Category Archive

We are pleased to share with you that on October 11th, Mariel Vela will join New World UMC as the Director of Worship Ministries and Gara Stark will assume a new role as the Minister of Congregational Care. As the Director of Worship Ministries, Mariel Vela, will be responsible for organizing and leading the Sunday Worship service. She will also be supporting the development and integration of the children and youth worship ministries as part of the church’s life. Mariel has years of experience developing worship ministries as well as training worship leaders (children, youth, and adults). She also works at the North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church as an Administrative Assistant and Graphic Designer. Here is a … Read More

When you hear the word “sacrifice,” what comes to mind? Is it a positive image or a dreadful one? I guess it depends on the context and who is making the sacrifice. For most people, when they think of sacrifice, it is a pain that comes to mind. For some, it is a reluctant pain, while for others, dutiful grief. One is forcefully sacrificing because they are not given a choice, and the other is martyrdom for the sake of others because they have to. Have any of you ever related sacrifice with joy or fulfillment? Jesus did. This has to do with his commandment when he said, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” The … Read More

In Spanish, we have this saying, “Se te cierra el mundo!” which means you shut down or closed your mind to possibilities both in your present and future. The phrase is used to describe those moments we all have experienced when we get so overwhelmed or discouraged by a seemingly unmanageable situation that we give up because we can’t or are unwilling to see a positive outcome of our current circumstances. Has this ever happened to you? Have you had a “Se te cierra el mundo!” kind of experience? It has to do with our limited ability to believe that there is more to life than just the current reality we are experiencing. People talk about this as seeing the … Read More

I believe children are the best of us. They are a precious gift from heaven—all of them, no exceptions. I also believe that those that take care of them are very special people, a treasure, for they nurture them in many significant and life-changing ways. What about God? How much does Jesus care about children? Of course, Jesus loves all people, but he is particularly caring of children—of those who are most vulnerable. There is a story in the Bible that gives us the answer to this question. The apostle Mark tells us this story of when children were being brought to Jesus by their parents and grandparents, and how people around Jesus and Jesus himself reacted to that. This … Read More

Vaxxed Against Fear Vaxxed Against Fear Bazan 1 Have you ever been afraid? How did it feel? Fear is paralyzing, right? It freezes the body and clouds the mind handicapping the ability to think clearly about what we face and need to do about it. Some fears are healthy, for example, the kind that will keep us from jumping off a building or trying to pet a lion at the zoo—or watch a Cowboys game. That is healthy fear because it keeps us away from harm. But that is not the kind we are talking about today. When I ask if you have ever been afraid, I am thinking about the life experiences that have robbed you of your humanity, … Read More