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Heartland District Abbreviated Office Hours
May 16-June 26 (?)

Beginning May 16, the Heartland District Office will be open only Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:00 am-4:00 pm.  Melanie is having spinal fusion surgery on May 15, and we are blessed to have Jennifer Weaver returning on a limited basis to fill in during the recovery period.  So, don’t be surprised if you don’t reach someone the first time you call…just leave a message on the voice mail or email.  If you have an emergency during this time and cannot reach someone in the office, call Rev. David Hills’ cell phone at 989-330-3730 or email at dsdave@umcheartland.org.  In the event that David is out of town and unavailable, we will do our best to share with you back-up numbers to call.

Melanie’s estimated return date is June 27, but may change as needed.  Prayers for a speedy recovery and long-term pain relief are VERY welcomed! 

 

Registration for 2012 Annual Conference Now Open!!
June 6-9

Registration for Annual Conference has ended.  However, you may still register in person at Annual Conference for an additional cost of $15. 

About Annual Conference

Annual Conference will be held Wednesday, June 6 through Saturday June 9, 2012 at Van Noord Arena at Calvin College in Grand Rapids. This is the 44th Session of the West Michigan Conference and the final year themed on one of the four areas of focus of The United Methodist Church.  "Combating the diseases of poverty by improving health globally" will explore three sub-themes; mind, body and spirit.

Preachers for Annual Conference include Ohio West Area Bishop Bruce Ough who will preach at Ordination.  The Rev. Dr. Stacy Minger and the Rev. Bo Rin Cho join Bishop Jonathan Keaton as preachers who will provide daily spiritual focus.  Minger is an assistant professor at Asbury Theological Seminary and Cho pastors the Korean UMC in East Lansing.  Read more about them.

 

Miracle Saturday Includes SLAM DUNK Mission Event
June 9

The final day of Annual Conference, referred to as "Miracle Saturday," will cover the themes of Mind, Body and Spirit and feature a family friendly mission event.  Each local church is strongly encouraged to bring 12 "disciples" to this special day of amazing worship, fellowship and mission where up to 5000 members of our conference will attend.  We particularly encourage you to invite those who have never attended a district or conference event to come to Miracle Saturday.  Registration for this event begins on Saturday, April 13th and continues through May 11th.  Please ask your local church secretary to register anyone from your congregation for this event.  If you register for Annual Conference your Miracle Saturday registration is included. You do not need to register again.

Miracle Saturday features the dynamic author, pastor and sociologist Dr. Anthony Campolo.  Tony Campolo has written over 35 books and blogs regularly at redletterchristians.org.  He has appeared on numerous radio and television programs on CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN, MSNBC, CBC and many other network programs.

Guiding the way towards a healthy mind is Rev. Dr. Les Longden, Associate Professor of Evangelism and Discipleship at University of Dubuque Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa.  Longden has been a pastor in a small rural church, and a Minister of Education and Senior Pastor in two large churches.

Guiding all to a healthier body is Rev. Gary Henderson, executive director of the Global Health Initiative of The United Methodist Church.  Henderson will lead us into the IMAGINE NO MALARIA SLAM DUNK, family-friendly mission event, our part of the $75 million global effort to end this preventable deadly disease.  This is a superb and fun way to engage your congregation in a very meaningful mission experience.  Raise funds today for this special project today and then attend Miracle Saturday to celebrate!

Your church can Slam Dunk Malaria! this spring by raising funds and awareness to combat this preventable disease and then participating in several energetic activities on Miracle Saturday at Annual Conference. The Wesley Campus Ministries will be hosting free-throw contests, hula hoop games, and a rousing game of “N-E-T-S.” Anyone who raises $100 will get an “I Am Wesley.” t-shirt. Prizes will be awarded during the games. For more information go to http://www.westmichiganconference.org/pages/detail/2569 or contact Greg Lawton of the Wesley Fellowship at Grand Valley State University at 269-317-7183 or wesleygv@mail.gvsu.edu. 

Finally, guiding us to a healthier spirit is the Rev. Dr. Charles Boayue, Jr. pastor of Second Grace United Methodist Church in Detroit, Michigan.  His congregation has grown into a diverse, inter-ethnic, international community with members from Liberia, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Jamaica, St. Vincent, Trinidad, Belize, Guadeloupe, Guyana and the United States.