At Bemis UMC, two families saw the need within their congregation. They went to court and petitioned for temporary custody of children because of the parent’s inability to provide a safe and productive environment for the children.

Pastor Morse believes that “you must teach it from the pulpit and lead by example. If you do not believe in the ministry of helping when dealing with children, how can you expect your congregation to catch hold of the vision?”

We at the Department would like to recognize and openly thank Pastor Morse and the congregation at Bemis United Methodist Church for their commitment to the community at large and the Department of Children’s Services. This is a partnership made in Heaven. •

Lambuth accounting students offer free income tax preparation for low-income families & individuals

_The Lambuth University School of Business and Economics is partnering with the Internal Revenue Service to provide free income tax preparation for families and individuals with gross incomes of less than $37,264.00. 

The program is open to W-2 wage earners. Forms 1040EZ, 1040A and 1040 with schedules for interest, dividends and earned income credit will be prepared for qualified taxpayers at no cost. 

Tax-preparers will be available on Saturdays from 1:00-4:00 p.m. in the Luther L. Gobbel Library beginning February 4 and ending on Saturday, April 8.

The program will not be available on Saturday, March 11, or March 18. Taxpayers should bring the following with them:

1. Valid picture I. D. of taxpayer and spouse (if married),

2. Copies of their W-2 and any other sources of income,

3. Social Security cards and birth dates of taxpayer, spouse, and all dependents, and

4. Valid telephone number.

Walk-ins are welcome, but to assure the tax preparation can be done on the desired date, please call Cyndi Hill in the Lambuth University School of Business and Economics at 731-425-3214. 

Tax preparation will be done on a first-come, first-served basis.  All of the Lambuth accounting students participating in this program are IRS Certified Tax Preparers.•

For more information, call Dr. Wilburn Lane at 731-425-3274.

‘Strong Christian’ donates a portion of her liver to uncle

 (L-R) June Davis gave away 60% of her liver to her uncle Terry Weatherington. Terry and his wife Delores say her gift, which saved his life, was more precious than words can ever convey.

_Terry Weatherington came to the Methodist University Transplant Institute for his living liver donor transplant surgery. His niece, June Davis, gave him 60 percent of her liver.

“I knew how critical he was, and I’m the same blood type as he is, and I just couldn’t see any reason not to,” said Davis.

Davis has a strong religious faith and her faith played a role in her decision to donate, a decision she says was easy to make.

“I am a Christian by faith and I discussed being an organ donor with my Father, the Lord, and He told me it was the right thing to do and to go ahead with the surgery and we would be fine,” said Davis.

The liver will regenerate

The liver is the only organ that grows back. The amount of the liver removed from the donor varies. For a small child, a surgeon usually removes 20 to 25 percent of an adult liver. For a larger child, 30 to 35 percent of the liver is removed. An adult usually receives the right lobe of the donor’s liver, which makes up 50 to 55 percent of the liver. 

“The liver starts to regenerate as soon as we cut it and the regeneration continues and is complete at about two months,” said Hosein Shokouh-Amiri, M.D., transplant surgeon at the Methodist University Hospital Transplant Institute.

Davis and Weatherington are both doing well and feeling great. Weatherington’s wife, Delores, says their niece’s gift was more precious than any words can ever convey.

“We were just so blessed,” she said, “I feel like it’s a miracle that came our way.”

Terry is glad the wait for a new liver is over. He says the long four-year wait wasn’t easy. “It’s kind of like a rollercoaster ride,” described Terry. “I’d get a call the hospital had a liver and I’d go to the hospital and get ready and find out the liver wasn’t any good.”

The doctor told Terry to get more exercise, so he’s started walking and he’s looking forward to getting back to golf.

Living donors needed

There is a growing need for living organ donors. Currently, more than 20,000 patients are registered on the United Network for Organ Sharing’s (UNOS) waiting list for a liver, and more than 60,000 patients are waiting for a kidney. Responding to that need, the Methodist University Hospital Transplant Institute is focusing on expanding its living organ donor program.

“There is an enormous need for living donors,” explained Barry Marshall, administrator for the Methodist University Hospital Transplant Institute. “Each year more people are placed on the waiting list, and there are never enough organs. The gap between people who need a kidney, liver, or pancreas and deceased donors continues to widen and will continue to widen. One way to get those needed organs is through living donors. To that end, we plan to grow our transplant program... .”

The Institute had performed 15 liver transplants by September in 2005, one of which was a living donor liver transplant. The institute also performed 46 kidney transplants by September, nine of which were living donor kidney transplants. 

Methodist University Transplant Institute is nationally known for its success with kidney, liver, kidney-pancreas, and pancreas.  The program is dedicated to improving the quality of life and the life expectancy for its transplant patients through research breakthroughs, excellence in surgical techniques and meticulous post-operative care. The Institute was moved to Methodist University Hospital in July 2004 when UT Bowld Hospital closed, so that research and patient care could continue to grow.

To learn more about organ donation and being a living organ donor, contact the Methodist University Hospital Transplant Institute at 901-516-7070.•

Story provided by Mary Alice Taylor, Methodist Healthcare

Brownsville District invites conference clergy to Feb. 13 meeting with Bishop Joe Pennel

On Monday, Feb. 13, Bishop Joe Pennel will lead an all day workshop for Memphis Conference clergy at First United Methodist Church, 117 E. Franklin Street, Brownsville, Tenn. The group will gather at 9:00 a.m. for coffee and juice. Sessions will begin at 9:30 a.m.

The morning session is called “A Short Course on Leading the Congregation,” which will focus on the kind of pastoral leadership which produces fruitful congregations. The afternoon session is “The Sacraments as a Means of Grace.”

The cost of the workshop, including lunch, is $5.00. The CEU credit is .5. Registration deadline is February 8.

Call Carol Moseley at the Brownsville District office to reserve a space: 731-772-9882. •

Ky. tornado victims urged to meet Feb. 7 at Town Hall

Western Kentucky tornado victims are encouraged to attend a Town Hall Meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 7, at Mt. Carmel United Methodist Church on Big Bear Highway.

The meeting is sponsored by the newly organized McVOAD (Marshall Co. Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) to discuss the need for continuing recovery efforts.

Those affected by the recent tornado are encouraged to come and share their recovery experiences, especially any difficulties they are having that can be addressed by the Long Term Recovery community.

Participants will have an opportunity to discuss their circumstances with trained Case Managers and with representatives of Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster.

Refreshments will be served after the meeting.

McVOAD was recently established by several community organizations to coordinate recovery efforts. For information about including your organization in McVOAD, or for other information about the Town Hall Meeting, visit www.McVOAD.net. •

TN Wildlife Federation sells 1000 license plates

Karen McDonald of the Tennessee Wildlife Federation reports that 1000 of the specialty tags have been sold.

“We set a deadline of Feb. 1 for any new orders and to collect outstanding payments,” she wrote. “At that time, we will be sending the list and money to the state and will be unable to take any more orders.

“Once the list and money has been turned in, it takes approximately 6 months to get the plate into (the) hands (of purchasers).

McDonald added that purchasers will receive a letter instructing them to pick up their plates at their local clerk’s office--turning in the current plate and transferring registration.

“If your tag expires before that time, don’t worry,” she added. Just renew. You’ll be given credit for what you’ve already paid when you get the new tag.•