How Do You Reach Out In Your Community? 

Crossroads UMC Columbus Reaches Out by Offering Fresh Produce

Families line up for produce distribution at Crossroads UMC

The Capitol Area South District will offer three lay speaker opportunities during the weekend of November 11-12. The training sessions will be held at Asbury South UMC, 4760 Winchester Pike, Columbus.

The following sessions will be offered:

Basic Lay Speaker Training

This introductory class is the required class for all persons who want to enter the ministry of lay speaking.   Upon completion of the class, the participant is eligible to become a Local Church Lay Speaker. Approval of the pastor of the participant's church and the charge conference or church council of the local church is also required for one to become a Local Church Lay Speaker.

Advanced Lay Speaking Class

Those who are Local Church or Certified Lay Speakers may take the Advanced Class that will be offered. The advanced class is entitled "You Can Preach." This course is the advanced course in preaching. It is designed to help the lay speaker learn about the basics of preparing and delivering a sermon.

Basic Lay Speaker Recertification Class (A new option!)

This class will meet on Saturday only. Registration will begin at 8:00 am (along with continental breakfast). The class will conclude with the closing service for the entire lay speaking school at 5:00 pm. The recertification class is "Opening Ourselves to Grace." It is a four-session group study on the Means of Grace in the Wesleyan tradition. This class is intended for current local church lay speaker who need to take a class to continue their certification as local church lay speakers. Local church lay speakers may still take the Advanced Certified Class ("Lay Speakers Lead Small Groups') if they choose to do so to meet their requirement.

Wesley Church of Hope Offers Program for Young Women  

 Wesley Church of Hope is offering a program for young women on Saturday, October 8.  The program "A Girl and Her Pearls 'Teaching Girls to Value Their Pearls'" focuses on helping young women to celebrate their uniqueness.   

Click HERE do download a flyer with more information including a contact for registration for the event. 

The SOWER VIM Team (a ministry that builds homes in the mountains of southeast Kentucky) is in the planning stages for constructing the 11th home for a family in 2012. The cost of materials to build one of the 28' x 28' or 28' x 32' houses from the ground up is approximately $36,000 to $40,000. The SOWER VIM Project is in need of both funding to cover material costs and volunteers for the build.  

The SOWER VIM Leadership Team is requesting that the churches of West Ohio prayerfully consider supporting this worthwhile project in Southeastern Kentucky financially with a pledge of support as well as providing volunteers to do the actual construction. Those that have served on SOWER work teams comment that, while they have helped a family by serving, they gained much from the interaction and relationships with the family and fellow team members. West Ohio Conference churches are invited to participate in this rewarding project with your prayers, your volunteer labor, and your financial support.  

Click HERE to download a copy of the letter about the SOWER project and ways that you and your congregation can participate in this ministry.

Click HERE to a video of the six weeks build of the tenth home that the SOWER project has completed.

The CROP Hunger Walk is the oldest charity walk in the United States and takes place in some 1,500 communities.  Throughout the years neighbors of different  faiths, cultures and ages have walked together as people of faith in the fight to end hunger.

This year we walk together around the theme of water.  Did you know that more than a billion people in the world lack access to clean water and 2.1 million people, most of them children die each year of waterborne disease?  The good news is that through the support of CROP Hunger Walkers, Church World Service is able to provide clean, healthy and accessible water to millions of people around the world.  One walker who raises $100 can provide five bio-sand filters giving families the ability to drink their water safely.  Now just imagine the difference we make when we walk together!

To get your church involved visit www.cropwalk.org and find the walk nearest to you by clicking on Ohio on the map or by entering your ZIP code.  We hope you will join us!