November 5, 2008
Iowa Conference News
Awards to Alleviate Hunger
The Iowa United Methodist Foundation has made 5 grants from the Carma Mohler Fund to Alleviate Hunger. Those receiving $1,000 grants for 2009 are:
Connection Café – Des Moines
Children & Family Urban Ministries – Des Moines
Self-Help International – Waverly
Neighborhood Meal & Enrichment Program – Cedar Rapids
Over the Rainbow Health & Education Services – Cedar Falls
These grants are due to a generous endowment given to the Foundation by Carma Mohler. Carma had a passion for feeding the hungry. Many people have been fed because of Carma Mohler’s generous gift.
Scholarships Available
The Iowa United Methodist Foundation will award approximately 175 scholarships to undergraduates, graduates and seminary students for the 2009-10 school year. These scholarships are possible because of generous United Methodists who have created scholarship endowments through the Foundation. All applications must be postmarked on or before February 15, 2009.
Go to our web site www.iumf.org and click on scholarships. You can view the qualifications for each scholarship, and the applications are there also. Awards will be announced around April 1. Please follow the directions carefully as incomplete applications and/or late applications will not be considered.
United Methodist and Other News
Room for More Mission Volunteers - February 14-26,2009
GUATEMALA
Share your talents and help those in need! We’re seeking flexible, spirit-filled individuals with a love of people and adventure! Travel to Guatemala February 14-26, 2009! Team will include both medical personnel to operate a clinic and construction workers to help build a home.
Elaine Capek is team leader and has traveled to Guatemala with teams on 4 occasions. According to Capek, “these trips are an opportunity to step beyond your ‘comfort zone’ and be forever changed!” She continues, “If you have a willing heart and God is leading you to be a part of the experience, I pray that you will have the courage to say ‘YES’ to His calling!”
For more information, contact Elaine Capek via e-mail at iowacapeks@hotmail.com or by phone at
563-556-6897.
Following God’s Call: Individual Volunteers in Mission
Dear Friends – Walter and Betty Whitehurst have finished a work of love - a book on Individual Volunteers who have gone to serve from the United Methodist Church. Walter and Betty got this program of the GBGM up and going! Please let your conferences know that it is available. I will have a few in the Jurisdictional office also … Information on the book is below. – Lorna Jost
Dear Individual Volunteers:
As former Consultants for Individual Volunteers, we are happy to share with you that Abingdon Press has just published a book we have written, Following God's Call: Individual Volunteers In Mission. If you would like to order one or more copies directly from us, we will gladly autograph them for you. You might also consider ordering some as Christmas gifts for family and friends. Below is an order form for your convenience. (The book is also available at Cokesbury book stores or online at www.cokesbury.com.)
The book tells the stories of individual volunteers, often in their own words, written during their periods of volunteer service in the US and throughout the world. It will be of interest to persons who have been volunteers, feel called to do volunteer mission work, or want to learn more about how The United Methodist Church through our General Board of Global Ministries enables many different avenues of mission. Pastors may find good mission-related sermon illustrations as the volunteers relate their experiences.
Going through the process of writing the book has helped us to remember those of you we have known during the 9-1/2 years we helped recruit, train, and send you to your places of work and witness. It has been a real blessing to us to have had a part in enabling your mission service. We hope the book will be a blessing to all who read it.
Going through the process of writing this book has helped us to remember the many individual volunteers and the great work and witness they have shared with others. It has been a real blessing to us to have had a part in enabling their mission service.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Walt and Betty Whitehurst
1761 Princess Anne Road
Virginia Beach, VA 23456
Phone 757-426-0230
Email: WaltPungo@aol.com
mid-week update is a ministry of the Communications Ministry Team
of the Iowa Annual Conference
