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Seashore District Volunteer Center VIM project -- Completed
Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
HOOSIER UNITED METHODIST
Mission Opportunities
For Mission Tuesday, January 29, 2008
This newsletter is paid for through your annual conference connectional ministries giving.
Edited by Daniel R. Gangler, director of communication dgangler@inareaumc.org.
FOR THE LATEST IN DISASTER NEWS AND RECOVERY LOG ON TO www.disasternews.net and www.gbgm-umc.org/umcor
DEATH NOTICES
THELMA SHEPHERD, widow of the late Rev. Garth Shepherd who died in 1996 (NIC), died Saturday, Jan. 26, 2008. Visitation will be Tuesday, Jan. 29 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Downing-Glancy Funeral Home, 100 Washington St. in Geneva, Ind. and one hour prior to the 10:30 a.m. memorial service on Wednesday, Jan. 30 at the funeral home. Condolences can be sent to Paul Moser, 3692 Juillerat Dr., Portland, IN 47371.Memorials can be made to the donor’s choice.
HOWARD E. WRIGHT, 85, retired minister and former district superintendent (SIC) died Friday, Jan. 25, 2008. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Elizabeth Thomas Writh. A memorial service is scheduled to be held at Roberts Park UMC, 401 N. Delaware St., Indianapolis, IN 46204 on Saturday, Feb. 9 at 10:30 a.m. with a gathering of friends scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Burial will be in Haines City, Fla. with his wife Mary Elizabeth. Memorial gifts may be made to Roberts Park UMC, Indianapolis, Ind, Speedway United Methodist Church, 5065 W. 16th Street; Indianapolis, IN 46224 or Sumption Prairie United Methodist Church, 24535 Roosevelt Rd. South Bend, IN 46614.
MISSION NEWS
BANDA ACEH METHODIST CHURCH DEDICATED JAN. 20
The ribbon was cut and the doors were flung open for the grand celebration and dedication of the restored and improved buildings of the Methodist Church of Banda Aceh in Sumatra, Indonesia on Sunday, Jan. 20. The event was more than three years after the buildings were severely damaged by the tsunami of Dec. 26, 2004.
Under the theme, “From Mourning to Dancing” (Palms. 30:12), hundreds of people gathered give thanks and praise to God for not only the rebuilt sanctuary but also the countless miracles of blessing that have occurred in this once-remote province at the northern tip of the island of Sumatra. One of the miracles from the aftermath of the disaster is that this church, in the heavily Muslim province of Aceh, has grown to 300 members.
At the ribbon cutting, seven elementary age girls in full Aceh/Chinese ceremonial dress presented a welcoming dance. President Fajar Lim, of the new Provisional Conference of the Methodist Church of Indonesia and a former pastor of the B A church, led a procession of honored guests, including about thirty pastors who made the long 12 hour bus trip from Medan. The sermon was given by the Rev. Sam Dixon, top executive of the United Methodist Committee on Relief. The Rev. Bill Imler gave words of greeting on behalf of Indiana United Methodists, and offered a prayer of blessing as provided by Bishop Coyner. Hoosiers gave more than $150,000 for the church’s restoration.
A fuller story of this event with pictures will be published in the upcoming February issue of Hoosier United Methodists Together newspaper.
UMCOR TO SEND STAFF TO ASSIST IN LONG TERM RECOVERY TRAINING
Gordon Knuckey, a staff member of the United Methodist Committee on Relief, will be coming to Indiana on Feb. 11 to a soon-to-be-announced church in the Lafayette District from 9 to Noon to conduct a simplified version of long term recover training for pastors and laity in the Lafayette District wishing to help north Indiana residents recover from flood damage. Knuckey will offer a second session Feb. 13 on long term recovery in the Warsaw District at Columbia City UMC, 605 Forest Parkway in Columbia City, Ind. (phone 260-244-7671). For both events, lunch is on your own. No reservations are necessary. Pastors and laity from other districts wishing to receive this training also are welcomed to attend. More information will come in the Friday e-vents. – Gary Peterson, NIC disaster recovery coordinator
CHURCHES CAN HELP FLOOD SURVIVORS IN NORTH INDIANA
Churches wishing to make monetary donations to assist victims of the recent flooding in North Indiana may send funds to:
North Indiana Conference UMC
PO Box 869
Marion, IN 46952
Note for Flood Relief in North Indiana – Account 030401
Flood buckets and flood bucket materials are being collected by the Monticello UMC, 200 South Main Street in Monticello. For more information, contact Pastor Brian Beeks at 574-583-5545.
MISSIONARY GIVES UPDATE ON ALASKA MISSIONARY CONFERENCE
The Rev. Jim Doepken, a member of the North Indiana Conference who has been serving as a pastor of Girdwood Chapel UMC in the Alaska Missionary Conference since 1997, says the Girdwood Chapel facility has had three summers of work teams and is becoming a beautiful building. The walls, roof and most of the electrical work are done. The next big, labor-intensive task is putting up sheetrock. This summer planning Doepken says he plans on just one work team this summer. That team will come from the Annandale UMC near Washington, D.C. This church is coming up with a huge volunteer team that will tackle all of the siding work. This team also will be funding the supplies. This is an extra $23,500 expense on their part and frees up $23,500 from Girdwood’s budget for non-work-team projects. The goal with a new pledge drive is to get the congregation into the new facility in early winter 2008. Girdwood members are still looking for another $22,000 in pledges to complete the project.
Girdwood UMC is an Advance Special supported in large part from United Methodists in the North Indiana Conference. For more information, contact Pastor Jim Doepken, Girdwood Chapel UMC, PO Box 1068 Girdwood, AK 99587, or by Web site at www.chapelnews.squarespace.com or by e-mail at chapel@girdwood.net.
MISSION LEADER VOICES CONCERN ABOUT GAZA
The head of the mission agency of The United Methodist Church has expressed deep concern about the situation in the Palestinian enclave of Gaza following incidents in which Israel closed the border to essential supplies of food and fuel.
Bishop Felton May, interim executive of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, said the picture is extremely complex but that his main concern is for the welfare of the people in both Gaza and Israel. Israel's border action has been attributed to rockets fired into Israel by the Hamas faction now in control in Gaza, a sliver of land along the Mediterranean Sea.
The bishop noted that The United Methodist Church has a long history of concern for peace and justice in Israel-Palestine. He urged world political leaders to take action to deal with the current border crisis and United Methodists to pray for protection of the dignity of both Israelis and Palestinians in the troubled Holy Land.
“I share the astonishment of Christian leaders in Israel-Palestine that the Israeli government would even temporarily block the movement of food and fuel into Gaza,” May said. “Political expediency cannot be used to starve - or threaten to starve - people or to demean the humanity of any people.” He also said that “Israeli policy inflexibility is intensified by the actions of Hamas and its rockets.” -- UMNS
GINA RIENDEAU REPORTS ON STUDY LEAVE TO ZAMBIA
We have been in Zambia a bit over a week now. I hope you will check this week’s postings on my blog: www.griendeau.blogspot.com to read stories about going to the grocery store, experiencing radical hospitality, visiting a home for disabled children and Sister Josephine's feeding program for AIDS orphans. My husband, Alan, and I are visiting the work of John and Kendra Enright at Kafakumba Training Center over the next few weeks.— Blessings, Gina Riendeau, North Indiana Conference Mission Staff
HIGHLIGHTED MISSION TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
SOUTH INDIANA CONFERENCE VIM TRAINING SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 1
The South Indiana Conference announces a United Methodist Volunteer in Mission (UMVIM) Training Event scheduled to be held Saturday, March 1, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Camp Indi-Co-So, 558 Sieboldt Quarry Road in Springville, Ind. www.sicumc.org/gocamp/indicoso.asp
If you are interested in leading or participating on a mission trip this event is for you! Lorna Jost, UMVIM Administrator for North Central Jurisdiction will be the event leader. The cost is $30 per person and includes UMVIM Training Manual and lunch. Please send reservations to the South Indiana Conference – VIM Training, 1520 S. Liberty Drive, Bloomington IN 47403 by Feb. 15. For more information, please contact Jenni Walker or call 812-893-1760.
EARLY DISASTER RESPONSE TRAINING SET FOR INDY ON MARCH 8
The Indiana Area of The United Methodist Church is sponsoring a United Methodist Volunteer in Mission EARLY DISASTER RESPONSE TRAINING event on Saturday, March 8 at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 100 West 86th Street in Indianapolis (one block west of North Meridian Street (US Highway 31). Coffee and snacks from 9:30 to 10 a.m., training from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. UMCOR approved trainers
Who should attend? All volunteers interested in Early Disaster Response work, pastors, District Disaster Response Coordinators. Cost $20 per person, includes lunch, snacks and materials.
For more information contact: Bob Babcock, South Indiana Conference disaster response coordinator, or Gary Peterson, North Indiana Conference North Conference.
To register send name, address, city, state, ZIP code, home phone, e-mail address, plus name of church, district and either SIC or NIC, to St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 100 West 86th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46260.
Make check payable to: St. Luke’s UMC, add to memo line “Disaster Training.”
NEWLY LISTED MISSION OPPORTUNITIES
MISSION TO CUBA HAS AN OPENING FOR MAY TRIP
We have an opening for our mission to Cuba, May 17-28, 2008. Cost will be about $1850. We will be working on a seminary construction project in Havana. Please contact Neil Vander Linden (ngvl@charter.net - 864-859-3652)) for further information. A prompt response is needed as visa processing can take three months.
OPERATION CLASSROOM SCHEDULES MORE WORK TEAMS THIS YEAR
Operation Classroom is sponsoring a work team to W.PL. Brumskine UM School Oct. 4-19. Kay and Lamar Zeigler are the team leaders. The project is yet to be determined. Contact the OC office or Tom at ttillett@ralis.com for more information.
Kay Hess, OC coordinator of Rushville District will be leading a team to the Bo Centenary School from June 19 to July 11. They will be renovating the main classroom and office building. Bo Centenary has an enrollment of 1000 students. Bo Centenary is in partnership with the Kokomo District. For more information contact Kay at: hess100@juno.com.
The Lafayette District is planning three work teams this spring and summer.
Our first project is a local project at Pine Creek on Saturday May 3. Rev. Bruce Mowery is coordinating project. For more information contact bemowery@hotmail.com
Our second project is the Itabuna Methodist Church in Itabuna, Brazil, from June 27 to July 11. The team will continue the construction of the church which is started in 2005. This will be there third team from the district to work on this church. There is the option of a side trip from July 11 to July 14 to Recifie where the district has had a number of teams. There they will attend the wedding of Erik who was our translator when we worked in Recife. Joe and Carolyn Wagner are the team leaders. For more information, contact the Wagners.
Our third project is Henderson Settlement, from July 20 to 26. All applications for this project are due March 12. The Rev. Anne and Timothy Kumeh will be the team leaders. For more information contact Anne at annekumeh@aol.com
For more information, contact the Rev. Joe Wagner, Operation Classroom, Inc., PO Box 246, Colfax, IN 46035 or call 765-436-2805 or send by e-mail at ocmisson@frontiernet.net. Also visit the Operation Classroom Web site at www.operationclassroom.org.
HERE’S A MISSION PROJECT IDEA FOR THIS COMING SUMMER’S VBS
Operation Classroom invites Vacation Bible School directors to consider OC’s new program of PENNIES FOR PEACE as a VBS mission program. Pennies for Peace will fund a program in Liberia to help children with the trauma they experienced during the war. Groups of children are gathered for a day of play therapy, singing, Bible lessons, and food, under the leadership of Rev. Anthony and Jennifer Dioh
Children from your VBS can bring their pennies or change. You might want to have a contest between boys and girls. You may also decide to have a hands-on project of collecting school supplies. A short CD will be available on the importance of PENNIES FOR PEACE.
For more information, contact Operation Classroom at ocmisson@frontiernet.net or log on to www.operationclassroom.org
HENDERSON SETTLEMENT OFFERS PROGRAM FOR SENIORS APRIL 20-26
Primetimers: The Life and Spirit of Appalachia at Henderson Settlement in Frakes, Ky.
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April 20-26, 2008
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Event Coordinator: Jerry Lambdin, Mission Resources Director, Henderson Settlement
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Telephone: 606-337-3613
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Registration deadline: Extended to Feb. 20.
Retreat to this rural mountain community in Kentucky to learn about the life and spirit of Appalachia and the various ministries provided at the historical settlement schools in the Red Bird Missionary Conference. Explore the history of three Appalachian settlement schools: Henderson Settlement, Red Bird Mission, and Pine Mountain Settlement School.
For more information and registration, please contact the Primetimers office toll-free at 877-882-4724 or by e-mail at primetimers@gbgm-umc.org or log on to http://new.gbgm-umc.org/news/events/?search=Primetimers&C=2927&I=14872
APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR 2008 GLOBAL JUSTICE VOLUNTEERS
There is still time for young adults between the age of 20 and 30 to apply for short term, volunteer mission service in the 2008 Global Justice Volunteers program of The United Methodist Church. The 2008 areas of service are Asia and Africa.
The Global Justice Volunteers program offers young people the opportunity to live internationally for two months and explore the issues of justice and its advocacy as a component of mission. The internships relate to grassroots and ecumenical partners of the General Board of Global Ministries, the international mission agency of The United Methodist Church. Emphasis is on cultural exchange. Young adults from the US and Europe live and work in community with young people from the host region.
The program is sponsored by the Mission Volunteers Office of Global Ministries in collaboration with the Women's Division of the mission agency.
Each intern is expected to contribute $2,200 to the program. Participants usually finance this cost through fundraising in their community/church. Limited scholarships are available.
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Spring Term dates to Asia: (issue focus: Migrant Farmers and Workers) March 3 - April 24, 2008, Still accepting applications
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Summer Term dates to Africa: (issue focus: HIV & AIDS, substance abuse as it relates to conflict situations...) June 30-August 17.
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Deadline to Apply: Feb.15.
For additional information go online to www.gjv.info or contact Beth Buchanan at bbuchanan@gbgm-umc.org.
PREVIOUSLY LISTED MISSION OPPORTUNITIES
MEDICAL TEAM NEEDS NURSE PRACTITIONER FOR MAIZ, MEXICO MISSION
Our team needs either a doctor or Nurse Practitioner for our Maiz, Mexico. Medical Mission team from 2/4/-2/11/08. The good news is that this will be a freebie! Our current doctor can not go with us due to a family emergency, so those funds are available. There will be just a ‘name change’ flight charge. Members of the team will be departing from both Tampa, Fla. and Detroit, Mich. They can contact Jane Dunn at 419-376-6017 or 419-863-2908 or e-mail jspowers@gte.net.
MISSION OPPORTUNITIES REMINDERS
More information about these opportunities as well as a listing of ongoing projects and contact information can be seen at www.inareaumc.org/general_info/mission_opportunities_listings.htm, which has all the details for these opportunities.
PLACEMENT REQUEST: HEALTH VOLUNTEER COUPLE
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Family physician with one-year experience serving in Zaire and his wife seek a 3 to 12-month Individual Volunteer assignment. Physician is able to do minor surgery, clinical teaching and direct care. Physician’s wife is fluent in Spanish. Both have received Individual Volunteer training. Notify Roger Boe at boeroger@cableone.net for more information.
UNITED METHODIST VOLUNTEER IN MISSION TEAMS NEEDED IN MEXICO
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Contact information: Jerry Hill jerry.hill@bsumc.com or call 864-320-3165
SOUPER BOWL OF CARING THIS MONTH
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To register, visit www.souperbowl.org.
AFRICA UNIVERSITY SUNDAY SCHEDULED FOR FEB. 3 IN NORTH INDIANA
SOCIETY OF ST. ANDREW OFFERS FREE LENTEN PROGRAM ON HUNGER
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Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 6. Visit www.endhunger.org/lent.htm to order a free sample Lent kit or call 800-333-4597.
COLUMBUS DISTRICT TO HOLD MISSION CONFERENCE FEB. 24
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Information Contact: the Rev. Duane A. Loos, Columbus District Director of Missions at 812-623-2382or by e-mail DUANELOOS@aol.com.
TERRE HAUTE DISTRICT SPONSORING WORK MISSION TO MISS. IN FEBRUARY
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Feb. 24-29, 2008
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For more information contact the Terre Haute District Office 812-237-0101, 800-919-8168; thdist@joink.com or Pastor Bob Kumpf 812-448-2917, Harmonyumc@verizon.net.
HAITI SOLAR OVEN PROJECT BEING ORGANIZED FOR FEB. 26-MARCH 10
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For more information, contact Rick Jost immediately with your interest at rjost@brookings.net or call 605-692-3391. Jost lives in Brookings, S.D.
MINNESOTA OC VIM TRIP STILL NEEDS PHYSICIAN’S ASSISTANT
Feb. 28-March 14, 2008.
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Please contact Doris Acton, RN, UMC Medical Outreach – Makeni, Operation Classroom Ministries Minnesota at doris.acton@nhylandsumc.org or 952-835-7585.
SOUTH INDIANA CONFERENCE UPCOMING MISSION TRIPS
March 2008
March 7-16 – Bloomington District Mission Trip to Haiti
March 23-30 – Ames Chapel UMC Trip to Gulfport, Miss.
June 2008
Harrodsburg UMC to Henderson Settlement, Ky.
Youth District Mission Trip Location TBA
July 2008
July 12-19 – Mooresville First UMC to Canalli, Mexico
Summer 2008
Bedford First UMC to Louisiana
South Indiana Native American Mission Trips
September 2008
Sept. 20-27 – Ames Chapel UMC to John’s Island, S.C.
Sept. 22-29 – Mooresville First UMC to Henderson Settlement, Ky.
WARSAW, MICHIANA DISTRICTS PLAN WORK TRIP IN 2008
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March 1-8, 2008
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For more information, please contact Pastor Jean Ness at 260-856-4482 or 574-529-1044 or e-mail jness@ligtel.com.
UMCOR INFORMATION AS YOU PLAN AHEAD
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March 2 – One Great Hour of Sharing
TWO OPEN SLOTS FOR UNITED METHODIST VIM TEAM TO CUBA
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April 18-30, 2008
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For more information, contact the team leader, Larry Burke: ljrdburke@comcast.net
UNITED METHODIST VIMS NEEDED TO BUILD MONTANA PLAYGROUND
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May 2-5, 2008
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For more information, contact: Barbara Galusha Karst, High Plains Coordinator, bgkarst@vcn.com.
OPERATION 2008 CLASSROOM TEAMS
Sierra Leone
May 6 to 22 – Sierra Leone – Koidu Secondary School - U of I, Lang Brownlee, team leader
June 18 to July 9 Sierra Leone – Bo Centenary School, Kay Hess, team leader, hess100@juno.com
To Liberia
June 24 to July 11 – Liberia – Tubman-Gray School, Ken and Kitty Decker, team leaders, ken.decker@prodigy.net or kitty.decker@prodigy.net
October 9 to 28 – Liberia – W.P.L. Brumskine School, Lamar and Kay Ziegler, team leaders, lamar@rnthompson.com
CAMP WORSHIP LEADERSHIP NEEDED
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Contact Carolyn Kern at Mishawaka First UMC by calling 574-255-4707.
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June 15-20
MINNESOTA MEDICAL MISSIONS TO SIERRA-LEONE NEEDS PHYSICIAN
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June 26-July 8, 2008
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September 27-October 7, 2008
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For further information please contact Doris Acton, RN at doris.acton@nhylandsumc.org or at 952-835-7585.
MISSOURI CONFERENCE SPONSORING HEALTH VIM TRIP TO MOZAMBIQUE
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Late June through early July, 2008, sponsored by the Missouri UM Conference
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For more information, call Tom Mitchell if you have questions or want more information. Phone 314-725-4003 or e-mail TomM8132@aol.com.
Last updated on 04/01/2008Compiled as a service of Indiana Area United Methodist Communication in Indianapolis.