Center for Missional Outreach News

Since May we have partnered with Witness to Innocence to encourage the voices of death-row exonerees — those wrongly sentenced to death — to be heard in United Methodist churches across the country. In communities like Austin, TX; Chico, CA; Ithaca, NY; Lenexa, KS; and Little Rock, AR; among others, United Methodists have helped bring in exonerees who have powerful stories to educate and mobilize people to abolish the death penalty once and for all.

The speakers, all professionally trained storytellers, will share their journeys from death row to freedom and their take on the current state of the American criminal justice system. This will be an unforgettable experience for congregants and community supporters.

You can host an exonerated death-row survivor at your church, and GBCS will partially underwrite your costs for doing so. Because the exonerees depend on speaking events for their income, the events cost $600 plus travel expenses. For a limited number of events, GBCS will cover half the cost of the speaking fee. Your congregation, plus any other congregations you bring together to host this event, only pay $300 for the speaking fee. In addition, at the event, you will take a love offering to go towards the speaker. All your church is responsible for is $300, travel expenses — and many of the speakers might already be in your area or close to it — and a love offering (this offering goes toward the speaker).

This is a limited-time offer available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please contact Kathy Spillman for more information on arranging this truly special event.

Together we can educate and mobilize our churches and communities to abolish the death penalty!

Click here to read more about this power partnership and how it has had an impact on local churches and communities.

Bill Mefford Director,
United Methodists Against the Death Penalty

Superhits of the 70s, Part II

January 27, 2012: Mabank High School Auditorium

February 10, 2012: First UMC, Denton, Texas

March 30, 2012: Performing Arts Center, Allen, Texas

May 4, 2012: Northaven UMC, Dallas, Texas

All shows begin at 7:00 p.m.

Based in Dallas, Connections is a unique "cover-band" that performs "tribute" shows to artists we love. We have now played shows for tens of thousands of listeners, and raised more than $170,000 for worthy charities. The shows are free, and are always fundraisers for a missional cause related to the United Methodist Church.

Connections' first show of 2012 will be the debut of our new show: "Superhits of the 70s, Part II." Our original superhits show was one of our most popular ever, and this one will no doubt be the same, as every song will take you back to some of the most amazing music of all-time.

You'll rock out to songs by: Bob Seeger, Jackson Browne, Electric Light Orchestra, Boz Scaggs, Marvin Gaye, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, Santana, Joe Walsh, and Lynyrd Skynyrd, among many many more.

You'll be singing along on every song and once again be pleased by our most ambitious concert yet. A full stage of more than 20 musicians will provide the music for the evening.

To date Connections has raised more than $170,000 for worthy charities.

When: April 23, 2012

Where: Tampa, Florida

CLICK HERE to see information about last year’s conference. Lighten the Burden IV is April 23, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. Please mark your calendar! Hope to see you there. More information forthcoming.

The Louisiana Annual Conference has a team going to south Vietnam on March 15 to March 27, 2012. They have several spots open.

You don't have to have any medical skills, just a willingness to help those less fortunate and a willingness to share God's love. The cost of the mission will be $3200 (all inclusive).

Please contact team leader Beverly Dinnel (985-320-2393) for further information.

Thursday, February 23, 2012
from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM (CT)

Texas Agrilife Extension Office, Texas A & M
Dallas Research and Extension Center
17360 Coit Road
Dallas, TX 75252

Click here to register for this class.

Is your church interested in starting a community garden? This is the class for you. There are many different ways to set up and organize a community garden. Come and explore the many options. Material covered will include examples of existing gardens in the DFW Metroplex. The Agrilife Office garden on the property will also be explored so wear comfortable shoes suitable for walking in a garden. The instructor will be Dotty Woodson, Ed. D., Extension Program Specialist- Water Resources.

Texas AgriLife Extension Service was established in 1914 in conjunction with Texas A & M University. Originally named Texas Agricultural Extension Service, then later Texas Cooperative Extension, the name Texas AgriLife Extension Service was adopted on January 1, 2008. The primary mission of the AgriLife Extension Service is to provide educational outreach programs and services to the citizens of Texas. In conjunction with Texas AgriLife Research, the Extension faculty members conduct research and bring practical applications of those research findings to the people of Texas.

Saturday, January 28, 2012
9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
First United Methodist Church Kaufman
208 S. Houston Street
Kaufman, TX 75142

This class will qualify you to serve Early Response Trained team, which is a ministry of the local church. The training will equip volunteers to help after a disaster with clean-up, debris removal, and to make homes safe, sanitary and secure.

No cost for the training. The trainer will be Mike Walker.

Questions? Contact Sharyn Yetman at 800-969-8201 or missions@ntcumc.org.

Register Online

An advance background check is required for all participants. If you have a current background check on file at your local church then let us know. For a new background check, click on the link below.  Cost is $13.99.  Enter your first name, last name and your email address.  Select "Background Screening Only." Then an email will be generated which will invite you to take the background check. Payment may be made online on the smart*trak webite.

For any difficulties with the background check please contact Rev. Aleze M. Fulbright, Associate Director, Center for Leadership Development, email: aleze@ntcumc.org. Office Phone: 972-526-5054

Come and Hear How You Can Be Part Of The Transforming Mission Of God for and with The People in Costa Rica

Lilliana Rojas, the administrator and nurse of the Agape Primary Care Clinic, will share the Good News of the work and progress of the Agape Clinic.

Two receptions to be held at St. Andrew UMC, Plano:

• Sunday, 12/18, 4:00pm - 6:00pm, Piro Hall at St. Andrews UMC in Plano

• Monday, 12/19, 11:00am - 1:00pm, Piro Hall at St. Andrews UMC in Plano

Photo from /www.4cornersgomed.org.

A light lunch will be provided for Monday's presentation. So we may prepare enough food, please RSVP.

Information about upcoming UMVIM mission and medical outreach trips to Costa Rica during 2012 will be available at both receptions.

LILLIANA IS EXCITED TO SHARE THE GREAT AND TRANSFORMING WORK OF THE EVANGELICAL METHODIST CHURCH OF COSTA RICA IN COLLABORATION WITH ST. ANDREW UMC THROUGH 4 CORNERS GLOBAL OUTREACH. WITH GOD'S HELP, TOGETHER WE CAN TRANSFORM AND SAVE LIVE, EMPOWER THE LOST AND LEAST, PLANT SEEDS OF THE GOSPEL AND PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF THE HOPE WE FIND IN JESUS CHRIST.

St Andrew UMC is working alongside the Evangelical Methodist Church and the ministry of health in Costa Rica through 4 Corners Global Outreach, a 501c (3) established to work with global communities to improve health and provide access to basic health care.

Dates: March 21-29, 2012
Cost: $1350 per person includes airfare
Project: work on UM buildings such as churches, schools.
Contact: Joy Anderson, janderson@fumcr.com

First United Methodist Church of Richardson is looking for a few extra people to fill out their team of ten traveling to Haiti in the spring. The team will be hosted by the staff of the Haiti Response Plan, a program of the Mission Volunteers unit of the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church.

The UMVIM community and the staff of the Haiti Response Plan continue to work in cooperation with the Eglise Methodiste d'Haiti (The Methodist Church of Haiti) to host volunteer teams to address the humanitarian needs and priority projects of the Methodist Church of Haiti. Teams typically know of their assignment shortly before leaving.