THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 30, 1996 TAG: 9605290191
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TRUDY CUTHRELL, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: 89 lines
IT'S ONE OF those tragedy-to-triumph situations, in which a church saw a need in the community and responded in Christian love and action. Now the miraculous is taking place.
The church is Ebenezer United Methodist Church on Steeple Drive in Crittenden. The tragedy, which happened three years ago, was the accidental shooting of a Crittenden teen, leaving neighbors and friends stunned. At a community gathering at Ebenezer, Pastor Carl LeMon comforted local familiies and challenged local teens about the daily choices they make.
After this meeting, LeMon was questioned by a church leader about what Ebenezer could do to offer wholesome opportunities to area young people. From this question and subsequent meetings grew the idea for the Ebenezer Arts and Sports League, or EASL.
The kick-off activity for EASL was a 1994 fall soccer league that enrolled 40 neighborhood kids, ages 5-7, in a six-week training session to learn the basics of this action-packed sport. Neighborhood residents served as coaches and referees, and the program was funded by the Bennett's Trust Foundation.
When 120 people attended the church-sponsored Soccer Banquet at the end of the season, LeMon had an opportunity to further explain the mission behind EASL.
This spring, EASL launched its first semester of art courses with classes in drawing, photography, watercoloring, sculpturing, sewing and nutrition. Mentors or class instructors were from the Ebenezer membership, and students came from throughout the community. Nearly 100 attended the First EASL Arts Show on Friday, May 25, to see exhibits of arts and crafts produced by each of the 25 talented students.
``We hope to make the church once again a center for nurturing healthy bodies, creative minds and spirits,'' noted LeMon. ``The arts belong to the church. It's a wonderful way to use God-given gifts to glorify God and to build self-esteem. And I see it as the church's responsibility to teach and train in the arts.''
Ebenezer plans to expand its arts programming this summer with classes in children's theater and music. A theater professor from Virginia Wesleyan College will be on hand to teach and provide professional guidance.
When LeMon arrived at Ebenezer UMC, he brought along a broad base of experience. He received his theological training at Gordon-Conwell Seminary, fine-tuned his theatrical skills on the stages of Richmond and as a performer with ``The Fisherman Players,'' and developed his musical talents as part of a touring men's quartet and as a baritone soloist.
After establishing and growing a 300-member church in his first five years of ministry, LeMon temporarily traded his pulpit for the stage. Eventually led back into full-time ministry, LeMon pastored the High Street UMC in Petersburg for six years before coming to Ebenezer three years ago.
``These three years have been the most challenging and rewarding years of my ministry,'' LeMon admits. ``I love what I do, and I'm very pleased to be here.''
Ebenezer's congregation seems equally pleased, and membership has taken a giant step of growth - a 91 percent increase since 1992 with average weekly attendance now at 177.
LeMon sees preaching as the most important thing he does. He describes his unique style as ``Bible-based expositional preaching and storytelling.'' He describes Sunday morning worship as a ``dramatic moment'' and the gospel story as ``the high drama of God's love for his people.''
Another key ingredient in the ministry mix at Ebenezer is its music program, directed by Carolyn Lake. An Adult Choir, Children's Choir, Youth Choir and Handbell Choir provide a well-rounded musical program.
Christian education is foundational to the teaching ministry offered by Ebenezer. A weekly graded Sunday School covers the basics and adult Disciple Bible Studies give an opportunity for in-depth Bible study and discipleship training.
A heart for missions attracted a group from Ebenezer to serve on a short-term mission project in Appalachia last summer. This year, mission ambassadors from the church will travel to Beverly, Ky., to work at the Red Bird Mission Conference.
``Mission work gives us a chance to flesh out our faith and give our teens a life-changing experience,'' LeMon said.
According to LeMon, another future goal of missions for the Ebenezer congregation involves ``adopting a family in the community and enabling them to get out of poverty and ignorance by providing job training, child care, health care and housing.''
``I think we could change the face of America if all churches truly served their communities this way,'' LeMon pointed out.
Ebenezer's Dream Team is in place to propose long-range goals. A part of the ``Ebenezer Dream'' is to build a Family Life Center to provide ongoing recreational and art opportunities for its church and community.
``People need to see the church as a place of hopes and dreams,'' LeMon explained. ``I'm seen as a dreamer myself, and I keep lifting the people's vision to the dreams God has for them individually and as a community.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Ayla Cobb holds a sculpture she made in a class at Ebenezer Church,
which Pastor Carl LeMon taught. by CNB