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Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
HOOSIER UNITED METHODIST
Mission Opportunities
For Mission Monday, March 31, 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
REMINDER, DEADLINE COMING THIS FRIDAY, APRIL 4
UMVIM TEAM LEADER TRAINING TO BE HELD AT KOKOMO APRIL 12
Friday, April 12, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Kokomo St. Luke’s UMC with Penny Krug, trainer.
Open to youth leaders, potential team leaders, clergy and lay. Being prepared will be the best way to insure a successful mission trip. Participants will also hear about the volunteer opportunities in the Monticello and Delphi flood areas.
$10 registration fee includes lunch. The $25 Team Leader Training Manual is a must for each church. Reservation forms are available through the North Indiana Conference Web site.
Registration deadline, Friday, April 4.
http://www.nicumc.org -- Bonnie Albert, North Indiana Conference UMVIM Coordinator
MISSION NEWS
ARKANSAS CONFERENCE, UMCOR, ASSESSING WEATHERS RELATED NEEDS
Many residents in Arkansas are experiencing a “nightmare” as they deal with a series of weather-related systems affecting parts of the U.S. Midwest. Families affected by the Feb. 5 tornadoes suffered an ice storm two weeks later and in March were dealing with devastating flooding along a nearly identical track. Maxine Allen, the disaster response and missions coordinator for the United Methodist Arkansas Annual Conference, is working with partners and the United Methodist Committee on Relief to assess the needs created by all three events and organize response and recovery. – UMNS
GREAT RIVERS CONFERENCE RECEIVING RELIEF FOR FLOODS
The Illinois Great Rivers Conference has requested emergency grants from UMCOR to address flooding in both February and March. On Feb. 5 and 6, water inundated Watseka and Pontiac in the northeast part of the conference, prompting a Feb. 24 request. New flooding in southern Illinois from heavy rains prompted a second request on March 20 from Bishop Sharon A. Brown Christopher.
“Lots of flooding happened on the east side of town, the commercial area. People may be out of work for weeks,” said the Rev. Paul Widicus, pastor of Harrisburg (Ill.) First UMC, where between 9 and 12 inches of rain fell in 24 hours during the week of March 17.
Widicus expects a long summer of cleanup. Like his counterparts in Arkansas and Missouri, he is preparing for the long-term response.
United Methodists can support UMCOR’s flood relief efforts with donations to Advance #901670. Write “Midwestern Floods” on the memo line of the check, and drop in local church collection plates or mail directly to UMCOR, P.O. Box 9068, New York, NY 10087. Online giving is available at www.givetomission.org. – UMNS
KANSAS CITY SEMINARY COLLECT $14 MILLION IN MEDICINES FOR CONGO
The Rev. Pamela Couture has a deep interest in peace-building efforts in the Democratic Republic of Congo and is writing a book on the topic. Couture, the vice president for academic affairs and dean at Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Mo., was planning a research trip to the African nation in January and wondered what type of gift she could take to the people there. As a result, Saint Paul’s and others developed a plan to deliver more than $14 million worth of medicines to Congo. For helping to make the life-saving delivery a reality, the United Methodist-related seminary will present four individuals with “Good Samaritan” awards at an April 7 banquet at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown. The contributions of the Saint Paul Council and Board of Trustees will also be recognized. – UMNS
LIBERIA’S RETIRED PASTORS HAVE NO PENSIONS TO SUPPORT THEM
The Rev. JoJoe Vah, his mother and 16 other relatives live in a house that would be condemned by U.S. standards. Vah, 78, who retired from active ministry in 2002, was a United Methodist pastor for 53 years. He has no money to repair the damage to his home caused by fire, bullets, water and weather. Receiving no income other than a quarterly pension of US$60, he and his family subsist on rice, soup made from a local nut and items they receive from others. Stories like Vah’s abound in Liberia and are explored in this second installment of a four-week series by United Methodist News Service. For more on the series, go to http://umns.umc.org. – UMNS
NEWLY LISTED MISSION OPPORTUNITIES
BOOKS OF WORSHIP NEEDED IN SIERRA LEONE
When I was in Sierra Leone recently, I had many requests for the 1964 book of worship. If you have a copy you are not using and would like to pass it on to a pastor in Sierra Leone, you can send it to the address below or you can bring it to conference to our truck at the ingathering. If you bring it to conference, please let me know soon. – Joe Wagner, Operation Classroom, Inc., PO Box 246, Colfax, IN 46035, call 765-436-2805, e-mail ocmisson@frontiernet.net or Web site www.operationclassroom.org.
FIRST YEAR MEDICAL RESIDENT SEEKS INTERNSHIP IN AFRICA
Annetta Alexander, MD, MPH is a first year resident in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at East Carolina University. She is seeking an African location, preferably in Ghana or Uganda, to fulfill a 3 to 4 week elective rotation during March, 2009 as a part of her residency training. Annetta has previously volunteered with medical missions in the Dominican Republic. She prefers working with the pediatric population. Annetta lives in Greenville, N.C. and would connect with a team by flying out of either the Raleigh or Charlotte, North Carolina airports. In order to contact Annetta, do not respond to this e-mail but to her directly at netta365@hotmail.com. Thank you.
PREVIOUSLY LISTED MISSION OPPORTUNITIES
MISSION AGENCY TO HOLD SUMMIT FOR MISSION INITIATIVES IN TEXAS
United Methodist mission initiatives in several countries and regions countries will jointly come together April 17-18 at St. Andrews UMC in Plano, Texas, for “The Mission Summit.” This gathering, sponsored by the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries, will be the first time since United Methodism established a new missional thrust in these nations that representatives will meet to learn how God is moving mightily in places where the Wesleyan witness is sharing the Gospel. Countries or areas to be represented are Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Nepal, Thailand, Central Asia, Balkans, Eastern Europe, Mongolia, Senegal, Cameroon and Honduras. The Rev. Mike Slaughter of Ginghamsburg Church in Tipp City, Ohio, will discuss how to be a missional church in today’s challenging world. A bonus meeting, ‘Missional Church in A Flat World: A Global Conversation for Next Generation Leaders in the Emerging Church,” will occur April 18-19. For more information, including registration and lodging, log on to: http://new.gbgm-umc.org/news/events/?C=2923&i=16762.
NORTH KATANGA ANNUAL CONFERENCE DELEGATES COMING TO INDIANA
Eight General Conference delegates from the North Katanga Annual Conference (Democratic Republic of the Congo) will be visiting in South Indiana the two weeks following General Conference (May 5-16). If your church, cluster or district is interested in hosting a day or an event, contact Lourdes Gonzalez or Bob Walters at the conference center.
What is we really need are two RVs for the road show. The delegates want to visit different kinds of churches, UM Health and Welfare communities, UM universities, community ministries, local and state government, industry and Hoosier tourist sites.
French speaking translators would be helpful. This visit is sponsored by the Kamina Project in conjunction with the North Katanga Partnership. For more information about the conference, log on to www.kaminaproject.org/ and www.northkatangaumc.org/.
PEDIATRIC ANESTHESIOLOGIST NEEDED FOR LIBERIAN VIM TRIP
Julie Warren is leading a Central Texas Conference sponsored team to Ganta UM Hospital in Liberia, June 19-July 5, (but if a doctor can’t stay that long he/she could return to the United States on June 30). Warren is desperately seeking a pediatric anesthesiologist for this team. The cost of the trip is $3,500. Women’s health focus (surgeries, assessment, ob/gyn), but also will be doing some club foot, ankle/foot deformity work, malaria bed nets, clean delivery kits, as well as hypertension and diabetes. The team also is sending a container to the hospital of supplies and equipment. So far Julie has on board an OB/GYN, cardiologist, anesthesiologist (who does not do peds) and three podiatrists as well as three RNs, a stress tech, scrub tech, social worker, financial controller and teachers. If interested, contact: Team Leader, Julie Warren, steadleaze@charter.net. Or call 817-453-2682 or 817-975-9216.
SMITH VALLEY UMC MISSION OPPORTUNITY AVAILABLE JULY 19-26
Dr. Joe Bottorff of Smith Valley UMC in Greenwood, Ind., will be leading fourth a group of Lay Missioners to Cartagenta, Colombia, South America, July 19-26. There is room for four more participants. Cost is $1,495 with a $150 deposit required at the time of reservation. Contact Pastor Joe for more details at 317-432-6706. The focus on this trip is medical, women’s prison, children’s ministries and support of vocational youth education. Skills required: Ability to hug, smile and show the love of Jesus.
TWO MISSION DISCOVERY OPTIONS AVAILABLE FOR CHRISTMAS BREAK
Visit the Spice Island, Grenada! Dec. 26 to January 6, 2009. Cost is $1,600. Work alongside Methodist young adults from Grenada. Do construction work, visitations and outreach near the city of Grenville. For fun, visit a beautiful Caribbean beach. Application deadline: Aug.1. Led by Beverly Nolte, bnmedical@aol.com, (515-237-8544), of Des Moines, Iowa.
The Andes are calling you to Chile! The Methodist church in Curacautin needs additional space to handle conference meetings. Join with Methodist young adults from this community to help build part of the addition. See the volcanoes, mountains and thermal baths way down under. It is summer in Chile when the team travels, Jan. 9-19, 2009. Led by Oscar and Joyce Carassco, ocarrasc@umcnic.org, (847-931-0710 X 10) of Elgin, Ill.
For application and more information on both of these teams, log on to www.gbgm-umc.org/northcentralvim/mission_discovery.html or write to umvim-ncj@brookings.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.
FLOOD RECOVERY IN NEED OF VOLUNTEERS TO ASSIST CASE MANAGERS
- For those wanting to volunteer, contact Van Wyck at mevanwijk@hotmail.com or by phone at 219-261-2273 or John Mayfield, case management supervisor, at jmay49@hotmail.com.
- 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 memo for Flood Relief in North Indiana – Account 030401.
PENNIES FOR PEACE MISSION PROJECT IDEA FOR THIS SUMMER’S VBS
- For more information, contact Operation Classroom at ocmisson@frontiernet.net or log on to www.operationclassroom.org
POTATOES FOR VACATION
- For more information and to order the material, go to www.endhunger.org
SEWING MACHINES NEEDED IN SIERRA LEONE
- For more information, call the Bloomington District office at 800-919-8161 or 812-339-1445.
UMCOR’S SAGER BROWN DEPOT NEEDS HELP WITH KITS
- For more information, log on to www.umcor.org and click on “Help Sager Brown Deliver Kits of Hope.”
UNITED METHODIST VOLUNTEER IN MISSION TEAMS NEEDED IN MEXICO
- Contact information: Jerry Hill jerry.hill@bsumc.com or call 864-320-3165
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION AT CENTERVILLE, IOWA
- Contact the church office at 641-856-3862 or the Trustees Chair at 641-895-0381.
NORTH IND. TO HOST VIM TEAM LEADER TRAINING AT KOKOMO APRIL 12
- April 12, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at St. Luke’s UMC, 700 East Southway Blvd. in Kokomo, Ind.
- For more information: Contact Bonnie Albert, or phone 219-464-1447.
- Registration deadline is Friday, April 4. To register, send name, address, phone number with area code, church, city. Make checks payable to North Indiana Conference, memo VIM training and mail to P.O. Box 869, Marion, IN 46952. For registration form, log on to www.nicumc.org.
PERU CHURCH ASKS FOR ASSISTANCE IN APRIL 13 MISSIONS FAIR
- April 13
- For more information and ways you can support Main Street UMC Mission Faith, contact Miles Straly, mission commission chairman, home phone: 765-472-2273, cell phone: 317-850-1448 or by e-mail: mstraly@mcremc.net. Home address: 1859 S 400 W, Peru, IN 46970.
TERRE HAUTE DISTRICT OFFERS TRIP TO MISSION DISTRIBUTION
- April 16-18
- For more information on these mission opportunities please contact the Terre Haute District Office at 800-919-8165 or 812-237-0101.
UM MISSION INITIATIVE SUMMIT SCHEDULED FOR TEXAS APRIL 17-18
- For details and registration visit: www.resources.gbgm-umc.org/summit/.
TWO OPEN SLOTS FOR UNITED METHODIST VIM TEAM TO CUBA
- April 18-30, 2008
- For more information, contact the team leader, Larry Burke: ljrdburke@comcast.net
OPERATION CLASSROOM PACKING PARTY IN TERRE HAUTE DISTRICT
- April 24, at 9 a.m. at Breden Memorial UMC, 2228 S. 7th St. in Terre Haute
- Please contact the Terre Haute District Office, 1403 Chestnut Street, Terre Haute, IN 47807. Call 812-237-0101 or 800-919-8168.
HENDERSON SETTLEMENT OFFERS PROGRAM FOR SENIORS APRIL 20-26
UNITED METHODIST VIMS NEEDED TO BUILD MONTANA PLAYGROUND
- May 2-5, 2008
- For more information, contact: Barbara Galusha Karst, High Plains Coordinator, bgkarst@vcn.com.
RX CONNEXION TO HOLD ANNUAL CONSULTATION IN LINCOLN COUNTRY
- May 2-4
- Fees: $75 - Meeting Registration, 3 meals, snacks (no breakfast)
- Lodging: $65 - Reserved Room at near-by Baymont Inn or $15/night Limited lodging space is available at the Midwest Distribution Center
- Optional Tour: $10 Lincoln Springfield Tour Saturday evening
- Registration Deadline is April 15 (tax day).
- For more information or to receive a registration form, visit www.gbgm-umc.org/northcentralvim/rxconnexion.html or write umvim-ncj@brookings.net for a copy.
OPERATION CLASSROOM SCHEDULES MORE WORK TEAMS THIS YEAR
- Pine Creek – May 3. Rev. Bruce Mowery is coordinating the project. For more information contact bemowery@hotmail.com.
- Bo Centenary School – June 19-July 11. For more information contact Kay Hess at: hess100@juno.com.
- Itabuna Methodist Church, Brazil – June 27- July 11. For more information, contact Carolyn Wagner.
- Henderson Settlement – July 20-26. Applications are due March 12. For more information contact Anne at annekumeh@aol.com
- W.PL. Brumskine UM School – Oct. 4-19. Kay and Lamar Zeigler are the team leaders. Contact the OC office or Tom at ttillett@ralis.com for more information.
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
MISSION TO CUBA HAS AN OPENING FOR MAY 17-28 TRIP
- Please contact Neil Vander Linden ( ngvl@charter.net – 864-859-3652)) for further information.
SOUTH INDIANA CONFERENCE UPCOMING MISSION TRIPS
- June 2008
- Harrodsburg UMC to Henderson Settlement, Ky.
- Youth District Mission Trip Location TBA
- July 2008
- July 12-19 – Mooresville First UMC to Calnali,, 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.
MISSION OPPORTUNITY – TRAVEL TO MEXICO WITH COLUMBUS D.S.
- June 14-21
- For more information including a brochure visit the Columbus District Web site www.coumc.org or e-mail Brian White.
GARY, IND. TO HOST FIRST EVER TEACHUM FAIR
- June 15-19
- Marquette Park UMC in Gary, Ind.
- For registration, schedule and further information, visit: http://www.gbgm-umc.org/northcentralvim/teachum.html or write/call umvim-ncj@brookings.net; 605-692-3390.
MINNESOTA MEDICAL MISSIONS TO SIERRA-LEONE NEEDS PHYSICIAN
- June 26-July 8, 2008
- September 27-October 7, 2008
- 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
- Late June through early July, 2008, sponsored by the Missouri UM Conference
- For more information, call Tom Mitchell if you have questions or want more information. Phone 314-725-4003 or e-mail TomM8132@aol.com.
NORTH INDIANA SCHOOL OF CHRISTIAN MISSION
- July 9 for the Drive-In Day
- July 9-July 12 at Manchester College, in North Manchester, Ind.
- More information and registration to come.
OPERATION UTAH INVITES VOLUNTEERS TO UTAH MISSION TO NAVAJOS
- July 9-21
- For more information, contact Scott or Anita Pattison by phone at 260-347-0056 church or 260-347-3621 home or e-mail them at gspattison@sbcglobal.net
KOKOMO CHURCH INVITES OTHERS TO UTE INDIANA NATION VIM TRIP
- July 17-July 29
- If you are interested in finding out more information about this opportunity call the cell number below. I look forward to hearing from you! Seeking God’s Horizon, Paul Rogers, cell phone: 765-863-0127.
SMITH VALLEY UMC ANNOUNCES MISSION OPPORTUNITY TO COLOMBIA
- July 19-26
- Contact Pastor Joe for more details at 317-432-6706. Our focus on this trip is medical, women’s prison, children’s ministries and support of vocational youth education.
SOUTH INDIANA SCHOOL OF CHRISTIAN MISSION SCHEDULED FOR JULY
- July 26-Super Saturday Session
- July 27-30 Weekday School.
- For more information check out the “Southwind” newsletter by logging onto: www.gbgm-umc.org/sicumw/
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR GULF PORT HURRICANE RECOVERY IN AUGUST
- Gulf Port, Miss., Aug. 9-17
- Contact Peg and Arley Ellingson, 203 S. 1st Ave Hinton, IA 51024, phone: 712-947-4551(h), 712-947-4553 (o), 712-203-8068 (c) or e-mail: pellingson@usa.net.
MADISON CHURCH PLANS MISSION TRIP TO ENGLAND IN SEPTEMBER
- Sept. 22 through Oct. 1
- For more information, call Debi Partridge at 812-273-4601 or email her at partridge2@verizon.net. The price for this trip is $3,000 and the team is almost full.
DETROIT CONFERENCE VIM TEAM PLANS TRIP TO HAITI FOR NOV. 7-14
- Nov 7-14
- Contact Curtis Bartz, 313- 278-4849 or jbartz@mich.com for information and an application.
WARSAW DISTRICT PLANS 2009 MISSION TRIP TO LIBERIA
- Jan. 10 through 24, 2009
- If you are interested, call the Warsaw District Office at 800-783-6111.
Compiled as a service of Indiana Area United Methodist Communication in Indianapolis.
Last updated on 03/31/2008