For this limited series, we asked recipients of the Harry Denman Evangelism Award, “How are you tending your soul this Lent?” We’re grateful to those who shared. We hope you’ll find some inspiration and encouragement for your daily practices.

From Frank Davis, 2015 recipient from the Greater New Jersey UMC Conference.

Thank you for taking the time to ask the question: How are you tending to your soul during this season of Lent?

As I read the question I smiled and immediately said – through prayer, study, quality time with God, service to others and fasting… but when I thought about it a little longer, I thought of myself looking in a mirror and simply saying- Thank you God for one more day. I don’t know how I would have made it this far without God. 

There is a Scripture that says it better than I could: John 6: 60-70 where many followers deserted Jesus and  Jesus asks the 12 if they were going to leave him too and Peter’s response in verses 68-69 energized my soul – he said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”  

Peter said – Lord where would we go? – You are the only God we know!  

As I look in the mirror – all I can say is, “Thank you God for one more day – YOU are the ONLY God I know.”

For this limited series, we asked recipients of the Harry Denman Evangelism Award, “How are you tending your soul this Lent?” We’re grateful to those who shared. We hope you’ll find some inspiration and encouragement for your daily practices.

From Rev. Robert Lancaster, 2016 recipient from the North Alabama UMC Conference.

TRANSCRIPT:

Hello I’m Robert Lancaster, pastor of St Andrews UMC in the central district and 2016 Denman Evangelism Award winner. The question we were asked is how are we tending to our soul during this season of lent. I just started a new practice, matter of fact just the week before November, of being very intentional about taking care of my soul. I now make sure I’m in bed by no later than 9:30. My clock is set for 5am. As soon as I get up at 5am I immediately get out of bed so that I don’t get tempted to stay under the warm covers, and then I go into my office, close the door, light a cancel inviting the Holy Spirit, the light of Christ, to come in and be with me. And then I spend the next hour listening to a devotion first, and then reading a devotion, and then reading scripture. I have chosen YouVersion Bible in a Year for this year, and I have found that this puts me in a wonderful place in the morning time. But after that hour I then spend about another 30-45 minutes reading books on leadership, books on sleeping habits, books on spiritual habits, things that will improve my leadership skills as I’m also improving my spiritual life with Christ. I have to tell you this is probably the best thing I have ever done for my spirit. Every single morning, Monday through Sunday, up at 5, read the bible, listen to a devotion, reading a devotion, and then spend some time reading [about] leadership skilsl. It really is doing wonders for my soul this Lent season. Thank you and God Bless!

For this limited series, we asked recipients of the Harry Denman Evangelism Award, “How are you tending your soul this Lent?” We’re grateful to those who shared. We hope you’ll find some inspiration and encouragement for your daily practices.

From Rev. Philip Dicks, 2015 recipient from the Iowa UMC Conference.

My devotional response came from a time when in India for the World Methodist Council and the United Methodist Church and my face-to-face with Mother Theresa and her words of wisdom — with a Lenten context.  

How are you tending to your soul during this season of Lent?

Years ago, I had the privilege of spending time in India for the World Methodist Council and the United Methodist Church teaching in the Union Biblical Seminary about the power of Spiritual Formation founded in the model of Wesley’s “Covenant Discipleship.”  Living out our mission to Changing the World and personally sharing our faith – one person at a time and mutual accountability can transform the world by loving our neighbor. When you’ve been transformed by God’s Love, you can’t help but want other to experience the same grace and freedom.

I remember making a pilgrimage to Calcutta to see Mother Theresa.  We stood with folded hands and made a line in which to greet her and receive a blessing. In the Indian tradition, persons coming to meet such a spiritual person often use the time to ask an important question. A person not far from me asked her, “Mother Theresa, I am depressed. What should I do?” Mother Theresa placed her large, rough hands over his and said, “Get up and go across the street.”  He paused for a moment and looked questioningly at her and repeated the question: “Mother Theresa, I am depressed. What should I do?” Again, she answered: “Get up and go across the street.”  Thinking that perhaps she did not hear him correctly, he once again asked the question in a slow, loud voice: “Mother Theresa, I am depressed. What should I do?” Again, she answered: “Get up and go across the street.”  And softly she looked into his face and said: “Get up and go across the street. Find someone in need of being loved or in need of feeling the love of Jesus through you and when you do your depression will go away.” Tearfully he backed away with a holy mission reflected in his glowing face as he set about to transform the world one person at a time. Go and do likewise.

Mother Theresa once said: “Lent encourages us to let the Word of God penetrate our life…because Lent may not be just a time for giving up but gifting up…to take on a renewed mission of love to the invisible and the unloved. God still loves the world through you and me today.” I still begin my morning as she began tending her soul every morning: “Good morning God, what will you have me do for you today?”

How are you tending to your soul during this season of Lent?

Maybe begin each new day with “Good morning God, what will you have me do for you today?” Here is the sanctity hidden for us – in knowing Jesus – loving Jesus – serving Jesus to all Christ sends into our life each day. God still loves the world through you and me today. 

How can I tend my soul during this season of Lent? “Get up and go across the street. Find someone in need of being loved or in need of feeling the love of Jesus through you and when you do they will see the face of Jesus in you.” Go and do likewise as we live out that Good News mission through our faith community, throughout our local community and in the World that God so loved! Go be the Church!

For this limited series, we asked recipients of the Harry Denman Evangelism Award, “How are you tending your soul this Lent?” We’re grateful to those who shared. We hope you’ll find some inspiration and encouragement for your daily practices.

From Pastor Neal Fuller, 2015 recipient from the North Alabama UMC Conference.

During this lent season I still reach out to others that are struggling with addiction and other hurts in life. I recently became a local licensed Pastor in the NAC. Now working on my COS. Being a recovering addict, I have given up a lot over the years. As I am doing my school work I really find myself studying scripture more, this really helps tend my soul at a deeper level than I ever have before. 

 I also now pastor 2 churches, and in my spare time, I help the church understand everyone can find healing of life struggles through Jesus Christ at Celebrate Recovery Ministries across our conference. This is the most recent vision from God. https://youtu.be/GsrJmlx0KX4

For this limited series, we asked recipients of the Harry Denman Evangelism Award, “How are you tending your soul this Lent?” We’re grateful to those who shared. We hope you’ll find some inspiration and encouragement for your daily practices.

From Allison Schwarz, 2015 recipient from the Minnesota UMC Conference.

This lent I am tending to my soul by participating in the Rethink Church lent photo challenge and journaling about the word each day along with reading a daily devotional. I am currently in seminary, so I also prioritize weekly Sabbaths for a healthy work/rest balance. 

For this limited series, we asked recipients of the Harry Denman Evangelism Award, “How are you tending your soul this Lent?” We’re grateful to those who shared. We hope you’ll find some inspiration and encouragement for your daily practices.

From Erin Bowman, 2017 recipient from the Virginia UMC Conference.

As a college student I am stressed a lot of the time. I know that there are times I prioritize school more than I do Christ, which is wrong of me. So after praying to figure out what I need to do to get me back to prioritizing God, I came to what I would change during this season of Lent. To help me place focus back on Christ, and to get my mental health into a better place I have decided to not do any school work after midnight. I was constantly staying up until 1‐2am doing school work, and by the time I was done I was too tired to do my devotions. By taking the time I was doing school work and transitioning it into a time to spend with Christ has already helped so much.