KMF Announces Named Seminary Scholarship Funds

A key to the future of our church is strong, theologically-educated, pastoral leaders.

The Kansas Methodist Foundation is working to help fill the need though partnering with families, like yours, to create a named scholarship fund to support seminarians as they answer God’s call in their life.

“One of the most profound gifts I was given when following the calling God placed in my life to go to seminary, was the vital support of scholarships,” said Dustin Petz, President of KMF. “Strong leaders often lead to strong and vibrant congregations. With more pastors retiring, the church needs new strong leaders. At a time when the base cost for a Masters of Divinity program averages $50,000, scholarships help pave a path for seminarians to follow their call.”

Through a named scholarship fund, you can impact the life of a seminarian through creating a scholarship that will have a minimum impact of $1,000 per year. The fund can be in your name or in the name of someone you would like to honor, such as a pastor who has impacted your life.

Depending on your goals for the scholarship, either a term fund or an endowed fund can be created. An endowed fund will generate seminary scholarships in perpetuity and is created with an initial gift of at least $25,000, which may be contributed over a period of up to five years. The scholarship amount is designed to increase over time and keep pace with normal inflation. If you want to make an impact over a set number of years, a minimum gift of $5,000 will create a fund that is fully distributed over a period of five or more years.

If you are ready to create a named scholarship fund, or would like additional information, please contact Tyler Curtis, Chief Development Officer of KMF, at Tyler@KansasMethodistFoundation.org or 620-664-9623.

Pathways for Discipleship Grants Available

The Kansas Methodist Foundation is offering Pathways for Discipleship Grants to Kansas churches and organizations in four key areas of ministry: Justice Ministries, Children and Youth Programs, Ministry and Outreach, and Leadership Education.

The matching grants are awarded to churches and organizations across Kansas to advance ministries, especially in ways that are creative, innovative, and new. Grant applications will be accepted from June 1 – September 1, 2022. For more information, visit kansasmethodistfoundation.org.

The Kansas Methodist Foundation is grateful for the individuals and families who help make the ministry grants possible. If you are interested in learning more about how you can get involved in supporting ministries across Kansas to meet the needs of our changing world by exploring new possibilities, contact Tyler Curtis at tyler@kansasmethodistfoundation.org or 620-664-9623.

If you have any questions, please contact KMF at info@kansasmethodistfoundation.org or 620-664-9623.

New Grant Focused on Justice Ministries

The Kansas Methodist Foundation is pleased to announce a new Pathways for Discipleship grant focused on Justice Ministries.

In Luke 4, Jesus proclaims that his ministry includes preaching good news to the poor, proclaiming release to prisoners, recovering sight to the blind, liberating the oppressed, and proclaiming Jubilee.

“As the Body of Christ, we are called to do likewise, which includes serving those in need by being the hand, feet, and heart of Jesus in our local contexts,” KMF President Dustin Petz said. “It also means working to change the unjust systems that oppress our neighbors. I am excited for KMF to provide focused grants to help our Methodist partners do justice and work to change the systems that continue to harm.”

Starting in 2022, justice ministry grants will be awarded to Methodist churches and organizations in Kansas for programs focused on healing racial divisions, increasing equity among God’s children, encouraging inclusion, and broadening people’s understanding of diversity and bias.

The justice ministries pathway is one of four pathways in the Pathways for Discipleship grant program. The matching grants are awarded to churches and organizations across Kansas to advance ministries, especially in ways that are creative, innovative, and new. Other Pathways for Discipleship grant areas include: Children and Youth Programs, Ministry and Outreach, and Leadership Education.

Grant applications will be accepted from June 1 – September 1, 2022. For more information, visit www.kansasmethodistfoundation.org.

Augusta First UMC Starts New Community Karate Ministry

There are a lot of ways we might think of to bring people closer to Jesus Christ. Teaching them karate may not be at the top of that list. Nonetheless, First United Methodist Church in Augusta saw an opportunity for discipleship in karate. With the help of a Pathways for Discipleship grant, the church has been coming into contact with children and youth who are developing a passion for that discipline.

Like many other smaller communities, Augusta has been hit hard by COVID. A number of athletic programs for children and youth quit functioning and are now trying to re-start. The virus also hit many
families hard economically, and the fees associated with some other
children and youth programs were difficult for them to support.

While others saw only problems, Derek Highbarger, a longtime member of the Augusta Department of Public Safety who holds a black belt in karate, saw opportunity. He has worked with kids for a long time and has three children of his own. He knew from previous experience that there was interest in karate in Augusta. As an active member of Augusta First UMC, Derek was aware that the church was always open to non-traditional ministry with young people. What he needed was resources to purchase the mats the ministry would need. Though the church was experiencing a COVID-strapped financial year, it found some money that could be used as a match for a $500 Pathways for Discipleship grant. When the mats arrived, Derek started the class.

Derek, with the help of his children and additional adult leadership, has been holding the karate class in the church gym since November of 2021. There are 10 to 15 children and youth ranging in age from four to sixteen who meet on Thursday nights and more are showing interest. Their parents bring them and often stay to watch the training. Some of the older youth recently asked for a second session with Derek during the week to increase their training and he managed to work it in. All of this is free to the participants.

Rev. Lynn Lamberty, pastor of First UMC Augusta, is excited about the future of this ministry.

“I believe that karate can be a good fit for us in forging new relationships with a variety of people in the community,” Lynn said. “They are experiencing the church in a new and exciting way and have appreciated the welcome they have received. At the heart of the training for karate are values also useful to Christians: selfdiscipline, respect for others, self-confidence, support for family and being willing to develop one’s given talents and abilities well for the blessing of others. This ministry opportunity would not have developed into anything concrete without the support of the Kansas Methodist Foundation.”

The program will continue as long as students keep showing up. God is moving in interesting ways.

KMF Serves all within the Methodist Movement

Founded to support Methodist ministry in Kansas, the Kansas Methodist Foundation, KMF, is committed to living out its purpose through serving churches that may join the new Global Methodist Church denomination.

“We are pleased to continue serving faithful Methodists in Kansas regardless of whether they are connected to the United Methodist Church, the Global Methodist Church, or more broadly within the Methodist movement.” KMF President Dustin Petz said.

The process to serve all Methodists began a few years ago as talks of a possible denominational split became more frequent.

“We approached the Great Plains Conference to change the relationship with the Foundation so that the Foundation is no longer governed by the Great Plains Conference,” KMF Board Chair Rev. Gary Beach said. “It is a free-standing 501(c)(3) and the Conference no longer elects the board.”

While KMF works in partnership with the Great Plains Annual Conference, it is a separate and independent organization. KMF staff serve all who are connected to the Methodist movement in Kansas. In addition to churches within the United Methodist denomination, churches who join the Global Methodist Church and churches who are a part of the larger Methodist movement will also have access to the services of KMF.

Funds at KMF will continue to be invested in socially responsible ways through Wespath Institutional Investments. As a free-standing organization, KMF’s commitment is to the churches, organizations, and individuals it serves.

KMF does not receive appointment dollars from the Annual Conference. Rather, its ministry is funded by gifts from faithful Methodist families and administrative fees from funds invested with the Foundation. Similar to a bank or brokerage firm, KMF charges an administrative fee on investment accounts. However, unlike a bank, the fee supports ministry grants, leadership development for clergy and laity, and free resources to help churches and organizations grow their ministry.

“We believe God is calling us to dream dreams and see visions, knowing that we have an abundance of resources poised for ministry,” Dustin said. “When we activate our treasures with a generous heart, God will continue to use us to make disciples of Jesus Christ, change lives, and transform communities throughout Kansas.”