared for at the determination. By the end of the week, forty-seven pallets
Thrift Store by a worker who had come several years of school kits were prepared, checked and verified. They
before as a US2 missionary and felt the call. We witnessed were shipped that month. The team was building and
the patient and precise services offered at the Crossroads the other eleven pallets were stacked with those being
Center for Justice and Mercy Ministries housed in a prepared for a shipment to Haiti. Our host was pleased
building managed by our United Methodist Women’s we had a forklift operator – an answer to prayers! The
Division. One of the Methodist clergy in the area was warehouse was put in order. Some of us have read the
director of the Family Promise Program where eight proverb that “Anyone can count the seeds in an apple, only
churches are coordinating care of homeless families God can count the apples in a seed.” Seeds were planted
needing a hand up. And just down the street was the One with each of us and our lives are changed. We are a team
World Café where you are a “guest” and can have a free that share memories and experiences that have made a
nourishing meal, or “in trade”—you work or pay what difference with us.
you can afford for your meal—or as we were, “a patron” Our special thanks to Lori Foster in the VIM
purchasing your meal. If you choose you may leave a gift, office for making the journey logistics, in a true United
so the program can be sustained. It was wonderful food Methodist fashion—so organized and meaningful.
and blessed with every bite.
The UMCOR Depot and the Crossroads
Community Food Co-op was a center we visited “up-close”
as our cleaning skills were needed for the open house
being planned for that evening.
Our mission was to work at the UMCOR Center
established in the warehouse district on the Southwest
side of town. Upon arrival we were greeted by the GBGM
Director, Rev. Brian Diggs. We felt his warm hospitality
and learned, quickly, this Duke Seminary graduate was
from Arkansas. We noted the sign on the graffiti wall,
“When the world rocks, UMCOR Rolls.” After orientation
and instruction, we were put to work. Joined by a small
team from a United Methodist Church, in Victorville,
California, we were given the challenge of finishing several
thousand health kits for some awaiting pallets. Fifty-six
cleaning buckets had just been shipped to a fire ravaged
area in Colorado.
Our big challenge was to fill an order awaiting in
the Gaza Strip for school kits; 15,792 were needed.
School kits help bring stability to a community by Sorting kits at UMCOR West in Salt Lake
getting children back in school. The churches that work City.

e World
t h
on
int

United States
od’s Fingerpr
gG

17
vin

a
Le
 rld
Wo
he

t
on
Fingerprint
South Africa

o d’s
G
g
vin
L ea

Paradox, Maybe?
Truth, Most Certainly! Mission to Saldanha Bay

Our team fell in love with those inside and

worked to bring hope and help by painting
the outside wall, and then singing, reading,
feeding, and holding the children.

by Dee Ann Nordean, Clinton District

Paradox – “a
statement that seems contrary to common thought and
yet is true” – possibly the best description for me of the
recent VIM mission to the area of Saldanha Bay, South
Africa by 11 United Methodists from around the state of
Oklahoma.
Our team, led by VIM Director, Rev. Jeremy Basset
(who is South African—born and raised), left the
Oklahoma winter to arrive in the warm summer breeze
of South Africa. A trip of 20+ hours, but spirits excited
about the days ahead. That was the beginning of many
statements of “paradox”.
Our task was two-fold: putting the roof on a new
building for the impoverished community of Sivuyile, and
secondly, to assist with maintenance and support for the
Island House, a private residential home for children with
disabilities. Even though our team split each day to work
at both sites, we were made stronger by our experiences
shared at the end of each day.
The paradox continued as each day church members
and the community became bearers of love, spiritual
 Hands-on Mission: Leaving God’s Fingerprint on the World SHARE • SPRING 2011

support, and generous hospitality to us. Those who Our team fell in love with those inside and worked
had little shared much. Inside their shanty church, hot to bring hope and help by painting the outside wall, and
lunches were daily feasts and the 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. tea then singing, reading, feeding, and holding the children.
time welcomed us to their culture and into their family. Once again the fragile, being the ones making others
As the days and work went on, the family grew. strong, and those confined freeing us to experience
Disempowered women became strong as they God’s amazing love.
took over ownership (and paint rollers) for their new Desmond Tutu made us familiar with the term,
“cathedral”. A mixed group of Afrikaans, Xhosa, South ubuntu – ‘the claim that life is given as a people, a
Africans, and Okies became one people in ministry person is a person only through other persons; to be is
with each other to God’s people. to be “we” and not “I”.’ Christ says we must lose our lives
The children who flocked to the to save them. For those on this
church site were so eager to help and VIM trip, “we” found our lives
their innocence unleashed a spirit of because of those that many see
love and playfulness within work weary as lost and “though we are many,
adults. He has made us one.” Paradox,
The dirty, rubbish covered ground maybe? Truth, most certainly.
truly became holy ground where paint
buckets and rocks, lines drawn in the
sand for hopscotch, singing games, and
songs became the place where “unseen”
children were lifted up and the old(er)
felt young again. Truly God’s paradoxical Local men who suffer with
unemployment arrived at
playground! The planting of 30 trees in
work before us ready to paint
this same holy (and hard) ground turned and roof.
dessert into Eden.
The Island House is a life changing
place—for the children and their
families who receive special care, the
staff who provide a home of love and A beautiful beach
compassion, and now for us whose setting marked the
lives have been changed because of place for residents
our experience with them. Words displaced by cerebral
that describe the reclaimed, recovered palsy, tuberculosis
property are shared with the identity of and hopelessness.
those who live and work there. Spoken And it was a huge
best by team member Pat McGarrity, chore, but the group
readied those in
“ones who have gathered together their
wheelchairs to let
broken lives to make God’s love incarnate the wonderful beach
and practice Jesus’ message of giving away meet the beautiful
all that you have and depending on God’s children that lived so
provision.” close, but felt so far.

19
Mexico
(Right) Larry Acton, founder of “Hands Together Mexico,” with the
Manitas Juntas a new mission-focused program for children.

Big Friends, Make Strong Shoulders

by Guillermo “Willie” Berman, director
Manos Juntas México

Dear friends of Manos Juntas México,

I would like to share some of our plans and dreams we have developing in this new partnership
with the Methodist Church of México. Despite the news of violence in our area our teams have been
safe and we continue to say that it is all right to come. Even so, the number of teams cancelling is
still growing. We pray that God will guide us, grant us safety for our teams, and also that we will
defeat any fears with our dedication to God’s mission.

Here are some updates on the Manos Juntas ministries:

Casitas Ministry
Historically, this has been the strongest ministry of
Manos Juntas. A family receives a 12’ x 16’ or a 12’x 20’
house, depending on the number of family members.
What a big way to make a Christian difference
with such a gift of love—but, there hasn’t been any
significant follow-up on the wellbeing of those families
by the Manos Juntas staff, the Church of Mexico or the
government, after the mission teams have gone back
home.
Plans to change and extend this ministry by:
1) Starting relationships with the families that
have qualified to receive a house. One of our
Methodist pastors would have some prior visits
with the family –before we build their house.

20 Visit our web site at http://www.okvim.org

 2) Inviting the families to a series of conferences,
providing information about family issues:
including family planning, health and nutrition,
parenting skills, trade education, etc.
3) A follow-up visit to the family after we build
their house, which would include checking on
their health, education and spiritual needs.
4) To research and see if the family would qualify
for a micro-loan, self-employment program.
We have started creating that relationship
mentioned on point number one by having Pastor
Francisco Pruneda to assist us with the casitas
application process. He will visit with the families and
approve their applications.
Health Ministry / Manos Juntas Clinic
Our clinic has been open to the public on Mondays
and Tuesdays with a family doctor and a dentist
available, and also on Tuesdays an ophthalmologist.
In order to do this we have been charging $4.50 to
each patient (or per family), but this also includes all
the medicines we are providing. If someone says they
cannot pay, we don’t charge.
We would like to be open 6 days a week with the
assistance of different Mexican doctors. We are paying
them about $18 per day, per doctor. We will continue
to offer free clinics when Medical teams come to work
with us.
We need sponsors for the clinic. For $90 per week,
we can fund the clinic, including our doctors and
pharmacy needs.
Scholarships
Education is one of our priorities. We have 15
children with a Manos Juntas scholarship. We can
supply a scholarship for a child with a donation of
$150 and scholarship sponsors are needed.
Evangelistic projects
Currently, we have a commitment to pay $150 dollars
per month for Pastor Ruben Sifuentes to travel 4 hours
south from Manos Juntas to start a mission church in San
Carlos, a small village located in our poorest region of the
state. Some of our teams have been there and built casitas
and held free clinics. For now, we are not sending teams to
that area due to safety issues and our commitment to keep
our teams safe.
In August this year, we will be giving $90 dollars
per month to a pastor going to the Tampico area, which
is 8 hours south of Rio Bravo. She will start another
mission church as we continue to be in partnership
with the Methodist Church of Mexico on their
evangelistic efforts.
Manitas Juntas (Little Hands Together)
We started this program last February with two
teams of children. Rev. Larry Acton, founder of “Hands
Together,” was the first team leader that partnered with
our first Manitas Juntas team.
The program was created to teach children, ages
10 to 12, why we do missions, and what their role is in
21
their community. Each Manitas Juntas team consists
of around 10 children.
After this training, they will be ready to join a U.S.
team and together they will work for a few hours on a
special project, such as painting, cleaning a public park,
planting trees, making and delivering lunch bags for
homeless people or for people outside of hospitals, give
a party for an orphanage, etc. The idea is to promote
the mission culture in our children. We believe this
has been the start of generations of mission-minded
Christians in our area. Praise the Lord!
Manos Juntas needs “strong shoulders” to fulfill
these plans and dreams, so we need “big friends” that
will pray and support us financially. You are being
invited to make a Christian difference by becoming a
Manos Juntas “big friend.” Consider partnering with us.
Send donations to: Hands Together Ministry,4200 N.
McColl Rd., McAllen, TX 78504
Indicate where you would like us to apply your
offering, or make your check to our general fund.
Willie” Berman –Advance Special #3019612

A new proposal for the Oklahoma Conference’s

Disaster Response Ministry Disaster Preparedness
The following is a short synopsis of a proposal that is being prepared by Oklahoma Volunteers In
Mission for presentation at the 2011 Annual Conference.
The hope is to present and adopt this program at Annual Conference 2012. Disaster Mitigation Disaster Response
Emergency & Relief

Our Disaster Ministry must be MORE than just a “reactive response ministry.”
To make this a reality we believe we need to focus on the following steps.

First Step Third Step

Disaster Recovery
Short & Long Term

Disaster Preparedness
Disaster Recovery
We must FIRST commit to developing and implementing education and
Agencies of the disaster response community have always depended
establishing our leadership.
on the United Methodist Church to respond to this step of disaster
Without this first step we will continue to have people who want to
response. The UMC has been called upon to both participate and take on
serve, but do not know how or where they should serve.
leadership roles in recovery efforts. From our experience, when the UMC IS
NOT involved in this step —the victims of disaster suffer significantly.

Second Step Fourth Step

Disaster Response
By mastering the first step in this process, we will have individuals
prepared who will be able to discern their gifts and abilities, and know how
to use them in Disaster Response ministry.
Disaster Mitigation
This final step focuses on prevention or limiting the effects of a disaster.
Some of the ways we might enact this step would be: changing the way we
construct our buildings; making sure communities have flood insurance;
or being sure we have emergency supplies ready before disaster strikes.

It is true that the best time to prepare for this year’s brings. It is our prayer that our churches will learn from
storm season was LAST YEAR. Often communities, other’s heartbreaking experiences and take the above steps
churches and individuals are lacking the needed skills and to prepare themselves to help in times of disasters.
experience to handle the unique situations that disaster

22 Visit our web site at http://www.okvim.org

 Hands-on Mission: Leaving God’s Fingerprint on the World SHARE • SPRING 2011

VIM R eSouRceS

OKVIM is working on a new T-shirt design to go on sale beginning

at Annual conference.
n: Sharing and Sh
od ’s Missio apin In order to create space in our storeroom for the new shirts we
G g ou
iv ng
need to clear out the previous shirts.
Ser

r Fa
ith
Many of you already have our current purple shirts but if not,
now is the time to buy them! They are now only $8 each and
come in sizes medium - 2XL.

To order the shirts or other VIM items: visit our online store
at www.okumcministries.org/VIM/Store.htm; contact Kristin:
(405)530-2029, kterrell-wilkes@okumc.org; or come by our
office, Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

VIM Staff
Rev. Jeremy Basset, director Lori Foster, coordinator Luisa Medina, Intern
(405)530-2028 (405)530-2070; (405)530-2036
jbasset@okumc.org lfoster@okumc.org lmedina@okumc.org
Gene Brantley, associate director Kristin Terrell-Wilkes, coordinator David Stephenson,
(405)530-2033 (405)530-2029; Bolivia/Oklahoma Liaison
gbrantley@okumc.org kterrell-wilkes@okumc.org (918)346-5181
Richard Norman, associate director tulsadstephenson@yahoo.com
(405)530-2032
Rnorman@okumc.org

Oklahoma Volunteers In Mission

Our Purpose
put on our mailing list or have someone from our office contact you about missions.
The purpose of Oklahoma Volunteers In Mission
is to share the love of Christ in ways that make a
Christian difference.
Our Task
The task of Oklahoma Volunteers In Mission is to
share our abilities in partnership with our team
members and those who host our teams. As servants,
we participate in accomplishing particular goals set
up and in cooperation with our hosts – in their time
and in their way.
Copyright @2011 All rights reserved.
Oklahoma Conference of The United Methodist Church
th
1501 N.W. 24 St., Oklahoma City, OK 73106
(800)231-4166; (405)530-2029; http://www.okvim.org
Fill out the form below and mail to Volunteers In Mission, 1501 NW 24th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73106 to be
Name ____________________________________________________________________________________
Address ____________________________________________________________________________________
City ________________________ State ___________________ Zip __________________________________
Phone (Day)( ____ ) ___________ (Evening) ( ____ ) ______________________________________________
E-mail ____________________________________________________________________________________
Age (Circle One): Youth - 18 19-29 30-60 61 and over
Church Affiliation ___________________________________________________________________________
I would like to receive VIM’s Share magazine r
I would like to receive VIM’s Share E-news r
I want to learn more about
r Oklahoma Missions r National Missions
r International Missions r Disaster Response
r Being an office volunteer r Individual Volunteers

23
 Oklahoma Conference of The United Methodist Church NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
Volunteers In Mission PAID
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OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
PERMIT #1045

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,

which God prepared in advance for us to do. –Ephesians 2:10