Thank Volunteers

“First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.” Romans 1:8 NIV

Many times we have heard this well known scripture, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Matthew 9: 37-38. When it come to mission, it is not possible without volunteers.

Do not forget to thank all the people in your churches and community for all the amazing work they do for the Kingdom. Remember that when it comes to Mission everyone plays a role. We have the Players, Prayers and Payers. So let us recognize and thank our volunteers. We are called to serve.

Below are small ways this can be possible. Christ UMC, Bethel Park did a great job of thanking their volunteers.

On February 12 & 13th, 2022 Christ UMC, Bethel Park thanked and honored everyone who volunteers in any way, any time of year to help make all of the ministry of Christ Church successful! Each person was given a chip clip as a way of saying "Thank You" for chipping in!

Zimbabwe Partnership Making an Impact

On Wednesday 16 February 2022, Harare East District Missions and Projects invited people with albinism to fellowship and share the love of Christ at Cranborne UMC.

Over 70 people with albinism attended the event and received sunhats and 12 bottles of sunscreen cream and lotion each which were provided with support from the Johnstown District of the Western Pennsylvania Conference as part of the Chabadza covenant agreement.

The district also shared grocery hampers from the District Superintendent's Cheerfund. The beneficiaries were grateful for the love shown by the church. These lotions and creams cost at least $15 for a bottle from local pharmacies and last just a month, so some cannot afford to purchase them.

For more pictures and video, visit the Zimbabwe Episcopal Area Facebook page.

Become an Earthkeeper- Deadline coming soon.

Interested in developing and launching an environmental project in your own community? Consider becoming an EarthKeeper!

Global Ministries seeks U.S.-based United Methodists to lead grassroots environmental projects that are action-oriented, anti-racist, bold and entrepreneurial.

Global Ministries EarthKeepers is a training program that equips US-based United Methodists to launch and grow environmental projects in their communities. Topics include eco-theology, anti-racism, community organizing, and project planning. All participants plan a project during the training.

The deadline to apply for the spring training (March 18-April 2) is March 1. Apply

Letter from your CSGM

Read a New Years Letter from your Conference Secretary of Global Ministries (CSGM) Barb Holcombe. Read

Ruth M Smith Center To Celebrate 100 Years:

The Ruth M. Smith Center in Sheffield PA, is marking its centennial year of ministry. We celebrate its past, remembering that one hundred years ago the Ruth M Smith Center was a gift to Methodist Women of the Erie Conference to be used as an orphanage. The gift was from the C.H. Smith family, in memory of their daughter Ruth who had died of rheumatic fever at the age of eight.

In the 1960’s the need and funding for orphanages changed and the Smith Center morphed into a home for court appointed at-risk youth. When the need for this service and funding also changed, it transformed once again in the late1980’s into a personal care home for elderly and those with mental or physical needs, and a Day Care Center for children.

The past year included many blessings for the Smith Center. We celebrate those who consulted the online wish list and then gave personal items for the residents – from shampoo and soap, to tissues and hand sanitizers. We’re grateful for the donations that helped purchase a large freezer; for the couch donated by Cook Furniture in Kane; for the fresh produce given weekly in the summer by Lindell’s Hatch Patch; for the seasonal meals and celebrations hosted by the Sheffield United Methodist Church for Smith Center residents.

Local Boy Scouts volunteered and Sheffield residents pitched in throughout the year donating everything from Christmas gifts to bags of snacks to containers filled with the basic needs.

Everybody deserves a place to call home; a place to learn; a place to gather. It takes effort from a lot of caring people to provide that place. We celebrate those who make the Ruth M Smith Center that home for adults; that safe learning place for children; that gathering place for people in the region surrounding Sheffield.

Erie United Methodist Alliance (EUMA)

Please Keep EUMA in your prayers:

Warming Station

First UMC Kane, has brought back the Warming Station. The past couple of weeks have been extremely cold and the church has found a way to cater to the community. Anyone is welcome to attend. No questions asks. Hot drinks and soup are also provided. This is a great opportunity for a congregation to offer a sanctuary for the community.

If people need a place to stay overnight, they can help connect people with local agencies. People are also encouraged to volunteer.

UMCOR

Early Response Team (ERT) Training

This is an UMCOR certified training for Disaster Response ministries of Volunteers in Mission. Non-United Methodist participants are welcome but will not be badged or deployed through the UMCOR-UMVIM ministry network. Clearances are required from United Methodists on the day of the training.

The Disaster Response Ministry is a way for us to go out of the Church Building and provide a Caring Christian Presence to the survivors of Natural Disasters. We primarily respond within the Western PA Conference, but there are times when we are asked to travel to other Conferences. When we travel to support other conferences, a current badge is required. More...

Saturday March 19, 2022. 8:30am- 4:30pm. Zion UMC, Sarver

Early Response Team Recertification Training

March 26, 2022 8:30 am - 12:30 pm. Virtual
April 30, 2022 8:30 am - 12:30 pm. Virtual

Register

UMCOR staff recently visited with church and community leaders in Kentucky to hear of their needs and collaborate on plans for long term recovery following the string of destructive and deadly tornadoes in December. More...

Ways to help:

Prayer: Continue to pray for all partners as well as for survivors.
Replenish: We will need to restock to make sure we are able to respond when asked.
- Donate and support the work of UMCOR.
  - U.S. DISASTER RESPONSE
    - Advance Number: #901670 US DISASTER RESPONSE
  - INTERNATIONAL DISASTER RESPONSE
    - Advance Number: #982450 International Disaster response
  - Give where most needed.
    - Advance Number: #999895
Purchase materials for kits.
Assemble kits. This is a great Mission Opportunity for groups.
- Kit recipes and direct monetary donations can be found directly at UMCOR.org
Drop offs: Kits can be dropped off a one of our Relief Supply Network Satellites listed on the right.
Volunteer: Set up time to volunteer at the Mission Barn. Groups of no more than 8. For more information please contact Katie Peterson at missionbarn@gmail.com

UMCOR will remain at the disaster until the final home for the final disaster survivor is safe, sanitary and secure. This is a seven-fold ministry that shows our witness as Christians as we continue our outreach- seen through the stores, customers, transporters, makers, verifiers, the people that hand out the buckets and the survivors.

PLEASE DO NOT SELF-DEPLOY! Wait for an invitation to be communicated from our Disaster Response Coordinator, UMVIM Coordinator, or the Jurisdiction. What you CAN do is: Pray, pray, pray. Give through The Advance and make and Donate Kits. If you have an invitation and you would like to share the opportunity, please register your team. In some instances others want to help but do not have a team. Remember there is power in numbers.

For more information contact our Disaster Response Coordinator, David Kissinger at disasterresponse@wpaumc.org or call 814-243-3254.

Mission U

Bearing Witness in the Kin-dom: Living Into the Church’s Moral Witness through Radical Discipleship

This Mission u Spiritual Growth Study will be offered during the March 20-22 Mission u event at Olmsted Manor Retreat Center in Ludlow, PA. The study leader will be Dr. Judith Pierre-Okerson, who was consecrated a Deaconess in the UMC during the 2018 United Methodist Women's Assembly in Columbus, OH.

A member of Miramar United Methodist Church, Dr. Pierre-Okerson is the co-lay leader of her congregation. A committed member of United Methodist Women, she has taught mission studies, led retreats and Bible studies and has facilitated workshops at national and conference events. She chairs the Governance Committee of the United Methodist Women Board of Directors.

For more information and to register click here.

Refugee Resettlement: Hello Neighbor

Refugee Resettlement: Hello Neighbor, a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit, has received federal approval to resettle Afghan refugees and special VISA holders across Allegheny County. Families have already begun arriving. Christ UMC in Bethel Park will be among the community partners assisting in the effort. Outreach Coordinator Jeanna-Mar Simmons said the church initially will donate a portion of its Christmas offering to help in resettlement, as well as providing in-kind donations, and assistance in finding housing and employment opportunities. More

Training

Volunteer In Mission Team Leader Training

This training is for certification as United Methodist Volunteer in Mission Team Leader and is designed to equip participants to plan and lead VIM teams locally, nationally, or internationally. It is designed for those who have previous experience as part of a VIM team or local mission service and for those who have led VIM teams and need to re-certified with the new UMVIM Handbook.

It is also helpful for those who have thought about joining a VIM team and want to know what to expect. In the process you will learn more about UMC missions and Volunteers In Mission opportunities for local churches & individuals. More...

March 5, 2022
April 16, 2022

Let's get ready, trained and equipped to work!

Volunteers Opportunities

Greater Latrobe Ministerium: The Ministerium is asking for donations of toilet paper (4 pack) for the month of February. The ministry helps supplement the Local Food Pantry. More information click here.
Eastwick Neighborhood: Are you free this winter or spring? PA Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, Eastwick United and many other groups need your help in rebuilding the Eastwick neighborhood of Philly. Please consider coming for a week. Rebuilding is currently under progress for the Eastwick neighborhood which was badly damaged after Tropical Storm Isaias right at the beginning of the pandemic. They have about registered 45 homes needing repair, have installed air handler systems in 22 homes and have housing for volunteers at the Salt and Light Church in Philly.

They welcome volunteers (age 18 and older) for a day or more any day of the week. Single volunteers are more than welcome too. Skilled team leaders are needed for each group, but they may be able to locate a skilled leader for those needing one.

Required - volunteers must have insurance coverage - both health and liability. Covid guidelines require that volunteers wear facemasks, practice social distancing and sanitize on a regular basis. Windows and doors will be kept open on each worksite for ventilation. Also required that all volunteers have a current Tetanus shot.

Contact: Judy Moore, Volunteer Coordinator 802-299-8290; IsaiasRecoveryVolunteers@gmail.com
Roots of Faith Neighborhood Table: With much anticipation Roots of Faith is serving "Grab-N-Go" meals. Even though they had to make some modifications, they are excited to see the community again! This is a perfect opportunity for you and your family to get involved. Won't you join them?
- When: 1st, 2nd, 3rd Thursdays^.Time: 6:00pm Where: Roots of Faith *Masks are required, gloves are provided. * Social distancing is a must. More info: Kathleen Stanley - Director of Outreach at 412-977-9136 (R)
Warren UMC:
- Renovation and Reinvigoration Journey
  - Warren UMC is inviting mission teams to join in its Renovation and Reinvigoration Journey. They are currently seeking skilled and beginners VIM and Mission Teams to join in their journey. Teams have the option to bring supplies and or tools or not (They can also be provided). Warren UMC can generally provide meals, and because some choose to, feel free to provide your own meals. Current projects:
    - LED Light Panel Installation - Fellowship Hall
    - Renovating Closet space-Fellowship Hall
    - Replace Floors
    - Install Kitchen plastic laminate/tile floor
    - Painting Walls

General Opportunities: Join in every other Saturday, or we can schedule your team on days convenient to you to help us clean up storage rooms and purge our unneeded treasures. If you have questions or need more information, please contact Pastor Raphael Koikoi @ emailpastork@gmail.com or (281) 620-9928. If you would like to participate through the Pittsburgh District's 28 Days of Caring Mission Project, please contact Rev. Beth Nelson @ bethlnelson1@gmail.com or (412) 398-7894.

Kane District Ramp Ministry: RAMP MINISTRY RELIES on DONATIONS. Follow Kane District Ramp Ministry on their Facebook Page .Consider donating, your time to a build a ramp or a monetary donation. Volunteers are always needed. To be added to the list for upcoming builds contact the Kane District Office @ 814/730- 0824. Monetary donations can be sent to Kane District Office PO Box 767 Sheffield, PA 16347 Please put ramps donation in memo line.

KANE DISTRICT RAMPS MINISTRY Dean Clough is the volunteer coordinator and Youngsville Evangelical the host church. We serve those with a short or long term needs. Ramps are semi-permanent and can be relocated if no longer needed. The Ramps Ministry is funded by donations only. Send to the Kane District Office marked as, ramp donation.
RAMP MINISTRY 2022 Donors: Kane First UMC, Thomas & Kathy Russell, Barnes UMC, Clarendon Trinity UMC, Youngsville Evangelical UMC

Uth4Missions. Save the date :July 18-22, 2022 at Jumonville Camp.
Clothes 4 U: Clothes 4 U is a FREE clothing drive ministry that is open to everyone. The store is open the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. This ministry provides gently used clothing free of charge for men, women and children. Clothing donations are always accepted. Donation drop-offs take place Monday-Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Please call the church office first! Monetary donations are always appreciated as well!

Beyond the Conference

Together We Welcome

Rescheduled to March 4-6, 2022, UMCOR is proud to support the Together We Welcome conference hosted by CWS.

All are welcome to join this national faith gathering to strengthen support of refugees, immigrants and migrants.

What is Together We Welcome?

For the last 75 years, CWS has actively worked in solidarity and intentional focus with faith partners and community groups from across the world, to do in partnership what none of us could hope to do as well alone:

“Transform communities around the globe through just and sustainable responses to hunger, poverty, displacement and disaster.”

It is out of these faith partnerships and the commitment to provide just and sustainable responses to the displaced that the Together We Welcome: A National Faith Gathering to Strengthen Support for Refugees, Immigrants and Migrants conference was born.

The goal: To train and equip local faith leaders, community organizers and immigrant community leaders in welcoming refugees, asylum seekers and other displaced populations.

CWS along with our Faith Solidarity Team would like to invite faith leaders, clergy, community organizers and immigrant leaders to join us for this dynamic virtual and inaugural event to hear from impacted voices as well as timely and relevant information about resettlement & migration from faith leaders, national and local resettlement staff and other experts in forced migration. Attendees will learn, share with one another, build relationships and walk away with specific actions to foster welcome in their local communities.

LEARN MORE AND REGISTER TODAY: More...

UMVIM

The Nyadire Connection

TNC is looking for volunteers to be program leaders.

If you’d like to hear more about these opportunities, please contact Sandy McKnight,

TNC’s Director-Administration and Programs, at 412-585-2361, or sandy_mcknight@hotmail.com

Zim VIM Trippers Hoping for Summer Travel

TNC is hoping to organize a Volunteer-in-Mission trip to Zimbabwe this summer.

We’re looking for volunteers with a wide range of skills in the areas of education, ministry, agriculture, health, maintenance, and more. There are endless opportunities to engage in cross-cultural relationships, develop partnership programs, serve God and others, and grow spiritually.

If you are interested in joining this team or hope to learn more, contact Molly Michael at mollyalice.michael@gmail.com

View the latest TNC Newsletter

Africa University

Read the latest Newsletter.

Good Competition Super Bowl Challenge Results

After an emotional Super Bowl loss, Cincinnati had one needed triumph – the city's United Methodists “beat” their Los Angeles partners in a friendly competition for hunger relief, with both cities raising over $56,000 combined – fitting for Super Bowl 56.

Cincinnati United Methodists raised a total of $38,579.39 for hunger relief. The grand total raised was $56,037.97

Church leaders in both cities were inspired to a “friendly competition” paralleling the Super Bowl matchup, following the lead of Bengals star Joe Burrow, who continually brings attention to hunger in Ohio.

“Considering the millions of dollars spent on the Super Bowl, and the millions of people in both cities dealing with food insecurity...we wondered if there was a way to mobilize the energy around Super Bowl to do some good,” said Pastor David Meredith.

Rev. Meredith serves the United Methodist regional office (Ohio River Valley District) as Director of Urban Ministries, and his co-worker at Clifton United Methodist, Pastor Robert English, formerly served in Los Angeles in the California-Pacific West District. More...

With Sandwich ministry, church becomes hero

When New Dover United Methodist Church in Edison, New Jersey, closed its doors in 2020 to prevent the spread of COVID-19, parishioners went home and made sandwiches.

To date, members of the New Jersey church have made almost 100,000 of them.

“When the pandemic hit, people were calling and asking, ‘What can we do?, What can we do?’” said the Rev. Chuck Coblentz. “We needed to figure out a way people could be involved, given the circumstances, without being here.”

And that’s how a sandwich ministry was born. More...

Puerto Rico

Changes in protocol and COVID update in Puerto Rico as of January 10th, 2022

This notification includes an update in the COVID situation in Puerto Rico. The situation is critical and in response to the current situation we are including some changes to the volunteer guidelines. The most important issues are:

We are at the highest positivity rate; it is difficult to find a place to be tested for COVID. We recommend that volunteers with pre-existing conditions and those in vulnerable age groups do not travel under the actual circumstances.
Insurance: Has to covered COVID or would not be eligible to serve.
ReHace requirement: PCR test (No antigen test) 48 hours before arriving on the Island.
To enter the island, the Government is requiring a negative test with no more than 48 hours

before arriving on the Island.

Fill the Travel Safe Declaration Form

Updated Volunteer Guidelines

Applications are being accepted for volunteers. REHACE, will only allow three teams of 8 per week, whereby each team will be split into two work teams. These teams will be placed in the three municipalities, Patillas, Arecibo and Metro San Juan. The volunteer guidelines have changed to reflect the new COVID-19 reality. Now IT IS a requirement that all volunteers traveling to PR must be fully vaccinated at least one month prior to arrival.

We know that many things have changed. In order to reserve the spaces, we need you to confirm your intentions to bring your group during year 2022. If you have already confirmed your dates and visit to Puerto Rico don't worry. For all the others, please contact puertoricovols@umcor.org asap so that they can start to coordinate the logistics. The following link is the application called Intent To Serve Form for those who still want to come to Puerto Rico next year. If you wish to volunteer (REHACE) contact us: puertoricovols@metodistapr.org or 787-765-3195. See Intent to Serve - Volunteer Application

Bahamas Methodist Habitat

Opening for Executive Director – Bahamas Habitat

For more information, contact Ms. Hyacinth Winder Pratt (General Secretary of BCMC) hyacinthwinderp@hotmail.com and/or BCMC President Carla Culmer rev_cculmer@hotmail.com (Ms. Winder Pratt reports to President Culmer)

Bishop Yambasu Agriculture Initiative harvests first crops

A group of excited, sickle-armed farmers, mainly women from the Bandakor Village community, sweated and sang in the scorching heat of a January afternoon as they lopped swaths of rice stalks from the ground.

They bent their knees as they picked up the weak stalks bearing the dry grains — an unusual way of harvesting rice, even by traditional standards.

The farmers were harvesting the first yields of the Bishop Yambasu Agriculture Initiative farm in the Gbondapi farmlands in Pujehun, southern Sierra Leone, where 75 acres were cultivated in 2021. The process of manual harvesting is slow, especially in the heat.

The initiative is a pilot project launched by the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries two years ago. It is named in memory of Bishop John K. Yambasu of Sierra Leone who was instrumental in starting the effort to improve food security and strengthen farm communities across the continent. He was a fervent believer that United Methodist conferences in Africa can be self-reliant through agriculture. Yambasu died in a road accident in 2020. More...

UM. Army

The following weeks are confirmed!!! Registration is open!

Centerport, NY May 29 - June 4, 2022, College/Young Adult
Wethersfield, CT - June 26 - July 2, 2022, Mixed Age
Trucksville, PA - July 10 - 16, 2022, Mixed Age
Etters, PA -July 17 - 23, 2022, Mixed Age

**College/Young Adult Age: 18-21 years old
(Graduated at least one year out of high school)

**Mixed Age Grades: Graduated 6th grade-12th grade

For more information and to register click here

Travel Advisories

REMINDER: Always check the State Department's Travel Advisory for your destination if you are traveling overseas. If the country is at Level 4 "Do Not Travel", then your insurance claims may not be honored.

Covid Travel Tips from UMVIM

Are you ready to get back out there and serve as the hands and feet of Jesus Christ? Take a look at this video that the UMVIM offices around the country have collaborated to produce for helpful guidance on getting started again.

Virtual Mission Journeys

View past Virtual Mission Journeys visit the UMVIM page.

Global Ministries

Still in Mission

#StillInMission Episode 40, March 3, 2022 at 7:00 PM EDT

Featuring…

Rhett Thompson serves as a Pastor and Volunteers In Mission Coordinator with the Evangelical Methodist Church of Panama.
D. Yang serves as the Congregational Development Specialist with the United Methodist Mission in Southeast Asia.
Patricia Moreira Marquesserves as the Missionary Minister with the Igrega Evangelica Metodista Portuguesa in Portugal.
Precious Kufarimai serves as the Homeless Ministry Coordinator with First United Methodist Church of Miami in the United States.

To register, click here. Registration is required.

United Methodist Missionaries are #stillinmission and we hope that you will join us to learn more!

Want to hear recordings of previous #stillinMission meetings? Visit the Vimeo Channel.

Long-Term Service as a Mission Volunteer

Interested in being a host at UMCOR's Sager Brown Depot? How about refugee resettlement ministry in Harrisonburg, VA for 6 months? How about teaching in Nepal or using your medical training in Kenya? These are some of the opportunities available to those who successfully apply and complete training in Global Ministries' Mission Volunteer program. Learn more or apply at umcmission.org/mission-volunteers. Upcoming trainings for 2022 are:

March 16-19, 2022 St Raphael Retreat Center, Haverford, PA- Canceled
May 18-21, 2022 Lake Williamson Retreat Center, Carlinville, IL
Nov 30-Dec 3, 2022 Nazareth Retreat Center, Grand Prairie, TX

Three P's in Mission. The Players, Payers and the Prayers.