Pastor's Report 2009 Church Conference

October 27, 2009

 

We have finished our first year together, it has been an exciting and busy time, and we have already started the second. During the past year, we spent time in finding out where we were and also where to go at the very beginning through surveys, prayers, and study of Scripture together. As a result, we were able to figure out 10 ideas for our ministry and the church prioritized the list with an effort of PPR committee. The first two items that we began to implement are as follows;

 

First, we developed our prayer movement among all the members of church throughout the year. We have now silent prayer during the worship service, and a prayer vigil once a month. We pray the Lord's prayer every day at noon as well as we pray for someone three times a day for 21 days. We also have a 'prayer chain' and a regular prayer meeting with fasting on Saturday mornings.

 

Secondly, we elected 7 shepherds from our own members, and after dividing the congregation into 7 groups we assigned these 7 leaders to look after each of the groups. We have developed A "Discipline" for the Seven Shepherds" to help themselves for spiritual formation and for carrying out their jobs effectively. The "Discipline" includes the following 10 rules: 

 

1. Do No Harm. (1 Peter 3:13, Zechariah 8:17)

2. Do Good. (John 13:34-35), “Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as ever you can.” (John Wesley)

3. Stay in Love with God. (Mark 12:30)

4. Pray continually. (Daniel 6:10, John 15:5)

5. Meditate on the Word of God day and night. (Joshua 1:8)

6. Praise God always. (Psalm 119:164)

7. Visit people in your group in order: 1) to inquire how their souls prosper; 2) to advise, exhort; 3) to pray for, and comfort the sick, the depressed and the lonely; 4) to find out what people want church to do for them and also to receive what they are willing to give toward the relief of church, and poor.

8. Meet the pastor once a week, in order: to inform the pastor of any that are sick, or of any that are in trials; 2) to request the pastor to visit any of them if it is necessary and critical.

9. Meet with the other shepherds once a month, in order: 1) to share the concerns and joys of each group; 2) to pray together; 3) to figure out how to work together; 4) to study and discuss on how to develop our ministry in the future; 5) to reconfirm our commitment to the Lord and mutual accountability to each other.

10. Be Humble before God and People. (Palms 25:9, Matthew 20 28)

 

As I look back at these newly created ministries, I think we have been moving in the right direction. Though we haven't grown in number, I believe that we all have grown through those kind of ministries to be more sensitive to God's voice, closer to each other and more effective to take care of people inside the church and people outside the church as well.

During this past year, we have been trying to make ourselves familiar with our vision statement and embody its contents in our lives and ministry. On arriving here in Seward, I preached on our Vision Statement by dividing it into three themes for three weeks as it is written in order to help our congregation to better understand and live up to it with faith everyday. I also composed a song with the words of our vision statement with the help of Mary Ann Walters, and we sing the song every Sunday morning.

 

One was 'Believe Again Bible Study' which was designed by our conference to help us understand and support "Believe Again Plan for Our Ministry" that was adopted at 2006 Annual conference, focusing on the five goals; Discover, Stretch, Lead, Go, and Connect.

 

Another was 'Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations - Radical Hospitality' that helped the participants to have the active desire to invite, welcome, receive and care for people outside the church as well as our own members.

 

And the other is one of Paul's epistles, Philippians. We chose to study this book because in the letter Paul emphasized the need for believers to rejoice in all circumstances in Christ and that is desperately needed to us who are getting old, weak and sick in this fallen world. This Bible study also helps us to be more active and courageous to share our faith with all we come in contact with in daily life.

 

As we look at outreach/mission programs, we had men's Chili Supper in February. We invited all men in our area to join us and as a result, 55 showed up from the community. We had a great time of fellowship and entertainment with Duane Kaufman's Gospel music and testimony.

 

We had a very successful Vacation Bible School last summer. We had 43 registered students and 26 adults helped make our VBS possible and success including 1 director, 4 teachers, 21 other helpers. The theme was "Son Harvest Country Fair"and we taught our children the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, and patience. Children donated canned foods as their offering during the days and it was sent to the "Mother Hubbard's Food Pantry, which is an organization for helping the poor in this area. On the last night, we had a Puppet Show, "The Good Samaritan Shows Kindness."Many children and adults attended from the community and had a great time.

 

We had movie nights on the third Friday of each month except summer season. Though not many people come, some from the community come regularly. Every night, nursery was provided and so were snacks by United Methodist Men.  

 

Each month we had a different theme for missions and we were able to raise monies and send it to different organizations and missionaries in the world including Hubbard's food pantry, the Bartimaeus Mission, Inc., Enright Flight Ministry, Salvation Army, Bruce & Kathy Griffith, the Angeles Kyungshin Medical Mission center, Habitat for Humanity, Ken Wagoner's China Outreach. 

 

Besides, we had children's harvest party last year and this year, we walked around the community with children dressed as Biblical characters and the monies children collected were sent to UNICEF. We sent special offerings for 'One Great Hour of Sharing', 'Christian Education', and 'World Wide Communion'. We sent 100 Health Kits, 51 School Kits, to UMCOR through Annual Conference. We also sent Christmas Child Shoeboxes to the impoverished and hurting children all over the world.

 

As part of nurture programs,  HIS Class purchased and delivered fruit baskets to the shut-in/homebound last December. We had "Ladies Valentine Brunch" which was held Saturday, February 14 in the Fellowship Hall of the church with 24 ladies. After the brunch, we had games and that was enjoyed very much by all the attendees.

 

In May, we had Korean Cultural experience Dinner hosted by Eun Young Han and assisted by her three Korean friends and our nurture committee. Several kinds of Korean foods were provided for 64 attendees including our family members and some from community. Pastor Han introduced Korean culture and the features of Korean churches through the presentation of power point after the meal. 

 

We had our church picnic at the Seward VFW on Sunday, August 23rd with 59 people. The foods were very well prepared and arranged. After lunch, we had games for the children and also the adults. We had a good time with our favorite auctioneer (Dick Carney) auctioning off our white elephant gifts. It was very successful. The earnings from the action, $190 were used to purchase a refrigerator in the church kitchen.

 

During the past year, our ladies have been knitting or stitching quilts with love and prayer and they were delivered to 14 different people who were going through tough illnesses or those who were in nursing homes. (Patricia Heming, Dale Bloom, Bill Rummel, Ann Connell, Kathryn Hite, Charles Stewart, Tootie Edwards, Rose Bouch, Gertrude Ambrose, Irene Anderson, Marlene Carney, Pat Keith, Dick Blankenbicker, Twyla Smith.)

 

Through the prayer chain, we have been able to share prayer concerns and thoughts of support with other members of the church. Currently Kristin Bennett, the granddaughter of Nancy and Earl, was in need of prayers because of serious pregnancy issues and we were able to take care of her through our sincere prayers which provided a sensible connection from a church which cares. Certainly there are many others, God knows each and every one of them and prayers on their behalf are shared regularly.

 

In addition, we offered various services to church members through the Support Team and visited a number of the shut-in/homebound members. We know that people want a church that not only saves but also cares. Obviously Seward UMC is a caring and serving community. As our Lord, Jesus taught us, we have been diligent to feed, clothe, visit and look after people in need.

 

 

As part of Ministerium ministry, we participated in the Thanksgiving Service, Advent Services, Choir Fest, Lenten services, and Ministerium picnic and we hosted Christian Unity Service with 'Holy Communion' at our church on January 18, 2009.

  

I could go on and on about the past year, but we would be here all night and this is only the first report that you will be receiving. So let’s turn our attention to the future.

 

Solomon, in his great wisdom, declared in Proverbs 29:18 "Where there is no vision, the people perish." Well, speaking of dreams, I cannot help but think of Dr. Martin Luther King who often proclaimed: "I have a dream!" His dream was for equality for men and women of all races.

Long before God appointed Joshua to succeed Moses and lead the nation Israel into the promised land, Joshua had a dream! His dream was to possess the land of Canaan. His dream was to receive and enjoy the promise of God. His dream was to live in a land of plenty in peace. It was something that he longed for so badly that he could taste it. He lived and breathed the dream.

 

Now I would like to ask each one of us, "Do we have a dream?  Of course we do! We all have dreams of the future and how bright it can be. We have dreams of peace and prosperity. Perhaps those dreams include a new home, or a new car, or a rewarding career. But, while we may have personal hopes and dreams, "What is our dream for this church?" "What is our vision of the future of this church?"

 

Personally I always have a dream for the future of this church. And that dream is to see this church grow everyday qualitatively and quantitatively. I have a dream that those who left the church are coming back and reaching so many people for Christ that we will one day need a new building large enough to house them and minister to their needs. I have a dream that all of us are using our gifts and talents in their fullness for the sake of Christ's church. I believe that we all have the same dream as a church. In order to accomplish this God-given dream together, I would like to present "A Three Year Plan" to our charge conference tonight;

 

 

 

AFTER TRAINING, WE WILL GO OUT TO CONTACT EVERY PERSON IN THE SEWARD AREA WITH THE GOSPEL. ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS OF CONTACTING PEOPLE IS 'HOUSE TO HOUSE VISITATION'.

THIS TEAM IS EXPECTED TO MAKE OUR MEMBERS AND VISITORS FEEL WELCOME, LOVED, NEEDED, AND ACCEPTED.

 

WE WILL SET UP DAYS WHEN EACH BRING A PERSON. (TWICE A YEAR : ONE IN MAY, THE OTHER IN SEPTEMBER)

 

4. EACH ORGANIZATION IN THE CHURCH IS EXPECTED TO SUPPORT THE PLAN BY INCREASING AT LEAST 1 NEW MEMBER. (SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS, CHOIR, UMM, YOUTH...)

 

 

 

 

 

In closing my report, I would like to share with you  a couple things. Many churches refuse to make changes, refuse to do anything new to reach out to lost and hurting people because of those seven big words "We've never done it that way before." Do you know how many churches operate on that phrase? And people are going to hell, and needs are not being met, because churches are too afraid to go against traditions and do the things we need to do to change people's lives. I think that our church is no different in that respect. How foolish we are to do the same things and expect different results.

 

Since I arrived here in Seward, I have been visiting our members and I came to reconfirm the human nature of loneliness even though we are living in an affluent society in every way. I can believe even more firmly that we should reach out to the people with the comforting words of God and make disciples for Jesus Christ our Lord. I believe that now is the time to make a difference in the ministry. The time has come for us to gather together as a people. The time has come for us to utilize the gifts that God has given us to communicate the good news to the world, a world that is anxious to hear what we have to say, a world which is thirsty for the living water.

 

You may say, "Pastor Han! We have no people to do that." But believe that God has given us the gifts in this time for reaching out to the people as a church. I know some people are still skeptical but try to look at the bright side, and think about what God is going to do through this kind of work for His Kingdom.  

  

Indeed, we are a church with resources. I am not talking about material resources but human resources. We have a great core of people who are highly dedicated and willing followers. We have devoted and productive committees. But our greatest resource within the church is the people who regularly come to worship, who study the scriptures in our facilities, who gather for prayer in our homes and church.

 

When I look at the face of Seward church and our ministry I see possibilities for great things. The key to our future is faith in God’s miraculous movement within us and through us and among us. We claim God’s promise that ordinary people can do extraordinary things! I praise God that good things are already happening here in our ministry for the past year, that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is being poured out, and that the power of the Holy Spirit is mightily at work.

 

I love each one of you from the bottom of my heart, even though I can not express it with words. I thank God for the dedicated church staff, officers, all volunteer workers and all the members of the church. I give Jesus all the credit for the privilege of reporting to you that the state of Seward UMC at this point in time is… “It is exciting and expecting!”

 

May we continue to be faithful to our calling as disciples of Jesus Christ and may the Lord bless us during the upcoming year!

 

Respectfully reported,

Duk Hee Han, Pastor