CONNECTIVITY

End Hunger … Change the World!!!!

2009-02-24T13:39:00.000-08:00

Stop Hunger Now seeks to open warehouse in Mississippi.

Stop Hunger Now is an organization that provides direct food relief in crisis areas and in areas where chronic hunger and malnutrition exists. Its innovative model of developing international partnerships, as well as working with indigenous organizations, has created a responsive, timely method of distributing life-saving aid and services by the most economical means possible.

In ongoing efforts to end world hunger, Stop Hunger Now's goal is to build at least one warehouse on each of the major continents, keeping a minimum of five to 10 million servings of food at each location. Stop Hunger Now wants to duplicate its successful warehouse operation not just overseas, but also in several regions of the country. For this reason, the Mississippi Conference is in the process of enlisting donors, supporters and volunteers to help establish a warehouse right here in our state.

Ending hunger is possible within the lifetime of our children. The way it is (25,000 dying of hunger everyday) is not the way it needs to be. The United Nations estimates that through school lunch feeding programs similar to one’s used by Stop Hunger Now (SHN) hunger can be cut in half in the next 25 years.

SHN works to end hunger through:
Emergency Relief: Providing food and aid immediately following a crisis situation
School Feeding Programs: Supplying schools in crisis areas with high protein, vitamin enriched, dehydrated rice-soy meals
Capacity Building: Supporting partnership organizations with capacity building grants designed to improve local program infrastructure and support programs

By using minimal organizational staff, SHN is able to maximize the amount of aid delivered to people in need. SHN has provided over $44 million dollars worth of aid to more than 65 countries worldwide.

This volunteer driven and supported ministry has become a very popular missions event and last year. At Annual Conference, there were over 100,000 meals packaged by 400 volunteers in only 2 days, way ahead of the estimated completion time. The food packaged consists of dehydrated, fortified rice-soy meals containing over 20 vitamins and minerals especially formulated for the undernourished. The meals are vacuum-sealed in bags three millimeters thick. This popular and successful mission activity has also been staged at Galloway in Jackson, Meridian First and Shaeffers Chapel, Columbus and at the University of Southern Mississippi in years past.

If you, your church, mission group, civic group or social club is interested in helping get a Stop Hunger Now warehouse started here in Mississippi, please contact Mike Ward at MHJBWARD@aol.com or Jorge Navarrete at Jorge@mississippi-umc.org.

Jorge

Child Abuse Prevention Month

2009-02-24T13:38:00.000-08:00

4 children die every day because of it.
Every 10 seconds another child experiences it.
At least one person in your congregation is/ has been the victim of it.

What is it? Child Abuse. It occurs at every socio-economic level, across ethnic and cultural lines, within all religions and at all levels of education. The effects of it are life-long and invade every aspect of a victim’s life. What is the good news in all of this? We can and are doing something to address the problem.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. It is an excellent time to focus on child abuse education. Children need to be taught to know the difference between good and bad touches. Parents need to learn the scope of child abuse and what to look for in their own children. Teachers, pastors, grandparents, and/or anyone who cares for and loves children needs to understand the problem, their role in addressing it and what we can do as a community of faith to minimize the possibilities of children being abused.

There is nothing more heartbreaking than to sit with a child and their parent(s) after abuse has occurred. The pain and the wounds are truly too deep for words and the ripple effect of that pain in the family and community is intense. Here is an opportunity for you to be pro-active…to involve yourself now before a situation arises and causes such grief, mistrust, and woundedness in your community. Be a part of a solution!

· Host a child abuse education program (I along with any number of pediatricians, social workers, etc. would happily lead this event)
· Celebrate and make known to the congregation what your local church is doing to protect children from abuse while in the care of the church
· Offer a Safe Sanctuaries workshop to motivate people toward action
· Proclaim April as Child Abuse Prevention Month and build teaching opportunities around that theme
· Become educated about the work of Wesley Community House in Meridian. It is one of our United Methodist Community Centers that specializes in ministry with victims of child abuse.
· There are several different child-oriented coloring books and teaching tools specifically for children on this subject. Offer them as a gift to children in your community.
· Promote better parenting by offering a seminar just for them focusing on discipline, anger management, and child abuse.
· Consider a preaching series focused on Christ’s teachings regarding children and the faith community.

We cannot eradicate child abuse in a one month effort. We may not be able to effect statewide education and change. However, we CAN make a difference. We CAN save at least one child from the horror and pain abuse inflicts. We CAN and we must! I hope you will join with me in welcoming and honoring Christ as we truly welcome and honor the children that God has entrusted to us.

Michelle Foster

African-Americans in the News: Timothy E. Crisler

2009-02-24T13:25:00.000-08:00

Timothy E. Crisler
Lay Leader for
Mississippi Annual Conference

Timothy Crisler is the Senior Corporate Communications Specialist and lead spokesman for Entergy Nuclear fleet, Entergy Corporation, the fourth largest electricity producer in the United States. At Entergy Nuclear, Crisler is a member of the Generation Communications staff. As Senior Corporate Communications Specialist, he oversees strategic planning and communications to internal and external audiences. Other responsibilities with the company include media relations, public relations, community relations, internet communications, crisis planning and response, meeting planning and local government relations. Crisler joined Entergy in 2005.

He has served in many capacities throughout his professional career. Prior to joining Entergy, for over a decade, Crisler was employed with Mississippi’s largest television station, NBC affiliate WLBT TV 3 as Senior News Producer. During his tenure there he served as an associate producer for the weekend Newscast, associate producer for sports journal, Producer of Frank Melton’s Bottom Line, Producer of the Early Morning show, Producer of the Noon Newscast, Field Producer, Creator and Producer of the Mid-Day Mississippi Show, Public Affairs Assistant and Marketing Assistant. As Senior News Producer, he was involved in many other aspects of local programming and public relations for the station.

Crisler has also held the top communications position at Mississippi’s largest African American Funeral Home, Peoples Funeral Home, Inc. in Jackson. He also served for a couple of years as an adjunct professor at Belhaven College, teaching various communications courses to young and upcoming journalist.

His educational background includes a bachelor of arts degree (cum laude) in broadcast communications from Alcorn State University and a master of science degree in mass communications with emphasizes in public relations and marketing from Mississippi College.

In addition to his career, Crisler has been active in many professional, civic, and charitable causes. Currently he serves as Conference Lay Leader for the Mississippi Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. Crisler was elected as conference lay leader in June, 2008. He is the youngest person ever to serve in this position and only the second Africa-America elected to serve as conference lay leader for Mississippi Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. As conference lay leader, he is the head layman of 190,000 United Methodists in 1,147 congregations in 11 districts across the state of Mississippi.

He is a member of the White Oak United Methodist Church in Crystal Springs. In his church he serves as Lay Leader, Certified Lay Speaker, member of the Steward Board, Chairman of the Educational Committee, Sunday School Teacher, Bible School Teacher, Choir member, Prayer Coordinator, Trustee Chairman, Finance Chairperson, Couples Ministry Chairperson, Worship Chairperson and member of the Pastor Parish Relations Committee and was the former president of United Methodist Men in his church.

In the community, he serves on the Board of Directors for Alcorn State University Wesley Foundation, were he is an honorary life member. He is a Prince Hall Mason and member of Sanderson Lodge Number 22 of the Most Worshipful Stringer Grand Lodge Free and Accepted Masons, Holy Royal Arch Masons, United Supreme Council Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Free masonry Southern Jurisdiction, Grand United Order of Odd Fellows, member of the Mississippi Grand Council Royal & Select Masters, member of Rissah Temple No. 130 Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine of North and South America and its Jurisdictions, where he currently serves as The Illustrious Chief Rabban, member of T.C. Almore Grand Commandery of Mississippi - Knights Templar, Joseph B. Henderson Commanders of the Rite Jurisdiction of Mississippi and he is also a member of Jackson’s local chapter of Association of Black Journalist, Public Relations Association of Mississippi Central Chapter, Southern Public Relations Federation Member, American Association of blacks in Energy, NAACP and a Member of Alpha Kappa MU National Honor Society.

Crisler is married to the former Katrina Golliday and they reside in Raymond Mississippi.

Redesign of the Parish and Community Development Committee/Health and Wellness Website

2009-02-24T13:00:00.000-08:00

The Mississippi Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church Parish and Community Development Committee and Health and Wellness is pleased to announce the launching of our redesigned website. Our new site has been redesigned with a fresh new look and has been updated with current information to better meet the needs of members and others in the Internet community. We sought to make the site well-organized, visually helpful, and uncluttered, so that access to our content would be quick, easy, intuitive and enjoyable. The improved organization of the site is supported by navigation that stays with you throughout the site. The top navigation bar shows you the main sections of our site and will always be there. The side navigation shows you the contents of the particular section that you are in, and stays with you throughout that section. As a result, you will always know where you are in relation to the whole site. If you want to see what resources we have, just click on the Links button. You can find numerous resources there. It is now easier to see what events, meetings or conferences we have coming up by clicking on the Calendar button. Brochures for upcoming events are beneath the calendar and may be downloaded with the click of a mouse.

Obviously, any redesign involves an improved graphic look for the site, and ours is no different. We hope that you will find the look cleaner, more consistent, and more integrated. Our redesign project was not solely about updating the look of the site. We hope that all of the features, together with the improved look, combine to provide you an enjoyable and edifying experience on our site. Your comments and suggestions for strengthening our communications through this website are encouraged and welcome! If you experience any problems using the new website or if you have any suggestions, please contact Angela at angela@mississippi-umc.org. With your help, we can all benefit.

In order to get to the site, go to www.mississippi-umc.org and click on the “Ministries” dropdown menu, click on “Congregational Development.”

The Mississippi Conference Requests Nominations for the Tobias Gibson and Francis Asbury Awards

2009-02-24T12:52:00.001-08:00

The Tobias Gibson Award is given to individuals who have made major contribution preservation, collecting and promoting Methodist history.

The Francis Asbury Award is for Fostering Ministries in Higher Education. Bishop Francis Asbury encouraged United Methodists to build schools in locations central to our churches so that young adults and youth would have more opportunities to broaden their minds. The Francis Asbury Award recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions to higher education and campus ministry at the local, district or annual conference level of the church. The award recipient will be recognized during the 2009 Annual Conference proceedings.

The Francis Asbury Award is a non-monetary award that recognizes either clergy or lay people, employed or volunteer, who are members of The United Methodist Church and meet the following criteria:

- A United Methodist, lay or clergy
- Active in strengthening and promoting the church’s work in higher education and campus ministries (schools, colleges, campus ministries, scholarships) at the annual conference, district or local church level
- Offer outstanding leadership beyond the basic responsibilities, to help bring more awareness to the importance of the church’s ministries in higher education
- Involved in efforts that agree with the direction and goals of Mississippi Conference’s board of higher education and campus ministries as well as those of the Division of the General Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry

All Awards will be presented during Annual Conference at the Award Banquet, Thursday, June 11, 2009.

To nominate an individual contact Rev. Fitzgerald Lovett at P. O. Box 1147, Jackson, MS 39215 or http://us.mc392.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=fitzgerald@mississippi-umc.org.

Deadline for the Tobias Gibson and Francis Asbury Award nominations is April 13, 2009.

Climate Changes: Planetary, Religious, and Theological

2009-02-24T12:37:00.000-08:00

Dr. Michael S. Hogue

Thursday, March 5, 11:30-12:45, Leggett Center of Millsaps College
Lunch provided – Reserve your spot now: mailto:raydk@millsaps.edu or 601.974.1337
Sponsored by the Religious Studies Dept. and the John Templeton Foundation

In a context of religious pluralism, how might religious leaders and public theologians most creatively engage globally scaled moral challenges such as climate change? In response to this question, this talk begins with an analysis of the moral structure of planetary climate change, interpreted as an illustration of the need to move beyond environmental thinking. Following this, the question is raised of whether the globalizing present might be described as not merely a time after the secular, but also, paradoxically, after religion. Might this post-religious ethos, against common sense, actually present new openings for public theological engagement of global challenges like climate change? The talk closes with reflections on this possibility by outlining the emphases of a pragmatic public theology.

Dr. Michael Hogue is Assistant Professor of Theology at Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago, Illinois. He received his doctoral degree from the University of Chicago Divinity School in 2005. He was awarded a Templeton Prize for Theological Promise in 2008, based on his first book, The Tangled Bank: Towards an Ecotheological Ethics of Responsible Participation. He has published articles and reviews in various academic journals and currently serves as review editor of The American Journal of Theology and Philosophy, as secretary of the Highlands Institute of Theology and Philosophy, and on the planning committee of the AAR's Empiricism and Pragmatism in Religious Thought group. At the moment, his research and teaching focus especially on questions of public theology and theological pragmatism. Dr. Hogue is currently completing a second book on religious ethical responses to climate change and pluralism.

2009 Footsteps in Hope AIDS Walk/Run

2009-02-24T11:54:00.000-08:00

Hello Walkers!

The 2009 Footsteps In Hope AIDS Walk/Run is 40 short days away! That's 960 hours/57600 minutes/3456000 seconds left to:

- gather your friends, family, etc together to form a team
- collect donations in support of our wonderful 2009 beneficiaries
- start training to walk or run the 8K distance

Below is a quick review of the what, where, when, how, and why.

What
Footsteps In Hope
8K AIDS Walk/Run

Where
Old Trace Park
Ridgeland, MS

When
March 29, 2009
2pm - 6pm

How
Register at http://www.footstepsinhope.org/

Why
To support the Local and Global fight for improved healthcare. This year's benefiting organizations include: Building Bridges, Grace House, Hope Project, Mississippi Episcopal AIDS Committee, UMC Adult Special Care, UMC Pediatric AIDS Care.

If you have any other questions at all, feel free to email footstepsinhope@gmail.com.

We are also looking for additional volunteers to help us cover day-of registration and our water stop. If you are interested, please let us know.

Thank you so much!

I look forward to Walking with you,

~Liz Coleclough
Footsteps In Hope Coordinator
http://www.footstepsinhope.org/

2009 Annual Conference Speakers

2009-02-16T10:51:00.000-08:00

Steve Sjogren

Steve & Janie Sjogren have been planting churches throughout the US and Europe for the past 25 years. They have planted / helped plant successful churches in Los Angeles, Oslo, Norway, Baltimore, Cincinnati and now Tampa.

Their primary focus, upon reflection, has become clearly the establishing of a large church or two then the rolling out of a cluster of churches in the general area.

Rudy Rasmus

Rudy Rasmus is an emergent messenger, an urban prophet, and global humanitarian with a passion for outreach to our world’s poorest citizens. Pastor Rudy co-pastors the St. John’s United Methodist Church located in Downtown Houston with his wife Juanita.

Rudy and Juanita have been married for 23 years and are the proud parents of two daughters, Morgan and Ryan who are both in college.

Chris Lahr
Small Things With Great Love

No one does anything great! I am convinced that we do not need to do anything great, but simply do small things with great love. A radical following of Jesus is about the day-to-day grind of life, it is doing small things with great love. Then at some point in your life, you take a step back and you become amazed at all of the “greatness” that has occurred.

Chris is the Academic Director/ Recruiter for Mission Year headquartered in Atlanta.

Key Hotel List

2009-02-16T09:10:00.000-08:00

Looking for a place to stay while you attend the MS Annual Conference? The Conference office has partnered with key hotels in the area to offer special discounts from June 11 – 14, 2009.

DOWNTOWN

Hampton Inn & Suites-Coliseum
320 Greymont Ave
Jackson, MS 39202
601-352-1700
Reservation Code: UMC
Rate: $89.00 + Tax
Free Hot Breakfast Included

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites
310 Greymont Ave.
Jackson, MS 39202
601-948-4466
Resveration Code: UMC
Rate: $89.00 + Tax
Free Hot Breakfast Included

NORTH JACKSON

Hampton Inn
465 Briarwood Dr
Jackson, MS 39206
601-956-3611
Reservation Code: MET
Rate: $89.00 + Tax
Free Hot Breakfast Included

Cabot Lodge Jackson North Hotel
120 Dyess Rd
Ridgeland,MS39157
601-957-0757
Reservation Code: UM Conference
Rate: $89.00 + Tax
Free Hot Breakfast Include

Hilton Jackson
1001 E County Line Rd
Jackson, MS 39211
601-957-2800
Reservation Code: UMC
Rate: $119.00 + Tax

Marriott Residence Inn
855 Centre St.
Ridgeland, MS 39157
601-948-0671
Reservation Code: MS AC
Rate: $109.00 - $139.00 + Tax
Free Hot Breakfast Included

CLINTON

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites
495 Springridge Rd
Clinton,MS39056
601-708-0400
Reservation Code: MSAC
Rate: $89.00 + Tax
Free Hot Breakfast Included

Hampton Inn
493 Springridge Rd
Clinton,MS39056
601-925-9393
Reservation Code:
Rate: $95.00 + Tax
Free Hot Breakfast

Comfort Inn & Suites
5010 Hampstead Blvd
Clinton, MS 39056
601-924-2500
Reservation Code: MAC
Rate: $89.00 + Tax
Continental Breakfast Included

PEARL

Hilton Garden Inn LLC
438 Riverwind Dr
Pearl, MS 39208
601-933-1163
Reservation Code: MS UMC
Rate: $85.00 + Tax
Breakfast $5.00 additional

Holiday Inn Select
110 Bass Pro Dr.
Pearl MS 39208
601-939-5238
Reservation Code: MAC
Rate: $101.00 + Tax

MADISON / RIDGELAND

Hilton Garden Inn Madison
320 New Mannsdale Rd
Madison, MS 39110
601-420-0442
Reservation Code: MAC
Rate: $99.00 + Tax
Breakfast Included

Hyatt Place Hotel
1016 Highland Colony Parkway
Madison MS 39110
601-898-8815
Reservation Code: MAC
Rate: 109.00 + Tax

Red Roof Inn
810 Adcock Dr.
Ridgeland MS 39157
601-956-7707
Reservation Code: MS UMC
Rate: $44.99 + Tax

Days Inn
150 Centre St
Ridgeland MS 39157
601-956-7466
Reservation Code: MS UMC
Rate: $74.99 + Tax
Continental Breakfast Included

OUTER AREA

Ramada Limited Airport Hotel
341 Airport Rd S
Pearl, MS 39208
Local: 601-933-1122
64.99 + Tax
Free Hot Breakfast

Country Inn & Suites By Carlson
1004 Treetop Blvd
Flowood,MS39232
Local: 601-939-2676
$79.00+

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites
115 Sunny Dr
Canton,MS39046-5129
Local: 601-859-8355
$55.00 + Tax

Comfort Inn Airport
235 S Pearson Rd
Pearl,MS 39208
Local: 601-932-6009

Candlewood Suites
241 S Pearson Rd
Pearl,MS39208
Local: 601-709-2670
$59.00 per night + Tax

Meal Reservations for Annual Conference

2009-02-16T08:27:00.000-08:00

Individuals, groups, and others who plan to host a luncheon or dinner during the 2009 Annual Conference, June 12-14, 2009, please contact the meal reservation team leader, Rev. Elbrist Mason. He can be reached via phone at 601-813-5597 or by email at Masontime321@yahoo.com.

Please have the following information available.

Group or Organization Name:
Expected number of guests:
Date Preference:
Friday, June 12
Saturday, June 13
Sunday, June 14
Meal Preference:
Lunch
Dinner
POC Name:
POC E-mail:
POC Phone/Alt. Phone:

Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century New Ministry Spotlight

2009-02-13T12:11:00.000-08:00

The Mississippi Conference has two new ministries that are helping churches move to the next level of service. These new ministries are Online 2009 and Communities of Shalom. Both ministries have been received very well in the Mississippi Conference.

Online 2009 is a program designed to give Mississippi churches a way to reach out to their local and world communities for Christ by establishing a presence on the worldwide web and assisting pastors who have been reticent of the technological advances around them to establish e-mail accounts. The first phase of Online 2009, known as the pilot, recently sent out solicitations for churches to complete an application requesting assistance in establishing a website. The web development service is free for the selected churches. The only cost for the selected congregations is the webhosting fee, i.e., the cost to have their website on the worldwide web. Three churches were selected as pilot churches. They are Asbury UMC, Holly Springs, Haven UMC, Winona, and Mt Pleasant UMC, Gulfport. After the launch of the pilot websites at annual conference, other churches will be selected on a rolling basis. The goal of the program is for every African-American church in the Mississippi Conference to have a website.

Communities of Shalom is a ministry birthed at the General Conference of 1992. The purpose of this ministry is not only to address social justice issues on the surface, but to examine the root causes of economic and social disparity and solve problems via systemic changes. Several churches just completed the initial training for Communities of Shalom. They are: I Challenge You (ICU), a community program based at Revels UMC, Greenville; Unique Learning Center for Children (ULCC) based at Wesley UMC in Greenwood; Holmes County Town and Country Ministries based in Goodman; Cluster of Love, an ecumenical ministry based at New Zion UMC in Crystal Springs; and, Cornerstone Ministry, a cooperative ministry in the Forest Hill community in South Jackson which includes Middlebrook UMC and Forest Hill UMC. After the initial training, the selected sites, as a group, will go through five training sessions facilitated by the National Communities of Shalom representative, Will Dent. The training sessions will rotate sites to allow the national representative as well as Shalom participants to be exposed to as many sites as possible. After completing the five required training sessions, each site will be certified as a Communities of Shalom site and receive a start up grant from the National Communities of Shalom organization.

For additional information on these ministries, you may contact Rev. Fitzgerald Lovett, the Mississippi Conference Representative for SBC-21 and Communities of Shalom, at fitzgerald@mississippi-umc.org, or Sandra Randall, Online 2009 Program Coordinator, at sandra@sbc21ms.com.

Treasures for Ministry in the Local Church

2009-02-12T14:34:00.000-08:00

Whenever I have opportunity to attend a conference I always try to make time to check out the bookstore and display tables. I am curious to see what is being highlighted as the “new and best” thing. I continue to be surprised by the number of “treasures” that I stumble upon when I allow myself the time to browse and explore.

While in Jacksonville, FL at a National Connectional Ministries Quadrennial Training Event I discovered several resources I would consider “treasures” that I want to share with you.

Three Simple Rules for Following Jesus by Linda Robinson Whited– this is a 6-week study for children based on the Three Simple Rules book that many of us have recently studied.

Three Simple Rules for Christian Living by Jeanne Torrence Finley– this is a 6-week personal reflection workbook that examines the ways we incorporate the Three Simple Rules into our daily living.

Safe Sanctuaries: The New Edition by Joy Thornburg Melton– this updated workbook looks at ways we can protect children, youth and vulnerable adults from abuse in our places of ministry. It also offers suggestions for getting started, how to respond when an allegation occurs and why it is imperative that we engage in the work of Safe Sanctuaries.

The Wesley Study Bible – Wow! What a great resource. Bishop Ward recently described it in this way: “The Wesley Study Bible marks the first time that the writings of John Wesley have been compiled with the New Revised Standard Version. More than 50 leading scholars contributed to the study notes, most of which reference the writings of John Wesley. An equal number of pastors penned motivational thoughts on who to live out the Scriptures. More than 60 Wesleyan theologians added "key-concept" writings that help us live deeper into the overarching themes and the specific topics throughout the Bible.”

The Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations by Bishop Robert Schnase and the five (5) individual workbooks that invite congregations to more deeply look at each of the practices through prayer, self-reflection, devotions and scripture readings. These books look at the central ministries important to congregational life and vitality. The areas of focus include radical hospitality, passionate worship, intentional faith development, risk-taking mission and service, and extravagant generosity.

The Crisis of Younger Clergy by Lovett Weems and Ann Michel – I knew less and less younger clergy were choosing to serve in the local church but I never understood why. These authors offer insight into the vocational choices of our young clergy, the crisis it is presenting in our local congregations and some of the ways that we might reverse the trend. This book is very thought-provoking and insightful into the state of the church today.

I was reminded again of the richness of devotional materials published by UpperRoom Ministries. Their bi-monthly periodicals, Pockets for children, DevoZine for youth, Weavings and Alive Now! for adults, are all great resources for personal reflection and spiritual growth.

Now, as good as these resources sound in this little article you and I both know they won’t do us any good if we don’t use them as they are intended. Here’s a challenge for you: use one of these resources during the season of Lent for your individual or family devotional time. At the end of the study evaluate its import in your own life. Consider these questions in your evaluation: Where did it leave you challenged? Where did you sense the gracious presence of God? What difference did the use of this resource make in your own life?

My hunch is that if we give our best effort and are open to the Spirit of God we might experience God in a new and fresh way. We have the potential to discover a “treasure” that is waiting to be unearthed. Are we willing to do a little work to find that which awaits discovery?

I’ve Been Thinking about... Generosity

2009-02-06T14:01:00.000-08:00

Last year the people of the Mississippi Annual Conference gave more money to the apportionment than ever before!!! Part of this generosity, $1.1 million, was shared with the General Church for World Service, in addition to this, Mississippi churches sent in an additional $228,692 in “second mile giving” in support of missionaries and missionary projects throughout the world add to that the fact that well over 30 Mississippi church led volunteer mission trips went to Africa, Latin America, Russia and other overseas locations.

Part of this generosity was also shared with our Mississippi Methodist community centers, Children’s Home, Choctaw Mission, United Methodist Hour, Baddour Center and so many other missions and programs throughout the state. Add to this the contributions made directly by the specially designated Special Sunday Offerings and the many generous individuals and church donations in response to local and national emergencies and disasters, and the number of volunteers going to serve in these areas.

Mississippi has been recognized nationally as being the most generous state and this morning I heard on the radio that it has been recognized also as the most religious. Well, we already knew or suspected as much, but what does it say about us as people? It demonstrates that we have Christian hearts that care about our neighbors across the world and our neighbors close to home!

While we should feel good about being faithful to our Christian mandate to do good and our Methodist tradition of personal piety and social action we need to acknowledge that in the midst of a lost and hurting world we cannot afford to become complacent, but must continue on our journey to draw closer to God and our neighbor. As we traverse through the current economic recession in this the poorest state we cannot forget that many more of our neighbors are in need now and that the organizations that help them need more than ever our prayer and financial support.

On a somewhat related note and to correct an omission from last week I would like to salute Ernestine Varnado, United Methodist Deaconess serving as a missionary at the St. Andrew’ Mission in McComb as a parish nurse. Her Missionary Support Code is 982905.

Thank you friends for giving, praying and serving!!!

Jorge.

Experience the Trans4Mation

2009-02-02T10:58:00.000-08:00

The Advance

2009-02-02T10:51:00.000-08:00

I was proud to find out that our Bishop Hope Morgan Ward has been named Chair of The Advance Committee of the United Methodist Church for the next four years. The Advance is the accountable, designated-giving arm of The United Methodist Church that ensures 100 percent of each gift received reaches its intended mission or ministry. By giving to The Advance you or your church can decide which program or ministry to support through the well over 1,000 projects of The Advance which cover programs from evangelization and church growth to community centers support and humanitarian UMCOR relief programs throughout the U.S. and the world. This is truly a “glocal” (global and local) mission and outreach program.

Note that there are two Advance projects in Mississippi:

Gulfside United Methodist Assembly … Advance # 760235
Mississippi Choctaw United Methodist Mission … Advance # 761544
Steve Claris church and community worker serving at the Choctaw Mission ... Advance # 3020817

For additional information about the many programs and missionaries supported by The Advance.

Tax-deductible gifts may be given to any of these “Advance” projects (Advance number must be included on check) through any of the following:

The local Church
The Annual Conference
Online Giving
Toll-free hotline to Global Ministries: 1-888-252-6174
By mail to: Advance GCFA, P.O. Box 9068, GPO, New York, NY 10087-9068

David Newton who is our conference UMVIM coordinator reports that there are over 30 mission teams from Mississippi going on temporary mission trips to Africa, Russia, Latin America and other countries this year.

Also wanted to make you aware that Lou Ann Staggs is the new Conference Global Missions Secretary for the 2009-12 period. For more info about The Advance or other programs of the General Board of Global Missions, she is also a member of the Missions Table at our conference and secretary of the New Albany District.

Finally, Erie Stuckett of the Revells UMC in Greenville informed me that there are several $2,500 grants (funded by The Advance) available for United Methodist related ministries and organizations in the counties designated as part of the Appalachian Region Initiative (mostly northeast and east-central counties). If you are interested in viewing the application.

Let me know if any questions or comments regarding missions and outreach or any of the above mentioned items.

Jorge.

MP3 Stories: "The Barn"

2009-02-02T09:43:00.000-08:00

It was the beginning of the fall semester 2005. A good many Wesley students were returning from the previous year and after six years of serving as Wesley Director a new co-directorship had been formed with LaSonya Turner, my first Student Intern in 1999.

This new venture was comforting, but my spirit remained restless. I was a planner, an organizer, an extremely detail-oriented person. Nothing seemed concrete, programs and projects were still fluid. The Back to School Bulldog BBQ was on tap, flyers were out for Tuesday night’s Bible Study and Sunday evening Vespers. Beyond that, nothing was definite or so it seemed. Trying to justify my restlessness I assured myself we deserved some ordinary time. The campus was still healing from the deaths of three students killed in February 2005. The driver had survived. He was one of our baseball players, Fred Lewis, who went on to become an outfielder with the San Francisco Giants.

My husband and I were building a new cottage in Success during 2005. We had sold the big house our four children had grown up in and were living in a camper trailer. The building project had consumed my summer, and I knew part of the problem with not being prepared for the fall semester was due to neglect on my part. We were hanging the new kitchen cabinets when our daughter phoned to let us know a predicted Category 5 storm was less than 24 hours away!

A day later, Katrina struck. The strong winds were still gusting when we set out, equipped with two chain saws, to find our families on the coast. The 25 minute ride took nearly 3 hours. We found them! Some were clinging to all that remained of their possessions. Their houses were gone and somehow, they survived.

Fear struck again! What about my students? Our cell phones had some battery life remaining so calls went out, one after another. Shawn Foles and his mother were already helping others. Andrea Noll’s home was destroyed but she and her family were out searching the neighborhood for survivors. Soon all were contacted. All were safe, many homeless, but nonetheless safe.

The following months were days with no end. We began and ended our days trying to salvage what was salvageable, shelter those needing shelter, cook on grills and transport food to family and friends staying in tented parts of their homes that remained. The County let us move into our house that was under construction so the camper could go to a family without one. Our unfinished home became shelter to elderly family members and a hub for overnight visitors checking on family and friends.

A month after Katrina hit land, MGCCC (Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College) opened the Perkinston Campus letting students back into the dorm rooms. For students, the possessions they had left behind were now priceless. The old house we affectionately called The Wesley House had a large oak lying across the back, but was still standing. Wesley Foundations from other states soon came to spend their fall breaks with us mucking out houses. As each new group arrived they brought fresh new energy. Perk Wesley students joined in the recovery efforts for months but were growing weary and hollow eyed. They wanted normalcy. They, like many, were growing weary of the storm’s destruction. Little did we know, for us, the real storm lie just ahead. A new year and a new semester arrived.

LaSonya and the students seemed to be settling into a good routine of ministry. It was January 12. My bags were nearly packed and ready for vacationing in the mountains when the call came from the college. Six students had been killed in an early morning accident. Two others were in critical care at Forest General Hospital. LaSonya, crushed with the news, asked me to come and be with her as she ministered to the campus. One of the joys of serving the Perk Campus had always been the closeness of its faculty, administration, and student body. During tragedies such as this, however, it was the closeness that compounded the pain and sorrow. Everyone hurt. Everyone mourned.

Andrea Noll, one of my favorite students had been at The Club with those in the accident. She sobbed as I held her. “We never meant to do anything wrong. We just wanted to be together. We just wanted to sing. We just wanted to dance.” Her words would haunt me for days and months ahead. After the funerals and memorials, it was time for a sabbatical.

This time there was no promise of a return date. In the back of my mind, there was no returning. There was no trip to the mountains. My spirit was too far down in the valley, with no desire to ease the pain. Thoughts of the students tragically killed, seldom left my mind. One was our baseball pitcher, two were sisters, (the only two daughters of a mother whose spouse had died the year before), three were Perkettes, four were cousins, five all went to the same Catholic Church, and six graduated from the same high school. All were good kids. All were God’s children.

Mourning cast a dark shadow over me. I became even more rebellious than normal. The deep seeded warnings not to read books of the Apocrypha no longer held their grip. 2 Esdras (the complete version with all 16 chapters) was read repeatedly. The Prophet Ezra was discovered. His vision in Chapter 10 of a woman that refused to be comforted when her only child died gripped my soul. Just as Ezra cried out to God, so too, I cried in my heart. God sent Ezra to a field to fast eating only plants that flowered. Perhaps my cry was also heard! My husband brought home a garden tiller as my Valentine gift! The garden became all consuming and eased my sorrow.

The call that came asking me to return to Perk Campus Wesley Foundation was a heavy burden. After a sleepless and prayerful night, the cross was, again, mine to carry. My first visit with Dr. Mary Graham, Vice President of the Perkinston Campus, brought news the Perk Barn was going to be torn down. Another Katrina casualty! As the Perk Barn was demolished the vision for a new Barn was birthed. A new barn to house the Perk Wesley! A shelter - a safe place - a sanctuary in a sense. Instead of Perk students going to The Club they would go to The Barn. There would be karaoke, and dancing. There would be lemonade and sweet tea and nachos and cheese. Hotdogs, chili and homemade brownies! We would eat, drink and be merry! We could use trees damaged by Katrina, and volunteer labor! We would get sponsors from local businesses and pledges from donors! My mind was racing with possibilities!

What would the Board of Directors think? What would Higher Education and Campus Ministries think? What would the District Superintendent and, for that matter, the Bishop think? Perk Wesley had $30,000.00 in the building fund. That was only a tenth of what was needed to re-build. Later it occurred to me a tenth was a tithe. It would take sacrificial giving of time, and talent, and money. It was going to take complete trust by two families (that of Larry Haley and Dale Vuyovich) that God was going to provide for them as they took time off from their jobs to build The Barn. It was going to take nothing shy of a miracle to build The Barn! The miracles came. Jim and Jody Nightengale donated the land. Local businesses became sponsors. Donations for matching funds came forth and much was given by those closest to the building project. Perk’s Soccer Coach and Drafting Instructor, drafted our working set of plans. Over 60 large pines, damaged by Katrina, were donated by Preston and Deb Webb of McHenry and that was only the beginning of tree donations. Tommy and Lisa Bennett, saw-millers from North Carolina, milled the trees into rough cut lumber for no cost, while board members worked to spray it for termites and stack it for drying. Perk Wesley students, both current and former, came to work on The Barn’s construction. College Students from J.D. Campus, Massachusetts, Simpson College, Iowa, MSU, and USM spent their fall and spring breaks building walls, decking the roof, and laying water lines. When it was time to stand the second floor, Woodville United Methodist Church arrived in full force. In two days the loft stood totally framed! We needed a lift to get the plywood to the second story roof.

The next day one was on the job site. We needed a lift operator. One appeared. When it was time for the shingles we received the best Christmas present ever!

From local painters, to drywall hangers, to finishers, and the guys that installed our metal soffit, gifts came forth. Our heating and air, insulation, electrical, and appliances, all came with blessings too numerous to count. Woodville returned a second time and helped install our siding and light fixtures. The skills they brought helped tremendously, but it was their encouragement and financial gifts they left that kept us moving forward.

Magnolia Restaurant served as the hub for Larry Haley, Chair of our Trustees. It was there he shared The Barn project with everyone that came in to eat breakfast. It was Larry, the “git-er-done guy” as he became known, that found The Barn’s windows. Amazingly these windows had been stored on a trailer rig in a neighbor’s horse pasture. Beautiful, brand new, Pella Windows! Huge windows and over a hundred of them. The sizes and shapes were an exact match to the plans that had been drawn!

The Barn’s miracles kept me in awe and as it neared completion, my heart spoke to God; “Will they come?” Since the work had begun in August 2006 God had been faithful. The skills, the materials, and the money had always been right on time. The doors would open August 2007. There would be something new for Perk Students that fall semester: Club Night @ The Barn. Students would have a choice. “The Unequivocal Choice.” Dr. Graham said, during its Grand Opening where hundreds of students gathered to sing and dance on the first Club Night.

The Barn –It’s a beautiful place for beautiful people. It’s home to the Perk Campus Wesley: A United Methodist college ministry that strives to make a positive difference in peoples lives everyday. The ministry has grown from a few dozen students to a few hundred students. Every week night The Barn is the place to be if you’re a Perk student. Everything from a Taize’ style prayer, to the traditional Wesley dinner and Bible Study happens here. From the Gospel Choir, to Faith Renown, our cutting-edge praise band. From being in step with the Step Team, to Karaoke night and Bulldog Dominos on Club Night. The Barn is the gathering place for students that just want to sing! That just want to dance! The Barn is used on weekends for wedding gatherings, golden anniversaries, graduation parties and college gatherings for retirements and such. The usage funds help the ministry keep pace. It is difficult to budget for a ministry that booms from having 25 students attend the Statewide Convention one year, to over 60 the next. The Perk Campus Wesley has over 60 members going to Statewide Wesley 2009! Its visioning board and extreme student leadership continues to be its strength.

The Barn looks and sounds like a night club on Thursday nights. One of the plumbers that donated his time and skills during our construction phase, John Tisdale, is now our Karaoke D. J. He’s a great guy and the students love him. Each week the Karaoke equipment goes up but the Altar never comes down.

Not long after the grand opening several students came into the kitchen and one of them said, “Ms Susan, we notice all the stuff hanging around.” “What stuff? I asked. “You know, the stuff!” and one pointed to a cross on the wall. “What about it?” I asked. “We’re atheists,” he replied, “Do you want us to leave?”

“No,” I said, “I want you to stay.” “Cool,” he said, “cause it’s pretty cool here.” He came back every week and each time he came into the kitchen for a hug. Finally one night he burst open the door and shouted, “I LOVE THIS PLACE!” It was the last Club Night before Christmas break. When it came his time to sing he dedicated the song to me: “God Bless The Broken Roads That Bring Me Home To You.” He came into the kitchen for another hug. “Why are you crying,” he asked, “I did the best I could!” With tears streaming down my face I asked him if he understood the song. He looked at me, smiled that beautiful smile, and said, “I wasn’t always an atheist, Ms. Susan. My church didn’t like me. Everyone accepted me here, just as I am. Merry Christmas, Ms. Susan and thanks for The Barn. It’s two thumbs up!”

It’s one of many, many, stories that keep my heart full of joy and my soul strangely warmed. When I do retire, I going to sit at The Barn and tell the stories over, and over again!

Thousands of Doors

2009-01-30T08:05:00.000-08:00

This year Annual Conference will focus on the thousands of doors that Christ knocks on every day. There are also thousands of people knocking. They have questions, needs, and problems they don’t know how to handle. Some of them are sent by God to offer their gifts and graces.

Doors are such a powerful symbol and knocking is such an act of faith.

There are people who need us to knock on their doors.

There are congregations that need to knock down their doors and go outside.

There are doorways to opportunity everywhere!

What could we do with our doors?

Annual Conference will be June 12-14 in 2009 and we are getting our doors ready.

Annual conference is a gathering of leaders who have the incredible privilege of helping chart the course of the UMC in Mississippi. It is an unbelievable opportunity and challenge. At the heart of all we do is our mission.

We are to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world!

This year we will convene on the weekend to help more people be able to participate. We will meet in the new Jackson Convention Complex to help us serve more people. We will add a study day (Transformation, more later) to help us grow in our passion for our mission and learn from gifted and successful leaders.

Our goal is to ignite the hearts of the people called United Methodists in Mississippi. This will be a celebration of the ministry and mission of our Annual Conference and a challenge for us to open new and exciting doors of possibility.

This event will require much planning and preparation.

Joe May is the convener of our planning group and they have already gathered to begin the work.

This year the number of volunteers and leaders needed to lead our sessions will be huge. We are enlisting congregations and groups to help.

Please be in prayer for those planning and giving themselves in this service. It is easy to find reasons to criticize change and complain about those in charge. It is more helpful to volunteer to help of support those who are giving themselves to this. As we share planning details and information, please feel free to offer your help and to share concerns that will assist us in making this Annual Conference session the best ever. Wouldn’t it be cool if we were all saying,”I can’t wait till next year!” Together we will make this a year to remember!

Let the prayers and preparations begin.

June isn’t far away.

~Connectional Ministries; (601) 354-0515 ext. 14

Youth Blowout 2009

2009-01-29T09:07:00.000-08:00

"One Amazing Night of Worship" will begin at 6pm on Wednesday, February 25. The event will take place inside the Jumpertown UMC family life center. Radio City Confessions from Jacksonville, Florida will be our praise band for the night. The speaker this year is Scott Carter from Amory.

$5 at the door, concessions will be served. All proceeds will benefit the Jennifer Windham Memorial Scholarship Fund.

One side note even though it's title contains the word "youth" this event is for all ages, and for anyone looking for an amazing worship experience.

Contact info:
Nathan Ozbirn; 662-416-9395
Jumpertown United Methodist; 662-728-5016
If you would like fliers on this event please contact us. A call ahead with estimate number attending would be appreciated but not required.

Executive Director Job Announcement

2009-01-29T09:00:00.000-08:00

The Bethlehem Community Center, a United Methodist human service organization, in Jackson, Mississippi is seeking an Executive Director to plan, direct and coordinate: development and administration of all programs and services; finances, property maintenance and fundraising.

Qualifications: undergraduate degree in social services or business management preferred; experience in personnel management; excellent communication skills experience in fundraising and budget control; commitment to mission and outreach ministries of the United Methodist Church.

Experience in working in an early childhood education or child care/preschool setting preferred. Salary negotiable.

Submit resume and at least three references via email to Bethlehem Center with "Executive Director Search" in the subject line or mail to:

Ms. Rebecca Youngblood
Search Committee Chairperson
The Bethlehem Center
920 Blair Street
Jackson, MS 39202

MP3 Stories: Vaiden UMC

2009-01-29T08:41:00.000-08:00

The first weekend that I arrived at Vaiden in July, 2007; I felt that the Lord was calling me to personally visit all of the people in the community. I put shorts, sports-shirt, and tennis shoes on, and walked door-to-door, block by block, all over the town of Vaiden. The townspeople had never had a pastor come see them at their home. They loved it. I listened to their personal stories, told them mine, and then invited them to church. They began coming the first weekend and have continued coming since. I continue to visit both member homes and unchurched homes each weekend. Our membership and friends attending, has tripled: from 25 to 75. The members volunteered to visit each person that I went to see and take them cookies, cakes, or pies. The people really appreciated the desire of our members to be welcoming of people in the community. On " High Attendance Sunday", we had 95 people in attendance in October, 2007; only 90 days after our efforts began. We don't take any credit for what God has done for this community and this congregation. We were simply willing participants in his plan of salvation and fellowship for all of these members of our community.

Shortly after I arrived in Vaiden, I was informed that the other two (2) churches on the Vaiden charge would change status. One had already planned on closing because of illness; and the other planned to leave the conference and become independent. The church council was so pleased with what they had seen the Lord doing through them in the community; that they decided to step out in faith and assume responsibility for paying the pastor's salary for the other two (2) churches. This meant that they would be doubling their salary support. This was September, 2007. Since then, we have all experienced the fullness of God's provision at Vaiden United Methodist and have set faith budgets for the church: budgets based upon what we expect to provide and what we expect God to provide. Our yearly church budget has doubled in 2 years, and we have never been short on our budget support. We are also a 100% conference support church.

Mark Blaylock, our layleader, felt the Lord calling him to visit multiple families down the road from him, who were living in deplorable conditions. He visited them, shared Christ with them, and prayed for them. They began attending church, about 12 people altogether, from time to time; half which were children. We discovered that they were using a garden hose to run water from one mobile home to another mobile home, for bathroom and kitchen use. Our men volunteered to install pipe in the ground and run plumbing to the houses. These families really appreciated our help on this project, and we have continued to support them, both financially and spiritually.

We are a very welcoming and supportive church. Everyone who has visited us, has stayed with us. We make everyone feel at home, regardless of their work, family, personal or financial background.

We have organized a " Benevolence Committee" that is in charge of financial gifts from the church for people experiencing emergencies. We have donated thousands of dollars to families during the last year. We have organized a " Home Repair Committee" that repairs homes in the community for free, to those in need.

Our church approved the addition of a new fellowship hall to the existing church facility, which will add about 30% of floor space to our church. If this building was contracted out, it would cost over $ 150,000.00. We decided that the Lord had given us the talents and gifts to build it ourselves, and save over one-half of that amount. We began construction of the building June1st, time of fellowship on Saturday mornings, while we worked on the building. 2008, and will have it completed by June 1st, 2009. We have had a great. The women of the church have prepared Saturday lunches for the men working on the church, to support their efforts. We also installed a power-point projection system in the sanctuary for use in worship services, and the congregation has loved it.

Using the " Experiencing God" bible study as a foundation, the entire congregation has been taught about living the " Spirit-led" life, and watching with spiritual senses, for where the Lord is at work and joining Him in his mission.

Calvin Cosnahan
Vaiden UMC

Per Diem Information

2009-01-29T08:17:00.000-08:00

The per diem payment for the appointed clergy of the local church whether retired or active and for the lay members to annual conference of the local churches is the responsibility of each local church.

The 2008 Annual Conference adopted the policy for conference paid per diem payments for the 2009 session. In the 2008 Journal Volume 1 beginning on page 230 is the listing of the groups of members that will receive their per diem from the annual conference. The reason there is paid per diem for lay people is that they are equalizing members for the annual conference. Retired clergy and clergy on disability are paid because their membership is in the annual conference. The Conference Board of Pensions pays the per diem of the surviving spouses. If you are eligible, you will be contacted in May. The form is to be turned in at the preconference briefing and checks will be picked up at the annual conference site.

No forms should be mailed in and no checks will be mailed out.

The amounts set for per diem is $5 per meal and $50 per night that a member is in attendance. Per diem begins with the opening session and ends at the closing session. The projected per diem will be $30 for meals and $100 for rooms. Travel is not paid.

David Stotts, CPA
Treasurer/ Director of Financial Administration
Conference Benefits Officer

Lent or Lint?

2009-01-26T09:21:00.000-08:00

Lint is the leftover particles of paper, dust, and material scraps left in your pockets after they are removed from the dryer. Lent is a season of the church year that precedes Easter and follows the season of Epiphany.

The season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, February 25, and concludes at sundown on the Saturday prior to Easter Sunday. This season is 40 days long, not including Sundays, and is most often symbolized with the color purple. Symbols of this season include (among others) the cross, crown of thorns, a rooster, chalice or communion cup and paten or communion plate, palm leaves, ashes, money bag and pelican.

This season is often associated with self-reflection, repentance, prayer, fasting, and self-denial. It is also the time when we begin to hear the question asked, “So, what did you give up for Lent?” When we willingly choose to give up something, whether that is a habit, an indulgence, or a particular behavior, we do so in an intentional effort to avail ourselves in a new way to God’s grace and the mystery of Advent, God-with-us. This self-denial leads to a dying of self with an anticipation and expectation that we will experience, through our Easter faith, a rising with Christ and a re-birth of life.

When we take the time to understand and experience all that the season of Lent offers to us, we often find ourselves overwhelmed with the resurrection joy of Easter. Consider some of these ideas to engage your congregation in the season of Lent.

Host a “Jeopardy” game night with all the questions relating to Lent
Focus each Sunday in Lent on one particular event in the last week of Jesus’ ministry
Encourage people to focus on what they are going to take on in order to strengthen their walk with Christ to the cross. This may mean that they have to give up something in order to add something more meaningful.
Using the workshop rotation model of Sunday school with children, establish a different room for the various events of Jesus’ last week. These may include the Upper Room, Golgotha, the road into Jerusalem, Pilate’s court. Within each room the children would look in-depth at the characters, emotions, and decisions that were faced. Conversations could also center on the decisions that we have to make everyday.
Focus your children’s sermons on a different symbol of the season. These symbols could then be added to a barren tree to establish a Lenten tree.
Consider purchasing a butterfly kit. Buy it now! Send off for the live caterpillar larvae and watch caterpillars transform into beautiful butterflies. Release the butterflies on Easter morning.
Do a reverse Advent wreath. In Advent the light grows stronger each week. In Lent the light grows darker each week as we anticipate the death of Jesus Christ. Begin Lent with 6 (if no Good Friday service) or 7 (if you are having a Good Friday service) fully lit candles. Each week as the scriptures are read, extinguish a candle. The last candle would be extinguished on Palm/ Passion Sunday or your Good Friday service.
Invite dramatists to portray Judas, Pilate, Simon Peter, Simon of Cyrene, and others who engaged Jesus in a meaningful way as he journeyed to the cross.
Invite children and youth to re-write the scripture lessons for the day in their own words and include this paraphrase as a part of worship each week. This may be a great sermon starter for the preachers!

Lent is a season of preparation and anticipation. Let us prepare and anticipate the sadness and grief that was first felt when Christ was laid in the tomb. Let us, then, look with new eyes toward Easter, the season in which we celebrate and give thanks that we are a resurrection people.

For more ideas and worship materials, visit www.gbod.org/worship

Legislative Look!!!

2009-01-16T11:01:00.000-08:00

January 16, 2009

Gov. Barbour has made plans to cut MAEP by $76.6 million.

Please look for future alerts to act regarding this issue.

Gov. Plans for $87.8 Million in Education Cuts

Tuesday night in his State of the State address, Governor Haley Barbour announced his plan to cut funding to the Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP). In November 2008, Gov. Barbour cut many state agencies and programs to make up for the $42 million deficit. Fortunately MAEP was spared from these cuts. Tuesday night Gov. Barbour announced that cuts will have to be applied to other areas left untouched last November. While he did not announce in the State of the State address how much funding will be cut from MAEP, Barbour warned Mississippians to expect these cuts to make up for a projected revenue loss of $175 million to $310 million by July 2009. Wednesday afternoon, Gov. Barbour announced a total cut from education in the amount of $87.8 million with $76.6 million coming from MAEP.

Gov. Barbour has announced a $76.6 million cut from MAEP with a total cut from MS Dept. of Education in the amount of $87.8 million. Congregations for Children will continue to monitor this situation and provide an action alert as soon as plans are devised to reverse these cuts.

To view current bill texts or search for bills, go to http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us and enter the bill number under “Quick Lookup.”

For questions or comments, please email Michelle Foster at michelle@mississippi-umc.org

Focus on Ministry

2009-01-16T10:48:00.000-08:00

The most basic need of all human beings is salvation through the love of God and the saving grace of His son. But talking salvation to a hungry person without first attending to his or her most primordial need may be pharisaical. The statistics are grim. Over 24,000,000 people die of hunger every day most of them children!!! Almost a billion individuals in this world go to sleep hungry every day; in the U.S. 37 million folk do not have enough food on a regular basis (half of them are children). Amazingly 40% of those needing food assistance in the U.S. are working people.

What to do???

As a nation we have the resources to end hunger in our own country and still contribute significantly to help ease this worldwide disaster; we simply lack the vision and will to mobilize against this preventable blight on God’s earth. As Christians we need to be more intentional about attending this dire and yet solvable problem.

Last year at Annual Conference there were over 100,000 meals packaged for global distribution through Stop Hunger Now and this year we are trying to take a wider and more positive initiative on this issue by partnering with food distribution organizations as well as other faith based organizations with similar concerns. We hope to work with the new Missions Table asking to make hunger issues one of its first priorities in mission and outreach as it convenes next January 21, at the conference office.

Because we are Christians and have been commissioned to work in missions and outreach having received a mandate and example from Jesus Himself we must set about working earnestly in this important ministry. The following quote reflects the spirit in which we should approach this task ... “The ministry to our ‘neighbor’ for the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, should not be out of a shocked moral obligation, or civic shame, but rather as ministering to the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. (Matt. 25:40)” Rex Baker, Gateway Mission, Jackson, MS

I welcome your questions regarding this proposed conference wide initiative.

The following links will give you a glimpse into hunger issues as well as acquainting you with some of the organizations with whom we will be closely working in this quadrennium.

Jorge.

"10 Great Dates"

2009-01-16T10:29:00.000-08:00

This past Tuesday, January 13, 2009, over 250 people participated in a training event focused on starting and strengthening marriage ministries in our churches and communities. United Methodist were well represented with close to 50 lay and clergy from around our conference coming together to learn from the authors, David and Claudia Arp, what the “10 Great Dates” program involved.

The “10 Great Dates” program combines fun dates and marriage education skills in an easy to use video curriculum that gives couples time-out to build their marriage and enrich their relationship.

Look what United Methodists are saying about their experience!

"10 Great Dates serves as a good way to help couples in our churches and community to reconnect with each other and hopefully strengthen their marriages. The format seems easy to work with and one of the main points is to get couples talking and to have fun together. "
Rev. Brian Gordon, Pearl United Methodist Church, Pearl, MS

“We loved being part of such a large and diverse group which came together for the single purpose of being equipped to strengthen marriages!

One of our take-aways was the reminder that a couple's attitude when they spend time together makes all the difference. They can intentionally choose to make a trip to the store a wonderful 'date' or they can go out to a fine dinner and still not be together. A couple who is currently participating in the series told of the positive impact their Dates Nights have made on their marriage. Hearing these results reinforced the sense that this series is a worthwhile, solid investment in marriages!

Seeing the large group of Pastors from various churches band together as they committed to do more to strengthen marriages was powerful! By their signing the MS Marriage Covenant they commit to supporting and strengthening one another as well as strengthening the marriages of their congregations.

We were blessed to be part of this momentous day. Our prayer is that those who attended will return to their churches and various agencies and apply what they learned to enrich and strengthen marriages across the state.”

Horace and Carol Lukens, Mississippi Conference Marriage Ministry Coordinators & members of St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church in Madison, MS.

“10 Great Dates is and can be a positive jolt to marriages and other relationships! It’s something that we can use to strengthen relationships.”
Rev. Elbrist Mason, Trinity United Methodist Church, Brandon, MS

“10 Great Dates” video curriculum is now available in the Media Center of the Conference Office. Call the conference office, 601-354-0515 for more information.

Our Covenant with Zimbabwe

2009-01-16T10:07:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends

Greetings in the Lord. Thank you very much for your persistent attention to the United Methodist Church in Zimbabwe and Pastors and the congregations are coping.

Introduction
It is now common knowledge that Zimbabwe is going through serious economic challenges characterized by hyperinflation. Politically the country is isolated from the international community. This means that friends are few and help is scarce when it is needed most. The negative impact is so evident in the breakdown of the basic infrastructure. Water systems have ceased to function especially in the capital city, Harare. the much publicized cholera out break is partly as a direct result of the breakdown of water reticulation leading to poor living conditions for the people. There is nothing much to talk about regarding the health delivery system. Zimbabwe had developed an admirable school system but it is now difficult to know how many of the rural schools will be able to open for the year because of lack of teachers. To make the whole situation even more desperate is the widespread hunger in the country. Agricultural unpreparedness , compounded by erratic rains leading to droughts has led the one time breadbasket of Southern Africa into hunger and famine.

The Zimbabwe dollar has virtually lost any value as a currency to the point that most goods and services are now sold for US dollars or South Africa Rand. Very few people can have access to these foreign currencies, and hence more suffering for the majority. The government has authorized some retailers to sell their goods in foreign currency. Most of these goods are imported which means that to get anything one must have foreign money. What has happened is that everyone is demanding US or Southern African Rand for goods and services. Nobody wants to have Zim dollar anymore because it is worthless.

Impact on the Church
In any economic downturn it so happens that the church faces untold challenges. The welfare of pastors depend on the church members who in turn are facing all these hardships. The church itself as a collective becomes helpless as it fails to help its members in these difficult times. Finance Boards of the church have pegged pastoral support in US dollars with the hope of trying to cushion them. But the members do not have such foreign currency and therefore there no support to talk about. Such a scenario is more so in the rural areas where almost everything is at stand still. many pastors will not be able to send their children to school especially because the remaining schools are charging school fees in foreign currency which they do not have.

To travel in their districts or circuits District Superintendents and Pastors obvious need fuel or gas which is sold in US dollars. Pastors cannot visit their church members even in critical times for lack of transport. Public transport is now paid in foreign currency. It is indeed a tragic story for the church. When i call for cabinet to meet- and we must indeed meet to put up strategies of how to resolve some of these challenges- I have no idea how many District Superintendents might be able to make it because transport hurdles.

Hospitals
The major challenge which our church hospitals are facing is the migration of nurses to neighboring countries in search of ways and means to survive. To retain them one must be ready to pay them what is called retention allowance in foreign currency which the church does not have. Shortage or even total lack of drugs makes the whole situation gloomy.

Congregations
Although the people continue to do their best by working and continuing to be creative in meeting the challenges, they have indeed reached breaking point. Even as I write I cannot contemplate how these congregations can support their pastors and themselves as well.

People are just surviving by the day through the grace of God. the situation on the ground defies any attempt to plan because circumstances change so fast that we have learned to live on a daily basis.

Means of Survival
For the few fortunate ones, sons, daughter and relatives who have left the country and are working in the neighboring countries send some back home and this has helped in some little way. Others engage in cross boarder trade and bring home some foreign currency. In most cases these are few compared to the majority who have nowhere to turn to.

For the church some partners have done tremendous job of doing all they could in helping in one way or the other. The help could be a consignment of drugs to the hospital, cholera kits etc or it could be few dollars to help the so many pastors who are scrambling just to survive with their families.

Conclusion
The year 2009 is not showing any clear signs of being different at all. The problems are increasing by the day. we hope that if the rains continue maybe some people will be able to harvest a little but it is too early to tell whether the country will be spared from another drought. The unfailing source of our Hope is that we have Jesus Christ who promised never to leave the faithful alone. As I write this brief knowing that you servant of God have requested for it, I am feel up;lifted in Hope.

Thank you

Grace and Peace

Bishop Nhiwatiwa

Resident bishop-Zimbabwe Episcopal Area.

Rev LLoyd T Nyarota

THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Zimbabwe Episcopal Area
Area Projects and Communications coordinator
No 9- second street

P. O.Box 666
Mutare
Zimbabwe
Phone: +263-20-64043/ 62733
Cell: +263-912-891800/ 11-645715
Fax:+263-20-65714
e-mail: Lnyarota@yahoo.com

website: http://www.7villages.com/RevLloydNyarota

"In Partnership to achieve. Discipleship. Church Development and Christian Unity"

Been Thinking about Training

2009-01-12T14:25:00.001-08:00

Last Saturday at the Starkville District training I was trying to remember (unsuccessfully) the following advise from Paul to the Philippians … “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8). In the same thought the Apostle then continues exhorting them to practice all these things as well as the things he has taught them by word or example promising them that the “God of peace will be with you. (v9)” I was trying to make two points the first one was that whatever ministry we undertake on behalf of our Lord needs to be the best that we can do, it should not be subject to any limitations such as time. And the other point was that in missions and outreach training (or any other training) that you need to put into practice that which you learn.

Knowledge in our heads is subject to be filed away and forgotten or displaced by other knowledge, practicing what you learn, however, reinforces it and makes it more memorable; it is said that if you do something enough times it becomes a habit. So if you learn anything that you consider good it will not be of any use to you or anyone else unless it’s put into practice. It kind of reminds me of what James said about preaching … “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.” (James 1:22-24)

As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. James 2:26

If it’s true and admirable then let’s practice what we preach, let’s practice what we learn and this way give honor and praise to the One on whose behalf we work!!!

Missions and outreach questions? Call me!

Connectional Leadership Table At Work

2009-01-12T13:59:00.001-08:00

Helping Mississippi United Methodists discover abundance and plenty during a time of economic scarcity provided the core of discussion at a recent Stewardship Table meeting.

The Table gathered on Thursday, January 8 at the Conference office with representatives present from the CF&A, Church Revitalization, Equitable Compensation, Communications, Small Membership Church Committee, and New Church Development. The Table discussed a partnership with the Committee on Pensions to help clergy better understand pension benefits and financial management. In the months ahead, the Table will begin preparations for Annual Conference, looking to introduce several initiatives to assist pastors and congregations.

Friendly Reminder and Words of Encouragement

2009-01-12T13:43:00.000-08:00

Are you a part of Congregations for Children? Do you proudly display the poster that recognizes your congregation as a Church for All God’s Children? Remember, in carrying this name you have covenanted to be an advocate for children in three distinct and important ways.

1. To celebrate the gift of children in our community
2. To raise awareness of the issues facing our children in our community, state & nation. Our legislative agenda for this season includes:

Full Funding for MAEP (Mississippi Adequate Education Plan)
Funding for pre-kindergarten pilot programs
Funding for at-risk children and their families
Removal of face-to-face recertification for SCHIP (State Children’s Health Insurance Plan)
Further allocation of state funds for childcare assistance
Raising the cigarette tax
Making just policies that target the cradle-to-prison pipeline
Partnering with Department of Human Services to develop and strengthen legislation that will strengthen the foster care system throughout Mississippi

3. To issue and engage in call to action responses that seek justice and equality for all children

FREE! Workshops for Local Churches and United Methodist Ministries

2009-01-12T11:45:00.000-08:00

FREE! Workshops for Local Churches and United Methodist Ministries

A webinar is a free one (1) hour seminar that is hosted through the internet with leadership being offered at the same time via the telephone. All webinars are the first Thursday of the month from 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. (Central Time).

If you would like to participate in any of the upcoming webinars, contact the PACT Service Center at 1-877-UMC-PACT.

2009 PACT Webinars for United Methodist Churches

February 5

Checks & Balances – Minimizing Fidelity Loss

March 5

Vehicle Safety / Background Checks / Drivers

April 2

Safe Sanctuaries and Completing a Thorough Background Screen

May 7

Safe Sanctuaries – Operation Procedures and VBS Staffing

June 4

Cyber Safety – What you really Need to Know to Protect Others

July 9

Handling the Media in a Crisis / Crisis Management

August 6

United Methodist Forms & Resources- A Discussion to Guide You to the Appropriate Forms & Resources You May Need

Sept. 3

Day Care Safety – for Your Employees and Children

Oct. 1

Real Property Management – Preparing for the Cold Weather Season

Nov. 5

Social Services Ministry – Best Practices and Helpful Tips for Protecting Your Ministries

Dec. 3

Church in Community – Outside Parties and the Use of Church Facilities

(Please note: These workshops are offered to all United Methodist churches regardless of your affiliation and participation within the MS conference-wide PACT insurance program)

Numbers Matter!

2009-01-12T10:47:00.000-08:00

We are at the time when statistical reports are due. They are time consuming and often the temptation is to copy last years or to give a “ministerial estimate”. Resist the temptation! These numbers are a great tool for you and your congregation to track your progress in the MP3 vision. If you want more people you need to truly know how many you have. Take time to work on these numbers then share how you have done with your leaders. Sometimes it hurts to see it in black and white. Sometimes that pain can motivate us to action.

If this process is too overwhelming, call a friend or contact the District statistician. They will help you. These numbers can help us all set our sites on a new day when we set concrete goals for our worship and professions of faith, just like we set financial goals in our budgets. As a conference we are setting a goal to turn the membership loss around in the next four years. Numbers matter, but only if they are accurate. Accounting for people is part of our pastoral duty and faith community covenant. You are a number too…don’t you want to be counted? Ok, its not glamorous, but we do it anyway. If your statistics come out showing growth, let us know. If they don’t and you want help trying to make a next step, call us. We’ll find you some help.

We are getting stories of discipleship. They are great. If you have a story send it to us. The Spirit is at work! Get busy counting.

Live Loved,

Steve

Do You Know the 2009 Legislative Issues?

2009-01-05T10:45:00.000-08:00

2009 Legislative Session begins tomorrow!

In partnership with faithful people all across our state, Congregations for Children is working tirelessly for the children of Mississippi!

This year our legislative focus includes:

Education

Full funding of MAEP (Mississippi Adequate Education Program)
Adequate and appropriate funding for the Pilot Pre-Kindergarten programs across our state
Adequate funding and resources for at-risk children and their families

Childcare

Utilization of excess TANF funds to be directed toward childcare facilities throughout our state
Development and funding of grant programs to supplement childcare for families living in poverty

Foster Care

Monitor compliance with Olivia Y. vs. Barbour lawsuit settlement
Partner with DHS in encouraging and training foster parents

Healthcare

Removal of face-to-face recertification requirements from Medicaid and SCHIP

Juvenile Justice

Development of community-based sanctions for the rehabilitation of delinquent youth

Fair Taxation

Increase cigarette tax to fund children’s healthcare

Immigration Issues facing children

Let us covenant to pray for our representatives as they wrestle with, discern and make decisions that affect all of us.

Let us advocate for and be in conversation with our representatives on behalf of all God’s children in Mississippi.

Getting Started in 2009 with Mission & Outreach

2009-01-05T09:54:00.000-08:00

I was talking with Steve last Friday about our goals for this year and we agreed that whatever we do this year it needs to be quantifiable and measurable and so with missions and outreach the first thing to do is to get started today, right now so that at the end of the year we will have something that we can point to and say “this is what we did this year!”

Does your church want to be more active in missions and outreach? Then let’s do it by the numbers …

1) Find the need(s). Find the people and the resources to meet the need(s) and you will be well on your way. What has your church done in the past … What worked … What didn’t. What is God telling you that needs to be done?

2) Select a leader. Chances are that no matter how big or small your church is there is someone (perhaps many “someones,” but you only need one) who can organize, direct, motivate, support and guide the work of other church members in this endeavor. This person does not need to be the pastor.

3) You need to allocate time to doing this ministry even if you have to give up some other less important time commitment (and you probably will have to). All involved in missions and outreach need to realize that this is a God instituted and led ministry which needs to be given the proper time and attention.

4) Praying/Planning, Giving and Doing. Pray that the Holy Spirit will be active in your midst helping you locate the need, the leader, the people and the resources needed to get your mission and outreach ministry active; and that in the act of obedience to do mission God will give you the faith and confidence needed as well as the time necessary . And when you give, remember, you are giving not only of your treasure, but of your time and talents. When you put it all together and you go out and do the ministry that God charged you to do you will be a blessing as well as being blessed!

Begin with the end in mind and at the end of this year you and your church can look back on 2009 and hear Jesus say 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance' and ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

Does your local church cluster have a training coming up? If so I will be glad to come, let me know! Jorge

MP3

2009-01-05T09:43:00.001-08:00

The MP3 initiative is our way of saying we want more people, more young people, and more diverse people. Our goal is to make all kinds of disciples. Next week we will begin our movement. To see if we are growing we have to see where we are. We are sorting through our statistical reports and trying to get a handle on this. We will share the district wide numbers and some of the outstanding churches that are making disciples. We invite you to share your stories of MP3. It is time to stop talking and start doing. So to help we will also share some best practices. So where do we begin?

The starting place for evangelism…disciple making is really simple. To tell a story, you have to have a story. To lead people to Christ we must have a life-changing relationship with Jesus. How is your faith story? How is God working in and on you? Those questions are the starting place. True evangelism is centered in a vibrant and growing personal and community faith. People come to Christ because they see Christ changing real people who care about them. A living faith is driven by the spiritual presence of God in us. The Holy Spirit is the orchestrator of the most effective faith sharing. And relationship is the primary language of evangelism.

In short…faith takes people and time. It takes trust and authenticity. It takes the power of the Holy Spirit. We don’t have to save anyone or be good enough to “saint” folks into the Kingdom. The truth is we love them there…but we love because Christ first loved us. Are you ready for MP3? Do you want it? How bad? Ok…do something about it. Talk about it in your congregations, in your families, in your own life…yea, talk to yourself about it. It is time! Now! Here we go…MP3. We are counting…because numbers matter…they represent people…children of God. They are searching for something real…you can help them find it. Next week we’ll begin to share simple details to help and we invite you to share yours with us. This is why we are here! Someone shared it with us and we changed,

I cannot wait to see what happens next, I really sense a change coming…MP3 is already beginning…you’ll see!

Live loved,
Steve

What's Your Mission?

2008-12-17T08:08:00.000-08:00

UMVIM (United Methodist Volunteers in Mission)

I had the opportunity to meet some of the district UMVIM representatives at the meeting held Saturday, Dec.13 at St. Matthew’s UMC in Madison. It was a time of sharing, learning and planning … One thing became obviously clear and that is that this world is becoming increasingly complicated, but thank goodness we have people in places who are always ready to help. At this meeting I met D.J. Walker of Travel Pro of Mississippi who is very adept at helping Mississippi volunteer teams traveling overseas; she mentioned the ever changing nature of immigration requirements from all countries throughout the world as well as the ever changing requirements of the Homeland Security at airports as well as the new baggage and other restrictions created by the airlines themselves.

Robert Sharp of Disaster Response reported that to date there have been over 155,000 volunteers come work with the Mississippi UMCOR Disaster Response group down on the Coast; Robert coordinates the work and the logistics of the three camps and warehouses located there as well as the work of the volunteers; did you know that Pennsylvania is the leading state, followed by Indiana, sending volunteers for hurricane recovery. If you would like to partner on building a home call the Disaster Response Team at 866-435-7091 or email (whole house sponsorships are $51,000 – the house is built on the hurricane impacted lot). If you would like to make a donation of any amount please make your check payable to Mississippi United Methodist Disaster Response, Inc., and forward to 1400 Leggett Drive, Biloxi, MS 39530. If you would like a copy of he volunteer recruitment package which contains a four-minute DVD and PowerPoint presentation, posters, broadcast and print advertising materials, please call them at the same number.

Foreign Missions, anyone?
If you or your church are interested in taking volunteer teams in mission you may want to contact the following individuals who can provide you all kinds of information about doing Methodist mission at the particular countries listed by their names …

o For Nicaragua Covenant: David Newton
o For Russian Initiative: Danny Dabbs
o For Mexico missions: Rayford Woodrick
o For Beans and Rice missions (Costa Rica) Marie & Fred Curry
o For Chabadza Covenant to Zimbabwe: Michelle Shrader
o For Liberia, Africa: Nelda Thomas

Please be aware that David Newton listed as the Nicaragua contact is also the Mississippi Conference UMVIM Coordinator and he can give you additional advice about insurance through the United Methodist Church; even if you and your team already have insurance you may want to call him anyway to let him know you are going and he can find prayer partners to pray for your team while they are out of the country.

If you have any questions please call me.

Merry Christmas!!!

Jorge.

Joy Down In My Heart

2008-12-15T12:15:00.000-08:00

Have you sung the song “Joy to the world the Lord is come” this season? What about the children’s classic, “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart”? In Luke 2:10 we read “Do not be afraid; for see – I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people.”

This week our Advent focus is Joy. It is a word that we hear and use a lot during the seasons of Advent and Christmas. Stop and think for a moment. What is joy? How do you define this word to your congregation, your family, and your neighbors? Where, in your own life, do you derive your joy? Does your joy come from a cup of coffee first thing in the morning, a Christmas bonus check that arrives unexpectedly, or a gift that sits underneath the tree with your name on it?

Or, does your joy come from somewhere deep in your heart and soul? The eternal joy of the Lord is the gift of faith that we experience each and every moment of our lives when we claim for ourselves Jesus Christ as our Savior. The joy of our Lord is not external and temporal. It cannot be measured by our bank accounts, the size of our homes, or even the number of gifts we receive and share this year. The joy of the Lord is internal and eternal!

The 2008 Family Advent Calendar leads us through the last days of Advent with some creative devotions and activities around the word “joy”. I would recommend these to you and to your family. This week as you prepare for the final days in Advent, Christmas Eve Services, and Christmas day celebrations how will you proclaim the true joy of the Lord that the angel first shared with the shepherds long ago?

Enjoy these days of anticipation, excitement, and waiting!
For the joy of the Lord is ours!

Merry Christmas!
Rev. Michelle Foster

Your Help is Needed

2008-12-15T11:52:00.000-08:00

Last week as I went into the post office I witnessed something, I had never seen before.

A man was half way in the garbage can. After he came out of it he began to eat half of a sandwich he had found. My daughter and I looked and wonder how could this happen in America.

Jalisa, my daughter, reached in the back seat and gave me some food to share with him. I later thought about the food I left out overnight, the leftovers we threw away, the $102.00 for football tickets plus food and travel and so many others experiences. I realize that God has truly blessed my family and to those who have received much, much is required.

We, as Mississippi United Methodists, have been highly favored by God. I ask you as a part of that blessed community to join me in supporting the struggling community at Africa University. Most of the African American churches apportionment for Africa University is less than twenty dollars. Middlebrook UMC, where I serve as pastor, is a small membership church but we have given our thirty-six dollars to Africa University. The third verse of the African American national anthem is,”..., may we forever stand, true to our God, true to our native land.”

This Christmas let us give a gift in our apportionments to our, native land.

What's Love Got to do With It?

2008-12-15T08:53:00.000-08:00

2008 Advent Calendar

Do you remember that old Tina Turner song “What’s love got to do with it?” As we begin our third week of Advent, we find ourselves exploring this very question – what does love have to do with gift giving and receiving, chocolate and candy and other decadent sweets, decorations that glitter and shine, and music that seems to inspire everyone in the ways of merriment and joy?

The truth is, love has everything to do with it! If it were not for love there would not be Christmas. “For God so LOVED the world, that he gave His only beloved Son so that anyone who believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” The gift of Christmas, Jesus Christ, was given to us out of God’s love for us.

In this Advent season of waiting and expectation, how are we anticipating this love that comes to us from God above? How are our words and actions motivated by this godly love that has been given unconditionally and freely to us? In what ways do we go out of our way, stop in all of our busyness, and change our course of direction in order to give love to those who are hungry, naked, homeless, in prison, and on the fringes of society?

What’s love got to do with it? You are encouraged to use the daily devotions and activities found within the 2008 Family Advent Calendar offered by the Mississippi Conference of the United Methodist Church to explore this question and its multitude of answers.

More Diverse People

2008-12-08T13:59:00.000-08:00

This past week (December 4-7) a training event took place in Mississippi that provided training to pastors and lay missioners who want to be more involved and intentional in helping get started small communities of faith/churches and community programs geared specifically towards Hispanic people currently living within our conference.

Over a long weekend at a camp retreat 18 folks were involved in an intensive 30 hour program designed to teach pastors and lay missioners basic ministry skills in how to carry on mission and outreach with Hispanic people in our communities. Language, cultural, leadership, worship and other specific subjects dealing with ministry in this environment were explored .

People participating in this bi-lingual training event represented 7 nationalities and some of these folks also reported having spoken 5 native indigenous tongues as their first languages (not counting English or Spanish). This is a witness to the great diversity of backgrounds and cultures with whom anyone dealing with this population will be confronted (education and economic diversity notwithstanding).

Both the pastors and new lay missioners were greatly pleased with the things learned as were the GBGM-trained workshop leaders and conference representative. These highly motivated people expressed not just great commitment and passion, but also the desire to do God’s will.

Remember … In mission and Outreach Pray, Give and Do!!! Sunday, December 14 will be a special offering day for the Children’s Home at your church. Please Give … Generously!!!

Call me, Jorge.

Hopeful or Hopeless

2008-12-08T10:03:00.000-08:00

An article I read this week included these words, “one way to appreciate the hope of Christmas is to envision a world devoid of Christmas, a world with no Christ, no hope – just hopelessness.” As I read this, my mind began to imagine what our world would be like without Christ, without church, and without Christmas. In those moments, I tasted hopelessness and despair.

As we move into the second week of Advent, our calendar focus will turn towards hope and the excited anticipation that the season of Advent brings to us. As Christians, we celebrate and proclaim hope each day because Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem! He grew up among us, redeemed the world and showed us what God is like. God is essentially a God of Hope, a God who makes all things new. Therefore, the excitement and expectation that children of all ages feel at Christmas is altogether appropriate. When we imagine for a moment a world without Christ, it causes us to decorate our homes, give presents, and sing carols in such a way that celebrates the hope of Christmas with passion and joy! Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again – this is the kind of hope that we cannot live without!

As you consider our hope-full and hope filled world, I invite you to use the Family Advent Calendar to discover some ways that you and your church may partner with Moore Community House and Methodist Children’s Homes in offering hope to children and families throughout our state. This week you also find ways to share and explore, in Bible study and song, what hope means for us today.

Need a copy of the Family Advent Calendar? Go Here...

Fundamentals of Mission & Outreach

2008-12-01T14:02:00.000-08:00

Whose Mission Work is it?

Mission and outreach are fundamental to the health of a congregation. They provide the foundation for all the rest of the church’s work in making disciples, building up the church, alleviating suffering, and promoting justice, freedom, and peace.

Central to any mission and outreach effort is the recognition that we all are participants in a work that begins with God, belongs to God, and is being fulfilled by God now and unto the end of time. So while we may be God’s hands and feet, it is God who empowers and sustains the work and the workers.

Who is our neighbor?

Jesus taught us in the parable of the Good Samaritan that anyone in need becomes our neighbor; Jesus’ call for us is to share our material and spiritual bounty with those who are spiritually or materially needy, whether they are next door or across the globe.

What about leadership?

Leadership is an essential element in the success of any group, including the missions and outreach group at the church, however, not everyone is gifted to be a leader. But, while we may not be called to be leaders, some of us can take responsibility for the selection of leaders, and everyone in the church is responsible with supporting the leaders and keeping them accountable.

Experts on the subject of leadership have identified 4 characteristics of good leadership: vision, character (or integrity), empowerment and passion. In our Christian context a dimension of the mission and outreach ministry is that it must have servant centered leadership which is rooted in love. It is not surprising to observe that all leadership characteristics modeled by Jesus to his disciples are recorded in the gospels and should be the model of leadership which we all need to follow so that our praying, giving, and doing are effective.

His vision was and is redemption for a lost, needy, and wayward people.
His character was and is mission-driven and people-centered; he was and is a teacher and a friend. He was, is, and always will be God; yet he modeled servant-hood. He was and is forgiving. His character was tested but he was always the same; he acted with integrity.
Jesus empowered his disciples with the power of the Holy Spirit to make more disciples and equipped them to perform miracles of healing and compassion.
Jesus taught, ministered, and served with passion. He displayed righteous anger toward the money changers, washed his companions’ feet, fed the hungry and healed the sick.

Yes, it is His mission, we are all called, if we are not the leaders we must choose and support the leaders and … Yes he will empower and equip us to do His will!!!

Call me and we’ll talk mission and outreach at your church.

Jorge.

FAITH

2008-12-01T12:16:00.000-08:00

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

How would you define faith? How do you live out your faith in your home? Your office? Your community? How does faith prepare you for the season of Christmas?

Utilizing the 2008 Family Advent Calendar developed by the Office of Connectional Ministries of the Mississippi Conference, our devotional time this week focuses on faith - the faith of the shepherds long ago, the evidence of faith in our own lives, the faithful journey of Abraham and Sarah, and the ministries of faith that are evidenced in the work of the Good Shepherd Center, Edwards Street Fellowship Center and Wesley House.

Yesterday we began our journey through the season of Advent. As we walk forward toward Bethlehem to welcome the babe in the manger, I invite you to find ways to share this calendar with others in your congregation. It can be used as a tool to explore the sacred meanings of the chosen Advent words in your worship services, bible studies, personal devotions, and Sunday school classes in the days and weeks to come. It is my hope that these words will help aid us in living in the Advent season even as we anticipate and prepare for the birth of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Downloadable and printable copies are available on the conference website at 2008 Advent Calendar.

Blessings to you as you walk by faith into a new season of our church year!

Babies, Disciples, and Advent

2008-12-01T08:33:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we had the perfect celebration of Advent at Forrest Hill UMC. We baptized little Matthew. It had been a long time since we had shared in an Infant Baptism. The family stood proudly by and covenanted to provide him with a faith filled home and the congregation promised that they would do the same. Big brother Ethan stood there proudly beaming. It was so powerful. Why?

It is really simple. “For God so loved the world that he sent his Son.” I was reminded that God chose to save the world through a baby. That God entrusted that baby to normal people to raise and love. In a sense Infant Baptism is the Advent story. “The word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth.” This story is the model for all discipleship.

Our mission is to “Make disciples for the transformation of the world.” We do that one life at a time. It happens best in the context of faithful families and faith communities. We…no one else are charged with the rebirthing process of God’s children. Oh, don’t get me wrong, I know God does the saving, but we are entrusted with the birthing.

Did you know that 4 children are born every second?( That is over 128 million a year) They are born into all kinds of circumstances, but they are God’s children. God has asked us to take care of them and to help them know who they are and how God would have them live. (make Disciples) In short, our families and congregations should be constantly “expecting” and Baptizing God’s children. Are we? Some of God’s children have been born a long time and are waiting to be reborn. Are we ready to adopt them into our families and to love them to Christ?

Statistics say no. Half of our congregations did have a profession of faith! But a lot of those babies are going un-reborn! What if we put the energy and effort into raising God’s kids as we did into our buildings? What if we understood we were all trustees of these lives? What if all 4 of the kids born this second were born into the power of our Advent community? Are your families ready? Do they know their responsibilities as Christian parents? Are your churches ready with Sunday school and confirmation classes? Are our people prepared to share their faith in Jesus? This is our trust!

Making Disciples is simply loving the children of God all their life and into eternal life. Remember your Baptism! Be the community of the” Holy Family”. What better gift could we bring the “Christ Child” than a new brother or sister? What better gift to give than the life changing love of Jesus. We are the community of Advent…the King is coming…so are the children…are you expecting? I am! I am expecting the Mississippi Annual Conference to remember their baptism and to begin the work of being the family of God in the world. I am counting on you to share in the rebirthing process. By 2012 I believe we will welcome more professions of faith than we have in the last decade. In January we invite you to let us know every time you baptize a child or adult. We want to know every time there is a profession of faith. We will post on the web site a running total of these numbers each week…our “Human Life Exchange”! We will celebrate together the gift of the coming of Christ into the lives of people. I cannot wait to see how we embrace this challenge.

We are the community of the baptized!

We are becoming the Kingdom of God!

Let the children come unto us.

Please join me in prayer about this…but more than that, become the answer to those prayers!

Let us lead them to Christ. That, my friends is true Christmas!

Every Home is a School

2008-11-24T13:41:00.000-08:00

This sign is displayed outside a church that I pass each day on the way home. Everyday my mind gets to racing…I wonder what my children would say is taught in our homes….I wonder what I taught today as we hurriedly readied ourselves for school and work….I wonder what my children are understanding about our teachings on love, responsibility and grace…I wonder what I might be teaching my children and my husband about my faith in God?

How are we, as leaders in the church, equipping our parents, grandparents and caregivers to be the best teachers they can be in their “homeschools?” There are numerous resources available to assist family “teachers” in their efforts.

Here are some curriculum resources to assist you in your efforts:

Conversations for Life: Talking with Your Child
Conversations for Life: Talking with Your Teenager
Created by God - a curriculum about human sexuality

Some books I would recommend:
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families by Stephen Covey
Children and Prayer by Betty Shannon Cloyd
Raising Great Kids by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend
Hand in Hand: Growing Spiritually with Our Children by Sue Downing

Some workshops that I can offer in your district, cluster or local church:

Parenting in the Pew – Designed for parents and worship leaders, this workshop will explore the ways we can best engage, encourage and assist children in their experiences of church and worship.

The 5 Love Languages of Children – Based on the book by Drs. Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell, this workshop will offer parents insight and understanding into the ways their child best expresses and receives love. Together, parents will discover how to express unconditional feelings of respect, affection, and commitment that will encourage and strengthen their family for the rest of their lives. This workshop has also been adapted into a session offered to leaders who work with children and youth in order to improve the ways that we communicate, discipline and engage with one another.

Doing Good All the Time

2008-11-24T10:34:00.000-08:00

Recently, Wesley House has been transformed from the inside out with new building remodeling and targeted new programs, specially designed, to help people in the community be productive and healthy, with a staff that is professionally trained and called to serve.

The face of poverty is changing across the nation and in Meridian and surrounding area it is no different today. One half of the clients now being served at Wesley House are first time "askers" with…one third of those having college degrees … Some, more than one!

Wesley House wants to make a real difference in the lives of those who come to the "community house" where they are treated with the idea in mind that they were all created with a specific design and purpose by our Creator. While there will always be poverty, the Bible does not say that the same people have to live there all of their lives!

So, Wesley House is concentrating on helping those who are ready to help themselves. Each case is dealt with on an individual basis, and all people are treated with the same love and respect, whether they live under the bridge or are in the same Sunday School class as the staff…it simply does not matter. At this time of year Wesley House is asking people to make an investment … That’s right an investment in their community through the lives of the men, women and children that come their way. It is important to realize the impact of the work being done there is "God-driven."

With your help, He will allow folks at the Wesley House to serve those who come knocking on their door.

For a full length copy, please email Ginger Grissom Stevens, Director at gingerstevens@bellsouth.net – Phone 601-485-4736.

Thank You

2008-11-24T09:52:00.000-08:00

Sometimes in our rush to Advent and Christmas we run right past Thanksgiving.

This past week I was privileged to attend the Development Summit sponsored by the General Board of Global Ministries. Mission agencies and board members from across the denomination gathered to learn how to resource their missions.

It was an incredible experience for several reasons.

The event was such a quality experience with excellent leaders and resources.
I was reminded that there are thousands of people serving God in hundreds of ways every day around this world through the United Methodist Church.
I was reminded that development isn't about money as much as it is about telling incredible stories of what the money is and can do!
Finally, I was reminded of my manners. Say "please" and "thank you".

One of the ideas we were given was to have a "thank-a-thon".

Take time to thank those who make your ministry and mission happen. Cool.

So here is the beginning of my "thank-a-thon".

Thank you for all you do and have done. We are so blessed in the Mississippi Annual Conference to have so many generous and faithful servants of God! I thank God for you and for the congregations in the 1138 places where the Kingdom is coming. I have been blessed by you!

Let me close with a passage from Ephesians. Ephesians 1:3 "How we praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we belong to Christ"Our whole lives should be a "thank-a -thon."

Happy Thanksgiving!

Live loved,

Steve

Letter from Tommy Miller

2008-11-17T10:36:00.000-08:00

We hear a lot these days about the bad economy and how many people are struggling to make ends meet, and this is true. But God has so richly blessed so many of us United Methodist that we tend to forget how much God has really done for us. With the holidays coming up Good Shepherd Community Center in Vicksburg, one of our Mississippi United Methodist Community Centers, is helping to make a difference in the lives of people in need.

Good Shepherd will be giving out meals to 200 families this Thanksgiving. Through donations of food and money we will be able to give these families a feast for their Thanksgiving meal that we all would be proud of and food for at least 7-8 more meals for their family. With the number we have signed up we should give out almost 4,000 meals the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. You can help by providing canned goods or by your donation to this ministry.

Christmas is right around the corner and we have adopted 275 children to provide toys and clothes for this year. You cannot imagine the joy on the parent's faces when they pick up those toys on December 18th and hear the reports of how special Christmas was for their family because of our shared ministry. You can help by adopting a family or a child to provide Christmas.

Please be in prayer for all of our outreach ministries this year as we continue to work in our communities to meet the needs of so many. Your continued support of our ministries will help us continue to be hands and feet of Jesus in our hurting and lost world.

Thank You - Rev. Tommy Miller

Children and Politics

2008-11-10T10:23:00.000-08:00

My two elementary children have been swept up in the hype of this presidential election. Over supper, on more than one occasion, both have engaged their father and I in conversations about the politics of our next president, his family, and how the choices of our government might affect them.

Is it even appropriate that my two young boys are already becoming aware of the political society in which we live? Is it helpful that they know what some of the issues are at the forefront of everyday conversations? What is the right language that I, as their parent should use, to speak with them about such a complex issue?

Finally, it came to me. I need to speak to them about the issues that they understand. I need to speak into the situations that they find themselves in daily as they engage with other children and families at school, at church and in our extra-curricular activities. Some of the issues that we now discuss in our car rides, around our dinner table, and in conversations on the back deck include:

Education – We discuss the importance of education and its gift to shape and form our lives into the person God has created us to be. A staggering 35% of students who enter school in Mississippi do not graduate. We share with our children the expectation that we have to see them graduate from high school and continue their education in college.

Poverty – 30% of Mississippi’s children live in poverty. We find ways to let our children see poverty first hand so that they have a point of reference for our discussions. We talk about the ways that we have been blessed through God’s goodness and how through our own hard work and commitment we are able to provide for our family. We discuss some of the different situations that people encounter as they live in poverty. Constantly, we encourage our children to live out the command, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Money - Who isn’t talking about money right now? We have just recently started paying our 8 year old a weekly allowance for certain household chores that he completes. There are some responsibilities that are “part of being a family” and he doesn’t earn money for these things. Every week he must divide his allowance into three categories: tithe, savings, and spending. As we go to various stores, he now uses his own money for toys, candy, etc. This provides many opportunities for us to talk about delaying gratification, the importance of tithing, and the importance of saving for various unplanned event that may arise in life. The bi-product in this is that we are able to help our children understand that money is not in endless supply!

The point of all of this: The issues being discussed in the coffee shops, at lunch, and around the watercooler at the office affect us all, regardless of age. We need to understand exactly what is being said and unsaid. Most importantly, we need to ask the question “How does this effect the children?”

If we really want to be about making disciples for the transformation of the world, then we have to be active in transforming the world from what it is to what it can become for our children and all the generations to come.

Will you be a part of these conversations with the children in your life?

I hope you will!

Building Bridges

2008-11-10T09:38:00.000-08:00

Galatians 3:28
(New International Version)
There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008. I witnessed something that I thought would never happen. Senator Barack Obama, an African American, was elected president of the United States of America.

Millions of Americans voted without regard to race.

This presidential campaign was historical for several other reasons also. Senator Clinton and Governor Palin also opened the doors for females. Millions of voters showed that gender does not have to be a factor. Governor Richardson reminded us that American is not just black and white. The election was historical because of the record number of people who registered and voted. There were more voters, more younger voters, and more diverse voters in this election.

Across America, we saw people coming together without regard to gender, age or race. As I watched this take place I wonder where does my home state of Mississippi stand.

Many claim that we are a state weighed down by the past. They say that we are not able to look beyond color. Sadly enough, this was only reinforced when after the election of Senator Obama students in Pearl, Mississippi, were told they could not say his name. When students are punished for saying the name of the president elect of the United States of America, what does that say about us as a state?

I pray that we do not allow our great state to be defined by the misguided action of a few. I call upon the the body of Christ which resides in the “Great State of Mississippi” to stand together as black, white, red, yellow and brown, showing the world that we are not defined by race but by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We have an opportunity to show that love is greater than hate and Jesus is bigger than racism.

Lighter Partners is one way you and your church can make a difference. If you are not a Light Partner, today is a great day to start.

Time will not change things, it is Christ filled people who in time bring about change.

Bits & Pieces

2008-11-10T08:40:00.000-08:00

The word compassion is not used very often these days, but Jesus showed compassion towards all the needy people he encountered all through his ministry and thus modeled for us how we should respond to human suffering and need. He responded with action. The hope is closely linked to faith and suggests to us that we can put our faith into action and by doing this show compassion and give hope to those who need help.

Because the poor will always be with us until the Lord returns there is no shortage of mission and outreach projects in which we and our churches can get involved …

Is there a jail near where you live where you and your church can come and visit and share the gospel, teach the inmates how to read and write or perhaps coach and encourage them to get their GED?
If there is a hospital, nursery home nearby why don’t you call and find out how your church missions group can help?
Is there a need for a soup kitchen or food pantry, clothes closet or other similar program to help the poor?
Have you thought about needs by looking at people in groups such the elderly, children, immigrants, at risk teens?

Can your church mentor children at school or at your church or perhaps partner with the local school or school district to sponsor prevention workshops, conferences or meetings on teen issues such as bullying, suicide, drug and pregnancy? The dropout rate is very high and leads to many of our communities ills and perhaps there is and opportunity here to advocate for state programs to help eliminate this malady.

This Sunday the West Jackson District started a 4 day revival and Charge conference combination meeting that also features four mission initiatives. The theme is “To Revive the Church, to Reconnect Us. To Resource God’s People and to Reach Out in Christ’s Name.” The following four preachers, churches and ministries will be featured: Connie Shelton, Joe May, Rob Hill and Keith Tonkel; Good Shepherd Mission, Bethlehem Center, Society of St. Andrew, and Stop Hunger Now; Anderson UMC, Jackson, FUMC Clinton, FUMC Yazoo City and Hawkins UMC in Vicksburg.

What a Great Idea!!!

Pray, give and do for the least, the last and the lost of your community and the world!!!

Do you need help getting your missions committee started?

Please contact me (Jorge) and I will be glad to help.

Mission PRoP

2008-11-10T08:22:00.000-08:00

Spiritual formation and reformation often happens in such a surprising place. Michelle Shrader says God is always up to "Holy mischief". Amen! Well this weekend I was gifted with some of God's unusual blessings from a very unusual source.

This year at Annual Conference we will begin with what we are calling a "1 Plus Day." Thursday, June 11th we will have some extraordinary guests lead us in worship and conversation about our call to serve. One of the people we invited is Chris Lahr of Philadelphia, Pa. Chris is a part of a ministry called Mission Year. It is an incredible ministry that invites young adults to spend a year in service with the poor and homeless in inter-city Philly.

In preparation for the AC, I went to Philly this weekend to meet Chris and to see the ministry first hand. It was great timing because they were having a "PRoP" weekend. A PRoP weekend is a right of passage weekend. Chris talked about the rights of passage, so many cultures have and the fact that our culture has really lost that crossing point into adulthood. So on these weekends young people are invited to "cross over."

The weekend began with a gathering with the team and a conversation/devotional about poverty and homelessness. There is a movie and open discussion about the nature of homelessness. Then the participants are taken to a thrift store to get their wardrobe for the next day. Then they are given their night "shelter meal" of peanut butter and jelly, chips and a warm soda. This group was then taken to Chris's church building (Iglasia del Barrio) in the middle of one of the poorest Hispanic communities in Philly. They are instructed not to turn on lights or to use the water or toilets. There are a few flashlights given out and they are on their own (only able to bring three (3) items with them, excluding any electronic devices). They sleep there.

The next morning they are awakened at 6:30 (the time many shelters force their residents to leave) and given another sack lunch like the night before. They are then instructed to go to a particular part of town to spend the day with the homeless...no money, no ID, just their clothes on their back.

They are instructed to fulfill a checklist.

Spend an hour alone.
Only travel in groups of three (3) or less
Panhandle for money
Dumpster dive
Spend time with the homeless
Don't stay in buildings longer than 30 min. Then they are sent out with a token for the L-train with instructions about where to meet for pick up.

After the day they are picked up and taken to the Mission Year offices (extension office of Eastern University ie. Tony Campolo). There they are given a profile of the world hunger or should I say consumption statistics and are divided according to those numbers. Then comes supper based on the real world distribution...it is eye opening. Then there is a debriefing and everybody goes back home to process and rest.

This weekend rocked my world. I thought I was so in tune with the poverty thing. Wrong! I was changed because I joined the group for most of the weekend (some I helped Chris prepare). It was one of a series of life changing gifts God has given me lately. One was the Delta Meeting about two months ago, secondly was a trip to our own HOPE mission for the poor and Homeless in Greenville, where I spent the day with Matthew Pharis who is appointed there. All of this is happening in the context of our General church initiatives for the next four years. One is centered in "Poverty".

As I reflected on the weekend and all that is happening, I have been reminded of our missional roots in Wesley. I am also reminded that the A2 indicators told us we are losing our passion for community mission. We are missing one of God's greatest gifts. Not the things we can do for the poor, but what they can bring to us.

After this weekend I have a new vision of Jesus words,"the poor will be with you always." It isn't a condemnation it is a gift. These people are our barometer for the health of our world and they will be here until "the Kingdom comes" because it cannot be until they have led us all to serve each other.

Mississippi is the poorest state in the nation. We have been forever! We can change that if we let the poor teach us. I hope to help us develop our own "Mission Year" here. It is time to change the numbers.

There are more poor now than before Dr. King's "Poor Peoples Campaign."

This isn't the Dream...but it ain't over yet!

Join me as I pray and dream. E-mail if you feel a passion for this. If you want to read more check out my blog later this week as I begin a series of reflections on the experience.

I am so glad I went through this right of passage.

Wanna come?

Live loved,
Steve

Happy Anniversary BMCR!!!

2008-11-03T10:53:00.000-08:00

The Southeastern Jurisdiction (SEJ) of the Black Methodist for Church Renewal, Inc (BMCR) celebrated their 40th anniversary on the Mississippi Gulf coast.

There were 16 different conferences represented including New York and New Mexico. The Mississippi and Western North Carolina Conference had the largest number to register, with eighteen. Mississippi Conference Officers elected for 2009 included Rev. Z. Beasley, vice-coordinator and Rev. J. Barnes, nomination committee.

Dr. D. Beckley and Rust College were thanked for hosting Harambee 2008. Rust College welcomed over two hundred and sixty youth from across the SEJ. A presentation of the event was shown at the meeting. Representation from Rust College did a wonderful job representing the Mississippi Conference. Dr. Beckley greeted the youth by riding his motorcycle on stage. Due to the large success of Harambee, Haaambee II is being planned. Harambee is for youth and Harambee II will be for college students/young adults.

Rev Z. Beasley and the Mississippi planning team are to be commended for a job well done.

Important details about the business session will be reported at a later date.

Mission and Outreach the Methodist Way

2008-11-03T10:38:00.001-08:00

It may be surprising, but not all Methodists in the state know about the following six community centers in the Mississippi conference that are in the front lines of doing mission and outreach in our state; the work they do provides indispensable mission programs to the communities being served and is central to the church’s mission and outreach work in the state.

Your church can be in mission with these folks by praying for their staff and volunteers and the thousands of men, women and children they serve; you can give of your time, treasure and talent to their mission; and you can certainly call and ask what you can do by volunteering to work alongside.

Wesley House Community Center, Meridian
Feeding the hungry, welcoming the stranger, clothing the naked, healing the sick; Wesley House has been ministering to and serving the needs of the least, the last and the lost in the Meridian area since 1904. With six mission agencies under one roof consisting of Christian relief, education, child advocacy/victim’s services, free clinic and community center Wesley House is the go to place for these services to over 33,000 people in need in 15 counties surrounding Meridian.

Ginger Stevens, Director, gingerstevens@bellsouth.net – Phone 601-485-4736

St. Andrew’s Mission, McComb
SAM has been serving the McComb area since its incorporation in 1997 as a community center serving the many needs of senior citizens 55 and over as well as operating a free clinic which is staffed with doctors, nurses and clerical personnel for people of all ages. In addition it offers a special food service for handicapped seniors and a diner which is open to all and serves hot meals twice a week. SAM also operates a thrift store and provides many other services such as GED classes, parenting classes, and even a parish nurse who provides holistic health care in the community.

Ed Codding, Director, edcodding@yahoo.com – Phone 601-684-4678

Moore Community House, Biloxi
Since 1924 Moore CH has been in ministry to the Coast community in East Biloxi it provides quality childcare education and programs for community development and comprehensive family assessment and referrals. Since January, the former Biloxi Epworth United Methodist Church has been restored into a temporary facility for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years while Moore Community House completes its new child development center which was destroyed by Katrina and is now under construction; when the new center is completed Epworth will be turned over to the community as a community center. Moore offers programs to help single mothers working and/or going to school to help them gain self sufficiency including new job training programs in cooperation with HUD and the Biloxi Housing Authority.

Carol Burnett, Director, cburnett@mschildcare.org Phone – 228-669-4827

Good Shepherd Center, Vicksburg
Good Shepherd Center ministers to the least, the lost, the lonely and the last in the name of Jesus Christ through its varied ministries of daycare, GED program, free clinic and its Thanksgiving and Christmas food distribution programs.

Tommy Miller, Director, gscc@canufly.net – Phone 601-636-7687

Edwards Street Fellowship Center, Hattiesburg
Located in the southeast corner of Hattiesburg ESFC has served this low income community for almost 30 years. The center’s programs include quality multi-cultural pre-school care and educational services for children between the ages of six weeks and five years; a recently built food pantry has increased its capacity to provide food assistance to over 125 families each week; Cub, Boy Scout and Girl Scout children 6-16 meet here; and there are special programs to help girls’ develop their unique gifts and self image take place here; computer classes and social activities for older adults are also offered through ESFC.

Iva Brown, Director, esfcenter@comcast.net – Phone 601-544-6149

Bethlehem Center, Jackson
The Bethlehem Center is a National Mission Institution related to the United Methodist Church. Serving in one of Jackson’s poorest neighborhoods for the past 70 years, the Center serves low-income families and individuals through affordable quality childcare, a free income tax assistance program, a counseling center, and various community development initiatives. Recently it has expanded its program to include an infant room.

Tajuana Thicklen, Program Director, bethlehemcenter601@live.com – Phone 601-355-0224

Holidays and Hospitality

2008-11-03T09:36:00.000-08:00

"As you do it to one of these...you do it also to me" Matthew 25:40

We are in the season of thanksgiving, soon to be followed by Advent and then Christmas. People will be coming "home" for the holidays, others will be looking for a church to call their home. As we prepare for the holidays, let us do so by looking at our buildings, worship bulletins, and liturgies through the eyes and feet of a visitor. Here are some things to consider:

Are parking lots clean and visitor spaces marked? Is it clear where to park and where not to park?
Are entry ways welcoming and inviting? Is anyone at the doors to greet people as they arrive?
Is your building welcoming to those in wheelchairs, on walkers, or crutches?
Are there appropriate signs throughout the building identifying nurseries, classrooms, restrooms, sanctuary, choir room, church office, etc.?
Is the bulletin user-friendly to those who are not familiar to our style and context of worship?
Is The Lord's Prayer printed in the bulletin?
If communion is to be shared, is it clear who can partake and how to partake?
Is there an invitation extended to join the church?
Are words of welcome offered to those who are gathered for worship?
Are your members welcoming to those who are "strangers" to them?

Encourage your members to speak to at least three (3) people who they do not know every Sunday.

Consider having congregational greeters - it is their job to greet people, both known and unknown, as they find their place in the sanctuary.

What about the children and youth?
What is happening in the service that would capture the attention of the children?
How are children and youth involved in the leadership and planning of worship?
Is the bulletin formatted in such a way to encourage children in their worship experience? If not, consider developing a children's bulletin that will aid them in their worship.
How do you know who the visitor's are among you? How do you follow-up with them following the service to let them know of your gratitude for their presence?
How is your church inviting people in the community and beyond the walls of the church to come "home" and to make their home in your church?

Jesus said, "Whatever you have done to the stranger among you, so also you have done to me."

Let us be a people of welcoming grace and hospitality.

Investment

2008-11-03T08:18:00.000-08:00

So how is your financial picture?

What a question! In light of the current economic situation what does the faith community have to say to the world?

What is it that we can share that will help folks find some hope?

I attended Catalyst (a conference in Atlanta for leaders) a couple weeks ago and heard Dave Ramsey speak. He talked about “unity” and afterwards he was asked what he had to say about the current crisis. He shot back quickly…”If you had done what I have been telling you to do you wouldn’t have to worry.” Dave is a big “debt free” person. He believes in being debt free, having an emergency fund, and in living within your means. He speaks often about tithing, but more about the fact that all we have is God’s and we are just stewards of it. We know that, but do we live into it…do we practice it?

Many of our churches face budgetary challenges. Many of our mission centers and institutions are in a financial crunch. It is easy to allow the pressures of this challenge to pull us apart. We have to pay bills and salaries and bank notes… it can be overwhelming. It seems like there just isn’t enough to go around. We have to choose what we pay first and what we must cut. It can get ugly fast. People can lose jobs and entire communities can be devastated. It is easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of panic and pessimism. At the local church and conference levels there is talk of short falls and lack of resources. Blame is cast and tension rises. This doesn’t solve anything! How we deal with this issue is a witness to the type of people we are and to what we value most. How would God have us act?

Now is when the “Church” can live into its true identity. We are the children of God. This God is a God of abundance. In God’s Kingdom there is always enough for everyone! What does that look like? Maybe the Second chapter of Acts captures the picture.

“Everyone around was in awe--- all those wonders and signs done through the apostles! And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person’s need was met.” (Acts 2:42-ff Peterson’s Message)

Maybe what we have to teach and learn is that what we think we need isn’t really need and what we want isn’t always what is best. We live in a culture of individualism and abundance. Many around us have been in economic crisis for all their life. We are (even in this crisis) for the most part still very wealthy! We have bountiful resources. Best of all we have each other. All of this is God’s gift to us. We have a chance to be awesome in the eyes of this world by just sharing what we do have with those who don’t have. Sound too simple? It is. We make it complicated. We decide that we have to have all this stuff in our churches and our houses and all the time there are those who have no stuff or houses. Maybe the scare of losing what we have shouldn’t drive us to fearfully hoard all we can, maybe it should drive us to remember who’s it is and what God would have us do with it. What if our spirit was that of those first century saints who found the riches of God’s kingdom in each other and not in their banks? What if our churches weren’t asking how can we make budget or keep our building open, but who needs what we have to survive? Some will say this is niave. The truth is that we often justify our indulgence and call it need. We have much to learn together. I cannot wait to see how God will perform the signs and wonders that will lead us forward in faith.

As stewards of this great bounty we have will God find us faithful? Will the world see us share and be drawn in by our generosity and compassion? If we want more people, more young people, more diverse people…let’s model this Biblical stewardship and love the people in need with our resources and not just our prayers.

This is Thanksgiving time. We have so much to be thankful for. Many have nothing. Could we set a place at the table for them? Could we sell what we have to help them? If we did I think it would look like a Kingdom Feast. It is time for a return to a simpler way, to a time where people are more important that things. We need to be communities where relationship is our primary currency and love our treasure. Money will not and cannot save us! Let this season be a time for generosity and sharing. “For God so loved the world …”, this is how we are saved! What an awesome God! See you at the feast and I hope you’re not alone.

Live Loved,
Steve

Online 2009

2008-10-06T11:24:00.000-07:00

“Online 2009” is the newest ministry project that will be launch by SBC21. This ministry did not originate in the conference office. It was introduce to the SBC21 Team by two individual who felt a calling from God. Ms. Sandra Randall and Mr. Gilbert Victorare offering their services to help Strengthen The Black Church for the 21 Century.

The plan is as follows:

SBC-21 Technology Goals

* Provided E-mail addresses for all pastors
* Provided assistance in establishing website
* Provided computer networking assistance
* Provided assistance in management software selection, installation and training

CHURCH INVESTMENT

Websites

* provide information for the site
* pay to reserve domain name (less than $10 per year)
* agree to provide 2-3 youth to be trained to update the website

Networking

* Churches agree to provide 2-3 youth to be trained to assist in the installation and upkeep of the network
* Churches purchase all equipment needed for their network

Church Administration Software

* Churches provide 2-3 people to be trained to use the software
* Churches provide computer equipment for software to be installed

RETURN

* Decrease Technology Gap between Ethnic Minority and Ethnic Majority Churches
* Provide means for church to reach out to local and world community
* Centralized place for information about the church
* Facilitate communication among church members, District and Conference
* Youth trained with marketable skills
* Investment in the life and ministry of the church
* Establishes Worldwide presence for the church

Here to Serve!!!

2008-10-06T11:20:00.000-07:00

The 2004 Book of Discipline, paragraph 607, lists six things that Connectional Ministries is responsible for:

envisioning the ministries necessary to live out the mission of the church in and through the annual conference;
creating and nurturing relationships and connections among the local, district, annual conference, and general church ministries;
providing encouragement, coordination ,and support for the ministries of nurture, outreach, and witness in districts and congregations for the transformation of the world;
ensure the alignment of the total resources or the annual conference to its mission;
developing and strengthening ethnic ministries, including ethnic local churches and concerns;
providing for advocacy and monitoring functions to ensure that the church is consistent with its stated values.

This issue of Connectivity is to show you how we are living and serving our way into this charge in the Discipline.

We are servants of the Lord first and of the AC secondly. Dr. Lovett Weems reminded me that we are responsible to look out for the big picture of the entire state and the ministry of the annual conference. What a challenging proposition. Your connectional ministry staff is aligned with this task. Here is what we can do for you and what we do for the AC.

As director, my job is to be “keeper of the vision” which is “to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world”. I am responsible for facilitating the leadership team. I am responsible for continually seeking to make sure we are bringing leadership to the core values of the AC. I am also available to do leadership and training events in the areas of visioning, local church leadership development, small membership church leadership, and congregational care ministry. I am also available to help interpret the ministries of the Ac to local churches and districts.

Please take this as our invitation to you to invite us to serve you. We love our God and we love this church. Let us share that love with you. I cannot wait to see how God will use us all to transform this world!

Live Loved,

Steve

Resourcing the Local Church

2008-10-06T11:03:00.000-07:00

Make Disciples for the Transformation of the World – this is our mission.

Provide encouragement, coordination and support for the ministries of nurture, outreach, and witness in districts and congregations for the transformation of the world; create and nurture relationships and connections among the local, district, annual conference and general church ministries – this is the role of Connectional Ministries.

How can we do all of this?

By connecting one with another and sharing the gifts that God has
given us. Together, our gifts, our lives and our service can develop relationships and connections that make disciples and change the world!

Below you will find workshops that are offered to help the local church in its ministries of making disciples and changing the world. All of these workshops are offered to the local church at no cost. To schedule a workshop, please contact Rev. Michelle Foster at 601-354-0515 ext. 28 or michelle@mississippi-umc.org.

Safe Sanctuaries

Safe Sanctuaries 101 – This workshop is designed to introduce people to the concept and Biblical understanding of Safe Sanctuaries. During our time together, the local church will be given practical tools to aid them in their work to make their church as safe as possible for children and youth and those that serve as their leaders.
This workshop is most helpful for the Board of Trustees, the Staff Parish Relations Committee, Children and Youth Ministry groups, and Church Administrators (both clergy and lay).

Ethics and the Internet – This hands-on workshop explores the ways the internet and other forms of media are used for ministry in ways that are both helpful and exploitative of our children, youth and young adult populations.

This workshop is most helpful for leaders of youth ministry, the Staff Parish Relations Committee, parents and children 12 years and older.

Nurturing the Nursery – Welcoming young children into the church is a great joy! Once we welcome them, we need to be prepared to nurture and care for them. This workshop will help the local church to do just that! Using some tried and true experiences coupled with some basic safety procedures, this workshop provide you the tools to transform your nursery into a space that beckons children and parents alike to come and be a part!

Family Ministries

Family Ministries 101 – Designed to introduce the local church to Family Ministries, this workshop is explore questions such as: Why do we need family ministries in the local church when we have age graded ministries? What are some “best practices” in family ministry? How do we begin a conversation about family ministries in our local church? Participation in this workshop will offer the local church new ideas, renewed enthusiasm, and practical tools for ministry.

Parenting in the Pew – Designed for parents and worship leaders, this workshop will explore the ways we can best engage, encourage and assist children in their experiences of church and worship.

Help! We Need Teachers –This workshop will provide you with appropriate tools to “beef up” your small group ministry, nurture existing teachers and grow new ones, consider the various ways in which we can and do teach, and explore the ways that the role of teaching has expanded and changed in the last several years. This workshop is suitable for pastors and teachers, regardless of the age that they lead.

I Am Willing to Teach…But I Don’t Know What to Teach!? – Often in our midst there are those who are willing to teach but want to be given some guidance as to the material to teach. This workshop is offered in conjunction with the Mississippi Conference Media Center for church educational leaders, pastors, Sunday school teachers, and small group leaders to share with churches the various resources available to them, some at no cost, to be used in their local church.

The 5 Love Languages of Children – Based on the book by Drs. Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell, this workshop will offer parents insight and understanding into the ways their child best expresses and receives love. Together, parents will discover how to express unconditional feelings of respect, affection, and commitment that will encourage and strengthen their family for the rest of their lives.

This workshop has also been adapted into a session offered to leaders who work with children and youth in order to improve the ways that we communicate, discipline and engage with one another.

Marriage Ministry: Changing Our Community, Changing Our World – Did you know that 51% of marriages in Mississippi end in divorce? That is just over 1 out of every 2 marriages! The church can and should respond to this problem by finding ways to nurture existing marriages, cultivate healthy and sustainable relationships with those that are engaged, and educate and shape the understanding of marriage for those dating or exploring the possibilities of dating. Local church leaders that participate in this workshop will be given a wealth of knowledge, practical tools for ministry application, and a beginning plan for further growth.

Congregations for Children – This workshop introduces the local church to the ministry of Congregations for Children, our partnership with the Roman Catholic and Episcopal churches in our state. It provides an understanding into our role as advocate on behalf of children; our community and legislative responsibilities; and, ways in which we can be a positive force of change for the children in our world.

Growing Our Mission Outreach Ministry

2008-10-06T08:44:00.000-07:00

Have you or your church been thinking about starting a new or revamping an existing mission outreach ministry lately but do not know where or how to get started?

Try jotting down the answer to the following “Things to Ponder” list of questions and you will be on your way to putting together a

preliminary plan.

Additionally, check out the Mission Outreach Handbook (by clicking on the link below) and go to Appendix 1A on pages 17-23 for some handy planning sheets; consult also pages 5-7 for an outline to a planning retreat. This is the link to the PDF file containing the entire 40 page handbook …

Mission Outreach Handbook

Things to Ponder (as a mission outreach group)

Who are we?
What are we about?
Why do we do missions?
How long we been around?
What have we done in the last three (3) years?
What have we learned in those same three (3) years?
What does Jesus want us to do in the next three (3) years?
Has He given us a dream/ a project to start or grow the outreach ministry?
What have we done to respond to that calling? What will we do now?
How many materially or spiritually needy people have we helped last year?
What is the need in our community?
How many more folk can we help?
What kind of resources does it take to carry on our Mission Outreach ministry today?

In terms of funds, Staff, Volunteers, Time, Talents, Effort, Prayer Support?

How have we financed our ministry in the past? How has God responded to our needs?
How much more resources will be needed? How much more time, effort, new talents and prayer support will be required next year? In the next three (3) years?
Do we know our church people and their gifts and graces? The needs of the population-and individuals- we can serve? Do they match?
How will we recruit the team of volunteers, find the talents and finance the vision next year? In the next three (3) years?
What does our church, our volunteer team, prayer supporters and the folk we serve want (expect) from us?
Most importantly, what does God want us to do?

Who … What … Is needed to achieve the goals of our mission outreach ministry?

When and … How will these worthy goals be achieved?

Got Plan?

If you would like for me to come to your cluster meeting or to a district training and do a planning retreat for your group or if you want a hard copy of the Mission Outreach Handbook e-mail me your mailing address to jorge@mississippi-umc.org or just call me 1-866-647-7486 Ext. 20

More people, younger people, more diverse people…

2008-09-29T12:35:00.000-07:00

There are over 50,000 Hispanics in the state of Mississippi, according to government statistics, and they certainly fit the description listed above. By and large these are younger, working people from many countries in Central and South America and the Caribbean the majority of who are not churched. In order to reach this significant number of folk our office in conjunction with the General Board of Discipleship will be conducting the first of 3 Module training events leading to certification as a lay missioner.

The overall purpose of Pastor/Mentor Lay Missioner Training Module 1 is to equip lay missioners and pastors in a team work style in the development of faith communities, creation of new and revitalization of existing congregations and community ministries. The curriculum of the training program will focus on training clergy and laity to work together to reach the Hispanic community. Hispanic and non-Hispanic clergy will have a crucial role in this partnership and this training will provide tools that will strengthen and present methods and principles to develop successful ministries with Hispanics communities.

This module consisting of five units is, usually, presented in the course of a week but will be presented in 30 hours in the course of 3 days and one evening. Each unit is self-contained and all 5 should be completed before proceeding to Modules II and III.

Basic requirements to Enter Training

Personal experience and commitment to the risen Christ and the Hispanic community. Openness to the leading of the Holy Spirit;

Active participation in and commitment to a local UMC and demonstrated appreciation for its tradition and doctrine;

Recommendation from the local pastor or appropriate local church committee or group, in which participant is a member;

Upon termination of this training, the participants shall receive a certificate of completion of Module I of the initial training.

God’s Economy and World Communion Sunday

2008-09-29T11:21:00.000-07:00

These are fascinating times. The financial sector in our country is in the midst of incredible turbulence. In the face of these challenges it is good to remember the faithfulness of our God.

Sunday is World Communion Sunday and the special offering will help provide international and ethnic scholarships. Two years ago I was in Zimbabwe at the Hilltop UMC serving communion to a group of people who were beneficiaries of this offering. I will never take this Sunday for granted. To be in another country, breaking bread with perfect strangers who become my family through this sacrament of love was life changing. I heard the hymns sung in a different tongue, but to the same tune. I heard the order shared in a different language, but at the same table with the same elements. “One Body” is such a powerful phrase now!

Did you know that last year we gave $16,690 through the World Communion Offering? Did you also know that Mississippians received 33 Ethnic scholarships to the tune of $34,900? As a matter of fact, last year Mississippians gave $23,857 to be used for student aid through the General Church and 105 students in our state received $152,579 in loans and scholarships! What a return on investment.

In times of scarcity God reminds us that the Kingdom economy operates differently! God needs no governmental bailouts…it is all God’s. Come to the Table Sunday and break bread with the World. Come to the table Sunday and give your offerings to the one who can multiply fish, loaves, and student financial aid…cool…way cool! I cannot wait to see the numbers.

Live Loved,
Steve

Tag, You’re It!!!

2008-09-22T13:16:00.000-07:00

It is a great idea!!!

We have designed a specialty car tag for MS United Methodist and the proceeds go to the community centers this year.

All you have to do is go to the Conference web site and click on the sample tag then follow directions or you can call the conference office and ask about it.

All you have to pay now is $31 and if we get 300 people to register before October 15 the community centers will get a little boost.

With over 180,000 United Methodists in Mississippi we can do this.

Right now we have about 165 people who have committed.

I did…so tag….you’re it!

Don’t wait, get yours today and ask a friend to get one too.

Live Loved,

Steve

National Observance of Children's Sabbath

2008-09-22T10:37:00.000-07:00

National Observance of Children’s Sabbath
October 17-19, 2008

As you prepare for the Observance of Children’s Sabbath in your congregations, I offer these Top 10 Ideas to you and your congregation. I would love to receive your pictures and stories of Children’s Sabbath. We are a creative conference that engages in ministry in such unique and varied ways! Let’s celebrate our ministries even as we seek to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

Fulford UMC, in Miami Beach, Florida, included in their bulletin a history of the Children’s Defense Fund and highlighted the quote from Marian Wright Edelman: “If every one of us looked at each child as a child of God, we wouldn’t stand for the injustice that kids suffer.” They observed a moment of silence at the start of the worship service. The church bell chimed once at 10 seconds, then at 35 seconds, at 36 seconds, 41 seconds. Next, someone stood and stated: “Every 10 seconds a high school student drops out. Every 35 seconds a child is abused or neglected. Every 36 seconds a baby is born into poverty. Every 41 seconds a baby is born without health insurance.” The service concluded with a blessing of the children at the altar. Resources and representation from various community organizations that meet children’s needs were available after worship.
Christ Episcopal Church, in Springfield, Missouri, used lessons from the National Observance of Children’s Sabbaths manual. The Executive Director of the Community Partnership of the Ozarks spoke to adult classes. Following worship, there was a community BBQ dinner. The afternoon featured a Fun Day of games and events in the park for children in the community. Other members of the congregation did basic home repairs and clean-up for community residents.
Shakeel Syed, Executive Director of the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California, reports that over twenty mosques participated in the National Observance of Children’s Sabbaths Celebration on Friday, October 19, 2007. Khutbahs focused on the more than nine million children in America without health coverage and statistics were used from the 2007 National Observance of Children’s Sabbaths manual to illustrate the need for Muslims to encourage their state and federal elected officials to pass comprehensive health legislation that covers all children. The success of the National Observance of Children’s Sabbaths Celebration led the Shura Council of Southern California to host a follow-up conference highlighting the voiceless plight of children from faith perspectives.
The Benedictine Sisters of Mt. Angel, in Oregon, held a prayer service for the welfare of children that raised awareness for children’s advocacy.
Temple Emmanu-El in Edison, in New Jersey, invited a speaker from the Children’s Defense Fund to speak for their Children’s Shabbat. The ongoing refrain was, “How is it for the children?” Following the service, people signed-up for a writing campaign to elected officials. The Social Action Committee of the synagogue will focus on children’s justice for their upcoming Mizpah Days event and are planning a community Children’s March.
Greater St. Mark AME in Georgetown, in South Carolina, had an entire weekend of events with a Friday “Night Out of Fun” for community children and a Saturday community “Harvest Fest.” Children led the Sunday Worship service. School supplies were collected and sent to victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Newport Lutheran Church, in Newport, Minnesota, involved the youth group in the worship service. The youth made and presented a Power Point presentation on the needs and concerns of children. The Sunday School classes made quilts that included positive messages of hope and blessing to children. These quilts were displayed during the service, blessed, and then given to the local St. Joseph Home for Children. The congregation made the Children’s Defense Fund their mission focus for the month of October. Money raised during this time will be split between the Children’s Defense Fund and the St. Joseph Home for Children.
Everyone was welcome at the Interfaith Children’s Sabbath service celebrated in Elmwood Park, Virginia! The service was drawn from the National Observance of Children’s Sabbaths manual and enlivened by the talents of the Praise Dancers and Youth Choir of Kingdom Life Ministries, the Children’s Choir of Louden Avenue Christian Church, and music from the Kemp family. The outdoor event included a host of children’s activities under tents, from storytelling and crafts to a juggler and face painting. The coalition of community groups and places of worship that sponsored the service included Mental Health America, Temple Emmanuel, Clarence Sabree Islamic Center, Old Southwest Congregation in Action, National Alliance of the Mentally Ill-Roanoke, Local Colors, New Horizons, and Valley Character. An article in the Roanoke Times noted, “Representatives of Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, and Buddhist faiths were on hand for the afternoon gathering. ‘This is a symbolic effort to show a commitment to unity,’ said the Rev. Kirk Ballin, chairman of the interfaith committee for Valley Character, one of the sponsoring organizations. ‘Hopefully this is the beginning of an annual event. The idea is that as a diverse community made up of diverse faith groups, there are certain values that we share in common,’ he explained, specifically citing, ‘the health and welfare of all the children of our community.’”
The United Methodist Women of First United Methodist Churches of Beach Haven Terrace and Kynett, in Longbeach Township, New Jersey, coordinated their 2007 National Observance of Children’s Sabbaths Celebration and incorporated its theme, “My Boat Is So Small: Creating a Safe Harbor of Hope and Health Care for All Children” throughout their service. A string of colored origami boats with children’s drawings was hung from the altar rail, alongside life jackets, fish nets, and oars. During the Children’s Sermon, the leader folded an origami boat as she talked with the children about our nation’s nine million children without health insurance. At the conclusion, each child received a boat as a reminder to pray for children. The church convened a team to follow up on the National Observance of Children’s Sabbaths Celebration by finding ways they can help connect eligible families with the state Children’s Health Insurance Program.
The United Church of Hayward, United Church of Christ, in Hayward, California, has a long and strong National Observance of Children’s Sabbaths Celebration tradition upon which they continue to build. In 2004, forty backpacks filled with school supplies were collected, blessed, and sent to Fresno International Refugees Ministries for Hmong refugees; in 2005 they adopted an inner-city Oakland classroom as one of their members; and in 2006 they explored unique ways in which they could respond to their young neighbors. This past year, they collected food and funds for an Emergency Food Pantry serving hundreds of children and their families each month. The Children’s Sabbath comes after 40 days of Prayer, a UCC- and Disciples of Christ-sponsored event which culminates in the Children’s Sabbath each year. The sermon, prayers, and music all focused on children and justice. The church prepared a news release to share their inspiring observance with the broader community.

Water, Water Everywhere

2008-09-15T13:47:00.000-07:00

Water, water everywhere.

From the Midwest flooding to Hanna to Gustav to Ike, our country has been buffeted by the forces of nature this Spring and Summer. In good old fashioned Christian Methodist tradition our people in Mississippi have responded with generosity with almost $19,000 in cash aid and with hundreds of flood buckets and emergency kits.

Additional flood buckets are beginning to be stored within the state to help with internal and neighboring conferences needs. Contact Brenda Hiatt at 601-917-7094; bhiatt@comcast.net if your church has flood buckets or kits to contribute.

In terms of volunteers many have already inquired about the need for folks and I think at this time I may want to quote our State Disaster Coordinator CJ Caulfield “ Patience! In the immediate aftermath of disasters, our inclination to provide assistance can sometimes become a piece of frustration as we look for avenues of ministry. We work diligently with the locally impacted community to provide to them what they need rather than overwhelming them with potentially unneeded resources.” Once needs assessments have been conducted the affected coordinators will let us know and we will help pass the word around.

On the subject of storms more that 500 people have been reported dead and more than 650,000 have been affected in Haiti according to the food relief ministry Stop Hunger Now. This poorest of the poor island country has been hit by Hurricane Gustav, Hurricane Fay and Tropical Storm Hanna. This organization is responding to Haiti’s crisis by providing much needed relief for the victims who are facing life threatening situations. It is feared more deaths could emerge since aid is trickling slowly into the country. Stop Hunger Now is working to send four shipments of life saving food and clothing valued at $1 million, but is asking for help in raising $28,000 to finance the costs of shipping these containers. This potential partner in ministry is asking for help in their ongoing work in disaster and hunger relief. See the following link to their web site We need your help today. Please click here.

The subject of hunger seems to keep popping up all over the place especially since the cost of food and its transportation component have gone up substantially in the last year. I would like to share with you the following link which presents the extremes to which people are forced to go to when they are so poor they cannot afford to pay for their food; the article details the real life situation of thousands of Haitians (even before the recent hurricanes) who purchase and eat dirt cookies, literally! http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22902512/from/ET/ By means of comparison the weekly mix of groceries for a typical family and their cost varies according to the standards from country to country … $500 in Germany, $342 in the USA and $317 in Japan. If you would like to receive an eye opening e-mail which illustrates this point more clearly let me know and I will send it right away (it has a picture of the typical family, their groceries and their cost). Not as insidious, but just as real, it goes without saying that hunger also exists in our country and in our state.

More than ever … Pray, Give Do!!!

Jorge.

PACT is closer than what you think...

2008-09-08T14:19:00.000-07:00

PACT will be in the Mississippi area... Learn more...

Join us!!!
Thursday, September 18 through Saturday, September 20
Twin Lakes Conference Center
155 Milner Road
Florence, MS

PACT Registration $80
Two (2) Night Hotel Stay and five (5) meals: $92
Two (2) CEUs

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2008
3:00 – 5:00 Registration, Fellowship
6:00 – 7:00 Supper
7:30 – 9:00 PACT 101 – An Orientation to the Ministry Protection
Program & Resources for the Local Church

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2008
8:00 – 9:00 Breakfast
9:30 – 10:30 Checks & Balances – Minimizing Fidelity Losses
11:00 – 12:00 Real Property Management
12:00 – 1:00 Lunch
1:30 – 3:00 Safe Sanctuaries Screening Staff and Operations
3:30 – 5:00 Employment Practice
6:00 – 7:00 Supper
7:30 – 9:00 Safe Sanctuaries Reporting and Response

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2008
8:00 – 9:00 Breakfast
9:30 Questions, Worship and Wrap-up

For more information, feel free to contact Michelle Foster at 601 3540515 or the PACT Service Center at 1 877 UMCPACT.

Inspiration From Within

2008-09-08T13:52:00.000-07:00

Greetings:

What a blast to have our Connectional Leadership Team in one room! We are truly grateful that you all gave up your Friday evening and Saturday to be with us. Your feedback was tremendously insightful. I was truly inspired by everyone’s enthusiastic support for our work together.There are so many people who worked incredibly hard to make this retreat what it was for us all.

Once again, thank you so much for your time and expertise you so graciously offered to us. Let us keep on plugging and plowing along the exciting journey ahead. There are so many people who worked incredibly hard to make this retreat what it was for us all.

Firstly, I need to thank the professionals who joined us, our retreat team leaders Susan Graebe and Carlin Johnson. I want to offer our heartfelt gratitude to Rev. Steve Casteel and his staff for making everything works so well for this retreat.

As our Connectional Leadership Team continue to work in peace and harmony to raise the bar in the Mississippi Conference of the United Methodist Church, I hope you are able to ask yourself what is important in the work that you do – what is essential. You are then able to make all else secondary. You sacrifice the small points and forego the credit to make sure that the one thing that is really important gets done the way it needs to get done.

So, using this ability as a guide, I ask myself: what is essential for our church as a whole to grow and flourish? What do we have to do? What is God asking each of us to do? I have worked closely with many of you who came to the retreat and know what kind of leaders you are. There are so many generous people on this Connectional Leadership Team – people who have really committed themselves body and soul to our church. What more can the Mississippi Conference ask of you?

We need to connect more people to the United Methodist Church in more ways than we have thought of. We all know that over 50% of our communities are not affiliated with any church organization and do not FEEL the need to become connected. So let’s get busy getting them connected.

We need each of you to find ways to reach out and bring more people in. More people, younger people, and more diverse people. I say that as I turn to you, esteemed leaders, and ask what the hallmark of our leadership will be. What are you passionate about? What will be the legacy you leave for the next generation of the United Methodist Church? What trait do you have that is so exemplary that everyone on your prospective committees and tables wishes they could embody it?

We all came to the retreat this weekend committed. We each came to our prospective tables to think about what our next level of leadership is because leadership is not a one-size fits all proposition. It comes in different styles, different roles, and is suited to different needs.

We each have to challenge ourselves to get to that next level of leadership.

We have been giving the green light to go make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. And I say, let’s have a fun time doing it. Wherever you are, there is always somewhere else to go. Whatever your sphere of influence is, you can always expand it to include more people, more ideas, more breadth and more depth.

We’ve had an extraordinary retreat together. It has been a God-send for me as a way to begin this new journey on a high. We feel connected. Let’s translate our solidarity to a church that so desperately needs it. We have a motto at my home church. That motto is White Oak United Methodist Church is the church where Jesus Christ is in the center and his love is all around.

The message is clear: put Jesus in the center of your prospective tables and his love will –spill over into your teams. Let this retreat – all of its inspiring moments and positive energy – spill over into the ordinary days ahead and make them extraordinary. We each hold this challenge. I challenge myself continually and am asking you to do the same. Thank you for coming and thank you in advance for leaving this retreat with a personal challenge to strengthen your leadership and take it to new heights.

Blessings to you all,
Timothy Crisler
Conference Lay Leader

Becoming Active in a Food Outreach Program

2008-08-28T11:53:00.000-07:00

There have been some substantive talks between Mississippi Methodist individuals and Conference representatives with the Stop Hunger Now organization to look at the feasibility of opening up a warehouse site here in Mississippi in the not too distant future.

Also, the St. Andrews gleaning organization has recently relocated to Jackson and opened its offices at Broadmeadow UMC where you can reach the director Bob Fritchey in person or by phone at 601-850-4018 to schedule a gleaning trip for your missions group.

In addition to its many hurdles to self sufficiency many financially strapped Mississippians are facing the task of paying for ever increasing food prices and for this reason we would like to help as many churches as may be interested in becoming active in a food outreach program in their communities.

Please let me know if you would like to get something started in your church in the area of hunger relief. Or if you and your church group would like a bit more personal help in forming your church missions group or would like some help finding out more about other mission and outreach programs for your church please call me or email me and I will be happy to work with you and your group.

Jorge

Jorge@mississippi-umc.org
601-354-0515 ext.20

In Missions and Outreach... You Do Not Have to Reinvent the Wheel!!!

2008-08-28T11:13:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered what do the
nine (9) currently active community centers are about?

I say this because it could be that large or small your church missions group could partner with any of them in their mission efforts.

These institutions which are affiliated with the Mississippi Conference provide a variety of services to their local communities ranging from GED and other education services to offering help and support for women, children and seniors with medical, food and abuse issues. They are only partially supported by the conference apportionment and could benefit from additional “second mile” giving or on-site volunteer help.

Listed below are the conference's community centers:

Bethlehem Center, Jackson
Choctaw Mission, Choctaw
Edwards Street Community Center, Hattiesburg
Good Shepherd Center, Vicksburg
Holmes County Town & Country Ministries, Goodman
Mississippi Rural Center, Columbia
Moore Community House, Biloxi
St. Andrew's Mission, McComb
Wesley House Community Center, Meridian

For a partial list of the above and other Mississippi missions groups click on the following link to the Conference web page http://www.mississippi-umc.org/page.asp?PKValue=715

In addition to the community centers we have 25 Wesley foundation ministries, partially supported by the apportionment, in all the community colleges in the state as well as at Rust and Millsaps Colleges. Additionally, there are 48 Habitat for Humanity affiliates and countless local school boards.

So what can your church group do to help? Why don’t you call them and find out.

When it comes to mission and outreach you do not have to reinvent the wheel you can join someone already at work in your community.

Approved Communities of Shalom Training Sites

2008-08-25T14:24:00.000-07:00

Seek the shalom of the city where I have sent you, for in it’s shalom, you will find your shalom.” –Jeremiah 29:7

Communities of Shalom, a community development initiative of the United Methodist Church. The Communities of Shalom Program shares a vision of revitalized neighborhoods and engaged congregations together with urban, rural and suburban partners that seek renewal.

Communities of Shalom are built on four principles:

1. Faith in Action
2. Asset Based Community Development
3. Collaboration
4. Systemic Change

With these principles in mind, groups are trained to recognize neighborhoods' strengths. Communities then develop a plan that will encourage growth and development.

The Mississippi Conference has approved four churches to be recommended for training as Community of Shalom. You may receive an application by contacting Rev. Fitzgerald Lovett, at 601-354-0515, ext 29 or email fitzgerald@mississippi-umc.org.

Deadline to apply is July 30^th.

The State of the Art

2008-08-25T13:35:00.000-07:00

As we continue this adventure in communications called Connectivity... We want to thank the over 900 that opened and read it. We sent out to 3170. We also want you to know that over 800 of our e-mail addresses produced returns. Our goal is to reduce that number significantly, which will take time. Our desire is to have a broad cast of this information.

If you feel this is valuable would you consider sharing it with some of your friends? These “connections “ give us the opportunity to hear from more people. There is so much good news to tell. Help us as we seek to share with others. Also, if you have ideas about what would be helpful additions to this piece, please let us know.

One person suggested that we offer some “it worked for us” ideas and we will start that in October. So, if you have some practical ideas let us know and we’ll share them and create a library for your use on line. We are adding a piece called “GO”. It will be short stories of churches that are making disciples and changing the world…you’ll love them!

All of this is for one purpose…”to make disciples of Christ for the transformation of the world.”

Live Loved,
Steve

Children's Sabbath: What's Your Plan?

2008-08-25T13:29:00.000-07:00

What is Children’s Sabbath? Children’s Sabbath is a national movement that aims to unite religious congregations of all faiths in shared concern for children and a common commitment to improving their lives and working for justice on their behalf.

There is great diversity in the celebration and observance of Children’s Sabbath. There are, however, three (3) important foci of a Children’s Sabbath that is present regardless of the way you choose to recognize it:

(1) A celebration of the gifts of children
(2) Raised awareness of issues facing our children in our community, state & nation
Focused concerns for the previous legislative session have included:
a. Full Funding for MAEP (Mississippi Adequate Education Plan)
b. Funding for pre-kindergarten pilot programs
c. More accessible SCHIP (State Children’s Health Insurance Plan)
d. State funds for childcare assistance
e. Lowering the grocery tax and raising the cigarette tax
f. Making just policies that target the cradle-to-prison pipeline
(3) Call to action responses that seek justice and equality for all children

Are you planning a Children’s Sabbath observance or celebration this year? Maybe you have already had one this summer? Free planning resource manuals are available in the conference office to everyone who requests one.

Plans are being made to recognize local churches that participate in Children’s Sabbath each year. Let us add your name to the list! Simply contact Rev. Michelle Foster at 601-354-0515 ext. 28 or michelle@mississippi-umc.org.

Praying... Giving...Doing

2008-08-11T12:57:00.000-07:00

In the introduction to the Mission and Outreach Handbook, Bishop Ward said “Jesus graciously invites us to share in God’s mission. We reach out in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amazingly God uses us to welcome, heal and help … God is with us as we listen to the nudging of the Holy Spirit , as we sense the movement in our hearts, as we asses resources, as we watch for opportunities to serve, as we move out with boldness.” And so it was last month when several appeals for help went out (perhaps Jesus’ invitation and the follow-up nudging of the Spirit) asking our Mississippi church members to come to the aid of those involved in the clean up and recovery after the disastrous Midwest floods that an outpouring of financial donations and flood buckets started coming in.

From the raising of about $100 from the 5 and six year olds in the Chunky UMC who have been learning about missions and outreach to a couple of large donations from church Sunday School classes to countless other individual donations, over $10,000 has already been collected and continues to be received at the conference office. Over eight thousand has already been sent to the affected areas directly with additional remittances planned as long as the outpouring of concern and generosity continues to flow in.

In missions and outreach pray, give and do! I thank God for all the prayer warriors in the state and the generous givers (regardless of age!) and the ones investing time in doing eternally significant things in God’s Kingdom for God’s people in need.

CCYM: Summer Highlights

2008-08-11T12:04:00.000-07:00

Executive Officers:

President	Hailey Peterson	Starkville District
1^st Vice	Guy Wimberly	Brookhaven District
2^nd Vice	Lennie Patterson	Starkville District
Recording Secretary	Carson Shock	Tupelo District
Corresponding Secretary	Callie Stewart	Seashore District

Youth Service Fund (YSF) Scholarship Fund:

$50 per student for all Mississippi Conference Events

(Dare to Lead, Overflow, Jubilee Weekend, Spiritual Life Retreats, Convo on the Coast, & Mississippi Youth Annual Conference (MYAC).

This scholarship is for all churches of 75 or less active worship participants!!!

Contact Roger Shock at roger@fumctupelo.com for more information.

Dare to Lead at Camp Lake Stephens Information:

Junior High Dare to Lead
October 11-12, 2008
Speaker: Zach Skipper
Worship: MSU Wesley Foundation Praise Band
Registration Deadline: September 26

Senior High Dare to Lead
October 18-19, 2008
Speaker: Hugh Griffith
Worship: MSU Wesley Foundation Praise Band
Registration Deadline: October 3

Cost: $65 Per Person to stay in Cabins
$60 Per Person to stay in Tree Houses

Registration & Health/Release Forms: Go to www.camplakestephens.com

Youth & Young Adult Web-site:

Thirteen2thirty.com is currently being designed by a Web-site Design Team.

Check out the site of upcoming events & activities, along with leadership information.

SBC-21's 2009 Goals: Here's More

2008-08-11T11:55:00.000-07:00

The goal of SBC-21(Strengthening the Black Church) is to offer The United Methodist Church the gift of a transformational learning model that enables one congregation to share its gift of vitality with other churches that are seeking growth, vitality and transformation and wanting to expand their gifts in mission and ministry and, in the process, to revitalize Black congregations and The United Methodist Church. “

The SBC-21 Mississippi Conference Team had focus on the following items for the past year.

African-American Pilot Program - six (6) churches moving from part time to full time worship service.
Established a SBC-21 Coaching Team -10 pastors and one (1) laity were trained by Dr. Douglas W. Ruffle, author of,”The Discovery Church Journey.” They will coach churches on The Discovery Church Journey and help develop Ministry Action Plans (MAP) in response to the A2 survey ( partnership with New Church Development).
Rev. Tyron Gordon of St Luke UMC, in Dallas, TX provided leadership training for several pastors (partnership with New Church Development).

Several churches attended the National Training offered by SBC-21 in various locations.

Cheryl Stevenson, SBC-21 National Coordinator, was one of the Key presenters at the Convocation on The Black Church. A covenant agreement was also initiated between Mississippi SBC-21 and the National SBC-21.

Four pastors attended, “Embracing God’s Diversity”, conference at Lake Junaluska. Bishop Ward was one of the speakers and Rev. Theodore Williams participated on one of the panels.

Our goals for 2008-2009 are:

Reduce the “0” churches on apportionments;
Increase the number of churches with at least one profession of faith;
Increase the number of districts that host events at African-American churches;
Increase the utilization of African-American leadership;
Support and increase the African-American covenant groups;
Provide leadership training for pastors, laity, youth and young adults;
Every African-American pastor will have an email address; and
Identify churches which will be a part of, The Discovery Church Journey.

Information YOU Can Use...

2008-08-11T11:49:00.000-07:00

We live in an age where information moves at the speed of light. There is so much information all around us. Sometimes I feel information overload. On the other hand, we live in a community of faith where we need to share information well. I have discovered so many incredible stories to be told across this conference. There is an abundance of information about ways we are making disciples and changing the world. You need to hear and share them.

Connectional Ministries has repeatedly heard that there is a lack of information flow from our office. As we have reflected on that we have had extensive conversations about how to get the word out. The problem is that our methods of communication depend on you. The Advocate, the web site, the Word, and recently Connectivity are all dependant on your receiving and responding.

In a recent conversation someone reminded me of the root word of “information”. The messages and stories we receive are “formational”. We are “in” “formed” by this endless flow. What we think and believe is shaped by information. The lack of information causes the creation of information like rumor or gossip. We are committed to help the flow of information. We want to be able to hear from you about how God is at work in your life or community of faith. For this to happen we need two things to be in place.

First you need to help us update our contact lists and let us know if you are receiving communication. We need a point of contact. Secondly we need you to know how to contact us. Our phone number is (601) 354-0515. Yes, sometimes there is an electronic answer and it can be maddening, but we are earnestly seeking to answer each call as quickly as possible. Our e-mail addresses are simple. Mine is steve@mississippi-umc.org. Krystal Bonds’ (Administrative Assistant) is connectionalministries@mississippi-umc.org. Michelle Foster, Fitzgerald Lovett, Jorge Navarrete, and Roger Shock can all be contacted by typing their first name and then @mississippi-umc.org. We are currently redesigning the web pages for our ministries and hope to have that project finished by Jan. 09.

Beginning in August we will relaunch the Connectivity e-news. Every first Monday we will send it out. It will contain information about calendar events and stories of “disciple making” and “world changing”. Then each week we will send out a Connectivity Update. For this to be truly effective we need you to send us those stories. This is only a part of our strategy. There will be more. Help us by sharing ideas and information.

May the flow begin.

Crossing Racial Lines

2008-04-23T07:41:00.000-07:00

Light Partners are churches that share experiences across racial lines. Bible study, worship, prayer and many other activities increase cultural understanding

Many churches in the Mississippi Conference have already become Light Partners. We hope that your church has begun this journey, if not; today is a good time to start.

Forrest Hill UMC and Middlebrook UMC are prime examples of Light Partners. Conference staff members, the Reverends Steve Casteel and Fitzgerald Lovett, are the pastors of Forrest Hill and “The Brook” respectfully. The two churches are next door neighbors with a pine tree grove between them.

There have been several projects Forrest Hill and Middlebrook have sponsored such as:

The 40^th anniversary of the assassination of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
A pew exchange where five (5) members of Forrest Hill worshiped at Middlebrook and vice versa.

Little things can make a big difference!!!

During the Christmas season, the two (2) churches came together for worship and fellowship. After worship one Sunday morning, the churches met in the pine tree grove. They fellowshipped, prayed, sang Christmas carols and decorated the Christmas tree, which had been planted a few years earlier. Later the churches came together in the fellowship hall of Middlebrook for soup, chili, stew, gumbo and fellowship.

Light Partners are living examples of the love of Christ.

Blacks and Whites worshiping together from Christmas at Middlebrook to Ash Wednesday service at Forrest Hill.

Forrest Hill UMC and Middlebrook UMC are examples of the light that continue to shine across the state of Mississippi. If you would like more information about Light Partners, contact the Office of Connectional Ministries at connectionalministries@mississippi-umc.org or (601) 354-0515 ext. 14.

Thoughts on Form and Focus...

2008-04-22T09:31:00.000-07:00

Sometimes something right in front of you deserves a closer look. To put something under the magnifying glass is to do two things. First you focus on it. Your field of vision is narrowed to give attention to the thing you wish to examine. Secondly, to put something under the magnifying glass is to look for clarity and definition.

For the last two years we have been putting ourselves under the magnifying glass. There have been four (4) rounds of listening sessions around the Annual Conference. Two have dealt with stewardship and budget and two have explored our shared ministry and call. We talked about "open space" and our fears and passions as leaders. We explored our brokenness and the power of the "potter's hands." Parker Palmer's piece helped us explore our brokenness. We talked about self care. We shared visions of ministry and our diverse calls and passions for ministry. Then we explored Lovett Weems 10 Provocative Questions and found a great resonance around #8 "more people, more young people, and more diverse people.” We looked at Bishop Job's Three Simple Rules, and wrestled with "first do no harm."

We have learned so much together and continue to learn and grow.

In the midst of this, your Leadership team met in January to explore directions and vision for the coming year. There seemed to be three (3) areas of focus that emerged. First, it is time to reorder ourselves, but we must do it in a simple and transparent way. Secondly, this must be driven by God's spirit and the passion of the people. Thirdly, we must invite and include "more people, more young people, and more diverse people" in our leadership, ministries, and local churches.

So...what does this mean? As a result of the conferencing process we will invite members of Annual Conference to consider a new order. The truth is, it isn't new. In the midst of listening and learning, we have been becoming a 'new thing.' In June, the Annual Conference will seek to bring definition and clarity to this "new thing" through changes in the standing rules, nominations, and our order.

It doesn't seem like an exciting thing, but it is!

These tools will allow us to live into our mission," to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world." The examination of our order and process has led us to a place we can magnify our mission.

Here is a thumbnail sketch:

Connectional Table: 20-25 Exceptional leaders challenged with keeping our Vision/Mission of "Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world" This table will look at the general challenge of inviting and including "more people, more young people, and more diverse people."
Core Tables: 5 tables focused on the core value you helped us discern as the areas we will direct our attention to help us carry out our mission. Each table will be convened by an excellent leader/process person and the table will gather groups and individuals focused around that core value.

Spiritual Leadership: This table will engage the challenge of helping people discover their call to leadership, grow in leadership skills, and develop procedures and tools to equip leaders in the home, congregation, district, and Annual Conference.
Mission: This table will gather to help individuals, congregations, districts, and the Annual Conference engage in the Kingdom work of serving a broken and needy world.
Reconciliation: This table will engage the areas of injustice and conflict. Racial Reconciliation, conflict resolution, peace and justice issues will be centered here. We will focus on "more diverse people" here.
Young Peoples' Ministry: This table will take youth and young adult ministries and the part of question 8,"more young people" Empowerment of the young will be at the heart of this table's work.
Stewardship: This table will focus on the broad spectrum of gifts God has entrusted us with to use for the building of the Kingdom. Financial stewardship, health and wellness, care for the earth, and human resources will all find their place at this table.

In addition to these tables there will be several standing committees as required by Discipline and practicality. The Board of Ministry, Conference Finance and Administration, Parish and community Development, Equitable Salary, and several others will serve to resource the Vision/Mission of our Annual Conference. All the appropriate connections will be provided to the General Church.

In order to facilitate this order, the Standing Rules Committee has been working hard to bring our rules into focus with this order. You will be invited to consider these at Annual Conference. Since this is a Quadrennial Year,we will be making several nominations. This year we have opened the process and invited people to self-nominate. I have been amazed at the response we have received. Over 150 people sent in their nominations. The nominated committee will meet the first week in May to fill the necessary (Required) committees, to select the Connectional Table, and to select conveners for the Core Tables. At Annual Conference, we all will have a chance to find our places at the Core tables. It is amazing what you discover when you begin to put something under the magnifying glass of God’s grace. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this.

We serve together in an incredible place and God is being magnified every day. Please be in prayer for us to find even greater clarity as we seek to fulfill our mission “to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.”

If you have questions or comments, please contact me at steve@mississippi-umc.org.

Live loved,

Steve

Praying...Giving...Doing

2008-04-22T07:49:00.001-07:00

How Can We Magnify God in Missions and Outreach?

Mission development consists of reminding everyone of their calling and of helping guide churches and individuals to engage in this most fundamental of Christian duties to magnify God’s name by praying and giving and doing in His name and for His sake to all who are needy materially or spiritually.

In the past nine months I’ve discovered that as in most all things there is a great disparity in the level of mission work being done around the Conference (no great news here!). Some churches and individuals have always been about doing the Lord’s work in missions, some have rediscovered the call, some are “on fire” and others are just ‘lukewarm;’ in some churches 20% of the folk do all the missions work, etc. A great deal of the differences can be accounted for by how churches (individuals) view ‘their mission.’

See how you or your church view missions and outreach involvement and you will see a correlation in the results you or your church are getting … Is it just a task, a vague aim, just part of the church business, or is it a Worthwhile Goal? Is it aresponsibility we take seriously or just another undertaking? Is it just a church job or a Lifework? Do we treat it as a Christian Vocation or treat it as just ‘holy’ work. One of so many planning objectives in the church, something done by someone else such as a missionary or a church staff member or is it something we all do with purpose in pursuit or in a Quest for Holines? Is it just a duty, part of what we must do as Christians, an errand we do once and then forget, or is it a Calling, a Holy Charge, a Divine Commission?

While we are often reminded that as Christians we have been commissioned to be in mission and ministry; we should, likewise, be reminded that we are most privileged to be allowed to tend to the Lord’s work here on earth!

And now to an update of some things that have occurred in missions and outreach since the beginning of the year … there have been three missions training events at the district level, a Strategic Plan was developed and approval of a major grant for the Hispanic ministry in our conference have occurred, Choctaw Mission development talks are being developed, a $10,000 grant for the Trinity Mission Center has been received from GBGM, a Nicaraguan Covenant agreement is in the process of being formed, cooperative engagement with the community centers in the Conference has been started, a Missions and Outreach Handbook for our Mississippi churches has been developed and printed and will be distributed at annual conference. Of course, there have been many other lesser but no less important mission outreach projects in which Connectional Ministries has been involved not least of which has been being involved in outreach in our own home churches.

Help us Lord to always and everywhere magnify your name, your love and your mercy, by loving You and serving others in Your name! Amen.

YOUTH: On the Rise

2008-04-22T07:03:00.000-07:00

Arise Shine: Magnify

The lens for looking at Young People’s Ministry is huge. There is lots going on. Many things are being planned & created.
Listed are some of the things going on:

Mississippi Youth Annual Conference (MYAC) is scheduled for June 11-13. The cost is $160 per person. It is being held at the Clarion Hotel in Jackson, MS. Two students from every church in Mississippi is invited to participate.

Great music, worship, fellowship, food and fun is expected

Youth Day at Geyser Falls is scheduled for Saturday, August 2 in Philadelphia, MS. The cost is around $24, which includes park admission & lunch.

Community College Wesley Foundation Directors have spent a full day together in two different locations to talk about their units, get to know each other better, & for evaluation. Let me tell you exciting things are happening on our Community College Campuses.

April 1 all Wesley Foundation Directors on the University & Community College Campus’ received the Emma Rogers Grant Application provided by the Higher Education Committee of Mississippi. The HEMC is giving six $3000 & nine $1500 matching grants for programming at our Wesley Foundations. It’s going to be exciting to see what great ideas come from our Directors as to how they use the funds to do ministry on their campuses.

The Connectional Ministry Office is in process of rolling out a new program called “Change 4 Change.” Basically inviting United Methodist around the country to collect change to send to the Mississippi Gulf Coast for Youth & Children’s Ministry. Already we have received $225 from First United Methodist Church in Phoenix, NY to go to three locations on the coast. Who knows the total impact possible as United Methodist around the United States send us their change for ministry purposes?

As I write to you there is a Web Site being built to cover all the activities across our Conference regarding the ages of 13 to 30. It will be linked to our Conference Web Site and will be a one stop site for everything surrounding Young People’s Ministry in Mississippi.

This is just a short list of all that is going on in Mississippi under the umbrella of Young People’s Ministry. Please be in prayer for our young people & our young adults, along with our Church as we attempt to minister to them the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Magnifying Season

2008-04-22T06:59:00.000-07:00

Arise! Shine! Magnify! These words have been chosen to thematically lead us through our annual conference as we reflect upon and look forward to our shared ministry in disciple making for the kingdom of God. According to dictionary.com magnify is a verb which can be defined as “making greater in actual size; enlarging”.

According to the definition given above, we participate in the work of magnifying the kingdom of God when we are actively working in ways to make greater the number of disciples of Jesus Christ. We enlarge the kingdom of God when we live into and out of the words and example of Christ.

The magnification of God’s kingdom in Mississippi is overwhelming! Let us celebrate the gifts of God’s grace as they come to us!

In the ministry of Safe Sanctuaries people are embodying what it means when Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them.”

Over 400 churches have had at least one person in their congregation attend a Safe Sanctuaries workshop
Approximately 250 churches have adopted a Safe Sanctuaries policy for their particular ministries with children and youth
At least three churches without children in their congregation are utilizing the ministry of Safe Sanctuaries as a way of inviting children and their family into their congregations
Boards of Trustees and church councils are intentionally discussing ways to reduce known liabilities and accusations of child abuse
Pastor/ Staff Parish Relations Committees are utilizing the background screening services that are offered as a tool in their thorough hiring processes
People with particular gifts relating to child abuse, its victims and the perpetrators are finding their voice and place in our annual conference

Jesus also said, “Love one another as I have loved you.” Family Ministries in our conference is exemplifying and magnifying Christ’s love.

We have established a partnership with Marriage Mississippi, an initiative of Mississippi State Extension Services, to promote healthy marriages in Mississippi
5 churches within our conference participated in a Sunday morning celebration service focusing on Black Marriages with over 100 couples participating.
There is a renewed focus in many local congregations to promote, encourage and cultivate a family centered model of spiritual formation
Numerous churches throughout our conference used the printed and on-line versions of the family friendly 2007 Advent calendar highlighting the ministries of the conference-related community centers and Methodist Children’s Home
The summer camping ministries of our conference are now including at least one week of family camp into their summer programming schedules.
Annual Conference 2008 is magnifying the gift of family with the inclusion of children into our nightly worship services

Arise! Shine! for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord
has risen upon you. (Isaiah 60:1) Let us magnify the glory of the Lord!

Why CONNECTIVITY?

2008-03-03T09:59:00.000-08:00

Rev. Steve Casteel
Director of Connectional Ministries
steve@mississippi-umc.org
601/354.0515 ext. 21

Connectional Ministries is about making the connection between the local church, the community, the worldwide church and the world. Why? Our mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. To do that we must communicate well at all levels.

“Connectivity” is a tool to help us do that.

Our dream is that we can create a real time dialogue about what God is calling us to do and what God is doing around and among us. We invite you to join us as we explore ways to connect in conversation, action, and relationship. Together we are much better than we are alone. Please take time to read this first edition and give us your feedback. We want this to be a helpful platform to link us together in this great mission. Share your ideas and visions with us as we seek to be connected to you and to this great God of ours.

Lived Loved,
Steve

The Class of 2026
Sometimes in the process of deciding where God would have us in ministry I get overwhelmed. There are so many BIG problems and I feel so little. What can we do? There have been massive efforts by many groups to “change the world.” Maybe the solution doesn’t begin with a massive plan. Maybe it begins with people. We are in a new year. Every day children are being born around us. They are new in the broken world. They have no control or power to change any thing. Or do they?

A couple weeks ago Jim Beam-Ingram shared a sermon with our Course of Study group at Milsaps. He was talking about Boz, their newly adopted son. He asked the question, "What are babies good at?” He shared a couple of ideas…crying, pooping, eating, and then he shared the one that nailed me, and they are good at being loved. WOW! Good at being loved. It hit me. What if our plan was to love these babies? What if each community looked at this class of 2026 (Year many will graduate High School) and tried to help them do what they do best? What would that look like? Hey, maybe this isn’t a new idea. Maybe God was thinking the same thing when out of love we received Jesus!

Could we love every child? Could we try to surround them with grace and care? Could they be the motivation for us to clean up our act and our world? Here is our plan…”change a life, change the world”. It is gloriously complex and simple. How does it happen? One child and one act of love at a time. The genius of this is that only each of us and our local churches can know where these kids are and how to love them. It means we have to get out of our comfort zones and our buildings and make new friends. We must find out who our neighbors are and figure out how to love them. We all used to be good at being loved…what happened? Maybe this is what Jesus wanted when we were invited to be childlike!

My personal motto is “Live Loved”. I am prayerfully seeking how to live into that. I am so hopeful that this class of 2026 will let us love them into a new world. The key to it all is to know you are loved and to live out of that. Now there is a plan! Want to be a part? Contact us. Better yet, get out and find you a baby to love…some are bigger and older than others.

Discipleship:
Connectional Ministries is in the process of developing some practical tools for discipling. We invite your input. We want to give congregations and families helpful resources to provide everyday guidance in this transformational process. To speed this up and to bring leadership to it, we have asked Michelle Foster to join us full time (She is now serving part time with Safe Sanctuaries). She will work on family systems faith development. Please be in prayer for us as we seek to accomplish this critical mission.

If you have a successful program or resources you would recommend, please let us know.

MISSIONS Plan

2008-03-03T09:48:00.001-08:00

Jorge Navarrete
Conference Coordinator for Missions Development
jorge@mississippi-umc.org
601-354-0515 extension 20.

What are your goals as we begin 2008?
My immediate task is twofold. First, to help churches and church members answer Jesus' call to missions and outreach and thus help them fulfill His mandate to be in mission. In this regard, I will direct workshops at district trainings and have conference call-ins regarding this integral ministry. Secondly, I will endeavor to encourage and support the start, growth and/or enhancement of all churches’ mission and outreach efforts by helping to equip, connect and support leaders in their recruiting, educating and motivating. I believe we will see a resurgence in people wanting to engage missions and outreach at home and abroad.

I hope that my lay background, business world experience and five year service at Habitat for Humanity International will help bring a new perspective to mission and outreach ministries throughout the Mississippi Conference.

Safe Sanctuaries

2008-03-03T06:36:00.000-08:00

Rev. Michelle Foster
Conference Coordinator for Safe Sanctuaries & Family Ministries
michelle@mississippi-umc.org
601-354-0515 ext. 28

Rev. Michelle Foster is available to lead workshops and seminars as they relate to Safe Sanctuaries and Family Ministries.

What is Safe Sanctuaries?
“Safe Sanctuaries” is the name commonly given by local United Methodist Annual Conferences and local churches to their individual efforts to make conference and local church programs both welcoming and safe for children, youth and vulnerable adults.

GOALS
1. To educate and orient all members of our annual conference in Safe Sanctuaries ministry and purpose.

2. To dialogue with every local church in matters relating to Safe Sanctuaries (to date conversations have been had with over 250 congregations!)

3. To provide creative and practical resources for local churches to use in developing their Safe Sanctuaries ministry

What does Family Ministries include?
Though a broad term with many definitions, the goal of establishing a Conference Coordinator for Family Ministries is:

To re-focus our efforts on wholistic and inclusive family ministries. A wholistic approach to ministry with families includes addressing the spiritual, physical and emotional needs of the entire family.

This family systems approach to ministry is focused on most pressing
needs of families in Mississippi today:
· Re-culturing the institution of marriage
· Parenting (for married couples, single parents, blended families, etc.)
· Spiritual education and formation for children and adults
· Overall quality of family life together
To partner with parents in becoming the primary teachers for their children in every aspect of life.
To provide resources that will link the secular challenges and struggles with the practical and sacred response of the church and our Savior, Jesus Christ

Ready for a Change...

2008-03-03T06:35:00.000-08:00

Rev. L. Fitzgerald Lovett
Racial Reconciliation and Strenghtening the Black Church Team Leader
Pastor- Middlebrook UMC, Jackson
fitzgerald@mississippi-umc.org
601-354-0515 ext. 29.

Strengthening the Black Church and Racial Reconciliation believe that it is time for a change. You are invited to be a part of that change.

There are several ways for you to participate:

By becoming a light partner,

By becoming a peacemaker,

By being a part of the conference coaching team and

By SBC21 local church training.

It is time for a change, we, Mississippi United Methodists, are the people who can do it.

The YOUTH Vision

2008-03-03T06:32:00.000-08:00

Rev. Roger Shock
Director of Young People's Ministry
roger@tupelofumc.com
662-397-2626

As Director of Young People’s Ministry I am responsible for young people between the ages of 13 to 30 years old. That is a broad range of people.

With a big paint brush stroke you will find the specific ministry areas of Youth, Camping Ministry, Higher Education and Wesley Foundations, and finally Young Adult Ministry under my area of focus.

The greatest needs and emphasis for me currently is improving communications throughout the Conference. I am working on a web site for Young People’s Ministry, creating a data base of students, young adults, & workers with youth and young adults, networking with Districts attempting to get to know as many leaders as possible.

A lot of my efforts point toward Leadership Development across our Conference. We can improve and create lasting Young People's Ministry quickest by training leadership that work with young people.Lastly, I am spending a significant amount of time listening to leaders and young people, and casting a vision for new relevant young people's ministry.