We're starting this event tomorrow at 1:00pm Nashville time. A couple of us will be posting our thoughts as we meet. Hope you feel like you're here!
We're all starting to gather. It's fun meeting your Facebook friends in person!
This is my very. first. post.
Wow, I just met Guy Williams. We're friends on Facebook. How neat is it to meet people I've met online? "Hi, my name is April, and we're probably friends on Facebook."
still gathering. getting settled in. oooh we get folders!
in our folders? An FTE book, Exploration 2009 flyer, and a brochure with a painting of John Wesley. Awesome.
we're talking about recruitment. We are good with youth, but there's a piece missing for recruiting young adults into leadership within the denomination.
Questions for introduction:
1. what got you into ministry? 2. why do you stay?
Jenny: "I stay because of the quiet moments with God, showing us how the impossible is made possible."
Cory: "felt called to different places
Cory: "I don't know how I got to where I am now...it wasn't intentional. But I always had a call to ministry of some sort."
Ashlee: works at Southwestern College in Winfield, KS
Ashlee: "I am a campus minister..."
Ashlee: Ski trip leadership lead to being called to ministry - a series of people that named gifts for minister
ministry
Ashlee: "The very first time I did anything ministry-wise? I was a leader on a church ski trip! But really, it was a series of people telling me that they saw gifts for ministry in me..."
It sounds as if Ashlee has a bit of a sliding doors experience seeing her sister in her life. Can't imagine doing anything else.
Ashlee: "I just can't imagine doing anything else."
Jessica: "Have been a United Methodist my whole life."
Jessica: "a large church in the Houston area, with eight to nine pastors on staff. Half of those pastors are under the age of 40. Very intentional..."
Jessica: "What got me into ministry? The love of scripture, and seeing the aha! moment in people....the excitement!"
Jessica: "In a place where there is a lot of freedom for creativity. A pastor of worship at this church."
Andrew: was part of a Christian ministry in Ntl Parks
Meg: you're the first real person I've met...(to andrew)
Andrew: Church of the Resurrection since 2006. Studied biology in college, and then received a call to ministry. Did some work with national parks and helped seminary students lead worship in the park..."
Andrew: "My wife and I are a clergy couple. What's kept me in ministry? A passion for spiritual revival within the Church."
Chris: From Cincinnati and kids keep busy
Chris: "Felt a call to ministry in junior high, and felt a bit discouraged. My wife and I returned to the UMC, and followed my ministry from there..."
Chris: "God will continue to pursue me, even as I work to get away!"
Chris: "I believe with all my heart that the church is the body of Jesus Christ and the body of Jesus Christ is what is necessary for the transformation of the world."
Jamey: From LA with three kids
Louisiana, not Los Angeles...
Jamey: from Lousiana...three kids keep us busy!"
Chris: God wouldn't let go of me
Jamey: Exploration 1998 where God really cemented the call to vocational ministry
Jamey: "I went to Exploration 1998 - that cemented the call to vocational ministry."
Hi David
(hi David...thanks for joining us)
Where are you today, David?
Howdy David! (good to see a Texan!)
(yep, just started, David. Doing introductions now!)