Lambuth University Music Professors Take Learning to the Streets

Lambuth music professors are taking music to a new audience as part of a series of programs developed through First United Methodist Church of Jackson.  In order to open the world of music to disadvantaged children, Lambuth professors are offering a series of programs ranging from the brass section of the orchestra to strings and percussion.Through the series, Jackson First and Lambuth professors hope to provide a glimpse into the orchestra and kindle a flame of music in their lives.

The first session was presented Oct. 29 at the Jackson International Rockabilly Hall of Fame. On Nov. 14, for the second session, Derek Jones demonstrated instruments ranging from the Bassoon to the Saxophone. For information, contact Dr. Ross Bernhardt at 731-425-3248.

Position available

• Director of Youth Ministries: Trinity UMC, Huntsville, AL. 3200 member church averaging approximately 1400 in weekly worship seeks dynamic leader for 200+ 6th-12th graders engaged in diverse ministries. The youth come from over 20 schools in the Huntsville area. Required: minimum of 5 years professional experience in youth ministry, theology compatible with UMC, and understanding of ministry in a large church. Visit the website at www.trinityhsv.org. Contact Jane Daniel, Director of Ministries, (256) 883-3200, extension 226, or send resumes to jane.daniel@trinityhsv.org or 607 Airport Road, Huntsville, AL 35802. Fax (256) 883-3234.

Disaster Relief teams clean up after tornadoes ravage Tennessee

   ‘I don’t want to forget your faces. You’re about to become part of   my family album!’  Dennis Taylor, tornado victim

UNITED METHODIST VOLUNTEERS WITNESS THROUGH WORK AND CARING

Disaster Relief volunteers from West Tennessee pitched in and removed dozens of downed trees after tornadoes swept through the area on November 9. Their witness moved several victims to declare they had “found a church home!” “This is what Christians are supposed to be doing,” said one woman.

 By Cathy Farmer 

Tornadoes seem to bring out the best in United Methodist volunteers. In 1999, when tornadoes ravaged West Tennessee, hundreds of United Methodists suited up in rain gear and headed out to help the victims pick up the shattered pieces of their lives.

United Methodists – men, women and youth – were involved in every aspect of that disaster from clearing downed trees to piecing together scattered family pictures to rebuilding homes.

And after it was over, after the houses were all repaired and the work teams had gone home, Memphis Conference leaders sat down and drew up a plan on how to respond if it ever happened again.

Jimmy Whittington, Memphis Conference Disaster Relief coordinator, said, “In 1999, we didn’t make the best use of time or people, and we realized that would always be the case unless we had an organization in place before the event.

“We felt,” he continued, “that we’d get more done in a shorter period of time if people were trained, equipped and ready to move.” 

Tornadoes hit West Tennessee on November 9, 2002

When the warning sirens began to wail late Saturday evening, November 9, the Memphis Conference was ready. Four teams of volunteers were trained and equipped.

Dr. Ben Boone, Jackson District Superintendent, placed an urgent call to Whittington at 2:30 AM Sunday morning, just hours after tornadoes churned across the Mississippi River.

“I wanted to let him know we had serious storm damage in the Jackson area and that we might need to activate the teams,” Boone said.

Realizing that no volunteers should enter a disaster site without the invitation of local emergency management officials, Boone also called Area 2 team coordinator Gary Stewart and asked him to make contact with Dan Vaughan, Deputy Director of the Madison County Emergency Management Agency. Stewart’s team is drawn from United Methodist churches in Madison, Chester, Decatur, Hardeman, Harden, Haywood, Henderson, and McNairy counties.

“After Vaughan made his assessment of damage Sunday morning, he said he needed us,” Boone said.

Stewart and Whittington conferred on the amount of damage and the number of volunteers needed.

“After I talked to Gary and Dan Vaughan, I called out Team 2 and Team 3,” Whittington said. Team 3 is based in the northwest Tennessee counties of Benton, Carroll, Crockett, Dyer, Gibson, Henry, Lake, Lauderdale, Obion and Weakley.

Two teams arrive in Jackson

The teams arrived, ready to work, bright and early Monday morning, November 11. Two Memphis Conference Disaster Relief trailers pulled up at Northside United Methodist Church followed by trucks and cars carrying 26 trained men and women.

Stewart had his orders from Dan Vaughan. “We’re being sent to Northwest Acres and to Channing Way,” he said. Both suburban areas had been heavily damaged during the storm.

Wearing their Memphis Conference Disaster Relief T-shirts, hats and identification badges, the teams began knocking on doors in the designated areas.

“We got permission from the homeowners before we started clearing away trees and debris,” Stewart said. “I’ve never seen people work so tirelessly! I can’t praise them enough.”

The volunteers were drawn from many churches. Area 2 people came from Beech Bluff UMC, Forest Heights, Grace, Malesus, Midgett Chapel, Northside, Selmer First UMC and Brownsville’s Trinity. Area 3 drew their volunteers from Camden First UMC, Dresden First, Cowell’s Chapel, Flatwoods, Huntingdon First, Martin First and Milan First.

Teams witness by working, caring, and listening

Dr. Boone said, “I’ve never seen folks work so hard in all my life. There was such a sense of cooperation, of self-giving. Their presence was the power of witness.”

And witness through working, through caring, and by listening was exactly what they did.

Rosemary Shankle, one of the tornado victims, rose from her sickbed to thank the United Methodists cutting the downed trees choking her Channing Way yard. “I’ve been reading how Christians talk big but don’t do anything,” she said. “I wish the people who said that could see this!”

Mrs. Shankle and her husband John said they believed they had found a church home after watching United Methodists work so hard to help them.

Wanda Jones Partee, another Channing Way resident, had 13 trees down in her yard. She was trying to clear them away with a small handsaw when the Disaster Team appeared on the scene.

“I’m a United Methodist but I haven’t been going to church lately,” she confided. “This has been a real conviction experience for me. This is what Christians are supposed to be doing!”

Mrs. Partee insisted on donating to the team. The money will be used to replenish equipment and supplies.

Robert and Sonya King, a young couple with two small children, were hit especially hard by the twister. Both of their vehicles were destroyed and garage nearly flattened.

“I can’t thank everyone enough,” Mrs. King said tearfully before she joined the team in a prayer circle.

Dennis and Wanda Taylor insisted on gathering the volunteers for a picture. “I don’t want to forget your faces,” Dennis Taylor said. “You’re about to become part of my family album!”

“We’ve been so blessed by what we’ve seen,” said Jerry Flippin, a volunteer from Milan First.

Gary Stewart agreed: “We’ve made new friends and we’ve worked for the common good. I can’t praise everyone enough.”

From the vantage point of a week into the recovery effort, Whittington said he was pleased with the way the teams have worked. “This is really the first time we’ve had to coordinate different areas and teams, and I’m pleased with the results.”

Whittington is sending the Area 1 team (Shelby, Fayette and Tipton counties) to help with recovery efforts in the Covington, Tenn. area. Emergency Management officials there have indicated that approximately 50 homes near the Randolph community need help clearing debris and downed trees.

“And we still have a team in reserve,” he said.

Team Members

Gary Stewart                 Beech Bluff

Carolyn Stewart            Beech Bluff

Dan McCue                   Camden First

Bob Sullivan                   Cowell’s Chapel

W. Glenn Hill                 Dresden First

Mike Pentecost                          Dresden First

Sarah Pentecost                         Dresden First

Dan Smith                     Dresden First

John Solmon                  Dresden First

Paul Chronister                          latwoods

Terry Cuff                     Flatwoods

Artie Griffith                  Flatwoods

Jimmy Phifer                 Flatwoods

Betty Walters                 Flatwoods

James Mullins                Forest Heights

Cheryl Bowers               Grace

Diane Schnell                 Grace

John Griffin                   Huntingdon First

Chuck Jones                  Huntingdon First

Molly Silvers                  First Baptist

Debbie Durham              Malesus

Herman Smith                Martin First

Harry Henderson            Martin First

Melba Mitchell               Midgett Chapel

Hunter Fields                 Milan First

Jerry Flippin                  Milan First

Jim Garmony                 Milan First

Jim Hardin                     Milan First

Tim K. Bryant                Northside

Jason Martin                  Selmer First

Rhodes Platt                  Selmer First

Jessie English    Trinity

Lambuth students killed in auto accident

Lambuth University was deeply saddened by the deaths of two 19-year-old freshmen, David Gregory Wallace of Dover, Tenn., and Kyle Morden of Memphis, Tenn., both members of the Lambuth University football team.The young men were killed in an automobile accident while returning to the Jackson, Tenn. campus from Murray, Ky.

President W. Ellis Arnold III conveyed the profound sense of loss felt by the University.  “The entire campus community is deeply saddened by this tragedy. Our heartfelt sympathies are extended to these families as we keep them in in our thoughts and prayers.”

Vic Wallace, Lambuth Athletic Director said, “Losing two young men like Greg and Kyle is a huge shock to our players and coaches. Both were at practice (the night before the accident). Both were super young men. Both had bright futures. We are very saddened. Our condolences go out to their families. We miss them.”

The campus community joined in remembrance and prayer.

On Saturday, Nov. 9, on the same day both young men were buried,  an emotional Lambuth team asked for a brief moment of silence during the second quarter of their game against Virginia-Wise to remember their lost teammates. Referees stopped the game, which was tied at 6-6, at the 7:37 mark.

Ricky Catlett, Lambuth defensive coordinator, said, “After the moment of silence, the team switched gears. It was unbelievable.” The final score was Lambuth 41, Virginia-Wise 6.

Brian Carlton, Lambuth senior linebacker, said, “I dedicated this game more to them than to us seniors. You miss their smiles and them coming to practice to help us.”

Lambuth honored the young men by framing their jerseys – Nos. 71 and 92 – and having cheerleaders hold them up during the game.