Insight Fall 2016
Contributing Writers
How You Can Help
Dr. Brad Morgan, Rev. Sherri Waters, Sherry Grygotis, Lorie Son, Russell Martin and Courtney Waldrep.
We want Insight to tell the story of WMUMC. We need your ideas, your articles and your pictures. Here’s how you can be a part of telling the story of WMUMC...
Pastoral Staff
Your Ideas: Do you have a great story
Senior Pastor Dr. Brad Morgan
idea? Please email it to communications@ williamsumc.org
Associate Pastor Rev. Andrew Dill
Your Words: Is there a budding journalist in
Associate Pastor Rev. Sherri Waters Associate Pastor Rev. Dale Vickers Pastoral Intern Patricia Lund
Church Address 4000 Moores Lane Texarkana, Texas 75503 Tel: 903.832.8663
your family? Send your two page, double spaced articles to communications@williamsumc.org
Your Pictures: Do you have high quality photos you want to share? Please send your pictures in jpeg format to communications@ williamsumc.org All articles will be edited for spacing and content.
Need Weekly Updates? Sunday Worship Times Traditional 8:15am and 10:30am Contemporary 10:30am
Check out the Sunday morning bulletin and join us online through our website, facebook and twitter. williamsumc.org facebook.com/wmumc twitter.com/wmumc
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Letter from the Pastor
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Upcoming Events/Series
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Let the Fire Ignite Dr. Brad Morgan
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Pumpkin Patch Russell Martin
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Why VBS Is Still Important Courtney Waldrep
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God’s Garden Rev. Sherri Waters
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Faith, Hope & Love In Action Sherry Grygotis
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Impact Youth Russell Martin
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Williams School Lorie Son
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Impact College Ministry Russell Martin
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Faith Insights Interview Dr. Brad Morgan & Rev. Andy Dill
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Williams Memorial United Methodist Church
Rev. Brad Morgan Senior Pastor
Letter from the Pastor Welcome to the Fall Insight. Some people — namely
church is participating in the eternal praise of God from
parents — call this the most wonderful time of the year!
the depths of our souls, the Bible tells us that church will
Students head back to classes. School begins. Things seem
be forever.” “Dad, that’s a long time!” Yes, but thank God
to get back to normal as the days shorten and cool. The
that we praise God forever.
unpredictable summer schedule is hopefully replaced by the reliability of routine in the fall. For many of us the
As I reflect on what worship is, I wonder: What do you
fall is a return to something we know. For others, the fall
think church is? Is it a building? Is it preaching? Is it
is a time of new beginnings. Some will be starting new
music? Is it a style of worship? Or, is it about praising the
schools and some will be going to school for the first time.
Lord with all of your heart, soul, and mind? Whether this Fall you are returning to a routine or starting something
As another Fall approaches, it reminds me of a conversation
new, we hope that this edition of Insight empowers you
between my son and I from a fall many years ago. John was
on your faith journey and that Williams Memorial United
very excited about starting kindergarten. Every Sunday
Methodist Church provides you a place to participate in
for several months he would pray the same prayer aloud in
the eternal praise of God.
church. “God, please let school begin soon!” Time passed, school began and a few Sundays into the new school year
As you read this issue of Insight, I encourage you to look
on the drive home he asked me, “Dad, how long will I
for God in your life and find ways to praise God. I hope
have to go to school?” I told him that he would have to
that the faith insights found in these pages inspire you to
go to school for at least thirteen years (kindergarten +
find where God is meeting you in your daily life. And, that
12 grades) and that since he was very smart and worked
God would renew you in through the Lord’s radiant glory
hard, he would probably go to a university for another 4
this Fall.
years. He might even go to graduate school one day for another 2-6 years depending on the degrees he sought. A look of realization crossed his face, “Dad, how long do I have to go to church?” Laura, Kate, and I laughed out loud. “Well John, that depends on what you think church is. If
Welcome to Williams. Welcome Home.
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UPCOMING
UPCOMING
Series Events
Sept 21 Half Truths 6:00pm & 7:15pm | Room 113 God helps those who help themselves and other things the Bible doesn’t say... Half Truths by Adam Hamilton is a 6-week study. Sept 21 Facebook Class 6:00pm | Library Want to learn how to do more on Facebook? This 3-week class is for you!
These days, it is hard to know how to live when everyone has an opinion. Where should we look for words of encouragement and strength that will really make a difference? In this sermon series, we will explore how Paul’s letters provided sound advice to Timothy and the early church and what that advice can mean for us today. Series begins September 18, 2016
Oct 5 UMW Mercantile Store 5-7pm | Wesley Hall Come purchase a soup supper or shop our handmade and baked goods. All proceeds benefit global and local missions. Oct 12 Financial Peace University Part 1 5:45pm | Room 111 Take Control of your money and find financial peace with this 4-week class. Oct 8 Pumpkins Arrive TBD | Pumpkin Patch The pumpkins will arrive on October 8. We will alert you via social media when we need help unloading. Oct 9-31 Pumpkin Patch Open Daily Until Dark | Front Lawn The Pumpkin Patch will open on October 9th and be open to the public daily through the 31. Come enjoy fall in the patch!
Having a grateful spirit is a key component of a Christian life. Learn how gratitude can change how you
experience
life
and
deepen
your
awareness
of God’s presence in your life. Explore the many passages in scripture that call us to give thanks. Series begins October 23, 2016
Oct 22 Preschool Movie Night in the Patch 6:30pm | Pumpkin Patch Preschool Movie Night in the Patch will start at 6:30pm in the patch. Oct 26 Pumpkin Palooza 5-7pm | Pumpkin Patch Save the Date! This year we will have a chili cook off, trunk or treat, bounce houses, candy, hay rides and train rides! Visit us online www.williamsumc.org
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Williams Memorial United Methodist Church
Let the Fire Ignite by Dr. Brad Morgan Will you be around a fire this fall? As the days grow shorter and the weather becomes cooler, will you and those you love find themselves near a hearth or fire circle? Gathering around a fire seems to bring community to all ages. There is something beautiful and timeless about a natural fire. A gas log or charcoal setup certainly make less of a mess, but there is something beautiful about burning natural wood. With a wood fire, making the fire is most of the fun. You need heat, fuel, and then some kindling - something that will easily catch and begin a flame. Scouts are taught how to do this without matches. When starting a fire without matches, the greatest moment of joy is when that first puff of smoke appears. And soon, you are fanning the flame! Hurriedly adding kindling and trying to get something, anything to spark beyond the smoke into a flame. But, as the beautiful song of faith goes, “It only takes a spark to get a fire going. And soon all those around can warm up to its glowing. That’s how it is with God’s love. Once you’ve experienced it. You spread his love to everyone. You want to pass it on.” The same is true of our faith. It only takes a little response on our part for God to do an amazing thing. A little response from us provides all of the space God needs to start a fire of faith that can draw and give warmth to others. Do you know the love of Jesus Christ? Have you professed Jesus Christ as your Lord and savior and place your whole faith in his grace? These embers are from our baptismal covenant. They keep the sparks going within the fire of
the church. And, the same is true when the fire seems to have run its course. When the embers have simmered down and the fire seems almost gone and nothing but grey coals remain. It only takes some new fuel - wood, or better yet, kindling added to the fire and some smoke will begin again and a spark can be seen and the fire catches again. Have you known faith your whole life, but feel like the passionate fire has gone out? The same physics that start a new fire help to rekindle fires that have almost gone out. Put some new kindling on the fire. Get back into the place where the heat from the coals can re-ignite your soul. The love of Jesus Christ is a passionate fire within our soul that cannot be contained and is meant to be shared. Let the love of Christ warm your life this fall. As the days grow shorter and the weather becomes cooler, gather in the grace of Jesus Christ. Warm yourself by the fire of love, mercy, and grace. Let the fire ignite your heart.
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Pumpkin Patch by Russell Martin
There are a few things that signify the coming of fall. The leaves begin to turn, the air begins to cool, Friday nights are filled with the sounds of football games, and the front lawn of Williams Memorial will be covered by a few thousand pumpkins. We know that the pumpkin patch comes every year. We know that a calendar will go up, phone calls will be made and volunteers will be needed to work the pumpkin patch. But why? Why do we do all of this? Why do we have a pumpkin patch? Let me first start by stating what the pumpkin patch is not. The pumpkin patch is not a fundraiser. There are much more effective ways to raise money than begging church volunteers to sit in a pumpkin patch selling pumpkins. If money is your reward then this is not the most effective way to go. However, maybe there is something different. What if the pumpkin patch is not a fundraiser. I mean, yes at the end we will raise just
over $3000 for our Williams School, Children’s and Youth Ministry. However, that’s not the real value of the pumpkin patch. The real value comes not in funds, but in fellowship. We do the pumpkin patch less because we raise money but because it’s part of our mission. It’s not about selling pumpkins, but connecting with people. We have the pumpkin patch because every year buses and cars bring elementary children to hear a story, pick out a pumpkin to take home and know that God loves them. We have the pumpkin patch because every year young families bring their kids out to Williams Memorial to take fall photos or Halloween snapshots. We have the pumpkin patch because on any given day 100 or more visitors drive onto our campus to see the pumpkins and pick one out to take home. We have the pumpkin patch because when the day school hosts their movie in the patch event, over 500 children and adults come together at Williams Memorial to watch a movie and hang out in the pumpkin patch.
We have the pumpkin patch so that a few hundred children have a place to go to trick or treat safely at our Pumpkin Palooza event at the end of October. We have the pumpkin patch because we know that each and every one of these is an opportunity for us to greet someone new, show them kindness and hospitality, and to tell them about our church and the God who we worship. So I ask you a favor. When the volunteer calendar goes up with opportunities for you to work in the pumpkin patch, or you get a phone call from Russell, Courtney or Lorie asking if you could spend some time working, or telling stories or helping unload, consider how you can help. You have the opportunity to make memories, to make connections with the hundreds of visitors that will come to our church. On October 8 the pumpkins will arrive. Check our weekly newsletter, website and email updates for more information on when we will be unloading. To volunteer contact the church office or email Courtney Waldrep at cwaldrep@ williamsumc.org or Russell Martin
Visit us online www.williamsumc.org
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Williams Memorial United Methodist Church
Why VBS Is Still Important by Courtney Waldrep Vacation Bible Schools are being cancelled all over the country because congregations believe: VBS is too much work, too expensive, not impactful, and worst of all because too few adults are willing to volunteer. As a congregation, we have to ask: Is Williams still running a successful VBS program? What issues are our congregation currently facing or might face in the future? Is this a ministry worth continuing? Are we doing everything we can to ensure Vacation Bible School is an outreach ministry in our community? If looking at the total number of participants, volunteers and the donations that were brought in during the week, Williams is definitely running a successful Vacation Bible School. Surf Shack VBS had approximately 250 children attend, over 60 youth volunteers and over 75 adult volunteers. The participants donated 2300 food items for the Williams Memorial Food Pantry and doubled 2015’s VBS monetary donations for a total of $1741.00 that went towards supporting two children from Africa through African New Life Mission. As members at Williams Memorial we have vowed to glorify God, inspire others to follow Christ and make disciples for Jesus Christ. When planning for VBS each year, these are the foundations that the planning committee works to keep in the forefront. Through the interactive Bible Story time and reflections with the adult and youth leaders, the children are learning and seeing God at work first hand. With almost 300 people under the age of 18 singing and dancing to praise and worship music during the opening
and closing sessions, everyone can truly feel God being glorified at our church. The main issue Williams faces as we move forward planning next year’s event is having enough adult volunteers. I have confidence that Williams will not let this amazing outreach tradition die and that as a growing church we will take on the challenge of “too many kids, not enough adults”. Everyone who has ever attended a Vacation Bible School, whether at Williams or another church, probably has great memories. As a child I can remember waiting in line with the other 2nd grade girls for a piggy back ride from our youth helper, T.R. Lewis. As a youth I can remember working my very first VBS and how excited I was that Blake Alkire and I were assigned to the Pre-K class; and as a college student I had the privilege to volunteer as a small group leader and loved getting to know kids that I would not normally have contact with. I know Vacation Bible School is a ministry that is worth continuing and I would like to challenge the congregation to find a way to volunteer at one of the Vacation Bible School activities and get excited about sharing God’s love and creating memories with the children at Williams Memorial.
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Vacation Bible School 2016
Thank you to all of our 2016 Vacation Bible School volunteers! Without our amazing adults and youth, this children’s outreach program would not be possible. Because of you 250 kids Caught the Wave of God’s Amazing Love at Surf Shack VBS.
Visit us online www.williamsumc.org
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Williams Memorial United Methodist Church
God’s Garden
by Rev. Sherri Waters >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
vocational agriculture teacher, I have a healthy love of gardening, flowers and trees. (Not so much of grass!) There was a moment a few weeks ago when I weeded my flowerbed and then ran to the store for mulch, but I ran out of
My grandmother had a saying “Dirt Waits”. It was a profound wisdom to encourage mom to spend time with Dad and Sylvia and I having fun, not just cleaning the house and cooking. I have a great history of trips to Dad’s continuing e d uc a t i o n classes. He always chose places as far away or as beautiful as he could, so we could have family vacations on a school teacher’s budget. Mother was a great housekeeper, it is not that dirt waited very often, but family came first. There is another part of “Dirt Waits” that comes into play. Weeds don’t wait. Since Dad was a
time and the mulch is still sitting in the garage. My vacation has come and gone. It would be easy to spread the mulch, but I have to
weed the flowerbed again first. Otherwise, the weeds would hide in the mulch for a short time and then reappear if I just covered them up. Sin is a lot like my weeds. “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” is a verse I learned at a very early age. The most precious thing my parents taught me is that all I have to do to be forgiven is to ask for forgiveness. I encourage daily discipline to ask God to reveal any u n forg i ven sin, and God is gracious to forgive as we ask. Then mulch with prayer, Bible study and meditation. We ask forgiveness in the communion liturgy (and forgive us our trespasses), and we offer the Peace of Christ to all. That is a true gift of God.
Good Treasures Gift Shop and Cafe is the best kept secert in Texarkana! It is the perfect place to stop in for a coffee break, grab a great book or pick up a thoughful gift. Good Treasures has gifts for all ages, inlcuding a large selection of baby items and clothes at affordable prices. Present this coupon for 20% off your purchase.
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Faith, Hope & Love IN ACTION by Sherry Grygotis Faith, hope & love in action describes the United Methodist Women. Throughout the years, Williams’ UMW has worked on various projects to support missions both locally and around the world. They do this to create a world in which all women, children and youth can thrive within their community. Fall is surely on its way, and the United Methodist Women will be having their annual Mercantile Store on Wednesday, October 5, 2016. It will be held in Wesley Hall from 5-7pm. You can purchase a hot soup dinner, bid on items in the silent auction and buy homemade gifts. There will also be casseroles, baked goods and other
treats available to purchase and enjoy. This fundraiser greatly helps support our Love in Action. Some of the missions our UMW has supported in the past are Hospice of Texarkana, Angel Quilts, Harvest Texarkana, Domestic Violence Prevention, various UMCOR missionaries and the Alzheimer’s Alliance. We invite all to browse the Mercantile Store, enjoy a meal with friends and support a ministry that serves others. We also greatly appreciate donations of items for our silent auction. Come be a part of Faith, hope & love in action!
Visit us online www.williamsumc.org
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Williams Memorial United Methodist Church
Summer
FUN
This summer our Impact youth group worked to improve homes and churches in the communities of Lufkin, Texas and Rayville, Louisiana. Thank you to those in our congregation who supported the youth summer missions by serving as leaders on these trips, praying for our group, providing materials, and supporting our fundraisers.
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Summer at Williams School
Another fantastic summer is in the books at the Williams School. Our summer program is broken into weekly units to spark our students’ different interests. Some new favorite units this summer were Mad Science, Surfing through the Scriptures, Green Thumb and of course...joining in on Vacation Bible School! Not only do we want our students to gain knowledge on the variety of topics we teach through our summer studies, we also want them to have fun and enjoy their summer experiences here at the Williams School.
Visit us online www.williamsumc.org
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Williams Memorial United Methodist Church
IMPACT
College Mininistry by Russell Martin Are you a college student? Are you the parents or relative of a college student? This is for you. The years after high school can be some of the most exciting, and yet terrifying of our students lives. These next years are filled with opportunities to learn, to grow and to experience the world in new ways. Here at Williams Memorial UMC we have been asking the question: how can we as a church help and support our college students, to adjust to their new life after high school, to maintain and grow in their faith and to know that their church family loves, supports them whether they are home for the weekend, going to school in town, or away at college. After conversations with students about how the church can show it’s love and support to our college students, we have come up with three unique ideas, intended to reach our students in different ways. Each week we will post a short devotional story with Bible verse on our College Ministry page. We will also include updates for our students about events going on or things they need to know. We will text out the link to our students on Sunday evenings.
With these three different initiatives to reach our college students you may be wondering how you can help? There are a few very specific and easy ways to do so. 1. Collect items for care packages - We will post a list on the website of all the items needed for our care packages. We need Sunday school classes, groups or individuals to pick one item and then donate the number of those items for the boxes. You may also make a donation to help us purchase additional items and to help pay for postage. 2. Provide a meal - We are in need of home cooked meals for our weekly gathering. Consider teaming up with a few others to make a meal for our college students on Tuesday nights. 3. Spread the word - Let any college students and teachers know what we are doing here at Williams Memorial to support our college students. Like and share photos and fliers on Facebook and Instagram. Tell your friends about how they can help with the college ministry.
Secondly we are starting a weekly dinner for those who are going to school locally at Texarkana College, Texarkana A&M or other local schools in the area. Tuesday nights 6pm we will meet in the youth center for a home cooked meal and time to hang out playing games, doing some short term Bible studies, and just being together.
4. Pray for our students - One of the best ways to help our students, no matter where they are, is to pray for them. Join the Student Ministry prayer team and be notified of specific prayer requests, get a list of students and pray for a few at a time or pray for those who are ministering to our college students.
We will also continue sending our care packages to all students in the fall and spring around finals week. These boxes contain food, candy, small toys, encouraging notes and other items that remind our students we are thinking of them.
If you have any questions or would like to help in this ministry please contact Russell Martin in the Student Ministry Office or email students@ williamsumc.org
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Find out more about Impact Student Ministries by visiting us online at williamsumc.org or follow our blog at williamsumc.org/studentsblog.You can find us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter under wmumccollegemin. To recieve devotionals, text “Join WMUMCCOLLEGE” to 94033
College Devotional I don’t remember a lot about my first day of first grade. It was a long time ago. I remember that my mom had taken me a few weeks before to pick out the perfect first day of school outfit. I remember that I had my new backpack and all my school supplies were ready. I remember I was scared. For the first time I was going to be at school all day. Not like our half day kindergarten from the previous year, but all day long. What if I needed my mom? What if the teacher was mean? What if I forgot my lunch? What if the other kids made fun of me? I was anxious. To make matters worse, my mom was teaching at a different school, and my dad was at work already, so they could not take me. My grandmother had volunteered to drop me off, which was nice of her, but it wasn’t the same. So we pulled up into the drop off circle and waited our turn. I wanted to wait till the very last moment. Since it was the first day, they were having parents walk with their kids to their classes, to reassure them. I wasn’t reassured. I remember being at the point of tears as I grabbed my backpack and my lunchbox and got out of the car. My grandmother coaxing me, I finally started walking toward the doors. With each step my breathing got shorter, my heart beat faster and I got more anxious. We opened the door, stepped inside and looked down the long, dark hallway. If I thought I could have beaten my grandmother to the car I would have tried. But I knew there was no chance. I just wanted to cry. Then I heard a voice. No, not the voice of God, though that would have been welcome at the time too. I heard a sweet voice from a pretty brown haired girl say to my grandmother “It’s ok, I’m Russell’s friend, I know where we’re going” So this pretty brown haired girl, took my hand and walked me down the hallway. I was still a
little nervous but I had a friend, I had someone who knew me, and knew the way. I was going to be ok. You may be about to experience a first day. It may be your first day ever to go to college. You don’t know your way around, you’re not sure how you are going to get from your class on one side of campus to your class on the other side of campus in just 10 minutes. Maybe you are wondering if you made the right choice, are taking the right classes, picked the good teacher or chose the right major. You might be on your last first day of school, looking at going into the world and not knowing what your job will be, what your future holds. Being anxious, being unsure, being worried is nothing new, and you are not the first person to have doubts, and worries. Check out what the apostle Paul writes in Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. You are going to have many reasons to be anxious, and not just because it’s the first day of school, but this passage tells us that we can talk to God, call on him and ask him to give us peace and guard our hearts and minds. So get ready for your first day. Buy your books, decorate your dorm, move into your apartment, go to orientation, and stock up on hot pockets and ramen noodles. And know that in Christ you have someone who will grab your hand, walk you down the hall and say “It’s ok, I’m your friend, and I know where we’re going”
Visit us online www.williamsumc.org
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Williams Memorial United Methodist Church
FAITH INSIGHTS 98.5FM Sunday Mornings at 7:30am | williamsumc.org/faithinsights Rev. Andrew Dill is the new preaching Associate Pastor at Williams Memorial United Methodist Church. He sat down with Dr. Brad Morgan to discuss his journey that lead him to WMUMC in Texarkana. Dr. Brad Morgan: Hi, this is Brad Morgan, a preaching pastor at Williams Memorial United Methodist Church, and I’m here with Pastor Andy Dill and we’re so happy that he’s joining us on staff at Williams to be the other preaching pastor here at Williams Memorial. I wanted to discuss how you were called into ordained ministry and what’s been your process. Just tell me a little bit about what it’s like to be called into ministry. Rev. Andy Dill: That’s a ... That can be a whole dissertation topic there. In my experience, it really began when I was in high school, between my Junior and my Senior year. I got involved in my church’s youth group and got the opportunity to spend the whole summer on mission in Mexico in San Louis Potosi, living with a missionary couple. That trip changed my whole life. I would sleep on the roof at night, when the weather was good and just spend my night talking to God. One night, it just hit me like a ton of bricks, but also light as a feather, that this is what God wants me to do. From that point on, every little thing I did, every decision I made became oriented towards being in ministry. I was always very attracted to technical things. I wanted to go into Air and Space Engineering. I loved the math, I loved the physics of it. Then I chose that major that tells everyone you’re in it for the money. I majored in Religion, and went to Baylor, had a lot of great opportunities. Got scholarships and so it was just taking one little step after another, between my choices of study, to my choices of involvement, what kind of groups I would be involved it, what kind of charities I would be involved in, who I would help, what I would do. Little by little, just brought me closer to that waterfall of ordination and I feel like the river’s
been picking up speed. I’m about to go over the waterfall and hoping there’s no sharp rocks at the bottom. Dr. Brad Morgan: Wonderful. Wonderful. Andy, tell me a little bit about that sense of calling. Now, you said you were back in high school and it was part of a church and you were on a church trip down there. Rev. Andy Dill: In Houston, yes. I grew up with a deaf mother, going to an all deaf congregation. The church I was born into, the sermon was in sign language, we had a sign language choir. Very interesting, this church has the most powerful sound system ever because you have to feel the music in your chest. Once my brother and I reached a certain age, there just wasn’t any other hearing children there for us to associate with and it became kind of tough. Our parents made what I thought was a very wise decision, to say, “OK, you have to go to church, but you don’t have to go to our church. We’re going to drop you off, and we chose Lakewood because it was on the way and it was close to the house and we could walk ourselves home afterwards. That was really the sole thing that got me into the Methodist Church. Dr. Brad Morgan: Wow, that’s great. Tell me about these missionaries you lived with. How did that emerge? How did that happen? Rev. Andy Dill: It was something that our church did. It was a missionary couple that our church sponsored at the time. He had come up to the church and given a talk. I’d said I want to try this, I want to be a part of it. They interviewed me and they gave me the okay. I had to raise money to go down and live there. Dr. Brad Morgan: How old were you when all that happened? Rev. Andy Dill: 16 or 17. I did everything from preaching in a public marketplace area, to passing out tracks to building, we built a
17 church, we built a little day school for kids. A lot of building projects. A lot of manual labor. Also helping to coordinate other high school groups that were down there for just a week at a time. They would roll through and I would help them get settled in and show them the job sites we were working on and that sort of thing. I even started to learn how to drive down in Mexico, but there are much safer places to learn to drive.
Nobody wanted to go to bed, because it was so powerful and it became, it really gave me a sense of the dedication that’s required and the priorities that are required. The reality of God at play and even the little things. I saw things that I just can’t explain in any other way except the power of God, the grace of God at work and the lives of me and the people that I am encountering in the streets. It’s stuck with me ever since.
Dr. Brad Morgan: Fair enough, fair enough. Well, as you go through that experience, it’s really a life touching, life transformative experience. One thing we’ve talked a lot about on this show are different missionary trips to different parts of the world. We’ve talked to people who have been many places and one of the things though that they all share in common, and I’d be interested to hear your take or view of this. There’s something beautiful about celebrating Christ in other cultures, because it lets you see what in your own culture is really of God. When we gather on a Sunday morning at Williams, some of how we gather is because we’re American, East Texan, and other things. In the midst of all that, at a certain point, there are Godly things that happen, where you see the Spirit moving in people’s lives in a way that’s really awesome. It becomes more vivid when you take yourself out of that context, and you go into another context where you’re really unfamiliar and where you’re, you don’t know how things are and you watch people worshiping. You feel lost, but then suddenly God moves and you’re like, “Oh, I know that.” You’re like, “That’s God moving.” It’s really awesome. I didn’t know if you had any experiences like that when you were down in Mexico.
Dr. Brad Morgan: What led you to Baylor? How did that work?
Rev. Andy Dill: Yes, when I was down there we would have, me and the missionary family and sometimes along with the groups that would be passing through. We would have these bible studies that night, or we would just get together and have worship time. What I learned in that trip, it stuck with me through my whole life is that when you make God a priority, it can not help but change your very being, your whole life, who you are. We would stay up, we would start a bible study, or we’d start a worship time together at 8:00, say after dinner. It would be 2:00 am and we would eventually have to say, “Look, guys, we’ve got work in the morning.”
Rev. Andy Dill: I followed my girlfriend to school. Evangelistic dating. She agreed to have me, so I chose my school almost exclusively on that. I don’t recommend it to people, but it worked out for me. Dr. Brad Morgan: You all are still together? That’s a good thing, you have two beautiful children, so that’s great. Rev. Andy Dill: That was another thing, I got really lucky that God was in my life early. I met this girl and said, “I’m going to marry this one.” Not too many people say they married their prom date, but I’m very proud of that fact. Dr. Brad Morgan: Wow, that is outstanding. That is outstanding. Wonderful. What led you off? You went from there, did you go straight to Duke or did you work in between? Rev. Andy Dill: I went straight from Baylor to Duke. I figured I’d better do it while I was still smart. Dr. Brad Morgan: What did you find in that journey? What led you to Duke? Why Duke versus other places? Rev. Andy Dill: Well, the story I like to tell is I had three of my professors who were very influential, called a meeting. I didn’t know I was walking into a meeting, they just asked me to come. I walked into a room with all three of them, and they said, “Andy, we’re going to write you a recommendation but it’s either going to be to Princeton or to Duke. That’s the only places we want you going.” At the time, that took me back because I was actually looking at Dallas Theological, I was even looking at Southwestern Baptist. I didn’t know anything
Visit us online www.williamsumc.org
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Williams Memorial United Methodist Church about Methodist Seminaries or the Universities in it, what their criteria are. They just told me that and I had looked at which authors I happen to really love that are still alive. A lot of them happen to teach at Duke, so that made up my mind there. Dr. Brad Morgan: Then from that, you came over to the Texas Annual Conference? Rev. Andy Dill: It was coming home. I say I was part of the Texas Annual Conference as an accident of geography. It was home, Houston was home, Texarkana is a very new place to me and my family, but we are glad to be here and I got to say it’s very nice having everything no more than 15 minutes away, versus half hour, forty-five minutes away. Dr. Brad Morgan: Yeah. It’s a, how do you say, culturally more relaxed. I think you’ll find that very enjoyable. Also, culturally, let’s say, not to say anything disparaging against Houston, but it’s culturally more sincere. People here are as they seem, and they’re very authentic. Very real. It takes a bit of time to get to know them, but when you do, they’re with you thick and thin, good and bad, forever. It’s a great group of people, I think you’ll be really blessed here Then as we’re looking in your journey, what did you find as ... You go from in your calling, did you find times that were particularly low and high? Have you found it all to be just glorious? Or has some of it been excruciating? Rev. Andy Dill: One of my favorite mentors is Doctor Steve Pillsbury. He would tell me about times, he told me once about this time he was questioning his calling. Over the course of the conversation, I’d said something like, “You mean to tell me you’ve questioned your calling four times during your ministry?” He goes, “No, no, no. Four times last week.” It’s funny but there’s some real truth in it. Not everything is glorious. There is stress as there is in anything. There is, people are people and we are all of us are broken vessels. Some of the most incredible, wonderful people I’ve ever met, I’ve met in ministry. I think that’s always going to be the case. It’s been challenging. There’s been a lot of self doubt. How am I supposed to get up and talk for 20 minutes every week? It’s one of those things I... It’s not as easy as a lot of preachers make it look. Every time I’ve started questioning my calling, in some small, still way,
God has a way of coming back and affirming it in me when I’m doubting it the most. I just keep holding to that. Dr. Brad Morgan: I find, in my own questioning and struggling and searching, remembering why you got into it to begin with sees you through. Never let those initial moments of calling, it’s why every one of these, when I first met with Brian, when I first met with Tori, when I first met with you, I asked all of you the same question about, “Tell me about your calling,” because we have to remember why we got in this to the beginning. There is a God, right? We’re not God. There’s a God behind us in this, and may that God move abundantly through us and in people’s lives. It really is a grace-filled journey, both for us that I don’t think people always realize how much we’re blessed by getting to serve people, but also to, in the people we serve it is about, it’s about them. It’s about the people we get to be in ministry to, that really makes a difference. I’ve all ready witnessed you be equipped and see the calling in you, in the way you visit with people and the way you passionately pursue getting to know people. I’m so thrilled you’re at Williams and I’m really looking forward to being a partner in ministry with you at Williams. We’re excited that you’re on staff. Rev. Andy Dill: I’m equally thrilled if not more so. Dr. Brad Morgan: Wonderful, wonderful. Let’s see, then if somebody is hearing this and maybe they’ve experienced that still small voice, or maybe they’ve been wondering if they’re called, maybe they’ve had a mountaintop experience, and are uncertain in a low time, what would your words of insight or wisdom be for them? What would you offer to those people who might be hearing the show right now? Rev. Andy Dill: Shuffle your priorities to put God first. Invest the hours, and see what happens. I believe that you can not put God first in your life without a radical change taking place. You’ll know, you’ll know. One way or another.
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Get Involved
Care Ministers Congregational Care Ministers are those who feel a calling to be a loving, compassionate, grace-filled and non anxious presence to those who are going through challening times. Congregational Care Ministers are laity who work alongside the pastoral care team. They can make hospital visits, telephone persons, and meet one on one with those in need of prayer, support and encouragement.
Impact Youth The Youth Ministry at Williams Memorial United Methodist Church is a place for you to find new friends, grow in your faith, ask questions, share your talents, and have fun. We have weekly small groups, a Praise Band, Liturgical Dancers, Summer Mission trips, Church Camp, Retreats and many other events throughout the year. Please contact Russell Martin at students@ williamsumc.org or (903) 701-7181.
Kids4Christ Kids4Christ offers an evening of food, fun and worship for ages 4 through 5th grade. We offer many ways for your children to get involved. On Wednesday evenings, we offer Children’s Handchimes, Kids Choir and Kids4Christ Activities. Please contact Courtney Waldrep at kids@williamsumc.org or (903) 832-8663.
Visit us online www.williamsumc.org
4000 Moores Lane Texarkana, Texas 75503