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Memphis Conference Reporter

Miracle on McLemore Street

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It’s a wonder the walls don’t bulge at Centenary United Methodist Church. In the afternoons, as soon as school is out, the brick structure on McLemore Street is full to overflowing with neighborhood kids and church volunteers.

"There are no fences around Centenary and no graffiti," said Thomas Milam, a life-long member of the inner-city Memphis church.

"That’s because the youth of this area know they can come here any time. Over the years, the doors of this church have always been open."

Punctuating his remarks on that April Tuesday afternoon were the sounds of busy children and teens as they bustled into the kitchen, ran up the stairs to the computer lab, or hurried to the gym for supervised games of basketball.

The place was awash with happy faces.

Milam, executive director of Centenary Ministries, Inc., the church’s outreach arm, ticked off the many programs staffed by church volunteers.

"Among others, we have summer camps, a computer homework center, a lab where we teach computer basics and repair to adults, a scouting program, lock-ins and a community Pizza Factory," he said.

Dr. Herbert Lester, Centenary’s senior pastor, chimed in: "The Pizza Factory, one of our most original projects, grew out of the planning we were doing for the lock-in we traditionally sponsor on Martin Luther King’s birthday.

"We were trying to decide on a menu for the 200 kids we were expecting," he explained. "Rich Cook ( Centenary’s associate pastor) suggested pizza." Milam and Lester shared a smile at the very thought.

"The whole idea for the Pizza Factory came about when we explained to him that no one will deliver pizza to a high crime area like this!"

According to Milam, the church kicked the idea of providing pizzas for the neighborhood around for a while, then wrote a proposal to United Way’s Venture Fund.

"They gave us the initial funding of $19,882," he said.

After Community Foundation of Memphis paid for Alt Consultants to write a business plan, the church was almost ready to get started.

"One thing we really liked about the Pizza Factory was that it wasn’t paternalistic, like so many of the projects organizations start in the inner city," Milam said. "With the Pizza Factory, the kids will create funds so they can continue."

"And the idea came out of our own context," added the Rev. Lester.

Fred Strong, another Centenary member who is also an eligibility specialist and an entrepreneurship instructor with Yo! Memphis (Memphis Youth Organizations), agreed to collaborate with the church. He helped Centenary recruit youths as participants in the program.

Strong said, "This program is strictly voluntary–it’s based on the kids’ desire to start a business.

"We started two or three months ago on the theory of how to start a business–the techniques and procedures of customer service, how to dress and shake hands, the various disciplines of managing yourself, your money and your resources," he said. "In other words, how to become a success.

"Now that we have our pizza oven, we’ve begun the hands-on phase."

One young man, swathed in a snowy white apron and sporting a chef’s hat, popped out of the kitchen long enough to make a comment. "It’s really hard to do this," he said. "We come here directly after school and start working. But it’s worth it. I’ve learned so much from Mr. Strong. I really want to have a business of my own."

Though the Pizza Factory is now providing pizzas to a neighborhood that’s largely untapped by fast food delivery services, Milam says that’s not the main thrust of the program.

"It’s not about pizza," he said earnestly. "It’s about developing young people to become responsible adults. They learn about business, about entrepreneurship, about the world of work."

Strong said the kids also learn about what he calls the "dark side of success."

"They see the good things you get with success," he explained. "The big house, the watch, the nice car. But they don’t realize the sacrifices you must make–working twelve or thirteen hours a day, not being home with your family. They don’t see the families that break up.

"I owe it to my kids to let them know," he said. "They need to know!"

The youth who run the Pizza Factory– under the direction of Joyce Johnson, the project coordinator–range in age from 14-21. Some are still in school, some are already out–which can cause difficulties, according to Strong. But nothing they can’t handle.

"We’re hoping to receive a grant as a Shalom Zone site to help with the rest of the equipment we need," the Rev. Lester said, "but even if we don’t, we’re going to see that this program is funded."

Milam says it will take as much as $100,000 to purchase the needed pizza ovens, refrigerator, freezer, and necessary supplies, but the church and Centenary Ministries are going forward in faith.

"This is important," he said.

Story #2

Well-known Jackson personality to keynote UMW Spiritual Growth Retreats at Lakeshore

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UMW Chairperson, Spiritual Growth

Involved and determined. That’s a perfect description of Pamela Marshall, the keynote speaker for the three Spiritual Growth Retreats being offered by Memphis Conference United Methodist Women this April.

Ms. Marshall, a native of Jackson, TN, is Director of Public Policy and Legislative Affairs for Methodist Healthcare’s West Tennessee Division. Her job entails long hours, patience, and good communication skills.

The two-day retreats, which will be located at Lakeshore United Methodist Assembly on Kentucky Lake, are scheduled for April 21-22, April 26-27, and April 28-29. "Harvesting Forgiveness" is the topic.

Currently serving a four-year term as a commissioner on the Civil Service Board in Jackson, Ms. Marshall is well-known in the community. She is also serving on the Board of Directors of the Jackson Symphony, Friends of Black Children (FOB), the Boys and Girls Club, Big Brother/Big Sister organization, and WRAP, Women’s Resource and Rape Assistance Program.

Marshall is also host of WBBJ-TV’s "The Best of Health" which is seen three times weekly on the Jackson ABC affiliate.

One of 13 children born to Lenzie and Hattie Marshall, Ms. Marshall was educated in the Jackson-Madison County Public School System. She received her B.A. degree in Broadcast Journalism from Columbia College in Chicago.

If you are interested in sharing in the retreats, more information may be obtained by contacting Rachel Duck, UMW Chairperson of Spiritual Growth, at 731-692-3162.

Story #3

Martin First kids raise money for African schools

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Youth & Children’s Director, Martin First

After reading in the United Methodist Reporter last year about the money Memphis Conference children presented to Bishop Kenneth Carder to help build boarding schools in Africa, the people at Martin, TN’s First United Methodist Church knew we wanted to do our part.

Over the summer we read with much interest the articles in the Commercial Appeal and The Reporter that covered Bishop Ntambo’s trip to the United States to bring this need to the attention of the United Methodist Church in America.

So we initiated through our children’s Sunday School classes a project to raise money for the schools and presented the idea in a skit during the church’s Laity Sunday Service on October 15.

By the end of October, we began collecting loose change–pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters–in all children, youth and adult Sunday School classes.

Every Sunday morning, the older children visited every Sunday School class and collected the change which was placed in a big three-gallon container which stood at the door of the sanctuary. The location made participating in the project easy for those attending both the early and late worship services.

Our children’s interest in and excitement about the project never lessened over the next two and a half months as the coins and paper money and checks accumulated.

The goal was to fill the bucket by Christmas and we achieved it.

On a Sunday afternoon in January, our children in grades 3-5 had a "Rolling Party." Over a two hour period, with the help of their parents and grandparents, the kids rolled thousands of coins, finishing up with $1152.

On Sunday, January 28, the children pulled the money to the altar in a wagon and presented it to the Rev. Paul McAdoo and the Rev. David Russell. The next day, Cathy and Mike Barnett rolled the wagon to the bank. The money, mostly coins, was too heavy for even adults like the Barnetts to carry.

The children felt great that they were part of an effort to help other children who so badly need a home and an education.

Story #4

Briefly...

Mrs. Katherine Cole Council, surviving spouse of the Rev. Raymond W. Council, died April 3, 2001 at the Bells Nursing Center, Bells, TN. She was 93. The funeral service was April 6, 2001 at 11 AM at Forest Heights UMC, Jackson, TN with Dr. Susan Sharpe, Dr. Paul Clayton, and the Rev. Gail Gaddie officiating. Burial was in Highland Memorial Gardens, Jackson. Mrs. Council is survived by two daughters, Sally Rowland and Ann Freeman, both of Jackson, TN. She is also survived by several grandchildren and great grandchildren. Correspondence should be sent to: Mrs. Ann Freeman, 26 Windale Dr., Jackson, TN 38305.

Many farm families and other agriculture-related businesses and individuals are very anxious about the prospects for this farm year. With crop prices at all-time lows and the impact of two consecutive bad economic years on their minds, farmers and their families are facing an uncertain future. F.A.R.M (Farm Awareness Resource Ministries), a group of pastors, a district lay leader, farmers, agriculture extension personnel, and other concerned persons are asking Memphis Conference churches to select at least one Sunday during the month of April to lift up those involved in agriculture in a time of prayer during their Sunday morning worship service. F.A.R.M. believes Sunday, April 22, Earth Day, would be an appropriate Sunday.

Dr. Vernessa Ekelem, a Jackson, TN pediatrician, recently returned from a trip to Zimbabwe where she and others from Methodist Healthcare assessed how Methodist may be able to assist Africa University. Accompanying Ekelem were Chaplain Elvernice "Sonny" Davis, senior vice president of Health & Welfare Ministries for Methodist, and Nancy Woolfolk, RN, LeBonheur Children’s Medical Center.

In addition to visits and conversation with faculty and staff of Africa University, the group visited Methodist churches, an orphanage, rural clinics and a clinic in Old Mutare. The orphanages are filled with children whose parents have died from the HIV/AID epidemic that has seized the country.

Dr. Ekelem said, "HIV and AIDS are devastating southern Africa. At this point, one million children will grow up without a parent. What is the culture of an orphaned society? My prayer is that God would work through me to relieve suffering. It is an honor to participate in this project." Africa University may be able to begin a School of Nursing and a distance learning program with help from Methodist Healthcare and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Interpreters have been trained to help United Methodists understand five proposed constitutional amendments that are intended to bring the church’s understanding of baptism and membership into alignment with official documents.

The amendments are among 11 that will be considered by delegates at 2001 annual conference meetings.

Recognizing the complexity of the amendments, the churchwide Board of Discipleship brought a person from each of the 65 U.S. conferences to Nashville to be trained as an interpreter. The interpreters will help members of their respective conferences understand Constitutional Amendments IV, VII, VIII, X and XI related to baptism and membership.

The interpreters’ main agenda is to ensure that the purpose of the five amendments surrounding baptism and church membership is clearly explained. They also will clear up any misunderstandings among United Methodists that the amendments are creating anything new or paving the way for writing new baptism theology. The language of the amendments already exists in the baptism liturgy and in "By Water and the Spirit."

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