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| Letter to Martin Luther King, Jr. |
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Each year, Bishop Woodie White writes a "birthday letter" to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. about the progress of racial equality in the United States. The United States officially observes King's birthday today, Jan. 18. [letter]
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| Greetings! |
The earthquate in Haiti has impacted many lives. The people of Haiti are suffering and the tragic loss of our United Methodist friends Sam Dixon, Clint Rabb, and Jean Arnwine, while being the hands and feet of Christ in Haiti, is heartbreaking.
Rays of sunshine, hope and God's Grace are evident as we give thanks for those who survived, those who are on the scene struggling to save lives, and to those of you who are finding ways to help even while here in West Ohio.
This is the time when the power of our United Methodist Connection is greatest. Together we can provide resources which will have profound and long lasting impact in Haiti.
What is needed most?
Prayer - Pray with each other, for each other and for those suffering. Consider holding prayer vigils in your community. Visit the UMC Facebook Prayer Wall, Prayers for Haiti.
Donations - Cash is desparately needed to speed up the delivery of relief supplies. Continue to encourage church offerings designated for Haiti. Direct your family and friends to UMCOR at www.umcorhaiti.org where 100% of their donation will go directly to relief, thanks to the people of the United Methodist Church who pay for UMCOR's administrative costs through apportionments and One Great Hour of Sharing.
Health Kits - Encourage the creation of much needed health kits by your congregation. This is a great opportunity to partner with community organizations and work together to create them. The conference and district offices are coordinating a schedule of delivery sites for completed health kits in Ohio. After all kits are collected, the semi truck will leave January 31 for the distribution center. We will post areea drop off sites shortly on our website at www.westohioumc.org/healthkits.
We are not seeking volunteers to go to Haiti at this time, but your generous response is urgently needed to help get relief supplies to Haiti.
Please continue to visit www.umc.org/haiti for updates. West Ohio Communications will also continue to provide important news via email and on our website as it becomes available. | |
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| Certified Lay Ministry Deadline Approaching |
| The West Ohio Conference Certified Lay Ministry Program is established to provide trained, certified laity for mission and ministry in and through churches of all sizes. Team based ministry is at the heart of the initiative. Laity discover or confirm their specific call to ministry in the midst of training. The deadline to register for the next training is January 22. [more] Brochure |
| Attention college bound seniors |
 Looking for additional ways to fund your education? Have you been and plan on being a leader in the United Methodist Church? If so, the West Ohio Conference Office of Next Generations Leadership currently has multiple scholarship opportunities available for you. Scholarships are awarded on a combination of academic merit and past church leadership. There are also scholarships available specifically to support the needs of an ethnic minority student. If you want more information, or would like to begin the application process, please go to www.westohioumc.org/scholarships. Applications are due April 1, 2010, so please act quickly! |
| Loaves and Fishes - lessons on leadership and stewardship |
 Leadership and Stewardship start in the heart. The disciples looked the challenge to feed the 5000 from their heads. As long as we look at the huge challenges we are facing and will yet face from our heads, we will not see how God works and who Jesus is. When we see with our hearts, we make the shift from what we cannot do to what God can do. For the disciples and all of us, that is a lesson to learn, model and share. As leaders and stewards, that is the challenge to meet our mission... "To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world." [more from this month's Stewardshp Corner] |
| Hospitality, The Unopened Gift |
 The North Central Jurisdiction Town & Country/Urban Network event took place at the Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House in early January. About 50 lay and clergy leaders from across the Jurisdiction gathered to hear the preaching of host bishop, Greg Palmer and keynote speaker, Vance Ross from the General Board of Discipleship. [more] |
| Starting New Multi-Cultural Faith Communities |
| An exciting opportunity for unique training - the Bishop Rueben Job Center "Starting New Multi-Cultural Faith Communities" seminar at Church for All People United Methodist Church in Columbus, OH on March 1-2, 2010. This exciting church will share what they have learned by experience in becoming a vital, growing multi-cultural church. This will be an experientially based seminar featuring direct interactions with the wide variety of people who worship at the church and representatives of the 1000s of folks who participate in the outreach ministries. [more] |
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Mrs. Elease Davis, surviving spouse of Rev. James Davis (deceased), died on January 5, 2010. | |
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