wfn.org | [UMNS-ALL-NEWS] UMNS# 159-Board hears success stories from Publishing House

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG> (by way of George Conklin <gconklin@igc.org>)]

>
Board hears success stories from Publishing House 

Mar. 30, 2007     

NOTE: Photographs available at
>http://umns.umc.org. 

By Kathy L. Gilbert* 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - The United Methodist Publishing
>House is "living big," "transforming lives" and
>"still singing" with new publications for children and adults.
>

The church publishing agency is celebrating the successes of the
>children's Sunday school curriculum "Live B.I.G."; the
>stewardship study guide Treasures of the Transformed Life; and the
>African-American songbook Zion Still Sings.

The good news was reported to the Publishing House board of directors
>during its March 27-28 spring meeting. 

Larry Wallace, senior vice president of finance and
>administration, reported a strong financial performance during the first
>two quarters of the fiscal year, which ended in January. Total sales were
>$55.7 million, exceeding budget by $1.1 million. Expenses were lower than
>budgeted by more than $800,000, and net operating revenue for the
>six-month period was $1.3 million ahead of budget.

New church offerings 

Marj Pon, director of children's resources, said launching
>the new Sunday school curriculum required big risks that have paid
>off.

Seven months after its release, the curriculum is in more than 5,000
>churches and "really reaching the children," she said.

Production of the interactive Sunday school curriculum "Live
>B.I.G." was more expensive than expected and a new staff had to be
>hired to produce the series. However, Pon said the feedback has been
>positive and shared some letters, calls and e-mails with board
>members.

"I just wish you could know just how deeply Live B.I.G. is touching
>the lives of our children and teachers," said Pam Cotton, director
>of children's ministries at Elmwood West United Methodist Church, Abilene
>Texas. "When I see a teacher crying because they are so touched by
>the Big Picture and the Big Sound, it warms my heart. That leads the
>teacher to interact with the children in a way that is real and the love
>of Jesus just flows."

The curriculum uses DVDs with colorful characters, hip music and travel
>segments designed to help children learn - and then live what they learn.
>A primary goal is to make children excited about attending Sunday
>school.

"I could not pass up the opportunity to tell you that our church
>school department just loves the Live B.I.G. curriculum. The students are
>all happy and the teachers are just as excited," said Carolyn
>Gooden, a Christian educator with St. Mary's United Methodist Church,
>Wichita, Kan.

Other new offerings generating positive feedback are Treasures of the
>Transformed Life, a 40-day, churchwide study focusing on stewardship,
>and Zion Still Sings! For Every Generation, a follow-up resource
>to Songs of Zion.

Written by the Rev. John Ed Mathison, pastor of Frazer United Methodist
>Church in Montgomery, Ala., and a member of the Publishing House board,
>Transformed Life shifts the focus from finances to individual
>spiritual development and Christian community. During the first seven
>months of its release, about 25,000 copies have sold.

Zion Still Sings! For Every Generation captures the changing
>musical dynamics of African-American worship and song and emphasizes new
>contemporary songs of praise and worship. 

Scheduled for a May release, the songbook seeks "to bridge from the
>content of Songs of Zion into the present age," said the Rev.
>Myron McCoy, the project's general editor. It pulls from African American
>spirituals, black gospel, traditional hymns, 21st century hymns, urban
>rap and hip hop. 

The book will sell for $12, with an accompaniment edition priced at $55.
>It contains 250 songs - 80 percent of them copyrighted since 1981 - and
>includes specially commissioned pieces. 

Mission and ministry 

In a spirit of collaboration and shared ministry, the board
>affirmed a proposed four-pronged mission emphasis by which The United
>Methodist Council of Bishops and worldwide Connectional Table would set
>the future course of the denomination's work and life.

The bishops, the executives of churchwide agencies and the Connectional
>Table have proposed that all levels of the denomination work together to
>transform the church and the world by promoting leadership development,
>starting new congregations, addressing global heath concerns and tackling
>root causes of poverty.

After a presentation on the anti-malaria campaign Nothing But Nets by the
>Rev. Larry Hollon, top executive of United Methodist Communications,
>board members individually contributed $570 to buy insecticide-treated
>bed nets.

The people of The United Methodist Church are a founding partner in
>Nothing But Nets, which is taking aim at one of Africa's biggest killers
>of children by protecting families from disease-carrying mosquitoes.
>Other founding partners include the United Nations Foundation, the
>National Basketball Association's NBA Cares and Sports
>Illustrated.

For each $10 donation, a bed net is purchased and distributed to Africa,
>where education about its use is provided. The dream is to eradicate
>malaria.

"Not everything in the world has to be paralyzing; we can change
>some things," said Neil Alexander, publisher and CEO of the
>Publishing House, urging participation in the campaign.

Information about the new publications is available through Cokesbury
>Bookstores or online at
>www.abingdonpress.com.

*Gilbert is a United Methodist News Service news writer
>based in Nashville, Tenn. 

News media contact: Kathy L. Gilbert, Nashville, Tenn.,
>(615) 742-5470 or
>newsdesk@umcom.org.

******************** 

United Methodist News Service 
Photos and stories also available at: 
http://umns.umc.org


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