Board hears success stories from Publishing House
Governing members of the United Methodist Publishing House
contribute to the anti-malaria Nothing But Nets campaign during their
spring meeting in Nashville, Tenn. UMNS photos by Kathy L. Gilbert.
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By Kathy L. Gilbert*
March 30, 2007 | NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS)
Publishing House publisher and CEO Neil Alexander addresses the board of directors.
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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.
The Rev. Larry Hollon speaks about the Nothing But Nets anti-malaria campaign.
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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.
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Resources
United Methodist Publishing House
Cokesbury
Abingdon Press |