Online Archives

During the first weeks of December, 547 pastors in the Baltimore-Washington Conference poured out of their churches to participate in community service.

Their mission efforts were a part of the Discipler Group ministry, a unique covenant group ministry that draws pastors together monthly for learning and networking opportunities.

Each of the conference's 57 Discipler groups is led by an Adventure Guide, who also provides personalized coaching to the pastors and the congregations they serve.

During October and November the groups explored the concept of "serving like Christ." In December they put what they'd learned into action by working for a day in local outreach efforts.

Below are brief accounts of some of their efforts.

Honoring hallowed ground

Military Hill of Mount Auburn Cemetery is where African-American soldiers who served in the Spanish-American War and World War I are buried. Military Hill itself has become buried under thick bushes and 12-foot high saplings.

Mount Auburn Cemetery, established in 1872, is the oldest African-American cemetery in Baltimore. Those buried there include two Methodist bishops, the first African-American lightweight boxing champion, the founder of an African-American newspaper, the first African-American to run for Congress in Maryland, and others.

Sharp Street UMC, which founded and owns Mount Auburn, has been working diligently to reclaim the cemetery, with the help of many United Methodist Men. The cemetery has no funds for perpetual care and is heavily dependent upon volunteer labor and donations.

Members of the larger-church Discipler group, along with Bishop John Schol, some district superintendents and other volunteers traveled to Mount Auburn Dec. 2 to clear a portion of Military Hill. We brought chain saws, clippers and rakes, and spent the morning exposing grave markers that had not seen the light of day for decades.

We sawed and hauled with good humor but also a sense that we were standing on holy ground. We cleared perhaps 100 square-feet of Military Hill, and then met with members of Sharp Street to hear the story of the church's efforts to reclaim the cemetery.

It was an honor for our Discipler group to join with others in helping to reclaim another small portion of this ground where American heroes, often unacknowledged in their times, rest.

- Rev. Dean Snyder, Foundry UMC

Ushering in hope

Followers of Christ commit themselves to a life of working for others. Painting a bedroom in a battered women's shelter gave the Rev. Susan Keirn Kester's Tuesday group the opportunity to move beyond getting together to talk.

Sometimes our service seems not to have immediate impact, but one immediate result of our morning's work was feeling more connected to colleagues. In addition, transforming a bedroom painted with a dark color into a space filled with light reminded us of one message of Advent - moving in hope toward the Light, toward a better way of being.

Pastors were a presence in a room in which people were perhaps living in a wilderness of fear or exile, not being where they would prefer to be.

Perhaps in some small way we were reflecting the presence of the One who invites us forward, away from dislocation toward God's promised future. Our execution of the project may have been less than perfect, but we brushed and rolled that paint with gratitude and joy.

- Rev. Betty Dunlop, Mayo Charge

Sandwiches and conversations

On Dec. 4, I traveled with the Rev. Isaac Mawokomatanda as we took the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches we had made at Mt. Olive UMC and traveled to the Hampden area of Baltimore City.

One person with a disability told us that he viewed the future with hope. A person of retirement age said that he was receiving $300 per month in Social Security and was also working. Two of his adult children and his mother had moved back in with him, and he feared that he would soon have to put the children out, because he couldn't keep them all.

Someone who refused a sandwich thanked us for our kindness.

- Rev. Nancy J. Webb, Grace UMC, Baltimore City

Pastors and power tools

On Dec. 3, eight pastors and their Discipler Guide showed up in Shady Side, in the southern part of Anne Arundel County, in jeans, with cups of coffee, work gloves and tool belts hanging low. For the next four hours the neighborhood listened to jig saws biting through fresh lumber, hammers pounding and nail guns firing, along with an occasional "did anyone bring a pain killer?"

Under the direction of Fred Weis, construction coordinator of the South County Faith Network, and Charlie Fink, a member of one of the churches, a 40-foot wheelchair ramp was added to an existing home. Four hours (and five pizzas) later the ramp was 80 percent complete.

The most enriching part of the whole experience was the way the pastors who were not previously handy stepped up to learn new construction skills from those who had construction experience.

This group of pastors, appreciated the Discipler Group opportunity to get their hands dirty and to put their faith into action.

The homeowner who will be using the new ramp for her aging parents came by to thank each worker individually as she wiped away tears of appreciation. It was a good day... no ... it was a very good day to be in the service of the Lord.

- Rev. Chris Holmes, Annapolis DS

The heart of outreach

On Dec. 11, the Cumberland Discipler Group, under the leadership of the Rev. Mary Dennis, went in service to the community working with the Angel Food Ministries at Central UMC.

The group, after a short training session, assisted with the signing up of participants in the program. It was very educational and spiritual when we met the people who would come in to receive food later in the month.

The Angel Food Ministries is a non-profit, non-denominational organization dedicated to providing grocery relief and financial support to communities throughout the United States. It is an excellent tool for sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

This was an opportunity to put discipleship where the heart is - out in the community. Indeed we learned much that day.

- Rev. George Harpold, Eckhart Charge

Packing pastors

The Brethren Center in New Windsor owns a warehouse where school supplies, health kits and baby supplies are shipped all over the world. This distribution center collects donations from all over the United States to help people living impoverished lives in other countries.

In a typical day they pack and ship 50 boxes of supplies. But on Dec. 2, pastors from the Rev. Matt Poole's Discipler Group in the Western Region lent a hand, packing 178 boxes filled with up to 87 pounds of supplies to go overseas.

This advanced the center's ability to get the supplies to people in need by an extra three days. Three days can make a big difference to someone who is desperate. It is amazing what just a half dozen people can do when they volunteer a little bit of their time.

- Rev. Jerry Cline, Liberty Charge

Child inspires discipleship

On Dec. 2 and 3, members of the Wednesday Discipler Group that convenes at Mt. Olive UMC in Prince Frederick, met at the Free Gospel Church of Bryans Road to participate with the Safe Nights program. This program provides temporary overnight shelter for individuals and their families in the Charles County community.

The program runs from November through March, providing a safe refuge to individuals and families offering temporary shelter, meals, bathroom facilities and transportation at no cost to the participants.

There were several children there. "Little Andrew," appeared to be a rather hyperactive kid; his mother was constantly trying to control him but without much success.

He came to the serving table a second time and politely asked, "May I have a second bowl of beans please?" I filled his bowl with two heaping portions of baked beans.

We felt really blessed that evening. However, as I write this reflection, I wonder where Little Andrew is being sheltered this week along with the other youngsters that have no permanent residence or sufficient food.

Surely there is something more that we can do as individuals, pastors and as a community of faith to help change systemic conditions that contribute to homelessness, especially as it relates to families with young children.

The Discipler Group community project has certainly given a greater sense of awareness to the need for ministries of compassion and mercy. Each of the pastors went away with a sense that more needs to be done, even in their own congregations, as it relates to mercy and compassionate ministries.

- Rev. George F. DeFord, Guide, Southern Region