School of Christian Mission provides eye-opening and tasty lessons

More than 300 of the state’s mission-hungry United Methodists received lessons they could sink their teeth into at this summer’s School of Christian Mission.

With the theme “Together at the Table,” the school’s main spiritual growth study was on food and faith. Participants also could choose a study on the ongoing war in Sudan or the culture of Native Americans.

The gathering, sponsored by Arkansas Conference Board of Global Ministries and the Arkansas Conference United Methodist Women, took place July 30-Aug. 2 on the campus of Hendrix College in Conway.

Mary Short of Pangburn United Methodist Church was among those who attended the school for the first time.

“I thought it was amazing,” she said. “I came back to work refreshed and feeling like I could deal with just about anything.”

For Martha Altom, a member of First UMC in Jacksonville and a jurisdictional officer for United Methodist Women, this was her 15th year to attend the school. She also reported feeling spiritually replenished afterward.

Both women found this year’s main study on Food and Faith especially nourishing. The study focused on how people’s Christian faith is nurtured, strengthened and enhanced by food and all the ways meals touch their lives. Snacks were a big part of the lessons.

As part of her class, Short for the first time ate hummus, a spread of mashed chickpeas and various seasonings that’s popular in Greek and Middle Eastern cuisine. She also tried shortbread cookies from Scotland and chocolate-covered apricots.

One particular emphasis of the study was the importance of hospitality — being willing to open one’s home and dinner table to neighbors in need of food.

“It reminds me of the story of the beggar who comes to the door who could be Jesus,” Short said.

Altom said the lessons also reminded her of how important the practice of hospitality was in the Scripture.

“We talked about how often in the Bible people sat down together to share a meal and the importance of doing that in Jesus’ ministry,” she said.

Short chose to take the course on Native Americans, which dealt with key issues affecting today’s tribes.

“I learned that most Indians don’t really approve of casinos, but they are caught between a rock and a hard place,” Short said. “They feel that’s the only way [that] they can have any income to support what they need. They want to use the money toward better schooling and scholarships for Native Americans.”

Altom chose this year’s geographical study on the ongoing conflict in Sudan, the largest country in Africa. It was eye-opening, she said, to learn of the continuing United Methodist presence in the war-ravaged nation. The United Methodist Committee on Relief is one of the few international agencies still working in Sudan. In the past three years, the conflict has displaced 2.5 million people and claimed the lives of more than 400,000 victims (including women and children).

“The Sudan course — like the geographic studies always do — made me so much more aware of social issues and justice issues we need to know about,” Altom said. “The School of Christian Mission is a wonderful educational tool for learning about social injustices.”

The Women’s Division of the United Methodist Church begins planning five years in advance each of the course offerings at Schools of Christian across the country, said Diane Vogler, a former Women’s Division director and the Arkansas Conference’s Sending Team leader.

The course on Sudan will be offered again at next year’s school in late July at Hendrix College. The main spiritual-growth study will focus on the three epistles of John. Participants will also be able to choose a course on mission and evangelism.

Activities also will be offered for children and youth.

Short, for one, can’t wait until next summer’s offerings.

She said: “I plan on coming next year, and bringing my daughter and her kids with me.”