June 30, 2009
Iowa Conference News
Dear Friends in Christ:
School for Lay Ministry Registration Currently Open
Jesus tells us in Matthew 20:28 “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Several years ago dedicated people with great vision initiated the School for Lay Ministry in the Iowa Annual Conference. Since that beginning in Indianola, the school has expanded adding campuses at Morningside in Sioux City and at Cornell in Mount Vernon. The purpose of the school is to prepare people to follow in Jesus’ footsteps by serving. The program provides supplemental leadership training to facilitate ministry in Iowa United Methodist Churches. We can be the best servants when we are trained, informed and well prepared. The school offers 12 weekends over a three year period covering 12 carefully selected ministry areas. Schools are scheduled to begin this fall at all three campuses.
You will gain knowledge and insight that will be a tremendous asset to your pastor and your church. Additionally, you will grow personally beyond your expectation. You will build relationships that will enrich your life and you will surely become much, much closer to our Lord and Savior. I don’t know of any church in the conference that could not use more trained lay persons in their ministry. I invite you to prayerfully consider this opportunity.
Detailed information, dates, and registration forms can be found under SLM Downloads on the School for Lay Ministry website: www.iaumc.org/slm. Or feel free to contact Barb Mann at barb.mann@iaumc.org or 515-974-8905.
May God Bless Your Ministry,
Ginni Otto, Chair
School for Lay Ministry Commission
Academy for New Ministry Development Session in Lester, Iowa
The Academy for New Ministry Development will be having their next session on August 6, 2009 at Seeds of Faith UMC in Lester, Iowa. Seeds of Faith is located at 408 Main Street and their website is http://seedsoffaith.biz/templates/System/default.asp?id=29964. An agenda of the event is provided below.
We would like to invite all pastors and church leaders to attend the Thursday dinner, worship and presentation given by the host (teaching) church and Pastor Don Nelson. This is a great opportunity for you to bring a team of people and experience what is happening at another church so that it stirs the discussion and fans the flames for your own congregation. We ask that anyone not currently part of the Academy for New Ministry Development pay for their own dinner ($9/person). To register, please contact Barb Mann as soon as possible at barb.mann@iaumc.org. Thank you.
Thursday, August 6th
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm Dinner provided by teaching church
6:00 pm – 6:20 pm Worship at teaching church
6:30 pm – 7:30 pm Teaching church presentation
7:30 pm – 8:00 pm Q & A
Chad Jennings, Chair
Academy for New Ministry Development
Thinking about a fall capital campaign?
Did you know The Iowa United Methodist Foundation provides experienced professional consultant services that can help? Our fees are lower than for-profit companies, and our consultants bring a combined 17 years of experience leading campaigns specifically for United Methodist Churches.
Contact kgowdy@iaumc.org for information or to schedule a presentation.
THE IOWA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH BUILDING FUND TRUST
is offering one year investments with a current rate of: 3.50%*
This investment is open to all United Methodist Individuals, Churches and Agencies by downloading or requesting our offering circular and application from www.iumcbft.org
Investments are used to provide loans to United Methodist Churches in Iowa
Please contact us for more information:
Iowa United Methodist Foundation
2301 Rittenhouse Street
Des Moines, IA 50321
515-974-8927
*Please note rates may change without notice; rate shown is for week of 6/29/09
Urgent need for volunteers to serve in Alaska:
Ice flooding hit some villages along the Yukon River in Alaska and ~ 40 villages have been hurt. Because of the ice, the damage to the villages is unique and the damage looks like a hurricane or tornado went through them instead of flooding.
In particular, there are three villages near the Alaska/Canadian border,
¨ Eagle - 24 homes were destroyed, 13 need to be rebuilt form the ground up. Eagle has access to roads and there is a support camp for volunteers to stay in and a school where they can shower. The local community will be providing meals
¨ Canana - 30 homes have been gutted out by the locals but still need interior repair like dry wall and electrical. There are 2 homes there that need be rebuilt. Accessible via barge or by flying in. There is a building available for teams to stay in.
¨ Stevens Village - still awaiting news about the needs and facilities, accessible via barge or by flying in.
Teams can fly into Anchorage or Fairbanks and Holland America is helping the recovery efforts by providing ground transportation from the airport to these villages for volunteers.
It is most cost effective if teams can come in for 2 to 3 weeks at a time. However, because the need is great those teams that can only serve 1 week will not be turned away. Volunteers must be 18 or older. Volunteer period starts mid-July and goes until Sept. 15th due to the weather change and lack of sun in the winter months. The locals live mostly on what they hunt and gather so they will most likely not be too involved in the construction efforts as they have to prepare for the coming winter season. Only LOG HOMES are to be built. "Kit Homes" which will be used for the rebuilding process. People with construction experience are needed most.
Contact Heather Wilson, umvimwj@hotmail.com , www.umvimwj.blogspot.com - 818.333.6730
mid-week update is a ministry of the Communications Ministry Team
of the Iowa Annual Conference
