Speakers: Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball. Bishop Ernest Lyght. Eddie Bucklen. Caitlin Ware . Jim Cummings. Bonnie MacDonald. Michael Rexroad
In 1974, the Articles of Incorporation for the United Methodist Charities of West Virginia were signed.
United Methodist Charities of West Virginia is now known as The United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia.
As we celebrate creating a culture of generosity that transforms the world for 50 years,
we give thanks for all those who have been part of our history and for those who will be a part of our future.
Eddie Bucklen: Hello, my name is Eddie Bucklen and I am the Executive Director of Heart and Hand Outreach Ministries here in South Charleston, West Virginia. I can say firsthand that our mission project has benefited tremendously from the generosity of the United Methodist Foundation.
Caitlin Ware : My name is Caitlin Ware and I'm a Foundation Scholarship recipient and Co-Leader of From Below. Rising Together for Coalfield Justice. Through The Foundation, thousands of dollars have been raised to provide clean water to Southern West Virginia through Dig Deep's Appalachian Water Project. And a new fund is underway to support a sustainable food system for McDowell County, West Virginia.
Bonnie MacDonald: Hi, I'm Bonnie MacDonald. I'm the Director of Leadership Formation and Co-Director of Connectional Ministries for the West Virginia Conference.
Bonnie MacDonald: One of my favorite things to talk about is the way that our, West Virginia Conference partners with The Foundation to provide financial support for those pursuing
Bonnie MacDonald: theological education, especially our seminary students. Each year, we receive applications from students and offer them from the multitude of scholarships that are managed through The Foundation financial support so that every West Virginia conference student pursuing seminary has the opportunity to graduate debt-free. That is something for us to celebrate. It's unique among other Annual Conferences. And I'm so grateful that the staff and Board Members of The Foundation have made this a priority in their ministry. Thank you and happy anniversary.
Michael Rexroad: Hello, I'm Michael Rexroad. I'm the pastor at First United Methodist Church in Princeton, West Virginia. I want to share with you how the United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia has been an asset to me in so many ways. First, I really appreciate the workshops that they put on each year for Faith and Generosity.
Michael Rexroad: The educational opportunities that they put out are, wonderful and you grow so much from them and get tremendous ideas on how to encourage people to be faithful and generous in their spiritual life and in their life as a whole. I also have received many scholarships over the years during my course of study at the Asbury Theological Seminary. I was the first recipient of the John and Peggy Mendez Memorial Scholarship and what a blessing it was to find out that when I was appointed to Princeton, that John Mendez had been the pastor here for many years and to be the recipient of that scholarship was, was such a blessing.
Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball: Happy 50th anniversary, United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia. Thank you for your past, present and future partnership and collaboration with the West Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church.
Eddie Bucklen: In the fall of last year, we received support to install a public address system in our building in the event that an emergency message needed to be broadcast to everyone in the building. Six months later, in April, when tornado warnings were issued and a shelter in place order was mandated, we used this very PA system to quickly direct everyone in our building to a safe location until the storms had passed. Thank you so much for providing the resources to help meet the many different needs of our community members. As we strive to be the hands and feet of Christ. In this mission project. The work you do makes life changing impacts on so many people.
Caitlin Ware : The Foundation makes it possible to share our story across the connection. The Foundation has enabled From Below to empower Coalfield Residents, educate West Virginians about the story of the coalfields, and testify to God's good news coming From Below.
Jim Cummings: Hi, this is Jim Cummings with First United Methodist Church in Huntington. I'm very involved with our scholarship program. We've got a number of scholarships, that we have had for years and we not only do the investment management or did the investment management, but we record kept them as well. We knew The Foundation could do a lot but, didn't realize exactly how good it was gonna be until we turned it over to him about 9 or 10 years ago. And they have done an excellent job. I wish we had done that sooner because they've certainly made, our lives much easier and they are every bit as effective as, as we were. So, congratulations on 50 years.
Bishop Ernest Lyght: Happy anniversary and may God bless the Ministry of The Foundation both now and on into the future. Blessings and peace.
Caitlin Ware : Thank you for making seminary possible so I can pursue ordination as an elder in the West Virginia Annual Conference. And thank you for making a difference in the lives of Coalfield Residents.
Michael Rexroad: Thank you for the work that the United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia does to help people to manage their assets and to continue to invest in the clergy and the churches and other sources to help God's work to be accomplished here on this earth.
Thank you for making 50 years of ministry in the West Virginia Annual Conference possible.
