New Mexico Conference of
The United Methodist Church
Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors.
News for the week of February 1, 2016
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In this edition
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Youth, Children & Young Adults
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| > Safe Sanctuaries Train-the-Trainer Webinars
> Youth Group Lessons I've Had to Unlearn
> General Conference 2016 Preview
> "Choosing the Faithful Path" - RSVP by Friday
> Big Conference Changes Coming
> Using Facebook Ads for Church Events
> Wesley-UNM Fundraiser
> Register for ROC today
> Rethink Church Nationwide Easter Campaign
> Discipleship Ministries Webinar Schedule
> Reminder - Operational Income Report Due 2/10
> Upcoming Events & Important Dates
> Classifieds, Calendars & Connections
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Safe Sanctuaries Train-the-Trainer Webinars 
Topic: Safe Sanctuaries Train The Trainer Session 1
Date: Thursday, February 11, 2016
9 am - 12:30 pm Central
Topic: Safe Sanctuaries Train The Trainer Session 2
Date: Thursday, February 11, 2016
4 pm - 7:30 pm Central
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Youth Group Lessons I've Had to Unlearn
by Addie Zierman
 A few months ago, I stumbled upon a televised version of a youth conference on some obscure Christian channel on cable. It was the conference I attended every year as a high school student, the conference that deeply informed the way I understood and lived my faith. I couldn't believe it was on TV. I couldn't believe I was sitting there, watching it. In the opening segment, the speaker blamed comedians and sitcoms for the rise of "new atheism." Next up was a skit about a new Christian kid named Travis who suddenly finds himself being "persecuted" by his former friends at school. "I am Travis, and my whole life has been leading up to this moment," he narrates. "I have to be more than full of heart. I've got to be headstrong." Fifteen years later, it's all exactly the same. After my first book came out-a memoir, documenting my own somewhat toxic evangelical youth-people kept asking me, "What should we be doing differently with our teens?" I always stood there, blinking at that question. I still don't really know, and I've been around the whole thing long enough to know that there's no formula, no exact equation. But I think there are some problematic messages I learned growing up in church that we're communicating to our youth still today. |
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General Conference 2016 Preview  | |
In a gathering that repeatedly stressed church unity despite passionately held differences, United Methodists received a preview of some issues the 2016 General Conference will debate when the denomination's top lawmaking body meets this spring.
The Rev. Steven Lewis, Gresham United Methodist Church in Portland, Oregon, urged delegates to remember who they are as they debate issues and resolutions at General Conference 2016
"Few will read what we write, but millions will watch what we do," Lewis said during his sermon at opening worship during the pre-General Conference briefing.
More than 400 delegates, communicators and other United Methodists who will be part of the 2016 General Conference attended the Jan. 20-22 event at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland. Most will return for the denomination's legislative assembly May 10-20. Click here for the full article
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Free "Choosing the Faithful Path" Opportunity - RSVP by Friday!
Clergy & Laity are invited to this FREE workshop to learn how to facilitate faithful, Wesleyan conversations in the local churches about the potential of those congregations and their future(s) in ministry. Lunch will be provided.
Date: Saturday, February 13th
Location: St. Paul's UMC-ABQ
Time: 9 am - 3 pm
Speakers: Beth & Kelly Crissman from PlowPoint Ministries
RSVP by Feb. 5th by calling (505)255-8786 or
email: frontdesk@nmconfum.com
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Big Conference Changes Coming to the Website
Do you find the NM Conference website archaic, inconsistent, and hard to navigate?
We have been working hard on big improvements! Stay tuned!
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Using Facebook Ads for Events - Case Study First UMC - Hobbs used the Facebook Ad to increase participation in their Parents' Day Out Program. Their budget was only $10 for 7 days of ads and they increased their participation by 6 children!
The step by step process:
1. Think about people who have never attended your church as the audience. What info will they need? Create the ad text/content.
2. Create an eye-catching, simple graphic. If you need free, easy graphic design software, Canva is a good place to start: Click here for Canva site.
3. Select your demographic. In this example, they chose: age = 18-65+; Gender = male or female, interests as shown in black box; and location = within 25 miles of Hobbs.
4. Most churches choose the CPC (Cost per Click) Option and choose your budget and the dates you would like the ad to appear.
5. Submit and monitor your results!
Thanks to Zach Bechtold and First UMC-Hobbs for sharing their experience.
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Wesley - UNM Fundraiser - January 29th  The Wesley Campus Ministry at The University of New Mexico is our vital United Methodist presence on this campus. Please join with us at St. Johns UMC in Albuquerque on January 29th at 5:00 pm for an enchilada dinner, great entertainment by Chris Baker, opportunity to meet our Wesley Student leaders and hear about and support this important ministry. A silent auction will be available as well as a more entertaining vocal auction will be held. Tickets are available now for $15 per person or $25 for a couple, or pay at the door.
Also, if you would like to donate Items for auction or for tickets contact:
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ROC - Rhythm of Christ - March 4 - 6, 2016
A weekend spiritual retreat for youth in grades 6-8
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Rethink Church National Easter Campaign Resources |
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RETHINK CHURCH - Easter Message
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On Feb. 29, the United Methodist Church's Rethink Church campaign will launch TV and digital advertising in cities throughout the nation. Coordinating Easter resources are also provided, allowing for choices from four different, seeker-oriented designs. Direct mail postcards can be printed and mailed to thousands of households based on a radius you choose around your church. Place your order by March 1.
Rethink Church is also offering 100 free door hangers, making it easy to deliver a welcoming message to homes in your community. These must also be ordered by March 1. In addition, free downloadable worship and social media materials are available.Click here for all of the resources
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 Discipleship Ministries introduced their February - March Webinars. There are lots of diverse offerings for online education. |
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REMINDER - The January Operational Income Report is Due on February 10th.
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UPCOMING EVENTS & IMPORTANT DATES
>Jan. 31-Feb. 3 >Feb. 10
>Feb. 12-14
>Feb. 13
>Feb. 20
>March 3 >March 4 - 6 >March 6 >March 11-13 >April 15-17 >April 27
>May 10-20
>June 2 - 4
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Mid-Year Clergy Retreat
Jan. Operational Income Report Due with 8% Tithe
CCYM - Winter Camp
Choosing the Faithful Path Workshop
Prayer Workshop - Tom Albin
Art of the Open-Ended Question ROC - Middle School Camp Bishop Bledsoe in Worship UMW Spiritual Retreat SWIFT Young Adult Spring Work Camp
NMAC 24 hours to Pray for General Conf
General Conference
NM Annual Conference |
Sacramento Sacramento St. Paul's UMC-ABQ First UMC-ABQ St. Paul's UMC-ABQ Sacramento First UMC, Deming Sacramento Sacramento
Portland, OR
Roswell, NM |
For more information of any of these events, click here to go to our Conference Calendar
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Classifieds
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Conference Calendar
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UMC website
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RELEVANT, PASSIONATE, AND LIFE-CHANGING CHURCHES
New Mexico Annual Conference 
11816 Lomas Blvd. NE Albuquerque, NM 87112
Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Receptionist Hours: 9:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.
(800) 678-8786 toll free; (505) 255-8786; (505) 265-6184 fax
Click here to view our staff listing
Please send photos, articles, events, etc. to Alli Costello, Communications Director at alli@nmconfum.com. Send classified ads to frontdesk@nmconfum.com.
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