A Call to Serve
Our call to become like Christ is a call to serve the people around us. As believers, we seldom call ourselves “servants of Christ,” but that is exactly what the Lord tells us to be. Christ is not just our Savior but also our Lord and Master. Just as He served His Father by caring for people, so we serve God by meeting the temporal and spiritual needs of those around us.
I invite you to reflect on the amazing story of the first missioner who responded to the call to serve Christ in the upper Rio Grande Valley. Miss Mellie Perkins, a young United Brethren Deaconess, responded to the call to serve in mission after hearing the testimony of Rev. Schlotterbeck about his dream to evangelize the Spanish-speaking people located in the upper Rio Grande Valley. Miss Perkins, accompanied by her friend Susanita Martinez, a young girl from Wagon Mound, arrived in Velarde on October 12, 1912. The school was opened on October 21 with only 4 pupils. However, by May there were 43 students, an incredible achievement for the first year.
The 1912 United Brethren Annual report notes: “Miss Mellie Perkins is throwing her life into this mission, conducting day-school, preaching, superintending Sunday School, acting as physician, burying their dead and otherwise making herself a necessity to that community.”
We know that although the mission school grew and expanded to other communities, Mellie Perkins suffered some health concerns and abruptly resigned from the mission field, likely due to her poor health.
In the six years she served in the mission field, she was able to establish three schools in the area. When she died in June 1924, Miss Lillian Kendig, another early missionary, wrote this tribute: “…There are many monuments built to the memory of great men and women, but the greatest monuments in the world are the deeds and influences of a great life. The three missions in the Rio Grande Valley for Spanish Americans shall forever stand in loving remembrance of the heroism, energy, and love of Miss Mellie Perkins.”
However, I agree with the author of the book that perhaps Miss Perkins said it best herself when she wrote: “…the seed has been sown, and we hope and pray some of it has fallen on good ground. Then Jesus says, My word shall not return unto me void, so I sow in faith, believing and trusting in His promise.”
We invite you to prayerfully consider serving in mission by booking a Volunteer in Mission (VIM) Team in 2023.
To schedule a VIM team, please contact our Volunteer Registrar Eufemia Romero by phone at 505-753-7221, ext. 210 or by email at eromero@mccurdy.org.
Note: Historical information taken from the book, Light in the Valley, by Robert H. Terry.
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COVID-19 Protocols Suspended
On May 11, 2023, the federal government announced the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE). News sources report that both the WHO and the White House have made it clear that while the emergency phase of the pandemic has ended, the virus is here to stay and could continue to cause major health issues.
After reviewing the current guidelines of the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) and the CDC, McCurdy Ministries Community Center has made the decision to suspend all COVID-19 protocols for staff, local volunteers, and Volunteer in Mission (VIM) team members at this time.
COVID-19 is a virus that spreads easily. Please continue to be aware of the levels of the disease in your community and take all necessary precautions when the levels are high. Also, we strongly urge everyone to stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccines and boosters and to be aware of what to do if you become sick.
It continues to be McCurdy’s goal to provide ministries and faith-based programs for the children and families in the Espanola Valley in a safe and healthy environment, including establishing special health protocols when the need arises.
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Searching for the Perfect Fit
Job Announcement
McCurdy Ministries Community Center is searching for a new Director of Development and Church Relations. Sarah Allen, our current Director, is having to resign due to the effects of long COVID on her heart. Help us find the ideal person to continue this important work at McCurdy.
We are looking to hire an enthusiastic Director of Development and Church Relations to secure financial and volunteer support for our faith-based, mission-driven organization. The successful applicant will build on lasting relationships with those who care about McCurdy, and will be responsible for keeping them informed on how their prayers, financial gifts, and volunteer presence at McCurdy Ministries is helping to create hope and empower the lives of children and adults in the Española Valley.
General duties include being active in researching and writing grants, being a partner in fundraising events, undertaking relation-building trips, assisting volunteer teams on campus, helping with program development as well as creating newsletters and maintaining a social media presence while representing God’s love and communicating the difference McCurdy Ministries makes in the Española Valley. Preferred candidates will be self-motivated, deadline-driven, multitaskers with a deep faith. If you know someone who might be interested, please send them the information and help us find the right person for this position.
See the entire job description at the attached LINK.
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Beginning Our New Beginning
First stages of Deconstruction to make room for additional programs and beautiful new buildings.
As you may know the oldest buildings at McCurdy are over 100 years old. We will be able to save and modernize several key buildings, such as the Chapel and Bachman Hall, but several others will need to come down because they are no longer safe spaces or cannot be modernized effectively.
To begin our progress, volunteers from four churches in Kansas, with specialized skills, took down an adobe garage across from the administration buildings. By removing the garage and realigning the fence, we are able to increase our parking for the Cole Building by 30 percent. This makes the Cole Building much more user friendly. Thanks for the great work, Kansas volunteers!
Be sure and watch for the next newsletter for more exciting updates about the next phase of our campus redevelopment.
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Teens Create Cards for Camp Stars
Our weekly devotions this month center around the Book of James and how important acting on your faith is. As an example of faith in action, in April we had a virtual mission team from several churches in Kansas meet and the teen group worked together to create 50 cards for our Camp Stars students to color with a special message from them. Once our 50 students color the animals on their cards in June, we will send a picture back to all the Kansas teens who participated.
At the dinner that night, several adults who had been on mission trips to McCurdy in the past, also spoke about their experiences. It was a wonderful evening of sharing about McCurdy Ministries to the next generation of volunteers who are putting their faith into action, and we appreciate Rev. Tricia North for arranging it.
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General Overview of Mission Work
There is a wide range of opportunities to serve in mission while at McCurdy. Some specific work tasks involve skills like carpentry, computer/IT, data entry, filing, electrical, general maintenance, painting, plumbing, or a good “green thumb”.
Every volunteer is asked to complete a skills survey which enables McCurdy staff to match you and your skill set to the project/work areas that are needed. There also is space to list any specialized expertise or skills you may have that could prove valuable to the mission work. The bottom line is that whatever your ability, there’s a job for YOU!
Note: VIM volunteers are allowed to work with the children on campus in the After School Care program and our summer 6-week Camp Stars VBS/STEM program. So, if you love working with younger children and are crafty, here’s a great opportunity to have some fun with the kids.
Schedule a VIM team today by contacting our Volunteer Registrar Eufemia Romero by phone at 505-753-7221, ext. 210 or by email at eromero@mccurdy.org.
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The first photo shows Susanna Bailey in the kitchen of Pilling Dormitory last September. The middle photo shows her playing with the children in McCurdy’s After School Care program. The final photo is the view from Chimney Rock when Susanna was touring Ghost Ranch near Abiquiú. |
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Reflections of Susanna Bailey, Dorm Host
McCurdy has always held a special place in my heart. I attended McCurdy High School as a boarding student many years ago, and the experience had a deep impact on me. When I read that I could volunteer for a month at McCurdy Ministries in exchange for staying in the dorm where I once lived, the decision to apply came easily. I currently live in Grass Valley, California, and spending time in a familiar place that I love and working alongside others in a faith-based environment sounded amazing. And it was.
I volunteered at McCurdy Ministries during September 2022. My primary job was being a dorm host to the weekly VIM teams. This meant making sure the dorm was in order upon the teams' arrival, greeting and orientating the teams to the dorm, being available if there were questions, and dealing with or reporting any dorm issues. I was a little nervous at first but soon realized most teams had been volunteering for years making my job pretty darn easy and I found myself learning from them. McCurdy staff were also extremely helpful and supportive if I had a question or needed help. As a dorm host, I met so many wonderful and interesting volunteers from Texas, Oklahoma, and Ohio who were hard workers yet fun to be around!
While the teams were working on their projects during the week, I often spent mornings weeding the children's playground and about three afternoons a week helping at the After School Care program. My various jobs were a perfect mix for me. Working in After School Care was so heartwarming. I loved helping the children with arts and crafts projects, in the computer lab, or simply playing with them. They quickly embraced me and made me feel like a star! Even weeding the prickly goatheads proved to be gratifying as I could be outside, let my mind wander, and know I was making the playground a better place for the kids to play.
On days off, I loved exploring and learning more about the area. I visited and hiked at Bandelier National Park, Ghost Ranch, Valles Caldera National Preserve, Pecos National Monument, and Santa Fe National Forest. The northern New Mexico sky and landscape are magical to me. And though I travel solo, I always feel the presence and beauty of God surrounding me and never feel lonely. I had such a rewarding and enriching month at McCurdy Ministries last September, I'm excited to be returning this September for another amazing volunteer experience.
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These photos show some of the crafts made by the children in our After School Care program. |
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McCurdy is part of Global Ministries
Another great way to support the McCurdy Ministries Community Center General Fund is by donating through the United Methodist Advance. Just like giving through the McCurdy website, 100 percent of your donation goes directly to the ministry. McCurdy’s Advance number is #581479.
Global Ministries is the international mission, humanitarian relief and development organization of The United Methodist Church. It works with partners and churches in more than 115 countries to equip and transform people and places for God’s mission.
Global Ministries Four Mission Goals:
1. Make disciples of Jesus Christ;
2. Strengthen, develop and renew Christian congregations and communities;
3. Alleviate human suffering;
4. Seek justice, freedom and peace.”
To donate to our ministries through the United Methodist Advance, use the following link to go directly to the McCurdy Ministries Community Center Advance page. LINK
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How about a sweet treat to celebrate the end of the school year. This month’s recipe is another one from McCurdy’s very own collection, Recipes of a Century Past, published in 2012 to celebrate the ministry’s 100th anniversary. The recipe features Grandma Mavis’ Bars and was shared by Mavis Lerol of Pine Island MN United Methodist. Enjoy!
Grandma Mavis’ Bars
Ingredients:
- 1 cup oatmeal
- 1 cup flour
- 3/4 cup butter
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 (14-ounce) bag of caramels
- 5 tablespoons milk
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup M&M’s
Mix together oatmeal, flour, butter, brown sugar, salt, and baking soda. Reserve 1/2 cup of mixture to sprinkle on top. Press into a 9 x 13-inch pan. Bake at 350o F for 10 minutes. Remove from oven. In a saucepan melt caramels with milk. Pour caramel over crust. Sprinkle chocolate chips, M&M’s and reserved crust over mixture. Bake for another 10 minutes. For a jelly roll pan, I double the recipe.
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Help for the Weary Woman
"Then he began to wash the disciples' feet, drying them with the towel he had around him." John 13:5b (NLT)
Rise before dawn for an hour of Bible study and a 5-mile run: Check!
Fold laundry and order groceries while attending an online meeting: No worries!
Cook dinner and load the dishwasher while helping with homework: Easy peasy!
Said no woman ever.
Many are the seasons of a woman's life, but I've yet to hear anyone say life is always easy.
As for me, I'm often a weary woman wondering why I'm trying to make a difference when I can't even make a meal some nights.
But, oh, how my soul is encouraged to know that the Lord Himself understands the demands of life, for during His time on earth, Jesus knew what it was to live a full, poured-out life.
The Apostle John records this beautiful example for us: ’Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples' feet, drying them with the towel he had around him (John 13:3-5, NLT).
In Jesus' day, it was common to provide water for guests to wash their feet after they'd walked in sandals along dusty roads. Foot washing, though, was considered a servant’s task, not a leader’s. Yet despite Jesus' authority, while His disciples reclined around the Last Supper table, Jesus served His beloved friends by cleaning their feet.
Afterward, Jesus explained: "And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other's feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you" (John 13:14-15, NLT).
Though Jesus was physically spent from His journey to Jerusalem and mentally anguished by the impending cross, He humbly cared for His people, setting the ultimate example of servant leadership.
Oh, friend, in seasons when we wearily wonder if all we're offering our people and our communities makes any difference, may our spirits rest in the shadow of the Savior, who humbly served His world and ultimately made the greatest difference of all. (Isaiah 53; John 1:29)
This doesn't imply that we neglect healthy boundaries by adding more to our to-do lists than God intends. Jesus also set a beautiful example of withdrawing for prayer and rest, affording Him wisdom to know when and where to apply His limited human resources. (Luke 5:16)
Likewise, as dawn's warmth strolls across the eastern sky each morning, may we follow Jesus' lead and seek God for wisdom to know which tasks belong to today and which do not.
And in seasons when the demands of life leave us feeling weary and spent, may we steal away for moments with the Lord, and may we rest in the company of the Savior who understands life's seasons of sacrifice.
Dear friend, your God knows what it is to be human and weary. The sacrifices you make amid challenging seasons aren't lost on Him; He understands.
When you feel like your energy is spilled upon the ground of long days and weary nights, take heart - God sees your service and the quiet legacy you're leaving as you impact the lives of those around you.
Even when you can't always sense it, God is moving within your story as you step into the shadow of the Savior's example and mark the world with His love.
Dear Jesus, thank You for being a trustworthy example for every season of life. Please give me wisdom and strength to do Your will as I seek to serve those around me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.”
To read this devotional online, use this LINK.
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HYMN: Love Lifted Me
I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore,
Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more;
But the Master of the sea heard my despairing cry,
From the waters lifted me, now safe am I.
Refrain:
Love lifted me! Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help,
Love lifted me.
Love lifted me! Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help,
Love lifted me.
"Author James Rowe (1865-1933) was born in England, the son of a copper miner. He immigrated to the United States from Ireland in 1889. He was a railroad worker for ten years in New York before becoming an inspector for the Hudson River Humane Society.
Love Lifted Me was written and published in 1912. It gained popularity among United Methodists as one of the frequently sung songs in The Cokesbury Hymnal.
Rowe's text was inspired by two biblical stories. The first is from Matthew 14:22-33, where the disciples were in a boat in the middle of a frightening storm. They saw Jesus walking on the sea. He commanded Peter to join him, and Peter also began walking on the water toward Jesus. The storm scared Peter and he began to sink, calling out to Jesus to save him. Jesus caught Peter by the hand and lifted him up as they got into the boat.
The second story is Matthew 8:23-27, in which Jesus is asleep in the boat while the disciples are alarmed by a powerful storm threatening to throw them all into the sea. They wake Jesus and ask him to help them. Jesus rebukes the storm and the disciples thank him.
Rowe's hymn masterfully incorporates both stories, using sinking or being swamped into the sea as an illustration for sinking deep in sin…sinking to rise no more. Jesus, Master of the sea, hears our pleas for help, reaches out to us in love, and lifts us up into the well being of grace.”
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McCurdy Ministries Community Center creates hope and empowers the lives of children, youth, adults and families through education, life skills, and faith-based programs in Española, New Mexico.
As spring refreshes the landscape outside your window, may it remind you of the refreshing Love of our Lord and Savior that is available to us every day of the year. On behalf of the McCurdy Ministries Community Center Board and staff as well as the children, youth, adults, and families MMCC serves, may you experience God’s Perfect Peace and Love each and every day!
McCurdy Board and Staff
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Through our Volunteer Newsletter, we are providing the latest information about volunteer opportunities at McCurdy Ministries Community Center and sharing helpful tips about planning a mission trip to Española. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or suggestions about articles or resources. Send your suggestions or questions to Linda Polson at lpolson1966@gmail.com. Linda is an MMCC Board Member and experienced VIM Team Leader.
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McCurdy Ministries Community Center creates hope and empowers the lives of children, youth, adults and families through education, life skills and faith-based programs
in Española, NM.
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