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The Rev. John Grimm (center) leads his group in "map quest." |
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150 attend Pearisburg workshop on
partnerships with shared ministry | |
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'This isn't rocket science,' says team leader
The room is humming. At each table sits groups of members from different churches, poring over hand-drawn maps. The maps depict territories around the churches that have been grouped by region.
There's the Wal-Mart, the elementary school, McDonald's, the railroad tracks ...
In the old days, says the workshop leader, "we were taught that the station church is the successful church." Today, ministry experts teach that small churches in partnership can be more successful in their quest for reaching people.
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Small church? Don't apologize | |
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Team is energized to promote
under-125 congregations
So your church isn't Ginghamsburg and you're not Mike Slaughter. Not a problem. Small churches make up 82 percent of Holston's total 994 churches.
The Small Membership Congregation Team has some ideas about how to help small churches be more successful.
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Horn of Africa crisis |
Severe drought leads to desperation, displacement, death
The drought is affecting millions of families. Animals are dying and families are being displaced in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia. Although global climate change plays a role in the crisis, other factors contribute to a deadly cocktail of suffering.
UMCOR is working with parter organizations to meet immediate needs for water, food, and shelter.
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Restoration Depot | |
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From WBIR: Geeneville church launches ministry for storm victims
Asbury United Methodist Church has taken an old Magnavox plant and created "Restoration Depot," a place where victims of April storms can get free housewares to replace lost items.
"600 families to some greater or lesser degree suffered losses," said the Rev. Jeannie Higgins. "You can live without a lot of things in this life but hope is essential -- so in our mission statement, we say we want to provide hope."
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