Kairos prison ministry reaches inside walls and souls

Inspiration
for a changing
congregation
Two Sections – Section A
Nov. 11, 2011 072000
Volume 158 Number 28
A Message From The Bisho p, W. Earl Bledsoe
Kairos prison ministry reaches inside walls and souls
I just got back from prison. No,
I have not been arrested by law
enforcement officials. I was arrested
by the Holy Ghost to return to
Kairos
prison
ministry.
You see,
11 years
ago I
took
part
in the
Kairos
prison ministry at the Darrington
maximum security prison in
Rosharon, Texas. Since then,
something always came up and
prevented me from returning, but
prison ministry is so vital that I had
to get back.
The overall theme of Kairos is
“listen, listen, love, love.” And that
was my experience serving as the
spiritual advisor for Kairos #48 last
week.
Kairos operates with two teams,
one outside and one inside. About
40 persons were on the outside
team of volunteers, and they did the
INSIDE
supporters, 5A
Darrington Unit
praying, cooking and preparing agape, birthday cake or party before. I was part of a
50-member inside team, and we ministered
such as cookies, handwritten letters
directly to and with the inmates.
of encouragement and even birthday
We were an ecumenical group — some
cake — some inmates have never had a
The
Clothesline
Project at
the Denton
Wesley
Foundation
empowers
survivors
of intimate
violence
and their
Steve Jobs’ four
simple questions
apply to The United
Methodist Church,
Lay Leader
Richard Hearne
says,4A
Down syndrome child
provided life lessons,
Gene Stallings says
Legendary coach speaks at
East District Laity Celebration
By JOE DAN BOYD
Special Contributor
When Coach Gene Stallings of
Powderly was named keynote speaker for
the annual East District Laity Celebration
at First UMC Sulphur Springs last month,
you might have assumed the legendary
football mentor was either a practicing
Methodist or a sports recruiter for a
UMC-associated college or university.
While neither assumption would
have been correct, this former gridiron
See STALLINGS, Page 5A
were Catholics, Baptists or Church of Christ.
Some were from Bible churches, and some were
from nondenominational churches. Many were
laity, six were clergy, and most were retired, but
not all.
The days
were long,
beginning
at 5 a.m.
and finishing
our work
around 9:30
each night.
We began
on Thursday afternoon and finished around 5:30
p.m. Sunday.
Not surprisingly, a lot is the same since I was
Kairos volunteers there last. The only difference
(Bishop W. Earl I noticed was that the faces
Bledsoe is at far of the inmates seem to be a
lot younger, and there seem
left, seated on
floor) and inmates to be many more of them. I
at the Darrington was happy to reunite with
prison practiced many of the same inside team
volunteers whom I met 11
“listen, listen,
years ago. They were still
love, love.” Imthere, faithfully living out
ages of banners
offering encour- their calling to reach out and
agement overlay share God’s love with those
behind prison walls.
the photo.
There are two questions
we are not allowed to ask: What are you in
prison for? And how much time are you serving?
The warden advised us that after three days
See KAIROS, Page 5A
MUST READING
Bishop W.
Earl Bledsoe
wants clergy
and laity to
read Back
to Zero: The
Search to
Rediscover
the Methodist Movement. It’s
about making
the United
Methodist
Church a movement again by focusing on the mission and purpose of
the church. Get it online at Cokesbury (www.cokesbury.com) or other
online booksellers.
Clergy retreat
combats burnout
with time to relax
By SHERON C. PATTERSON
Editor
About 120 North Texas clergy took
time for restoration, renewal and mental
stimulation at their annual retreat Oct. 1719 at the Tanglewood Retreat Center in
Pottsboro. The wooded lakeside scenery
was ideal for unwinding and regenerating.
Clergy burnout and fatigue are at
high levels nationally, but NTC clergy
combatted those statistics at the retreat.
They chose from four restorative options:
golf, fishing, horseback riding or spa time.
In the evening, awards were presented to
See RETREAT, Page 8A
NTC circuit 4A
Go on a Christmas journey, including from grief to joy
By SHERON C. PATTERSON
Editor
The Rev. Dr. Justin Tull
retired from active ministry in
June 2006 after serving nine
United
Methodist
churches,
ranging from
274 to 2,200
members,
in the North
Texas area
for 37 years.
Since then,
he has served as interim senior
pastor at Suncreek UMC in
Allen and Vista Ridge UMC
in Lewisville. Currently, he
is pursuing becoming a lead
trainer for interim ministry in
The United Methodist Church.
He also teaches preaching to
ministers taking the course
of study for preachers in this
jurisdiction.
Dr. Tull graduated from
Hendrix College with a major
in literature and philosophy. He
received two master’s degrees
and a doctorate of ministry in
preaching from Perkins School
of Theology.
In addition to Christmas
Journeys, Dr. Tull is the author
of Wrestlings, Wonders and
Wanderers and Why, God, Why?
Sermons on the Problem of Pain.
He sat down with the UMR
to discuss Christmas Journeys.
What are the Christmas
journeys that are mentioned
in your book title?
In Christmas Journeys,
each pivotal character is
passionately involved in a
pilgrimage marked by poignancy
and a sense of urgency. In the
first half of the book, “Ancient
Journeys,” I feature the people
of the nativity, specifically Mary,
Joseph, the shepherds and the
wise men.
The second half of the book
features journeys of three of our
contemporaries, those who face
similar problems to ours as they
navigate through the hectic days
prior to Christmas. They know
too well the tenacity of guilt, the
emptiness of having too much,
the fear spawned by poverty and
unemployment, and the painful
void from the death of a loved
one.
Is joy always a possibility
at Christmas time?
In the introduction to the
book I share my own Christmas
journey after the death of my
wife of 34 years. In less than
two months, I had to travel
from the realms of grief into
the unwelcoming place of
Christmas cheer. My extended
family would gather for the first
time since the memorial service
wondering whether death would
rob us of all Christmas joy. To
my surprise, a simple gesture of
love made Christmas joy much
more possible, perhaps even
probable. My introduction ends
with a statement of faith: “I have
come to believe that unless we
reward grief with guaranteed
reserved seating, it will always,
at the nudging of faith, scoot
over and make room for joy.”
Will this book help those
who are blue at Christmas?
Yes. At one time or
another, everyone has trouble
making it through the Christmas
season. Maybe the ghosts of
Christmas past simply dampen
our spirits or maybe the
monumental lists of things to do
become daunting or depressing.
Or maybe we feel guilty for
having so much yet feeling so
little. Perhaps we never realize
our inner resentments or selfpreoccupations are preventing
us from becoming a joyful
participant of the season. But
one group evokes my greatest
concern — those who have lost
loved ones, those who believe a
“merry” Christmas is far beyond
their reach. Hopefully, even
these will be able to experience
Christmas joy.
Christmas Journeys is
available through Amazon.com
(paperback and Kindle) and
local retailers. You may visit
justintull.com for other writings
and a list of book signings and
seminars in the area.
From Bogata to Burkburnett
Steve Jobs’ four simple questions apply to the church as well
I receive a monthly newsletter
in their approach, and the results
from my good friend and fellow church
are bearing fruit. We need our
member Greg Bustin of Bustin & Co.,
pastors, especially the best and the
whose
brightest.
company
Who am I? We all need to
consults
know our wants and our needs
with small
— what makes us truly happy.
and midsize
For some, it is money, others
businesses to
recognition, but for Christians it
improve their
should be Christian servanthood.
performance.
Somewhere on the list of the many
I thought
ministries of your local church
this month’s
there is a place for you. Find it, and
A throng of Apple workers attended the company’s
newsletter
you will discover peace of mind
by Richard Hearne
was especially eulogy for founder Steve Jobs on Oct. 19.
Photos by Apple and a sense of purpose.
applicable to what we are trying to do in
Four simple questions, but the
the church.
from your church when they first come to answers are difficult. Good luck on your
“why is our church here?”
It is about the genius of Steve Jobs
visit? They may be lifelong church folks
Are we here to provide a place for
journey.
and his work with Apple. When Jobs
or people who have never been inside
all people to come to learn about the love
Richard Hearne is Lay Leader of the
died last month, I was taken aback by
and grace of Jesus Christ? Or are we here a sanctuary, but they, for the most part,
North Texas Conference, which stretches
the number of Facebook postings and the
share one thing:
to provide a nice, safe, comfortable place
from just this side of Bogata to just
effect he had on so many people.
They want to be part of a loving
to come to each week to make ourselves
that side of Burkburnett. E-mail him at
His bio tells how he started Apple,
community that will shepherd them on
feel good?
rbhearne@sbcglobal.net.
lost control in 1985 and returned in 1997
this spiritual journey called life. The
Are we here to make disciples of
to rebuild Apple to great success, worth
formality of worship and music is not
Jesus Christ for the transformation of the
North Texas Conference
$170 billion when he died.
important. It is the loving touch of another
world or to gain more members so we
United Methodist Reporter
Here are the four questions Jobs
human saying, “We care.”
have someone to help us pay the bills?
asked as he rebuilt Apple. They might be
How do we attract and retain
Communications Team
Would the community miss our church if
helpful to us in the UMC.
top talent? Are you aware that many
it just disappeared?
Sheron C. Patterson, editor
Why are we here? Jobs says that
What do people want from us? So of the young pastors of rapidly growing
Linda
Johnson, associate editor
he “stayed the course” because he really
churches are former United Methodist
many of us march around preaching to
loved what he was doing.
students or pastors?
people about why they should become a
972-526-5000 800-969-8201
This allowed him, I believe, to
They leave because of the
member of our church/denomination that
www.ntcumc.org
really promote Apple products with great
bureaucracy of the institution of the
we never listen to them.
enthusiasm. Do you ever ask yourself
UMC. They are more entrepreneurial
What do you think people want
The Bishop
Kairos prison ministry
reaches inside walls and
souls with encouragement
Photos by Ariel Huang
Survivors of intimate violence and their supporters decorated T-shirts for the Clothesline Project,
sponsored by the Denton Wesley Foundation.
Right: The Rev. Cammy Gaston (from left), Lexie
Vriend and Lindsay Holifield helped out.
NTC circuit 5A
Continued from Page 1
of sharing and being with
them, they will most likely tell
everything.
Once the inmates got over
the shock of having a United
Methodist bishop sitting in their
midst, they relished the moment.
I met several inmates whose
University and North Central
parents
and grandparents were
Texas College.
members
of United Methodist
The Clothesline Project began
churches in the area. There was
with a display of 31 T-shirts in
no animosity toward the church,
1990 in Hyannis, Mass., as a
only grateful appreciation of
part of the Take Back the Night
our willingness to reach outside
march and rally. Throughout the
the walls of the church to share
day, more women came forward
God’s love. Many inmates of
to decorate shirts with words
the Catholic tradition spent time
or artwork and add them to the
with me confessing their faults
clothesline on the village green.
and sins. Being a Protestant, this
The movement has since gone
was different for me; however,
worldwide, with one project as far I understood the need for them
away as Tanzania.
to tell me things they had kept
Denton Wesley group hosts Clothesline Project
By BRITTANY BURROWS
Special Contributor
The Denton Wesley
Foundation at the University
of North Texas hosted the
Clothesline Project, an event
honoring survivors and victims of
intimate violence.
Each day, students on campus
were invited to come to the
United Methodist Student Center
to decorate shirts and tell their
own stories or to remember a
woman who had been hurt by
violence. The Clothesline Project,
which ended Oct. 28, sought to
be a source of empowerment and
healing.
The event aimed to reach
not only members of the United
Methodist Student Center, but
also the entire UNT campus.
The Denton Wesley
Foundation regularly offers free
lunch, worship, small groups,
fellowship, mission opportunities
and music programs for students
at UNT, Texas Woman’s
deep inside for a long time in
fear of reprisals or punishment.
Much of my time was spent
listening and praying for the
inmates. We sang together,
laughed together, studied
together, prayed together and
cried together, letting the 42
chosen inmates for the week
know that God loved them and
showing them in tangible ways
the love of the church.
What a wonderful testimony
to Christian unity! My hope and
prayer is that we will not forget
people behind prison walls,
remembering that Jesus himself
was a prisoner. I believe God is
at work in prisons and calls us to
join in the work of redemption
and reconciliation.
To learn more, see www.
kairosprisonministry.org.
Stallings tells East District laity of gifts from his Down syndrome son
Stallings said.
His other saddest day was in
star at Texas A&M and former
2008,
when that son died, at age
coach for his Aggie alma mater
46,
without
ever learning to count
and the 1992 national champion
to
10
and
without
ever using, or
Crimson Tide of Alabama —
even
learning,
a
single
word of
not to mention 14 seasons with
profanity.
the Dallas
Stallings painted word
Cowboys
and a stint
pictures for the district
as head
congregation about the rich,
coach of the
if limited, life of his Down
St. Louis/
syndrome son who loved people,
Phoenix
loved going to church and was,
Cardinals —
in turn, himself so loved by
did make a
others that sports equipment
convincing
facilities, football fields,
case for
playgrounds, buildings, streets
Gene Stallings
“church
and scholarships were named in
people” as
his honor.
lights of the world, ambassadors
“One university even
of appreciation and relentless
reinforcements for random acts of included the name John Mark
Stallings in a special list of only
kindness.
Stallings learned most of his five people who have changed
life lessons the hard way, through the world,” said his father, who
received more than 1,500 letters
sometimes painful experience,
of condolence and appreciation
some of which he shared in his
after John Mark’s death. Two
1997 book, Another Season,
governors sent police cars to lead
subtitled “A Coach’s Story of
Raising an Exceptional Son.”
his funeral procession.
In it, he recalls the two
“It did not matter to Johnny
saddest days of his life, one in
whether you were a CEO or a
1962 when his son John Mark
janitor if he was your friend,”
Stallings was born: “They told
said Stallings. “He treated
me at the hospital that he was
everyone with the same full
a ‘mongoloid,’ a word that is,
measure of respect, and from
thankfully, no longer used,”
that attitude, I think, many
Continued from Page 1
GENE STALLINGS’ LIFE LESSONS
Among the life lessons that Gene Stallings
emphasized for teaching our children:
Happiness may be the byword for much of today’s
society, but it’s holiness that will permit us to see God.
Love of money is the root of all evil.
Evil companions corrupt good morals. Choose friends
wisely.
All things work for good to those who love the Lord.
Conduct yourself in a worthy manner.
the East District congregation of
the 10 million-plus alcoholics in
the U.S. today and the countless
young people addicted to drugs,
all of whom need the church’s
help desperately.
were in turn motivated to show
“Yet the average dad today
appreciation for others in their
works 40 hours a week, but
lives and were reminded not to
spends only 2 1/2 minutes a day
pass up chances for expressing
with each of his children,” said
genuine appreciation and
Stallings.
performing random acts of love
“But we as parents must set
and kindness.”
the example for our children and
There are two basic types of
allow them to see Christianity in
people in this world, Stallings
action,” Stallings said. “One way
said: Those who need help and
we can do that is by letting our
those who help those who need
children know those people we
help, a point that reminded him
consider the greatest among us,
of a long-ago declaration by the
Fellowship of Christian Athletes: ordinary people who care enough
to do their jobs well and to help
We really need each other!
others in need. This is actually
“It’s even more true today
than it was when it was adopted,” a biblical lesson from the Old
Testament book of Ecclesiastes,
said Stallings, who reminded
which tells us that we can do no
better in this life than to enjoy
our work — a radical lesson
in this era when many choose
occupations and jobs based
entirely on salary and prestige.”
Finally, Stallings offered this
advice for any new parent with
a baby with Down syndrome:
“You have given birth to a child
who will spend eternity in the
presence of God. Can it get any
better than that?
“Let’s never forget that it’s
often easier to recognize the right
thing to do than it is to have the
courage to do the right thing, but
that’s what we are all called to
do.
“One way to deal with that
dilemma is to remember this one
thing: We really do need each
other!”
NTC circuit 8A
Retreat gives clergy
time for restoration
Continued from Page 1
those who had the best golf game
and caught the largest fish.
In addition to restoration,
the clergy also had their minds
stimulated by presentations from
noted teacher, preacher and
evangelist Dr. Dana L. Robert,
a Boston University professor.
Dr. Robert, an author of several
books, also wrote Joy to the
World: Mission in the Age of
Global Christianity, used by the
2010-2011 summer schools of
Christian Mission of the UMC.
“I want the pastors to feel
empowered to see missions as a
part of what they do in ministry
and provide leadership to the
laity who are in the midst of
discovering mission,” Dr. Robert
said. “The pastor can bring the
theological understanding.”
“Pastors are overworked,”
she said. “Mission work is
exhausting. We need to integrate
mission work into who we are as
Christians. We need a theological
center from which missions flow.
Otherwise, we exhaust ourselves
with lots of programs. We United
Methodists are activists. Don’t
tell us to be involved — we
already are.”
The Rev. Cheryl Jones,
associate pastor of discipleship
and evangelism at Tyler Street
UMC and pastor of Arcadia Park
The Rev. Frank
Rahm, senior
pastor of the
FaithBridge
Church in the
Rockwall area,
caught the big
fish at the clergy
retreat on Lake
Texoma. Other
activities were
golf, horseback
riding and a spa
session.
UMC in Dallas, was inspired.
“Dr. Robert’s remarks gave
me a solid foundation, starting
with Bible study. My church
already has a great Bible study,
but now we can be more directed
toward the spiritual formation of
mission,” she said.
The Rev. Pete Adrian, pastor
of First UMC Sulphur Springs,
said, “It is hard to pick out one
point from her talk because it
was all so powerful, whether it
was evangelism as the heart of
mission or the New Testament
as a missionary document or the
growth of United Methodism
worldwide.”
But as a former banker,
he said his favorite was “The
Balanced Portfolio Effect.”
Celebration to honor Ravert for 50 years in ministry
A celebration honoring
the Rev. Larry D. Ravert for
50 years of ministry will be
held at 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov.
13, in the Fellowship Hall of
University Park UMC.
Since completing seminary, Rev. Ravert has had
11 appointments: Victoria
Methodist, Victoria; White
Rock Methodist, Lakewood
UMC, First UMC and University Park UMC in Dallas; Axe
Memorial UMC in Garland;
Wesley UMC in Greenville;
First UMC Duncanville; First
UMC Heath; and Poetry UMC
in Poetry. He also was director of Church Extension and
Development for the NTC.
Rev. Ravert and his wife,
Carol Ann, celebrated their
50th wedding anniversary on
Jan. 30, 2009, and renewed
their vows at University Park
UMC. They have traveled
to China, Europe, Hawaii,
Alaska, Israel, Jordan, Turkey,
Mexico, Canada, Greece and
the Caribbean.
The Raverts enjoy
spending time with family,
including their children
and their families: Susan
and Bill Bryan, Brittany and
Brandon; Russell and April
Ravert, Alex and Blaine; and
Lisa and Dalen Wintermute,
Preston and Lauren. Larry’s
three grandsons all share
his middle name, Douglas.
The Raverts like relaxing at
Charity, the family getaway in
Poetry. Rev. Ravert’s hobbies
include woodworking, fixing
The Rev. Larry D. Ravert and his wife, Carol Ann, married in 1959
and celebrated their anniversary 50 years later by renewing their
vows. He has had 11 appointments during his career.
things, camping in the Raverts’
RV and driving Sparky, his 1930
Model A Ford.
Celebration organizers
The Rev. Lee Alvin Bedford Jr., ordained minister for 60 years, dies
The Rev. Lee Alvin Bedford Jr., 83,
an ordained Methodist minister for 60
years, died Sept. 30. Services were
held Oct. 4 at First UMC Bedford.
Rev.
Bedford
served
numerous
churches in
the North
and Central
Texas Conferences.
His
pastorates
included
Walnut Hill
UMC and
White Rock UMC in Dallas, First UMC
Garland and First UMC Bedford. He
formed the Casa Linda UMC, which
grew to 1,800 members under his
ministry.
For several years, he was the
director of evangelism for the North
Texas Conference, as well as chaplain
for the Texas Air National Guard and
the Dallas Police Department.
He made evangelistic trips to
Pakistan and Korea, as well as trips to
India with World Vision International,
one of the largest relief agencies in
the world.
He was a man of diverse interests.
While attending seminary, he was
a professional square dance caller,
signing with RCA Records and holding
the top-selling record in Texas at the
time. He also enjoyed camping and
woodworking and was a model train
enthusiast.
He was preceded in death by a
grandchild, Jennifer Michelle Grubbs.
He is survived by his wife, Anne
Lorene Bedford; children David
Bedford and wife Patti, Tom Bedford
and wife Becky, Leslie Grubbs and
husband Randy, Teresa Granberry
and husband Samuel, John Bedford
and wife Jan, and Cheryl Devoto
and husband Khris; brothers
Robert, Lance and Tom Bedford;
21 grandchildren and 11 greatgrandchildren.
ask that there be no gifts but
messages, stories and photos
about how his ministry has
touched lives are welcome.
BIRTH
The Rev. Sharon and Patrick
O’Connor of Trenton UMC are the
proud grandparents of Bristyl Alanna
Huggins, who was born Oct. 10.
Bristyl weighed 8 pounds, 6 ounces
and was 20.5 inches long. Bristyl
is the O’Connors’ ninth grandchild,
with No. 10 due in March. Notes
of congratulations may be sent to
the O’Connors at 105 Pecan Circle,
Trenton, Tx. 75490.
DEATH
Services for Elizabeth Howell, motherin-law of the Rev. Bart Smith, associate pastor of Christ UMC Plano, were
Nov. 3 in Dallas. Cards may be sent
to Bart and Ann Smith, 2685 Clear
Springs, Richardson, Texas 75082.