November 17, 2009
Iowa Conference News
Academy for New Ministry Development
Dear Friends: In Ephesians 4:16 we read: “From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”
In 1998, as part of a vision for the future of the Iowa Conference, Parish Development established the Iowa Academy for New Ministry Development. The purpose of the Academy is to provide quality education and practical tools to further develop leaders in the Iowa Conference by networking with peers, reading and discussing cutting-edge books and classics of church growth, hearing the stories of teaching churches within Iowa and around the country, and praying and worshipping together. Pastors, along with a few laity who have partnered in ministry, are gaining a variety of tools to birth and grow new ministries. The Iowa Conference is a fertile mission field full of opportunities to reach out to new persons through the gifts of those already a part of the church. The vision of the Academy is to help persons identify their gifts for ministry, acquire tools to carry out that ministry, and be supported as new ministries are developed.
The Academy meets quarterly over two years at teaching churches both within Iowa and around the country. In January, April and August the Academy meets over a Thursday and Friday at one of the United Methodist Churches around Iowa that is experiencing success in a unique outreach ministry or ministries. Teaching churches are chosen to reflect the diversity of ministry opportunities in Iowa. From rural to urban, new to long-time existing, small to large, and blended to single-point, the expectation is that participants will gain practical ministry ideas. This event is approved by the Board of Ordained Ministry for three (3) Continuing Education Units (CEUs) per year. There is no cost to participate in this program, other than to purchase the books we use and travel to and from the host teaching churches.
In October, from Thursday through Sunday, the Academy travels via chartered bus to a large teaching church out-of-state. This provides a chance to meet with others from around the country who are seeking to start new ministries and revitalize churches. Some of the places we have visited are Church of the Resurrection in Kansas City; Ginghamsburg UMC in Tipp City, Ohio; Willow Creek in Barrington, Illinois; Park Avenue UMC in Minneapolis; and others.
If you are interested in being part of the new Academy XII class which will be held at Ankeny UMC on Thursday and Friday, January 28-29, 2010 please refer to the Instructions for completing the on-line application located on the Academy website at www.iaumc.org/anmd. Once completed, please email it to Barb Mann, Registrar at barb.mann@iaumc.org. And don’t overlook the instructions regarding the three Personal References also required. The deadline for applicants to submit their applications is December 15, 2009. If you or someone you know is interested in learning more, please have them contact Pastor Chad Jennings at bikerev@mchsi.com or 319-929-1867.
May God Bless Your Ministry,
Academy for New Ministry Development Commission
Another On-line Resource received for Cutting/Self Mutilation/Suicide:
http://www.towriteloveonherarms.com
United Methodist Hispanic Ministries Event
Praise Worship at West Des Moines United Methodist Church
720 Grand Ave. West Des Moines, IA 50265
7:00 pm in the sanctuary
Friday, November 20, 2009
Praise bands and leadership teams from:
Muscatine Hispanic Ministries, Broadway United Methodist Church, Des Moines Las Americas Faith Community will lead us in song and praising God.
Please join us for an event filled with the Holy Spirit, Praise Songs as we share together the joy of our risen Lord.
For more information call the office of Las Americas Faith Community 280-8426
MINISTERIOS HISPANOS de la IGLESIA METODISTA UNIDA
Adoración y Alabanza
At West Des Moines United Methodist Church
720 Grand Ave. West Des Moines, IA 50265
A las 7:00 pm en el santuario Viernes, el 20 de Noviembre 2009
Bandas de Alabanza y liderazgo de la
Iglesia M. U. Broadway de Council Bluffs, Ministerios Hispanos de Muscatine, La Comunidad de Fe de Des Moines
Vamos a adorar a Dios con música de adoración y alabanza.
Los invitamos a un evento lleno del Espíritu Santo y alabanza en que todos juntos
compartimos el gozo de nuestro Señor.
Para mas información, llame a la oficina de la Comunidad de Fe Metodista Unida -280-8426
Iowa Storms of 2008
The rebuilding in eastern Iowa continues and volunteers are badly needed! The work involves siding, flooring, electrical, plumbing, heating, dry wall, painting, door and window replacement, finish carpentry, etc. It is very helpful to have some skilled volunteers on each team that can oversee the work of the less skilled but willing and enthusiastic volunteers. A ratio of at least one skilled worker to four unskilled workers is suggested. For further information or to register on line, go to www.iaumc.org/volunteer. You can also call the flood office at 1-877-393-1607 or email Volunteer Coordinator, Melisa Bracht-Wagner, at melisa.brachtwagner@iaumc.org.
The Block by Block project is generating a lot of activity in Cedar Rapids and Oakville is trying to get eleven families back in their homes by Christmas. Any help would certainly be appreciated.
Oakville Needs Your Help!
Tayna Lantz is the rebuild/volunteer coordinator in Oakville, IA. As part of the Block by Block program of the UMC, they are buying homes, rehabbing them and selling them back to flood survivors who want to come back to Oakville. If you can send groups that would be wonderful! We have accommodations and lunch is served weekdays at the community center". Tanya went on to tell me that they are trying very hard to get 11 families in homes by Christmas!
Nail it Down!
Do we have nails? We asked for nails, screws, bolts and other hardware to be used on construction, village wells and solar panel projects in Nigeria! Did you ever respond! Wow! We have nails, lots of nails, different kinds of nails…bolts, screws, etc. They came to the Nov. 7th InGathering in buckets, jars, boxes, bags and pails! Some arrived sorted with the nail taped on the outside of the container! Others came in a mishmash collection so we will go to sort through them prior to sending the sea container to Nigeria! These nails may not mean much to you but they are invaluable to our work in Nigeria as they are a precious commodity and sometimes hard to find. So now we can NAIL IT DOWN thanks to your tremendous response. Thanks! Beverly Nolte, bnmedical@aol.com,
Apportionment Interpretation Resource
Here’s a helpful, and free, resource that can be helpful if you are looking for information for apportionment interpretation…it’s available from the “store” at United Methodist Communications at: http://bit.ly/3LFByT
Trauma Summit PowerPoint Presentation Available on Website
Click here to access the presentation
United Methodist and Other News
United Methodist Communication’s Releases New Resource
United Methodist Communications has created a new resource cleverly titled, "Church Marketing Plan." Here's a resource that your congregations can use to help them put their best foot forward.
Whether it’s impacting lives, helping people know Christ or engaging them through Christian discipleship, find out how with this new workbook approach to creating a customized church marketing plan. And it’s free!
For more information, call 877-281-6535 or email: churchmarketingplan@umcom.org.
New EcuFilm Seasonal Catalog Now Online
Church staff members are planning now for their Advent and Christmas programming. EcuFilm offers several small-group, DVD-based resources that may be of interest to them. Hot off the duplicator is a 4-session study titled Advent Conspiracy. The resource helps viewers make Christmas what it should be--a joyous celebration of Jesus' birth, not a retail circus. For more information about this and other resources, click here.
mid-week update is a ministry of the Communications Ministry Team
of the Iowa Annual Conference
