August 26, 2009 -- Volume 8, No. 15

LiveFeed is a weekend event for young men and women exploring a call to ministry.�LiveFeed is the perfect place for you to listen, to ask questions, and to meet others who are sensing a call from God. Set for January 8-10, 2010, at Epworth By The Sea on St. Simons Island, this event is being sponsored by�the South Georgia Conference Board of Ordained Ministry. Thanks to generous support from the St. Marys Foundation and the Board of Ordained Ministry, there is no cost for you to attend this event. Come as you are - no strings attached.� Guest speakers include:� Dr. Rick Lanford, Rev.

Nearly 2,000 retired pastors, lay workers and surviving spouses in Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe are struggling to survive and to meet their basic needs, resorting to growing their own food, relying on their children and creating products to sell.� The Central Conference Pension Initiative (CCPI) is a long-term solution that provides financial security in retirement for these dedicated church leaders and surviving spouses who would otherwise have little or no means of supporting themselves.�

This is the third in a five-part series in the South Georgia Advocate that will introduce the new District Superintendents. Click here to read the full Q&A. ADVOCATE: You're from Columbus, right?� So this is like coming home for you? REV. GREEN: It is; my wife and I are both from Columbus.� All of our family is pretty much here.� I was born and raised here, and so was she.� My first appointment was as an associate pastor at St. Mark United Methodist Church in Columbus for a few years.� ADVOCATE: What's your faith journey? Did you grow up in the church? REV. GREEN:� For the most part; it was spotty at times.� My grandmother, on my mother's side, was the greatest living saint I've ever known.� Even

Valdosta FUMC is putting faith into action by living generously
By Kara Witherow, Editor
At Valdosta First United Methodist Church, generosity isn't measured monetarily.� It isn't about tithing and it's not a stewardship campaign.� It's not about numbers or needing to.� Generosity has become a way of life for the members there.� It has become a part of who they are, a natural part of their DNA.

In the fall of 2008, several lay members of the church attended a generosity conference in Atlanta and brought what they learned back to the church leadership.� From there, the pastoral staff decided that they wanted to present a concept to the church that went way beyond filling out a commitment form once a year. From those discussions, Generous Living was born. More>>

Bikers ride 3,000 miles to Break the Cycle of homelessness and poverty
By Kara Witherow, Editor
While the typical college student spends his or her summer soaking up the sun, taking a class or two, or earning a few extra bucks with a part-time job, four college students from Valdosta State University's Wesley Foundation spent their summer in a very un-typical manner.� They biked 3,000 miles, from San Francisco to Virginia Beach, to raise awareness and money to fight poverty and homelessness.�

Starting at the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, the four riders, Daniel Nabers, Benjamin Harris , Ade Oni and Janetta Evans, rode east for ten weeks, through Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky and Virginia, to Virginia Beach.� They faced mountains, wind, hail, rain, dogs, snow, traffic and snakes.� When they left Valdosta in May, they only had nightly accommodations arranged for eight nights of their ten-week journey.� Vowing not to spend donated money on hotels, the group relied on God's provision and the generosity of strangers for shelter.� During their cross-country journey, they only had to sleep outside two nights. More>>

Moments after the 2009 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America overwhelmingly voted for the agreement Aug. 20, affirming the action taken by the 2008 United Methodist General Conference, officials from both churches were making plans to appoint members of a commission to implement the pact.

Full communion means that each church acknowledges the other as a partner in the Christian faith, recognizes the authenticity of each other's baptism and Eucharist, observes the validity of their respective ministries and is committed to working together toward greater unity. More>>

Theological schools increase scholarship support
(UMNS) The 13 United Methodist theological schools have increased scholarship support for their students by nearly 10 percent to keep students on campus despite the recession � even as the seminaries have faced dwindling endowments and decreasing funds from the church.

For the 2009-2010 academic year, the theological schools awarded nearly $27.9 million in scholarships, a 9.8 percent increase from the $25.4 million awarded in 2008-2009, according to figures compiled by the Association of United Methodist Theological Schools. School administrators said the seminaries cannot help students so much that programs are placed at risk, but they are doing what they can to ease the economic pressures on students and their families during the recession. More>>

Talbert institute to develop African-American leaders
(UMNS) The Gospel of Mark says Jesus chose 12 apostles to be with him during his short ministry on Earth. The Bishop Melvin George Talbert Leadership Institute is starting out seeking up to 20 young African Americans to commit two to four years to become creative leaders in The United Methodist Church. The numbers may not be large, but the hopes and dreams of expanding God's kingdom on Earth are as substantial as the legacy of the man who inspired the institute, officials said. More>>

Alabama-West Florida Conference to host Ministry 2 web event
(AWF) Pensacola Beach will play host to Ministry 2 � this hands-on workshop and live event is designed for church leaders and volunteers interested in enhancing their ministry using cutting-edge Internet tools and social media. Ministry 2 Pensacola will take place at Gulf Breeze Church from October 9-10, 2009. Event topics include: implementing the tools of social media in your church; producing a web development strategy; website visual design;
managing vendors and volunteers; bridging the gap between technology and ministry; and much more! Whether you're just getting started with your ministry's first website or trying to build community using social media, Ministry 2 is an event to help you get there. Learn how you can unpack the possibilities at http://www.ministry2.org/pensacola.
A discount on event registration is being offered to churches in our area. To redeem this discount, simply use this code when checking out: COUP1009.

Teaching an appreciation for the inspiring legacy of African American Music
(SEJ) Want to make your worship service more meaningful and exciting? The African American Music and Worship Explo at Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center set for October 1 3, 2009 will bring together pastors, musicians, ministers of music, singers, choirs and worship leaders from across The United Methodist Church to fellowship, network, and learn from each other.

This experience will create excitement over the possibilities of God bringing renewal and vitality to local congregations in order for them to reach people of all ages, especially youth and young adults, with the Gospel of Jesus Christ through music. Each participant will receive a free copy of Zion Still Sings! For Every Generation. This collection contains arranged accompaniments and medleys that can help any church learn the musical styles used in many Black churches today. Early event registration ends August 31, 2009. Limited scholarships are available. For more information, contact Pam Naplen at 828-454-6656 or visit www.lakejunaluska.com/explo.aspx .

For Good Pastors Who Want to Become Better
(GBOD) Upper Room Ministries is offering a unique opportunity for some fifty pastors thanks to a grant from the Lilly Endowment.� Companions in Ministry Two [or CiM 2] will help good pastors become better ones through peer learning and spiritual guidance.� Clergy will gather for five days to experience what peer support can be like and then return home to create the support systems they need.� The Rev. Trevor Hudson, a Methodist pastor from South Africa, will serve as primary presenter at the October 2009 gathering.� Application deadline is September 15, 2009. � �Approximately fifty pastors from around the country will be selected.� In keeping with Lilly's concern for sustaining and inspiring younger clergy, this grant was written for pastors in their 20's, 30's and 40's.� After gathering in Nashville October 26-31, each pastor will be assigned a Companion Guide who will be available for a two-year period.� Cost for the program, which ends with a three-day conference in Nashville in the fall of 2011, is primarily room and board, thanks to the grant.� More information is available at the website, www.upperroom.org/cim2 or by contacting Donna Bryant at 1-877-899-2781, ext. 7233 or dbryant@gbod.org .�

RESOURCES

2010 Program Calendar Reminds United Methodists to Rethink Church
(UMCom) From front to back cover and pages in-between, the official United Methodist 2010 Program Calendar now available from United Methodist Communications encourages users to rethink the way The United Methodist Church makes contact with the world. The calendar is available in nine designs, ranging from a pocket size that shows a week at a glance to a large deluxe wall calendar with the year at a glance. The most popular designs, known as the Standard and the Classic, measure 8.5-by-11 inches and contain monthly planning checklists, lectionary Scriptures, liturgical colors, dates of special Sundays and celebrations, descriptions of offerings, church agency contact information, a 2011 calendar with a separate page for each month and a one-page calendar showing 2010, 2011 and 2012. The increasingly popular electronic calendar introduced by United Methodist Communications in 2009 is also available. Orders received by October 1, 2009 will receive downloads for both 2009 and 2010 electronic calendars. To order, call toll free at (888) 346-3862 or visit www.umcom.org/calendars.

Check out the Savings Available through TechShop!
(UMCom) Upgrading to Microsoft Office Suite 2007 can seem daunting when the retail price is $499.�Who can afford that in today's economy?�Did you know that TechShop offers Microsoft Office Suite 2007 for only $71?�That's right!�Local churches, districts, annual conferences and other United Methodist affiliated organizations can purchase the full authorized version of Microsoft Office Suite 2007 for a fraction of the cost.�The Suite includes Access, Communicator, Excel, InfoPath, Outlook, PowerPoint, Publisher and Word.�Visit their online store or call 1-888-346-3862 and order your copy today!

United Methodist handbook . . . hot off the press (almost!)
(UMCom) The 2009-12 version of The United Methodist connectional giving handbook is a resource you'll want to own. The United Methodist Church: Making Disciples for the Transformation of the World is a 48-page, colorful publication filled with comprehensive information about The United Methodist Church. Content includes the mission and beliefs of United Methodists, basic organization and church history, maps depicting central and jurisdictional annual conferences, as well as information on giving opportunities, online courses and church structure. This English handbook was developed as a communications tool to strengthen ministry in a variety of settings, including new-member orientation classes, confirmation classes, leadership training, mission meetings and more. Made possible through generous support of the World Service Fund, the handbook is free. To order copies, visit www.umcgiving.org or call (888) 346-3862.�

PACT offers guidelines on operating vehicles legally and safely
(PACT) Make sure your church operates vehicles legally as well as safely. Click here for a Ministry Memo from the United Methodist Property and Casualty Trust.

Increase Web Traffic via Social Bookmarking
(UMCom) You create blogs, articles, photos and other interesting content chronicling your church's retreats, service projects and sermons. How do you attract the outside world? Social bookmarking is a new method used to share the good word and draw people to your church Web site. Increased traffic through backlinks will boost your rank in search results and expose even more Web visitors to your church. Continue >>

Play Movies with Purpose and Legal Permission
(UMCom) Movie plot staples are proof that Hollywood learned a long time ago about the modern-day morality issues that pastors address weekly from the pulpit. Consider these: unwavering faith in the face of overwhelming adversity; uncompromising commitment to do what is right, even when the wrong path is more lucrative; and unshakable devotion to a true love, despite temptation. �Continue >>

Avoid Worship Leader Burnout
(UMCom) Let's face it: The average tenure of worship leaders today is alarmingly brief. Lack of time and resources are the two main culprits for burnout. Often times, the pastor will take on this role and subsequently become overwhelmed as well. Many churches today, can't afford another staff position. The solution they are finding is to start a worship-planning team which helps reduce the load of the voluntary worship leader and also allows for more collaboration and creativity in planning church services. Continue >>

Make Your Homepage Sizzle Like Bacon
(UMCom) When was the last time you looked at the homepage of your church Web site? Go look. I'll wait. What's the first thing you see? A picture of your church building with its name and address? A link to the nursery schedule? A list of this week's greeters? Oh, no! Is that an announcement about vacation Bible school that was held three months ago?� Continue >>

Give Back at Back-to-School Time
(UMCom) No matter our age, when it's back-to-school time, we all start thinking about the new year. It's a perfect time to create some new-year resolutions. Resolve to involve your congregation in a friendly competition to give back to the community. Start a Fall for Volunteering contest. Some members already volunteer but want to do more. Others might like to donate their time but need encouragement. Continue >>

Wesley Ministry Network helps meet the church's need for substantial adult education, for classes that engage the mind as well as the heart
(WMN) Life presents us with hard questions. Wesley Ministry Network addresses many of these questions in the eight courses it has developed for use in local churches. One of the most popular courses is called Serious Answers to Hard Questions . Ten leading Christian and Jewish theologians each address a single tough issue, such as the existence of evil or the relationship between religion and science. These ten issues present obstacles to faith for many both within and outside of the church. This course invites and encourages the energetic discussion and sustained reflection by both believers and seekers that is key to a life of informed discipleship. For more information on this and other courses and to order course materials, visit http://www.wesleyministrynetwork.com.

Wesley Ministry Network releases new course, Religion and Science: Pathways to Truth
(WMN) Religion and Science: Pathways to Truth is the eighth and newest course from Wesley Ministry Network, an outreach of Wesley Theological Seminary that creates adult education courses for use in local churches. The Religion and Science course asks questions about how religion and science interface in the 21 st century and offers insights from leading scientists and theologians into how to live as scientifically-informed believers. Dr. Francis S. Collins, former Director of the Human Genome Project, hosts this unique and engaging course. For more information on this and other Wesley Ministry Network courses and to order course materials, visit http://www.wesleyministrynetwork.com/.

New Church Bulletin - Birthing a Dream - from UMCOR
(UMCOR) Perry came to the US from Liberia, a country struggling to rebuild after its 14-year civil war. He lives very modestly, but is able to send money home to his family and support his dream--a small nonprofit organization. He hopes to raise enough money to help educate nurses, build a women's clinic and a school, because he doesn't want another woman to give birth in the dirt and under the shade of a tree like his mother did. The United Methodist Committee on Relief's (UMCOR) birthing kit provides attendants with the basic tools they need to ensure a safe, healthy and clean delivery. Traditional birthing attendants are trained on how to deliver babies using these life saving kits, so expecting mothers like Perry's do not have to give birth in unsanitary conditions. Download UMCOR's new church bulletin to learn more and share UMCOR's birthing kit power point slide. You can also give toward the purchase of birthing kit supplies by sending your gifts to Material Resource Ministry, UMCOR Advance #901440.

KidzQuest Retreat - October 2-4 KidzQuest, the annual conference children's retreat, has been set for October 2-4, 2009, at Epworth By The Sea. Intended for children in 3rd - 5th grades, this weekend retreat is high-octane, high-energy and lots of fun! This year's speaker will be Jesse Joyner who will keep us on the edge of our seats as he communicates biblical truths while performing amazing juggling stunts. Uncle Charlie returns again this year to lead us in worship, and our favorite emcee Brandon Rushin, Hey Ya, will keep us entertained with fun games and a few new dance moves. Mark your calendars now because you won't want to miss out! Click here for more information or to register online.

ALL UPCOMING EVENTS
--Sexual Ethics Workshop for Clergy - September 10
--E-zekiel Web Training Event - September 18
--Methodist Children's Home Day - September 20
--KidzQuest Retreat - October 2-4
--World Communion Day - October 4
--Vashti Day - October 18
--Wesleyan College Day - November 8
--November Youth Celebration - November 20-22
--United Methodist Student Day - November 29
--United Methodist Global AIDS Fund - December 6
--LiveFeed Ministry Exploration - January 8-10