August Cadence
Dear
One of the lessons I learned early on in ministry is that you need to have a vision to help guide where the process is taking you. Even though I learned this lesson I was a little slower to put it into practice. I had prayed over this, I had copied other mission and vision statements, and I have even run one through the youth ministry wringer.
I have been struggling for the better part of two years now with trying to develop an adequate vision and mission for my ministry and for the ministry I hope to instill in others.
As such I have struggled in the search for God's heart and words to convey the message of my ministry. I have often described my approach to ministry as one that is ministry by deduction, as in eliminating the other possibilities - sometimes by trial and error. As such the clarity of where we are going is often scrambled in the journey.
Alas, there is hope as the journey is the thing, and I have come to a new understanding of how to journey. Three years of Institute, Church Development and Revitalization Training, Local Church Visioning and that inner need for clarity of purpose have culminated in something very simple.
Vision:
"Extending Ministry"
To Extend Ministry through Longevity; Progress; Impact; Proclamation; and Variety
I have seen our own church struggle in the same way, and I pray that we will find the vision God has laid out for our journey ahead.
In the spirit of our ongoing “simple ways to help” and in an effort to “Extend Ministry” here are some ideas for your use.
Pastor David Camphouse
http://www.volunteermatch.org/
If you don’t have dollars, or any of the other items listed to be able to donate, or you have all of the above a little time and energy to give away, here is the chance for you to match up your opportunity with someone else’s need.
From the site: “We make it easy for you to find a volunteer opportunity that fits your interests, skills and schedule.”
Harry Ulmer
We often provide food, clothing, dollars and service to Frazee from Del Rosa UMC. From the site: “A long standing and varied ministry, Frazee Community Center began as a Good Samaritan outreach through the former St. Stephens Methodist Church in San Bernardino
Harry and Delores Ulmer
Heifer International provides multiple resources to help communities get up and running through the introduction of animals and other products and education about how to raise such animals for the good of the whole community.
Leola Rea
Stan and Pam Lincoln have been supported by the Del Rosa UMC for several years, through general donations to MAF, direct donations from the UMW and the congregation. Stan and Pam and their children have been to visit and share with us about their experiences several times over recent years.
From the site: “MAF is a faith-based, non-profit ministry. Teams of aviation, communications and technology specialists overcome barriers, transform lives, and enable the work of more than 600 organizations around the world.”
Bill and Janet Hunt
http://www.samaritanspurse.org/OCC.asp?MPGID=1
Save your shoe boxes is only the beginning of how you can help this project. Wrapping boxes, organizing products, stuffing boxes, and even shopping for the gifts are other means to help keep this project moving forward.
From the site: “Operation Christmas Child brings joy and hope to children in desperate situations around the world through gift-filled shoe boxes and the Good News of God’s love.”
Pastor David Camphouse
Treehugger is a community marketplace for all kinds of conversations, purchasing, and general knowledge about how to be more environmentally friendly.
Amazon.com provides a great abundance of products for sale that are organic, fair trade and recycled. Take advantage of a common shopping area in the internet age and take a look at some of the great ways to help preserve and protect the earth, just by shopping better.
Pastor David Camphouse
http://7villages.com/Default.aspx
The
Here is your opportunity to befriend thousands of Methodists Worldwide, find activity pages that suit your interests in the UMC, form groups and get connected.
Pastor David Camphouse
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cal-pac/
If you are wanting to get connected, but don’t want to take the time to find friends, search out special interest groups and just want to keep it to simple emails then the Cal-Pac Yahoo Group might be for you. This online chat board is designed to cultivate conversation among United Methodists in the California-Pacific Annual Conference through email communication. Check out the group website and sign up if you desire to enter the conversations.
Patricia Fischer and Desire
http://www.relayforlife.org/relay/
Walking for 24 hours seems like a lot, until you realize the purpose of the 24 hour walk is to raise awareness for those who walk with breast cancer and other forms of cancer every hour of every day until it is cured. And so t he relay for life helps fund “The Race for the Cure”.
From the site: “Relay For Life®
One day. One night. One community: By participating in an American Cancer Society Relay For Life® event near you, you honor cancer survivors, pay tribute to the lives lost to the disease, and raise money to help fight it – all right in your community. Much more than a walk around a track, Relay is a time to celebrate those who have battled cancer, remember those lost and get inspired to fight back. Those who have shared the same experience find common ground, hope and healing at Relay. By participating, you have the power to continue the American Cancer Society's progress toward a future where cancer doesn't take the lives of our friends and family.”
Stephanie Hunt
Students are invited to help raise funds to fight hunger, and then share together in a 30hour period where they fast and learn more about the regions of the world most severely affected by hunger.
From the Site: “The 30 hour Famine is an international youth movement to fight hunger.”
Barbara Plunk
http://www.projectlinus.org/index.shtml
Need a little something to do with your hands while you watch TV or work your way through prayer, consider tying knots in a blanket that will be given to a child undergoing drastic medical care at a local hospital.
From the site: “Project Linus is a 100% volunteer non-profit organization with a two-fold mission: First, it is our mission to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer "blanketeers." Second, it is our mission to provide a rewarding and fun service opportunity for interested individuals and groups in local communities, for the benefit of children.”
Pastor David Camphouse
Have you heard that small business loans are more likely to be successful than had previously been depicted? Do you want to live out the banker in you?
From the site: “Kiva lets you connect with and loan money to unique small businesses in the developing world. By choosing a business on Kiva.org, you can "sponsor a business" and help the world's working poor make great strides towards economic independence. Throughout the course of the loan (usually 6-12 months), you can receive email journal updates from the business you've sponsored. As loans are repaid, you get your loan money back.”
Pastor David Camphouse
http://www.nothingbutnets.net/
When The United Methodist Church, Sports Illustrated, the National Basketball Association, Major League Soccer, The United Nations and the Mark J Gordon Foundation all come together to stop one of the most disabling diseases worldwide, this is what you get – Nothing But Nets. Sign up your own team, or just help out another spotlighted team. The Cal-Pac Young Adults have already formed a team, and you can help that team if you so desire. Do a search for Nick Gallegly, the team Captain or go to the site
https://secure.e2rm.com/registrant/TeamPage.aspx?EventID=8291&LangPref=en-CA&TeamID=31169
From the Site: “Malaria Kills – You Can Help Save Lives
Malaria Kills more than 1 million kids a year. For just $10 we can buy a net, distribute it to a family and educate them on its use. You can save a family, Your friends, school, church or team can save a village. Together we can cover a continent…”
Blessings,
Pastor David
Labels: Visioning
posted by David @ 7/12/2007
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