Advocate 2021, Issue I

ADVOCATE Upper New York

Volume 13 Issue 1

A publication of the Upper New York Conference of The United Methodist Church

Celebrating who we are

Upper New York

ADVOCATE

Celebrating who we are

Volume 13 Issue 1

“ ” “The camping experience was very rich and rewarding and we know that nothing can stop God and that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.”

ADVOCATE Upper New York

A publicatio n

of the Uppe r New York Conference

Volume 13 Issue 1

of The Unit ed Methodist Church

Celebrating w ho we are

On the cover

A day of summer fun

Since 2018, the Genesee Valley District Leadership team has sponsored the annual Summer Fun Retreat for city youth who may not have an opportunity to attend a Christian camp. In the past, the event has taken place at Asbury Retreat Center but due to COVID-19, the team had to make changes. Learn how the summer fun was able to continue despite the obstacles on page 26.

All photos appearing in the Advocate, a publication of the Upper New York Conference, have been printed with permission.

Follow us online: www.unyumc.org, www.facebook.com/uppernewyork, www.twitter.com/uppernewyork, www.instagram.com/uppernewyork 2 UNY ADVOCATE 2021, Issue 1

inside

What’s

08

12 20 28 38

Small but mighty

When it comes to making a difference in their community, church size doesn’t always matter. These churches show how big things can come from small packages.

Celebrating natives

The UNY Committee on Native American Ministries celebrates the traditional ways of the Indigenous people and recognizes Christian faith. Learn more about this ministry and the many talented people that create it.

Diverse and judgement-free

New Horizon Faith Center United Methodist Church in Rochester is a diverse place for everyone to come and worship together and learn about one another. Read how this congregation celebrates all of it’s members’ heritage.

In the spotlight

There are so many churches doing big things in the Upper New York Conference. But what about individuals within those churches? Let’s dive a little deeper as we celebrate some of the contributions of members within.

Mosaix cohort

The goal of Mosaix Global Network is to help church leaders develop multiethnic and economically diverse churches, a church for all people. Learn how the Crossroads District put their cohort program to use.

Office: 7481 Henry Clay Blvd., Liverpool, NY 13088. Telephone: (855) 424-7878. The Upper New York United Methodist Advocate is a publication of the Upper New York Conference of The United Methodist Church, whose mission is to be God’s love with all our neighbors in all places. It is published two times a year. Materials in the Advocate may not be reproduced unless the item is accompanied by a copyright notation. Periodicals postage paid at Utica, NewYork 13504; USPS 14025. Postmaster: send address changes to Upper New York United Methodist Advocate, 7481 Henry Clay Blvd., Liverpool, NY 13088. We reserve the right to edit or decline any items submitted for publication.

unyumc.org 3

J

odi and I frequently walk a section of our neighborhood where there are several new homes being constructed. As each home being built progresses, you begin to see various styles, designs, and tastes, yet each home begins in the same way – the foundation is laid. Foundations are not the most exciting part of a home and for the most part they all look the same. With every new foundation I see, my question is always, “I wonder what this house is going to look like?”

Upon the foundation the unique nature of the home emerges.

In his letter to the church of Ephesus, the Apostle Paul wrote this: “Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God of all who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace was given according to the to the measure of Christ’s gift . . . and God gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and the knowledge of the Son of God . . . from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint 4 UNY ADVOCATE 2021, Issue 1

supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.”

(Ephesians 4)

As the body of Christ, we stand on one foundation. One body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God. We stand on one foundation as we acknowledge the divine identity of Jesus and live out our common purpose of knowing Jesus Christ and making him known. From this common foundation the various gifts and diversity of the church are unleashed to strengthen the body of Christ and proclaim the good news of the Gospel to the world.

Someone once wrote: “The Christian faith is predicated upon the belief that Jesus’ ministry of reconciliation accomplished two otherwise impossible objectives: first restoring the relationship between humankind and the Creator, and secondly restoring the harmonious relationship God intended for people in community”. When we fully experience the grace given to each one, from our common foundation we become the body of Christ that allows God to build a church that acknowledges, celebrates, and utilizes diversity of culture, race, gender, age, and context. We experience that ministry of reconciliation and we offer it to the world. We eradicate all that divides; the “isms” that tear us apart and we partner with God in building the kingdom of God. As we stand on one foundation, we discover the ways in which the Spirit of God is calling us to reach out to the distinctive community around us with the hope of Jesus Christ. Our foundation, our calling, our purpose is the same, while our gifts and experiences are unique. It is that uniqueness that is used by God to make the Church strong, to fit and hold together what every joint supplies SO THAT the body will grow

and build itself up in love. So, the Gospel will be proclaimed, and the mission fruitfully and faithfully lived out.

In Upper New York we have much to celebrate as we stand and build upon our common foundation. The pages of this edition of the Advocate represent the fullness and rich diversity of the body of Christ. These are stories of how in our diversity we are building upon one foundation, offering a representation of Jesus Christ that reaches into every corner and every life within our communities.

As you read these pages, I hope you will celebrate the rich tapestry that is the Church. I hope you will celebrate the faithful response of brothers and sisters in Christ in all places, stages and experiences saying yes to God’s call to be the Church. But most of all, I hope you will be encouraged and challenged by the truth that God is calling and equipping you to be a part of offering Jesus Christ to the world.

With Christ as our head, we who are many and diverse become one body fulfilling God’s purpose in all things. Let’s stand firm on our one foundation, inviting everyone to stand with us, as we continue to watch God build a rich and diverse church that the Holy Spirit will empower to offer the gift of Jesus Christ to a rich and diverse world.

VISIT US ON THE WEB

WWW.UNYUMC.ORG unyumc.org 5

&

Amsterdam UMC

Restoration Ministry

an exciting model of multicultural worship Submitted by Jann Armer, Amsterdam United Methodist / Restoration Ministry

I

n the spring of 2016, the Hispanic Ministry Team of the Upper New York Conference was exploring the feasibility of planting a bilingual ministry in the Amsterdam area.

Amsterdam has a large Hispanic population that we were trying to meet to spread God’s word. Planning meetings were held to explore whether there was support for this ministry in the Albany District.

One of the issues at that time was to find a location that also could provide housing for this ‘church planter’. Meetings were held with Pastor Jose Rodriguez and Pastor Carlos Rosa-Laguer and members 6 UNY ADVOCATE 2021, Issue 1

of Amsterdam UMC where we discussed offering the vacant parsonage as housing for this planter.

Pastor Jose began by doing evangelism within the community and to let the community know about this new ministry.

Pastor Jose played a significant role in helping to establish Restoration Ministry.

While doing evangelism in Amsterdam, Pastor Jose met a young family of farm workers from Central America. He supported them by helping them get things they needed for their young child.

The father in this family is still active in Restoration Ministry.

Pastor Judy Humphrey-Fox had recently been appointed as a half-time pastor at

Amsterdam UMC. She was included in the plans for this ministry. It was important that the pastor be completely supportive in establishing this bilingual ministry.

During 2017, a team was organized at Amsterdam UMC and a few other churches to do some of the logistical work of supporting the ministry. Led by Pastor Jose, a Summer Celebration was held in August 2017. We also received a lot of support from Casa De Dios church in Syracuse.

Pastor Osmar Guerra and his wife Marisol arrived during the fall of 2017 as Pastor of Restoration Ministry. Originally from Cuba, Pastor Osmar had recently been Assistant Pastor at a church in Miami. Pastor Jose had met a few more farm families who joined the ministry to celebrate and praise God. After getting settled and somewhat familiar with Amsterdam, Pastor Osmar began a Bible Study in the parsonage.

Pastor Osmar was passionate about meeting the people in Amsterdam and about establishing this ministry. By spring 2018, the Bible Study had outgrown the parsonage. The Amsterdam UMC opened their doors for the Bible Study to be held in the church. This strengthened the legitimacy of the ministry in the eyes of the community.

The Bible Study continues today (except for the few months it was held on Zoom because of the pandemic).

In the Summer of 2018, Restoration Ministry held a celebration on one of the farms. In late 2018, Restoration Ministry began to deliver food to some members of the ministry from the Amen Soup Kitchen.

This continues today, with Pastor Osmar and Pastor Judy making the deliveries weekly.

In February 2019, to further connect with our farm community, our first bilingual

worship service and meal was held in Amsterdam UMC. The services have been held monthly. (In February 2020 the services were placed on hold because of COVID). The planning of the services is done with our Restoration Ministry team.

This is made up of Amsterdam UMC and Restoration Ministry members. These services are times of worship, to sing, pray and praise God. The services just resumed on January 15, 2020. The only thing that was missing was the meal.

In June 2019, Pastor Judy was appointed quarter-time to Restoration Ministry. She participates in outreach for the ministry, as well as attending the Bible study. The planning of the monthly services alternates between Pastor Osmar and Pastor Judy, with the whole Restoration Ministry Team.

Songs, prayers, scripture, and the message are in English and Spanish.

Restoration Ministry’s philosophy of ministry has always been to meet people and learn about their practical needs.

Relationships are built by spending time with people and meeting those needs. By using this approach, people begin to trust that we are here to serve them, not just try to get them into church.

At present, the individuals that attend Bible Study are from Fultonville, Gloversville, and Amsterdam. Close connections have been made with 10 families who receive food, look to Pastor Osmar for pastoral care, and attend Bible studies.

While the language barrier was a challenge at the beginning of this ministry, we have learned how to communicate. We worship, pray, sing and praise God together.

We all worship the same God! We all share in the love of Christ!

Donate to the Hispanic/Latino New Places for New People Fund Learn more and become a partner now:

www.unyumc.org/ministries/new-places-for-new-people-campaign unyumc.org 7

mighty Small churches

doing

things for God

The Upper New York Conference has hundreds of small churches, with congregations that have less than 50 people in their pews, but that does not mean that these churches cannot do mighty things for God. That does not mean that these churches can’t accomplish amazing ministries for their communities. Here are stories of three churches in our Conference.

8 UNY ADVOCATE 2021, Issue 1

Orchard Park UMC Niagara Frontier District

By Shannon Ligget, Orchard Park UMC Office Administrator

O

rchard Park UMC is a small church in the suburbs of Buffalo, NY, part of the Niagara Frontier District. Average Sunday service attendance over the past few years has been between 30-35 people.

Orchard Park may be small, but they are carrying out a ministry that was created almost 50 years ago to support local families in need. The program, called Acts of Kindness (AOK), has helped several families in the community at Thanksgiving and Christmas. This past Christmas season, they assisted three families, giving each a turkey, 5-6 bags of groceries, a grocery store gift card, a box with fresh dairy and produce, as well as three gifts for each person.

Each child and adult were also given a quilt made by the ladies in our church's Sewing Circle group. Despite a pandemic, the church building being closed, people afraid to venture outside, and the fact that we could not be together, our AOK mission this year was a huge success. Being guided by faith in God, and in each other, we found a way to do the impossible. As we have been blessed in this church, we have been able to bless them. The church will continue it assistance to those in need throughout the year, as we have decided to keep our food shelf open year-round to continue to serve the community.

Candy Carberry leads the AOK ministry; each year she is touched by the gratitude expressed by the families that Orchard Park can help. Candy provided two recent examples:

“One single mom raising two boys had to give up her job temporarily working at a grocery store to stay home with her children,

due to school being closed. She has no family support; she is shouldering the burden alone. In another family, the mother had lost her job because of COVID-19, has no car, and depends on her sister to bring her places, including coming to pick up the gifts and food from our church. Both families completely surprised by the amount and variety of food (they weren’t expecting fresh produce and dairy), delighted by the quilts, and are looking forward to coming to our church as congregants when we reopen the building.”

And the AOK is not the only amazing ministry taking place at Orchard Park.

Orchard Park pastor Jennifer Stamm said, “Not only do we have our AOK Ministry, but we collect items for Clara's Closet; it is a volunteer-run donation center that provides refugees with clothing and household items located in Central Park UMC. We support Seneca Street UMC with meals and financial support, as well as collecting items that they need and helping with donating gifts and working at the Christmas Shop at the holidays. Our sewing circle is an ecumenical group that makes beautiful quilts and blankets for those in need and our AOK families. We have volunteers that travel to the Red Bird Mission every summer to work on home projects. Last but not least, is the Shoes for Nicaragua project. We collect shoes for children in Nicaragua so that they are able to attend school. I believe working side by side, helping others is one of the best ways to show God's love. COVID may have slowed us a little, but it hasn't stopped our efforts. As the song goes – ‘I get knocked down, but I get up again, you’re never gonna keep me down.’ We may be limited in what we can do right now but we are ready to get back up again and show God's love!” unyumc.org 9

Waterville UMC Mohawk DIstrict

By Bryant (Waterville UMC Pastor) and Kristina Clark Before we first started dating, my now wife asked me, “So what do your churches do?” I wasn’t sure what she meant - “well we worship on Sundays, have Bible study on Monday nights; there’s choir rehearsal on Thursdays.” “No I mean what do they actually do?” I did my best to not get defensive - I work a complicated job she would soon learn. I started listing the things I do in a week; I never did quite understand what she was asking... until we started the diaper bank.

It started early in the pandemic, as a church we wanted to help the people in our community who were experiencing hard times. Diapers, it was pointed out by one of our parishioners, were not covered by any type of government assistance. We started small by identifying five families in our village that were experiencing diaper need. At the

10 UNY ADVOCATE 2021, Issue 1

start of each month we committed to showing up to these families’ house with a smile and a box of diapers. In those first months we formed relationships with them, celebrated birthdays and holidays, opened our hearts and shared each other's pains as the world seemed to be balancing on a pin. It felt like we were doing some big things back then but we had no idea what God had in store.

As we continued this project, a newer member of our church confided in me that she’d always thought our area needed a diaper bank. “What’s a diaper bank?” I asked. It’s like a food bank, just with diapers I found out. I found out a lot of things in those early months: over a third of all young families in America struggle to meet their diaper need, a newborn baby can use up to 10 diapers in a day and diapers, it turns out, come in different sizes - who knew?

We were all learning as we went, and support for our new mission effort was growing rapidly, not just in our church but in the outer community as well. We felt the Spirit calling us to something much bigger, to take the next step and open our diaper bank to the whole public community. I don’t think any of us truly felt we were ready, but thanks-be-to-God we said “yes” to the Spirit’s moving in our hearts. Our first communitywide diaper drive gathered more than 2000 diapers from church goers and community members alike. Something big was about to happen in our little town and at our 40-person church.

Since Halloween 2020, when we officially launched It Takes a Village Diaper Bank, we have distributed over 15,000 diapers to any who attend our distributions - no questions asked. We’ve served residents from 27 of the surrounding towns and villages

and have interacted with more than 200 unique families so far. We’ve partnered with countless other churches, nonprofits, and other organizations, most especially our local public library, allowing us to distribute other items like baby wipes, baby items, sanitary pads, books, winter gear, toys, and to over 100 families every month. In 2021 we are on track to more than quadruple our 2020 numbers thanks in large part to donations and support from our community and other Methodist churches.

We are the only diaper bank in Oneida County and are working hard to sustainably grow our mission so it can continue to be a resource for families that count on us every month. A generous donation from a neighboring Methodist church now allows us to now move our diaper bank out of the church and into a storefront here in Waterville. While I am as relieved as the rest of our church to have our church free of diapers, I will never forget the image of my first church empty of its congregation in the middle of a pandemic, but filled to the brim with diapers and baby supplies. Our Sunday school rooms, fellowship hall, and

choir rehearsal areas will always remind me of the time they were absolutely covered in items waiting to fill people’s basic needs. It’s the kind of chaos God calls creation from and we’ve been blessed to be a part of it.

It’s hard to imagine where our church and our community would be if we had said “no” to God’s nudging. What if we decided diaper need was too big of a task for our little church to take on? What if we were too wrapped up in our own pandemic worries to care for our neighbors? I don’t know the answer to these questions, but what I do know is that through our diaper bank, God has not only empowered our church to make a difference, but has taught our little church what it means to act in faith. It has challenged our notions of what it means to be a follower of Christ and even our ideas about what the church is for.

We have seen a lot in this past year: some of it good, and a lot of it painful. But what I know for sure is that something is happening that started in our little church and has continued to expand outward. The Spirit has challenged us to see the needs of our neighbors first, to collaborate with other churches and organizations and to be a church willing to take risks and truly step out in faith. In this COVID season, I expect lots of us are searching for God’s guidance. The question we must ask ourselves is who is willing to say yes.

To learn more about It Takes a Village Diaper Bank, visit www.watervillemethodist.org/ diaperbank.

unyumc.org 11

Celebrating

Natives in Upper New York

By Kae Wilbert, CONAM

“...here we are, many Native people scattered throughout the Northeast, still very proud of our heritage and finding every way we can to participate in traditions and celebrate community.”

12 UNY ADVOCATE 2021, Issue 1

T

he Committee on Native American Ministries (CONAM) is a devoted gathering of Native and non-Native people.

We have become special friends over the years, traveling together not only to Northeastern Jurisdiction Native American Ministries Committee (NJNAMC)annual meetings, but also, to visit each of the three Native churches during weekend retreats.

Many talented people come together to create CONAM. It is important for us to meet as Native people to share in our heritage as well as celebrate being a part of the United Methodist tradition. This puts us in a unique position, not only by celebrating the traditional ways of the Indigenous people with respect, but also by recognizing our Christian faith. It is always evident how much we enjoy and learn from each other when we meet face-to-face.

CONAM celebrates our relationship with the three Native American churches within the Upper New York Conference; Four Corners UMC: Cattaraugus Territory, Onondaga Nation UMC: Onondaga Nation, and the Hogansburg UMC: Mohawk Territory.

It has been a joy to be involved on each of the territories. We also celebrate the relationship we have built with off- territory Native people through grant funding and recognition of their advocacy work.

The Haudenosaunee people are in a unique position in the Northeast because they have preserved their territories. The Haudenosaunee Christian people have a challenging situation, maintaining a church on the territory surrounded by traditional Native friends and family members.

CONAM supports the Native American Transportation Outreach Program on the Onondaga Nation,which provides necessary transport for Native Elders to medical appointments. Driver Darlene Papineau is a dependable friend and often stays with the elders while waiting for appointments providing nurture and friendship. Darlene was the recipient of our first Four Directions Humanitarian Award in 2019.

Numerous CONAM members are involved in the NJNAMC. This has given us the opportunity to learn and embrace traditions of other Native people throughout the 10Conference jurisdictional area. Just when you thought all the Native people were west of the Mississippi, here we are, many Native people scattered throughout the Northeast, still very proud of our heritage and finding every way we can to participate in traditions and celebrate community.

It has been interesting to learn how our neighboring Native people in the Jurisdiction have maintained their indigenous identity as well as participate in the UMC. Their situations are very different from the Haudenosaunee people because of loss of land base. Many have turned to their churches to provide a place of gathering and celebration of Native identity.

UNY members on the Executive Committee of NEJNAMC include:

Sharon Schmitt

Secretary, 2009-2016 Treasurer, 2017-2020

Bethany Printup Davis Vice-chair, 2021-2024

Kae Wilbert

Treasurer, 2021-2024

unyumc.org 13

Upper New York Committee on

Native American

Ministries:

Advocating and educating about

missing and murdered indigenous women and girls

By the Upper New York Committee on Native American Ministries (CONAM)

Editor’s note: CONAM’s advocacy work is something to celebrate.

14 UNY ADVOCATE 2021, Issue 1

T

he Upper New York (UNY) Committee on Native American Ministries (CONAM) seeks to advocate for ministry with and by Native Americans and educate all regarding the rich and diverse culture, history, and traditions of Native Americans.

There are three Native American United Methodist churches in the Upper New York Annual Conference: • Four Corners United Methodist Church, located on the Cattaraugus Territory • Hogansburg United Methodist church located on the St. Regis Mohawk Reservation at Akwesasnee

• Onondaga Nation United Methodist Church located on the Onondaga Nation Indian Territory This quadrennium, CONAM of UNY as well as the Northeastern Jurisdiction Native American Ministries Committee are working on the advocacy and education about the state of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls (MMIWG) and the lack of solving these many missing persons cases.

The continuing reports of abductions and murders of Native women and girls represent one of the most horrific aspects of the spectrum of violence committed against Native women. The murder rate of Native women is more than 10 times the national average on some reservations and homicide is the third leading cause of death among Native women and girls and 10-24 years of age. Often, these disappearances or murders are connected to crimes of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and sex trafficking. Unfortunately, many of these cases go unsolved and unfiled due to complex legal and jurisdictional rules.

At this time only 116 of the 5,712 cases of murdered or missing Native women have been logged into the Department of Justice’s nationwide database.

National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls. May 5th was the birthday of Hanna Harris, a 21-yearold member of the Northern Cheyenne tribe who went missing on July 4, 2013. Each year since 2017, the national movement to end violence against Native women has organized activities in support of the May 5th National Day of Awareness.

This National Day of Awareness also highlights the need for ongoing grassroots advocacy and changes to the laws, policies, and increased allocation of resources to end these injustices. Individual and/or joint actions at the local, tribal, state, national, and international levels are needed this year. The issues surrounding missing and murdered Native women must be brought into the public's awareness to increase the accountability of the justice systems. In uncertain times such as these, where people are forced to work from home or lose their jobs altogether, it can put people in abusive relationships at further risk.

You can take action by visiting The Northeastern Jurisdiction Native American Ministries Committee(https://www.nejnamc. org) website to find petitions to sign and to further educate yourself on this important issue.

Did you know?

In 2017, the Montana Congressional Delegation led the way for passage of a Senate resolution declaring May 5 as a

*Artwork by Paige McNatt (20 years old, member of the New Jersey United Methodist Conference and a member of the Lenni Lenape Nation).

• 84 percent of Native women and girls experience violence in their lifetimes.

• 86 percent of sexual assaults against Native women and girls are by non-Native men.

• Native women are murdered at a rate 10 times the national average. unyumc.org 15

Korean Being a

pastor

in Caucasian

congregations

16 UNY ADVOCATE 2021, Issue 1

Gloversville: Foothills UMC

By Rev. Dr. Moon Ho Kim, Gloversville: Foothills UMC

O

ne day I went to a restaurant to have dinner soon after I came to this country more than four decades ago. A waitress came to take an order, "What would you like to have for dinner?" I chose one among the steaks in the menu. But it was not easy to order the steak dinner because of many questions following one after another. "How would you like to have the steak done?" asked the waitress. I couldn’t understand what she meant, "Excuse me, what did you say?" "How would you like to have your steak done? Rare, medium or well done?" "Well, I don't know. What is rare and medium?" I replied. For it was the first time I ordered a steak dinner in this country, neither had I ever dined out in any American restaurant before even in S. Korea. "It's up to you,” I retorted, “Please bring whatever you feel like bringing.

I just want to eat a steak for dinner this evening." "Okay! I will," she said.

But she asked me again, “How would you like to have your potato?" At the moment, I was a little irritated. I was not used to answering those questions. "What do you mean?" I asked the waitress. "How would you like to have your potato? French fry, mashed potato or baked?" "I'm sorry. I really have no idea. Would you please choose one of them for me? And, please don’t ask me any more questions." I heaved a sigh of relief, thinking all her questions were over.

She was, however, still standing beside me for another question: "What would you like to choose among these side dishes: green beans, carrots, coleslaw, or cottage cheese?"

You know what my answer was. "I really don't know. It's totally up to you." She said with smile, "Okay!" Yet, she kept torturing me with the next question, "What kind of salad dressing do you want? We have Italian, French, and Russian dressing." "I don't know.

I’ve never tasted those dressings in my life.

Bring any dressing you like to recommend."

"Okay! I will," she replied.

But she didn’t leave me alone. "Sir, I’m sorry for bothering you again,” said the waitress, “I have the last question to ask.

‘What drink would you like to have?’” “Coffee, please,” I articulated my answer; it was the only question I could understand and with it I thought all the torturing time was over.

However, my guess was not right. “What coffee would you like to have, caffeinated or decaffeinated?” she continued. “Caffeinated,” I replied, wondering what it really means.

Anyway, I was feeling relieved to give her a straight-forward answer for the first time.

But it was not long before she was asking again, “Do you want sugar and creamer for the coffee?" "Yes, please!" Along with this answer, the waitress folded her orderbook and walked away from me. I was feeling like the student who came out of the classroom after finishing the important exam. That was a quite experience I had in the American restaurant right after I came to this country, and the funny episode is still lingering in my head even after four decades passed by.

The reason I opened this article with my funny experience is to tell you that one of the great luxuries we enjoy in this country America is the luxury of choice, sometimes, too many for us to get unspoiled. Yet, we Korean-American pastors and their spouses raised in Korean culture are not accustomed to this American culture in which many choices or options are offered to choose.

In Korean culture, as children, we got well oriented to adapt whatever parents decide for unyumc.org 17

in other church activities like church dinner sales and community events. KoreanAmerican pastors think it is not option but a basic duty to go to church Sunday morning and worship the Lord like good students who never think it optional to go to school every day.

It has been almost four decades since I started a full-time parish ministry as an ordained clergy in the United Methodist Church, and in the end of June this year 2021, I’m planning to retire from my ministry.

Prior to it, I would like to take this opportunity to share with you two major issues I’ve been thinking of, particularly, as one of the KoreanAmerican pastors serving in the crosscultural ministry. us in our behalf and follow it without thinking any other options to choose. Even during our adolescence, we had no other choices but to focus on studying hard in school in order to enter one of the top universities in S. Korea. If we chose some other option such as dating with a girlfriend during high school days, they feel that they already become a loser in competition with other friends and classmates.

But you know what? Such a different cultural background has turned out beneficial later as we develop our pastoral leadership in the cross-cultural ministry, particularly, in Anglo-American parishes where many options and choices are tempting people to go astray from God. For instance, one of the issues most Korean-American pastors are struggling with is how to understand the parishioners who scarcely come to church to worship Sunday morning but faithfully show up 18 UNY ADVOCATE 2021, Issue 1

First, prejudice was a stumbling stone in my parish ministry like most ethnic-minority pastors are experiencing. It’s obvious that prejudice is very common and universal in everyone’s life, yet the war against prejudice is never-ending, particularly, in the context of cross-cultural ministry. Because of a different culture and language barrier, Korean-American pastors sometimes have to face a negative attitude from some of their parishioners and community people as well.

Their unfavorable feeling formed beforehand without knowledge about us leads our ministry to unnecessary conflicts mainly in the area where not many parishioners have an opportunity to see foreigners in their community. Many people call it racism, but racism is derived from people’s mind filled with prejudice, which is the preconceived perception toward a different person with a different skin color and different language.

Yet, throughout ministering to several Caucasian congregations I came to acknowledge such a negative perception was gradually melting away as time, went by, particularly, when working together with them as their pastor. The more often I spent time with them, the more quickly their prejudice was gone. Otherwise, I would not have

witness for it through their ministry. Despite cultural and language barriers, they endeavor to spread the Gospel about Jesus and the kingdom of God as the Apostle Paul did in no matter what different circumstances in culture and language during his missionary journey in the first century. When we study the Book of Acts, we realize how powerful Paul’s cross-cultural ministry was wherever God moved him from one place to another mainly in the pagan world.

continued my cross-cultural ministry even a year. To the contrary, the people who had resisted me at first have eventually turned out to be the most friendly and closest to me by the time I leave their churches.

I appreciate that most Methodist lay leaders and congregations are so openminded, kind, inclusive, and embrace their Korean-American new pastor each time I was appointed to new parishes. It was totally God’s grace that I was able to serve the Lord with such wonderful and gracious Methodist people throughout the whole years of my ministry despite cultural and language barriers between.

The different spiritual background most Korean-American pastors have is another contributing factor to managing their crosscultural ministry comparatively well. In general, they’ve grown in the conservative and spirit-filled Christian community in S. Korea or Korean-American immigrant community in this country. Accordingly, most of them have a worship-centered, Bible-centered and Christ-centered faith in addition to their strong financial supports for global missions. Amid the secularization of Christianity of this day, they keep striving hard to hold a Judeo-Christian value and

Here in the cross-cultural context, one element contributing to Paul’s powerful and fruitful ministry was not only his fluent bilingual speaking of Hebrew and Greek languages but the sincere image he planted in the minds of people living in a different culture, tradition and language. The same is true of most Korean-American pastors serving in the cross-cultural ministry. Since English is not their native language, it is not easy to speak as good as their parishioners do. Nevertheless, they show their sincere and faithful heart in the parish ministry and keep striving hard to fulfill their important role as a spiritual leader. I’ve perceived throughout all my cross-cultural parish ministries how true it is that our fruitful

ministries are not produced out of fluent speaking of language but rather on our sincere heart and dedicated spirit to people in need of our care and God whom we love to worship faithfully as well. unyumc.org 19

New Horizon Faith Center UMC a diverse and judgement-free zone

By Kathleen Christiansen, UNY Conference Guest Writer

N

ew Horizon Faith Center United Methodist Church in Rochester is a diverse community. The Rev. Patrick Crumity, the church’s senior pastor, said his congregants span nationalities from West Indian to Jamaican, Caucasian, and African American.

Rev. Crumity believes this diversity is important because it helps paint a clearer depiction of heaven.

“Heaven’s not gonna look like one race,” he said. “Heaven’s a mixture of all people, and so, it’s so important for people to know that at New Horizon, we’re not caught up on your complexion; we’re not caught up on your background; we’re not caught up on your pedigree. It’s a place for everyone to come and worship together and learn about each other.”

One issue society must address, according to Rev. Crumity, is a lack of understanding.

“The biggest problem we have in society: We’re ignorant of each other’s struggles.

We’re ignorant of each other’s culture,” he 20 UNY ADVOCATE 2021, Issue 1

said. “If you create an environment where we can all come and feel free to be ourselves and accept and share our experiences, I mean, what a loving fellowship that creates.”

New Horizon celebrated Black History Month in February, but to be inclusive of all backgrounds, the faith center celebrated the cultures of every congregant on Feb. 28, the final Sunday of the month.

“We celebrate all of our heritage so we can learn about each other,” he said. “The more we learn about each other, the better we’ll be able to react and love on one another.”

New Horizon Faith Center has been uniting the Rochester community since it formed in 2017, when the Grace and West Avenue United Methodist churches merged.

“We are babies, but we’re full of mature Christians who are some of the most gracious people I’ve ever met,” Rev. Crumity said. “They are kind. They are loving. They’re willing to do whatever they can for the community.”

Rev. Crumity has been involved with New Horizon for about two years. He started off by filling in as a musician, then he became the

associate pastor and assisted with spiritual counseling, Bible studies and more. In April 2020, as he was walking through Walmart, Rev. Crumity received an email asking if he would serve as the church’s senior pastor.

“Graciously and with enthusiasm, I said, ‘Yes,’” Rev. Crumity recalled. Now he’s happy to be at the helm of the community-focused New Horizon Faith Center that is not caught up on tradition.

“We do respect and honor our tradition and where we’ve come from,” Rev. Crumity said.

“We respect all those that paved the way for us. We just don’t let it rule us to where people who don’t know about The United Methodist Church are offended or feel like they had to dress a certain way or act a certain way to be a part of our congregation.”

Part of that outreach has involved the development of a youth ministry to attract students from nearby University of Rochester. These pupils not only utilize the facilities and WiFi, but also, a few have also participated in the youth church and created a Zoom Bible study program.

“Our youth ministry is up and coming and is very dear to me because I’m a former youth pastor,” Rev. Crumity said. “I know how vitally important it is, and we’re looking to expand it even more because I want to do an after-school program.”

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, New Horizon continued to reach the community — but in new ways. They began offering worship outside in the parking lot, pulling up lawn chairs as the congregation came together on Sundays.

“We were worshiping God in a very versatile and very welcoming way,” Rev. Crumity said. “We’re United Methodist, so the message stays the same, but sometimes the method has to change. We had to adapt our method without changing the message, and I think that’s what’s kept us effective and relevant in our community.”

To expand that relevance during the COVID-19 era, New Horizon’s media ministry was born. While the church previously had a Facebook page, they soon realized videos shot on cellphones were not going to cut it.

They purchased camera equipment, created a YouTube page, utilized Zoom and trained members to use this new technology.

“The media ministry has really been our lifeline to keep us all connected,” Rev. Crumity said.

New Horizon has also maintained its link to the community amid COVID by handing out free boxed meals to those in need and preparing and distributing free, hot, carryout meals around Thanksgiving time.

“The word ‘horizon’ kind of means when heaven meets earth, and so, that’s kind of what New Horizon is,” Rev. Crumity said.

“We consider ourselves God’s hands and feet, where we do God’s work — whether it’s feeding, whether it’s praying, whether it’s giving toiletries.”

Ultimately, Rev. Crumity hopes his congregation pleases God.

“We are a little church with a huge heart,” he said. “New Horizon is really a church that’s really a judgement-free zone. We get behind each other, we support each other 1,000 percent, and I’m proud and privileged to be the preacher and the pastor of this church.”

While the faith center is in the process of looking for a new building — as they’ve outgrown their current digs — they want to stay on Rochester’s west side.

“We feel that’s what we’ve been called to do,” Rev. Crumity said. “We’re really a church where anyone and everyone is accepted.” unyumc.org 21

The growing of a

"New Harvest"

in Utica, New York

By Rev. Antonio González García, Hispanic Ministry in Utica. N.Y

T

hrough 2020, God was constantly leading us to think about this biblical passage for the Church: ¨He himself constituted some apostles, other prophets, other evangelists and other pastors and teachers, in order to perfect the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edification of the body of Christ¨ -Ephesians 4: 11-13

I am thankful that God has been good in allowing me to work alongside Upper New York pastors. We have felt that God has called us to do our best in this Utica Hispanic Ministry; the welcome and love of the brothers and sisters has been a driving force to work together and strengthen the vision of preparing ourselves to gain new lives.

22 UNY ADVOCATE 2021, Issue 1

This Utica Community of Faith is currently focused on: Foundation and Vision:

• Preparing and strengthening our Christian Community in creating all the foundations and all the necessary steps for the incorporation of our Faith Community towards a solid Church.

• Strengthening the different work areas, which would give a structural solidity for subsequent growth in a staggered manner and without setbacks (the finance team, the trustees team, Pastor Parroquia, and others).

• Strengthening and creating a broad vision and a solid strategy for formation

through Discipleship classes, of new disciples committed to the work of our Methodist Church, which is undoubtedly the work of God.

• Continuing the work with the most faithful brothers and sisters, in classes for leaders. in the formation of new pillars that will in turn strengthen teamwork.

Discipleship:

We have 10 bothers in Discipleship classes; their fidelity infects others to move forward. They are very committed to recognizing the importance of preparing and growing spiritually, and in biblical knowledge. One of the brothers expressed, ¨These classes bring us closer to God even more and build Christian principles in our lives that make us better people.¨ Leadership classes:

We have leadership classes with five brothers; their desire is to prepare themselves with the necessary tools to serve God their desire to be useful in the Church makes them understand the secret of teamwork, projecting themselves towards the growth of the Church. These leaders will be future teachers and the columns of a Church that does not stop.

day from the hard work, but very blessed to see the smile of the people when we arrive at their homes and with all our hearts we bless them with food and much more.

You might wonder where is the church of Utica going? I could tell you that we are going with the help of God towards the formation and consolidation of a solid and strong church that can win many lives for Christ and moves with the vision of serving others in the community as instruments of all blessing.

We are together strengthening teamwork and creating strategies to be a church with the necessary tools to be able to look big.

Our plans and purposes for this new Conference year is to work for the development of new leaders, to strengthen spiritual growth and the growth in number of young people. We hope to create fraternities of women, men, and young people. We are working to create a strong school of music.

I thank God because he has always been by our side with the necessary strategies to move forward, I also thank my wife Gina, and my family, Josué, Lisy, and David for being so supportive for my Ministry and always being present. I also thank my entire Utica church for being so supportive and for having me in their hearts as their Pastor.

Ministry of aid to those in need:

This ministry has been a great blessing in our church, God allowed us to join together with several churches in the Utica area and its surroundings to serve the Community and the brothers and sisters of our church by bringing food to their homes, every Thursday we prepare very early to blessing many people with bags of food, it is an exhausting unyumc.org 23

All are radically welcomed at

Camp & Retreat Center

By Theresa Eggleston, Ministry Assistant Casowasco Camp & Retreat Center Turning into the driveway filled with green pine trees, guests drive down a winding hill to the welcome center to hear the words, “Welcome Home.” The Upper New York Annual Conference is home to several wonderful camp and retreat ministries.

Nestled on the shores of Owasco Lake between Moravia and Auburn is Casowasco Camp & Retreat Center. From summer camp to retreat season, Casowasco strives to live into our unofficial greeting, “Welcome Home.”

We hope that every participant, from all backgrounds, is able to feel that this space is safe and holy. It is a place where, not despite our differences, but because of our differences, we are able to live and grow in a community of God’s love with one another.

One of the cornerstones of Casowasco’s ministry is intentional radical hospitality.

24 UNY ADVOCATE 2021, Issue 1

Recognizing our location and demographic, we actively engage the community at large in order to diversify the camp and retreat experience for all participants. We recognize the ever-changing world before us and aspire to be God’s kingdom here on earth.

Casowasco connects with organizations such as Syracuse Housing Authority, Unity House, Moravia Middle School, and other local establishments in order to create opportunities for all people to come retreat and camp with us.

During the summer months, Casowasco builds a summer staff that fosters this climate. For the past few summers, the majority of Camp & Retreat Ministries in the Upper New York Conference have welcomed staffers from around the world, from the United Kingdom to Uganda to disciple alongside one another. This relationship of living in a community of God’s love across cultural bounds sets a precedent of welcoming campers of all backgrounds.

This groundwork helps us teach every camper three simple truths.

1. There is a God 2. God loves you 3. God wants a relationship with you

This environment encourages campers to “try on” different traits they might not have had the opportunity to experience before, from adventurous and cunning, to silly and compassionate. The community created at Casowasco invites children to step outside of their comfort zone in a safe and loving environment that openly welcomes their race, religion, gender, and socio-economic background.

The summer of 2019 gave staff and campers the opportunity to experience transforming communities through our Bible study curriculum. Chapel skits were based off of the ever popular TV show Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood. On Tuesday, campers learned about the theme, inclusion. The camp community learned how “... radical acts of inclusion challenge conformity to this world’s practices of exclusion.”1 During evening chapel, campers watched a clip from 1969 where Officer Clemmons and Mr. Rogers cool off their feet in a pool together. The message that night talked about why this clip was important in 1969 and why it is still important today.

message, campers learned about the difference between equality and equity. The visual aid showed three people of various heights watching a baseball game over a wooden paneled fence. The tallest could see over the fence while the two shorter could not see at all. Equality was shown by giving each person a stool. Equity was shown by giving each person a different sized stool to accompany their varying heights. Justice was shown by changing the fence from wooden panels to wire so that each height difference could see the baseball game.

These various themes throughout the summer camp curriculum helped campers and staff learn that we have the power and autonomy to be agents of change to transform communities we live in today.

Casowasco believes that being an agent of change to transform our communities can happen at any age. That is why we provide opportunities for people of all ages to come to camp. Through Family camp, Summershine, Mother-Daughter, and FatherSon participants of all ages and generations are encouraged to come and enjoy what camp has to offer. These programs welcome families of all kinds to grow and live in the kingdom of God that is here and now.

With each participant that comes down Casowasco’s driveway, whether it be summer or retreat season, it is our passion to welcome them with radical hospitality that celebrates the diverse tapestry of God’s kingdom. It is with every effort that every person here experiences the words, “Welcome Home.”

On Thursday, campers learned about justice through the parable of the laborers in the vineyard. During the evening chapel 1

Lutheran Outdoor Ministries. Transformed Communities: Agents of Change Curriculum,6.

unyumc.org 25

Summer Fun

Retreat for Rochester youth 2020

By Rev. Vonda Fossitt, Lakes Region District Superintendent

26 UNY ADVOCATE 2021, Issue 1

W

hat a blessing! Ministry continues to witness God in action in the City of Rochester was the highlight of the summer for our District Leadership Team in 2020. We were able to run our annual District event- The Summer Fun Retreat. In its third year, this was a successful ministry event despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Genesee Valley District Leadership Team sponsored their third annual Summer Fun Retreat. We were blessed to receive the Ercil Cady Grant funds for 2020. The retreat originally was planned to run August 4-7 on site at Asbury Retreat Center. Our initial plan was to send youth to Asbury to experience Christian camping. But because of the Covid-19 pandemic, Asbury was unable to host our campers this year. Instead Camp counselors from Asbury, along with their director Sue Russell, came to the city church Wesley FOC United Methodist Church, for a day to lead us in activities.

We had 26 kids along with 14 staff/ adult volunteers who participate in the day camp programming. Activities ranging from Bible study to water games, kept the youth engaged while learning about Jesus. What kept us safe was the good weather that allowed us to stay primarily outside as well as observing the CDC guidelines of hand sanitation and wearing masks.

The theme of the week was Rolling River Rampage emphasizing the story of Jesus Calling the disciples saying, “Follow me”. The camping experience was very rich and rewarding and we know that nothing can stop God and that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. We are grateful for the connection with Asbury Camp & Retreat Center and the support of the Earl Cady grant funds. The day camp ran from Aug. 4 through 7, daily from 10-3.

unyumc.org 27

Profile Rev. Pam Klotzbach

uplifts the lives of

hundreds

By Shannon Hodson, UNY Conference Writer/Editor

T

he Rev. Pam Klotzbach has been an integral part of the UNY Conference since its inception. Ordained in 2010, Pam has a heart for helping the disadvantaged. She is the mother of nine children, six of whom are adopted. The first three children she adopted were children of a member of one of her churches; their single mother passed away and each of the three children were placed in three separate homes. Pam was heartbroken when she heard this, so she went to DSS and went through the process of adopting the children.

Pam said, “Siblings at such a critical age (one aged ten and two teenagers) cannot be separated. That is the worst thing that can happen.”

After taking the adoption courses, she was asked if she would consider foster-care.

She agreed to foster children as well; she expressed interest in young siblings so that they wouldn’t be separated. She ended up with mostly juvenile delinquent boys. When social services saw how well she worked with these boys, they considered Pam their go-to person when these boys needed a placement.

Pam said, “I could see through the boys’ manipulations and I have maintained great relationships with many of the boys who are adults now. We talk on the phone. They send me pictures of their children.”

28 UNY ADVOCATE 2021, Issue 1

Pam’s heart for helping the disadvantaged extends into the churches she has served as well as the local communities.

Shortly after being appointed to Batavia UMC, in 2012, Pam started a day mission called UMTOO (a cryptic spelling standing for United Methodist 2). UMTOO was a place (with a storefront) where homeless and underserved populations could come to learn skills and connect with others.

For example, UMTOO received one grant to teach their visitors to sew. Several women and two men would come to UMTOO for sewing lessons. They had three sewing projects and what they didn’t know is that if they finished all three projects, they were given the sewing machine they used.

Pam said, “The smiles on their faces were priceless.”

UMTOO received a grant from United Methodist Women to teach the visitors how to

play music. A group of women would come to UMTOO for recorder lessons.

Pam said, “They learned to read music and became great performers; they even did a concert for the church.”

This grant also allowed for the purchase of djembe drums and drum circles became a fun activity for visitors.

UMTOO held weekly bible studies, movie nights, and worship services as well.

Volunteers would also offer moral support when visitors had court hearings.

Pam said, “Someone at the courthouse told me once that one of our regulars said to her, ‘These people at UMTOO are amazing; they listen to me better than anyone else has, even mental health counselors.’”

Pam continued, “That was our main goal, to be available for people who needed someone to talk to, someone who would listen; we didn’t require paperwork; we didn’t offer a ton of advice; we just listened.”

After four years of the successful UMTOO, day mission, which served nearly 400 people, some who came daily, some who only came once or twice, UMTOO had to shut down because the rent and utilities became too costly.

In 2017, Pam was appointed to Trinity UMC: Attica and she also preaches at Darien UMC. Not giving up on the purpose of UMTOO, Pam decided to create the same type of day service and formed an ecumenical team to help launch it in Batavia.

This team is called ECGO (Ecumenical Center for Gathering and Outreach).

Two mornings a week, Pam volunteers at the local hospital's drug rehab program, called Hope Haven. She usually meets with the women to discuss spirituality, religion, topics like trust in the family and reunification with children, temptation, nightmares, etc. in the name of Jesus. She has helped a few find church homes where they are going and some call her when they need a listening ear.

Pam said, “I give these women my phone number and tell them if they need someone to talk to, they can call anytime. And they do, sometimes even in the middle of the night.”

In addition to serving two churches, running a day mission effort, chairing the ecumenical group in Attica, and volunteering at the local hospital, Pam is also working diligently to open a warming center for the homeless in Batavia and is passionately fighting through red tape.

Before COVID hit, Pam also offered worship services at the county jail.

Additionally, Pam makes quilts for the Christian Appalachian Project.

Pam is also a trained coach for the Conference and a law school graduate with a degree in Arbitration and Mediation. She is Vice Chair of the Conference Trustees.

Still recovering from COVID-19, which she contracted in December of 2020, Pam said, “Although I am physically in rough shape, my theory is to keep on moving.”

Pam said, “After four years, we were offered the second floor of the First Baptist Church in Batavia. For visibility, it is not ideal, plus there is no elevator to the second floor.

Nevertheless, we are slowly opening to the homeless, the hopeless, and the helpless.”

For the time being, the center is open on Saturdays from 12-6.

unyumc.org 29

Profile

Justin Hood

and his Ingenuity in ministry

By Shannon Hodson, UNY Conference Writer/Editor

L

ittle did Justin Hood know at the age of six, when he started attending Sydney United Methodist Church, that one day, he would be an ordained United Methodist pastor. He thought of becoming a musician.

The Rev. Dave Masland was Justin’s pastor for a decade, from the day Justin stepped into Sydney UMC until he was 16.

30 UNY ADVOCATE 2021, Issue 1

Rev. Masland said, “Justin has an amazing singing voice! Very few people know that now because he doesn’t show it much! But when he was growing up, he'd sing in church and talent shows and blow people away!”

When it was time to attend college, Justin went to Hartwick College, where he double majored in Music and History. But then, during his sophomore year, he changed his history major to something else.

Justin said, “I know this is a little cliché, but I always had this inkling that I’d like to do pastoral ministry, but I kept brushing it away, thinking that I probably wasn’t good enough, but then I started to stop fighting that inkling and exchanged music for religious studies.”

Justin decided to go to Boston University for seminary. Immediately, Justin’s heart for pastoral ministry was evident. While completing his last year of seminary in Boston, Justin held three part-time appointments in the Upper New York (UNY) Conference at Mount Upton UMC, Unadilla Center UMC, and Sand Hill UMC, all rural churches in the Oneonta District.

Justin said, “Of course that was one of the worst winters, so the travel was crazy, but definitely worth it.”

Justin would travel four-and-a-half hours from Boston after midnight on a Thursday night and would run two services on Sunday, and then head back to Boston.

About his time preaching in small rural churches with congregations ranging from eight parishioners to 22 parishioners, Justin said, “I realized at these small churches how much heart and care these people had for one another. Though they were small, they were hugely influential in the community; you serve eight people on a Sunday but serve hundreds at the community dinner they organize.”

After seminary, in 2016, Justin was appointed to Phoenix UMC (a congregation of 20-25) and Brewerton UMC (a congregation of 50-60). Justin was officially Rev. Hood, but still preferred to be called Pastor Justin.

At Phoenix UMC, he explained that lay leader, Judy Craigmile is a “powerhouse of a ministry leader.” She started the Loads of Love Laundry ministry.

Judy appreciated Justin; she said, “Pastor Justin used his excellent listening and leadership skills to help people grow in Christian leadership and theological understanding. His interactions and communications were fair, non-judgmental, and allowed you to come to your own conclusions and decisions rather than him making them for you.”

It was at Brewerton UMC, where Justin began showing his ability to draw people in to become closer to God through a unique Wednesday evening movie night. This took place twice a month. Up to 65 kids and their families would attend. The nights would combine a movie with a mission around a theme.

Continued on page 38.

Justin partnered with the laity in the churches to keep ministries embedded in the churches’ culture alive and well.

At Brewerton, he commended the efforts of Craig and Tammy Allen, who assembled UMCOR kits at the UNY Mission Central HUB monthly prior to the pandemic.

unyumc.org 31

Justin also realized the importance of his congregation to feel a sense of community among one another, so after many services, he would give his parishioners a project to do; for example, before Christmas, they wrote over 150 Christmas cards to people in the VA Hospital.

For example, one theme was pets—the attendees watch a movie about a pet and Justin had a representative from the SPCA speak as well as an agility trainer.

Justin said, “We can all do something together in our separate homes. We need to stay spiritually connected when we are physically apart.”

In July 2020, Pastor Justin was appointed to Skaneateles UMC. In addition to offering online worship to Skaneateles’s mid-size congregation, Justin brainstormed some mission ideas that would be meaningful for the congregation.

Skaneateles is a wealthy, primarily white community in the suburbs of Syracuse. Less than 25 miles away is a neighborhood in Syracuse that is one of the poorest in the nation; the primarily Black neighborhood is where Brown Memorial UMC is located.

Pastor Justin decided to partner with Brown UMC and have his congregation do as much as they could for this impoverished community. They made dozens of to-go dinners in the summer, a clothing drive in the winter, a toy drive for Christmas, multiple perishable goods drives, and more.

Justin’s latest ministry is helping people in his congregation attain appointments for the COVID-19 vaccination. Justin and his wife Emma designate a certain time where they together go into what they call their “battle station;” here, they open several tabs on two computers, two tablets, and two phones and keep refreshing the websites to schedule appointments for their congregants who expressed interest. At the writing of this article, 10 congregants had been scheduled.

And many more battle station sessions are planned to get anyone interested an appointment.

Rev. Hood said, “Jesus called us to love our neighbors. Sometimes loving our neighbor means keeping our neighbors safe.

Scientific evidence has shown us that the COVID-19 vaccine keeps our neighbors safe and that is what we are called to do as Christ followers."

Justin has shown that whether a church he serves is small or large, rural, or suburban, there is always a way to be God’s love to our neighbors in all places.

32 UNY ADVOCATE 2021, Issue 1

Profile Louise Russell

church brings

to long-term care facility

By Rev. Diane E. DiLuzio, Bridgeport UMC

I

n a year when pandemic has cut such a wide swath of mayhem in our lives, it became clear to our church that we needed to “do something” to raise up hope and assurance in our little hamlet by the Oneida Lake in the Crossroads District of the Upper New York Conference.

Some of us would meet weekly to pray for God’s wisdom and vision for what the “something” could be. While we were waiting, a beloved congregant, Louise Russell, learned she needed to transition into a long-term care facility. In one of my calls to Louise, she shared how she missed coming to church and how she was led to “do something.” Louise would sit close to the front and fix her attention on the altar area, her joy in The Lord emanating from her being. Very often, she would express how happy she was to have a church that nurtured her love of God. So, when we heard she was about to make a daunting life transition in the midst of pandemicrelated restrictions, we knew that every phone call and every card we could send would be a lifeline to her church that she loved so dearly.

In one of my calls to her, she shared that she was so lucky to have a way to play her Christian music. It helped her feel less lonely and closer to God. I thought we were going to talk next about her favorite hymns, but then she added, “I don’t know how people live this life without The Lord.

So, I play my music and they come to listen outside my room in the hall, and we listen together. It helps us all. But next time, they are going to pray with me, because you need prayer.”

In the midst of trying to cope with her own struggles, Louise, this faithful servant of God, set her heart to easing the burdens of others by sharing the Love of Jesus with them. Her faithfulness reminded all of us of the power of faith….and the power of prayer that breaks the chains of despair and despondency.

Louise’s faithfulness is a witness to lead us to recall that God has something for each one of us to do on this side of Eden, and God does not see our frailties as a hindrance, but only that each one of us is created to be a vessel of grace where it is most needed.

unyumc.org 33

Profile From

Vacation Bible

School to

lay pastor

By Myrna Stone, Lay Pastor, Amboy Center UMC

34 UNY ADVOCATE 2021, Issue 1

I

grew up in upstate New York in a nonChristian home with six siblings in a broken family. The local church down the road had a Vacation Bible School (VBS); in my early teens I begged my mother to let me go. She agreed if I took my younger siblings also, so she dropped us off and we got a ride home.

The final day was picnic day and at 12 or 13 I had no clue that the church supplied drinks and chips; we were to bring our own food and place settings. When I figured this out, I hid in a corner with my six-year-old brother and my two-year-old sister crying. One of the ladies found me; when I told her what was wrong, it was like magic to me—we had plates of food and were part of the group again. God had planted a seed.

Years later after college, I had married and our first child was born, a son named Ben. I wanted Ben baptized so I started going to my grandparents’ church, a United Methodist church in Cleveland NY. I stayed there nine years and taught Sunday School. God was watering the seed.

After a very messy divorce, I went church shopping; funny thing is, I ended up back at that little church in Amboy Center where I first went to VBS. I worked with the youth there and took lay-speaking classes. The youth and I would do the complete service on laity Sunday in October. I thought I had found my niche in the church; although my passion was to speak and teach, I loved working with the youth. My youth sermons were popular and other churches wanted me to switch churches; each time God said “no.”

I had helped out a couple of our ministers with services and when Sam Moore came to our church, he encouraged me to become a Licensed Local Pastor. I procrastinated.

When Rev. Ken Nelson came to us in Amboy, he saw my gift of speaking and as he traveled a lot, asked me to preach once a month for him; Pastor Sam also had me fill in for him at his church in Caudnoy, NY. As others heard me speak, I was invited to speak at the church in Dugway N.Y. and fill in for Pastor Ed.

God was really pushing me now. I had had a chance to take college level Bible courses through Summit University along the way and completed the four offer courses with a 3.6 average surprising myself. My plan over time is to become an ordained minister.

When I learned about a trip to Israel organized with Rev. Nola Anderson and Rev. BJ Norrix, I felt so compelled to go. My husband and I talked and started raising the needed funds. My two children also wanted to go. We all went in February of 2020, a trip that would leave an indelible impression on me leaving no doubt what God wanted of me.

Just before out trip to Israel, our beloved Rev. Ken passed away, leaving our church without a pastor during the pandemic. Then Rev. Nola Anderson called me and asked if I was up to the task of preaching for a year, God’s seed had grown and would be given a chance to blossom. My journey to this point has been life changing and exhilarating. I have registered for the licensed local pastor training at Casawasco Camp & Retreat Center in April 2021. My congregation and I are on a journey through the Bible by chapter and verse and it is a privilege to be serving my Lord and Savior in this capacity.

unyumc.org 35

Profile

Pastor Andy Anderson discusses his call to ministry and his highlights so far

By Kathleen Christiansen, UNY Conference Guest Writer

P

astor Andy Anderson has been involved in The Church since his baptism. He grew up in Trinidad and Tobago, mainly Tobago, where he was very involved in the life of his church, attending Sunday school, participating in youth group, serving as a youth leader, and more.

The more involved he became, the more his passion for the work of Jesus Christ grew.

That’s when God started calling, but Anderson wasn’t ready.

“I want to believe since then, God was calling me to something higher, something more,” he said. “I did not, at that particular time, readily accept the call for ministry, but I was still involved and still feeling the nudge.”

About 25 24 years ago, Anderson came to the United States. He remained an active participant in The Church and continued to feel a push toward full-time ministry. During the former Wyoming Conference’s 2005 36 UNY ADVOCATE 2021, Issue 1

Annual Conference Session, he could no longer ignore the call.

“After ordination, they extended the call to persons to come forward if they’re so moved

by God and called by God to be in full-time ministry — whether it’s ordained ministry or the servant ministry or whatever ministry that is — and I went forward,” he said. “I just felt I needed to go forward. I felt that strong tug, that very strong tug and I tried to resist it a couple of times, but then I was overwhelmed and I I had no choice.”

He recalled Isaiah 6:8: “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send?

And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’”

“I went out because I believed at that time that God was really calling me to be in ordained ministry,” Anderson said. “Having resisted so many times before, it was very much powerful at that time.”

He has now been serving as pastor in ministry for about 11 years. He currently serves two of the seven churches in the Syracuse United Methodist Ministries: Bellevue Heights and Gethsemane United Methodist churches.

As a pastor, he’s had several standout moments over the years.

Some of the strongest memories are those where he’s witnessed lives touched and transformed by the power of Christ.

“There were times when people would come to me and that thanked me for the word and that it has meant so much in their lives and they have made the decision to turn their life totally over to Christ,” Anderson said.

“Once people have given their life to Christ and, if in any way, I have been used to help in that respect, I think that’s the most powerful highlight for me in ministry — and especially when they’re young people.”

Last year, Anderson received a call from a young man now in college who was in elementary school when Anderson was his pastor. The student thanked Anderson for the role he played as a leader in his life.

“When he used to come to church there with his parents, he said he used to admire me as a pastor,” Anderson recalled. “I felt very blessed that I was in that position to leave that impression or that mark on that person’s life.”

Other favorite moments involve mission activities and ministries of his churches.

One ministry is Gethsemane UMC’s Personals Closest, which distributes personal items (toilet paper, facial tissues, deodorant, toothpaste, feminine hygiene products, and more) once a month to those in need. It has expanded under Anderson’s guidance as well as amid the coronavirus pandemic, when the

church partnered with the Central New York Diaper Bank to give out diapers and formula.

“To see the look of on the peoples’ faces when they are given some of these items, it’s such a blessing for me in ministry and one of the high points as well as to what we are called to do in serving others and helping those who are poor or in need or feeding the hungry, clothing the naked and taking care of the widows,” Anderson said.

While he serves two predominantly white congregations, Anderson notes there is some racial and ethnic diversity at Bellevue Heights UMC — Black and Spanish-speaking individuals attend the church.

He said he views diversity in terms of peoples’ backgrounds, where they’ve come from, what they can contribute, their profession and more. He hopes these wellrounded individuals can serve leadership roles within his church and throughout the Conference.

“I believe that when you’re talking about diversity that you don’t just pick someone because of the color of their skin. Too often racial ethnic people are asked to serve on committees as tokens, to say that there is diversity. A racial ethnic person should not be chosen to serve on a committee for that reason, but rather, because they are capable,” he said.

At Bellevue Heights UMC, Anderson notes that none of his racially or ethnically diverse congregants serve in a leadership position, though he convinced some to serve on committees in the hopes they would one day serve in leadership positions.

“For me, diversity would be a church where there’s a number of people from all backgrounds, from all ethnicities, from all racial ethnicities, being together, using their skills, talents, praising God, and everyone feels and knows that they are accepted and we all are God’s children,” he said. “That, for me, would be a wonderful example of diversity within the church and within the Conference.”

unyumc.org 37

Celebrating the

Crossroads District

Mosaix cohort

By Shannon Hodson, UNY Conference Writer/Editor While twenty-twenty was a year we will all remember as the year that the coronavirus pandemic began, there were indeed celebratory stories taking place behind the scenes. One of those stories was the Crossroads District Mosiax Global Network learning cohort, which was made possible by the Ercil Cady Grant as well as the collaboration between the Crossroads District office and Upper New York’s (UNY) vital congregations Ministry Area.

The goal of Mosaix Global Network is to help church leaders to develop multiethnic and economically diverse churches, churches of unity patterned after the New Testament church at Antioch, a church for all people.

Mosiax Global Network was founded in 2004 by the Rev. Dr. Mark DeYmaz and Dr. George Yancey. Dr. DeYmaz’s vision for Mosaix Global Network was inspired by the work he had done after planting a church in Little Rock, Arkansas, Mosaic Church, which has grown into a thriving multiethnic and economically diverse congregation.

One program that Mosaix offers is the oneyear cohort program; throughout 2020, six pastors in the Crossroads District participated in a Mosaix cohort. This program was led by Mosaix’s Director of Cohorts and Labs, the Rev. Chip Freed, and co-founder Dr. Mark DeYmaz.

Rev. Freed is lead pastor of Garfield Memorial United Methodist Church, which he helped transform from a church that was 99 percent affluent and white in 2001 to a church that is now known as one of the most 38 UNY ADVOCATE 2021, Issue 1

multiethnic and economically diverse churches in Ohio, in which the largest single ethnic group comprises no more than 52 percent of the congregation.

The Mosaix cohort training for the Crossroads District consisted of monthly trainings via Zoom. The training usually includes two visits to multiethnic, economically diverse congregations, but this portion of the training was unable to take place due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The pastors that partook in this training were the Rev. B.J. Norrix, Lead Pastor of Syracuse United Methodist Churches; the Rev. Alicia Wood, pastor at University United Methodist Church; the Rev. Jee Hae Song, pastor of Hope Korean UMC and St. Paul’s UMC; the Rev. Dr. Sung Ah Choi, pastor of Marcellus UMC; the Rev. Rhonda Chester, Chaplain at Hendricks Chapel (Syracuse University); and the Rev. Andy Anderson, pastor at Bellevue UMC and Gethsemane UMC. On Monday Feb. 22, 2021, the cohort celebrated the progress they made over the past year. Rev. Freed said, “This cohort has been so much fun. I adore these pastors.”

Dr. DeYmaz echoed Rev. Freed and said “This is a delightful group who have been very engaged and wonderful to work with.”

The Rev. Dr. Aaron Bouwens, UNY Director of Vital Congregations, connected with Mosaix many years ago when he went to a learning lab they hosted. He worked alongside Rev. Freed and Dr. YeYmaz through the cohort the past year.

Dr. Bouwens said, “It’s sad that we even have to say multiethnic. We’re all people...we need to be diligent in this work…moving away from the

homogenous church.”

Rev. Bouwens likened the Mosaix cohort training to an on-ramp to getting churches in the Crossroads District to becoming more ethnically and economically diverse.

Dr. DeYmaz continued, “Mosaix helps churches to conceive, dream, and start taking steps to where they need to head in order to become more multiethnic and economically diverse.”

Rev. Bouwens referred to Revelations 7: 9 as the scripture that underlies this work: “After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.”

Agreeing with Rev. Bouwens, Dr. DeYmaz said, “this is not a one and done thing. Twenty years into this work, I’m still working on becoming an expert.”

Dr. DeYmaz continued by saying that Revelations 7:9 is the end game, that we will all get there; he said “Christ taught us to pray that they kingdom come, they will be done on earth as it is in heaven; heaven isn’t segregated so the Church shouldn’t be either so we have to look at this as collective sanctification and from season to season, whether it’s every season, every month, every year in your planning process, be intentional about your next steps forward.”

from Dr. DeYmaz that “location in no way should limit the possibility of creating a multiethnic church.”

Dr. Ah Choi added, “What I learned is that regardless of the location of the church, building a multiethnic church is a biblical mandate.”

Dr. Ah Choi created action plans to help build a healthy multiethnic church that include: her weekly prayer team praying to build an antiracist congregation, offering Imagine No Racism training to her congregation, celebrating cultural diversity on Pentecost Sunday, having the women’s book club read important books about dismantling racism, and empowering diverse leaders.

Rev. Anderson said, “This Mosiax training has given me the opportunity to be more intentional with the guidance of the holy spirit and the authority of scripture in building a multiethnic congregation. I don’t expect it to happen overnight, but I expect it to happen at some point in time.”

Rev. Jee Hae expressed that one of her churches is heading in the direction of being multiethnic; she said, “Hope Korean (UMC) has 10 people attending from six different ethnic groups. They are mostly college students.”

All the pastors who participated in the training expressed that they gained great insight and inspiration.

She said that St. Paul’s is mostly white and that because she is Korean, it has helped her church open the eyes to the possibility of becoming multiethnic. She said, “I will gently push them to acknowledge that the world you live in is more than your neighborhood…to go and see the need…I will probably have them do it through mission.”

Dr. Ah. Choi said that she initially didn’t know how the Mosaix training would help her as her church is in a village where 97 percent of the population is white and less than four percent of the population lives in poverty. But she learned

If you are interested in being part of a learning cohort with Mosaix, working toward an ethnically and economically diverse church, contact Rev. Dr. Aaron Bouwens, aaronbouwens@unyumc.org or by phone 315-8982014.

Rev. Wood said that it never entered her mind NOT to move toward a more ethnically divers church; however, she said, “I really appreciated the theology behind it. I am blessed that my congregation is already on this journey, but it is great to have the theology behind the goal of being a multiethnic church.”

The Mosaix training taught participants that a homogenous church cannot be vital and that this movement toward multiethnic, economically diverse congregations is not just a movement of justice alone, but a movement of theology, a movement of the Spirit.

unyumc.org 39

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