‘Beyond Thoughts and Prayers:’ First UMC Allen Responds to Community Needs

Members of First UMC Allen gather to assemble coloring kits for distribution with CLEAR DFW

Members of First United Methodist Church of Allen have formed a new group they call “Beyond Thoughts and Prayers,” saying they want to turn grief and concern about violence and immigration hardships into practical help after Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr. shared a pastoral letter on social media.

The Rev. Mary Beth Hardesty-Crouch, the church’s senior pastor, said she read Saenz’s letter at the start of a worship service the next day.

“I was struggling with how to address it in service,” Hardesty-Crouch said. “Then I saw the bishop’s post.” The service was livestreamed because of an ice storm, she said.

Hardesty-Crouch said the letter prompted conversations among congregants about how to respond “faithfully” to grief and anger, and it eventually led some members to organize a monthly gathering for support and service.

“When Pastor Mary Beth read Bishop Saenz’s letter that morning, I felt the Bishop talking to me personally,” said church member Laurie Hosack. “I loved his compassion for the ICE agents and the call for us to love all of our neighbors—not only the immigrants but also the perpetrators of harm. The bishop reminded me of what the gospel was and wasn’t and he offered ways to be a Jesus follower. I knew I was being called into service and I knew the next step was mine.”

Within a week, church member Laurie Hosack contacted Hardesty-Crouch to thank her for sharing the message and to ask how the church could create space for people to talk about their frustrations, fears and questions.

About the same time, another member, Ann Gurley, raised concerns about children affected by immigration proceedings in Minneapolis, along the U.S. border and in Dallas.

“My cousin lives in Minneapolis and sent me many videos and comments about how much worse it was there than what the media reported, in addition misinformation being used to stir up such angry feelings,” said Gurley. “I was so upset about what is happening to people who only want a safe place to live and raise their families.”

After talking with Andrew Fiser and others, Hosack and Gurley gathered about six people and proposed assembling coloring kits for children who accompany parents to immigration check-ins and asylum hearings. On March 9, about a dozen members met at Gurley’s home and assembled more than 650 kits to be delivered to Oak Lawn United Methodist Church for distribution through CLEAR DFW, which supports immigrant families navigating the legal system.

The group plans to meet monthly for mutual support and to decide on future projects. Members chose the name “Beyond Thoughts and Prayers,” saying they want to move from concern to action.

“Being in prayer is so very important and thinking about and considering our fellow mankind is part of life and being a Christian,” explained Hosack. “But, that is only the beginning—prayer and thoughts should lead to action.”

Group leaders said the effort grew out of Saenz’s letter and its call to move into a faithful response during a moment of communal pain.

“I’ve felt a call to do something for quite some time, but I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to be just another angry or ugly voice,” said Hosack. “I thought I had to figure out what to do before I did anything. It turns out I didn’t need to figure it all out! I just needed to reach out and be in communication with others. No, I can’t solve all the issues in our world, but I have a voice and I want to use it.”