weekly update
News Related to the Crisis in Haiti
UMCOR/UMVIM Seeks Volunteers interested in going to Haiti
United Methodist Committee on Relief and United Methodist Volunteers in Mission, Southeastern Jurisdiction is collecting contact information for individuals interested in traveling to Haiti to assist in disaster recovery and humanitarian aid.
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More Health Kits Needed
Sager Brown Depot, UMCOR's relief supply headquarters, will be making another Health Supply Kit pick up this week at North Georgia Conference's disaster response warehouse in Austell, GA. Mike Yoder, chair of the North Georgia Conference disaster response team, encourages churches to continue kit assembly.
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A Special Fund Helps North Georgia’s Haitian Community
Rev. Albert Melifaite and the First Haitian UMC congregation have been deeply affected by the loss of family and friends due to the earthquake in Haiti. A special fund has been set up to assist Melifaite and the North Georgia Haitian community.
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How is Your Local Church Responding to the Crisis in Haiti?
We would like to know how you are responding to the needs in Haiti. Whether it be a through a worship experience; Health Kit construction; a special offering; or prayer vigils, please send us your stories, images, and ideas—we’d like to know. Contact us at communications@ngumc.org
Continue to stay up to date on current news and resources related to the crisis in Haiti here http://www.ngumc.org/news/detail/599
Other Conference News
Lathem Gaining Strength after Health Struggles
Warren Lathem has special reason to be enthused about the new year. For a time, Lathem had doubts he would even live to see 2010. Now he is busy planning the next step of his missionary journey.
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End of Year Reports Due this Sunday
Local churches, please complete your End of Year Reports by this Sunday. For helpful information, go to www.ngumc.org click 'Benefits and Finance' and see 'End of Year Reference Material' or just go to http://data.ngumc.org to get started.
Here is a taste of what's coming up in the next edition of the North Georgia Advocate:
First Haitian UMC in Roswell copes with grief, uncertainty in wake of earthquake North Georgia churches respond quickly to crisis in Haiti Do you have what it takes to be a leader of men? UMM wants to know Reinhardt College in Waleska gets a new name Roswell UMC seeks to help unemployed Martha Tate writes final column after six-year run
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January Conference-wide Events
Cokesbury VBS Showcase 2010
January 30 10am Atlanta Cokesbury Bookstore
You’re invited to a VBS preview in Atlanta. VBS products will be on display and staff will be available to answer your questions. All VBS products will be 20% off. Please RSVP to shood@cokesbury.com.
February Conference-wide Events
Housing & Homeless Council Grant Workshop
February 1 10am United Methodist Center, Davis Room
The next application deadline for the Housing and Homeless Grant is March 1. Application information is available at www.nghhc.org. Virginia Tinsley, council director, will be leading a workshop to provide helpful information about the application process; however, a church or organization can apply without being in attendance. For reservations, please contact Virginia Tinsley director@nghhc.org.
2010 Homeless Offering
February 28 Your local church
Don’t forget about this very important offering coming up next month. Offering materials are being distributed at district meetings and events, and some will be hand-delivered or mailed by council members. If you have not received your materials by February 10, or if you need additional materials, contact Virginia Tinsley director@nghhc.org.
Youthworker Gathering
February 4 5:30pm McDonough First UMC
All youth workers—veteran or new—paid or volunteer, are invited for a dinner and networking event. Participants will hear about cutting-edge ideas and the latest research in youth ministry from Dr. Beth Corrie, director of The Youth Theological Initiative (YTI). Bring a group of your adult volunteers with you! Please RSVP via email to mfreeman@ngumc.org so you will be included in the dinner count.
Concert to Benefit UMCOR Haiti Relief Fund
February 6 6:30pm Simpsonwood UMC, Howard Family Life Center
All conference youth are invited to a Christian rock concert with all proceeds going to support UMCOR Haiti Relief. The concert will feature the Micah Watson Band and the Oswald Brothers. In appreciation for youth ministry and youth workers, this event will donate free tickets to ALL youth workers (whether you bring your kids or not) with an additional free ticket for every 10 people you bring with you. For more information, contact Matt Parker at 770-441-2181 or via e-mail mparker@simpsonwoodumc.org.
Contextual Education Mentoring Opportunity
February 16 Candler School of Theology, Cox Hall 2&4
The Candler Office of Contextual Education will host a meet and greet for churches and pastors interested in mentoring a Contextual Education student for the 2010-2011 academic year. Participants are encouraged to bring displays and other information to hand out about their churches. A reservation is requested at: http://eventactions.com/ea.aspx?ea=Rsvp. For more information, please contact Carmen Thompson at carmen.thompson@emory.edu or call 404.727.4178.
UMVIM Team Training
February 20 9am McEachern Memorial UMC
North Georgia United Methodist Volunteers in Mission offers this practical training to help equip those who will lead (or help plan) teams for any type of mission experience. Participants will also learn how to better prepare church leadership to support mission efforts as well as how to get your congregation involved. Please register at www.ngumc.org. For more information, contact Tom Snyder at tomsnyder@earthlink.net or Donna Goff at donna@mceachernumc.org.
Changing The Culture: A National Network of Church Developers Conference
February 24-26 4pm The Lodge at Simpsonwood
Join this annual gathering to learn more about the exiting world of new church development. Speakers include: Bob Farr from Missouri Conference to speak on “Healthy Church Initiatives”; Alan Hirsch to speak on Recalibrating the Church for the 21st Century Mission, and “Jesus Sneezed: The Movement”; and Jack Stephenson will speak on “Natural Church Development.” Path One will also host a panel of new church pastors with Q&A to follow. If you are available, please join us for the pre-network orientation Tuesday evening at 4pm. For more information or to register, please visit: http://guest.cvent.com/i.aspx?5S%2cM3%2cb34072c1-c36c-4c5a-87d1-3dd0757f159b
How to Minister to Job Seekers in your Community
February 27 8am Roswell UMC
How are you ministering to job seekers in your community? The North Georgia Conference Connectional Ministries Office, Roswell United Methodist Church Job Network, and the Crossroads Career Network have joined together to bring an amazing program available to all churches who wish to start, improve, or grow a career ministry. You can anticipate a complete program agenda which will highlight the best practices and programs for assisting job seekers with job searches. For more information and to register, visit http://www.rumc.com/page.aspx?id=79455.
March Conference-wide Events
Marketing Your Church: Creative Ways to Bless Your Community
March 2 Reinhardt College, Hasty Student Life Center
Join Phil Schroeder and Dave Schroeder as they help participants focus on understanding and targeting your local and global missions field. Participants will also explore social media and how your church can use these tools for maximum interaction. This seminar will be based on the work of the Bantam Group under the leadership of marketing professional, Troy Nottingham, a member of Peachtree Road UMC. Brett DeHart, pastor of Austell UMC and author of the “Bless Austell” public relations campaign, will also be in attendance. Register by February 24 at www.reinhardt.edu/church_relations.
Nominations for the Harry Denman Award
Nomination Deadline: March 5
We invite nominations for the North Georgia Conference Harry Denman Evangelism Awards for laity and clergy. Neither the size of the local church with which the person is affiliated, the age or gender of the person nor the length of their service should limit a person’s eligibility. What is important are the persons whose lives have been changed by the life and ministry of the nominee. The nomination deadline is March 5. For more information, contact Winston Worrell at wworrel@emory.edu. To submit a lay nominations, visit http://foundationforevangelism.org/fileadmin/forms/Laity_Nomination_Form_2009_PDF.pdf. To submit a clergy nomination, visit http://foundationforevangelism.org/fileadmin/forms/Clergy_Nomination_Form_2009_PDF.pdf. For more information about this award, visit http://foundationforevangelism.org/fileadmin/brochures/DenmanAwardBrochure_Jan2009.pdf.
Q3: Faith and Science Conference
March 9-11 Asbury Seminary, Kentucky Campus
Asbury Theological Seminary is bringing together a team of scientists, pastors, and theologians to help participants with biblical responses to issues of science and faith in “Ministry Celebrates the Wonders of God’s World.” Through this team effort called Q3, pastors, youth workers, counselors, educators and others in full-time ministry will profit from online resources and conference workshops. For more information and to register, visit http://www.asburyseminary.edu/q3.
North Georgia Christian Educator's Fellowship meeting
March 18 noon Dunwoody UMC
Join in monthly discussion of new techniques, helpful resources, and great encouragement relating to Christian education. This month, Margaret Watson, wife of Bishop Mike Watson, will be the guest speaker. Please RSVP to David Melton at david.melton@ngumc.net.
Latino Immigration Conference
March 19-20 Candler School of Theology
This conference will present the findings of a three-year study of Brazilian, Guatemalan, and Mexican immigrants in the Atlanta metropolitan region. It will also bring community leaders, activists, policymakers, students, and scholars together to discuss the challenges and opportunities that Latino immigration poses for congregations and civil society at large. Dr. George Yancey, Author of One Body, One Spirit: Principles of Successful Multiracial Churches, will be the Keynote speaker. For more information or to register, please visit http://www.latam.ufl.edu/NewFordProjectSite/conference.shtml
Weekly Update is a product of the North Georgia Conference Communications Office with the goal of disseminating information to conference laity and clergy concerning: conference news; a six-week span of events open to a conference-wide audience; and current resources. For more information, please contact the Communications Office at communications@ngumc.org.