21 Sept 2017
HUMP EP.036: Hoosier UMC’s at Redbird Mission “Loving out Loud"
The purpose of the Hoosier United Methodist podcast is strengthening the connection in Indiana United Methodist churches in order to achieve the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. In September 2017 five Indiana United Methodist churches converged in the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky to put faith in action at the Redbird United Methodist Mission Work Camp. The Redbird United Methodist Mission serves a three county area of southeastern Kentucky in the Appalachian Mountains ravaged by desperate poverty. Redbird Mission provides a school, medical and dental clinics, food clothing and agricultural ministries, a clean drinking water program, and home rehabilitation projects. It was in the home rehabilitation projects where the majority of the efforts of five United Methodist churches from Indiana were involved. Work teams repaired and replaced roofs, painted and repaired porches, kitchens and ceilings at homes which were woefully in disrepair. Moreover, the Indiana teams made personal connections with the homeowners and other residents of the Redbird community sharing stories of life and faith together. Indeed, all the mission teams received just as much benefit from their work week at Redbird as did the residents whom were served. In Episode 36 of the Hoosier United Methodist podcast Dr. Brad is joined by five dedicated laypeople who helped lead their individual church teams to Redbird Mission the week of September 10-16, 2017. Brad's guests included: Mark Van Hook - Greenwood: Honey Creek UMC, Chris Adkins-Portage: First UMC, Dave Osza-Lapel UMC, Bob Youell-Edwardsville UMC, and Doug Brown-Carmel: St. Mark's UMC. These men shared with Brad the stories of how each of their individual churches devoted themselves to a week apart in mission at the Redbird Mission. They shared stories of hope, friendship, sacrificial giving, community development, transformational moments and touching memories of working with the local folk, in particular the homeowners, at the work projects. They shared the power of hands on mission which was embodied by the theme of the work camp experience "Love Out Love" based on 1 John 3:18 “Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” Furthermore, the five church leaders shared the importance of taking the message of transformational missions learned from their Redbird experience back to their home churches and communities. The church leaders are motivated to move beyond looking for reasons why churches can't do things in missions to embracing the attitude of "why not!" Episode 36 of the Hoosier United United Methodist podcast provides great insight, teaching and a challenge to any Indiana United Methodist Church looking to get involved with work camp experiences as a means to recharge their commitment to missions. A sign posted at the Redbird Mission school embodied much of what the five Indiana United Methodist Church experienced in Kentucky and brought back home again to Indiana. The sign stated: “You Have Been Assigned This Mountain, to Show That It Can Be Moved." You will want to hear and be inspired by Episode 36 of the Hoosier United Methodist Podcast “Love Out Loud” at Redbird Mission. Hoosier United Methodist Podcast http://hoosierunitedmethodist.com/ Redbird Misison http://rbmission.org/ Mark Van Hook, Honey Creek UMC-Greenwood http://honeycreekumc.org/ Chris Adkins, First UMC-Portage http://www.portageumc.org/ Dave Osza, Lapel UMC http://www.trinity-tlc.com/ Bob Youell, Edwardsville UMC http://eumc.me/ Doug Brown, St Mark’s UMC-Carmel http://stmarkscarmel.org/