Vol. 6 • No. 6  
March 21, 2007
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In This Issue of The Link
Conference News
--Disaster Relief Update
--Mission Awards Move to the Local Church
--Andrew College Students Spend Spring Break Trip on the Mission Field
--Sexual Ethics Workshop Scheduled for May 3
--ollege Scholarship Available for South Georgia Conference Youth
--Deadline for laity to be included in delegation booklet is March 31
--Fellowship of Local Pastors and Associate Members to host luncheon
--Triumphant Quartet concert to benefit Open Door
--Don't forget to register!
Connection News
--Africa Malaria Day set for April 25: Skip a Lunch, Buy a Net
--Ministry trades toy for toy guns in Iraq
--Church must use gifts of older adults, leader says
--National Congregational Health Ministries Conference Set for September
-- Legislation from Young People's Convocation Now Online
--New United Methodist TV Message Starts Late March
 Resources
--Are you prepared for all of your Easter visitors?
--Free "Finding Yourself" Resources from Igniting Ministry
--Igniting Ministry Handbook Available Free Online
--Make a difference -- Volunteer Opportunities through UMC.org
 Mark Your Calendar
--All Upcoming Events


CONFERENCE NEWS

Disaster Relief Update
Long-term Rebuilding Teams Needed in Americus
Initial clean-up has moved quickly and the area is now ready to begin receiving its first volunteer long-term rebuilding teams. Team leaders may receive more information and register their availability by calling 229-924-9414.

Long-term rebuilding teams need one or more persons with a variety of construction skills who are capable of coaching and supervising the work of other team members. Some lodging is available (in church fellowship halls, etc.). Team members will need to have some demolition tools and basic hand tools. Your patience with the volunteer coordinator will be appreciated as we transition from clean-up to long-term rebuilding.

The long-term rebuild project, also, needs some major pieces of equipment (donated, loaned, or funding the lease): shingles lift, roofing nailer, disposal containers, dump trailer. Call 229-924-9414 if you can help with any of these items.

Update on Americus/Sumter County
(Note from Ronnie Wills, Americus District Superintendent)
Morningside UMC in Americus sustained some significant damage to its roof from the tornado. The building has been thoroughly checked out and estimates are being made as to the cost of repair. The good news is that while the shopping center across the road was demolished, the building is still standing and can be repaired.

The congregation will be meeting at the chapel at Magnolia Manor while the work is done. They are grateful to Magnolia Manor for offering this assistance. Please keep this congregation in your prayers.

The Morningside building was the only UMC property to sustain significant damage and we are most grateful.  The tornado seems to have passed directly over the Lee Street Church property and it laid huge trees on the ground all around the First UMC Parsonage. It is absolutely amazing that each of these properties escaped serious damage.

I express to the Pastors and Church Members in the Americus area my deep appreciation for your quick and untiring efforts in this crisis. Your hard work has eased the pain in the live of many people.  I also thank those from other churches in our conference who have been involved in the cleanup efforts.

Once again our people have risen to the level of "Being the Church - The Body of Christ"  bringing the love of Christ to their community.

Update on Crawford County
(Note from Rev. Bill Huddle, pastor of Dixon UMC)
The Crawford County disaster area made good progress last week.  We had six UMCOR teams and helped on 14 homes. Dixon UMC provided hot meals to all who came beginning Friday at supper and going through Sunday, when the Red Cross stepped into that role.  The team from Waynesboro 1st slept the first night at Dixon before we got them better accommodations.  Dixon was the coordination point for all the teams, and Dixon members assisted several families in the disaster area.

About 25 homes have been turned over to the bulldozers.  About 125 homes were damaged, some quite badly, but still recoverable.  The trees are now off the roofs; the roofs are tarped; and water and electricity are back on.   People have had to go back to their jobs, so evenings and weekends are when work is getting done.  The Red Cross has been very effective for us.  They are now receiving in-kind donations of all types, and Dixon is a drop-off point for the eastern end of the county. 

 Some money has been coming in to Dixon for disaster relief, and I am starting the ball rolling to set up a group to help identify unmet needs.  Financial help can be given through Dixon UMC, and would be greatly appreciated. We are SO grateful for the teams who came and did such wonderful, servant-hearted work!

Financial Donations
Financial gifts can be sent through the Conference Treasurer's Office earmarked Advance Special #6796 - South Georgia Storm Recovery (Disaster Response). The address is PO Box 52101 / Macon, Georgia 31208.

Mission Awards Move to the Local Church
(A Note from the Conference Outreach Team)
We are exceedingly grateful for the many disciples across the South Georgia Conference who continue to respond by faithful, fruitful and bold outreach, giving generously of time, talent and treasure to alleviate suffering and make disciples of Jesus Christ. Whether through hands-on ministry, prayer partnerships, mission education, or financial contributions, congregations and individuals across our Conference lend their support to the mission ministries of South Georgia. We want to celebrate!

This year, we will not have the mission celebration luncheon. Instead, we are encouraging each organization and agency to give your mission award directly to the individual at their local church. The Outreach Team would like to encourage the celebration of mission at the local church level where family, friends and the wider church community can celebrate what is happening through mission stewardship in South Georgia.

Make plans to give your award in the local setting and send a minimum of two photos of the award honoree to: Reverend Denise Walton, P.O. Box 20408 / St. Simons Island, GA 31522 or denise@sgaumc.com. The photos will be on display at the 2007 South Georgia Annual Conference. A list of the award honorees will also be available. The absolute deadline for sending photos is May 15, 2007.

Please call Rev. Denise Walton at 888-266-7642 if you have questions or need further assistance. Thank you in advance for helping us to make this a joyous celebrating of those who dare to be bold disciples for Jesus Christ.

Andrew College Students Spend Spring Break Trip on the Mission Field
Andrew College students recently gave up their Spring Break to do mission work in Richland and Americus. The week was spent sawing trees, hauling heavy debris to the street, and cleaning yards. The group of students had originally planned to be in Ocean Springs, Mississippi for the week doing hurricane relief work. However, when the devastating tornadoes ripped through Southwest Georgia on March 1, the group decided that their help was needed closer to home. Andrew College is very grateful to Rev. Mike Toluba, director of the Georgia Southwestern Wesley Foundation, for feeding the team and making them feel at home. It is great to see our connectional system at work!

Sexual Ethics Workshop Scheduled for May 3
A Sexual Ethics Workshop is scheduled for May 3, 2007, at the Rumford Center in Macon. To register, please contact the office of Deborah Wight-Knight at 478-929-1032, fumcdwk@bellsouth.net, or 205 North Davis Drive / Warner Robins, GA 31093. The South Georgia Conference required that all ministers under appointment by the Bishop take a five hour course in sexual ethics every three years, beginning June 2005. Click here to learn more about the workshop.

College Scholarship Available for South Georgia Conference Youth
The Georgia Florida United Methodist Federal Credit Union will award a $1,000 college scholarship to a 17-24 year old United Methodist in the South Georgia Conference. A form is available by clicking here. Deadline to submit application is April 30.

Deadline for laity to be included in delegation booklet is March 31
A booklet with the names, pictures and biographical information of laity interested in being considered as a delegate to General and Jurisdictional Conferences will be sent in the pre-conference mailing in May. Laity wishing to submit their information for inclusion must do so by March 31. Click here for more details or to submit your information.

Fellowship of Local Pastors and Associate Members to host luncheon
The Fellowship of Local Pastors and Associate Members will be hosting their annual luncheon June 5, 2007, at 12:30 p.m. at Wesley Monumental UMC in Savannah. Those wishing to make reservations can now do so online by clicking here. Cost for the meal is $11.50. For more information, contact Rev. Ron Burbank at ronaldburbank@bellsouth.net.

Triumphant Quartet concert to benefit Open Door
Triumphant Quartet of Pigeon Forge, TN will present a benefit concert for Open Door Community House of Columbus, GA (www.odch.org), on Friday, April 20 th at 7:00pm. The concert will be held at Pierce Chapel United Methodist Church, 5122 Pierce Chapel Road, Midland, GA. Please join us in celebrating the many ministries of Open Door Community House. Instead of an admission charge a love offering for Open Door will be received. For additional information, please call Kathy Cobb at 706 323-6887 or learn more about the award winning Triumphant Quartet at their web site, www.triumphantquartet.com.

Don't forget to register!
-- Distinguished Lecture Series - March 29
-- UMW Spiritual Growth Retreat - March 30-April 1
-- Older Adult Retreat - April 16-18
-- UMM Retreat - April 20-22
-- Safe Sanctuaries Training - April 28
-- Sexual Ethics Workshop - May 3


CONNECTION NEWS

Africa Malaria Day set for April 25: Skip a Lunch, Buy a Net
 (UMNS) United Methodists are urged to give up lunch and save lives by using that money to buy an insecticide-treated bed net. Bishop Janice Riggle Huie, president of the denomination's Council of Bishops, is asking United Methodists and others to skip lunch on Africa Malaria Day and use their lunch money to buy a lifesaving mosquito bed net. Wednesday, April 25, has been designated Africa Malaria Day and, for the first time in the United States, President Bush has proclaimed a Malaria Awareness Day that same day. United Methodist Communications and The Upper Room Living Prayer Center also encourage a 24-hour period of prayer that day for the children of Africa, those suffering with malaria and for global health."Malaria kills a child every 30 seconds in Africa," Huie said. "Bed nets are the most cost-effective way to protect children from the mosquitoes (that) carry this killer disease." More>>

Ministry trades toys for toy guns in Iraq
(UMNS) Two small churches in rural Iowa have found a way to outsmart insurgents in Iraq, using boxes filled with soccer balls and stuffed animals to spread goodwill and save the lives of children in Fallujah. The ministry began last year after Janet Wakehouse, a member of Turin (Iowa) United Methodist Church, heard about a sickening war tactic through her Marine son-in-law serving in Iraq. She learned how insurgents gave children realistic-looking toy guns in hopes that a U.S. soldier might mistakenly shoot a child and incite anger against the United States. Wakehouse also read about a soldier who had traded a soccer ball for a fake assault rifle that one Iraqi boy was carrying. Out of the two accounts, a hometown effort grew to collect safe toys to swap for the dangerous ones. Members of the Turin church and the United Methodist Church in neighboring Onawa began gathering soccer balls, backpacks, Beanie Babies and other toys for the cause. More>>

Church must use gifts of older adults, leader says
(UMNS) The world's elderly population has nearly quadrupled in the last 50 years, and The United Methodist Church needs to find a way to use "this incredible resource," said the Rev. Rick Gentzler Jr. The elderly population increased from 130 million in 1950 to 419 million in 2000, according to a report by Gentzler, director of the Center on Aging and Older Adult Ministries of the United Methodist Board of Discipleship. He outlined the trends in aging that will impact the global church and society during the United Methodist Committee on Older Adults meeting March 8-12. More>>

National Congregational Health Ministries Conference Set for September
Save the Date for the 3rd Annual National Congregational Health Ministries Conference to be held in Wichita, KS September 23 –26, 2007.  Click here for more information.

Legislation from Young People's Convocation Now Online
All the legislation passed at the Global Young People's Convocation, held Dec. 28-Jan. 1 in Johannesburg, South Africa, is now available online. Jurisdictional and central conference delegations and individuals proposed, discussed and voted on legislation in a forum known as the United Methodist Young People's Legislative Assembly. The goal for the Legislative Assembly of the Global Young People's Convocation was that voices of young people around the world would be heard in the life of The United Methodist Church. Click here for the list of results.

 New United Methodist TV Message Starts Late March
(IM) A new TV message called "Finding Yourself" will debut on popular cable stations starting the week of March 26 [ TV schedule | Theology PDF ]. The "Finding Yourself" commercial [ view ] recognizes that what people show on the outside is not always what is happening in our hearts. Viewers are encouraged to take a journey of self-discovery with the people of The United Methodist Church.

As we show others who we really are, we can listen for the Holy Spirit's promptings, and explore our life's meaning and purpose within the loving community of The United Methodist Church. “For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.” – Matthew 16:25 (NRSV)

This new TV message will air (963) times, across 15 cable networks, and run for two weeks beginning the week of March 26, and all related collateral pieces are available free on MediaWarehouse for your Lent planning.

RESOURCES

Are you prepared for all of your Easter visitors?
(IM) See if you're ready (click here), or get great Easter tips (click here).

Free "Finding Yourself" Resources from Igniting Ministry
(IM) The new United Methodist television message has a companion collection of free collateral! "Finding Yourself" resources show how we can lose our way; but having the right compass can lead us back to the right path. Browse everything you need to embrace your community and invite people to your church during Lent, including web graphics, bulleting covers, door hangers, newspaper ads and more.

Igniting Ministry Handbook Available Free Online
(IM) Click here to view and download the newly updated Igniting Ministry Handbook. With the updating, this 153-page handbook is now free and offers the latest on welcoming training, tips, outreach and free resources available.

How do you reach out effectively to your community? Here are how-to ideas. How does your church intentionally live into a welcoming lifestyle? Look at yourself in light of what God has in mind for you and where you are. Create an environment in which guests are comfortable and members are ministers of hospitality. Here are assessment tools and training for church leaders.

The wealth of offerings include a media Matching Grant application, tips on how advertising can help get your message into your community, best practices for working with media organizations, how to find free collateral on MediaWarehouse, and how to form a committee and get started.

Make a difference -- Volunteer Opportunities through UMC.org
The new UMC.org has now been live for about a month, and the new resources and tools have been warmly received by the United Methodist community.  The UMC.org Community social network already has more than 1,000 registered users, and the site recently received two awards for its innovation.  United Methodist Communications wants UMC.org to be an online destination for people who want to make a difference. You now have the opportunity to submit volunteer opportunities to the “Serve” section of the new UMC.org. Posting an entry is simple. Just visit www.UMC.org and select the “Serve” tab. From there, click on “Submit a Volunteer Opportunity” and complete the online form. You can also contact volunteers@umc.org with any additional questions.  With your help, United Methodist Communications hopes to continue building this database to make UMC.org a central resource for people of faith who want to make a difference through volunteer service. You are encouraged to share this information about available volunteer opportunities with members of your church. A bulletin insert and sample after-service announcement about the volunteer opportunities offered at UMC.org are available for download at www.umc.org/launch under “Leader Resources.”

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

All Upcoming Events
Keep up with what's going on in the South Georgia Conference!
--Distinguished Lecture Series - March 29
--UMW Spiritual Growth Retreat - March 30-April 1
--Older Adult Retreat - April 16-18
--UMM Retreat - April 20-22
--Safe Sanctuaries Training - April 28
--Sexual Ethics Workshop - May 3