� e Rev. Dr. Lawrence Sherwood, Jr., was recently honored as a History Hero at the Cultural Center in Charleston, W. Va. He was nominated by the West Virginia Annual Conference Commission on Ar-chives and History.Sherwood serves on the Conference

Commission on Archives and History and was a charter member of the confer-ence historical society. He has also served

as vice president of the National Asso-ciation of Methodist Historical Societies. His publications include History of West Virginia Methodism (1964), as well as his latest book, � e Tours of Bishop Fran-cis Asbury in West Virginia, 1776-1815 (2011). Copies cost $14.95 and can be ordered from the Rev. Ginnie Lowther, 802 Roseland Avenue, Williamstown, WV, 26187.

PUBLISHED BY THE WEST VIRGINIA CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

HISTORYHERO

Randall Reid-Smith Commissioner, WV Division of Culture and History; Dr. Lawrence F. Sherwood, Jr.; Dr. Robert S. Conte, Chairman of Archives and History Commission. View more photos at flickr.com/wvumc. PHOTO COURTESY DEWAYNE LOWTHER

VOL 2 / NUMBER 2

First Day of LentCovenant CouncilBoard of Ordained Ministry MeetingResidency RetreatCourse of StudyHunger Grant Applications Due

UMW Spiritual Growth RetreatIncarnation Spiritual Growth RetreatGrowing Your Church WorkshopSexual Ethics TrainingBishop’s Confirmation RallyVirginia Higgins Grant Applications DueHarry Denman Evangelism Award Nominations Due*Good Friday (Conference Center Closed)Easter SundayCourse of StudyPastoral Ministry Licensing School

Pastoral Ministry Licensing School UMW Mission EncounterResidency RetreatBishop’s Motorcycle RideBishop’s Confirmation Rally

CALENDAR5

7-89-12

14-1514-16

21

3-64-54-5

51215

1820

25-2726-5/3

1-32-4

16-1717-18

31

March

For more information and the full calendar visit wvumc.org/calendar. Email submissions to wvumc@wvumc.org.• *Visit wvumc.org/evangelism for information and to download nomina-tion forms for the Harry Denman Evangelism Award. Call Karen Thaxton at 1-800-788-3746, ext. 24 if you need a copy mailed to you.

Rev. Charles Lewis Frum, re-tired clergy and father of Rev. John Frum

Alice Palmer, mother of Rev. Michael Palmer (PTLP; Northern District)

Rev. Wilbur R. HardinRev. Newton Poling

For more information or to sign-up for email alerts, please visit wvumc.org/info/WeRemember.

WE REMEMBER

April

MARCH 2014

The West Virginia Conference raises awareness and funds for causes that show our faith in action through 20 special Sundays each year.

Special Sundays

30

627

One Great Hour of Sharing

United Methodist Foundation SundayGolden Cross Sunday

For more information on all Special Sundays, visit bit.ly/SpecialSundays.

March

April

About the Virginia Higgins Grant

It is the intention of Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball to appoint the following clergy, effective July 1, 2014:Rev. Jenny Williams to Avery United Methodist Church (Morgan-

town, Mon Valley)Rev. Joseph Hill to Cross Roads United Methodist Church (Hunting-

ton, Western)Rev. Corbet May to St. Luke’s United Methodist Church (Craigsville,

Greenbrier)Rev. Ellis Conley to Forrest-Burdette United Methodist Church (Hur-

ricane, Midland South)Rev. Melissa Shortridge to the Cabinet, where she will serve as super-

intendent of the Greenbrier District.

APPOINTMENTS 2014

May

Virginia Hig-gins grant funds are designed to encourage United Method-ist involvement in Health and Welfare Minis-tries, especially in the areas of child care, ag-ing, health care, and people with handicap-ping conditions. Grants are also awarded to or-ganizations, in-stitutions, and programs related to the West Virginia Conference and other units of the general United Methodist Church through residen-tial or non-residential ministries, including, but not limited to, domes-tic violence, health care and homelessness. For more information download the grant guidelines and application

at wvumc.org/health-welfare. Applications are due annually by April 15.

Ebenezer Community Outreach Center in Huntington, W.Va. used the funds to take 35 children on fun & educational field trips. Photo courtesy eBeNeZer outreAch ceNter

MARCH 2014

The new coordinator of Volunteers in Mission for the West Virginia Conference (WV VIM), Sandy Binotto, went straight to work when she began her duties January 1.“I just returned from Bungoma, Kenya, Janu-

ary 17 where I led a WV VIM team in mission with Living Hope High School,” she said in an introductory letter to the West Virginia Con-ference released January 22. Binotto succeeds the Rev. Tom Clark, who retired Dec. 31, 2013.Binotto has served with Volunteers in Mis-

sion (VIM) since 1989 in many capacities - as VIM coordinator in the Baltimore-Washing-ton Conference, as a mission team participant and leader on many VIM trips, and as an in-dividual volunteer in Bosnia and Puerto Rico.A certified United Methodist Commission on

Relief (UMCOR) Emergency Response Team (ERT) trainer, Binotto said she looks forward to coordinating her efforts with the Revs. Dan and Sue Lowther, who coordinate disas-ter response in the West Virginia Conference. “When there is a need in our conference, we (WV VIM) will be there to help,” she said.In the next few months, Binotto will work

closely with the conference communications staff and the global ministries team to create a new web presence and develop other resourc-es. In the meantime, you can keep up with VIM’s work via their Facebook group and at wvumc.org/VIM.Contributions to the ministry of VIM in the

West Virginia Annual Conference are always welcome! Please make checks out to “Confer-ence Treasurer” and write UMVIM #804 in the memo line of your check. Mail them to PO Box 2469, Charleston WV 25329. Churches, if you take up an offering please use a remittance form when sending your checks to the confer-ence treasurer’s office.

VIM coordinator gets to work

The Rev. Larry Anderson prepares a floor for new classrooms at Living Hope High School in Bun-goma, Kenya. Photo courtesy sANDy BINotto

MARCH 2014

Polar PlungeClergy in the Potomac Highlands District jumped in the (not so cold) water of Mt. Storm Lake Feb. 1. It was all for a good cause - Imagine No Malaria. As of press time, they’ve raised $3,000 dol-lars to help save lives in Africa.

CoNFereNCe UPDAte: to date, the West Virginia Conference has raised $122,109.62. that number includes a $40,000 matching gift by the United Methodist Founda-tion of West Virginia. Want to help? Learn more at wvumc.org/info/inm.