Ubuntu Explorer Team Dates;

Ubuntu Explorer Journeys

These are short-term mission service opportunities for United Methodist Women to interact with the world through mission partners. Explorers will expand their understanding of issues that impact the world and their community through mutual learning with women from other cultures. There are four opportunities for 2012.

Philippines: September 2-14, 2012

Northern Ireland: September 14-23, 2012

Haiti: October 14-20, 2012

Sierra Leone: December 1-12, 2012

For more information and/or to request an application, contact: IMCWD@gbgm-umc.org or call (212) 870.3719. Please include "Ubuntu Request" in the subject heading of your email. Photo of Ubuntu Explorer Team to Cote D'Ivoire courtesy new. gbgm-umc.org.

VOLUNTEER NEWS & EVENTS

VOLUNTEER NEWS AND EVENTS

TEAM LEADER TRAINING MARCH 17, 2012

Are you intersted in leading a volunteer team or finding out more about what is involved in leading a team or serving on one? Then attend the United Methodist Volunteer in Mission (UMVIM) Team Leader Training at Santa Monica First UMC March 17, 2012. It will be held from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm and lunch will be provided. The training will cover information on places to serve, types of teams, different volunteer ministries, what to pack, insurance, why God calls us to serve, and fellowship with other like-minded individuals. The training manual is $25.00. There is no charge for the training session itself. To register please contact Heather Wilson at umvimwj@hotmail.com or by phone at 818.333.6730. You may also contact Robert English at r.english@santamonicaumc.org. Please register by March 15th. For more UMVIM news visit http://www.umvimwj.blogspot.com/. Thank you.

MISSION WITH CHILDREN IN COSTA RICA (photo above: children in Costa Rica courtesy aumc.org.)

Rice and Beans Ministry in Costa Rica Base Camp Week:July 7-14. A week set aside each year to work with churches from Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama coming together to serve with churches from the US in Costa Rica. It is a week of children's ministry and food ministry filled each morning and night with spirit-filled worship. Will serve 5000-7000 kids in VBS and visit 750-800 families in the food ministry. The cost of the week is around $1550. If you are interested, please contact Fred Curry at fred@rabmin.org.

TEAM MEMBER NEEDED FOR SERVICE IN HAITI

A mission team from Lexington, KY traveling to Haiti April 26-May 3 has a few slots available. If you are interested, contact Greg Graf at Gregory.Graf@insightbb.com.


RUSSIAN INITIATIVE NEWSLETTER

The Russian Initiative Feb 2012 newsletter.

ARE YOU A YOUNG ADULT? BE A GLOBAL JUSTICE VOLUNTEER!

The Global Justice Volunteers Program is a short term service opportunity designed for young adults ages 18-30. Small teams of volunteers will spend 10 weeks learning and working alongside local communities throughout the world. Participants will explore the role and responsibility of the church to engage in mission, ministry, and service which seeks to transform our world into a more just place.

This short term experience provides an opportunity for young people, all over the world coming from a diverse range of backgrounds, to spend their summer in service. Purpose of the ProgramGlobal Justice Volunteers is based upon a concept in which Christian mission is understood as a challenge to amplify the human cries in situations where the world is profit-centered, not people-centered.

In other words, Christian mission takes place where people raise awareness of the issues, mobilize collective efforts, and address the root causes of injustices; in order that all of God's children may live in peace, harmony, and be reconciled with God and one another. The program provides opportunities for cross-cultural exposure, learning, and service. Through this program, a space is created for individuals who are willing to make short-term commitments to service and/or mission and who desire to explore the links between faith and justice.

Program Calendar
Candidate Application Deadline: March 9, 2012
Participant Notification: April 2012
Program Dates: June 3 - August 8, 2012
Orientation: June 3 - June 9, 2012
Service Internship: June 10 - August 4, 2012
Debriefing and Discernment: August 5 - August 8, 2012
Application Process:
Attachments1. Personal References2. Pastoral Reference3. Application for GJV
For more information please go to this website, or contact Kendra Dunbar.

GREETINGS IN 2012 FROM UMVIM WJ

GREETINGS & HAPPY NEW YEAR IN 2012!

Dear Friends in Mission:



What a joy to greet a new year! I want to thank you all on behalf of UMVIM WJ for your support and efforts in this mission ministry. God continues to work through each of you as UMVIM mission trips continue to inspire, uplift, and challenge.



Please check out the "Want to Join A Team/Future Teams" Page because there are several teams to Gulport, MS, Haiti, Mexico, and many others that would love to have you join their team. Also on this page find out about the Native American Ministries in the Dakotas that would love to welcome you.



In addition, more information has been added to our "Training Events" page with ERT trainings, Disaster Academies, Team Leader Trainings, and forums that are there to help deepen your mission experience.



As always, our Youth Listing page continues to grow and if you are a Young Adult there are amazing mission opportunities for you and the application deadlines are coming up in February and March.



Thank you again. It is an honor to serve Christ through service to you.



Your Servant,

Heather Wilson
UMVIM Jurisdictional Coordinator
Western Jurisdiction

MISSION NEWS FOR YOUNG ADULTS; INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEER UPDATE; NEW BLOGSITE FOR MISSION

YOUNG ADULTS IN MISSION

In the summer of 2011, one of the largest classes of young adult missionaries (25) in recent history were commissioned for service in a joyous celebration at the Interchurch Center in New York City. The newly commissioned missionaries recited a covenant prayer:God, today I join my sense of self and purpose with you and yours. Your work is my work, your deep sacrifice is my sacrifice, your full integration of Christ's path has shaped a way of life for me that now moves to the next level. I will push until I find the "tipping point" where the needs of all people are met and we can rejoice together for life abundant….

If you are 20-30 years old, consider applying to become a US-2 or Mission Intern in 2012.

Get more information and the application.

Photo: Commissioning service of US-2s and Mission Interns
Photo Credit: Cassandra Zampini



INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEER NEWS


While recovering from heart surgery, Robin Hurley was swamped with phone calls and prayers from the many Individual Volunteers whom she had met just a few months before. Although Robin and the group trained for only four days, the Individual Volunteers "became part of a family," according to Nancy Eubanks of the Individual Volunteers program.While the number of Individual Volunteers is holding steady at about 70, the goal in 2011 was to make the placement sites sustainable so that Individual Volunteers can work and live together for anywhere from two months to two years and then move on, leaving the resources and the housing with the local community. The trainings include theological grounding, spiritual enrichment, and practical nuts and bolts information. Consider becoming an Individual Volunteer.Photo: Loretta Davidson is a United Methodist individual volunteer in mission in Talanga, Honduras, where she works with children and their families.


NEW BLOGSITE FOR MISSIONARIES AND VOLUNTEERS - MISSION MUSINGS


Launch of the Mission Musings BlogMusing about mission?

Join the hundreds of readers of the Mission Musings blog at gbgm-umc.blogspot.com.Musing about mission? Join the hundreds of readers of the Mission Musings blog at gbgm-umc.blogspot.com. The blog is updated weekly with personal reflections from volunteers, missionaries, and Global Ministries staff. Writers inspire through sharing their struggles and joys as they engage in service and justice ministries in new ways, in new places, and with renewed hope. Join the conversation at the Mission Musings blog.

WHY GO UMVIM?

WHY GO UMVIM?

Why UMVIM?

You may be wondering what UMVIM is and what might it add to our mission experiences for youth and young adults. Well, below is an introduction to what UMVIM offers. We hope you’ll check it out and contact us to engage in our training and certification opportunities. Thanks!

A) The projects are :

Approved by the conference in which they reside,

Vetted by the Conference UMVIM coordinator in conjunction with the Conference Board of Global Ministries ( or alternate committee, task force),

Home grown, usually started by a church or group within the church that sees a need and makes it happenOf the Wesleyan tradition of mission (as much as possible!)

There is a huge list of UM projects in our connection that need our help. Why not help them!?

B) UMVIM Team Leadership Training (TLT) helps ensure that :

Teams will go where invitedTeams will have leaders that are trained in and will convey to their teams aspects of cultural sensitivity, spiritual growth, personal relationshipsTeams will abide by Safe Sanctuary guidelinesTeams will act on the three simple rules of: Do no harm, Do good and Love God.

C) The definition of an UMVIM team is:

“A United Methodist Volunteers In Mission (UMVIM) team is one that serves locally, nationally, or internationally where it is invited, works in a ministry endorsed by the host Methodist church, partner church or agency, or Non-Government Organization (NGO), and serves in cooperation with the local host group. The intent of this guideline insures that the presence of the team will not interfere with the authority and integrity of the church leadership, thereby strengthening and upholding the local church. The team will have an UMVIM trained leader who provides training for the team, insures completion of proper forms and insurance coverage and is in communication with annual conference and jurisdictional UMVIM leadership.”

-Lorna Jost

UMVIM Coordinator

North Central Jurisdiction

CONNECT WITH THIS GREAT UMVIM INFORMATION AND TRAINING AT: www.umvim.info and this blogspot at www.umvimwj.blogspot.com.

YOUNG ADULT MISSIONARY OPPORTUNTIES

STEP OUT!

YOUNG ADULT MISSION OPPORTUNTIES

If you are between the ages of 18 and 30 years old apply to become a young adult missionary!! There are many opportunties and application deadlines are coming up. They are:


1. US-2: Serve within the USA for 2 years. Deadline: February 5, 2012.


2. Mission Interns: One and a half years served outside the USA and one and a half years served inside the USA for a total of 3 yrs. Deadline: February 5, 2012.


3. Global Justice Volunteers: Serve internationally for 2 to 3 months. Deadline: March 5, 2012.


4. Placement Site Application for Mission Intern Program deadline: March 15, 2012.

Have questions and want to find out more info? Check out http://gbgm-umc.org/youth/serve or call 212.870.3620 or email youngadults@gbgm-umc.org.

2011 SPECIAL ADVENT MESSAGE

2011 SPECIAL ADVENT MESSAGE

Mission Volunteers, teams, and individuals…thank you for all the passionate volunteer work you have been part of this year and for allowing God to use you by working with others using your amazing generosity, love, and faithfulness!

As we all know, Advent is a time of waiting and preparation. Therefore allow me to encourage all Mission Volunteers to spend this Advent season to evaluate our 2011 volunteer involvement and prepare our volunteer plans for 2012.

2012 is unpredictable, but we need to remain faithful in our volunteer spirit of giving. Giving is when we first give of ourselves to make a difference in God's mission around the world.

Merry Christmas and may God bless you during this special time of the year.

-Una Jones

Mission Volunteers

Assistant General Secretary

****

Volunteers are important resources in all kinds of mission institutions, in local outreach ministries, in our work with our mission partners, and in our cooperative efforts with the ecumenical community.

The United Methodist Church recognizes the important role of volunteers in enabling the church in mission to the world. During the 1996 General Conference of the United Methodist Church, a structure was approved for GBGM that makes Mission Volunteers one of the six major program areas.

The responsibility of Mission Volunteers Program Area is to provide support and resources for all global mission volunteer programs including linking with the UMVIM program, as well as facilitating all the other ways that volunteers get involved in ministering to others and providing service for mission programs.