In memoriam

The Rev. James Donald Moorehead, 68, retired minister in the McKendree District, died December 10, 2002, at his home of prostate cancer. Services were held at Germantown UMC on December 13. Officiating were the Revs. Rick Kirchoff, Dan Camp, Katherine B. Moorehead (Don and Barbara’s daughter-in-law), and Dr. Mark Matheny.

Moorehead was a UM minister for 47 years, serving seven churches in West Tennessee and as Paducah District Superintendent and McKendree District Superintendent. Henry Varnell, who knew Moorehead for 20 years, said he excelled as a member of the board of directors for Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare and on the hospital’s Health and Welfare Committee.

Don, the husband of Barbara Jean Moorehead for 49 years, also leaves two daughters, Sharon Clardy and Dana Davin; a son,  J. D. Moorehead Jr. of Spartansburg, SC; a sister, Mary Ann Watson of Cheyenne, Wyo; a brother, Joe Cecil Moorehead; his mother, Lillian Boone Vaughn of Cheyenne; four grandchildren and one great grandchild.

The family requests any memorials to be sent to the James Donald and Barbara Moorehead Scholarship Fund at Lambuth University, Germantown UMC, or any of the churches served by the Mooreheads. Correspondence should be sent to Barbara at 8656 Sycamore Trail, Germantown, TN 38139. Phone (901) 753-0973.

Mid-year appointments

Bishop William Morris made the following mid-year appointments:

Effective October 1, 2002

Jack Dickerson–Atwood-Shiloh (Paris District)

 Effective November 3, 2002

Aleta Catron–Cookeville First (Tenn. Conference)

 Effective November 26, 2002

Scottie Brafford– Director of Young Adult Ministries, McKendree District and Colonial Park UMC.

 Effective January 1, 2003

E. Harrell Phillips–retired relationship

Stanley H. McDaniel–Lexington First (Jackson District)

Aaron Dowdy–Pleasant Valley-Shady Grove (Dyersburg District)

Edward R. Bromley–Pleasant Hill Parish (Paducah District)

Joy Shelby Weathersbee–President, Hannah’s Hope (McKendree District)

Joseph E. Moseley–Program Ministry Staff (Jackson District)

L. Ray Chandler–Malesus UMC (Jackson District)

Dennis H. Renshaw–Malesus UMC (Jackson District)

David O. Weatherly–Jackson First Associate (Jackson District)

M. Jolinne Balentine–St. Luke’s Associate (McKendree District)

Brian Riley–Brownsville Circuit (Brownsville District)

Jerry L. Hassell–retired relationship

David B. Russell–Asbury UMC (McKendree District)

Judith F. Wolfgang–Ralston-Oak Hill-Pisgah/Interim UTM Interfaith Center (Dyersburg District)

Positions Available

•Part time Children’s Worker: Concord UMC, Paducah, Ky. Please contact the church office at (270) 443-2669 or write the Rev. Phillip McClure, Concord United Methodist Church, 5178 Hinkleville Road, Paducah, KY 42001.

Singles Ministry Leadership Training Lab, February 1

Anyone interested in starting or strengthening single adult ministry in the local church should attend the Singles Ministry Leadership Training Lab on February , 9:30 AM-2:00 PM,  at Martin First UMC, 224 Main Street, Martin, TN.

The topics covered will be: How to Start a Singles Ministry, How to Maintain a Singles Ministry, Program & Event Ideas, and Exploring & Discovering Spiritual Gifts. The cost is $10 per adult (includes lunch). Free child care provided you register your kids by January 24. Call (731) 664-8480 for more information.

Donors rally ‘round Reelfoot

‘Christmas Miracle’ at Reelfoot: Day Care to stay open, home-delivered meals continue, no staff laid off

Reelfoot Rural Ministries’ “Christmas Miracle”:

Nearly 1000 donors, fearing the temporary closure of Reelfoot’s two day care programs and senior meal delivery, mailed gifts that totaled over $125,000 in excess of normal December donations.  (Above) Dale Mills opens a few of the letters that flooded the rural ministries’ office.

By Dale Mills

Director, Reelfoot Rural Ministries

Reelfoot Rural Ministries experienced an Easter miracle at Christmas this year. We moved from death to life!

Contributions over the past year had Reelfoot in a financial crisis. In November, the board made the painful announcement that unless a minimum of $60,000 – in addition to regular donations – could be raised, we would temporarily close three of our more costly (but most needed) programs until financial stability could be restored.

Now for the miracle! As of Friday, December 27, Reelfoot Rural Ministries received over $125,000 in excess of normal December donations. To all those who prayed and sacrificed to make this miracle possible, we say thank you.

Gifts came from almost 1000 different churches, individuals and groups.

A few parents shopping at the Christmas Toy Store left their change, which was, in some cases, all the money they had. One of the Toy Store shoppers who gave all she had explained her generosity this way: “I want to give. If it had not been for Reelfoot Rural Ministries, my children wouldn’t have had Christmas for the past four years.”

A little girl, hearing at her church of the need, asked, “Will this help? It is all I have.” And she gave her last penny.

The Third, Fourth and Fifth Grade Classes at Lara Kendall School in Ridgely, Tenn. collected money for RRM instead of giving gifts to one another. Some of the children were former day care students at Reelfoot.

Other donors gave $100, $200, or even $1000. But all gave generously.  As a result of that generosity, Reelfoot Rural Ministries will continue to serve the children, the elderly and the low-income families of the Lake area.

Concerned donors who phoned to see how we were doing were obviously weeping as they talked. Notes and letters included with many of the gifts expressed equally emotional concern.

The media coverage we received was grand, but the prayer support was even larger. And the result was what we have come to call, “Our Christmas Miracle.” To God be the glory!

Now the RRM board and management staff are faced with the task of developing regular, ongoing support that will avert any similar crisis in the future. Conference apportionments and Support-a-Child scholarships are wonderful. Without them, we couldn’t survive. But they currently fund only a small percentage of RRM’s monthly program needs.

• Reelfoot will need twice as many Support-a-Child sponsors. (Each sponsor underwrites a scholarship of $1920 per year per child. Contact RRM at 731-538-9970 for details.)

• We need regular, monthly donations that can be depended on to pay light bills and salaries during those times of the year when traditional giving is slow.

• And Reelfoot needs to develop newsletters and mailings that people will actually read and that will continually inform them about both our wonderful programs and the cost of funding them.

To all who gave, we say “Thanks!” And we pledge to you our best and our prayerful efforts to keep you informed about your rural mission at Reelfoot.

Tyson donates tractor trailer  load of frozen chickens to RRM

thousands of pounds of chicken divvied up

Hungry people in West Tennessee and Western Kentucky will be eating Tyson chicken this year through a program Tyson calls “Share Our Strength”. Reelfoot Rural Ministries shared the entire tractor trailer load full of frozen chicken with 17 missions, agencies and churches.

By Cathy Farmer

One gray December afternoon, trustees from the Dyer County jail helped volunteers from seventeen West Tennessee and Western Kentucky ministries unload a tractor trailer load of frozen chickens.

“I ain’t never seen anything like this before,” marveled Rex Walker, the truck driver for Tyson Foods as he watched the men in prison attire and the other volunteers labor to unload and divide the frozen bounty. “I’ve delivered quite a few of these truckloads of chicken for Tyson, but it ain’t never been like this.

“This is just real heart-warming, real country!” he said as he watched people from West Tennessee and Western Kentucky pitch in.

The organizations sending volunteers for their share of thousands of chickens included the Union Mission, Christ the King Storehouse, Matthew 25:40, Kiwanis, the Salvation Army, and the Sheriff’s Department, all in Dyersburg, Tenn. From Union City, Tenn. were Helping Hands, Union City First UMC, Calvary Baptist Church, Exchange Street Church and the Red Cross. Also helping were volunteers from Reelfoot Rural Ministries, Ridgely (Tenn.) Senior Center, Tiptonville (Tenn.) Senior Center, Church of Christ (Troy, Tenn.), Obion (Tenn.) UMC, Mission House (Clinton, Ky.) and Paducah (Ky.) Cooperative Ministries.  

‘Wildest Church in Memphis’ moves into new sanctuary

Heartsong finds a new home in the woods

Over 700 celebrated the “Grand Opening” of Heartsong’s new “Celebration Center” on the Houston Levee Road in Cordova, Tenn. The church is nestled in 30 acres of heavy woodland.

Building a church in the woods of Cordova was a move in the right direction for Heartsong Church.

The 220 spaces in the church’s brand new parking lot were filled to overflowing on December 8 for the  “Grand Opening” of Heartsong’s new lodge-like “Celebration Center” tucked away on 30 acres of heavily forested land on the Houston Levee Road.

“It seems we’ve already outgrown our parking area,” marveled Howard Cobbs, Heartsong’s Creative Arts Director.

Before Heartsong made its move to the new site, the “flock that rocks” averaged about 350 in worship on Sunday.

“Now we average near 500,” Cobbs said, “but it’s not the same 500. We see lots of new faces every week.” Twenty-five to 30 people are already planning to take the four-hour course offered by the Rev. Steve Stone, Heartsong’s pastor, that is required of all persons wishing to join the church as “partners.”

Stone and Cobbs believe the church, with its unique worship style and “Wing and a Prayer Band,” is meeting a particular need. Cobbs says they’re particularly proud that the congregation runs the gamut from blue to white collar, from CEOs to 12-steppers.

“This is a high point in the life of Heartsong and the beginning of a great adventure,” said Dr. Stone at the celebration. “We are calling this building “Mission Outpost Central” and truly hope that it will be a magnet for those looking for meaning and direction in their lives.”