at the Shawnee Mission Parkway & Mission Road
Laurie Barnes
Lessons Learned at Old Mission UMC
that have helped me in ministry for the past 19 years
My name is Laurie Barnes. I served on staff at Old Mission for 8 years from 1989-1997 primarily as the Director of Christian Education. When Butch told me the topic for today would be “This is my story”, it occurred to me that my story is a story about Old Mission. Old Mission is the place where a senior pastor, Dr. Bennett, took a chance on recommending me for a staff position when I was a Trust Officer at a bank downtown and had no Christian Ed experience – just a call to ministry.
Old Mission is the place where I had a lot of my firsts:
- I taught my first children’s Sunday school class here.
- I participated in my first Bible study as an adult here.
- This is where I read Scripture in worship for the first time.
- Where I preached for the first time.
- I went to seminary while serving on staff here.
- My seminary was all paid for by the First Raitters Sunday School. I can never thank them enough for that support!
- I had my seminary graduation party here.
- I met my husband here.
- I married my husband after the 10:50 service here on Sept 1, 1996.
I learned valuable lessons here and I want to briefly share with you the 10 top lessons that I learned that have helped me in ministry as I enter into my 20th year of ministry.
10. Don’t be afraid to try new things -- Tom Harris brought me kicking and screaming into the computer age.
9. Discern and encourage the call to ministry.
8. Words of Motivation -- You know more than the children do. – Leslie Van Blarcum
7. Words of Confidence -- Philippians 4:13 – Aaron Clemons.
6. Cherish your teammates.
5. Prayer -- Learn from others. (Sunday night prayer group – Oleta Adams, Jan Gephardt.)
4. Servant -- Leadership – Frank.
3. The habit of daily Bible reading -- in the Messenger.
2. The importance of being part of a small group. 19 years. We’ve done life together – weddings, funerals, job loss, divorce, in-law issues.
1. Navigator’s Model of Discipleship – Have a Paul to follow. (many – name just four -- Dr. Bennett, Carolyn & Ken Tebow, Frank Reichart), a Barnabas to walk alongside (Michele), and a Timothy to lead (the children?)
When I think of Old Mission, I think of this wreath that Becky Showalter gave me in 1992. Becky’s kids needed a ride to Vacation Bible School that summer, and she gave me this wreath as a thank you for making that happen. This wreath says that there are two things we can give our children -- roots and wings. Old Mission, you have given me roots -- and you have given me wings.
I thank you! This is my story – this is your story, too!