Adapting to Your Town, Country or Rural Setting

Sat., Aug. 27th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Marion-Salem UMC (between Marion and Mt. Gilead)

 

Whether you are new to a town, country, or rural setting or your current ministry could benefit from a better understanding of the dynamics and shifts in your town, country, or rural setting, Pastor Parish members, pastors, and leaders will all benefit.  Learn from 4 District Superintendents and bring your questions.  Learn how to instill a healthier church environment.  Learn how to move forward in discovering God's vision for your church.    Brochures are available by contacting Debbie Ketcham at 614-580-2382.  See you there!

What is the purpose of leading a mission team to Haiti? Let me tell a story. When one home was recently completed, the recipient asked Mr. Greg (the mission on-site leader and resident of Haiti for the past 20 years) for a favor. He responded that he would be glad to help her with a favor. She asked her favor, "Tell me about this Jesus." She and her family have given their lives to Christ. Guess what the purpose of our mission is.

There is a team headed for Port-au-Prince, Haiti, January 7-14, 2017. The project of the mission is to build housing for those who are homeless after the earthquake of January 2010. That's hard for us to imagine since we can just stop at our local Home Depot or Lowe's for repair and construction materials, hire from myriads of contractors, and fund everything through our insurance claims. That is the project. The purpose goes way beyond building housing. We're building things that can't be bought at Home Depot or Lowe's, can't be contracted out, or funded by insurance. Please, join us.

Contact Pastor Dave Pagura at [email protected] or by phone, 614-204-3349, for information about the January 2017 team. 

Summer Preaching Seminar

Overall church worship attendance in the United States has been declining for at least the past 30 years. During that time there has also been a decline in civility, honesty, integrity and compassion in our society. If we want to reverse the decline in spiritual values such as faith, hope, love, joy, forgiveness, peace and patience, we need to strengthen our congregations. 

United Theological Seminary seeks to help transform our world and renew the Church by preparing effective Christ-centered pastors and local church leaders who inspire the people in our congregations to lives of greater love for God and others. One of the best ways to accomplish this is to equip leaders to become more effective preachers and communicators of the Good News of Jesus Christ.

On Aug.16-18, 2016, United is hosting our 15th Annual Summer Preaching Seminar, featuring Dr. Marvin McMickle, President of Colgate Rochester Seminary in Rochester, New York, as our preacher and leader. The focus of this three-day seminar is "Be My Witness: A Theology of Preaching for the 21st Century Based on Acts 1:6-8." The cost is $200. 

Do you identify as young clergy or a young clergy family? Have you ever found yourself isolated and alone on the journey of ministry? Are you considering going into ministry and want a chance to ask some other young families (pastors, spouses, and kids) what it's really like?

 

Join us for Fall Refresh-ment on Saturday, September 3, 10am-7pm for food, fellowship, games, fun, and an open discussion about life and ministry at Spencerville Trinity United Methodist Church (119 N. Main St., Spencerville).

Mission Possible: A Pre-Retirement Seminar

 

Did you know that according to a recent Insured Retirement Institute survey, 45% of folks between the ages of 52 and 70 have nothing saved for retirement? Nothing, zero, zilch, nada. Take a minute and let that sink in. Did you know that only 24% are confident they will have enough savings to last throughout retirement? That figure is down 12% from just four years ago. While statistics can be helpful, they may not reflect your story. So, how confident are you? How confident is your spouse? Will you be prepared when retirement comes?

Your Conference wants to walk this retirement journey with you. With that in mind, the WOC will present Mission Possible, a pre-retirement seminar for those 50 years young and up. Wespath (formerly The General Board of Pension and Health Benefits) representatives will lead this free one-day seminar on Tuesday, October 11, at Reynoldsburg United Methodist Church from 9am to 2pm.