E-mail addresses of local church UMM presidents requested
NC Conference United Methodist Men is requesting the e-mail addresses of all local church UMM presidents. These addresses will be used to better inform the presidents about events and other information of interest to UMM. A list will be established for each district. Access will be restricted so only district presidents and conference officers can use it. Please send the e-mail addresses to bnorton@nccumc.org . Be sure to clearly identify the name of the local church and district.
February is Advocate subscription month
February is North Carolina Conference Christian Advocate subscription month. Promotional materials, including a poster and subscription forms, have been mailed to each local church lay leader, to equip local churches in spreading the word about the Advocate . If the church has an Advocate representative, then the materials should be given to that individual. If the church does not have a representative, the lay leader should discuss with the pastor how best the materials can be displayed. An earlier letter to pastors explained the mailing sent to lay leaders.
Any assistance pastors and lay leaders can provide in promoting the conference newspaper will be greatly appreciated. The Advocate staff welcomes your comments and suggestions in order to keep the newspaper a useful and informative publication.
CHILDREN & YOUTH MINISTRIES
It's Coming! Children's Ministry Forum '08
Weary of the administrative details of ministry with children? Looking for a fresh perspective? New ideas? Skills? Longing to know more about how children grow as disciples? New or have new staff for Children's Ministry? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then "But Now I See!" Feb. 26 - 28, 2008 at First UMC, Richardson , TX (Dallas) is the place to be. Keynote Speakers: KirbyJon Caldwell, Kathleen Baskin-Ball, Gloria Scott and Clayton Oliphint. Experience six sessions of workshops, intensive pre-conference seminars, excellent and varied resource vendors, inspirational worship, and conversations with other leaders. For more information, go to www.gbod.org/cmf .
Confirmation Celebration in March
The Conference Confirmation Celebration will be Saturday, March 8, 2008 at Methodist University in Fayetteville . Check-in will begin at 10am and the program will run from 10:30am to 2:30pm. Lunch will be included so group pre-registration is required by Monday, Feb. 25. The cost of the event will be $7 per person. Details for the Confirmation Celebration can be found at Youth Ministry .
2008 Youth Event Deadlines Coming Up
Youth wishing to attend Conference Youth events such as Global Vision and Summer Breakaway need to register in January, 2008. The registration deadline for Global Vision is January 25. Details about these and other 2008 Conference youth opportunities may be found at Youth Ministry . Go to the Events section to download the required registration form in the 2008 Youth Events brochure.
Let the Children Come
A resource event for local church workers with children's ministry particularly those in smaller churches, will be held on two dates in 2008: Saturday, April 19 at Salem UMC in Greenville and Saturday, Aug. 23 at Page Memorial UMC in Aberdeen . In addition to worship, there will be four workshop offerings on topics such as use of the One Room Sunday School curriculum resource, selection and use of curriculum, missions taking the Sunday School lesson through the week, and parents in partnership with the church for the faith formation of children.
Each event will begin with check-in at 9:45am and the program run from 10am to 12:15pm. Pre-registration will not be required and there will be no cost to attendees. Further information and details will be available at the children's ministry page of the website www.nccumc.org in early January.
MISSION OPPORTUNITIES
January is Project AGAPE Month
January is Project AGAPE month, a time for reflection and response to the deep needs of our brothers and sisters in Armenia . Armenia remains one of the world's poorest countries, particularly in the disputed territory between Armenia and Azerbaijan . Please continue to pray for the deep needs of this ministry and consider an offering on Jan. 6, 2008, AGAPE Sunday, or some other Sunday in January. Bulletin inserts were mailed and are available on-line as a download at: Project AGAPE
Project AGAPE is part of the NC Rainbow Covenant Advance #S 00004. Checks should be payable to NC Conference and marked for "Project AGAPE S#00004. Gifts can be placed in the Sunday offering or mailed to North Carolina Conference/Raleigh Area, The United Methodist Church, PO Box 60053 , Charlotte NC 28260-0053.
Rainbow Covenant Forms Mailed
Rainbow Covenant Forms were mailed to mission chairpersons last week. If you have not received yours, please contact Becky Biegger at beckybiegger@nccumc.org or call 800-849-4433 ext 256.
La Esperanza Needs Your Support
La Esperanza is an amazing mission providing Christ-centered love, care, and support for approximately 25 mentally and physically handicapped adults in Santiago , Chile . The Workshop literally is the difference between life and death for these who are the most vulnerable of our world. Due to changes in the local economy and the fall of the U.S. dollar, the ministry is in immediate financial need. Please consider a gift to this wondrous ministry. Simply place your gift in your Sunday offering plate with the designation: La Esperanza Workshop Advance #14056A. You can give to the ministry on-line at: La Esperanza
MERCI Mission Center in great need
The MERCI Mission Center has a great need of operational funding. Everyone is invited into this opportunity of sustaining the mission ministry of the North Carolina Conference connection. Through this mission center in Goldsboro , individuals have reached across the world and touched the lives of tens of thousands, transformed the reality of so many people throughout the U.S. and N.C.
Edenton Street UMC has given a gift of $10,000 to the MERCI Mission Center and has raised a challenge to all our United Methodist churches to give a gift of $2.50 per member toward this remarkable ministry center. The life of MERCI Mission Center depends upon all of us. Donations can be made on-line at: MERCI Mission Center or by placing a gift in the Sunday offering designated for: Advance #S-00136 MERCI Ministry Center .
Frido Kinkolenge our latest Conference Supported Missionary
Frido Kinkolenge, conference-supported missionary in Liberia , is working with ex-combatant children, whose lives were once consumed by violence. He is sharing Christ with them, teaching them work skills, and offering a more abundant life. Support and partnerships with congregations are needed. His Advance number is 15152Z. Gifts placed in the Sunday offering should have on the memo line: Missionary Support Frido Advance 15152Z. Please consider Frido for a Covenant Relationship. To see more information on the Covenant Relationship program, please see: Covenant Relationship. Read more about Frido and make a credit card donation on-line at Frido's Bio.
Robeson County Church and Community Center needs assistance
The Church and Community Center, serving the 2nd most diverse rural county in the U.S. and the 3rd most impoverished of its size, desperately needs support. Grant funding is down and the needs of the community are up. This leaves the Center in very difficult financial times. Please consider a donation to this wondrous ministry serving the most vulnerable of neighbors in NC. Donations can be made through local church offerings. Note on the check: Robeson County Church and Community Center Advance #791742 or checks can be mailed directly to the Church and Community Center at: Robeson County Church and Community Center, 210 East 15th Street , Lumberton , NC 28358 . For more information please see the Executive Directors letter: Please Help
Nothing But Nets
Malaria kills. Every 30 seconds, a child dies from malaria, more than a million children a year. Yet, we can act to change this nightmare. For only $10, anyone can engage in one of the most effective preventive measures for malaria, a mosquito net. Nothing But Nets is the UM outreach effort to change this reality. Donations can be placed in the Sunday offering and not on the check: Nothing But Nets Advance #982015. 100% of donations will go toward this gift of nets. Donations can be made on-line and find out much more information, including downloadable resources at: Nothing But Nets
NC Conference responds in Peruvian Earthquake Relief
In partnership with the Methodist Church of Peru, Stop Hunger Now ( Stop Hunger Now web-site ), and the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), the people of the North Carolina Conference have sent 400,000 meals to victims of the Peru Earthquakes. Methodist brothers and sisters in Peru are currently at work distributing these meals to those whose lives have so tragically altered by this disaster. Join in relational partnership with our Peruvian neighbors through the Peru Covenant. Please contact Rev. Lucho Reinoso at reinosol@nccumc.org . Offerings can also be made to assist the Methodist Church of Peru in their good work of disciple-making through the life of Jesus Christ. Simply place your gift in the Sunday offering with the following designation: Peru Task Force - #S-00053. 100% of gift will support the work of the Methodist Church of Peru. Learn more at: Peru Covenant and Peru Rainbow Covenant .
Programs from the Office of Missions
All programs utilize adult popular education teaching methodology, i.e., high engagement and very interactive.
* Globalization It's Impact on God's World & How You can Make a Difference 2 to 6 hour in-depth study, scripturally based with high interaction & multi-media.
* Street Smarts discerning and empowering congregations for local mission.
* Thy Kingdom Come Moving from Charity to Justice, living in the Realm of God.
* Your Connected Ministry Ministries you are doing as connected churches in the NC Conference (overview of mission opportunities.)
* Proclaiming Peace in a Time of Perpetual War 2 4 hour workshop scripturally based with high interaction and multi-media
* Liberia Land of Spirit , Land of Hope , Connecting with the Least.
* Missions A Journey of Spirit and Justice 6 to 8 weekly sessions, journeying in the life of Jesus, considering how we make that same journey today. Using the dynamic Biblical Animation (created by theologian, Ched Myers) reading scripture in today's context.
Other mission presentations, support, training, and sermons are available for local churches from the Office of Missions. For further information e-mail Becky Biegger - beckybiegger@nccumc.org or Steve Taylor - staylor@nccumc.org or call them at 1-800-849-4433.
