"The things that we do today are not for us but for those that are yet to come. . . ” --- Sally Vonner, United Women in Faith CEO

Projects, discussions, studies, and all our mission efforts are our investments in the future. The women, children and youth of tomorrow thank you.

Wendy Campbell, President, NTC United Women in Faith

2024 Mission Project:

ABIDE WOMEN'S HEALTH SERVICES

Our racial justice focus this year is the Disparities in Maternal Health and our 2024 Mission Project, Abide, is improving outcomes for women of color. To learn more about Abide and what they do, go to our website and use the links there for a great program for your small group:

• a short video walk-thru of their clinic,

• a short video with their Lead Midwife

• informative 2023 Annual Report

• Abide's winning Pitch to United Way!

Abide wins United Way DFW SOCIAL INNOVATOR award!! Also won:

Audience Choice Award, Accelerator Prize, and the Entrepreneurial Spirit Award! CEO Cessilye Smith shown above on May 2, 2024.

You and your group can support this year's project financially, by collecting items, or by making layette items. Our support will help Abide reach more families and improve birth outcomes in the DFW area.

Full information & donation form on our website.

UWFaith Lunch at Annual Conference

Tuesday, June 4th at First UMC Richardson

What are the Social Principles changes and how will that affect you or your mission work?

Join us for lunch on Tuesday along with Church & Society at the North Texas Annual Conference. We will learn about what changes were made and have Table Talk to discuss creation care, economic justice, human sexuality and marriage revisions. If you are attending Annual Conference this year please choose our lunch when you register.

In 2025 our Conference will grow to include United Women in Faith from Paris to Amarillo, Waco to Denton, Rockwall to Fort Worth, De Soto to Abilene! [North Texas + Central Texas + Northwest Texas)

You can maintain your traditions because we'll all still be organized for mission, spiritual growth and fellowship. Dallas Bethlehem Center and Wesley-Rankin Community Center will still be our local missions associated nationally with UWFaith. Because of this larger geographical area we will have more sisters in our Conference community. Districts will stay the same. The unified Conference will have a new name, but still have Mission u, Racial Justice events, Soul Care events, mission projects, and newsletters. 



Our Committee on Nominations is now seeking nominations for the 2025 new unified Conference Team. Volunteer or suggest someone you know would be good with this Nominations Form. There are plenty of ways you can participate in leadership and important committees that take us into the future. Contact NTC President Wendy with questions.

Read the official letter about Unification here.

GET TOGETHER!

South Central Jurisdiction Gathering June 21-24 in St. Louis

This quadrennial event will include engaging workshops, inspiring worships, motivating speakers, renewing soul care, along with some fun! Join with your UWFaith Sisters from Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri. The Registration link has full information. Contact Cynthia Harry if you have questions about this event.

Registration is still open: REGISTER by May 17th!

RALLY FOR GUN VIOLENCE PROVENTION Saturday, May 18th  9-11 am at Dallas City Hall 

Join with community gun violence prevention leaders, survivors of gun violence, coalition partners, faith leaders, Students and Moms Demand Action supporters, and Texas Impact to protest the proliferation of gun violence in our country. Register and get more information: Registration and more information here.

THE STOLEN LIVES PROJECT / VIDAS ROBOTAS Your church or group can participate in this DIY art installation that memorializes victims of gun violence. It is a powerful way to visualize the reality of too many victims of gun violence in our communities. More info here.

Contact UWFaith member Katie Clark if you have questions about how you or your church can be involved in either of these programs.

COMMUNITIES IN CRISIS



Thank you, Lake Cities UWFaith, for your May 4th program: Four Fentanyl Stories.

Each speaker shared their personal story of a friend or family member dying from an overdose of fentanyl mixed with other drugs. Addiction and overdoses are not new problems, but common anti-anxiety and other medications are sometimes laced with fine powdered Fentanyl that kills. When health care providers don't address the underlying mental health issues, miss the signs of severe mental illness, or prescribe medications that don't work well, patients often turn to street drugs that are too often laced with fentanyl.

Takeaways: 1) Drug OD and addiction affect adults and youth. 2) More education is needed about addiction as a disease and its relation to mental health issues such as severe anxiety. 3) Stop stigmatizing people with addiction problems-- all people deserve support and help, 4) United States is the biggest consumer of fentanyl. It is made in the USA by the cartels, 5) Know the signs of overdose and what to look for. 6) We need to advocate for more educational programs like this one. 7) Mental health was common to all four presentations, and how it continues to not receive the adequate funding and acknowledgement it needs. 

-- Ruth Bowen, NTC UWFaith Officer

CHECK OUR WEBSITE CALENDAR FOR MORE INFO ABOUT:

• METRO Book Club: Friday, May 10th at 1pm
• RALLY for Gun Violence Prevention, May 18th, 9-11 am
• Human Trafficking & Social Media, 5/18, 10 am zoom
• St. Luke Community Scholarship Tea, May 18th, 1 - 3 pm
• NTC UWFaith Lunch at Annual Conference: Tuesday, June 4

MISSION u 2024:

The Kin-Dom is Among You

Download flyer now!

Retreat: will include worship, study, scripture theatre, choir, healing service and fun! We'll have room for more participants and a dorm closer to the cafeteria. Friday morning to 5 pm Saturday, July 19-20. Study Leaders: Rev. Danielle Kim, Rev. Gracie Millard, Rev. Christina Hardy, Worship Leader: Rev. Rosedanny Ortiz.

Virtual Evenings and Lunch Hour: Dates yet to be determined. Study Leader: Rev. Shandon Klein.

Registration will open with full information about May 15th.

SOUL CARE RETREAT FOR YOUR GROUP?

Conference Spiritual Growth Coordinator, Karen Anderson-Lain, will consider providing Bible study, activity, and rest reflection for your UWFaith group. Be spiritually nourished, connected, and share joy in a your own get-away-location.

Contact Karen Anderson-Lain to check availability and arrange a date.

2024 NORTH TEXAS TIMELINE

UWFaith READING PROGRAM

It has been decided to stick with our original Reading Program timelines for 2024. For one more year we'll follow the established procedures of previous years.

There will be changes in 2025. If you have questions, contact Dr. Dana Jobe. Happy Reading!

2024 Reporting Period: September 1, 2023 – August 31, 2024

2025 Reporting Period: September 1, 2024 – December 31, 2025

PROGRAM IDEA: Connect with Dallas Bethlehem Center and Wesley-Rankin Community Center! Each of these 'national mission institutions' are local - in North Texas -- and have amazing, new programs meeting the needs of their communities. Have you heard about them? Request they speak to your UWF group or Sunday School class, or schedule a tour for your group to visit and see their mission up close. Schedule it now and for credit on your unit's annual report due in August. Click on name above for contact and more information.

WESLEY-RANKIN COMMUNITY CENTER:

B3X: STEAM-based Summer Camp



VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! SUPPLIES NEEDED! B3X uses hands-on activities to reinforce science, math, reading and art learning for 200 children this summer. Click to see how you and friends can help: Amazon Wishlist for supplies, application and dates for volunteers.

WESLEY-RANKIN COMMUNITY CENTER:

Brighter Bites -- This national nonprofit distributes produce and educates families on the importance of nutrition. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for Grocery Bag Assembly. Sign-up to help on Tuesdays from 1 - 2 pm weekly. Just sign-up - no other requirements. This is a good project for a groups! Sign-up here.

DISPARITIES IN MATERNAL HEALTH:

Click for program recording, speakers' slides, advocacy video, and a list of articles, websites, videos and more. MATERNAL HEALTH RESOURCES

PHOTO ALBUMS - See pics from recent events. Please send your photos to news@UWFNorthTexas.org.

LOCAL OFFICER TRAINING HANDOUTS

2024 handouts for all local officers are available in our website Resource section. Helpful Hints for: Presidents, Treasurers, VP-Programs, Social Action, Secretary, Spiritual Growth & Soul Care, Education & Interpretation, Membership Nurture & Outreach, Program Resources (clean presentation uploaded), Communications and the Committee on Nominations. Questions? Contact your District officer.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

See ideas for individuals or groups in the Volunteer Opportunities at Local Missions section on our website.

LOCAL UNIT ANNUAL REPORT? They are almost ready for you and will be due on August 15th. Your reports provide us with lots of information, like the 2023 "All We've Done Together" report. Be ready to share this year's info.

NEW! Follow us on Instagram & facebook: ntcuwf

Connect & follow our accounts and share.

We look forward to engaging with you!