Missions
In the West Michigan Conference mission is not a one-way street or a
two-lane road. It's a six
lane highway. The Conference
Board of Global Ministries recently approved a new Six Lanes Booklet to
assist mission leaders in the local church as they design a broad-based
plan for outreach. The Six Lanes lists Advance Specials, local to
global.
Advance Specials are projects accredited by the
General Board of Global Ministries. This means that there's built-in
accountability that assures that dollars given by congregations to these
projects will be used wisely and well. In
addition, every cent of every dollar given to Advance Specials goes to
those in need. All
administrative costs are covered by other means. The Advance is perhaps
the only charitable avenue that can claim 100% effectiveness.
Why has the Six Lanes been used by West Michigan churches over the past
40 years? To encourage loving
response to neighbors near and far. A
Six Lanes Church pays 100% of its Ministry Shares and forms
relationships with projects in
each
of these Lanes ...
Download and print the Six Lanes 2013 by
clicking here. Please
discard all previous editions of the Six Lanes as the Advance Numbers
listed may no longer be valid. Full
descriptive material for the Six Lanes project will soon be available
online. Stay tuned.
“Individual” Mission Project Grant Application
The Heartland District
Outreach/Missions Team will offer a small fund for local, national, and
international UMVIM mission trips for individuals in the Heartland
District.
This fund may provide a one-time gift of
$150 for a first-time mission trip.
Funding for additional mission trips, if
approved, will be limited to $100 per person.
*NOTE:
Limit one trip per year.
Combined total of individual and group
grants cannot exceed $1,000 per mission trip.*
Please fill out this application completely, attach a cost estimate,
and submit it to the following address at least eight (8) weeks prior to
departure date:
Heartland District Office,
“Group” Mission Project Grant Application
The Heartland District
Outreach/Missions Team will offer a small fund for local, national, and
international UMVIM mission trips for a church/group in the Heartland
District.
This fund may provide a one-time gift of up
to 25% of the cost of the project not to exceed a total gift of $1,000.
*NOTE:
Limit one trip per year.
Combined total of individual and group
grants cannot exceed $1,000 per mission trip.*
Please fill out this application completely, attach a cost estimate
of your budget (all trip expenses including any project costs), and
submit it to the following address at least eight (8) weeks prior to
departure date:
Heartland District Office, 1400 S. Washington Street, Suite A, Mt.
Pleasant, MI 48858 or send electronically to
office@umcheartland.org.
District Emerging Ministries Grants
The Heartland District
Leadership Team will review grants for Emerging Ministries on a
quarterly basis and we invite the churches of our District to apply if
you have a new or potential ministry that needs funding.
In the past the Emerging Ministries have
assisted churches to set up children’s programs, purchase multimedia
equipment, and open food pantries.
The Leadership Team reviews grants and will
receive applications e-mailed or sent to the District office.
Many new ministries have “emerged” with the
help of the grants and blessed people throughout the Heartland District.
The Leadership Team praises the ministries
that have helped build the kingdom of God, and encourage you to apply.
Sources and Resources
Our founding father, John Wesley said, “Do all the good you
can, for as many people as you can, for as long you can….”
We are called by our Lord to “Go and make disciples!” So Go! Out of the
church building and into your community… work in a Food Pantry,
volunteer at a school, pay attention to the needs that bombard us
everyday and ask yourself, “What can I do? What can we do as a church?”
Talk to youngsters, have them text their friends and organize something
for your community! Young people yearn to make a difference -- a free
car wash, clean up someone’s yard, serve coffee on a cold day, serve
lemonade on a hot day to folks going into a local business. We get so
much more than we give when we give away the love of God! Get more ideas
on serving from www.michiganareareporter.com and the Michigan Christian
Advocate magazine at www.MCAdvocate.org
Then please talk about your mission efforts...share lessons learned,
celebrate successes. Join the Facebook Group – United Methodist Missions
(West Michigan Conference). Set up a blog (Google is quick and easy)
then post your blog and add a link on your Facebook page!
For United Methodist Mission News and info: http://new.gbgm-umc.org/
Also if you are going as a UMVIM team anywhere, please call
or send our Conference UMVIM Coordinator Dave Morton (269) 967-1827 an
email
revmorton62@yahoo.com
Dave will be happy to schedule Mission trip Leadership training for you.
Looking for a location to go outside your community? Or a
team to join? Or more information about mission trips? Check out
www.umvim.info
