Mangum - Pastor's Message

February 25, 2010

Dear Church Family,

Dr. Archie McDonald, history professor at Stephen F. Austin offers a homespun radio essay every Friday on the local public radio station, Red River Radio. The range of his topics is fairly wide, from current events and trends to historical perspectives, borne of his East Texas roots.

Recently, he told of the ordeals he and his family went through buying a tombstone. They encountered a distracted salesperson the first time and on another occasion waited a long while as the only salesperson on site took care of a family who had lots of questions.

Dr. McDonald admitted his impatience with it all, but conceded that what he and his family were doing in the first place contributed to their displeasure. Finally, when it came time for their selection of the right marker, he bought a large one—enough for the whole family to be buried under because, as he said, “I don’t want to go through that again.”

Thinking about one’s own mortality is not for cowards. It takes courage.

In recent days, Mangum has received checks from the courageous planning of Ethaline Holmes, Burton and Mary Weekley, and Tom and Frances Lunsford. These five people bravely and faithfully prepared for their deaths. And because of their love for their Lord and Mangum Memorial United Methodist Church, they planned to continue to give to their church every year until there is no longer a Mangum Church. Through gift annuities through the Louisiana United Methodist Foundation, they received immediate tax relief, provided for themselves a lifetime source of income, and provided for their church in perpetuity. Each year, the distribution from their investments comes to us, totaling several thousands of dollars.

If this is something you and your family would like to consider doing, contact me and let me put you in touch with someone from the Foundation who can guide you through the best way you can plan as Ms. Holmes, the Weekleys and the Lunsfords did. They provided shoulders on which we can stand. Maybe you can, too.

I’ll see you in your place this Sunday.

Steve Caraway

January 27, 2010

Dear Church Family,

The wrenching scenes from Haiti continue to saturate the news. And rightly so. Even as other events cause headlines, they soon disappear and there remains Haiti. It makes much of what we traditionally call “news” rather insignificant. In this time of year when endless award shows are aired, many of the celebrities in their expensive gowns, diamonds, and other fluff found themselves feeling self-conscious. Athletes making eight-figure salaries don’t attract as much attention as before. What happens on Wall Street - though, in itself, is important, doesn’t draw the attention it usually does.

The Haitian earthquake has re-shaped what we feel is important as people from all over work together to aid a poor, tiny nation. The day after the quake hit, a Chinese cargo plane carrying water and medicine landed on what was left of an airport. Cuban doctors rushed to the scene. American, Canadian, and Brazilian military arrived with supplies and construction equipment to rebuild the airport and restore the port. Israeli teams rescued those trapped by rubble. The French and the Japanese worked side-by-side to re-establish basic communication lines. All are representatives of our global village.

In addition to personnel, over $1.2 billion dollars has been pledged for relief by the world community. Millions of meals have been distributed. Surgeries, though primitive, have saved countless lives.

We need to take note of miracles when they are right in front of us on the television screen. The world community joining together to care for a small, damaged nation is one. There is something about the core of the human spirit that connects us to each other once the posturing — religious, political, and otherwise — is stripped away.

In the Statement of Faith of the Korean Methodist Church (No. 884 in our Book of Worship) the penultimate paragraph reads:

“We believe in the reign of God

as the divine will realized in human society,

And in the family of God,

Where we are all brothers and sisters.”

By whatever name God is called, I believe the truth of those words find a home in the heart of the world community.

I’ll see you in your place this Sunday.

Steve Caraway

January 7, 2010

Dear Church Family,

The "Messenger" has been on hiatus since September, due to budgetary constraints as Mangum faced a critical time in it's life. We were doing well until late July when the giving seemed to collapse while the increased costs of doing business in the summer remained. However, we finished 2009 in good financial shape -- much better than expected. some folks in our congregation "stepped up to the plate" and gave beyond what they originally planned to give. Some challenged the congregation to follow them as they gave an extra $1000 or paid a "13th month" on their pledge. Some gave an extra amount proportionate to their abilities. It was a wonder to behold to see those who cared most about their church do what they could.

In 2010, we have pared down the budget even more. Each of our staff -- from pastor to part-time workers have taken a 5% reduction in their salaries. We've cut to the bone expenses for the work of the trustees and our programming will be self-sustained by those participating. Our newsletter will be monthly with weekly updates on Sunday morning.

In short, 2010 is going to be a wonderful year at Mangum. It always is when people work together. I hope you will jump in and join us.

I'll see you in your place this Sunday.

Steve Caraway