ORDINANDS' TR I P
CONFERENCE NEWS
The power of your partnership (Editor’s note: Due to this country of service being a sensitive location, the placement is given as Southeast Asia. However, Connie’s website, www.connieinchina.org, and Facebook Page fully disclose the country but no Christian content is mentioned. Please be aware of this if sending any public messages and do not include religious content.) BY CONNIE WIECK
SPRINGFIELD – The IGRC Commission on Archives and History has announced that the annual Prentice Sermon will be on Sunday, April 27, at Murphysboro First UMC. The church is celebrating its 200th anniversary in 2025. South District Superintendent, Rev. Stan Irvin will preach the Prentice Sermon that day. The Prentice Sermon began with persons who are well known for their untiring proclamation of the Gospel, the pioneer Methodist circuit riding preachers. Hiram Buck Prentice made his bequest to the Illinois Conference in 1922 to pay the expenses for one of the ministers of the Illinois Conference to preach upon the topic, "the Ministry and Service as exemplified by the lives a bequest from a Methodist layman in Springfield to honor a group of and labors of pioneer preachers of the Illinois Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church." Circuit rider Josiah Patterson was appointed to the Brownsville Circuit in August 1825. One of the church’s early pastors was Philip Davis, who will be remembered at the April 27 service. Davis, who is buried at a local cemetery, has no grave marker and so a partnership between the IGRC Commission on Archives and History, Preacher’s Aid Society and the church has financed the purchase of a grave marker which Rev. Irvin will dedicate that day. The ministry of Patterson will be celebrated June 8, when Bishop David Bard will preach the church’s bicentennial service. Under Patterson’s leadership, camp meetings, located on South 17th Street, were frequent. Peter Cartwright preached at one of these meetings. After Brownsville burned, the town was relocated on the Logan farm property and renamed “Murphysboro.” The Methodist Church moved with the town. Irvin to preach Prentice Memorial Sermon
is accounted for as going to the designated Advance projects which you have chosen. In this new placement, I have two Advance numbers connected to me. One is my designated Advance Number 10672Z . This one is associated with giving toward salary support of me personally as a missionary. The second Advance number is the Suntisouk Language and Vocational Center (SLVC), Advance Number 302154 8. SLVC giving is the project of which I
Just recently, I held a potluck dinner for my missionary colleagues and the 7 Nationals in Mission staff members, those Christians from the country employed to work for this Southeast Asia mission initiative project.
Like anyone hosting an open house event, I went about cleaning, tidying up and re-arranging display items. I even began digging through drawers and cabinets in search of new conversation-starter articles to exhibit. It was that second activity which brought you all to the forefront: special cards signed by church members, handmade prayer shawls, refrigerator magnets with inspirational notes, requested holiday brooches and earrings, UWF recognition pins, photograph albums of us together at presentations and worship services, table-top games to entertain guests (or myself) and numerous other thoughtful gifts. For those who think missionaries don’t keep such items, think again. Your treasured relationships, often times extremely close and personal, I hold very dear. What a joy it was to choose from so many of your offerings and share our stories with others. My “Hallelujah!” Moment: Your 2024 Advance Giving Statements In February, my 2024 Advance giving statements arrived from our United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries’ team. Every church and individual are listed by giving date, along with addresses and amounts. No donation goes missing. Every dollar
am currently the director. This fund is used for the center’s numerous supplies, repairs, equipment, student needs, activities and whatever else comes my way. When I first arrived, the SLVC bank account was fairly empty. The previous missionary director did not have many supporters from which to ask for help. I quickly put out a plea for assistance. So many answered with generous spirits. The door was thrown wide open to building this language and vocational school into a growing outreach of Christian love and service to a country in desperate need of aid. How have you helped us grow? This past year, your giving has allowed the purchase of 2 computers, 3 projectors, 20 tables, 40 chairs, 8 whiteboards, 5 bulletin boards and much-needed student supplies. Your funds have allowed me to hire a full-time caretaker (a devout Christian needing to support his family) to live at the Center, clean and monitor our children who come early to classes or stay late while waiting for parents to pick them up. We’ve been the first foreign-
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SCOUTING AMERICA EXTENDS INVITATION TO READ SACRED TEXTS
Bishop David Bard and conference leaders joined newly ordained clergy retraced the ministry of the Apostle Paul in a pilgrimage to Greece and Rome. The trip provided an upclose look at several of the ancient sites mentioned in the New Testament. Photos by Nic Showalter and Brennan Hurley
Scouts and youth across the nation will join the Worldwide Scouting Movement May 1, by reading their own faith’s sacred texts. Scouting America is extending that invitation to others to join this interfaith
Philippines. There were Girl Scouts of the USA and youth from other religious organizations that weren’t in scouting participate. There is a common bond of faith. Scouting America is expanding this event the week of May 1 and is extending the invitation to all youth organizations and youth from all faiths to join in. Changes for 2025: • All youth should read on the evening of May 1 (U.S. National Day of Prayer) or anytime that week that is convenient. • It is suggested that youth, their families or faith leaders decide the texts to be read and that youth read for at least 15 minutes. • The invitation is to all non-scout youth serving organizations and all faith youth groups to participate. For more information, check out this article from Aaron on Scouting: https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2025/02/26/how-the- scouts-read-sacred-texts The page includes a place to sign up, to order patches for participating and to register your participation.
initiative as scouts recognize their Duty to God through participating as a group or individually. Last year, 3,673 Scouts from around the world made history on May 2, the United States National Day of Prayer. The first Scouts Read Sacred Texts Worldwide event greatly exceeded everyone’s expectations. Scouts read sacred texts for more than 800 hours collectively. Nearly 3,900 patches were ordered. Most Scouts read at home with their families. In addition to the United States, Scouts from Kenya, Nigeria, Puerto Rico, Belgium, Bangladesh, Chile, Singapore, Japan, and the
MOVING FROM
Psalm 30: 11-12 Lamentations 3: 21-22
Photos courtesy of IGRC Communications
Bishops Kennetha J. Bigham-Tsai and David Bard speak to those gathered at Covenant Keeper 2025 Feb. 24-25 in O’Fallon. Recordings of the presentations and the question and answer sessions produced by IGRC Communications can be found at: https://vimeo.com/showcase/11606043
Covenant Keepers 2O25
10 | APRIL 2025 | THE CURRENT
THE CURRENT | APRIL 2025 | 11
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