When it comes to the United Methodist Church, there isn't much that the Rev. Belton Joyner, 74, hasn't done. He's been part of its workings all his life - his father was a preacher - with pastoral appointments from Wilmington to Mebane to Bahama and to Durham's Trinity in downtown where he was pastor from 1978-1985.

Along the way, Joyner was District Superintendent of the Raleigh District and worked in the Conference office as Coordinator of Youth Ministry and Director of the Conference Council on Ministry and as assistant to two bishops. After his retirement eight years ago, he and his wife, Toni, moved to northern Durham County with a Bahama address.

Joyner will discuss his new book, "Ten Questions Every Pastor Fears," as part of First Presbyterian Church's Summer Reading Series on Sunday, Aug. 16, at 9:45 a.m. in Watts Hall at the church.

One of his editors at Abingdon Press said Joyner has a talent for writing so his content is "theologically accessible" to the average church member who might well stumble over theological language religious writers often sprinkle into their manuscripts.

On Sunday, he will share his thoughts on some of the 10 questions, including ones such as "Is my Jewish neighbor going to hell?" and "Why did God let my kitten die?" Joyner graduated from Duke University and attended seminary at Drew University where he earned a master's degree and doctorate in theology.

The public is invited to attend the book discussion. First Presbyterian is located at 305 E. Main St. in downtown.

White Rock Baptist holding its annual revival

White Rock Baptist, 3400 Fayetteville St., will hold its annual revival, beginning on Sunday, Aug. 16, at 9:30 a.m. and continuing Monday through Wednesday at 7 p.m.

The Rev. Charles E. Booth, pastor of Mount Olivet Baptist Church in Columbus, Ohio, will be the guest preacher.

The public is invited.

Group honors Families First program

Durham Congregations in Action will honor the Rev. Pebbles Lindsay-Lucas for her 11 years of service as the director of the Families First program at its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 18.

The Families First Program was sponsored by DCIA in partnership with the Durham County Department of Social Services. Its purpose was to help families move from welfare to work.

Lindsay-Lucas helped congregations throughout the Durham community form support teams to assist families.

A former president of DCIA, she is co-pastor of First Chronicles Church with her husband.

The DCIA meeting on Tuesday at 11:45 a.m. will be held at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 1200 Cornwallis Road. Lunch is available at the meeting.

Housing for New Hope to honor 3 graduates

Housing for New Hope will hold a graduation ceremony on Sunday, Aug. 16, to recognize three Durham residents who have completed a life-changing transitional housing program at Dove House and Phoenix House.

The ceremony at 3 p.m. will be held at West Point on the Eno Park in the shelter directly behind the main offices, next to the sand sculpture. A cookout will follow.

Anita Mendez, Paul Ross and Julius Holt Ferguson have each made the difficult transition from homelessness to independent and healthy lives through the completion of their year-long residencies at the Dove and Phoenix Houses.

Mendez's journey began in New Jersey and eventually led her to Durham where she lived with her daughter and grandchildren. After battling addictions and homelessness for several years, she is now living in her own apartment as a graduate of Dove House.

Ross knew that as soon as he was released from prison he must make changes in his life in order to have hope for the future. He quickly did his research and found the Phoenix House, where 12 months later he is a proud graduate of the program.

Ferguson had lost his home, his job and hit rock bottom before moving into Phoenix House. Now after working through the program, he is a graduate with a job, a checking account and hope for the future.

The public is invited to the graduation ceremony and to share the celebration of accomplishment with the three graduates.

Trinity UMC's angels

in the outfield

Members of Trinity United Methodist in downtown will be at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park on three Sunday afternoons, starting on Sunday, Aug. 16.

From a kiosk on the third base side, visitors will receive a special gift and information about opportunities to serve others and opportunities for spiritual growth at Trinity Church.

All who stop by the booth will be invited to a free end-of-summer outdoor concert on Sunday, Sept. 13, at 5 p.m. featuring New Destiny, contemporary Christian artists from Asheboro. Free pizza and beverages will be available and games are planned for the children. Also, those who attend will have a chance to sign up for an opportunity to explore the claims of the Christian faith.

Pastor Duke Lackey said that the inspiration for this ministry came from the New Testament story of Jesus's feeding of the hungry crowd that followed him during his ministry.

"We are seeking to follow this example here at Trinity," he said. "Jesus's compassion led him to meet the physical needs by feeding the crowd with five loaves of bread and two fish. Jesus began with their needs, touching them where they were."

St. Paul's celebrates sanctuary renovation

St. Paul's Lutheran at 1200 Cornwallis Road is holding a block party open house on Sunday, Aug. 23, from 2 to 5 p.m.

The congregation, which is completing a renovation of its building, has extended an invitation to the neighborhoods around the church and other persons in the city to tour the building and the sanctuary and to view the new playground spaces. The renovated sanctuary features a beautiful new stained-glass window, and the fellowship hall features a bas relief sculpture that was created by a North Carolina sculptor. Additional office and Christian education space has been added to the building. The event will be an ice cream social with inflatable play equipment for children.