Project Transformation Executive Director Eric Lindh presents a commemorative plaque to co-founder Sarah Wilke at the Aug. 1 tenth anniversary celebration.
(PT) marked its ten-year anniversary at an Aug.1 celebration at First UMC, Richardson.
The evening provided an opportunity to acknowledge the presence and transforming power of God working through this ministry over the past decade.
“We often forget to take time to celebrate, but it’s important that we do so,” says PT executive director Eric Lindh. “This banquet provides an incredible opportunity to relive the growth and accomplishments of the past decade, to acknowledge the impact this ministry has had, and to inspire us to work towards an even greater vision in the next ten years.”
From its beginning, PT, which was launched as part of the NTC urban strategy outreach, has utilized the strength of relationships and connections within the conference. This event celebrated those connections by bringing together more than 400 church volunteers, interns, alumni, and ministry partners from the past decade.
“Witnessing the many different constituents who gathered for this evening’s celebration highlighted one of the organization’s strengths, the connectional nature of Project Transformation,” Lindh noted.
The banquet began on a high note with a Call to Celebration performance by PT’s gospel choir, composed of several 2008 young adult summer interns.
In the keynote address, PT co-founder, Sarah Wilke, now CEO of UMR Communications, recounted the story of how PT began with just an idea sketched on a napkin over a meal with the late Dr. Leighton Farrell. Ten years later, it is clear that this vision has grown beyond anyone’s initial expectations. During that time, PT has served over 2,500 at-risk children and youth, recruited over 4,500 volunteers, engaged 498 young adult interns, connected 171 partnering churches, and replicated the model in three different annual conferences.
Banquet guests first heard Kim Brannon, a long-time PT volunteer and member of University Park UMC, Dallas, share how meaningful serving with PT has been for her and her family. Craig Moore, a former intern, currently a student at Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington D.C., also shared how his experience helped shape his faith and provide direction in life.
Chuy’s Mexican Restaurant continued its longtime support of the program by donating food for the celebration.
For more information, please either call Eric Lindh, 214-946-3600, or visit website: www.projecttransformation.org.
Methodist Church Websites Design and Management by ChurchBuzz
