Special events planned to draw visitors

Corpus Christi churches coordinate
activities to make UMC visible

By Rachel L. Toalson
Staff Writer
The Rev. Harold Onwiler remembers shopping in the local H-E-B grocery story just before becoming pastor of St. Peter’s by the Sea UMC, Corpus Christi.
He combed the aisles to ask everyone he passed whether Corpus Christi had a United Methodist church.
Most people said they weren’t sure, Onwiler said. One gave him very clear directions to First UMC, Corpus Christi. Another gave him directions to Asbury UMC, Corpus Christi.
The only one who knew where St. Peter’s by the Sea was told Onwiler, “I don’t go to church. I’m not interested in church.”
“We have a problem with visibility here,” Onwiler said. “We’re kind of hidden away from the street. People don’t really see us passing by. All in all, it’s a struggle.”
That’s part of the reason Onwiler and his congregation have participated in every Igniting Ministry campaign since he was appointed pastor in 2006. Open House Month during September, one of three coordinated Igniting Ministry outreach efforts in Southwest Texas, is no exception.
Bishop Joel N. Martinez has proclaimed each September through 2008 a time for Southwest Texas congregations to plan special events that might attract visitors. United Methodist leaders are encouraged to use promotional tools to build awareness of their congregations, Open House Month activities and ongoing ministries.
The 10 Southwest Texas congregations in Corpus Christi are coordinating their efforts to plan special events as part of a demonstration project suggested by Martinez.
Pastors met once in the spring and again in June to discuss joint efforts in September, December and March.
The Communications and Public Witness Office is establishing a media backdrop for these coordinated events with radio advertising (See “TV, radio commercials provide backdrop for September special events” on Page 1).
Onwiler said his congregation participated in last year’s Open House as well as Home for Christmas in December and Bring a Friend Sunday during Lent. Those are the other two Igniting Ministries campaigns in Southwest Texas.
In the last year, Onwiler said, he has seen a difference in church attendance.
“Some of the work that we’ve been doing for a little more than a year is beginning to bear fruit,” he said. “Nobody really wanted to join a dying church. We’ve got to get the image out that we are alive.”
St. Peter’s leaders are printing invitations that resemble business cards to encourage people to attend worship services. They’ve passed out complimentary pens.
The church is having a fellowship dinner Sept. 16, and members are inviting everyone to come, Onwiler said. They are doing what they can with limited funds, he added.
August has been a good month for the congregation, he said. It had a baptism and received two members younger than 26. Seven other people are planning to join the church before August is over.
Onwiler is hoping for even more results with Open House Month activities.
“It has reasonable results in terms of getting visitors,” he said. “We’re ready to move ahead again. Anything that gets the name of the church out before the public right now is a very big plus.”
Asbury UMC, Corpus Christi, is to kick off Open House Month by resuming its midweek children’s program Aug. 29 and starting an Alpha program Sept. 19. It is to run at the same time as the children’s program.
“We’re going to try something new,” said Valerie Caldwell, director of lay ministries. “There are people here who are dropping off their kids who don’t have a church home. We’re going to provide this for them.”
The programs are to run from 5:15 to 7:15 p.m. and are to include dinner.
The church is planning a family night Sept. 14 in the community life center. Games are to be set up for families with young children. Gaming rooms are to be available for adults with dominoes and cards, and one room is to have computer games for the teenagers, Caldwell said.
The church is to be a viewing site Sept. 22 for Extraordinary Women, a satellite simulcast that features Bible teachers Kay Arthur, Jennifer Rothschild, Gloria Gaither and Angela Thomas, Caldwell added.
Asbury leaders are promoting events through the church bulletin, the local newspaper and their “billboard,” a wooden fence beside the corner dump station at their intersection.
“We don’t want anything to be a surprise,” Caldwell said.
Later this month, the church plans a neighborhood walk and has divided the one- to two-mile radius around the church into sectors. Members are to deliver blue bags with a “special delivery” sticker to homes within a two-mile radius of Asbury. The bags contain information about the church and an invitation to attend services.
Caldwell said the church has not formally participated in Open House Month before this year.
“It’s foolish not to participate,” she said. “We’re gonna give it our best shot.”
Wesley UMC, Corpus Christi, is to start off Open House Month with a midsummer concert Sept. 21 and 22, featuring Broadway plays such as Cats, Fiddler on the Roof, The Lion King and more, said Carol Sutton, church secretary.
Everyone is encouraged to bring picnic food, she added. A small admission fee is to be charged that will raise money for the handbells ministry.
The church hasn’t participated in Open House Month before, Sutton said, and members look forward to have good results.
“We’re hoping to have more people come to church and join the church,” she said. “And if one person gets saved by this gathering, it’s a wonderful thing.”
St. Luke’s UMC, Corpus Christi, is planning several Open House Month events, including a civil service lunch, a Labor Day event, a youth Sunday and much more, said Jeanie Brink, who heads the church’s event planning.
Leaders plan to follow up with visitors during October, she added.