Elizabeth River District Men's Ministry
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Ministering To Men Along The Elizabeth River

12th National Gathering United Methodist Men

The 12th National Gathering of men will be held in Indianapolis, IN July 7-8, 2017.  I know

that Andrew Kissell, Conference President, and myself as your district team leader will be

attending.  Our plan is to include the trip to Indianapolis as the first 3 days of our family

vacations.  If you are planning to attend I need for you to provide me with 2 bits of

information by the 24th of March:  (This is the conference that was held at Purdue

University for the first 9 gatherings and the last 2 have been at Belmont University in

Nashville))

 

 

 

1.       Will you be attending and how many people will be attending with you? 

For example: my wife will be joining me at the conference so we will be 2.

 

2.       If you are planning to attend would you be interested in participating with a

group on a bus from the Virginia Conference?

 

 

 

My email address is: johnnie.draughon@cox.net

 

12th National Gathering of United Methodist Men
Schedule of Events

St. Lukes UMC • Indianapolis, Indiana • July 7-8, 2017


                      Friday, July 7, 2017

                    3:00 pm - 6:30 pm           Mission Fair

                    3:00 pm - 4:00 pm           Prayer Line Orientation

                    4:00 pm - 6:00 pm           Prayer Line Open

                    4:30 pm - 6:30 pm           John Wesley Fellow Dinner

                                                             (reservations required)

                    7:00 pm - 9:00 pm           First Gathering

                                                                   -Bishop James Jonathan Holston

                     Saturday, July 8, 2017

                         8:00 am - 10:00 am          Second Gathering

                                                                           -Shan Foster

                                                                           -Kevin Watson

                         10:00 am - 5:00 pm          Ministry Fair

                         10:15 am - 5:00 pm          Hands on Ministry (outreach experiences)

                         10:00 am - 5:00 pm          Prayer Line Open 

                         10:15 am - 11:45 am        Workshop Period A 

                         12:00 pm - 1:00 pm          Lunch (on site)

                    1:00 am - 2:30 pm             Workshop Period B

                    3:00 pm - 4:30 pm            Workshop Period C

                    4:30 pm - 6:30 pm            Dinner (on your own)

                    7:00 pm - 9:00 pm            Third Gathering

                                                                   -Bishop Jonathan Holston

                    Sunday, July 9, 2017

                         8:30 am - 9:30 am          Worship at St. Lukes UMC (optional)


 


MINISTRY FAIR EXHIBITS

Come and join your fellow men in exploring exhibits from general agencies of the UMC,

bookstores, ministries, etc., during the event beginning Friday 2:00 pm - 6:30 pm &

Saturday 8:30 am - 5:30 pm

Mission Experiences: (Saturday 10:15 am - 5:00 pm)

Mobility Worldwide (formerly PET Project) — "A Gift of Mobility"

Men will build PET (Personal Energy Transportation) units. Those

hand-cranked carts are provid­ed to those in the developing world

who lack mobility due to polio, land mine injury, birth defects or amputation.

Produce Drop

Society of St. Andrew will operate a potato or vegetable drop in which

men will package produce for the hungry in the Indianapolis area.

Mission Project with the Men of St. Lukes UMC

St. Lukes has a mission outreach for building handicapped ramps or

similar construction. Men will build component parts of the ramps

on-site for transporting to their final destination.

 

 

 

Workshops: 90 minute presentations      offered during three periods on Saturday morning and afternoon.

Session A: (10:15-11:45 AM)

Session B: (1:00 - 2:30)

Session C: (3:00 - 4:30)

 

While attending the 12th National Gathering of United Methodist Men, you will have

three opportunities to attend training workshops and/or participate in "hands-on"

mission projects. Workshop leaders include members of the General Commission on

United Methodist Men staff, Bishop James Swanson, Shan Foster, Rev. Rob Fuquay,

Rev. Tom Albin, and many others. There are also a wide variety of museums and

shopping within a short driving dis­tance from St. Luke's United Methodist Church.

Leadership Track

Craft a Vision for Your Local Church

Biblical visioning can unify churches, bridge diversities, create energy and inspire

people to something bigger than themselves. This workshop will provide participants

with tools in kingdom-building ministry, in their Local church, to discern God's

purpose for their ministries to men.                                                           1A, 1C

"I Can't Do This Alone": Developing Team Ministry

Men's ministry is difficult and energy consuming; it is best done in connection with

supportive people who share the same vision. Learn how to identify, develop and

equip people to be part of a team that engages in shared ministries and have time to spare.                                                                                                     2A, 2B

"This Happened to Me": Change the Game Plan

This practical workshop will address the most common problems faced by people

engaged in men's ministry and offer some possible solutions. There will also be an

opportunity to discuss challenges faced by workshop                                   Participants.                                                                                              3B, 3C

Personal Growth Track

Men's Health and Wellness

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit? (1 Cor. 6:19) Learn

how to treat your body as a living temple by addressing health concerns with

preventative practices and engaging in healthy-living practices.                                                                                                 4A, 4C

Leave a legacy for the "Next Generation": Grandfathering

Don't you want to see your grandchildren in heaven? Don't you want the very best

life in Christ for your grandchildren (biological or adopted)? For thousands of men who

feel they are past their prime, this workshop will invite you to participate in a vital task.                                                                                                        5A, 5B

Faithfully Handle Stress and Anger

Unresolved anger and stress are linked to high blood pressure, anxiety and depression.

Some Christian men fail to recognize and admit their inability to handle stress and their

angry responses. This session will offer a space to talk about stresses and anger and

suggest ways to address them as men of faith.                                                6C

Spiritual Development Track

Live as a Spiritually Empowered Man

God gives each person special abilities for the common good of the body of Christ.

To live as an empowered man, you must discern these gifts, use them in the right 

place, at the right time, in the right roles and for the right reasons.                                                                                                        7B

Prayer Through the Normal and Abnormal Days

Any relationship requires good communication. Our relationship with God is no

different. We find it easy to pray at certain points of our journey, while at other

times it is difficult, if not impossible, to have conversations with God. In this

workshop, you will experience ways to be in conversation with God throughout

your life journey.                                                                                        8B, 8C


Daily Engagement With the Holy Spirit

John Wesley believed that daily engagement with the Holy Spirit was necessary. In his

Journal entry for August 15,1750, he wrote, "I was fully convinced of what I had long

suspected, ...that the grand reason why the miracu­lous gifts were so soon withdrawn,

was not only that faith and holiness were well-nigh lost; but that dry, formal, orthodox

men began even then to ridicule whatever gifts they had not themselves, and to decry

them all as either madness or imposture." Come and learn ways to have a daily

encounter with the Holy Spirit.                                                                          9A, 9C

Core UMM Ministry Development Track

Where are They? Fishing for Men

Most men's groups know that there are men missing from their fellowship, but they don't

have the knowledge and tools necessary to reach the missing generations. This workshop

will provide information and honest discus­sion about Millennials and GenZers that will prove

invaluable to fish in new ponds with new bait.                                                  10A, 10B

What if They Can't Come?

The requirements of work and family sometimes makes it impossible for men to be part

of accountability groups or studies they would like to attend. By using electronic

(web technology) we can connect to men who can't attend the traditional meeting.  

Resources and best practices will be discussed.                                                       11B

And the Winners are                        ! How Did They Do It?

Join this panel discussion with winners of the "Best Unit of Methodist Men in the United

States" as they discuss their successes, challenges and strategies. There will be plenty of

time for questions and answers.                                                                      12B, 12C

Develop Discipleship through Small Groups

Small group ministry is an important tool for developing discipleship. You will learn

best practices for using small group ministry to develop discipleship among men.                                                                                                                                                                          13A, 13C

Living Lives with a Pure Desire

How do we facilitate discussions about sexual purity in our men's groups? These

discussions can be extremely difficult. Learn techniques to have a healthy and helpful

discussion about issues of sexual purity.                                                                 14A

Reaching Youth: Planning, Organizing and Communicating for Effective Discipleship

This workshop will equip UM men to minister to youth and young adults. Currently, 320,000

youth meet in UM churches through church-sponsored civic-youth organizations. More than

half of the youth come from un­churched families. Discover new and exciting ways to recruit

and disciple youth and parents, engage members of your church and conference in these

outreach ministries.                                                                                       15A, 15C

MEND (Men End Domestic Violence)

For too long, men have been conspicuously absent from efforts to reduce or eliminate

domestic violence. We have been missing 50 percent of the population, thus half of the

equation. It is time to involve men and make them part of the solution.                                                                                                         16A, 16B

Cyber Bullying

According to the Cyberbullying Research Center, approximately 35 percent of students aged

11-14 experience cyberbullying. It is important for adults to know the causes and resources

available to help victims find grace and healing.                                                                                                                 17B

Mentoring a New Generation

Investing in the lives of those just beginning the journey is powerful and effective. How

can you be a mentor to this generation?                                                                                                           18A,                                                                                                                                       18C

Take the Flag: Following God's Signals in the Race of Your Life.

The spiritual life is often compared to a race. There is a parallel between the flags used in auto

racing and the signals God sends us in our fast-paced lives. This workshop will not necessarily

turn participants into race fans, but it will help them become stronger disciples of Jesus Christ

by paying attention to the signals God gives us each day.                                            19C

 

 

 




 
 
Early Registration Price has been extended until April 30