Conference Mission News
Bring UMCOR Relief Kits and Supplies to Annual Conference, June 4-6
UMCOR Relief kits provide care for the most vulnerable people during times of crisis.
For a new twist on our regular UMCOR relief collection during annual conference, we're asking each district to bring different components of the school kits and hygiene kits.
To see which components of the hygiene and school kits the churches of your district are to bring to 2018's annual conference, click here.
The collection truck will be in the Frazer Memorial UMC parking lot June 4-6, 2018.
Completed kits will also be gladly received. For more information, visit www.awfumc.org/reliefkits.
Missionaries to Visit Alabama-West Florida
Jean Claude Masuka Maleka and Francine Mufuk Illunga Mpanga, husband and wife, serve as Global Ministries missionaries to Cote D'Ivoire. They are visiting Alabama-West Florida May 13-16 and have some openings in their schedule if your church would like to have them visit while they are in the area.
You are also welcome to hear them speak at a church where they are already scheduled:
Sun., May 13 (morning): Jackson First UMC
Sun., May 13 (evening): Orange Beach UMC
Mon., May 14 (evening): St. John UMC, Mobile
Tues., May 15 (evening): Samson First UMC
Wed., May 16 (evening): Christ UMC, Mobile
Click here for a recent article about their ministry in Africa.
"I Am a Missionary"
The General Board of Global Ministries has a YouTube series called "I Am a Missionary". Hear short stories told by the missionaries about their own calling and ministry.
United Methodist missionaries work in more than 60 countries around the world, come from many places and backgrounds, and witness and serve in dramatically different locales and cultures. Explore their work, and consider how you can support their efforts today.
UMVIM Mission Team Leader Training
Well-trained team leaders, and thus their teams, are more effective in ministry in the world for Christ's sake. At the Team Leader Training sessions, participants will receive a wealth of information on preparing an UMVIM team for service, including such topics as effective project selection, spiritual development, cultural sensitivity for teams, logistics, and finance.
The next schedule training session will be Friday, May 25, 2018, at Community Life UMC in Gulf Breeze, FL.
Click here for more information.
Seeking New Conference UMVIM Coordinator
Rev. Alan Gantzhorn has been the Conference UMVIM (United Methodist Volunteers In Mission) Coordinator for several years. He will soon be appointed as Demopolis District Superintendent and will be stepping down from the coordinator role. We are seeking his replacement to take over those responsibilities.
The UMVIM Coordinator works with the Conference Mission Team to coordinate Volunteers in Mission ministries. The coordinator works to match volunteers with mission opportunities; to be responsive to volunteers' desire to serve; to train and mobilize volunteers for mission volunteer service; to disseminate information on what is happening in the area for short-term VIM programs, and to educate, equip and empower you to experience "Christian Love in Action.“
If you are interested in this volunteer role, please contact Susan Hunt at susan@awfumc.org or 334-356-8014.
Dumas Wesley Community Center
One Year In, Still Going Strong
Last year, Dumas Wesley featured Ryan's family as the first single father accepted into Sybil H. Smith Family Village, Dumas Wesley Community Center's Transitional Housing program. He lost his job due to a work injury and fell into depression after losing control of his finances and housing, and ultimately, his family ended up homeless. In February of 2017, Ryan and his daughter were accepted into the Village. "A chance of a lifetime, my second chance," said Ryan.
Read the full story here.
General Church News
UM Social Principles Revisions
General Conference charged the General Board of Church and Society with the task to revise the Social Principles. The board’s goal is to make the revised Social Principles:
- More succinct
- More theologically grounded, and
- More globally relevant.
Click here to watch a short video to learn about the process thus far.
Now that a draft is completed, United Methodists across the connection are invited to comment on the content by August 31. Read more here.
Resources
Doing Community Ministry in the Small Church
How can a small congregation engage the community in a significant way? With the right approach, a small church can make a big impact in the world through partnerships, creative use of resources, and a focus on relational ministry
Click here to read how.
Resources for Mission Leaders from Global Ministries
Useful links, videos, handbooks, and additional resources for mission leaders. Click here.
