SOUTH MIAMI — George VanWyck has the members of First United
Methodist Church here lining up for his message each week, and he’s
not the pastor of the congregation.
VanWyck is the creator of “word-orials” or profiles of church
members. He began interviewing and writing one-page, front and back
profiles late last year and has managed to produce about 40 word-orials.
They are available each Sunday morning after worship service.
The word-orials began as the church was preparing for an updated
pictorial album featuring church members. VanWyck got the idea of
producing word-orials to share the stories behind the photographs. The
result has been as popular as the pictorial album, providing more
about the people in the pews than photographs could ever capture.
“I went to a few funerals and learned an awful lot about people I
had been working with in the church,” VanWyck said. “I decided I would
write word-orials each week.”
The pieces are popular with members, and there is a steady stream
of people after each Sunday service who line up to add the latest
person profiled to the three-ring binder provided by VanWyck for
collecting the word-orials.
VanWyck, who stepped down after a three-year stint as finance
chairman to produce the profiles, said he felt a calling to render the
much-needed service. He said it hasn’t been difficult or time
consuming to find time for his weekly passion, which takes about eight
hours each week.
“I’ve had people tell me this is the best thing to happen to this
church,” VanWyck said. “I think it’s helping us to get to know each
other better and bring people closer together.”
Marcia Fleming and her family joined the church about 18 years ago.
She is one of the many fans of the word-orials.
“Members interact mainly ‘in the present’ and, therefore, know
little about individuals’ prior experiences,” Fleming said. “Reading
the profiles increases my appreciation of each individual.”
The Rev. Tom Nelson, pastor at the church, said the closeness
people feel with one another after reading the word-orials is
immeasurable.
“It shows how some members are connected through past experiences,
and it has really brought the community vision home,” Nelson said. “I
can’t count how many times I have heard someone say, ‘I never knew
that.’ ”
Nelson never knew his faithful flock of about 130 members is so
talented.
“I get an idea of what people’s gifts and graces are and what they
love to do or have done in the past,” Nelson said.
Former finance chairman moves
from helping church members understand dollars to understanding each
other.