SPECIAL FEATURE: Hope for the Children of Africa Choir

Twenty-three children from Uganda, East Africa live together night and day preparing for their "first ever international tour." The highlight of the tour will be two performances at the 2008 United Methodist General Conference in Fort Worth, Texas, on April 28 and 29. After their performance in Texas, the children will tour and sing at United Methodist churches in Arkansas, Georgia, Wisconsin, Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee until the end of July. The choir is scheduled to be in South Georgia June 4-June 23. They will perform on Tuesday, June 10 at The Columbus Civic Center in Columbus, Georgia. The performance is scheduled to begin at 7:30 PM.

STORIES
--Choir opens world to children with 'hard lives'
Twenty-three children whose lives have been uprooted by war are preparing for their first “international tour.”
--Church rescues children in displaced persons' camp
Dorothy Lakol's life was in jeopardy before she was chosen to be part of a Uganda children's choir.
--Pastor brings church to vulnerable people
The Rev. Titus Olaka offers the Gospel and hope to an internally displaced persons' camp in northern Uganda.
--Choir children dream of happy futures
A United Methodist program is giving 23 Ugandan children a better start in life.
--Choir director Tonny Mbowa shapes young lives
The survivor of a difficult childhood, Mbowa pursues a calling to help others.

VIDEOS AND FEATURES
--Slideshow: Hope for Africa Children's Choir
--Lydia Namageme: "They have a chance to make the best of their lives"
--Hope for Africa's Children choir singing "More Than Enough for Me"
--Tonny Mbowa: "She prays for her family every day"
--Rev. David Ntogohnya: "World has robbed them of every good thing"
--The Rev. Titus Olaka: "We try to empower them with Bible knowledge"
--Performance at Opit Camp
--Tonny Mbowa: "Seeing many people who were caring...I gained hope"
--Choir performing "More Than Enough for Me"

CONFERENCE NEWS

Evangelism Award Nomination Forms Still Being Accepted
Know a pastor or lay person in the South Georgia Annual Conference who has distinguished themselves in the area of evangelism? If so then you are encouraged to submit his or her name to be nominated for the Denman Evangelism Award or the Carl and Ruth Looney Evangelism Award.

The Denman Evangelism Award recognizes both a pastor and a lay person who are effective in developing true disciples of Jesus Christ in keeping with United Methodist history and tradition. The Carl and Ruth Looney Evangelism Award recognizes a clergy person who has completed their educational requirements, are serving in a full time ministry position, and have the gifts, graces and passion for evangelism and outreach. This award includes a scholarship for continuing their education in evangelism.

Click here to download the Carl and Ruth Looney Evangelism Award nomination form. Click here to download the Harry Denman Evangelism Award nomination form. For questions, contact Rev. Mark Addington, Witness Team Chair, at 478-781-0332. The deadline is April 30, 2008.

Epworth By The Sea Plans Autumn Adventure for Older Adults
Epworth By The Sea has planned an Autumn Adventure for Older Adults September 21-24, 2008. The four day event will include island hopping in Georgia's Golden Isles. Click here for more information.

Sexual Ethics Workshops Offered April 19 and May 8
The next scheduled Sexual Ethics Workshops are set for April 19, 2008, at Americus First UMC from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. and May 8, 2008, at White Bluff UMC in Savannah from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Lunch will be provided. Participants MUST register for any of these workshops by e-mailing Rev. Deborah Wight-Knight, Conference Pastoral Counselor, at fumcdwk@bellsouth.net. Please note that spouses and lay employees who are not appointed by the bishop are not eligible to attend the workshop. This event is being sponsored by the Conference Commission on Pastoral Counseling.

United Methodist Men to Host Golf Tournament During Annual Retreat - Hole Sponsors Needed
The United Methodist Men will host a Golf Tournament April 25, 2008, at Coastal Pines Golf Course in Brunswick, Ga. The golf tournament is being held in conjunction with their Annual Spring Retreat set for April 25-27 at Epworth By The Sea. Click here to download the registration form, which includes more information on the tournament. Hole Sponsors are also needed. Click here for more information on being a hole sponsor. All proceeds from this tournament will go toward United Men's ministries such as 24 hour Prayer line, Boys/Girls Scouts, Missions and Ministries. If you have questions, please call Larry Price at 229-888-8088 or 800-456-9150.

In other news:
--Evangelism Award Nomination Forms Now Being Accepted
--Deadline to apply for the Georgia Florida United Methodist Federal Credit Union Scholarships is April 30
--Butch Rhodenizer to speak at United Methodist Men Retreat April 25-27

GENERAL CONFERENCE 2008: NEWS & INFORMATION
Notices, information, and news regarding the upcoming General Conference of the United Methodist Church are featured in this section. Keep up with all the latest information at www.sgaumc.com/sganew/gc2008/index.cfm.

Online Legislation Tracking Now Available
You can now track General Conference legislation online. Search by keyword, committee, or oganization. Visit http://calms.umc.org/2008/ to use this helpful tool.

Sign Up for the General Conference 2008 Daily E-mail
SGAUMC.org is your home for General Conference news, resources, and information relevant to South Georgia United Methodists. Plus, the South Georgia Communications Office will offer a daily e-mail during the 10-day conference. Sign up today by clicking here.

Bulletin Insert Available
Subscribe today to receive the daily e-mails, then promote the General Conference Daily E-mail in your church by downloading and distributing the provided bulletin insert.

April Prayer Calendar for General Conference
You and your church are invited to pray daily for General Conference 2008. This daily Prayer Calendar for the month of April will help guide you in prayer. The Prayer Calendar, available in a PDF format, may be reprinted or posted online for individual use or church-wide distribution. Click here to download.


ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2008: NEWS & INFORMATION

Annual Conference 2008 - "Glorifying God - Bearing Fruit"

Young Clergy Initiative Lunch Gathering Being Planned for Annual Conference
Gen-X'ers.  Gen-Y'ers.  Millenials.  These are names of the next generations.  These are the generations raised with blogging, MySpace, and Facebook.  In a world in which we connect electronically, we often miss the personal connection.  Annual conference is a time to celebrate the personal connection of our church.  As a younger generation emerges as the next generation of leadership, it is helpful to know the people with whom we serve.  A Young Clergy Initiative group is in the process of being formed and an introductory lunch time gathering is being planned for the 2008 Annual Conference. This will be a time for young clergy and spouses to gather in fellowship and discover ways in which we can help each other and other young ministers as they enter into this servant ministry of the church.  Date, time and location are forthcoming. To register for this lunch time gathering, or if you have any questions, please email Thomas Martin at gthomasmartin@gmail.com.  More information will be available at Annual Conference, but you are encouraged to ask questions, and ask often.  See you in June!

Annual Conference Blood Drive
During the 2008 Annual Conference Session, an American Red Cross Blood Drive will be held on Tuesday, June 10, 2008, from 10AM-3PM in the Columbus Civic Center Hospitality Room. Rev. Cindy Garrard is coordinating the drive.

--Please reserve your time to donate by emailing cindy@stlukeum.com for available time slots.
--If you wish to be a “double red” cell donor, please let her know that as well (special qualifications apply, see http://www.redcross.org/donate/give/ for additional information).
--Please allow about one hour for the process from start to finish.
--Drink lots of fluids on the day of the drive.
--Be sure to eat iron-rich foods between now and June 10.
--Donors who have reservations will be taken ahead of those who do not have reservations.
--If June 10 is an inconvenient date or time for you, you may give at the American Red Cross Donor Center nearest your home or the Columbus location on Veterans' Parkway Monday, 8AM-8PM, Tuesday-Thursday, 12 noon-7PM, Friday 8AM-12 Noon and Saturday, 8AM-2PM. For more information, go to http://www.redcross.org/donate/give/.

Calling All Artists!
In conjunction with the Day of Service, the Columbus Local Arrangements Committee is seeking donated pieces of original art for a silent auction. All money raised will be donated to Higher Education and Campus Ministries. For more details, contact Beth Brown at 707-580-6379 or seth.brown36@gmail.com.

Complimentary Springer House Opera Tour Opportunity for Non-delegates
Non-delegates attending the 2008 Annual Conference have an opportunity to go on a complimentary tour of the Springer House Opera on Monday, June 9 at 3:30 p.m. The Springer Opera House of Columbus is a National Historic Landmark and also a National Historic Theatre. It is located at 103 10th Street, Columbus, Georgia 31901 in the
Historic Uptown Columbus Area. Click here for a flyer or contact the Columbus District Office for more information, 706-561-4541.

More Annual Conference Information:
--List of Hotels
--Day of Service Registration
--Display Information
--Banquet/Luncheon Information
--Childcare Registration
--Golf Tournament
--2008 Annual Conference Special Offering: Georgia UM Commission on Higher Education and Campus Ministry


CONNECTION NEWS

Vance P. Ross Named Deputy General Secretary of GBOD
(GBOD) The Rev. Vance P. Ross, associate general secretary of Leadership Ministries (Discipleship Ministries Division), has been named deputy general secretary for External Connectional Relations and Strategic Initiatives for the United Methodist General Board of Discipleship. According to the Rev. Karen Greenwaldt , the top executive for the General Board of Discipleship, “the role and function of general agencies are changing rapidly.” Greenwaldt believes it is “essential that GBOD has a group of staff committed to developing relationships and partnerships with key leaders across the church.” By opening this Office of Deputy General Secretary for Connectional Relations and Strategic Initiatives, GBOD is placing a high value on building -- together with key leaders (bishops, district superintendents, directors of connectional ministries, seminary deans and presidents, and conference lay leaders) -- new paths for effective communication and ministry development across the denomination.

Helping Students Stay in School in Sudan
(UMCOR) The United Methodist Committee on Relief is helping children stay in school by providing much-needed school kits to approximately 14,000 students in 25 schools in Lainya and Yei counties in South Sudan. The lack of basic school supplies is one of the problems that prevent children from attending and staying in school. Most of the people are struggling to rebuild their lives after years of war and are unable to afford these materials for their children. Providing school kits will help keep children in school and assist them with their learning needs. A school kit contains notebooks, rulers, pencils, a pencil sharpener, scissors and crayons.You can help make school kits by visiting UMCOR's Relief Supplies web page or help by giving Sudan Emergency, UMCOR Advance 184385.

Online game delivers virtual nets, saves real lives
(UMNS) Throughout April, visitors to the Nothing But Nets Web site can play an interactive game to deliver virtual sleeping nets to Africa and, in the process, raise money to buy real insecticide-treated nets through the malaria prevention campaign. It's all part of a renewed push for the United Methodist-supported Nets campaign leading up to World Malaria Day on April 25. The "Deliver the Net" game challenges players to deliver as many virtual nets as possible before the sun goes down and malaria-carrying mosquitoes come out to bite. Each time someone plays and signs up at  www.NothingButNets.net during April, an anonymous sponsor will donate $10 for a life-saving net. More>>

Global partnership takes aim at malaria deaths
(UMNS) United Methodist Bishop Janice Huie joined Ted Turner at the United Nations on April 1 as he announced an expanded global partnership to help end malaria deaths. The hope is that the partnership, led by the people of The United Methodist Church and Lutheran World Relief and organized by the United Nations Foundation, will raise $200 million to fight malaria in Africa. Development of the partnership has received support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. United Methodists already have worked with the United Nations Foundation — founded by Turner, a businessman and philanthropist, a decade ago — and other partners on the Nothing But Nets campaign to purchase and distribute insecticide-treated bed nets for Africa as a malaria prevention tool. The campaign had raised more than $18 million by the end of 2007, its first year. More>>

Zimbabwe's economy adds to retirees' misery
(UMNS) Selling little yellow balls of "Cockroach Kill" used to help the Rev. Kenneth Shamu put food on the table. Now even income from that small business is gone because the soaring inflation rate in Zimbabwe has made it impossible to buy the ingredients — sugar, eggs and Borax. Creative solutions have helped the Shamus survive since his retirement as a United Methodist pastor in 1995. Shamu stopped receiving any pension funds from the church in 2004. Even before they stopped, he was not receiving enough to live on, he said. Zimbabwe's political and economic situation only adds to the misery. More>>

UMVIM Team Leader and Individual Volunteer Training Coming Soon
United Methodist Volunteers In Mission – Southeastern Jurisdiction (UMVIM-SEJ ) is offering training for future UMVIM team leaders and for those applying for status as individual volunteers.  The training is a weekend event on the campus of Servants In Faith and Technology in Lineville, AL (about an hour from Atlanta) to be held May 2- 4, 2008.  All those who wish to prepare themselves for possible leadership responsibilities for short-term mission service should attend this event.  The cost is $150 and includes lodging, meals, instructional materials and incidentals (but not transportation).  Attendance is limited.  For more information, including event registration, please visit the UMVIM-SEJ website at www.umvim.org or call 404.377.7424.

Carpet Installers Needed Immediately for Mount Sequoyah
(UMVIM) There is an immediate need at Mount Sequoyah Conference and Retreat Center for carpet installers.  Mount Sequoyah is the historic retreat facility of the South Central Jurisdiction in Fayetteville, Arkansas.  Sequoyah has recently been gifted with several thousand yards of carpeting which is to be installed in its cottages, classrooms and dorms.  Volunteers will be housed at no cost but are asked to pay for meals at $24.00 per day.  Those responding will need to bring their own tools for the installation.  Teams can be as small as two persons or as large as 20.  Please contact Larry Norman at 225.933.1881 or 225.346.1646.

Religious Interest Survey Invitation
The following link is to a short religious interest survey designed to learn views of young adults aged 18-40.  Please take a minute to share your thoughts about faith, religion, and church.  This survey was designed by a group of young adult leaders in the Alabama - West Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church, but was created for people of all kinds of faith, or no faith at all.  After you take the survey, they would appreciate if you could forward it on to as many young adults as possible, whether they are religious or not. Please click here to take the survey.

Connection News in Korean
Click here.

Connection News in Spanish
Click here.


RESOURCES

Hymnal Research Responses
(GBOD) Thanks to all who participated in the General Board of Discipleship's recent hymnal and music surveys – all 19,091 of you! The results are available at www.gbod.org/hymnal. Musicians, pastors, and others will find the reports of the surveys fascinating reading and the information may provide for interesting discussions at choir rehearsal, church meetings, and Sunday School classes. GBOD has reported ALL of the data from the surveys in sections that will allow you to read and consider this huge amount of information by subject area and interest.

Africa Malaria Day is April 25 - New Church Bulletin Available
(UMCOR) In Africa, malaria is one of the biggest killers of children accounting for nearly one in five deaths throughout the continent. The Mozambique Initiative, a ministry of the Missouri Annual Conference, is on a mission to combat malaria. Originally a pilot project to inform the United Methodist Church about increasing efforts in malaria prevention and education, the initiative turned into a two-year assignment—educating and distributing nets to hospitals, orphanages, women shelters, churches and clinics throughout Mozambique. Read the inspiring story and download the latest church bulletin to share with your local community or congregation. Observe Africa Malaria Day on April 25 and help save a life. You can also support programs like these by giving to Community-Based Malaria Program, UMCOR Advance # 982009.

Adobe launches free, online version of Photoshop
(AP) The maker of the popular photo-editing software Photoshop (recently) launched a basic version available for free online. San Jose, Calif.-based Adobe Systems Inc. says it hopes to boost its name recognition among a new generation of consumers who edit, store and share photos online. While Photoshop is designed for trained professionals, Adobe says Photoshop Express , which it launched in a "beta" test version, is easier to learn . Photoshop Express will be completely Web-based so consumers can use it with any type of computer, operating system and browser. And, once they register, users can get to their accounts from different computers. More>>