STORIES OF LIFE
AND
Growing Disciples
FUMCR welcomes all ages into faith development, service, and leadership.
More Than a Stove p.12 Hearing Not Required p.9 Tuesdays with Bert p.5 My Mobile Mission p.16
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503 N. Central Expressway
Richardson, TX 75080
972.235.8385 fumcr.com
Senior Pastor
Dr. Clayton Oliphint
Director of Communications
Francy Collins
Graphic Designer
Kyle Henson
Communications Team
Kevin Burns
Paige Hughes
Leslie Kring
Contributors
Julia Castleman
Kim Curtis
Doug Findley
Mary Findley
Jen Grant
Janis Haydel
Paul Haydel
Karen Jones
Scott Luginbill
Natalie Nenovich
Joe Olguin
Linda Ortman
Robert Ramsower
Stuart Thomas, cover photo
First Connections (USPS 022-024) is published four times a year, by First United Methodist Church Richardson, 503 N. Central Expressway, Richardson, TX 75080. Periodicals postage paid at Richardson, TX and additional mailing offices.
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a message from our senior pastor
Recently I had the opportunity to teach the Confirmation Class at FUMCR. These 7th graders spent the entire year in Sunday school learning about the Christian faith, the Bible, our beliefs and practices, and so much more. My lesson focused on “calling.” Calling is a biblical concept that each of us, as followers of Christ, has a unique purpose to serve God using the talents and abilities we have been given.
Another way this has been talked about in the history of the church is that we are a “priesthood of all believers.” Every one of us is a priest or pastor to each other, and every one of us has a role or calling we can fulfill. And if we are to be the church God wants us to be, every member has to take their calling seriously. The question becomes, “Given my talents, circumstances, and abilities, how can I best serve God at this particular time in my life?”
For some people this means stepping into a journey towards ordained ministry. That was certainly what I experienced as a 22-year-old as I came to an understanding of what God wanted me to do with my life. I can remember every excuse I had for not wanting to go this direction, including being unable
to imagine myself preaching in front of a church congregation!
In the stories of people being called by God in the Bible, most have some excuse as to why they are unworthy. Abraham and Sarah thought they were too old. Jeremiah thought he was too young. Isaiah said he was “a man of unclean lips.” Moses said he didn’t speak well. The amazing thing is that God does not call the equipped but equips the called.
Every member of the church has some way they can serve God. It might be teaching, or singing, or greeting. Maybe it is praying, or giving, or serving with a volunteer team. Whatever
it is, our church is at its best when every member participates in ministry in some way. My message to our Confirmands is the same message I have for all of us: given my talents, circumstances, and abilities, how can I best serve God at this particular time in my life?
When we figure that out and start acting on it, we find a lot of joy.
In Christ,
Clayton Oliphint senior pastor
Tuesdays with Bert by
Robert Ramsower
As the Fellowship Sunday School Class was gathering for a potluck dinner in early 2010, Bert Duckett and Deloy Snow were talking about starting a men’s Bible study group and asked what I thought about it. I agreed it was a good idea, and we decided to give it a go.
March 2, 2010, was the first meeting of the Men’s Tuesday Morning Bible Study with five attendees, including the three of us. After rotating teaching responsibilities in the early sessions, Bert Duckett stepped up and offered to lead the next few classes. This gave our study sessions continuity, and fortunately for us Bert found his calling as he has led our studies ever since! He is a great teacher, a very effective leader, and does a tremendous amount of preparation for each session.
We meet each Tuesday morning from 7:30 to 8:30, enjoy coffee and donuts, and open with joys, concerns, and prayer. We’ve covered the New Testament and have started the Old Testament. Our opinions differ on many subjects, including interpretation of the Bible, but our strong belief in and love for Christian values is very unifying. In addition to gaining excellent Bible knowledge, our group has developed a reinforced dedication to serving our Lord and a strong sense of camaraderie.
The men in our group represent a broad spectrum of experience in many occupations. Our varied resources have helped resolve some seemingly difficult questions and problems. When members have endured illness or passed away, we have kept them and their loved ones in our prayers, sent cards, attended memorial services, and to varying extents kept in touch with widows. Recognizing that men are often reluctant to discuss personal health issues, we encourage sharing with the group so we can give moral support, encouragement, and help if needed. We’ve prayed for a member’s brother’s serious health concern and in so doing have become connected to him and now consider him an honorary member. We have an annual Christmas dinner with our spouses, which further enhances our connection with one another.
Over the past 15 years, we’ve grown to our current 22 members, and we welcome more new members. We truly feel a sense of brotherly love for each other and take the teachings of Jesus to heart.
If you are looking for a group to grow in faith and friendship with, Pastors Scott and Cheryl would be happy to help. Find their contact information at fumcr.com/staff
THE CALL stories of God's leading in our community rev. julia castleman
I grew up very involved in the church. When I was in junior high, I felt that God was calling me to work in the church one day. However, my church told me that women were not allowed to lead the church in their denomination. I didn’t know what to do, but I knew I was committed to following God.
In college, I found people who allowed women to work in ministry and my life changed! God was using people like me to do amazing things! I got a job at the Methodist church in town one summer, and right away The United Methodist Church felt like home. I joined the church and shortly after realized that God was calling me to ordination. So, I went to seminary and became a Licensed Local Pastor, and now I will be commissioned as a provisional elder on June 9 at FUMCR. After two years of residency, I will be fully ordained in the UMC.
Throughout my life I’ve experienced the amazing healing and hope that a healthy church can bring as well as the deep hurt that an unhealthy church can cause. My life’s call is to help lead the church so it can do the work of healing and hope and not be a place of hurt. I’m so grateful to FUMCR and the UMC for recognizing and supporting that call in my life and giving me a place to do this work!
horizon texas conference ordination worship service
Monday, June 9, 7:00pm · FUMCR Sanctuary · Reception to follow Livestream available at htcumc.org
Rev. Julia Castleman will be commissioned as a provisional elder.
Rev. Scott Luginbill will be recognized as an associate member. Natalie Nenovich is a certified candidate on the path towards ordination as a deacon.
rev. scott luginbill
I didn’t always know where the path would lead — but I always knew the One who was calling.
Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, I heard God’s voice in youth group circles, at summer camps, and in quiet moments of prayer. I didn’t have all the answers, but I felt deep in my bones that my life was meant to point toward something greater. By high school, that whisper had become a call—a persistent nudge: “Serve my people.”
That call led me into youth ministry after college, pouring into teenagers and families with the love of Christ. Along the way, I met Sarah, a fellow traveler on this ministry road. Together we’ve served churches in Shreveport, Dallas, and now Richardson. Our kids are growing up in the rhythms of Sundays, small groups, mission trips, and shared meals around the church table.
When I entered the United Methodist Church in 2006, I was drawn to its connectional spirit, its theology of grace, and its strong belief in the priesthood of all believers. I felt at home. I knew I was in the right place.
Today, as I seek to become an Associate Member of the Horizon Texas Conference, this isn’t just a step in my career—it’s a response to God’s lifelong call. It’s a way of saying yes again and stepping more fully into covenant with my clergy and lay colleagues as we witness to the good news together.
I believe every baptized person is called by God. If my journey encourages someone else to say yes to their calling, then I’ve done my part in God’s unfolding story. God is with us. And with God, every calling matters.
natalie nenovich
There are moments when God’s voice breaks through the noise with undeniable clarity. One of those moments came as I sat by the cross at Bridgeport Camp, watching the sun set over the lake. After a full week of camp, I sought quiet, and in the stillness, I sensed the Holy Spirit gently asking me to let go of control and begin trusting where God was leading. In that sacred space, I said yes to God’s invitation.
A few months later, during a simple conversation with a young girl, I asked what she wanted to be when she grew up. She replied, “A special education teacher or a children’s minister.” Without thinking, I said, “Those are the same things I would say.” Her words echoed the longing in my heart and confirmed what God had already begun to stir.
Soon after, I received an unexpected phone call inviting me to leave my 16-year career in public education to serve in fulltime children’s ministry. I knew it was time. I stepped away from the familiar classroom and into a calling that felt both like a leap of faith and a homecoming.
Since then, I’ve continued saying yes—yes to seminary, yes to nurturing children and families, and yes to pursuing ordination as a Deacon in the United Methodist Church. God continues to shape my gifts, inviting me to build bridges between education and ministry. It’s not always easy, but the grace is abundant. And I’m still saying yes.
hearing not required by Linda Ortman
You might be interested to know that I was baptized as an infant, confirmed, and joined FUMCR at the Greenville Avenue location! Some of you might have known me as Linda Very or Linda Hair. I’ve loved this church for many years, and even though I’ve lived in other states and had membership in other United Methodist Churches, I was glad to return to my home church in 1990. While I was traveling for work, I managed to teach Sunday school, participate in UMW
(United Methodist Women, now United Women in Faith), and attend other FUMCR functions until June 19, 2005, when I lost all my hearing in my left ear. It was called “Sudden Hearing Loss,” and there was no clinical reason for it! I wanted to find a task that I could do for the church even if I couldn’t hear well.
When FUMCR moved to our current location in 2006, volunteers were recruited for new tasks including refilling the church pew racks with prayer request cards, information cards, giving envelopes, and the like. Good hearing was not necessary; we just had to be available on Mondays to work with a crew of people. Joann Zastoupil was our crew leader. It was a fun job, took about an hour, and I felt proud to contribute my time to help the church. I have continued that task, and even now Monday mornings are spent at the church. A few months ago,
Natalie Nenovich taught the Fellowship Sunday School Class and mentioned that she needed someone to prepare the “kids' fun bags” they take with them to worship. When no one else volunteered, I figured I could do that on Mondays, too.
Each of us has gifts and talents to share. Even though I’m in my 80s, I can still serve God and the church. We are so fortunate to have a loving, caring community of believers who take initiative when needs present themselves. I encourage you to join a crew and find your niche for service!
FINDING GOD IN THE SMALL STUFF BY
KIM CURTIS
YOUTH MINISTRY ASSOCIATE
As spring comes to an end and summer begins, I find myself reflecting on the past year of youth ministry at FUMCR. We have done a lot of big things – baptized several young people and their families, confirmed nearly 60 teenagers, gone on overnight trips, celebrated holidays, and completed service projects. It has been an exciting and busy year. As I thought about all we have done, I was reminded that these things don’t just happen on their own. A lot of factors go into the decision to be baptized or confirmed. It is easy for me to look at the big, exciting, flashy parts of this year and forget to celebrate the work of God in the small stuff.
We had our Confirmation worship service at the end of April. At one point in the service, I took a moment to look around the Sanctuary. Over 300 people attended that evening, all who care about and support these students’ relationships with God (and that doesn’t count all the people who weren’t able to be there physically)! Each person in that room shared the love of Jesus with our youth, often in small moments. They shared Jesus’ love when they talked to their kids on the way to school, when they sang together in worship, and every time they prayed before a meal. These 7th graders were able to know Jesus through the people in their lives. We are all tasked to be people who help others experience Christ.
I feel so honored that God called me to youth ministry. As our youth work to figure out who God is, I get to be right alongside them. That is such a blessing! While I may be further along in my faith journey, it is exactly that – a journey. We are all taking steps toward God. Often, these steps are small. It isn’t realistic to think we can make huge leaps all the time, but we still move forward every time we put one foot in front of the other. While I love celebrating the big things, something about the small steps fills me with joy. The main thing I remember about this year isn’t the trips or the end result, as incredible as they are. I remember when a student opens up for the first time, is excited to tell me about their day, or loves church so much that they bring a friend.
Working with teenagers helps me remember to notice all the ways God is working, big or small. Every teenager I meet brings me closer to God. Youth have a special way of helping me see God in the everyday things.
GRADUATING SENIOR SCHOLARSHIPS
Thank you to our generous congregation for supporting our high school seniors as they embark on new educational pursuits.
Jack Orr Memorial Scholarship
Andrew Barron, Hannah Chapman
Emmy Grant, Autumn Micknal
Will Patton
Forest Orr Memorial Scholarship
Grace Hall
Craig Kelley Memorial Scholarship
Christian Pritchard-Geddie
Rev. Joy Anderson Scholarship
Brooklyn Ceaser
Hutchinson Family Scholarship
Madeline Singleton
Dorothy L. Davis Memorial Scholarships
Sam Casey, Neve Dreyer
Men of Faith: Bob Moxham Scholarships
Keane Grant , Nicholas Twilley
United Women in Faith: Ruth Thomasson Heart of a Servant Scholarship
Sadie Smith
Edwards Family Youth Scholarship
Peyton Oates
Ben Marshall Honorary Scholarship
Katherine Casey
Sherry Calvert Memorial Scholarship
Chase Eger
Singles Fellowship Class Scholarship –
Marvilou Walters
Peyton Oates
John Garrett Russell Memorial Scholarship
Harrison Devlin
David M. Bailey Memorial Scholarship
Brady Freeman
Spencer DePuy Memorial Scholarship
Grace Hall
JOE OLGUIN
After an absence of five years, it was a joy to be back to work with master stove builders and help the indigenous Mayan people in February this year. The women traditionally cook over a fire pit located on the floor inside their homes. They and their children have to endure open flames and smoke, as there is no ventilation. The smiles and the welcomes we received were wonderful, but the real rewards were the even bigger smiles when the stoves we helped build were completed and blessed for each family. It’s a true blessing that our church supports the Stove Builders Ministry. By sharing my experience, I hope others will be encouraged to go change lives for the better.
While helping us build her stove, a young mother carried her baby on her back all day. Her toddler daughter was right there pouring water into the mortar being mixed and using a trowel to fill cracks between the cinder blocks.
At the adobe home of a 90+-year-old woman, the walls were covered with soot from all the years she’d been cooking on the ground. She watched with great intensity as we built her stove and was all smiles as we blessed it.
DOUG & MARY FINDLEY
We signed up for the Guatemala Stove Builders trip knowing that we would be helping indigenous Mayan families. What we did not anticipate was just how much a stove would help. Even though they live in what we would consider primitive conditions, they all seemed very happy with what they have. Each day we served different families with unique living circumstances, but they were all very kind and so appreciative. The children were especially sweet, and we had so much fun playing with them. They loved the bubbles, jump ropes, and books we brought and were very interested in what we were doing. Some even helped with the stove building. After each stove was completed, we said a prayer and blessed the stove with family members. Seeing the families so moved during the blessings was a highlight of the trip.
KAREN JONES
The 2025 Guatemala Mission Trip truly blessed my heart. I have been on prior mission trips where I enjoyed my work and engagement with the community. But this time, it was different. The impact that we had on these families was not just for short-term change; it was a lifelong gift we provided for them and their children.
I never realized how much difference a stove could make in someone’s life until we built 20 of them over the course of the week. These stoves open an opportunity for the families to cook and share a meal while saving their lungs and their children’s health. Breathing in the smoke for a minute was like inhaling heaviness to me; the soot was unimaginable. I had to step away when it became too much. These families have lived with this constantly, and these stoves will offer them healthier lives.
The families saw the stoves as a gift to them, however, the “real” gift was the way these families touched our lives and impacted us. My heart melted every time a child grabbed my leg for a hug or smiled at the bubbles we blew. They rushed to help us move bricks and loved splashing the water while the bricks were soaking. They joined in the work and the play throughout the day. There was so much joy in the little ones’ faces that it was hard not to smile and realize we were making a difference.
What a small gift it seemed to me to give time and energy to a week of work in Guatemala. However, the impact was huge in terms of the gift of God’s love and grace that we poured into these precious families and the connections we made with them that we will carry in our hearts. FUMCR’s mission trips are gifts that continue giving to those who are served and those who serve. We are all precious to God.
MY MOBILE MISSION
by Paige Hughes, Communications Associate
When people think of ministry, they often imagine preaching from the pulpit or leading a small group. For me, ministry looks a little different - it happens through social media posts, comments, and direct messages. As the person behind our church’s Instagram and Facebook, I’ve come to see this space as a mission field - one where connection, encouragement, and truth meet people exactly where they are. What I thought one year ago would be just another social media job turned into so much more - digital platforms can be powerful tools for sharing God’s love.
Every post we share, from sermon recaps, to mission highlights, to fun behind-the-scenes moments, is crafted with intention. I always ask myself, “How can we connect with someone today?” Maybe it’s someone who hasn’t been to church in years, or someone who just needs a midweek boost. Sometimes, it’s someone who’s never even heard of FUMCR but finds us through a “viral” post about a group or event that interests them! Each day presents unique opportunities for impactful content.
Speaking of impact, one of the most meaningful parts of this role is seeing how far a message can reach and resonate. We’ve had people join us in person after watching our services online for weeks. We’ve heard from countless followers who felt seen and encouraged by a single quote, worship clip, or song. We’ve created a space where those in need feel comfortable messaging to ask for support and prayer. It all reminds me that ministry isn’t limited to a physical space - God can move in equal power through any venue.
My job isn’t about flashy, surface-level trends. It’s about sharing the heart of FUMCR and, more broadly, of God. My goal is for every person who interacts with our social media to feel that.
This work is just one of the many ways we live out our mission to faithfully welcome people for Christ, grow people in Christ, and serve people with Christ. Getting to play a part in that? It’s an absolute gift.
POSTS YOU LOVED!
“Because He Lives” music video featuring Skyland
Third Grade Bible Presentations
More Than Sunday podcast
Vacation Bible Camp 2024 Recap Video
A moment of prayer with Pastor Clayton at a local senior living center
Inspirational quotes
W A TRANSFORMATIVE ENDEAVOR
e have seen so many changes and improvements since FUMCR got involved with Skuinskloof (pronounced “skans-kloof,” sort of!) School 15 years ago. It’s overwhelming to think about what it has meant to us and to the children there.
Skuinskloof is a K-6 school three hours north of Johannesburg, South Africa, and 20 miles from the nearest town. In 2010, church member Jim Myers, who lives part of each year near the school, approached Pastors Clayton Oliphint and Joy Anderson about the school, its many needs, and the potential for making life-changing impacts on its students. At that time, the school had only outdoor pit toilets, a three-room building for seven grades, and no indoor kitchen. The children ate lunch outdoors on a dusty field. They quickly decided that this was a mission our church could and should take on. The first trip was in 2012, and since then we’ve taken five construction trips and a trip by teachers to work directly with the school’s teachers. FUMCR has raised funds to build boys’ and girls’ bathrooms, a building with two classrooms, a kitchen
by Janis and Paul Haydel
and dining room, onsite housing for five teachers, and a storage building. We have also taken teaching and school supplies with help from our children’s ministry.
Being able to work on and provide these additions for the children at Skuinskloof has been very rewarding. We have seen this school grow from a small country school with an enrollment of 80 students to a school of nearly 300 that is one of the best in the area with many families seeking enrollment. With FUMCR’s support, these children are receiving an educational experience that has the potential to significantly improve their lives.
A standout memory from our August 2024 trip was on our final day. The children performed dances they had choreographed. Afterward the teachers danced just for fun and pulled some of us out to dance with them! At the end of the program, all the children, about 250, prayed the Lord’s Prayer together in English. I was teary eyed and choked up, knowing that God is indeed everywhere and we are all God’s children, including around the world in South Africa.
Do you have a story of impact to share?
Which articles have you appreciated reading? What types of stories would you like to shape future issues?
Let us know here:
fumcr.com/yourstoryhere
youth
umyf
6:30-8pm select Sundays in June & July summer bible study
Wednesdays, June 11-July 23 6:30-8pm, First Center
July 20-24
Aug 3
Aug 8-10
Aug 24
hello, summer!
We just finished graduating twins from high school and are now looking ahead (with a bit of trepidation!) to having three children in college this fall. We made it—empty nesters and successful launchers! Time has flown.
In 2007, shortly after our twins were born, Chris and I began looking for a church home where our growing family could be supported and spiritually nurtured. We weren’t just looking for a place to worship; we wanted a community where our three children could be surrounded by love, faith, and people who would walk alongside us as we raised them. While we were searching for a family-friendly church, it also had to have a vibrant youth community and an awesome music program.
We found ourselves at First United Methodist Church Richardson in a brand-new building on Central Expressway. It was a beautiful sanctuary, filled with people who had dreamed of this space and built it. We were welcomed and began to get involved.
Over the past 18 years, each of us has found ways to grow, serve, and belong. This church has shaped not just our Sundays,
by Jen Grant, CFP, FUMCR Finance Committee Chair
but the fabric of our lives. And we’re grateful to have helped shape the church in return. More than a decade ago, our family supported the capital campaign that helped fund the remodeled Youth area in the Bartula Family Life Center, the Orr Music Suite, and the Worship & Arts Center.
Can you imagine your family’s experience at FUMCR without these spaces? We’re proud to have played a small part in making them possible.
Now, as we approach the 20th birthday of this campus, the church is once again looking ahead, imagining what new spaces and ministries will be needed to support the next generation. I’m deeply grateful for
church leadership that is always thinking toward the future.
As a financial planner by profession, I know how essential good planning is to any mission. I’m beginning my third year on the finance committee, and I’ve seen firsthand the thoughtful and faithful way our staff stewards every dollar. I’ve also had the privilege of seeing the report from the Strategic Vision Committee and have been so impressed by the depth of thought and diversity of voices that shaped it.
FUMCR has been a blessing to my family. I’m honored to give back through my time, gifts, and experience to help this church grow into its next season of impact.
Memorial and honorary gifts are a special way to celebrate a life, birthday, anniversary, special occasion, or just to say thank you. Below are the gifts given February 1, 2025 to April 30, 2025
In memory of...
Bob Bass by Henry Childers, Kirby Ansel, Donna Magee
Homer Cary by Nancy and Jim McCord
Ray Hartman by Billy Hartman
Lynn Humphries by Roy and Judy Hohman
Joe Johnson by Carole Frederick, James and Regina Neely, the Apostles Sunday School Class, Chip and Jennifer Rawlinson
Mary Kennard by Marie Kennard, Earl Kennard, Bill and Marcie Crume
Cindy Neinast by William Neinast
Sophia Perry by Chip and Jennifer Rawlinson
Inhonor of...
Sam Asmah by Cathey and David Brooks and Tanis Roelofs
Dan Flanagan by Richard and LaRuth Morrow
praying for...
Members and guests alike are invited to submit prayer requests for our public or private list. fumcr.com/prayer
Michael Lyons by Jerry and Danece Robinson, Jean von Hoffmann, Paul and Priscilla Spencer, June Delleney, Billye Hartman, Gene and Delphia Lawrence, Roby and Sherry Key, Carole Graham, Nancy Robinson, Betsy Haswell, Colleen Meyer, Susan Greene, Annette Birt, Joy Anderson, Larry Chasteen and Jean Baumann,
John and Sarah Hutchison, Betty Glasby, Sarah and Henry Maxwell, Brenda and Jerry Monk, Timothy and Gretchen Feemster, Bonnie Edwards
Jerry Sherfey by the Sophia Sunday School Class
Jay and Katchy Simpson by Doug and Sidne Starnes
Howard Twilley by Bob and Judy Junko, The Doug Crusan Family, Vaughn and Janet Dubose, Doug and Elaine Moreau, Tommy and Barbara Moore, Circle 18 UMW HPUMC, The Greaney Family, Jan and Mark Capehart, Jane and Andy Rooker, Alan and Shirley Tallis
Ian Gill by Richard and LaRuth Morrow
Caitlin Molechat by Bonnie Edwards
Our family of faith is honored to list up the names on our public prayer list as a way to love one another. fumcr.com/prayerlist
503 N. Central Expressway P.O. Box 830877
Richardson, TX 75080
972.235.8385 fumcr.com
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