Marjorie Thompson to Lead Companions in Christ Event

NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 16, 2007 /GBOD/ --The Rev. Marjorie Thompson will lead a 3-day leader training event for the Companions in Christ series, Thursday through Saturday, May 10-12 at Upper Room Ministries, 1908 Grand Ave, Nashville. The event begins with registration at 3:00 p.m. Thursday, May 10 and will end by 12:00 p.m. Saturday, May 12.

Thompson is a Presbyterian minister, author and spiritual director of the Companions in Christ initiative in Nashville.

Those who attend the leader-training event will receive Companions in Christ resources essential for initiating Companions groups in their church.
The registration fee is $250. To register visit www.companionsinchrist.org. For information, call the Companions in Christ Training Office at 615-340-7525.

This training provides an in-depth experience in Companions in Christ resources and develops in participants the distinctive leadership skills called upon when leading formational groups.

The Companions in Christ series from Upper Room Ministries brings a transforming small-group experience to congregations.

Most in-depth Christian studies offer knowledge about scripture, prayer, or other areas of faith.
The Companions in Christ series invites participants into a deeper experience of the Christian life.

As the journey unfolds participants discover classic and contemporary spiritual practices that form rather than inform the participants and encourage them in inner and outward expressions of their faith.

Authors of the Companions series include Stephen D. Bryant, editor/publisher of Upper Room Ministries; Gerrit Scott Dawson, senior minister of First Presbyterian Church in Lenoir, N.C.; Adele J. Gonzalez, Assistant Director of the Office of Lay Ministry in the Roman Catholic
Archdiocese of Miami, Fla.; E. Glenn Hinson, author and retired professor of spirituality at the Baptist Theological Seminary in Richmond, Va.; Rueben P. Job, a retired United Methodist bishop and former editor/publisher of The Upper Room; Marjorie J. Thompson, author and Spiritual Director of the Companions in Christ initiative in Nashville, Tenn.; and Wendy M. Wright, professor of theology at Creighton University in Omaha, Neb.

It is estimated that 10,000+ small groups from a variety of denominations and locales have experienced Companions in Christ since its release. The transforming impact this resource has in congregations caused one clergy to say, “this resource may be the future of the church”.

Companions in Christ®
Leader Training Schedule
May 10-12, 2007

Thursday, May 10
3:00 Registration
3:30 Welcome, Orientation, & Worship
4:00 Introductions
4:30 Break
4:45 Companions Vision and Understanding Spiritual Formation
5:30 Dinner
6:15 Keys to Formational Process
6:30 Holy Listening Exercise
7:15 Assignments for Friday
7:30 Evening Prayer
7:45 Adjourn

Friday, May 11
8:30 Prepare to Experience a Companions Meeting
8:45 Experience Companions in Christ (abbreviated week)
10:30 Break
10:45 Reflect on Experience in Relation to Leadership Skills
11:15 Prepare to lead a “Deeper Exploration” (triad assignments)
12:00 Lunch (after meal options: UR Museum, Bookstore, or further preparation)
1:25 Gather in Triad Rooms
1:30 First Person Leads
2:15 Break
2:30 Second Person Leads
3:15 Break
3:45 Third Person Leads
4:30 Break
4:45 Reflect on Leadership Learning
5:15 Prayer and Blessing
5:30 Dinner at Monell’s and Free Evening

Saturday, May 11
9:00 Morning Prayer
9:20 Developing Spiritual Formation Opportunities in Congregation
10:00 Break
10:15 Building Intentional Formational Ministries
10:30 Upper Room Support
11:00 Question/Answer and Evaluation
11:30 Dismissal and Benediction

Upper Room Ministries is an ecumenical organization that produces resources for encouraging deeper spiritual formation, including The Upper Room daily devotional guide, distributed to over two million people in 44 languages, five other magazines, a line of books, and programs for youth and adults.

GBOD’s mission is to support annual conference and local church leaders for their task of equipping world-changing disciples. An agency of The United Methodist Church, GBOD is located at 1908 Grand Ave. in Nashville, Tenn. For more information, call the Media Relations Office toll free at (877) 899-2780, Ext. 7017.

Tampa church offers a 'break' for kids, caregivers

By Nancy Johnson*

Ashley Valenti and her buddy, Casey Decker, play with stuffed animals at Nathaniel's Hope Buddy Break at St. James United Methodist Church in Tampa, Fla. UMNS photos by Patti Garrett.


TAMPA, Fla. (UMNS) - On one Saturday each month, the doors of St. James United Methodist Church open to children - some in wheelchairs, others in their parents' arms. For three hours, they run, jump, dance and play while their parents take a much-needed break.

The Tampa church is part of Nathaniel's Hope Buddy Break, an Orlando-based ministry offering support to caregivers of children with special needs. Each child is paired with a volunteer buddy for one-on-one time and attention.

"Here at Buddy Break, we don't treat the children any different than any other child," says Sally DePalma, coordinator of the Tampa ministry. "We love on them. We have fun with them. We accept them for who they are and where they're at."

Buddy Break is designed for children ages 2 to 16 who have special needs, including those with physical, cognitive, medical or hidden disabilities. It is named for Nathaniel Kuck, who died at age 4 from an undiagnosed medical condition and whose mother, Marie, started Buddy Break as a way to honor her son's short life.

During the three hours that their children are cared for at Buddy Break, caregivers get some time for themselves. Sometimes it's for a manicure or pedicure; other times, it's a few hours of solitude walking on the beach.

"I couldn't believe there was anything like this. Now we keep coming back," says Janet McDonald, a mother to 7-year-old triplets.

"Last time, I went to lunch for the first time in two years. I sat there in a restaurant and actually ate. It was fun."

Two of McDonald's children, Nicole and Dougie, are autistic. Caring for them has been a major undertaking that became even more stressful in October 2005 when her husband collapsed and died from a pulmonary embolism.

"Every day, I get up in the morning and the first thing I remember is that my husband is not here and I get this lump in my throat," McDonald says. "Then I realize these children need me. I'm the only thing they have."

DePalma, who has an autistic daughter, understands all too well. "Your day becomes consumed sometimes with just playing defense with a very active child," says DePalma. "You're exhausted, don't have time to answer the phone. You're running to the door to prevent your child from running out the door."

Often, families of children with special needs experience isolation, depression, loneliness and fatigue.

"Our families live far away," says McDonald. "They don't take much interest in my children. My children scare them. They consider us so needy and, without my husband, we are."

Buddy Break offers a safe haven for such families while volunteers entertain the children with music, games and play time with pets. The kids can enjoy being kids in an environment that embraces them. Outside of St. James, it's often a different story.

"Most of the time, you're apologizing for your kid's behavior," says McDonald. "I'm sorry she has autism. I'm sorry she's touching you. I'm sorry she's making noise."

The goal of Buddy Break is to minister to the entire family. It connects families with others who know and understand their struggles and sometimes offers outings and free services for the families, including the siblings of special needs kids.

The ministry is an authentic way to show God's love to families who struggle on an hourly basis. For McDonald, it means a few hours of relaxation while her children get some much-needed attention from others.

"When I saw Nicole and (her buddy) was chasing after her and he was smiling and she was smiling, it felt good because he actually wants to be with her," she says. "She could feel it."

Johnson is a freelance writer and producer in Tampa, Fla.

Companions In Christ® Training Event with Marjorie Thompson Promotes Spiritual Growth for Adults

Marjorie Thompson, Spiritual DIrector for Companions in Christ

A 3-day leader training event for the Companions in Christ series is set for Thursday through Saturday, May 10-12 at Upper Room Ministries, 1908 Grand Ave, Nashville from 3:00 p.m. Thursday to 12:00 p.m. Saturday. Marjorie Thompson, Spiritual Director for Companions in Christ and author of Soulfeast: An Invitation to the Christian Spiritual Life, will lead. This training provides an in-depth experience in Companions in Christ resources and develops in participants the distinctive leadership skills called upon when leading formational groups. For information, call the Companions in Christ Training Office at 615-340-7525.

The Companions in Christ series from Upper Room Ministries brings a transforming small-group experience to congregations. Most in-depth Christian studies offer knowledge about scripture, prayer, or other areas of faith. The Companions in Christ series invites participants into a deeper experience of the Christian life. As the journey unfolds participants discover classic and contemporary spiritual practices that form rather than inform the participants and encourage them in inner and outward expressions of their faith.

Authors of the Companions series include Stephen D. Bryant, editor/publisher of Upper Room Ministries; Gerrit Scott Dawson, senior minister of First Presbyterian Church in Lenoir, N.C.; Adele J. Gonzalez, Assistant Director of the Office of Lay Ministry in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami, Fla.; E. Glenn Hinson, author and retired professor of spirituality at the Baptist Theological Seminary in Richmond, Va.; Rueben P. Job, a retired United Methodist bishop and former editor/publisher of The Upper Room; Marjorie J. Thompson, author and Spiritual Director of the Companions in Christ initiative in Nashville, Tenn.; and Wendy M. Wright, professor of theology at Creighton University in Omaha, Neb. The Author of The Way of the Child is Wynn McGregor, certified Christian educator in the Presbyterian Church, USA.

It is estimated that 10,000+ small groups from a variety of denominations and locales have experienced Companions in Christ since its release. The transforming impact this resource has in congregations caused one clergy to say, “this resource may be the future of the church”.

Those who attend the leader-training event will receive Companions in Christ resources essential for initiating Companions groups in their church.

Upper Room Ministries is an ecumenical organization that produces resources for encouraging deeper spiritual formation, including The Upper Room daily devotional guide, distributed to over two million people in 44 languages, five other magazines, a line of books, and programs for youth and adults.

To Register for the event Click on the following address:
http://www.upperroom.org/companions/eventsthree.asp