July 28, 2009
Iowa Conference News
Testimonial from Ames Korean UMC Mission Participant
Chan Kim, pastor of Ames Korean UMC wants to share a church youth group member's mission trip testimony and pictures with the Conference.
The youth went to Gray Mountain, AZ from June 27 - July 4. 2009 for the Nabajo native American people; VBS for the children of Gray Mountain Bible church, labors for the church and village.
The testimony is attached. Photos can be viewed by clicking here.
If you have questions and want to contact Rev. Kim, you can call at 515-233-1063 or Email at chan14001@hotmail.com
Were you There?
It was twenty years ago this month that twenty some Iowa United Methodist
teens and adult leaders trekked to the former USSR on a peace and friendship
tour by educational opportunities. We visited museums, the Moscow Circus,
the Ballet and celebrated worship with our Methodist counterparts in Tallin
Estonia while people signed petitions for independence in the town square.
I would like to reconnect with anyone who was blessed to be on that historic
trip by sharing memories and picturess.
Rev. Don Kraps
pastor@bucyrusepworthumc.com
Registration is open for “A Conversation with Young Adults” - an event for those interested in ministry with Young Adults and College Students which will be held on October 24, 2009 at Collegiate United Methodist Church and Wesley Foundation in Ames, Iowa. Bruce C. Birch, Dean of Wesley Theological Seminary and Bill Lizor, past Director of Young Adult Ministries with the General Board of Discipleship will provide primary leadership for this event. The event will focus on the premise that ministry with young adults needs to come from a spiritual center of Biblical and theological groundings rather than based on the “right” technique. Ministry begins with the intentional willingness to be in conversation with young people rather than assuming that we already know what “works”. To see the event brochure go to Conversation Brochure. To register for the event go to www.iaumc.org/yaconversation.
2009 Leadership Institute
United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
October 8-9, 2009
The Academy for New Ministry Development would like to let you know about the upcoming Church of the Resurrection (COR) Leadership Institute being held October 8-9 at their church in Leawood, KS (Kansas City area). Students from the Academy who attended COR in 2007 came away equipped with valuable information to use in developing strategies and tactics to build a strong church and a vibrant, connected community.
Please take a look at their website for information on this event at www.cor.org. Click on Leadership Renewal and select Leadership Institute for full details.
In addition to attending the conference on these two days, you are also invited to visit with Rev. Nanette Roberts, Sr. Pastor of Grace UMC in Olathe KS on Wednesday, October 7th. Pastor Roberts will be talking about dual-site ministry; Hispanic Ministry; their Peace Academy with Africa; and what it is like to be a female pastor to the second largest congregation in the Kansas East Conference. COR, of course, is the largest so she will also talk about casting a vision, leadership, and church growth with Grace UMC in a way that sets it apart from COR, as it has very distinctive and successful ministries.
Pastor Roberts has also invited the group to dinner at the Center of Grace. It is their “free dinner night” for the community and you will be able to get a taste of the diversity of folks they serve on that site. For more information about Grace UMC/Center of Grace, please see their site at www.gracech.org.
The cost to attend will be the $177 registration fee, $80.49 for a hotel room and $50 for the bus ride. In order for everyone to receive the Early Bird rate, on line registration must be completed by September 4th. Hotel rooms and seats on the chartered bus reserved for the trip are limited and are on a first come, first serve basis.
If you are interested in attending, please let the Academy Registrar Barb Mann know so she can provide you with additional details regarding registration, hotel and bus. Barb can be reached at barb.mann@iaumc.org or 515-974-8905.
Attend the 2009 Leadership Institute to discover some of the best new ideas and innovations in ministry.
United Methodist and Other News
Haiti Solar Oven Project Volunteers In Mission Opportunity
November 5-18, 2009 marks the calendar for the fall mission trip to Haiti for Solar Oven Partners, a ministry of the Dakotas Conference and UMCOR Advance project. Mission activities will be in two areas of the capital city of Port-au-Prince called Carrefour and Cite Soleil (Sun City). Carrefour is a sprawling commercial/residential district and Cite Soleil a large seaside slum. Our mission will be twofold: 1) to assist our Haitian partners with solar cooking seminars and to assemble solar ovens for distribution to participating students in Cite Soleil; 2) to perform construction and maintenance work at the Carrefour Methodist Church, which is the host site for Solar Oven Partners’ Haiti operations. Construction will include a canopy-type shelter with concrete slab, electrical installation of a security lighting system, and some general maintenance. The services of an electrician are being sought. There will also be opportunities to do some sightseeing and, of course, serve alongside and meet the Haitian people!
Trip Expenses will be $1,850 per volunteer with a $200 deposit against the total to ensure a spot on the team. Applications with deposits are accepted in the order received and we immediately return any above the limit on team members. If you would like more information and/or an application packet, please contact Rick Jost by email or phone 605-692-3391.
May blessing and peace of heart be your rich gifts from God our Father, and from Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Thessalonians 1:1, The Way)
Rick Jost, United Methodist Missionary
Solar Oven Partners
928 4th Street #2
Brookings, SD 57006
rjost@brookings.net
phone/fax: 605-692-3391
http://www.gbgm-umc.org/solarovenshaiti/
Primetimer Event
The final Primetimer event this year has a SE Asia flare as Jeanie Blankenbaker leads the group of older adults to Cambodia from Nov 4-14, 2009. One of the original Mission Initiatives of the GBGM, Cambodia is proud of its growing, young and energetic Methodist Church! In 2003, the UMC in Cambodia joined with three other Methodist agencies for a “one Methodist” agreement, working towards the formation of an autonomous Methodist Church in Cambodia.
For more information on this opportunity to explore the culture of Cambodia and spirit of Christ in its midst, visit www.primetimers.info and check it out. Deadline is soon approaching!
“A Journey in Mission: Following Christ in Cambodia”
Cambodia Methodist Mission
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
November 4 - 14, 2009
Event Cost: $1,975.00
URGENT need for volunteers to finish a roof
A terrific group from Colorado just took on the challenge of roofing a home. Unfortunately, the original roof is in such a state of disrepair, that they were not able to "fix" the entire roof. The roof, in its current state, will not survive the fall and winter. Water damage to the interior of the home has become a major safety issue. Besides the roof, we also need volunteers who are willing to remove the bathroom sub-flooring and flooring, as well as installation of a new toilet and sink. The bathroom floor was ruined by water damage from the roof. It is the homeowners only bathroom, and is a major safety concern.
We can take volunteers anytime, the sooner the better. We will accept groups, or we would be willing to "group" interested individuals together. We will supply the roofing and bathroom materials. Any tools you can bring would be very helpful. If anyone would like to donate materials, or tools, we will put them to great use on this home. These donations will be matched by a grant from the City of Rockford.
If you need overnight stays, you can be housed in churches (i.e. Hilltop and Centennial United Methodist, and 2nd Congregational Church). Please bring your own bedding, and you may have run of the kitchens.
To create a safe home for this homeowner, RUM waives its request for donations of at least $15 per person per day for work crews/individuals. The donation helps pay for lodging, the work site, supervision, insurance and some materials for the program. The City of Rockford will pay for materials, which must be matched! Long term work crews are responsible for their own bedding and food.
Since 1999, Rockford Urban Ministries hosted 120 work crews, Volunteers are mixed ages, from church volunteer groups outside the Northern IL area. The work crews coordinate with RUM, who then partners with area social service organizations to complete projects. The Northern IL Conference of the United Methodist Church supports RUM and its programs.
Call 815-964-7111, Michelle Ryan at 815-988-2639, or email rockfordworkcamps@hotmail.com
mid-week update is a ministry of the Communications Ministry Team
of the Iowa Annual Conference
