News from our Asia/Pacific Area Director
COVID-19 Changes Worship for All of US
One of the things we have had to accomplish as Christians and as church people in the last few months is how we can continue to be the church when we can’t meet together in our church buildings. It has forced us as churches to adapt by using methods such as Zoom, Facebook Live and YouTube for ways to offer Sunday worship, Bible studies and fellowship.
Have these methods created difficulties? Yes! Many of our churches do not have internet broadcasting capabilities or ways to receive offerings without passing plates. There are still many church attendees who do not have the technology available or ability to meet on this format.
Has God used this to open doors of opportunity? Yes! As we have found ways of putting our services and Bible studies online, many churches have reconnected with old friends and attendees from other states, and even other countries. God has reminded us that our churches are much larger than the groups that attend our buildings on Sunday mornings.
Will our church ministries look different in the future? Yes! If for no other reason than our culture, we will have changed because of this COVID-19 experience. Many church ministries are considering how they can continue to use or expand their use of technology in making disciples for the kingdom of God.
The things we have struggled with here in North America are the same things our ministry partners in the Asia/Pacific region and around the world have struggled with: how do we “be the church” when we can’t meet in our church buildings?
In India, where the use of technology is very limited among the people, the pastors and Bible women are carrying out their pastoral ministry almost exclusively by telephone as their stay-at-home orders are in effect until May 15 at the earliest.
In India, as well as in the Philippines, the Vacation Bible School outreaches have been canceled. Myanmar has canceled their plans for a children’s weekend where they hoped to bring together children from the four orphanages. Instead of these outreaches, they have focused on meeting the immediate needs of those in and around their congregations. At a time when income is down and food prices are up, some of our ministry partners in India have reached out with programs to provide food for those in need.
Many pastors in the Philippines are using livestream to share messages and Bible studies while they cannot meet together. They have found that this has opened the door to those who have been unable to attend church services to be involved once again. In Thailand, they are using texts and Facebook messenger to share the gospel and pray for one another.
In Myanmar, our partner orphanages face a different issue: each orphanage has been required to shelter together. They are now together 24 hours a day. This has created some scheduling challenges for them. Still, there have been some blessings. One of our partner orphanages has found a way to serve by making masks for themselves and their church people. The orphanages have used their time together to meet for longer periods of Bible study and prayer, and unlike most churches, they are able to continue to gather the children together for Sunday worship times.
In the U.S., we are in the midst of spring – a time of hope and new life. Our God is the giver of hope and new life. May God use this season with the COVID-19 pandemic to bring hope and new life to his people and his church.
Margaret Metzler Hudson (1927 – 2020)
Former missionary to Japan, Margaret (Metzler) Hudson, passed away on Sunday, February 2, 2020 at the age of 93. Her same creative energy and loving spirit that she shared with so many remained very much alive through several years of slowly declining health.
Margaret Hudson was known in and around Fresno, Calif. for her iconic clay sculptures of California wildlife and smiling children and her spirit of generosity that guided her life. Margaret used her gifts to give back to the world around her. Her generosity was born of her belief that, like the creatures she sculpted from rich brown clay, we are all of the same earth, merely given different shape.
Margaret’s first step toward exploring the wider world as a young woman was to attend college at the New England School of Theology from 1945 to 1949, where she was a classmate of former missionary Musa Powers. During this time, she was very active visiting Advent Christian churches in New England and holding VBS in some of them. After a period of studying Bible and some art, Margaret served as an AC missionary. In 1949, Ms. Margaret Metzler was appointed as a missionary to China, but she never reached that field because the Communists had just taken control of the Advent Christian ministry area. AAMS Secretary Mr. Faulkingham appointed six missionaries to Japan in October 1950. Ms. Metzler was one of these missionaries, where she served until 1954.
Her commitment to this work continued into her married life. Immediately after marrying Gilbert Hudson, the couple sailed to war-ravaged South Korea in 1955 under other auspices. There, they served as lay missionaries, living modestly in Korean neighborhoods, and raising their four sons.
Margaret first began to create art seriously after the family returned to the United States in 1967. Hudson began to work red clay from the soil behind their house. Her husband had a near-death experience when Valley Fever attacked his brain. Gil survived and slowly recovered, but he was unable to work for several years. It was during this period that Margaret realized she needed a way to support her family and decided to take the risk of depending on her artistic talent to do it.
In 1972, Margaret named her promising business “Earth Arts Studio.” Margaret became one of the first female arts entrepreneurs in Fresno. In 1977, a local teacher asked to bring her class to Margaret’s backyard studio. Word of the field trip spread and soon Margaret was hosting two student trips a day between April and October. Margaret loved teaching children even into her mid-70s, when she cut back to one group a day. Over 2,000 children a year came and played. Earth Arts Studio grew as Hudson’s work became known around the valley during the 1970’s. In 1980, she was able to move Earth Arts out of her backyard and into the dedicated storefront/studio on East Swift Avenue, Fresno.
In 1988, Margaret suffered painfully with the loss of her parents, David and Sadie, and son, all in the same year. After nearly 20 years of working in brown clay, she decided it was time to explore color and began taking painting classes at Fresno City College. After being diagnosed with breast cancer (1992), she began to paint roses.
Hudson put about 50 years into the arts. Her work can be seen at Valley Children’s Hospital and at Fresno Chaffee Zoo, including “Climables” — a series of artworks given that name because they welcome children to sit on them.
Margaret’s three sons and four grandchildren survive her.
