Message From The District Superintendent

I write this before all of the details are in, but we have some very good news to report for the Pony Express District. While it won’t tell us the

full story, the news does speak about the attitude, hope, and commitment of our people. So, even if the rest of the news is not as positive, it may

well point to good news to come.

An unaudited report of apportioned giving to the annual conference for 2008 shows that our Pony Express congregations increased

dramatically over 2007. Percentage of apportioned giving moved from 84% in 2007 to 92.16% in 2008! Increase by the same percentage this

year, and we will hit 100%!

A statistic that is also important is that 75 of our congregations contributed the full 100% while only 21 did not. That means 78% of our

congregations were able to complete the financial side of the covenant they made with other congregations across the annual conference. This is

good news!

I think it suggests that we are beginning to get a better balance between what congregations are able to give and what the conference is asking

of them. It also tells us that our congregations are working hard to be faithful to the connection. Those who didn’t pay appear to have had

extenuating financial circumstances rather than an unwillingness to participate. Across the district, we found a strong desire to collaborate

in ministry and a sense that our connection is healthier than in past years.

Those who like numbers will be interested in knowing that 11 of the 12 churches carrying the largest apportionments gave 100% of

what was asked of them, giving $465,000, or about 60% of the district total. Eight of our churches with the smallest

apportionments paid 100%. So, what churches had the most difficulty? Twelve churches that average 15-25 in worship weren’t able to

contribute the full amount. Four churches that average between 40 and 60 are in that list. We will have to do some thinking about whether there

is something that causes churches in these two size categories to

have more difficulty than others.

All in all, though, the significant positive improvement is a great sign that we are headed in the right direction. Many congregations made

sacrifices in other important areas of need in order to complete their covenant. The kids who go to church camp with half of the cost already

paid, the people who come to faith through our new congregations, retired pastors who receive health benefits, students in Africa University,

mission workers across the world, those who administer the work of UMCOR and other organizations who work on our behalf, even the

superintendents and bishops whose salaries are paid through apportionments want you to know of our gratitude. Your contributions help change

the world!

Apportionments, of course, are just a part of our story. During the past six months, we have seen more collaboration among churches and

more churches focusing on the five practices. Several congregations have become more intentional about planning for their future, some are

awakening to a new awareness of the people in their community who are not living as committed Christian disciples, and we are seeing a slow

shift from a focus on survival to a hopeful expectation for the future.

The real heart of the life of the district will never be seen in the numbers. Rather, it is seen in the daily ministry of the congregations.

It is found in the stranger who is welcomed, the poor person who is served, the grieving person who is comforted, and the spiritually empty

person who is filled. There are some things that can’t be counted, but they are just as real.

What will we look like at the end of 2009? We have a choice. We can be a people struggling to survive, looking and feeling a little

smaller than we were, and wondering whether we have a future. Or, we can be filled with a new sense of power, excited by what is

happening before our eyes, and daring to dream about what will transpire in the next decade. Choosing the latter means hard work and total

commitment to Christ on our part. It means remembering that our purpose is to make disciples for the transformation of the world, designing

a process to fulfill the purpose and making sure we spend our resources in such a way that we can make the process work.

What do you think? I say we choose life. Truthfully, it is the only choice that God’s people can make!

Steve

SOUPer Bowl

Update: The Super Bowl is over and either your team won or lost! Locally, a little competition “off the field” led to “winners” for many!

Four local United Methodist Churches decided to go for the goal—InterServ’s goal of 20,000 cans of food—add a bit of competition and what were the results? Over 27,000 cans of food!

Clair, Ebenezer and Culbertson Chapel (Stewartsville) took on Huffman. The final figures are still not in, but the 3 churches together collected over 15,000 cans in addition to 1,700 which Culbertson Chapel kept for their own local food pantry. Huffman had collected 10,464.

HyVee had agreed to provide the cans; therefore, on Saturday, Feb. 7 a caravan of trucks will line up at the store

in St. Joseph and transport a portion of the bounty to InterServ. As InterServ cannot store this many cany, Brown Transfer

& Storage has agreed to store the remaining at no cost.

A special trophy was designed to present to the winner. This trophy will travel between the four churches as each

is surely a winner!

Paraments

Burlington Junction UM Church would like to donate to any church interested in a full set of paraments in all 4 colors. The church who wants them would have to pay shipping or pick them up. The set includes altar cloths, 2 pulpit scarves, Bible bookmarkers, in reversible colors of red/white and green/purple.

Contact Pastor Rusty Husted at 660-725-4101 or Ethel Morrison at 660-725-4318 or Beverly Zimmerman

“Sweetheart Dinner” - Public Welcome!

February 12, 6:30 p.m.

Clair United Methodist Church

2 SE 68th Road, St. Joseph

Cost: $6.00

**************************************

Open to The Public:

Corned Beef & Cabbage Dinner

March 8, 12:30—2:00 p.m.

Clair UM Church, 2 SE 68th Rd., St. Joseph

Cost: $6.00 for adults—$3.00 for 8 & under

Menu: Corned Beef, Cabbage Potatoes, vegetable, dessert, coffee, and tea (Alternate meat available)

30-Hour Famine Lock-In

Hammer Memorial (King City) UMC, is hosting a 30- Hour Famine Lock-In on March 6-7 from 3:30 p.m. on the 6th until 7:00 p.m. on the 7th. Participants are asked to collect donations that we will send to World Vision to help combat hunger. All participants will be fasting for the 30 hours before we break our fast by sharing a meal together. We would love to have others participate with us. They may call our church office any day between 9 a.m. and noon at 660-535-4551 for more information or they may email us at

kcmethodist@jagtec.net.

For the second year, men of the Fairfax United Methodist Men's Club have completed a Foods Resource Bank Growing Project.  Four farmers pledged acres of corn and beans along with a lamb growing project. Others donated money, equipment, &/or time. Monsanto, Pioneer , John Deere Foundation and Hiawatha Implement Company also donated. This year's project began in March with a dedication service at each of the fields.   A harvest fest was held in October.  Due to the wet conditions, a meal was shared followed by the reading of scriptures pertaining to the harvest.  The dedicated crops were sold and a check for $21,429 (which is almost double the amount sent last year) was sent through UMCOR to the Foods Resource Bank. This will help people of 3rd World Countries grow food for themselves.  The money sent can sustain 3,571 people for one year.  Because of FRB, people are increasingly able to feed their own families, purchase basic necessities like medicines, send their children to school and share with a neighbor in need.  Donations from the Fairfax community and Fairfax UMC made this possible.  The Foods Resource Bank is a nondenominational Christian response to world hunger.  If any urban or rural churches or United Methodist Men’s Groups would like to start a growing project or contribute to one already existing as a mission project, contact Bob Sefrit UMM District President at 660-686-3417.

The Pony Express District is offering $100.00 scholarships to the first 10

people who register and attend the Focus, 2009 event which will be held in

Indianapolis, Indiana, July 21-24.

Focus 2009 is a conference for all people in ministry for children and is sponsored by the General Board of Discipleship.

It is an awesome event for those who are in children’s ministry. Call the District Office at (816) 232-6052 for more information.

Up-Coming Dates

Feb. 13 or 14—Boundaries Make-up—Columbia, MO

Feb. 20—District Committee on Ordained Ministry Mentor training—Kansas City

Feb. 21—Lay Speaker Basic Course—Maryville First UMC

Feb. 25—Ash Wednesday

Feb. 28—9:30-11:30 a.m.—VBS Preview, Wesley Center, St. Joseph

March 21—Lay Speaker Basic Course—Huffman UMC

The 2008 audit is due in the District office by May 1, 2009. For a form, please go to www.moumethodist.org; click on forms and then choose “Audit” form. Please change the date to read “2008”. If you need a hard copy, please call the District office at (816) 232-6052 or (866) 232-6052 (toll free).

YOU are NEEDED!

...To be a LAY SPEAKER in

THE PONY EXPRESS DISTRICT

2 OPPORTUNITIES FOR TRAINING ARE PLANNED

Feb. 21, 2009 at UMC IN Maryville

March 21, 2009 at Huffman UMC in St. Joe

(Both events—8:45 a.m.—5:15 p.m.)

Each Lay Speaking Course will be a one-day, Saturday, session with four hours of advanced preparation required and eight hours in class.

Each course will include these classes:

“Called by God” lead by Rev. Steve Cox, District Superintendent

“Called to lead Worship” lead by: Rev. Cindy Buhman Bethany UMC

“Called to Leadership and Service” lead by

Bob Harryman, District Director of Lay Speaking

“Called to Witness and Teach” lead by a minister

“Called to Grow in Faith” lead by a minister

Advanced preparation:

Read chapters 1-11 in “Lay Speaking Ministries” (book to be provided)

Visit with a minister (2 hours) about how they prepare a sermon. What references do they use? How do they decide the topic?

Prepare two five minute talks. One a sermon and the other of your choice, a sermon, a church school class, some program you might give at church or other talk that has religious ideas.

Registration Form- Fill out one form for each person attending by the 1^st day of the month in which you plan to attend so we can get the book to you:

Name: ________________________________Church_____________________

Your Address: ____________________________________________________

Phone: _____________________e-mail: _______________________________

Date and location of course you plan to attend: ________________________

Registration Fee: There is a $10 Registration Fee which includes lunch. (Scholarships available on request).

SEND REGISTRATION with $10 to: Bob Harryman at 2110 Wilson, Bethany, Missouri 64424. Questions, e-mail bob@harryman.net or call 660-425-3421.