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"Glass Half Full" Claimed at Appalachian Assembly
by Linda Bales
Meeting in a land sometimes characterized as poverty-stricken and pathetic, sixty persons from the Appalachian region attended the Appalachian Assembly in Hayesville, NC last week to receive living water and an exciting word of hope. "Building a Foundation for the Future" was the theme of the Appalachian Ministry Network event which focused on what it means to see your surroundings as assets rather than needs or liabilities. Or, viewing your community as one where the glass is "half full" rather than "half empty."
Luther Snow, key note speaker for the event, a developer, facilitator, trainer and writer, promoted his strong belief in "using what we've got, to get what we want." Ministry in the Appalachian region is no exception to that belief. Snow began the Assembly by saying to participants that he wasn't going to tell them anything they didn't already know. He acknowledged the skills and experience of those in the room, many having worked for years in areas written off by policy makers, investors and even church leaders. "What we need to do," said Snow "is to discover what people really care about and build church around that." Far too often, the church and other community initiatives focus on the agendas they "think" the community wants and then wonder why they fail. "There are 9,500 churches in the Appalachian Region, and those 9,500 UM churches are assets!" proclaimed Snow.
Donna Aros, interim chair of the Kentucky Annual Conference Board of Church & Society living in Cave City, plans to return home from the Assembly seeking out assets to assist her in the eradication of mountain top removal. She felt somewhat alone in her advocacy until coming to the event where she met others who had similar interests. Aros said she gained insight about how to be a more effective organizer -- something that brought a smile to her face. "God leads me from one thing to the next," says Aros. "And, God is clearing the path. I could avoid it, but am not." When speaking about mountain top removal, Aros says, "It's not just saving a piece of land. It's saving a way of life. It's about water, land, people. And, it's not just affecting those people in those counties. We can get so arrogant and believe we can use all the energy we want and not think of where it comes from and how it will impact other people down the road. If we continue using coal at the present rate, we will run out in 235 years."
Her hope is to mobilize folks back home about this issue by working in partnership with a woman in her church who is an environmental educator. Plans for doing a spiritual gifts inventory with her parishioners are underway in hopes of building on the assets in the congregation. "Forming partnerships with others works! Being vulnerable with others allows them to lovingly point out assets about ourselves we may have kept hidden. It's a level of vulnerability that can positively impact the common good."
During the 4-day event, participants engaged in Bible study led by Rev. Dr. Lillie Jones, a North Carolinian pastor and community activist. Dr. Jones wove messages on hope, faith and love into the fabric of the conference bringing God's word and blessing in powerful ways. The bottom line for Dr. Jones is the belief that God is our partner, our parent, our sustainer, our prodder to work for justice. Partnering with God as we partner with others in our church and community are acts that will bring transformation to the world.
Williams Hairston from Charleston, WV claimed this partnership several years ago when he left his long-time profession as an insurance agent to work with people who are "falling between the cracks" economically and socially. "I wasn't finding personal and spiritual satisfaction in my job and knew God was calling me to do something else." Hairston said he's going to return home and use his learnings from the Assembly. "I'm going to work with the homeless women I serve in new ways -- helping them discover their assets and possibilities." "I've always had a fascination about asset mapping," said William Hairston, from Charleston, WV. "That's one reason I attended this Assembly. Plus, I'm excited to learn ways the Appalachian Ministry Network can serve as a model in the region." Hairston is a long-time supporter of the AMN as well as a story teller.
It is the hope of Sharon Leatherman, AMN Coordinator, to see the network find a place to provide training and leadership to enhance the overall ministry of The United Methodist Church based on the positive attributes of Appalachia. "God is working -- always," said Leatherman. Bishop Tom Bickerton, Chair of AMN and Episcopal leader in the W. Pennsylvania Area, expressed excitement about the possibility of AMN serving as a model for justice in the denomination as it addresses global poverty.
As a general agency representative, I listened intently to the listing of assets in the Appalachian region that can be positively used for enhancing the life of people living in the area. Haunting beauty as evidenced by the mountains and valleys, enormous natural resources, rich cultural traditions, resilient people who, in spite of exploitation over the decades, still have a commitment to the place they call "home", and a knowledge and experience of cooperative parish ministry were some of them listed. Discovering how to work in an environment where "your gain is my gain -- getting things done by harnessing people's assets and interests for the good of all and not focusing on the deficiencies" was a lesson from which the entire denomination could benefit. The reality in the church is that we need each other and must begin acting from a position of abundance rather than deficiency.
Snow closed the event by referencing the 23rd Psalm which biblically makes clear the promise of abundance. "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name's sake." This abundance comes from our being vulnerable, claiming an appreciation of our gifts and valuing each person as a child of God with enormous potential. A vision of a glass half full allows space for God to work as a partner to realize the Kingdom on Earth. Not a bad vision, ay?
Resource: "The Power of Asset Mapping: How Your Congregation Can Act on Its Gifts" by Luther Snow
Comments or questions? Contact Linda Bales, lbales@umc-gbcs.org.
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