Desert Southwest Conference Ministry
Since coming to this Conference in 1999, we have birthed over 25 Sidewalk Faith Communities to date. Currently there are 21 sites. Last Update: September 15, 2010
1 University The Sidewalk site located at University United Methodist Church is the oldest Sidewalk site in the Conference. Led by Daniel Gomez, the site has survived and thrived through mulitple leadership changes. Daniel is a Denman Award honoree for the Conference - his visions for Sidewalk are glorious. This site shares a truck with Heritage UMC in Las Vegas. Daniel can be reached at 702.733.7155.
2 Sierra Vista After several years of struggles around leadership for this site, we hope to launch in the Fall of 2010. Rev. Peter Vaught and the congregation continue to be faithful as they journey forward. Right now - getting the truck painted!
3 Creighton The Sidewalk methodology of worship is utilized in this indoor Sunday School setting. Long time director Gina Pollard has moved on to seminary. The site will be identifying a new leader for the 2010-2011 season of worship.
4 Eloy Eloy is a small community located off the I 10 between Phoenix and Tucson. Our Sidewalk faith community is led by Russ & Cathe Ketcham. We are delighted that after a season of renewal - the Ketchams will be back in action with the Eloy kiddos this November!
5 Epworth Epworth has the oldest Sidewalk faith community in the Phoenix area. Led by Rev. Saul Montiel and Epworth laity, the site has undergone many changes in this transitional neighborhood. For more information call the church at 623.846.0610.
6 Glendale Donna Olson and Rev. Kim Gladding are excited about the upcoming launch of Sidewalk at 1st UMC of Glendale. Rev. Gladding, and his wife, Dr. Sandy Gladding, are long time and extraordinary Sidewalk directors, having led the ministry at Bethel UMC in Phoenix for many years. Donna Olson was part of the first Sidewalk team in the valley, at Epworth UMC, in 1999. We ask that you join us in prayer as the church prepares to launch Fall 2010. Rev. Kim and Donna are an excellent resource to dialogue with in terms of what is involved in starting a Sidewalk site - they are in the process now! 623.939.1409.
7 Globe Our Sidewalk faith community in Globe is led by Sharri Moody and team. This site is now meeting weekly, after meeting monthly for a number of years. Sharri and her team have built a wonderful and impacting ministry. Sharri can be reached through the church at 928.425.2340.
8 Gold Canyon The Gold Canyon site meets in Apache Junction, Arizona. This site is led by Ellis Falk and his retiree team! Birthed by Rev. Rosemary Anderson (now at Primera Iglesia, see below), the site is a perfect example of how a site can not only survive, but thrive during a time of leadership change. And they may undergo another leadership change this fall, as Ellis transitions his role to others on the team in an effort to continue leadership development. This site meets on Saturdays at 11:00 am. Learn more by calling 480.982.3776.
9 Heritage Led by Beverly Banta, Heritage is a site that is now the result of the merger of two churches. The site meets Saturdays at 10:00 am on the grounds of a school - Faye Herron Elementary School. The site is an example of a bell curve of evolution, having been a large site that lost attendance after some years, and now has resurfaced stronger than ever. To learn more about the history and site evolution, contact Beverly through the church office.
10 Hope The Sidewalk faith community at Hope began years ago under the direction of Rev. Mary Jane Lyons. With a pastoral change, the site gradually closed. We are delighted that under the experienced leadership of Pastor Jimmy Nelson, the site has been revived. In 2007 Pastor Jimmy, in his new and first official Conference appointment, reintroduced the Sidewalk concept in the church's aftercare program. This year - Sidewalk is back out on the streets on church property, meeting Tuesdays at 3:30. 2008 brought a newly rennovated truck to Hope. Pastor Jimmy can be reached by calling 520.294.1824. He is the former director of our sites through University UMC in Las Vegas.
11 Los Arcos Jody Topping, chair of the Sidewalk Executive Board, and Bucky Bethancourt, lead this site along with Rev. Kristopeit in a volatile and transitional church setting in Scottsdale, Arizona. Almost barrio in nature, Jody and Bucky experience the full spectrum of issues with their site - from some families, who live in an ongoing state of need as they relate to living in poverty, to strong behavioral issues on the tarps. Their truck has been vandalized (as have others) but they continue to minister in holy boldness every Saturday at 10:00 am. To learn more call the church at 480.945.5151.
12 Parker Our site in Parker is an example of a site experiencing beloved leadership change - and thriving with new team leadership. Director, Maggie Leivas thanks God for the faithful contributions of disciples Bob Talley, Jeannie Ward, Gary Ward, Ryne Carlson, and Linda Johansen, who were willing to step forth and lead the games, music, lessons, crafts, and food. The site meets on Tuesdays from 5:00 to 6:15 pm. Their web site is noted below. To learn more about the Sidewalk faith community which meets on church grounds in Parker, you can contact Maggie through the church at 928.669.8193.
http://parkerumc.us/sss/index.html
13 Primera Iglesia This small church located in Phoenix has reached out to the neighborhood. The site is led by Rev. Rosemary Anderson, founding director of the Sidewalk site in Apache Junction, from Gold Canyon United Methodist Church. Primera is a small church with a dream. The Primera site meets on Sundays at 11:30 am - an opportune time to facilitate church member participation. If you would like to be part of the dream you can contact Rev. Anderson.
14 Prescott Rev. Nancy Cushman & a great team lead our site in Prescott which meets on the grounds of Prescott United Methodist Church. This is an after school site, meeting on Wednesdays at 3:00 pm. This is one of the few sites in the Conference that faces cold weather shut down for the winter months. Learn more by calling 928.778.1950.
15 Safford What an exciting site we have in Safford, Arizona with the fabulous Sherry Brady at the helm. The team has been using the curriculum for Sunday School as well. Rev. Bob was one of our directors at our site in Eloy, and brings with him a wealth of experience - and optimism. Pastor Bob and director Sherry can be reached at 928.428.4211.
16 Kingman / Golden Valley This is a new idea, and in need of prayer. Billie was just down to survey the Golden Valley area with church leadership, and is excited about the possibility of a site in Golden Valley. We are in the very beginning stages of exploring putting a site here - we ask for your prayers!
17 Grace One of the many exciting ministries of Sidewalk happens with our team from Grace UMC led by AZ Food Bank President Ginny Hildebrand and her faithful partner Rosa Whittaker. If you want to see an excellent puppet ministry - this is the site to visit on Saturdays! Innovation is the key word at this site! They're always on the cutting edge of ministry.
18 Desert Foothills UMC/UMOM New in the fall of 2010, Jamie Willey, former leader of Sidewalk at Epworth UMC, brings her church youth to United Methodist Outreach Ministries for a worship experience with homeless children. This is the 2nd team we have at UMOM, and we are delighted!
19 Tempe Sidewalk in Tempe, Arizona, home of Arizona State University, has experienced some impacting changes in the last year - the loss of the original director and the school where the site meets was leveled for reconstruction. This faith community is a wonderful example of how a site can triumph even over the most difficult of circumstances. Now led by Kristin Fisher, Jennifer Poe and the Rev. Dave Summers of First UMC of Tempe, Sidewalk is currently meeting approximately monthly. For date and time information, please call the church at 480.967.3376.
20 St. Matthew UMC/UMOM UMOM stands for United Methodist Outreach Ministries, a homeless shelter campus located in Phoenix, AZ and home to the first Sidewalk site on a homeless campus. Also unique to this site - it is led by Becky Kerr and the WONDERFUL youth of St. Matthew United Methodist Church in Mesa. The site has very young children, with some older children and adult presence. The site faith community meets approximately monthy on Sundays. To learn more you can contact Becky at the church by calling 480.838.7309.
21 Velda Rose If you want to experience how a ramp ministry and Sidewalk can be partnered, we strongly encourage you to visit our site at Velda Rose United Methodist Church in Mesa, Arizona. Led by Cindy VonBargen, this site was featured at the 2008 National Sidewalk Conference. With the potential of becoming the largest site in the Conference, we are excited about the Friday evening ministry Cindy has created. To learn more call Cindy at 480.832.2111.