THE MISSOURI CONFERENCE REVIEW an edition of the United Methodist Reporter Leading congregations to lead people to actively follow Jesus Christ On Tour Charred Offerings l Fire damages 024000 Volume 158 Bob Farr shares Annual Conference Number 50 l April 13, 2012 about his interview North Park UMC offerings help people experience. 4A in Holy Week. 5A near and far. 6A Two Sections, Section A Fathers and daughters enjoy a dance at St. James UMC. New role Rev. Cody Collier (center), head of the Missouri Conference UMM has strength, Baker named direc- delegation, and Brian Hammons listen to Elijah Stansell tor of Mission, Service answer questions during the episcopal candidate interview purpose at St. James and Justice Ministries process. Getting men to commit to support and vitality to be as come to church on Sunday morn- active as it is. Jeffery Baker has been named Delegation reviews ing can be challenging. So how “The heritage of the men who as the next Missouri Conference about getting them to come to a have been with us a long time is Director of Mission, Service and Episcopal candidates service that starts at 6 a.m.? And very important to us,” Ngomsi Justice Ministries. Baker will let’s make it on New Year’s Day. said. replace Rev. Max Marble when he The Missouri Conference by delegates what her greatest That’s the kind of challenge that But the group is also aware retires after Annual Conference Delegation joined the Kansas gifts are that she would bring to the United Methodist Men at St. of trying not to rely too heavily Session. East, Kansas West and Nebraska the office, she responded that it James UMC in Kansas City aren’t on the heritage, and to also plan Baker grew up in Hallsville. He Conference delegations at Platte would be her attitude. afraid to try. for the future. Ngomsi is inten- has a degree in business admin- Woods UMC on March 23 and “I think Bishops are in a “We thought it would be tional about trying to incorporate istration from Columbia College, March 24 to hear from 13 people unique position to be strong good to bring in the new year in more young men into the group, with an emphasis in finance. He who are offering themselves as encouragers, teachers, listening church, in worship and in prayer,” and make them an active part of worked at a bank through col- candidates for the episcopacy this with an ear for various opportu- said UMM President Doug everything that they do. lege, and following college he year. nities and unique ministries in Ngomsi. “For the past few years, we’ve attended a police academy, and The delegations met in sepa- an area,” she said. “In addition Rev. Emmanuel Cleaver III been trying to get more of the was employed as a Boone County rate rooms, and heard from the to experience, I think the most wasn’t so sure that anyone would younger set involved, and we’re Sheriff’s Deputy from 1997 – 2004. candidates one at a time for valuable thing I bring is the joy I be ready to come to church at 6 beginning to see more of a mix of Following his time as deputy he about an hour. One of the can- have in being a disciple of Christ. a.m. the morning after New Year’s ages at events,” Ngomsi said. was self employed as a home secu- didates was Cheryl Jefferson I don’t think there are enough Eve, but if the UMM were willing Every Sunday there’s a men’s rity alarm contractor and a car- Bell, an elder from the Kansas happy Christians in our church. to give it a try, he would give it a Bible study. penter. He has also worked in new area. She started her session by We need to get in touch with go as well. He’s glad that he did. “We really study the word, home construction. telling about her background as who we are, and whose we are. “We had about 175 people and how it applies to our lives,” Baker is married to Laura, and an electrical engineer, working It’s kind of a weird thing, but I there,” Cleaver said. “It was a Ngomsi said. they have three children, ages 8 for companies like Mobile and think it’s an important thing that great service of praise and prayer, The UMM group is also to 13. He has been a member of Boeing. She has served in an I bring.” that reached well beyond the involved in mission. There’s a Fairview United Methodist Church African-American church, and in One of the candidates being United Methodist Men’s group to men’s group called the “Minute in Columbia for 11 years. He first cross-cultural appointments. This interviewed was a familiar other men in the church.” Men,” who have made themselves became involved in mission by is the second time she has come face to the entire Missouri The big event to open 2012 available to members of the working on Habitat for Humanity forward to be considered for Conference delegation. Elijah was just one example of the type church for work needed around projects. He began work at the the episcopacy. When asked See Candidates, pg. 4A of activity that the UMM at St. the house, which might be shov- Office of Creative Ministries as James can make happen. eling the driveway, doing yard Volunteer In Missions coordinator The UMM at St. James has a work, or even fixing a problem in 2008. strong legacy, and Ngomsi credits with wiring or more technical “My work with the sheriff’s many of the older members of the repairs. group with giving it the strength, See Baker, pg. 2A See See UMM, pg. 4A The United Methodist Reporter (USPS 954-500) is published weekly by UMR Communications, 1221 Profi t, Dallas, TX 75247-3919. Periodicals Rev. Jeremy Vickers (second from right) asks Rev. Cheryl Postage Paid at Dallas. Postmaster: Send address changes to The United Methodist Reporter, PO Box 660275, Dallas, TX 75266-0275. Jefferson Bell a question during the interview process. 2A Opinions and Insights April 13, 2012 The Challenge Baker continued from page 1A department helped me understand call,” Waller said. “He also knows the process of working in a crisis our system from the local church of the Ages situation, which was valuable to to the international level.” me in our disaster response work, Waller said there were many Some time ago, National as was my carpentry experience,” qualified candidates for the job, Geographic magazine included a Baker said. and serving on the interview panel poster of the most typical human Baker first became involved in was very rewarding experience. being on earth, a composite repre- international mission following the “It was amazing to hear every- sentation that interweaves physi- earthquake in Haiti in 2010. one point to the ways God had cal features of the single largest “That experience really brought changed things in their lives,” demographic niche. The single Center for Church Leadership, ble procedures—these don’t make me out of the bubble I was liv- Waller said. most common human being in identified our most critical chal- sense to those simply motivated ing in, and caused me to develop Baker was recommended as the world is a Han Chinese male lenge: how to reach more people, to a deeper spirituality and ready much deeper spiritual maturity,” the new director by the personnel who is 28 years old! There are younger people, and more diverse to serve a hurting world. Younger he said. committee to the Mission Council, more 28-year-olds in the world people (see “Reaching More people offer a wonderfully pro- Both clergy and laity applied for and the Mission Council unani- than any other single age; the larg- Diverse People,” 2009). Lovett has phetic critique of our generation. the position. Robert Courtney of mously approved him being hired. est ethnic population on earth is succinctly identified what it takes How can we offer an ancient St. Louis was the only lay person Missouri Bishop Robert Chinese; and there are slightly for us to fulfill the mission God and true message in fresh and on the personnel committee. He Schanse said he is delighted that more male humans on our planet gives us right where we live. In the compelling ways? Maybe this is had not met Baker before, or any Baker was selected for the role. than females. US, the population is increasing, something we (most of us in our of the other candidates. Courtney “Jeff brings extraordinary expe- Wouldn’t it be interesting to becoming younger, and becoming 50s and 60s) can’t figure out on was impressed with Baker’s disas- rience in helping our churches explore a similar exercise with The more diverse while the church is our own. Maybe this is something ter response work in Joplin, and focus on the needs of hurting United Methodist Church world- declining, becoming older, and we learn from our younger sisters his work with UMCOR and other people around the world,” he said. wide? What about for The United struggling to reach across ethnic and brothers. One young pastor relief agencies in Haiti. “He’s has a critical role with our Methodist Church in the US? Or boundaries. told me, “We have a foot in both “We sensed real leadership denomination in Haiti, and has for your own congregation? How How do we reach the next gen- worlds.