Shania

“Praise Time Live” at Warren Willis Camp.

Monday

A 7th grader named Shania sat in the middle aisle seat, in the front row in the chapel at Warren Willis Camp last Monday night.  It was basically the closest seat to the speaker that there was in the room, and that week, the speaker was me.

She was so attentive you’d think I was giving out winning powerball numbers or something.  She was hanging on my every word, and afterward came up and asked if she could give me a hug, which she did.

Tuesday & Wednesday

Tuesday night, she sat in the same place, paid the same attention, asked the same question, and gave the same hug.  Wednesday night went the same way too.

Thursday

On Thursday I found myself hanging out with her group of campers as they learned sailing.  Observing her interacting with others, I noticed what I call “clergy symptoms.”  Other kids asked her for guidance.  Her attentiveness in worship, her good questions, compassionate and encouraging interactions with others were all evident.

An idea came to me when I heard that Heritage Intern Mitchell Johnson would be coming to camp that day.  I asked him to get me one of the “stained glass cross” necklaces hanging in my office that our acolytes wear.  

The cross necklaces acolytes wear at Heritage, and that Shania now wears as a reminder of God’s call.

Thursday night I offered the chance to students to come to the altar railing and pray.   Shania was one of the first ones to come forward.

Friday

Friday night was the last night of camp.  There was some sadness among the students about the week almost being over.  During the music and message some kids even cried, including Shania.  It was amazing how the Holy Spirit moved among these 6th, 7th, and 8th graders, and especially how connected to the Holy Spirit Shania seemed.  

Worship ended with me celebrating the sacrament of Holy Communion.  Every year my tradition is to start putting on my clergy vestments while sharing the last few words of my Friday night message, and then to lead the students through the traditional Communion liturgy.  The last thing I put on was the acolyte necklace, and I wore it for the rest of the service.

Shania seemed transfixed by the traditional elements.  She hovered in the crowd that came forward to say goodbye, and looked like she wanted to say something, but didn’t.

Later that night there was an end of the week party.  Shania was playing basketball with a friend, and I walked over to her to talk to her for a moment.

“Do you mind if I ask… have you ever had the feeling that you might be called to be a pastor someday?”

Her eyes went wide a second, and she smiled and nodded her head that she had.  It was like something had been bottled up in her soul for a while waiting for someone to notice it.  Her smiling sort of became uncontrollable.

I had the acolyte necklace she’d seen me wear during Communion in my pocket, and took it out.  “In that case, I have something for you.”  Her eyes got even wider when she saw it.  I put it over her head, and she held the cross in her hand and looked at it closely–hardly able to believe that she was wearing something a pastor would wear in a worship service.

I told her that she had a few years to go, with high school and college still ahead, but she seemed to have those clergy symptoms I noticed, and to call me if that call was still there in a few years. She happiliy said she would.

Saturday

On Saturday, after the students had all gone home, I discovered that my daughter, Jenna, had been Shania’s group’s camp counselor that week.  She said, “You made a serious impression on Shania.  She wore that necklace all night, and couldn’t stop talking about it.” Jenna ended up giving my contact info to Shania’s parents when she told them about my observations and offer. I have a feeling I’ll be writing a follow up blog article in a few years when she calls!

That Was All You

You did that, Heritage. You made it happen because you and others at Heritage United Methodist Church believe in raising up the next generation of the church of Jesus Christ for the transformation of our world.  Warren Willis Camp is a great example of the ways your financial contributions make a difference, and make becoming a pastor someday a possibility for students like Shania.  On top of that, your contributions fund our internships, and there were five college students (three former interns) serving as counselors at the camp this summer. 

Warren Willis Counselors from Heritage: Amanda, Ashley, Paige, Ryan, and Jenna

Your contributions allowed more campers from Heritage to attend camp this summer than we’ve had in more than a decade.  Your contributions allow me and other staff members to spend time at Warren Willis Camp as speakers and adult leaders, and allow us to spot and encourage future leaders of the church like Shania.  Further, it's one of the ways that Heritage is overcoming challenges and becoming a leading church in our conference and denomination.

Heritage leads as our pastor, Rev. Matt Horan, addresses Bishop Tom Berlin and the 2023 Florida Annual Conference.

The departure of many of Heritage's largest donors over the last few years has vastly reduced our income.  Your staff and lay leaders have worked hard to cut budgets, apply for grants, and develop other fundraising streams so that our expenses are brought in line with our decreased income.  However, my hope and prayer is that God would continue to sustain and carry us, as we’ve been carried thus far, and see our church continue to become the growing, gathering, loving place our neighborhood needs despite our financial challenges.

Every contribution is a sacrifice–when you give to Heritage it means you’re not buying something else.  I am immensely grateful for your giving to Heritage, and for the difference it’s making. We have another group of great new members joining in the coming weeks, VBS was bursting at the seams with awesome students and volunteers, great stories abound from our youth mission trips, our foster care ministry model has been approved by your Administrative Council to roll out next month, and construction projects are going on all around us as we build for the future. There are many causes for hope at Heritage United Methodist!

I am humbled to be your pastor and honored to be the church with you.  Susan, Jenna, Ashley, and I are privileged to tithe alongside you so that ministries like Warren Willis Camp and many others can have an enduring impact for generations to come.  I cannot thank you enough for your generous financial contributions to God's important work through Heritage United Methodist Church!

Sincerely,

Pastor Matt