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| What a difference one child can make! |
 Kara Russell, a 3rd grader from Lima started raising money for Grace Children's Hospital when she was in pre-school. Although she was too young to attend the ICC sponsored Vacation Bible School at the West Ohio Annual Conference, she still showed up on the final day of VBS to make her donation. Since then, Kara has not only attended VBS each June, but has also increased and surpassed her previous fundraising achievements. [more] |
| Are you ready for new people? |
 If a new person in your community saw this ad in Newsweek, and found your church on the website it advertises, would your church be ready for their visit?
Print ads like this one from United Methodist Communications are appearing across the country in national publications, driving readers to the new 10thousanddoors.org website where all United Methodist Churches are listed in the FIND database. Are you ready?
Come to the National Rethink Church Welcoming training on Saturday, August 15 in Ohio and find out about "Find-A-Church", 10thousanddoors.org, Rethink Church, and learn ways to sharpen your church's welcoming skills. Teams from churches are encouraged to attend. [more] |
| Highlights of Annual Conference |
 The 40th session of the West Ohio Annual Conference, presided over by Bishop Bruce R. Ough, emphasized the development of principled Christian leaders for the church and the world under the banner of "Love in Action: Developing Leaders." The approximately 3000 members and guests attending the conference at Lakeside, Ohio, received a powerful reminder from Bishop Ough that "as a Love First Conference, the Four Areas of Focus are ways we can faithfully and fruitfully put our love for God and love for neighbor into action within the 21st century context."
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| Second annual Rally in the Valley raises more funds for Vietnam Initiative |
 Strains of "God of this City" flowed throughout the Worship Center of Waverly Grace UMC during the 2nd annual Rally in the Valley. Approximately 250 parishioners, motorcyclists, bicyclists and pastors from the churches of the Shawnee Valley District converged on the church to celebrate the Mission Call: Following Jesus to Vietnam - One Shovel, One Basket, One Cart at a Time. [more] |
| The Leadership Summit |
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This two-day leadership conference is produced by Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago and will be broadcast LIVE via satellite at two West Ohio Churches - Reynoldsburg UMC and Stillwater UMC - on August 6-7. Speakers include Tony Blair, David Gergen, Bono, Jessica Jackley, Bill Hybels and more. Don't miss this exciting opportunity to LEAD WHERE YOU ARE! [more] |
| Whisper LOUD: Amplifying Voices through Digital Technology |
| Communicators from six different African countries are in the midst of training by the United Methodist Church's Central Conference Communications Initiative (CCCI). WhisperLOUD: Amplifying Voices through Digital Technology is a workshop being held at Ginghamsburg UMC in Tipp City and at United Methodist Communications in Nashville, TN from July 13-31, 2009. The training event will equip participants with the portable technology and skills needed to address their communication needs.
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| Economy forces cutbacks in missionary pensions |
 For decades, United Methodist missionaries were rewarded for years of faithful service - usually at a minimal salary - with the assurance that they would be fully cared for during their retirement. But during this period of global economic decline, when employers from organizations from AARP to Xerox have eliminated or reduced contributions to retirement accounts, what missionaries receive in retirement is changing. [more]
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| Women see God's hand in third career in ministry |
 The pull toward ministry began when Robin Dillon was a teenager. She would go on to become a teacher and a businesswoman before enrolling at United Methodist-related Methodist Theological School in Delaware, Ohio. "I really feel called to ministry and I have a passion for people," says Dillon. That passion led Dillon to apply for a United Methodist scholarship for women over 35 who are preparing for ordination as elders in The United Methodist Church as a second career. She became of of 11 recipients of the 2009-10 Georgia Harkness Scholarship. [more] |
| Stories of West Ohio Churches Rethinking Church in the Four Areas of Focus |
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The youth of Maumee UMC near Toledo are engaged in a ministry called eVANgelism. In this simple winter ministry we pile into vans with press pots filled with hot cocoa and coffee, and head to downtown Toledo looking for homeless people, or others out on the street. On the cold winter nights the warm drink is much appreciated. We offer prayer, and present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to them. This is a wonderful ministry to be a part of, and very much faithful to the great commission. Jay Miklovic
State Ave. UMC is the only congregation in Lower Price Hill that has not left the area. This community has 1,800 residents, known for being the poorest concentration of folk in Cincinnati. The community has a diverse populace of African American, Hispanic and Appalachian. We have appointed Rev. Nilsa Salaceti to lead this congregation. Upon her arrival the attendance was about 12 persons and now has grown to over 20. The people are in very distinct outreach ministries that range from programming for children (35 children) to a Sunday Morning breakfast after worship. The church spends time entering and listening to the community not just staying within its walls. Our hope is that trust can be built in the community and that this little congregation can have a dominant role in offering Christ to all residents in a way that allows them to be included in tangible aspects of ministry. Randy Stearns
Rush Creek UMC issued a challenge to the six other churches in our North Union UM Cooperative to bring in food/money for the Richwood Emergency Assistance Program during the month of August last summer. In those five Sundays these churches brought in 349 bags of food and over $1700 in cash. The challenge was to "outdo one another in showing honor" and "extend hospitality to strangers." (Rom 12:10a & 15b) We recognized the needs in our local community especially for those families who rely on the schools to help feed their children. During the summer there are no meals available and the budgets get stretched even farther. The response of these small, rural churches was beyond generous. The churches participating in this challenge: Community UMC & McKendree UMC (York Center); Claibourne UMC; Pharisburg UMC and Magnetic Springs UMC; Richwood First UMC; and Rush Creek UMC (Essex). Michele Holloway
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| Agency counsel named to IRS committee |
 Daniel Gary, administrative counsel to the United Methodist General Council on Finance and Administration, has been named one of the 10 new members of the Internal Revenue Service's Advisory Committee on Tax Exempt and Government Entities, a committee that advises the IRS on policies and procedures. At the United Methodist agency, Gary provides guidance on a wide variety of issues related to tax-exempt organizations, including charitable giving, legislative and political campaign activities and unrelated business income tax.
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| Make a difference in the lives of our troops |
 Many churches across the nation supports Strength for Service, a devotional book written for those in the service of others. More than 350,000 copies of this life-changing book have already been distributed overseas, but hundreds of thousands more are needed for those currently serving stateside or abroad. Please help. Your donations will make a difference in the lives of American heroes. Also consider hosting a Strength for Service Sunday. [more] |
| Wyandot Mission Church |
 The Wyandot Indian Mission was founded by John Steward in 1816. Three years later Wyandot Mission became the first officially recognized mission of the Methodist Episcopal Church in America. The stone Mission Church was built in 1824 under the supervision of the Rev. James B. Finley. The Wyandot Indians worshipped at the church until 1843. The building was restored in 1889 and designated a national historic shrine by the General Conference of the Methodist Church in 1960. An Ohio Historical Marker has been placed at the church in celebration of Ohio's bicentennial. This landmark is open during summer months with worship services at 8:00 am each Sunday, located in Upper Sandusky on East Street, one block east of SR 53. [schedule] |
| Can we feed the world? |
 Almost a billion people around the world are hungry today. In a package of audio, print and video stories, United Methodist News Service asks the question, "Can we feed the world?" The voices of hungry people, along with the insights of experts from biotechnology to Christian ethics, bring to life the terrible reality of global hunger, and outline the difficult issues that must be faced to eliminate starvation. The good news is that there is hope, and people of faith can make a difference. [more] |
| President Obama seeks the 'Most-Promising Nonprofits in America' |
President Obama announced that White House officials will travel across the country to find "the most promising nonprofits in America" as the administration decides how to spend a new $50-million fund to hep charities expand innovative social projects. [more] |
| New dates of note |
Aug 9-14...Native American Ministry "reachUM to teachUM" Conference, emphasis on cultural sensitivity. [details]
Aug. 21...Grant Seeking and Resources for Success!, a workshop designed for persons involved in faith communities and other non-profits who seek grant monies to maximize their services. Contact Michelle Randall at 937.227.9454.
Aug. 21-22...Alternative (Missional) Worship Expressions for the 21st Century Black Church Event with The Rev. Dr. Safiyah Fosua, Director of Preaching Ministries at the General Board of Discipleship. [details]
Oct. 28-31...Stepping Up to Shalom National Summit 2009, seeking systemic change change through community development. [details] |
| Passages |
Rev. Violet Ailene Mosher, a prior part-time local pastor, died on May 4, 2009. Condolences may be sent to her son Donald Mosher, 7860 Benson Rd., Carroll, OH 43112.
Rev. Robert L. Klausmeier, Sr. (retired 1977), died on June 11, 2009. He is survived by his son, Robert L. Klausmeier, Jr.
Jim Thomas died on June 18, 2009. Jim is the father of Beth Burden and father-in-law of Rev. Tim Buren, pastor at Trinity United Methodist Church, Van Wert, Northwest Plains District. Condolences will reach the family c/o Tim and Beth Burden, 403 E. Crawford St., Van Wert, OH 45891 or tburden@juno.com.
Ruby Medaugh, wife of Rev. John Medaugh (retired), died on June 18, 2009. Condolences may be sent to Rev. John Medaugh, PO Box 664, Venedocia, OH 45894 or jmedaugh@woh.rr.com.
Mrs. Norma H. Weeks, wife of Rev. Wyatt Weeks (retired 1985), died on June 23, 2009. Condolences may be sent to the family at 110 Palm Drive, Huntington, WVA 25705.
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