Roots of Peoples United Methodist Church
Part 51 Evangelism in Action
Pam Harris as the Work Area Chairperson for Evangelism said, "If you would like to be a member of the Evangelism Committee all you have to do as an associate minister is to greet someone who sits next to you in church. It is also permissible to take note of who is missing and give them a call. We need to encourage one another and ask a friend or neighbor to come to service with you. Share your gifts and talents, as we are ambassadors for God. " Excellent advice and for some in our midst those are easy tasks to perform, but for others it seems very difficult. That advice is as important to maintain in the present time as it was at the time that Pam said it in 1989. Some folks followed the advice on a regular basis. Gifts made to the church, as has been mentioned earlier in this history toward making the sanctuary handicap accessible, in a sense, was related to evangelism While used occasionally, the elevator has been used more frequently over time.
Ada Tordoff served as lay leader at the age of 75 and could always be called on to give a meaningful prayer or to represent the church in that role. Ada had been active in many others aspects of church life before this time. Evangelism also penetrated the realm of church life through the family coordinators. Judy Arnold and Jane Wiggin and Connie Campbell headed this area of endeavor. All members and friends were invited to picnic at Fort Williams and on another occasion a Disney Movie and Potluck supper were held. In the fall of 1988 a scavenger hunt took place in the form of a mystery ride. 10 cars loaded with people of all ages took off with directions to locate an item or place based on the map directions given. After traveling a number of miles and sometimes being sidetracked by directions that were well written, but poorly understood, all 10 car loads of people ended up at Range Pond in Poland where we played games and shared picnic lunches. This fun event had been put together by Judy and Ruth and Dan Doughty.
Perhaps the most successful family event that got underway during this time would be the annual family camping trips. Initially started when the Arnolds, Queiors and Tordoffs landed on 3 separate lots at Mt. Blue State Park. A great time was had by sharing campfires and meals and games on the three campsites even though everyone knew that Judy was just being a good sport by being there. There was also plenty of time to commune with nature and also with our good and gracious Lord. So successful was this first trip that the following year a group campsite was reserved at Mt. Blue and several more families joined the camping program for a weekend or a week. The third year saw an increase again at another group campsite at Mt. Blue. Eating, boating, swimming, hiking and fishing were among the activities that Peoples people enjoyed doing together.
Sunday morning was a time set aside to worship and pray together. In the fourth year of the camping program a number of members of these "expeditionary forces" felt that they needed something that Mt. Blue could not provide----running hot water, showers and flush toilets. Alas, the search finally realized that these amenities could be found at Peaks-Kenney State Park located on Sebec Lake in Dover Foxcroft. A smaller campground, but one that seemed to meet most everyone’s wants and desires became what appeared to be the permanent home of the Peoples summer campers. Some folks come for weeks at a time while others have come for a couple of weekend nights. At one point in the mid-90’s there were 85 men, women and children together at Peaks-Kenney.
When the members of this camping party trekked through the woods or paddled by canoe to our "cathedral on the lake" for Sunday morning service there were more members of Peoples there than there was back on Broadway in South Portland! If you were there you might find that the original three families were still there but had been joined by the Greers, Pikes, Doughtys, Branns, Braleys, Dunns, Hodgkins, Grays, the Campbells, Annie Britton, and many more families and friends. Evangelism in nature really brought us close to God in a fun and family atmosphere. While the success of the camping peaked in the late 90’s there are those families that are faithful to the camping experience and continue to welcome anyone who wishes to join them. Try it, I am sure most people would like it!
As was mentioned in Part 50 of this history, evangelism was spurred on by the need to have another regular staff member who would serve in the title role of Church Community Development Coordinator. The purpose of the role was to help in assimilating neighborhood ministries, do some visitations and coordinate others in visitation ministries. This part-time position began in July of 1988. Nancy Tordoff, who had grown up in the church was hired to fill the position. She had graduated from Oral Roberts University, had taught for a few years in the South Portland schools and then gone to Asbury Theological Seminary to earn a degree in Christian Education. Following that she had served as Christian Education coordinator at the Medina, New York United Methodist Church. Returning to South Portland she accepted the above named position and also was rehired to teach in South Portland. After serving in this role for a few years, Nancy, was replaced for a short time by Casey Collins who within a short-time went on to serve as the first Pastor of the Good Shepherd UMC in Gray. Priscilla Dreyman then took the position and recommended that the title of the position then become Minister of Church Family Life. Priscilla went on the spend all of her time in the local mission field operating the Spiral Arts Program on Munjoy Hill in Portland. Wanda Stahl-Hodgkins replaced her in turn Under Wanda the position again changed its title. The position was then referred to as the Church Growth Coordinator. . All four women who held the position worked hard to help the pastor and to help build the church body through evangelistic activities.
One of the significant evangelical programs that members of Peoples became involved in during the 1980’s was involvement in the Tres Dias Movement. Under the leadership of Pastor Lin many members of the church went to the Oblate Mansion in Augusta for weekends designed to deepen relationships with the Holy Spirit. Weekends were held for men and women separately. Several dozen members over the years first attended as participants. Many of these folks would return over the course of time to assist in the operation of the program. Many felt strengthened by the nature of retreat away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life returning to Peoples or other local churches ready to assume significant roles in the operation of their local churches.
Part 51 Evangelism in Action
Pam Harris as the Work Area Chairperson for Evangelism said, "If you would like to be a member of the Evangelism Committee all you have to do as an associate minister is to greet someone who sits next to you in church. It is also permissible to take note of who is missing and give them a call. We need to encourage one another and ask a friend or neighbor to come to service with you. Share your gifts and talents, as we are ambassadors for God. " Excellent advice and for some in our midst those are easy tasks to perform, but for others it seems very difficult. That advice is as important to maintain in the present time as it was at the time that Pam said it in 1989. Some folks followed the advice on a regular basis. Gifts made to the church, as has been mentioned earlier in this history toward making the sanctuary handicap accessible, in a sense, was related to evangelism While used occasionally, the elevator has been used more frequently over time.
Ada Tordoff served as lay leader at the age of 75 and could always be called on to give a meaningful prayer or to represent the church in that role. Ada had been active in many others aspects of church life before this time. Evangelism also penetrated the realm of church life through the family coordinators. Judy Arnold and Jane Wiggin and Connie Campbell headed this area of endeavor. All members and friends were invited to picnic at Fort Williams and on another occasion a Disney Movie and Potluck supper were held. In the fall of 1988 a scavenger hunt took place in the form of a mystery ride. 10 cars loaded with people of all ages took off with directions to locate an item or place based on the map directions given. After traveling a number of miles and sometimes being sidetracked by directions that were well written, but poorly understood, all 10 car loads of people ended up at Range Pond in Poland where we played games and shared picnic lunches. This fun event had been put together by Judy and Ruth and Dan Doughty.
Perhaps the most successful family event that got underway during this time would be the annual family camping trips. Initially started when the Arnolds, Queiors and Tordoffs landed on 3 separate lots at Mt. Blue State Park. A great time was had by sharing campfires and meals and games on the three campsites even though everyone knew that Judy was just being a good sport by being there. There was also plenty of time to commune with nature and also with our good and gracious Lord. So successful was this first trip that the following year a group campsite was reserved at Mt. Blue and several more families joined the camping program for a weekend or a week. The third year saw an increase again at another group campsite at Mt. Blue. Eating, boating, swimming, hiking and fishing were among the activities that Peoples people enjoyed doing together.
Sunday morning was a time set aside to worship and pray together. In the fourth year of the camping program a number of members of these "expeditionary forces" felt that they needed something that Mt. Blue could not provide----running hot water, showers and flush toilets. Alas, the search finally realized that these amenities could be found at Peaks-Kenney State Park located on Sebec Lake in Dover Foxcroft. A smaller campground, but one that seemed to meet most everyone’s wants and desires became what appeared to be the permanent home of the Peoples summer campers. Some folks come for weeks at a time while others have come for a couple of weekend nights. At one point in the mid-90’s there were 85 men, women and children together at Peaks-Kenney.
When the members of this camping party trekked through the woods or paddled by canoe to our "cathedral on the lake" for Sunday morning service there were more members of Peoples there than there was back on Broadway in South Portland! If you were there you might find that the original three families were still there but had been joined by the Greers, Pikes, Doughtys, Branns, Braleys, Dunns, Hodgkins, Grays, the Campbells, Annie Britton, and many more families and friends. Evangelism in nature really brought us close to God in a fun and family atmosphere. While the success of the camping peaked in the late 90’s there are those families that are faithful to the camping experience and continue to welcome anyone who wishes to join them. Try it, I am sure most people would like it!
As was mentioned in Part 50 of this history, evangelism was spurred on by the need to have another regular staff member who would serve in the title role of Church Community Development Coordinator. The purpose of the role was to help in assimilating neighborhood ministries, do some visitations and coordinate others in visitation ministries. This part-time position began in July of 1988. Nancy Tordoff, who had grown up in the church was hired to fill the position. She had graduated from Oral Roberts University, had taught for a few years in the South Portland schools and then gone to Asbury Theological Seminary to earn a degree in Christian Education. Following that she had served as Christian Education coordinator at the Medina, New York United Methodist Church. Returning to South Portland she accepted the above named position and also was rehired to teach in South Portland. After serving in this role for a few years, Nancy, was replaced for a short time by Casey Collins who within a short-time went on to serve as the first Pastor of the Good Shepherd UMC in Gray. Priscilla Dreyman then took the position and recommended that the title of the position then become Minister of Church Family Life. Priscilla went on the spend all of her time in the local mission field operating the Spiral Arts Program on Munjoy Hill in Portland. Wanda Stahl-Hodgkins replaced her in turn Under Wanda the position again changed its title. The position was then referred to as the Church Growth Coordinator. . All four women who held the position worked hard to help the pastor and to help build the church body through evangelistic activities.
One of the significant evangelical programs that members of Peoples became involved in during the 1980’s was involvement in the Tres Dias Movement. Under the leadership of Pastor Lin many members of the church went to the Oblate Mansion in Augusta for weekends designed to deepen relationships with the Holy Spirit. Weekends were held for men and women separately. Several dozen members over the years first attended as participants. Many of these folks would return over the course of time to assist in the operation of the program. Many felt strengthened by the nature of retreat away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life returning to Peoples or other local churches ready to assume significant roles in the operation of their local churches.
posted by Arthur Tordoff | 9:37 AM
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