Dog Head Fire/Conference Disaster Response Team Update
     The NM Conference Early Response Team trailer has new tires thanks to the generosity of the management and staff at the Discount Tire Company on Juan Tabo in Albuquerque.  The photo below shows Hap Escue, Co-Coordinator of ABQ Disaster Response, accepting the new tires and giving a heartfelt thank you to Tyler Aragon of Discount Tire Co.  The Conference has owned the trailer for several years but has not been able to use the trailer due to deteriorated tires and a lack of equipment.  Now that we can take the trailer "on the road again", Hap and his team will be working with Vernon Baker, Conference Coordinator for Disaster Response and Dru Ann Kuntz, Co-Coordinator of ABQ Disaster Response and others in the Conference to re-equip the trailer and get several crews of volunteers ready to respond to disasters such as the Dog Head fire.
     Along with new wheels, we need a roster of folks with pickup trucks who can help us get the ERT trailer to and from disaster response sites.  We also have access to a 5th wheel trailer in Alamogordo. If you have a truck that can haul the ERT trailer and/or the 5th wheel and can help or would like to know more, call Hap Escue at 505-453-2800.   
    We also need to replace some missing equipment in the trailer. The items are:  5 gal water jugs(6), gas grill, propane bottles, shovels, spades, axes, pics, sledge hammers, crowbars, wire-prong rakes, post-hole diggers, 2 (6 or 8 ft.) folding tables, chairs (12 folding), tool chest w/ lots of hand tools, 150 qt ice chests (2), garden rake, limb loppers (3), tree pruner (pole type).  If you or members of your church have such items that you can donate (or are willing to purchase for us), please call Hap Escue at 505-453-2800.  Thank you!

Dog Head Fire Update: Flooding is the prevailing concern.  Please continue to pray for the affected area.    

U.S.A.F. Chaplain & NM Conference Member
Col. Pat McCain on What Keeps him Motivated
US Air Force Chaplain & NM Conference Member, Pat McCain
US Air Force Chaplain & NM Conference Member, Col. Pat McCain

NWTX/NM Language School - August 3-6, 2016
Sacramento C&C Center 
NWTX/NM Conference Language School 2016
NWTX/NM Conference Language School 2016
 
 
  Rev. Eddie Rivera & Lay Leader, Sid Strebeck attended last year. 

Communications Corner
Tips for Creating an Active Church Facebook Page

So, you want to complement an informative church website with an active Facebook(FB) page. It does not have to be complicated.  For FB wizards, this will be pretty pedestrian but for folks fairly new to FB, here are some steps to start the process:
  • Log into FB on the computer that you will usually use to post on FB.  Set up a username & password and save it somewhere.
  • Scroll down - on the left side of the screen, you will find the "Create a page" button.  Choose "Company, Organization or Institution" and then "Church/Religious Organization" in the drop down menu.
  • Find an available FB username that represents your church as closely as possible.  For example: "www.facebook.com/graceumcabq".
  • In Canva, you can create FB specific images for both the profile picture and the cover photo.  https://www.canva.com/.  The only real issue using FB for churches is it does not give you a perfect method for adding service times in the left column.  You can add them to your cover photo. Canva is a free software program/app provided that you only choose the free elements. The ones that cost will have a dollar sign icon on them.
  • FB prompts you to add a phone number, address (which populates a map), website address, office hours, etc. 
  • Settings:  In "Page Roles", choose more than one administrator and write down log-in info.  If you lose the username and password, you will not be able to access the page. It happens A LOT.
  • Settings:  "Notifications" - Choose how you want to receive info on when anyone engages with your page.  FB moves fast.  The more immediate your reply, the better your FB page will be received and valued. Ask several people to help you engage your audience.  If you are the only one responding, it will get boring. 
  • Encourage your congregation to "like" the FB page and link it to your website - that way, posts will appear on their news feed.
  • Create events using the function in the left column. 
  • Post daily & strategically.  One mistake churches make is that they only post a scripture passage with no insight, explanation as to why.  Engage your audience. 
  • Plan ahead & build momentum for sermon series, events, stewardship campaigns, holidays, etc. 
  • Create social graphics, interesting scripture posts, memes, etc. using: Adobe Spark, Canva or Wordswag.
  • Free photos can be found on Pixabay.
  • Post photos that portray the character of your congregation.  Show people looking for a church home why they should visit. Find a good photographer and invite them to attend church events.
  • Pay attention to when the majority of your congregation is online & post content then.  You can see who is online using the "chat" function on the right side of your page.  

There is a lot to know about social media and many pitfalls.  Thanks to D.G. Hollums for some of the resource ideas.  If you have any questions, please contact Alli Costello, Conference Communications Director at alli@nmconfum.com or 505-255-8786, ext. 111.   


 New Safe Sanctuaries Training Videos
"In all you do, remember that as part of his public ministry, Jesus committed the then-radical act of welcoming children. Our commitment to reducing the risk of abuse in the church for children and youth is one way that we live out Jesus' act of love."  - Safe Sanctuaries
Two NM Conference members participated in a new video training series.

Rev. DG Hollums, NM Conference Pastor talks Social Media Practices
Rev. DG Hollums, NM Conference Pastor talks Social Media Practices

Tiffany Hollums, NM Conference Ordained Deacon talks Living into the Covenant
Tiffany Hollums, NM Conference Ordained Deacon talks Living into the Covenant

  

CLM Training to Begin in September

All the info on the NM Conference Webpage
Click here

Lay Servant Ministries Courses
Lay Servant School - Basic Course
July 15 - 16, 2016
Asbury UMC - Odessa
$35 per person
Register: Charles Cotten - 432-296-2975

Lay Servant School - Basic & Advance Courses
August 26 & 27  (Friday afternoon & all day Saturday)
First UMC - Albuquerque
Contact John Milholland milholland93@q.com

Lay Servant School - Basic & Advance Courses
September 9th (6:00 pm to 9:00 pm) and September 10th, 2016 (9:00 am to 4.00 pm)
St. Paul's UMC - El Paso
$35 - basic; $45 - advanced
Contact: Frances Gonzalez 915-240-1783
Register by Aug. 15th 


The South Central Jurisdictional Conference will be held, July 13-16, 2016, in Wichita, Kansas. The theme is "Rejoice in the Harvest". In addition to the on-going business of the Jurisdictional Conference, the Conference will elect three new bishops for the Jurisdiction and the 2017-2020 Episcopal Area bishop assignments will be announced.  The Conference will be live-streamed. More info to follow.

At the 2012 South Central Jurisdictional Conference, a Mission 21 Task Force was created to identify and recommend options for changes to the boundaries of Annual Conferences within the South Central Jurisdiction (SCJ). This is necessary so that the SCJ can (1) be prepared for any future mandate from The General Conference of The United Methodist Church to reduce the number of Bishops within the jurisdiction, and (2) provide for better balance across conferences. Click here for task force report

Mission 21 Report - Friday, July 15th during the 8 am Conference Session.
UPCOMING EVENTS & IMPORTANT DATES 

>July 13-16 
>July 15-18
>July 15-16 
>Aug. 26-27 
>Sept. 9-10
>Sept. 9
>Sept. 9 
>Sept. 10-11
>Sept. 10
>Sept. 12
>Sept. 13  
>Sept. 23-24 
>Oct 2-5
>Oct 19-21 

SCJ Conference
UMW - Mission U
Lay Servant School
Lay Servant School
Lay Servant School
Movementum
Church Historian Training
Heritage Tour
Movementum
Movementum
Movementum
CLM Training Begins
Fall Clergy Retreat
Coaching - Basic Training

Wichita, KS
Sacramento
Asbury UMC-Odessa
FUMC-ABQ
St. Paul's UMC-El Paso
St. Luke's - El Paso
St. John's - ABQ
Albuquerque
St. John's - ABQ
Center Street - Tucumcari
FUMC - Artesia
FUMC-Roswell
Sacramento
TBA
 

Classifieds
Conference Calendar
UMC website
 


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.