By RJ Walters, Editor
Rev. Julie Dix’s desire to bring hope and joy through spreading the message of Jesus Christ in the city made her a natural fit as the new executive director for Grand Rapids Metro Ministry in July.
Half a year later her leadership has sparked creative ideas through a ministry outlet that has addressed issues such as church development, affordable housing and hunger since 1954 in a city that is home to nearly 20 United Methodist congregations.
“What is so marvelous about this particular call and particular role right now is that I am able to be in a place where Metro is connected with many congregations all working toward the same goal,” said the ordained UMC elder and deacon.
Making urban ministry stronger
There’s plenty of strategic planning to be done in Grand Rapids to create more efficient, cost-effective ministry models.
Dix said she is working closely with the Grand Rapids district office to determine which declining congregations are in buildings too large to support in the future and vice versa.
“Are these big old buildings serving as tools for ministry now or have they become just burdens that are leaking the energy and joy out of ministries that are really bubbling and just waiting to happen?” she said.
She said with the help of the Urban Ministry Task Force the district is looking at the possibility of implementing a two-year urban training course developed by the General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM).
The training would focus on topics such as urban theology, urban evangelism, eradication of racism, leadership development and community economic development.
The GBGM would come in and interview church leaders and help them articulate specific needs and how to move forward.
“This will get (congregations) to talk more about their own struggles, their own successes, what works here and there,” Dix said.
Difficult, but necessary progress
Over the years Olivet UMC transitioned from an “all-Caucasian church” to one that caters mainly to the African American and Hispanic population.
The congregation was down to around 20 people, still worshipping in a building constructed for a much larger audience.
Then through what Dix calls “prayer, discernment and the tender loving care of their pastors” the church decided to disband as a worshipping congregation.
But they didn’t want the ministry of the building to be a thing of the past — and that’s where Grand Rapids Area Service Project (GRASP) stepped in.
GRASP Executive Director Mike needed more space and Olivet needed time to consider new possibilities, so GRASP volunteers help provide upkeep of the building for a cut of the building’s monthly rent cost.
Just a few blocks from the facility the LA Nueva Esperanza UMC, a Spanish-speaking Hispanic offshoot of Olivet, is thriving but they are worshipping in a building that Dix said is in very poor shape and the possibility of moving the ministry to the Olivet building has been gaining steam.
LA Nueva Esparanza offers everything from health education to English as a second language classes to guitar lessons, and Dix said in this time of “great transition” it is heartwarming to see people working together.
Finding funding
Where there are great plans, there is inevitably a great need for money.
With big visions for urban ministry and plenty of programs already in place to help with hunger and housing issues, Dix said she is learning more about grants and UMC programs.
“One of my most pressing challenges and goals right now is to figure out where else we can get some money,” she said.
Most of the funding for Metro’s work comes from ministry shares and the trustees of Metro also manage the Urban Ministries Fund, which is money from the sale of Oakdale UMC. That money cannot be used for day-to-day operations, but is utilized for things such as the Hands Across the City park construction and cleanup initiative that took place last summer.
While Dix continues to scour all avenues for donations, Metro actually has money available to help individual churches.
Metro has an endowment fund honoring the late Rev. Ron Fassett, the United Methodist Metropolitan Ministry director from 1983-94.
“The fund itself is available for justice related ministries like education, training, etc,” Dix said. “Churches or organizations can apply for funding to help with ministries that are related to peace and justice issues.”
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