CHRIST IN THE SCHOOL CROSSING by KATHIE MANN

Driving into Houston daily gives me time to contemplate life, write sermons in my head, listen to a book on tape and find new roads to bypass rush hour traf¬fic. Of all the roads I could take to the office, I find myself traveling the same one each day.If I am there when the school crossing lights are flashing, I know that a tall man with a wonderful smile will be there waving to each car as we pass by. He has been there everyday for the past several years.

We recognize each other and he expects me to wave back with as much enthusiasm. I felt comforted by this gen¬tle man and safe while he was on the corner.If I was having a bad day, his smile was elec¬tric and I would snap out of my doldrums quickly with a chuckle, as his arm waved high over his head and his grin spread from ear to ear. I would thank God for him each day and felt this was part of my morning ritual blessing.Then one day, he was not at the crossing. I looked hard on both sides of the road but he was gone. I prayed that he was alright.

The new lady does not smile and wave at us. My heart was sad to think that my friend would not be there each morning. He was Christ at the School Crossing, not just for me but for everyone who passed on his street. We should all be like him, eager to share the love of life and friendship even in the simplest of ways

MISSIONAL EXCELLENCE– CYNTHIA HARVEY, DIRECTOR

Since arriving at my new post on February 1 as the Director of Mis-sional Excellence, the learning curve has been steep, curvy and very fast.
I consider it a privilege to serve the people of the Texas Annual Conference in this capacity at this time and place. These are history-making times in this conference. The new model for ministry has been in place for two years and we are all beginning to learn how to travel this journey to new and exciting places together. It is particu-larly important to me to return to what I consider my roots. It was about 16 years ago that I assumed the role as the Executive Direc-tor of UM-ARMY and it was at that time that I became connected to the Annual Conference through the work of Partners in Mission. Those were exciting times and they are even more exciting today as more and more of our lay and clergy persons are involved in hands-on-mission. We are not simply traveling to far away places to do mis-sion work we are truly beginning to look at our mission as global. Our new partnership with the Annual Conference of Cote d’Ivoire is providing us new opportunities to serve.

At the same time we continue to serve those who have known for many years that the people of Texas Annual Conference under-stand what it means to love God and neighbor and be about the business of transforming lives.

Around the Annual Con-ference and across the planet I know lives are being changed because of the commitment of friends like you who want to make a difference and impact our world like never before. I ask for your continued prayers for those serving in mercy and mission in our Annual Conference and for those they will touch.