The Servant's Journey

September 2018 Issue

From short-term to long-term

Each year, the Mission Volunteers office at Global Ministries hosts several 4-day training events around the U.S. for those who feel a calling to long-term volunteer service in ministries approved and developed by the UMC. Long-term is defined for these purposes as 2 months to 2 years in duration.

From August 15-18, a Mission Volunteer training was held in Haverford, PA within the bounds of the Eastern Pennsylvania Annual Conference. This group included individuals and couples ranging in age from their 20s to their 70s, with gifts in areas as diverse as farming, pastoral care, nursing, education, counseling, and ministry with disabled persons. They will be deployed within the U.S. and to destinations as far away as Romania and Liberia. As a coordinator, it was such a joy and a privilege to hear about the ways that God had moved in the hearts of these disciples to make them consider dedicating more time and talent to the work of the Kingdom. God is good!

In the course of the training participants learned about UMC Theology of Mission, UMC Connectionalism, Health and Safety, Good Boundaries in Ministry, Cross-Cultural Servanthood, the Advance and much more. Many of the participants listed the daily Bible Studies and role playing exercises (pictured above right) as highlights of the training. If you think you may be a candidate for long-term volunteer service, read more about the application and placement process here. If you think your ministry would benefit from hosting a long-term volunteer, you can also find a link to the "Partner Request Form" there. Training dates for 2019 will be announced in the next few weeks. Stay tuned!

In Christ,

Tom

New Video Series Helps Train UMVIM Teams

Our neighbors at UMVIM-SEJ have produced an excellent series of short videos that can be used to prepare teams for short-term mission service. They have even developed study guides to go along with each video. Find all of the videos and associated resources here.

Don't forget to plan for UMVIM Awareness Sunday!

Use resources like the one above or these on our UMVIM-NEJ website to plan an UMVIM Awareness Sunday in your congregation or annual conference. General Conference established UMVIM Awareness Sunday in 2016 as a way to increase participation in one of the most life-giving ministries in the UMC connection. Use it as a way to tell the story of what God is doing through the church and get people involved!

Native Culture Immersion Experience in Oklahoma

The Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference will be offering its 3rd immersion experience March 13-17, 2019. Rev. David Wilson, the OIMC Superintendent who hosts and organizes the event says “The experience of meeting people face-to-face and listening to Native peoples’ stories has a tremendous effect on the outlook of participants and helps them understand who we are as Native people and the importance of our presence in The United Methodist Church." The aim of the experience is to educate participants and raise awareness about Native Americans in the UMC. As part of the experience, participants visit churches, ministry sites, communities, and historical sites of significance like the Washita Battlefield. Check out http://www.umc-oimc.org/ for more details and registration information as it becomes available.

Upcoming ERT and VIM Trainings and Events

Greater New Jersey

October 13 - ERT Basic and Recertification - Moorestown UMC

Eastern Pennsylvania

October 20 - UMVIM Team Leader & ERT Basic (simultaneous) - Otterbein UMC, Lancaster, PA

New England

September 15 - ERT Basic - Plymouth, MA

New York

October 13 - Mission/Disaster Response Team Leader Training - Conference Office/Learning Center

Upper New York

September 22 - ERT Course - Vienna UMC

October 13 - UMVIM Team Leader Training - Massena First UMC

October 13 - UMVIM Team Leader Training - Worcester UMC

October 27 - UMVIM Team Leader Training - Schenectady First UMC

Western Pennsylvania

September 8 - UMVIM Team Leader Training - Conference Center

September 15 - ERT Basic Course - Crossroads UMC, Boyce Road Campus

West Virginia

September 29 - Mission Training - Augusta, WV

Volunteers Needed for Recovery

All of the areas affected by the 2017 hurricanes are still in dire need of volunteers for rebuilding. West Virginia is scheduling teams to help with recovery from the June 2016 flooding. Eastern Pennsylvania has asked for help from surrounding conferences to deal with July 2018 flooding. California is seeking teams to help with their effort to rebuild following the wildfires and mudslides. Please organize within your conferences to help meet the need! Follow the links below to register or get more information:

Puerto Rico - ERT and Long-Term Recovery (New "Intent to Serve" form now in use!)

St. Croix

Texas

Rio Texas - ERT and Long-Term Recovery

Check out new guidelines for UMCOR Kits

UMCOR is collecting Cleaning Kits, Hygiene Kits, and School Kits for distribution in the United States and its territories. Kits are no longer distributed overseas. Instead UMCOR works with partners to make sure that appropriate supplies are purchased locally to support the economy in the affected area. In addition to being socially responsible, this approach has meant that the guidelines for kits being used in the U.S. are now more user-friendly. According to the UMCOR website:

"The new kit content lists were designed to offer our donors greater ease and flexibility in purchasing their donations. During this period of transition, UMCOR will accept any kits that had already been assembled pursuant to the old content lists. Nothing will go to waste. Thank you for your patience as we continue to improve this partnership of care."

More details and the kit assembly instructions can be found at https://www.umcor.org/UMCOR/Relief-Supplies

Have a ministry in Haiti?

Does you or a United Methodist you know have a relationship with a ministry in Haiti? Some of the leaders in the Northeast Jurisdiction are putting together a list of folks who might be interested in a Rountable gathering to share information and ideas. Send me the details and contact information of the relevant person and I will keep you notified as the plans develop. Also check out the Haiti Partners Portal on our website.

Did You Know?

We often talk about the possibility of mission being oriented toward peace with justice, but how do you make that a reality? Recently, several of our UMC bishops traveled to McAllen and Brownsville, TX to witness, listen and learn from social service providers, Border Patrol agents, and detention center officials. Our USA Project List includes several of the organizations that the bishops visited and can be the basis for your own journey of discovery. Some teams have even spent weeks ministering to the newly arrived refugees, detainees, and asylum-seekers under the auspices of the Methodist Border Friendship Commission in partnership with Catholic Charities and other organization. Consider pairing this with service just across the border at Manos Juntas, a ministry of the Methodist Church of Mexico in the community of Rio Bravo.