Unbelievable partnership aids The Rock

Unbelievable

What a great welcome you extended to me July 30! The reception at First UMC, Austin, was beautiful! It was great to see so many old friends and meet new ones.
The Rev. John McMullen, senior pastor, was a gracious host. I am grateful to Jill Barre and Alice Edgar of the district staff for their hard work, and Robbie Ausley and Pam and Steve Tackett, who provided irresistible refreshments and lovely decor.
The Rev. Sylvester Chase of Wesley UMC, Austin, issued a rousing challenge to all of us to make a great district even greater. That was a great Sunday, but Monday evening was “UNBELIEVABLE.”
That word, “UNBELIEVABLE,” was written on the cake celebrating the charge conference decision that enabled The Rock UMC, Cedar Park, to finish out its new building.
Some of you know that The Rock had counted on the sale of a piece of its property to pay for the last phase of the building. But because New Hope Road will soon be widened, there were no takers.
The Rev. Tina Carter, The Rock’s pastor, and congregational leaders had struggled for a year with this impasse.
Before the annual conference session in June, my predecessor, the Rev. Robert Hall, knew that the sale of this property was crucial to the future success of The Rock. He contacted Bethany UMC, Austin, asking leaders there to consider what they could do to help.
The Rev. Tom Deviney, Bethany’s senior pastor, and his leaders took this request to heart and called their own charge conference. Working with Robert Hoppe in the loan department at Texas Methodist Foundation, Bethany decided to offer to buy the land, freeing The Rock to move forward.
John Hanne, who spent countless hours on this proposal, and Denise McGlothlin, Bethany’s Administrative Board chair, came to The Rock’s charge conference to present Bethany’s offer to buy the land. It was truly the Holy Spirit that sparked this remarkable act of generosity.
Denise recalled Bethany’s role in helping start The Rock and spoke of Bethany’s commitment to The Rock’s successful future. John presented the proposal, which was joyously approved. With this obstacle overcome, The Rock can finish its building and move out of the middle school in which its has been meeting.
Needless to say, the charge conference at The Rock was the most joyful conference over which I have presided. The congregation is finally free to focus on expanding its ministry of making disciples.
God worked through Bethany to make a way forward. The Rev. Tom Deviney and his entire congregation deserve our thanks. As I said at The Rock’s charge conference, this outcome is the connectional system working at its best.
It took the partnership of The Rock, Bethany and Texas Methodist Foundation to solve this seemingly insurmountable problem.
Texas Methodist Foundation was a key partner in this effort. Working with Bethany, the foundation was able to give The Rock the boost it needed to have a viable future. Praise God!
And thank Bethany and Texas Methodist Foundation! As the cake proclaimed, “UNBELIEVABLE!”