Star Thrower Society

Star Thrower Society Calls

CLICK HERE to read the Star Thrower Society's Brochure and Application form. Become a star thrower.
CLICK HERE to read the Star Thrower Society's current call letter from the global ministries chairperson and contribute as God leads.

What Is the Star Thrower Society?

In “The Star Thrower,” poet/scientist Loren Eiseley tells of an experience which happened to him as he walked along a beach called Costabel. He often arose early and walked along the surf. Each day at sunrise he found townspeople combing the sand for starfish, which had washed ashore during the night, to kill them for commercial purposes. One morning Eiseley got up unusually early and discovered a solitary figure on the beach—a young man. This man, too, was gathering starfish, but each time he found one alive he would pick it up and throw it as far as he could out beyond the breaking surf, back into the ocean from which it came. Eiseley inquired of the young man what he thought he was doing explaining that thousands of starfish wash upon mile after mile of beach, and certainly the young man couldn’t make a difference. The young man respectfully looked at Eiseley, slowly bent to pick up another starfish, and gently cast it into the ocean replying, “It made a difference to that one!”

This story speaks of how ordinary people participate in God’s enveloping mercy, making a difference one need at a time. The Star Thrower Society hopes to give people a new or better chance at life.

Project funding requests may be initiated by anyone from the Kansas East Conference who has special knowledge of project goals and circumstances, such as members of Volunteers In Mission teams. The project must be connected with the Kansas East Conference in some way. Recipient suggestions are accepted by April 1 and October 1 of each year. To suggest a recipient, contact the chairperson of the conference Board of Global Ministries, who is listed on the conference leader page.

How to Participate and Contribute to Selected Projects

The Kansas East Conference Board of Global Ministries will promote projects in mailings to Star Thrower Society members. Decisions will be made in the fall for the winter mailing (January) and in the spring for the summer mailing (July).

Membership is:

Open to anyone, but especially local church members of The United Methodist Church of the Kansas East Conference.
Initiated by signing the membership application. The conference office will receive the application and add the person to the membership mailing list maintained by that office.
Privileged by giving opportunities two times each year (January and July) to provide monetary support. These mailings request a minimum $10 donation to a specific project named and described. Larger gift amounts are accepted, too.
Solicited by the conference Board of Global Ministries at Annual Conference, through mailings, and in other appropriate ways.

Given reports of each call status and results.

Additional Information
For answers to other questions, please contact a member of the conference Board of Global Ministries.