Sunday, October 1, 2000
Sunday, October 1, 2000 |
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New Brooks pastor seeks to nurture its growth By CAROLYN CARY If your church is a Methodist one, chances are you may have received a new minister this past June. Methodist ministers generally are left in one place about four years and then moved to another church, usually one a little larger than the one they left. Methodism in Fayette County received two new ministers this year, the Rev. Mark Outlaw at Bethany United Methodist Church, whom we featured recently, and the Rev. Stephen Scholfield, Brooks United Methodist Church. It is always a challenge when moving to a new parish to quickly learn its present programs, those on the drawing board, any anticipated expansions and the names of charter members, trustees and deacons. Next comes learning the names of members, which might number from several hundred to several thousand. Scholfield was born in Chattanooga and reared in Knoxville, Tenn. He is the son of a Methodist minister, but chose the field of law for himself. He is a 1992 graduate of the Emory University School of Law, and worked as a corporate lawyer in Charleston, W. Va. Just before entering law school, he served as a missionary in Bolivia and later served in Costa Rica. As is the case with many people chosen by God, what Scholfield thought he wanted to do was perhaps not what God had in mind. Realizing that God did indeed have other plans for him, he returned to Emory University, this time entering its Candler School of Theology. He first served at a church near Athens and this is where he met his wife, Debbie. They have been married for over two years. She is employed by the State Rehabilitation Services in Griffin. All Methodist ministers who are going to new churches must move on the same day. Consequently the Scholfields moved to Brooks on the third Thursday of June. Scholfield quotes as his very favorite Bible verse, John 15: 9-17. In it, Jesus speaks of His Father who loves Jesus, and Jesus in turn loves all those who abide in Him. He states that if you keep the commandments, love one another as He loves you and be friends with others as he befriends you, you will be full of joy. Verse 16 states "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain ..." Scholfield found fruit already growing at Brooks United Methodist Church by way of programs and missions already in place. He will be working diligently to nurture that growth so that it will continue long after he has gone.
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