Sharing a faith story to be focus of Bishop’s Evangelism Fiesta

By Rachel L. Toalson
Staff Writer
Evangelism is the focus of Bishop Joel N. Martinez’s Evangelism Fiesta, set for University UMC, San Antonio, April 12 from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.
The fiesta is to feature live music, a keynote speaker and workshop sessions on evangelism and sharing faith stories.
The Rev. J. Ellworth Kalas, interim president of Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, Ky., is to be the keynote speaker at the event. Kalas served as a pastor of four congregations in Wisconsin and Ohio for 38 years and an associate in evangelism with the World Methodist Council for five years.
The Rev. Judith Sellers, pastor of Schertz UMC, is to lead a session about Faith in Action, a program her congregation used to focus more on meeting the needs of the community. In November 2006, Schertz UMC canceled worship services so that families could volunteer in the community together.
Groups trimmed trees, built ramps, fixed soup and cornbread, and made placemats for shut-ins, Sellers said. Nearly 250 people served in more than 300 projects. Almost 1,000 people were served.
Sellers said some “interesting things have happened” in the church since then. The congregation has gained 12 to 15 new members as a direct result of Faith in Action. A young adult visited the church and other congregations and then returned to Schertz and volunteered to head the Faith in Action program. Someone in the church donated $1,000 for Faith in Action.
Pledged giving has gone up, she said.
“There’s been an overall wonderful response,” Sellers said. “It is a good program for any church. We saw so many immediate benefits, and we keep seeing residual benefits. It has gone across the ages in our congregation.”
She said leaders of Schertz UMC have decided to keep Faith in Action an ongoing program—but they won’t cancel activities every Sunday.
The Rev. Harry Kahl, pastor of La Vernia UMC, is to lead a session about preparing individuals for evangelism through apostolic prayer.
Kahl said he developed a prayer retreat when he was serving as superintendent of the McAllen District. The six-hour retreat focused on praying the ACTS acronym—adoration, thanksgiving, confession and supplication. Between each section, participants would read through the book of Acts.
Kahl said he uses the book of James now and has whittled the prayer retreat down to three hours.
“Evangelism, like everything else—whether it’s a capital funds campaign or starting a volunteer missions program—has got to begin with prayer,” he said. “This is a group thing that brings us all together.”
Other workshops include:
> Transforming Evangelism, the Wesleyan Way of Sharing Faith.
> Systemic Evangelism: Bring ‘Em In and Keep ‘Em In.
> Evangelism for the Millennium.
> Seven Styles of Evangelism.
> Sharing Jesus Without Fear.
> Youth, the Church of the NOW.
> Intergenerational Evangelism in the Small Community.
> Kindness Evangelism.
Advanced registration for the Evangelism Fiesta is $45 through April 4. The fee includes all workshop events, worship services, lunch and a complimentary event packet. Groups of 50 or more are $30 per person.
After April 4, registrations will only be accepted at the door for $60. Late registrations cannot be assured lunch or event packets.
Child care is available for children 12 and younger for $15 per child. Contact Jo Gayle Kowalek at University UMC, at (210) 690-7331 by April 4.