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BY JOHN GAUTHIER
SPECIAL TO THE UMCONNECTION

In the time that I have had the privilege to serve in the Baltimore-Washington Conference, I have come to see how we are truly blessed in our diversity. The wide range of gifts, talents, perspectives and resources granted to us by God allow us unique mission opportunities as we bring all these myriad pieces together to extend the love of Christ into our communities and, with the help of God, Change the World.

Last October, I was witness to a small piece of that here at the BWC Mission Center as members of the conference staff and the surrounding community participated in the Change the World event by delivering a Maryland Food Bank shipment to local shelters and pantries in Laurel and Columbia. Students from Reservoir High School, along with members of the Maple Lawn business community teamed up with us to move 8,000 pounds of food from a palette in the parking lot to five separate places, locations where it could do some good. It was a deep honor to know that the work I did that day went directly to help feed someone who needed a meal.

This was only a single piece in a much greater puzzle, of course. Throughout October 2011, more than 16,000 people in our conference stepped out into their communities to change our world. Congregations like Calvary UMC in Annapolis, who hosted 24 different work sites and involved over 250 members of their congregation, helped me see how each shape fits somewhere into the bigger picture. Their work included stocking shelves at the food bank, painting buildings at the Maryland Therapeutic Riding Center, making baby hats for infants in the NICU, doing outside yard and gardening work at a local shelter, and painting the gymnasium at a Community Center. Calvary UMC took the diversity of gifts and talents in its congregation and filled in some missing pieces in its community.

Each piece we can add has meaning as we look for ways to transform our communities. I was inspired to hear of the youth at Wesley Chapel UMC, who worked with 1,000 other youth to make an impact in Frederick. The group spent the day scraping, sanding and painting picnic shelters and tables at Grove Stadium. They enjoyed fellowship with other youth groups, many from other states, while serving the local area. These youth from Wesley Chapel helped to show how many hands working together can effect real change.

Every piece is interlocking, integrally connecting with each other as members of Metropolitan UMC in Baltimore discovered. Faced with the challenges of starting a new mission project in a shrinking and aging congregation, members of Metropolitan reached out to those around them for support. Together with neighbors, co-workers, friends and family, they kicked off Metropolitan’s first-ever Sidewalk Food Pantry. Blessed with beautiful weather, this team of 60 volunteers collected over 6,000 pounds of canned and dry goods. From there, they sorted and put together 600 bags with enough in one bag to feed a family of two.  In two hours the church served more than 350 families, including delivering bags to all the residents of two senior apartment buildings in the neighborhood.

I can’t help but marvel at our efforts last year, and the dedication and love shown by our congregations. But I am continuously reminded that one year is only part of the picture. There are still pieces missing from our puzzle, and it seems like more are taken out every day.

Join us in mission this October 12, 13, and 14 as the Baltimore-Washington Conference again works in our communities to make a positive difference in people’s lives. And remember, every piece counts when trying to Change the World.