August 19, 2006

“Mondays for Mission?”

I am back from my Renewal Leave, and that time apart has allowed me to think, pray, and evaluate the various aspects of my life and ministry. One result is a decision I have made to prioritize my schedule to make space for what I am calling “Mondays for Mission.” I have marked on my calendar for the next year at least one Monday each month that I have committed to give to mission work -- to visit our United Methodist missions here in Indiana, to learn about their work, to support and affirm their ministry, and to participate with them.

I already know that we have a whole variety of mission efforts through our local churches, our district projects, and our conference agencies. But I want to learn more about them, I want to support them, and I want to enrich my own life and ministry by participating with them.

What do I mean by “enriching my own life and ministry?” I mean this: I sit in a lot of meetings, and many of them are valuable. I preach in lots of local churches of all sizes, and I value that time and interaction with United Methodist people. I worship, I share in devotions, and I read and learn. But the piece of my own Christian experience where I am weak is finding time in my schedule to engage in missions myself. It is not enough just for me to supervise mission work, to raise money for mission work, or to express my affirmation for mission work. I need to be personally involved more directly -- for my own spiritual growth and sustenance.

So in the next year I will be scheduling these “Mondays for Mission” with a variety of mission places here in Indiana, and I will report to you about those experiences. I also invite you to join me in setting aside time in your own schedules to be directly involved in the mission work of our church.

from Bishop Michael J. Coyner

Indiana Area of the United Methodist Church
"Making a Difference ... in Indiana
and around the world"

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