Volunteers in Mission Growth

Curt Knouse give an update on Volunteers in Mission.

Riley's Toys

Riley Hebbard decided to give some of her toys to children in Africa when she was four years old. She encouraged some of her friends to do the same, and now her organization Riley's Toys has donated 30,000 toys to children through World Vision.

Intentional Hospitality

Diane Salter shares wisdom for how to be a hospitable church.

Annual Conference 101

Annual Conference starts this Thursday. Learn more about the annual gathering here:

Altoona District Youth Rally

To learn more about Young People's Ministry visit http://igniteyoungpeople.org/

Creative Scheduling

Good afternoon Susquehanna Xpress fans,

Thank you for your feedback and encouragement through this blog and our Facebook page. I have enjoyed watching the program evolve and grow over the last two and half years. Through the program I have been blessed to share the stories of many amazing people who are accomplishing great work for the Kingdom.

The Susquehanna Conference, the United Methodist Church has been an excellent place to learn about the communications field and explore media skills. I'm ever grateful for the spiritual support and encouragement of the Conference staff through my part-time work here.

Recently, I accepted a full-time communications position in Harrisburg. The Susquehanna Xpress crew is hopeful that through creative scheduling we will be able to continue providing you with Susquehanna Xpress webcasts.

Please have patience during the next couple of months as we figure out a new schedule for getting the stories out of the pews and onto your screens.

We appreciate your prayers for guidance as we enter this transition and thank you in advance for your understanding.

God bless you and your ministry,
Brittany Spriggle Howell

2011 PA Flood Recovery Update

Larry shows how the Disaster Response Team has helped flood victims, and where more volunteer assistance is still needed. Check out the SUSUMC Disaster Response Facebook Page for more information on how you can get involved with flood recovery efforts.

Secretary of General Conference Part 2

Part 2: Interview with Gere Reist, Secretary of General Conference

He shares some of the concerns about the quadrennial meeting and his vision for the future of the global church.


To see videos and stories from the 2012 General Conference click HERE.

Step in Faith--Walk in Trust--Fall into God's Arms

This Sunday, our pastor spoke on the scripture passage Mathew 14:22-33 where Jesus walks on water.

Most of you know how the story goes. Peter says, "Lord if it's you, tell me to come to you on the water." Jesus tells him to come and Peter gets out of the boat and walks on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind he becomes afraid and begins to sink crying out "Lord save me!" Jesus reaches out his hand saying "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"

The Pastor said that often we rag on Peter and his doubt. Yet, there were eleven others in the boat who were scared and thought that Jesus was a ghost. They didn't even dare to take the step of faith out onto the water.I think that the stories of Peter humanize the disciples. How often do we venture out in faith, only to become uncertain when the winds of confusion and negativity jostle our foundation?

I hope that the videos shared on Susquehanna Xpress give you encouragement to take steps on the path to where God calls you. You don't have to have everything in order and have a perfect plan. God will be there to catch you if you fall. The important thing is that you step our of your comfort zone in order to grow closer to Him.

May God bless you in your future endeavors of stepping out in faith, and may the stories we share inspire you that you can do it!

Secretary of General Conference Part 1

Secretary of General Conference, Gere Reist, made it a priority to ensure that those from other countries felt included and able to participate in last year's General Conference. Reist traveled around the world meeting with fellow Methodist brothers and sisters in preparation for the quadrennial Methodist gathering-General Conference. Watch to find out more about the conference and learning to live as a global church. 

Learn more about General Conference HERE.

Mentoring: A form of Ministry

                                                                     
"I told my brother that I feel called to ministry," a Susquehanna Conference coworker from the financial department told me this morning. "He reminded me that I am in ministry through using my skills here, even if it is in an indirect way."

My boss, Jerry Wolgemuth, reiterated that notion this afternoon. "There are many forms of ministry other than just clergy," he said. "Laity has a very important leadership role." 

Are you wondering how God can use you? What skills do you have? Not necessarily direct ministerial skills...but skills for the home, landscape, computer, photography, etc. I believe that patiently passing on our skills and knowledge to others is part of living in community as Christ's family.

One month when I was teaching a youth Sunday School class, we visited different members of our church to learn their stories and skills. One man told us about farming, another woman taught us about gardening, and yet another couple simply shared about past church traditions. During this time, we were able to share snacks and laugh with each other, as well as read scripture on mentoring and grow as believers.

Proverbs 27:17 says: Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

Each of us has something to learn from another. Here at the Conference, I am appreciative of the mentoring I've received about technology such as Photoshop  video editing, and filming. This hands-on-experience added clarity and understanding to what I learned about these communication tools through my college courses.What skill or knowledge can you pass on? How is God calling you to be part of His community? He has blessed each of us with gifts, it is our challenge to find them and use them for His glory.

Send God a Valentine Prayer

God’s Valentine Gift

God’s Valentine gift of love to us
Was not a bunch of flowers;
It wasn’t candy, or a book
To while away the hours.
His gift was to become a man,
So He could freely give
His sacrificial love for us,
So you and I could live.
He gave us sweet salvation, and
Instruction, good and true--
To love our friends and enemies
And love our Savior, too.
So as we give our Valentines,
Let’s thank our Lord and King;
The reason we have love to give
Is that He gave everything.

 By Joanna Fuchs

As we prepare for Valentine's Day, a day of celebrating all those we love and who love us, may we praise God for the boundless gifts he provides.

May you and your loved ones feel His arms surround you this Valentine's Day.

11 months, 11 countries, 1 transformed young adult

To learn more about the World Race visit http://www.theworldrace.org/

It Takes Work to Reach a Mountaintop

This morning in our Conference devotions, we read about Moses' mountain top experience Exodus 34:29. The author, Tom Arthur, said that although we all long for those informational experiences, sometimes we forget the struggles we have to go through to reach that high point.

He went on to describe that one of his favorite memories is sitting on top of Clingman's Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, yet he hated crossing through the streams, constantly keeping alert for dangerous animals, and painfully pressing his body up the mountain.

Arthur says: "When God makes a convenant with us, our life changes; when our life changes something must die for something new to be born...That's the real work of having a mountaintop experience-the spiritual work of dying to self in order to convenant with God. God of the mountaintop, give us strength to do the work that we must do in order to meet you there. Amen."

The Caring Closet

Read this Patriot News article on the Caring Closet and for contact information.

General Conference

Every four years United Methodists delegates from all around the world meet to discuss the legislation and direction of the denomination. The people at the conference vote on official matters for the 13 million member United Methodist church.Today, I spoke with Gere Reist, Secretary of the General Conference about the importance of the conference and what it means to be a global church.

General Conference used to meet for a month-long session to decide upon church issues. At that time only 200 people attended and they were all white, American males. Today, General Conference meets with roughly 1,000 delegates of women and men from all across the globe. Yet, they only meet for ten days. It is difficult to discuss all of the issues in such a short time and for everyone to feel that they had a chance to voice their opinion, he said. Yet, even if large structural and social changes do not get passed, General Conference is still a success he said. It is the only time that members of the United Methodist church from all parts of the world get together and exchange ideas. That in itself holds a lot of value.

Stay tuned for more insights from the Secretary of the General Conference in an upcoming Susquehanna Xpress.