Cover Story
Hoosier mission team remembers Haiti
2/10/2010
After the shaking had stopped, the smell of unearthed dirt stirred their senses. Their bodies ached from the jolts; it was difficult to understand what had happened. A ten-member team of the Milroy and the Indianapolis St. Luke’s United Methodist churches had survived a historic earthquake in the fragile country of Haiti. At 4:53 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 12, the worst natural disaster to hit Haiti in more than 200 years had occurred.
The team was working at the rural mountain facility,...
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From the Bishop
Practicing our faith
From the Bishop
2/10/2010
I am excited about our second session of the new Indiana Annual Conference, which will be held June 10-13 at Ball State University in Muncie.
Our very first, historic session in 2009 was great and many people reported it was “the best annual conference I ever attended.” But it also had its problems – getting used to a new place, a new venue, a larger crowd than previous conferences and lots of administrative issues as we continued forming the new Indiana Conference.
I am...
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Welcome
Letters to the Editor
2/10/2010
Methodist Church of Haiti says thank you
On behalf of the Methodist Church in Haiti and the Haitian people, we thank you. Thank you all for your outpouring of love, support and Christian brotherhood in our great hour of need. Haiti has suffered a great tragedy, and to rebuild, recover and strengthen, it will take us all.
You have kept us in your prayers and we are grateful. You have sent donations through the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). We thank you for your generosity. You...
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Nothing 'missing' in church-related universities
2/10/2010
In the January issue of Hoosier United Methodists Together, one of our readers in a letter to the editor commented that he thought something was missing in a two-page Focus feature about the University of Indianapolis, one of three United Methodist-related institutions of higher education in Indiana. The other two are DePauw University at Greencastle and the University of Evansville.
The reader wrote: “However, nowhere did the article say anything about teaching the students’...
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Indiana
Annual Conference choirs now being formed for June session
2/10/2010
Worship leaders are seeking talented high school, younger adults and older persons to be a part of the Indiana Annual Conference session worship team. Open audition CDs, MP3s and audio cassette tapes are being received now through Feb. 22 for the 2010 Indiana Annual Conference Session being held at Ball State University in Muncie, June 10-13.
To be a part of the team, participants are committing to rehearsals in Indianapolis on Saturdays, March 13, April 10 and May 8 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m....
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Bishop announces new superintendent of East District
2/10/2010
INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Bishop Mike Coyner announces the appointment of the Rev. David Byrum as the new superintendent of the East District based in Muncie effective July 1. Byrum currently serves as senior pastor of First United Methodist Church in Valparaiso, Ind. He will succeed the Rev. Dale Mendenhall, who has been appointed to serve as senior pastor of High Street UMC in Muncie, following the retirement of Rev. Jack Hartman as senior pastor of that congregation.
In making this...
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Central District names new assistants to superintendent
2/10/2010
INDIANAPOLIS – The Rev. Bert Kite, superintendent of the Central District of The United Methodist Church recently named new Assistants to the District Superintendent for the greater-Indianapolis district.
The three clergy are part of a new plan to effectively serve the Central District with a leadership team. They serve as volunteers to ensure the needs of the various segments of the district receive proper care. Those named as part-time Assistants to the District Superintendent include:...
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Conference clergy retreat to be 'A Lively Sense of Call'
2/10/2010
INDIANAPOLIS – Under the banner “A Lively Sense of Call,” two recording artists, a pastor and a seminary president will join Indiana Bishop Mike Coyner in headlining the Our Life Together retreat for Indiana Conference United Methodist clergy.
The dates are Monday, April 26 and Tuesday, April 27 at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 100 West 86th Street in Indianapolis.
Brent Wright of the Our Life Together leadership team told Together, “We’ve shifted the...
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New Gambling Recovery Ministries Web site launches to resource congregations, counselors across Indiana
2/10/2010
With a Indiana Conference Grant from the Social Advocacy and Justice Team given in 2009 for such a project, Gambling Recovery Ministries’ possibility for outreach is now greatly expanded. Please, check us out at www.grmumc.org.
There is considerable content that is clearly organized and addresses several audiences: problem gamblers, concerned loved ones and friends of gamblers, pastors, mental health professionals, social workers and prevention specialists, and people who want to...
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REJUVENATE is for …
2/10/2010
Clergy who have a lot of educational debt.
Clergy who have little educational debt.
Clergy who have no educational debt.
Through Rejuvenate’s educational program, (see list on Web site at www.inumc.org/rejuvenate) clergy and congregations will receive tools that will further equip you to be better financial managers and planners, individually and corporately.
Through Rejuvenate’s matching funds, eligible clergy who have education debt, will be able to...
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Super Bowl rivalry promotes health kits for Haiti
2/10/2010
Who dat making a super effort to build health kits for Haiti?
United Methodist churches in Louisiana and Indiana, dat’s who!
Two congregations, one from Indianapolis and another just outside of New Orleans, harnessed the energy surrounding Super Bowl XLIV with a friendly challenge: Which church can assemble the largest number of health kits for Haiti?
The New Orleans Saints beat the Indianapolis Colts in the big game Feb. 7. But the competition is not over for Roberts Park United...
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Focus
Health, layette kits needed for relief efforts in Haiti
2/11/2010
According to the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), there will be a great need for volunteers to help rebuild once the initial crisis is past, but it is not safe or possible for volunteers to go to Haiti at the present. However, UMCOR’s two relief supply warehouses are asking United Methodists to provide health kits and layette kits that will be sent to Haiti. Instructions for assembling and shipping health kits are available on the UMCOR Web site at www.umcor.org.
Here is...
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Hoosiers help interfaith mission send medical aide to Haiti
Three shipments sent to Haiti during January
2/10/2010
Due to great support from United Methodist congregations, as well as other community members and institutions, Children of Abraham of Munster, Ind. has sent three 40-foot high-volume shipboard containers of medical aide to Haiti and has three more scheduled for delivery.
One of the containers was sponsored by Clay United Methodist Church of South Bend and is scheduled to arrive on Feb. 12. Others have been sponsored by an Indiana-based charity named Friends of the Orphans.
Children of Abraham...
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Hope Crisis Response Network seeks medical teams
2/10/2010
There is an immediate need for the following: Requesting physicians of specific specialties to deploy with the National Disaster Medical Assistance teams to Haiti. The need is for trauma surgeons, orthopedists, anesthesiologists and others with experience in treating crush injuries.
Volunteers must be able to serve for at least two weeks and be willing to live and work in Spartan-like conditions. Preference will be given to physicians who are Creole or French speakers, and to those currently...
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Life-changing ministry a response to God's love
One Great Hour of Sharing, March 14
2/10/2010
Join United Methodists everywhere by participating in this special offering that supports United Methodist Committee on Relief’s (UMCOR’s) vital work. Your gifts to One Great Hour of Sharing lay the foundation for UMCOR to seek justice and mercy for suffering people everywhere.
You can be assured that when catastrophes cause suffering, your church, impelled by Jesus’ love and compassion will be in the lead to ease the pain.
For 70 years the people of The United Methodist...
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School children give $600 to UMCOR’s Haiti relief efforts
2/10/2010
NORTH WEBSTER, Ind. – Pastor Dave Smitley of North Webster United Methodist church writes about community school students getting involved in UMCOR’s plea for Haiti relief efforts. He says, “A member of our church teaches an after-school program in the West Noble schools, a school district with a high population of unemployment and Hispanics.
“Many of her students live in sub-par housing single parent families; families where English is not spoken in a rural setting....
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Volunteer for Haiti earthquake relief
2/10/2010
Mission Volunteers in conjunction with the North Central Jurisdictional United Methodist Volunteers In Mission Coordinators and General Board of Global Ministries staff have recommended and instituted a National Database for volunteers wishing to go to Haiti, when we are invited in. I have received names and e-mails from many persons and would ask that you go to this Web site and register your intent to volunteer in Haiti in the future, along with your skills and aptitudes for being a United...
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Volunteer in Mission team leader training coming in March, April
2/10/2010
United Methodist Committee on Relief Trainer, Penny Krug of South Bend, will be holding special Volunteer in Mission local team leader training in Indiana, Saturdays, March 20 and April 10, to prepare Volunteers in Mission leaders, especially in light of the Haiti relief efforts following the earthquake in January.
The events will be held Saturday, March 20 at First UMC at 219 East Fourth Street (downtown) in Bloomington, Ind. and Saturday, April 10 at New Life UMC at 3039 W 400 N (on US 30)...
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Volunteers need to prepare if they want to serve in Haiti
2/10/2010
You are indeed in the North Central Jurisdiction! Each jurisdictional Coordinator has been asked to keep a list of volunteers so that when United Methodist volunteers are allowed back in Haiti, we can have a coordinated effort from UMC members. Team members will need a valid passport, updated tetanus shot and hepatitis A and B shots.
Teams going into Haiti will have to have team leaders that are trained UMVIM team leaders. The team leader will have to have had some experience in Haiti. Some...
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Viewpoints
A good question disserves a good answer
2/10/2010
A Campaign for the Camping Ministry at Epworth Forest in North Webster is entering its second year. The project is raising ten-million dollars to build and upgrade facilities at this Indiana Conference retreat center and senior high camp.
One question many people ask me is, “how do you get folks to give money for buildings?” The answer is simple, you don’t. Most folks are not giving money to just build buildings; they are giving money to make evangelism and discipleship...
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Life is brutiful
2/10/2010
Most recently, I have embraced a term, which speaks directly to my being a parish pastor and life in general for most people. “Brutiful” is a term made up of two words: brutal and beautiful. I’m often asked how ministry is going for me, or how the church is doing. Brutiful is really the only word that makes sense.
I’m finding I can receive disturbing news one minute and then hear news to sing praises the next. As a faith community, we can be dealing with financial...
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My clergy resume
Body, Mind & Spirit
2/10/2010
I have a number of clergy friends who serve in other denominations. While there is certainly no perfect church polity or procedure, I’ve come to appreciate the fact that we United Methodist pastors don’t have to search for a pulpit – and congregations don’t have to solicit candidates and review clergy resumes and applications. Even as I write this, I know of four or five congregations who have been seeking a pastor for the better part of three years. And I can name four...
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Youth and Young Adults
Minister says campus ministry crucial for today's youth
2/10/2010
I recently read some startling statistics in a campus ministry journal that underscores why the ministry we offer through campus ministries is so important. According to some reports, three out of every five teens in a typical church walk away from the church in the next 10 to 15 years. (Enrichment Journal 10/08 as reported in the January 2009 issue of Mission America Coalition Update.)
This data begs the larger question as to why teens are leaving the church at all, but the important fact to...
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The beginning of our great campus road trip
2/10/2010
As many ministers can attest, it’s not easy balancing ministry with family time. So after recently volunteering to work with the campus ministries, I immediately thought of ways I could do my job and still make time for my husband and kids. Out of this, the “Great Campus Ministry Road Challenge” was born. In the next year, my family and I have set a goal to visit each Indiana United Methodist-related campus ministries. From Fort Wayne, to Vincennes, we will be taking to the...
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Youth ministry starts with 'YOU'
A commentary
2/10/2010
What do you think is the number one factor in effective ministry to youth in the church? A great youth pastor? Strong Sunday School programs? Mission trips? A youth-friendly senior pastor? A large youth group? While all of these can be contributing factors, none are the most important.
The most important factor in effective ministry to youth in the local church is commitment to youth ministry by the entire congregation. In 2003, the Exemplary Youth Ministry Project released the first report...
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Chronicles
Assembly to call women to faith, hope, love, action
2/10/2010
United Methodist Women of Indiana are counted among the thousands of women from around the globe who will convene Assembly 2010 on April 30 in St. Louis, Mo. This three-day event represents one of the largest and most diverse groups of women of faith from the largest denominational faith organization for women, United Methodist Women. This 18th quadrennial event will celebrate and empower women of faith and mobilize them for continued mission for women, children, and youth.
Inspired by faith...
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Filmmaker, pastor to speak about Haiti at Franklin
2/10/2010
The Road to Fondwa tells the powerful story of a rural Haitian community before the earthquake, speaking to the power of hope and to the future of an impoverished nation.
When Haiti is not forgotten or ignored, it is seen through a tinted lens. This small, poverty-ridden country shares an island with the Dominican Republic just 500 miles from Miami. Its proximity brings it into our national conscience in short, periodic bursts. When a dictator is overthrown, a group of “boat...
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Five reasons to attend the Bishop's Confirmation Rally
2/10/2010
Feel the Spirit move in amazing worship!
Get to know Bishop Mike personally (do you know the Bishop’s favorite color?).
Know you are connected!
Receive communion from Bishop Mike.
Where else will you get to meet Methodist founder John Wesley!
See you March 6 at Noblesville....
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Franklin Community leader recognized nationally
2/10/2010
FRANKLIN, Ind. – The Rev. Dr. Joseph L. Trueblood, executive director of the Franklin United Methodist Community, has been named the Older Adult Ministries Administrator of the Year by the United Methodist Association.
This award was announced by the UMA prior to its 2010 Celebration of Excellence, where honorees will be recognized during their annual meeting in Burlingame, Calif., March 4-6. The United Methodist Association is comprised of United Methodist health and welfare ministries...
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Indiana UMW announces 2010 Celebration Reading plans
2/10/2010
The United Methodist Women’s PURPOSE calls its members to know God through Jesus Christ, to be a supportive community, and to expand concepts of mission through participation in the Global Ministries of the church. Bible studies, spiritual retreats, Schools of Christian Mission and the reading program all enable women to grow in their knowledge of love of Christ and their call to be in mission.
The purpose of the Reading Program is to encourage United Methodist Women to:
Expand...
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Linden girl featured in Pockets magazine
2/10/2010
Abigail Eutsler of Linden, a Pleasant Hill Elementary School first-grade student, is profiled in the March issue of Pockets, a children’s devotional magazine published by The Upper Room in Nashville, Tenn. The publication’s editor interviewed her for “The Spotlight,” a section that profiles board members. She is one of 20 people serving on the National Kid’s Advisory Board, which evaluates the magazine’s issues.
...
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News Briefs
2/10/2010
Churches to receive offering for campus ministries this month
The 2009 Indiana Annual Conference session approved a state-wide special offering to support Indiana United Methodist-related Campus Ministries. Indiana’s 1,200 congregations are invited and encouraged to receive the offering any Sunday in February and to promote campus ministries in their congregations. Envelopes and other resources will be arriving before the first Sunday in February. For more information, resources, videos,...
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