by June Rothe-Barneson,
Trinity United Methodist Church, Chico, CA

When my father died in 1971, there were few flowers at his memorial service. To many who attended, that seemed unusual, for my parents were avid gardeners. Yet as much as they loved and grew flowers, my mother encouraged family and friends to donate funds to Trinity United Methodist Church, Chico, California, to establish an ongoing memorial fund in my father’s name. The interest from this memorial would be designated each year for ministries of the Advance for Christ and His Church.

The idea for the growth fund had a special inception. In 1965, General Board of Global Ministries field representative Bill Starnes had come to Trinity Church to speak about the Advance and to encourage support for ministries in Africa where he and his wife Rosemary had served as missionaries.

“Hearing about the Advance was an answer to my prayers,” my mother said. Here was a method of giving through the denomination, knowing exactly where the money would go and knowing 100% of the gift would go where the donor specified.

Later I had the opportunity to serve for 16 years as an agency representative to the General Council on Ministries Advance Support Group. That experience was better than a second college education! We visited Advance ministries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and numerous other sites. It was a chance to photograph, write and speak about the Advance.

When my mother died in 1997, three decades after she practically insister I join her that afternoon to hear Bill Starnes, her name was added to the memorial fund. The earnings have gone to the Likasi Pastors’ School in the Congo, the Sao Gabriel Community Center in Brazil and dozens of other ministries. “The grass withers, the flower fades,” but the work of the Advance can continue beyond a lifetime.

Prayer: God, our Creator, help us plant seeds of hope, water them with care and share the harvest with our sisters and brothers at home and in distant places. In your name we pray. Amen.