Elizabeth River District Men's Ministry
Friday, March 29, 2024
Ministering To Men Along The Elizabeth River

Mens Ministry April 2017 Letter

General Commission on United Methodist Men - Leader Letter, April 2017

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A bimonthly e-mail letter
from agency officers and staff 
to leaders of United Methodist Men

April, 2017


Click here to view the full newsletter with expanded articles.

 



Bishop James E. Swanson, president of the commission, visited a village in Zimbabwe while he was in that southern Africa nation for the 25th anniversary of Africa University. In spite of cultural differences men from three nations discovered how much they have in common, and they made friends for life.
 
Bishop Gary Mueller, vice president of the commission, notes that the U.S. president and the media are engaging in a hostile dance that has made snarking part of the new normal. He calls upon UM Men to focus less on snarking and more on praying and sharing Jesus’ unconditional love.
 
Lots of men are only an eight- or nine-hour road trip away from Indianapolis, site of the July 7-8 National Gathering. Gil Hanke, top staff executive of the commission suggests you gather a few of your friends to attend this once-every-four-year event. If the cost seems prohibitive, ask your church for help.
 
Steve Nailor, president of the National Association of Conference Presidents, reports on an effort to “restart” UM Men organizations in 18 annual conferences. He suggests we should not celebrate “what we are doing for God.” Instead, we should celebrate “the amazing things God is doing through UM Men.”

Larry Coppock, director of scouting ministries, traces the history of scouting and religion beginning with Lord Baden-Powell, founder of the movement, who said scouting is “based on religion.” Seventy percent of US. Scout units are charted by religious organizations
 
UM Men have an amazing opportunity to be Christ’s ambassadors, says Rick Vance, director of men’s ministry. Calling men into an on-growing reconciled relationship with Christ makes us, not only hearers of the Easter miracle, but co-laborers in living it out in the world each day.
 
“We need to offer prayer and love as an antidote to hate mongering,” says Jim Boesch a deployed staff member. He celebrates the Trinity as three ways to understand God’s master plan for the planet, His gift of love in Jesus, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, which enables us to be the calming voice in the midst of hate and judgement.
 



12th National Gathering
Register here for the National Gathering of United Methodist Men, July 7-8 in Indianapolis
View a promotional video
here
For more information go to ummgathering.org

A reminder:
Make sure that your church’s UMM charter is recertified for 2017. Check with your local treasurer or church secretary to ensure your church is still connected with GCUMM. If you are unsure whether or not your church has recertified, please email jstrausbaugh@gcumm.org. To recertify online, click here.  Many thanks!
 



Also, catch up on the latest news and opinions at the Facebook of UM Men.
 
Expand the ministries of Strength for Service by purchasing material from a Home Depot store. The General Council on Finance and Administration provides step-by-step instructions. Do not try to register your credit card at a store.

Find resources and news about the commission
here.