Wednesday, January 14, 2015

The Great Plains Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church "GP Connect" for Wednesday, 14 January 2015

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In this edition of GPconnect:

Immigration webcast to be this Friday

Join Emiliano Lerda, executive director for Justice For Our Neighbors, for a webcast as he shares “Who's In and Who's Out: A Conversation about Immigration.” The webcast will take place this Friday, Jan. 6, at 6 p.m., and can be viewed at greatplainsumc.org/livestream.
Clergy and laity across the Great Plains Conference are invited to learn how we can help our neighbors keep their families together. You and your church can help people in your community avoid victimization by unscrupulous attorneys or others who will try to take advantage of this situation and spread misinformation.
If you have any questions before or during the webcast, please email them to info@greatplainsumc.org. Check out all of our immigration resources posted at GreatPlainsUMC.org/ImmigrationResources.

Missouri River District administrative assistant to retire

Catherine McGowan, administrative assistant for the Missouri River District in Omaha, Nebraska, is retiring in February. A farewell retirement gathering will be at the Gretna UMC, 11457 S 204th St., Gretna, Nebraska, 2-4 p.m. on Feb. 15. All are invited to attend this farewell celebration.
"I have been blessed to know so many very special people during my employment at the district. It has been through your support and dedication to our work, celebrating our God and sharing, through our words and actions, the joys that He brings to each of us that has made my employment so fulfilling,” said McGowan. “Thank you all!" 

Conference offices closed Monday, Jan. 19

The Great Plains Conference offices will be closed Monday, Jan. 19, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. day.

Discover Ministry to be March 14

Maybe you have heard the quiet whisper from God or a voice in your head that doesn't go away, nudging you to serve the church in a new way. Maybe a friend or a pastor has told you that you have gifts for ministry and you wonder what that means.
Discover Ministry is a place for you to listen to God and explore what a call might mean in your life. Discover Ministry is an event designed for those who are wondering about responding to God's call to either full-time or part-time ministry. It is also for those who are serving as a district superintendent supply (DSA), certified lay minister (CLM), or lay speaker/servant to learn more about the opportunity for becoming a local pastor.
Discover Ministry is for you. Come with your questions. Come with hearts and minds open to the work of the Holy Spirit. Come with a trusted friend.
The next Discover Ministry event is scheduled for Saturday, March 14, at First UMC in Salina, Kansas. Registration will begin at 9:45 a.m., with the event lasting 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. CST, with lunch included. Please register online at greatplainsumc.org/discoverministry. There is no cost to participate.

Trainers needed

At least twenty people are needed to lead training across the conference for Boundary (sexual ethic) Training that is required of all clergy. Trainers can be lay members of churches or clergy. The only requirement is that you are comfortable teaching and that you will be willing to teach others. A training event for new trainers will be heldMarch 3, in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Find out more information at greatplainsumc.org/boundarytraining and onthis PDF.
If you have questions, please contact Deanna Holland athollandfarms1@gmail.com or 402-228-0720 or the Rev. Nancy Lambert at nlambert@greatplainsumc.org or 402-464-5994, ext 126.

Response Teams: responding to clergy sexual misconduct

Compassionate people needed for Response Team

The Great Plains Conference is forming a Response Team made up of compassionate lay people and clergy who are willing to help be part of the healing process within a congregation when there has been an allegation of clergy misconduct. Do you know someone who would be perfect for this? Maybe it is you. Two trainings for response team members have been scheduled Feb. 27, in Lincoln, Nebraska, and Feb. 28, in Topeka, Kansas.
Additional information with a link to register can be found atgreatplainsumc.org/responseteam. Please share this information with a friend. 

Register now for Beyond 2015 Children's Ministry Conference

If you work in children's ministry, you know how helpful it can be to meet with others who also serve the church in this way. In just a few weeks the Arkansas Conference — part of the South Central Jurisdiction — will host Beyond 2015, a conference for children’s ministry leaders, both volunteer and paid, who serve in local church settings. The numerous breakout sessions guarantee to offer information for everyone. Early check-in is Thursday evening, Jan. 29, with activities starting Fridaymorning, Jan. 30. The event wraps up Saturday, Jan. 31, at 5 p.m.
This year’s keynote speaker is Mark Burrows from Ft. Worth, Texas. Mark is known nationwide for his fun, innovative approaches to children’s worship and using the visual and performing arts in children’s ministry.
The setting for the event is Mt. Sequoyah, a beautiful retreat and conference center above downtown Fayetteville, Arkansas. This would be a short drive from the southeast corner of our conference, but worth the effort to all who can make the trip.
Deadline for registration has been extended to Jan. 22. Scholarships are available although the deadline for applying has passed, so go ahead and apply. Have questions? Contact Denni Palmer atdenni.palmer@mountsequoyah.org or 479-443-4531. For a schedule and more information, visit the Beyond 2015 website.

Great Plains Conference offers young adult internships

There are opportunities for up to 60 young adults who want to grow in their leadership and experience a summer of a lifetime. Share information about these opportunities with a 2015 high school graduate, college student or young adult in your life.
Find out more and apply online at www.greatplainsumc.org/internships. Application deadline is March 8. 

GBHEM loan applications available now with expanded categories for eligibility

The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) opened applications for spring and summer loans on Dec. 11, 2014 and will accept loan applications until May 5, 2015. The spring and summer loans are for school enrollment between Jan. 1, 2015 and May 31, 2015. Applications are available at www.gbhem.org/loanapplication.
The GBHEM board has recently voted to expand the eligibility criteria which will enable Dreamer students to apply for a loan or scholarship from GBHEM under the current Domestic Applicant guidelines. Dreamers are young adults who were unauthorized immigrants brought into the country as children.  
Eligibility for loans are as follows:
  • Borrower must be an active, full member of a United Methodist Church for at least one year prior to application.
  • Borrower must be at least 18 to complete the application process.
  • Borrower must be enrolled in an accredited school at least half-time.
  • Borrower must have a cosigner for this loan. The cosigner will be contacted and required to complete a portion to the application.

New local church finance and treasurer’s guide available

The administrative services office of the Great Plains Conference has created a guide for local church finance and treasurer. The guide can also be found at greatplainsumc.org/localchurchfinancetreasurersguide.
If you have any questions, you can contact the administrative services office in Topeka at 877-972-9111 or 785-272-9111.

Blue River District hosts youth ice skating event

The Blue River District will again host a youth ice skating event at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park, east of Ashland, Nebraska. This year’s event will be held Jan. 25, from 6:30-8:30 p.m., and is offered to youth in grades six to 12.
Cost is $5 per youth and includes ice skating, ice skates and indoor activities – concessions are available. Due to Mahoney being a state park, either a year pass or day pass ($5) is needed. Both can be obtained at the entrance.

Youth learn to defeat fear at The OneEvent 2015

Once again The OneEvent was a memorable weekend of celebration, worship, learning and fellowship for Great Plains youth and youth leaders. More than 1,200 people braved harsh winter weather to gather in Grand Island, Nebraska, to kick off the new year.
Eihusen Arena was rocking to the head-banging sounds of Colton Dixonand worship led by The Digital Age, a four-piece band from Waco, Texas. Ground Zero Master’s Commission kept the attention of youth and adults with their innovative skits and stomp routines, bringing the East coast to the Great Plains. Danny Ray took the stage with his own cameraman to capture the mysterious sleight of hand he fits between jokes and bit of Christian teaching that kept everyone on their toes. “How did he do that?” was a common question about his mind-blowing illusions.
Keynote speaker Rev. Kirstie Garnes of Saint Mark UMC in Wichita brought The OneEvent theme to life with her insight on dealing with fear.Click here for a recap of her powerful message. “I know that God is going to move in an exciting way,” said Garnes at the beginning of the weekend. She was spot on.

Youth learn to defeat fear at The OneEvent 2015

1/14/2015
Once again The OneEvent was a memorable weekend of celebration, worship, learning and fellowship for Great Plains youth and youth leaders. More than 1,200 people braved harsh winter weather to gather in Grand Island, Nebraska, to kick off the new year Jan. 3-4.
Eihusen Arena was rocking to the head-banging sounds of Colton Dixon and worship led by The Digital Age, a four-piece band from Waco, Texas. Ground Zero Master’s Commission kept the attention of youth and adults with their innovative skits and stomp routines, bringing the East coast to the Great Plains. Illusionist Danny Ray took the stage with his own cameraman to capture the mysterious sleight of hand he fits between jokes and bit of Christian teaching that kept everyone on their toes. “How did he do that?” was a common question about his mind-blowing illusions.
Keynote speaker Rev. Kirstie Garnes of Saint Mark UMC in Wichita brought The OneEvent theme to life with her insight on dealing with fear. Click here for a recap of her powerful message. “I know that God is going to move in an exciting way,” said Garnes at the beginning of the weekend. She was spot on.
Smiling, sweaty faces filled the exhibit hall from one end to the other in between sessions. Youth engaged in creating art, bouncing on inflatables, challenging each other in games, snapping pictures in the photo booth and decorating themselves with body art. They could learn about Kansas Wesleyan University, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Southwestern College, CCYM, Youth Service Fund, Great Plains Camps, campus ministries and leadership development opportunities.
Breakout sessions Saturday afternoon gave OneEvent participants the chance to attend two workshops out of six options. Bishop Scott Jones chose the title “Change the World the Wesleyan Way” for his session on how United Methodists transform the world through love of God and love of neighbor, addressing topics like climate change, racism, public education, poverty and health. “The world has a lot of problems in it. God is interested in loving the world, which means God is interested in fixing the problems and has a strategy,” said Bishop Jones. Christians help God fix the world by obeying God’s law and following the teachings of Christ. Read more about the Social Principles of the United Methodist Church.
Ground Zero Master’s Commission led two workshops. One took a candid look at the toxic messages from today’s media, putting them under the scrutiny of God’s Word. The other considered effects of divorce on everyone in families, not just the parents, and considered how God’s help can be a source of strength and help.
Illusionist Danny Ray’s workshop, “Unlocking Your Awesomeness,” challenged youth to think through who God has designed them to be and make their teenage years matter. “Our lives can be marked by many painful experiences, but God can help us unlock our awesomeness and live a remarkable life,” said Danny Ray.
Other workshops included a question and answer session with The Digital Age on incorporating electronics and technology in worship even without the fancy equipment of a touring band, and a session for adult leaders on identifying, equipping and encouraging youth who are hearing a call for ministry. Led by the Rev. Ashlee Alley, coordinator of clergy recruitment and development for the Great Plains Conference, that session gave adults practical tools to teach youth how to hear God’s voice, identify one’s gifts and how to respond to God’s call in their lives.
Cindy Laluk and her 7th-grade daughter came up from the Kansas City District with 16 other youth and at least three other adults in two 15-passenger vans. Their group represented Aldersgate UMC in Olathe, Shawnee UMC and Bonner Springs UMC.
“We’re having a great time,” Laluk said at the mixer Saturday night at the Holiday Inn where their group was staying. Late-night mixers were a feature for those staying at hotels. Groups lodged at local churches, a nearby camp or the Grand Island YMCA did not require an organized mixer to facilitate socializing. Kerry Stumbough from Bonner Springs agreed with Laluk that the weather presented challenges, but the event was worth the drive. “We’re blessed with a lot of musical kids,” Laluk noted as someone pulled out a small banjo and began to play. “They are loving the music at The OneEvent.” Laluk said she was particularly entertained by Danny Ray who never ceased to amaze her.
In 2016 The OneEvent will be held at the Heartland Events Center again. “Now that we are familiar with the location, the vendors, and all that entails, it will be so much easier to organize the event next year,” said Great Plains Youth Coordinator Shane Hinderliter. However the event will be the last weekend of January rather than the first. “Coordinating last minute details over the holidays proved to be a stressful challenge, and many families schedule vacations during the school break. Hopefully this change in date will allow more people to attend and more people to volunteer,” said Hinderliter. When details are available, they will be posted at www.GreatPlainsYouth.org.
Photos from The OneEvent are posted on Facebook and Flickr.
https://www.flickr.com//photos/greatplainsumc/sets/72157649760641780/show/

Grief training workshop to be heldFeb. 7

How to help someone who is grieving: Scars are Stories … Share Yours

Olive Crest UMC in Omaha, Nebraska, and the Missouri River District have teamed up with Lisa Borchardt, professor of Social Work at Nebraska Wesleyan University and owner of Journey Through Living, LLC, to create a two-part grief workshop for clergy, laity and the general public.
“Scars are Stories … Share Yours”, will be held on Feb. 7 at Olive Crest UMC (7180 N 60th Street), and costs $10 per person (including a working lunch). Training session for assisting those through grief will be held from 9 a.m.-12:15 p.m., with a working lunch. General public and grief information session will run 12:30-2:30 p.m. This will be free and open to everyone.
If you have questions please contact Pastor Sam Fisher at 402-571-7468. To register, please email Catherine McGowan, Missouri River District administrative assistant at cmcgowan@greatplainsumc.org. You can also find more information at www.missouririverdistrict.org.

Elkhorn Valley District to host leadership event

The Elkhorn Valley District will be hosting the winter leadership event “Go into the Whole World” Staying Home to Reach the World, on Feb. 28, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at First UMC in Norfolk, Nebraska. Lunch is included in the $10 cost (due that morning) and will be provided.
Tex Sample, author and Robert B. and Kathleen Rogers Professor Emeritus of Church and Society at The Saint Paul School of Theology, will be the featured presenter. Sample will discuss how to reach people in small town and rural Nebraska.
Contact the Elkhorn Valley District to register atelkhornvalley@greatplainsumc.org, 402-371-1313 or at PO Box 1283, Norfolk, NE, 68701.

Pediatric unit benefits from Christmas Eve webcast

James McGinnis relies on his family and strong faith during his recovery at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln, Nebraska. The 17-year-old from Olathe, Kansas, suffered a traumatic brain injury during a September football game. James is making tremendous progress in his therapy.
As the Christmas holiday approached, James’ parents, Pat and Susan McGinnis, were determined to keep alive their family tradition of attending Christmas Eve worship. They used a television in the Alexis Verzal Children’s Rehabilitation Hospital to stream the webcast of the candlelight service at The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection (COR), in Leawood, Kansas. Several other patients and their families joined the McGinnis family in the hospital commons area for the special service.
Two of the COR pastors specifically mentioned James from the pulpit. They requested healing prayers for the young teen and other Madonna patients. Patrick Miron, pastoral care manager at Madonna, provided electronic candles to make the service even more authentic and meaningful for the participants.
This year’s service had special meaning for Patrick and Susan. “The patients of Madonna have all come from a dark place in their lives to letting their light (faith) shine bright in recovery,” said the Olathe couple. “They inspire each other and those around them - it’s amazing to see these miracles in progress.”

Community raises thousands for injured football player, eagerly awaits his return home

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OLATHE, Kan. — On Saturday thousands of dollars were raised for Olathe East football player James McGinnis. The high school senior has been getting treatment at a Nebraska hospital since September after suffering a traumatic brain injury during a game. His family tells FOX 4 he could be released from the hospital as early as February.
Saturday hundreds met at Olathe East for a pancake breakfast to help pay for James’ expensive rehabilitation at a Lincoln, Nebraska hospital. His father Pat said with each passing day he’s closer to coming home.
“Every week we see these little baby steps and he continues to progress forward and we haven’t really seen any steps back, I think it’s just any moment that he starts to walk on his own,” said Pat McGinnis.
Fellow linebacker Nick Zinn said anyone who knows James isn’t surprised by his progress.
“I knew he was always the last one in the weight room, he was the hardest worker on the team easily. He was always the first in all the sprints, he worked harder than anyone on the team,” said Zinn.
Pat said they hope James will be out of the hospital and recovering from home by February. His teammates said they’ll be waiting.
“We love him and we’re all hoping for him to get better. I know he can do it,” said Zinn.
While James didn’t go down immediately after a hit his father says he and James’ medical team are confident the brain bleeding was caused by a tackle made a few plays earlier. Pat McGinnis said their family and doctors expect James to make a full recovery.
Photos: Pediatric patients and their families at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital listen to COR’s Christmas Eve service. Patient James McGinnis and his girlfriend, Caitlin, get ready to watch the candlelight worship service via webcast at Madonna.

North Central Kansas Men and Boy's Rally to be March 2

The North Central Kansas Men and Boys Rally will be held March 2, in Beloit Kansas. Dinner starts at 5 p.m., and costs $10. Praise music will be featured at 6:15 p.m., (free will donation) and the free program begins at 7 p.m. Wayne Simien will be the guest speaker and Mikey Needleman will lead music.
A scholarship will be awarded at the Men and Boys Rally. The scholarships are open to both male and female students. Deadline to send the application is Feb. 23.
For more information, contact one of the following: your local church leader, Beloit UMC at 785-738-2539 or beloitumc@gmail.com (by Feb. 13), Rod Wilson at 785-545-5161, Kevin Marozas at 785-534-2559.
View the flier for more information. 

From the General Board of Church and Society 

Editor’s Note: the Rev. Dr. Susan Henry-Crowe, general secretary of the General Board of Church and Society, shares the following.

From despair to hope: A pastoral word

We as United Methodists express our deep grief for the horrible violence wrought in Paris, France, upon three police officers, 12 journalists, and members of the Jewish community, resulting in 17 deaths. Three perpetrators of the violence also were killed. We grieve with the families and friends of these victims, and offer our deepest condolences for their losses.
Our United Methodist Book of Resolutions emphasizes, “God does not meet violence with violence” (¶3421). Rather, God calls for right relations among humanity.

From despair to hope: A pastoral word

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - January 13, 2015
We as United Methodists express our deep grief for the horrible violence wrought in Paris, France, upon three police officers, 12 journalists, and members of the Jewish community, resulting in 17 deaths. Three perpetrators of the violence also were killed. We grieve with the families and friends of these victims, and offer our deepest condolences for their losses.
Our United Methodist Book of Resolutions emphasizes, “God does not meet violence with violence” (¶3421). Rather, God calls for right relations among humanity.
As Christians, we know that the Almighty grieves over the deep divisions and brokenness of God’s creation. God hears, just as with Cain and Abel, the cries of brothers fighting one another, and the cries of all God’s children when they are living in fear and despair.
All God’s people are made in the image of God. Yet, we live in a broken world, filled with the temptation to despair in the face of senseless violence. Systemic discrimination can lead to a world that inspires persons in such despair to find solace in violence while forgetting their own dignity.
Young, alienated persons are particularly vulnerable to the deadly allure of violent acts as a response to perceived injustices. This allure leads to a false sense of freedom found in self-destruction when you have nothing left to lose.
We desire a world in which freedom means God’s abundant life for all, and most certainly peace with justice for all.
May God’s mercy be upon all God’s children, and may we seek out the reconciliation of all people.
—The Rev. Dr. Susan Henry-Crowe
General Secretary
General Board of Church & Society
The United Methodist Church
January 13, 2015
Editor’s note: The General Board of Church & Society is one of four international general program boards of The United Methodist Church. Prime responsibility of the board is to seek implementation of the Social Principles and other policy statements on Christian social concerns of the General Conference, the denomination’s highest policy-making body. The board’s primary areas of ministry are Advocacy, Education & Leadership Formation, United Nations & International Affairs, and resourcing these areas for the denomination. It has offices on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., and at the Church Center for the United Nations in New York City.

Contact Info

Wayne Rhodes
Director of Communications
General Board of Church & Society
The United Methodist Church
(202) 488-5630 / wrhodes@umc-gbcs.org

Prayers for the oppressed: A call to action

The United Methodist General Board of Church & Society condemns the attacks by the insurgency group Boko Haram in Baga and other towns in northern Nigeria that resulted in almost 200 deaths this month. We grieve with the families over the innocent lives lost in the Baga massacre, where 150 people died. We pray for the innumerable displaced people seeking security in the wake of such senseless violence.
We know that God hears the cries of the widow and the orphan. We pray with our brothers and sisters of Nigeria, and for those in that beleaguered country and surrounding nations receiving so many persons struggling with devastating displacement.

Prayers for the oppressed: A call to action

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - January 13, 2015
The United Methodist General Board of Church & Society condemns the attacks by the insurgency group Boko Haram in Baga and other towns in northern Nigeria that resulted in almost 200 deaths this month. We grieve with the families over the innocent lives lost in the Baga massacre, where 150 persons died. We pray for the innumerable displaced persons seeking security in the wake of such senseless violence.
We know that God hears the cries of the widow and the orphan. We pray with our brothers and sisters of Nigeria, and for those in that beleaguered country and surrounding nations receiving so many persons struggling with devastating displacement.
The United Methodist Social Principles emphasize that God’s world is one world. They point out, however, that the “increase of tyranny in all its forms” must be resolved (¶165). People must feel secure in their right to live within any community, if stability is to prevail. Our Social Principles also denounce as immoral any ordering of life that perpetuates injustice and impedes the pursuit of peace.
Consequently, we urge United Methodists to:
  • Call on the Nigerian government to investigate these violent acts, and take measures to protect its citizens from such violence.
  • Advocate for international relief aid and cooperation on all matters of need and conflict, especially in regards to this most recent horrendous situation.
As United Methodists, we reaffirm our historic concern for the world as our parish. We seek for all persons full, equal membership in a true world community as God intended.
—The Rev. Dr. Susan Henry-Crowe
General Secretary
General Board of Church & Society
The United Methodist Church
January 13, 2015
Editor’s note: The General Board of Church & Society is one of four international general program boards of The United Methodist Church. Prime responsibility of the board is to seek implementation of the Social Principles and other policy statements on Christian social concerns of the General Conference, the denomination’s highest policy-making body. The board’s primary areas of ministry are Advocacy, Education & Leadership Formation, United Nations & International Affairs, and resourcing these areas for the denomination. It has offices on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., and at the Church Center for the United Nations in New York City.

Contact Info

Wayne Rhodes
Director of Communications
General Board of Church & Society
The United Methodist Church
(202) 488-5630 / wrhodes@umc-gbcs.org

Young adult scholarships for Legislative Briefing Day in Lincoln, Nebraska

Young adults 30 and under, will have their registration fee covered for this state-wide gathering focusing on faith and public policy. Thanks to the Great Plains Conference Mercy and Justice Team, young adults will be able to participate for free. Wesleyan student and former Micah Corps intern, Tori Osler, will be leading worship and the workshopsYoung Adults as Advocates.
Ten issues of importance to Nebraskans that will likely be impacted by the Unicameral in its current session will be discussed by experts in workshop format. Chocolates and roses might be on some minds on Valentine's Day, but education, human trafficking, water resources (and 7 others) will be the emphasis of the legislative briefing.
All are encouraged to be an informed citizen and maybe an activist for issues important to Nebraska and its future.
Legislative Briefing Day, will be held Saturday, Feb. 14, 8:30 a.m. -2 p.m., at Christ UMC in Lincoln (46th and A) near Bryan Hospital.
Don't worry, the event will end by 2 p.m., so there will still be plenty of time to do the "chocolates and roses" thing.
View the brochure or call 402-476-3391 for more information.

Spring and summer mission opportunities available

It may be snowing outside, but it is never too early to plan spring or summer mission experience in Omaha, Nebraska. United Methodist Ministries, an accredited VIM site, is booking teams now. Dates are filling fast, but there is still limited availability in April, May, June, July and August.
UMM gladly hosts spring and summer mission experiences for teams of all ages, including family teams and adult groups. These mission experiences are flexible and uniquely designed so that each team will have an experience specifically created to meet their needs. Each experience includes hands-on work with partner sites and times of education and reflection to talk about what teams discover as they serve. Teams work around the Omaha area at places such as community gardens, food pantries, shelters and churches.
One mission team leader from 2014 said, “Our experience in Omaha was one of the best-organized, positive experiences we have had in the 13 mission trips I have organized. That's not just my impression, but the impression of many of my ‘seasoned’ members as well. Our accommodations were top tier, our work sites kept us busy, oriented, and interested, and you were a joy to work with.”
Nebraska and Kansas churches are invited to book soon, as most of the currently booked teams are from out-of-conference and UMM would love to share some 2015 summer mission experiences with Great Plains groups.
To book your spring or summer mission experience, or to find out more, contact Deb Keeney, director of mission and education at 402-898-9862or dkeeney@bigmuddyumc.org.
United Methodist Ministries is funded in part through the United Methodist Advance, Missouri River District Askings and Mission Share Dollars from the Great Plains United Methodist Conference.

JFON-NE featured in national publication

Editor’s Note: the following, written by Laura Sonnenmark, National JFON communication and office manager, was originally published in the January Update of National Justice For Our Neighbors.

JFON-NE - A hotline for our neighbors in the heartland

Imagine being an undocumented immigrant in the heartland of America. Perhaps you don’t have a good grasp of our language and customs, or knowledge of our legal system and immigration laws. You need help, but you are terrified of making a misstep which could lead to deportation. You find out that there are several well-established and trustworthy legal aid organizations in your community that help immigrants, but you don’t know which one is right for your case. You start making the rounds: going from office to office, filling out the never-ending forms, meeting with staff, waiting to see if they can help you, and starting all over again when you are told they cannot. You may have to take time off from work, which means a loss of income your family cannot afford. It may even cost you your job.
This was the reality in Nebraska for both the immigrant needing help and for the people who wanted to provide that help — Immigration Legal Assistance Services at Catholic Charities of Omaha, Lutheran Family Services and Justice for Our Neighbors-Nebraska (JFON-NE). Recognizing the urgent need for a centralized intake system and referral service, and with the generous support of a funder, these organizations created the Nebraska Immigration Legal Assistance Hotline (NILAH).
Essentially acting as a one-stop “triage” for legal aid, trained NILAH paralegals can complete intake screening forms over the phone, provide information, and discuss with potential clients what options are available to them — all in the client's native language, if necessary.
If it is determined that the client can be assisted by a legal aid group, the client is given a direct referral to one of the participating organizations. A consultation with an attorney follows, either in person or via FaceTime. Many of these attorneys are bilingual, although volunteers are also available to provide language translation.
The resulting increase in efficiency is a godsend for everyone involved, particularly now when the need for immigrant legal aid is so great and expected to grow greater still.
“The hotline allows us to spend more time on cases where an individual has a possible legal option, instead of advising clients with no such options,” explains Emiliano Lerda, executive director of JFON Nebraska. “Client experience with securing low-bono or pro-bono immigration legal representation has also improved in quality.”
In the space of one year, JFON-NE received 280 referrals from NILAH. “Conservatively, we estimate that between 15-25 percent of our increase in cases processed is attributable to the hotline,” says Emiliano, noting that, as one of the leaders of its governing task force, JFON-NE is vital to low-income immigrants attempting to access a range of quality services.
The original partnership of three has since been joined by the Center for Legal Assistance in Lincoln, The Women’s Center for Advancement of Omaha and Nebraska Appleseed.  The hotline itself is housed in the Omaha office of Legal Aid of Nebraska.
The innovation, teamwork and true collaborative spirit displayed by JFON-NE and its partners as they strive to more ably serve our immigrant neighbors represents the very best of our ministry.

PWJ Ministries offers scholarships to attend EAD 2015


The Great Plains Peace with Justice Ministries is offering two scholarships of $700 for persons to attend the Ecumenical Advocacy Days for Global Peace with Justice (EAD) in Washington, DC, April 17-20, 2015.
EAD has announced the panel of speakers who will keynote the Sundaymorning “international” policy plenary at its 13th annual national gathering on April 19, 2015. The theme for the gathering is “Breaking the Chains: Mass Incarceration and Systems of Exploitation,” and the title for the plenary is “Systems of Global Exploitation.”
At EAD 2015, Christian advocates will join together in building a movement to shake the foundations of systems of human exploitation (Acts 16:16-40), including a prison-industrial system that incarcerates millions of people in the U.S. and abroad. The theme description for the gathering reads in part, “A world that incarcerates so many and allows some to profit from the exploitation of slave, trafficked and forced labor remains far from the ‘beloved community’ which we are all called to seek. At EAD, we will confess our personal and corporate failure to break the chains of poverty, racism, and greed institutionalized in our laws, economy, and social behaviors that collude to perpetuate such human exploitation and strip civil and human rights.”
During the Sunday, April 19, morning plenary, panelists will give examples to how “imprisonment” is a worldwide problem that takes various forms, as everywhere people around the world remain trapped in detention centers, prisons, factories and drug wars that bind and dehumanize individuals for political or economic profit. During the plenary, EAD participants will face the reality of mass incarceration and corporate exploitation with a particular look at issues affecting Africa, Asia Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East – and the role that the U.S. plays. Presenters will explore and give vision to how just and faithful national policies could bring liberation both to the prisoner and to a world in need of restoration.
Sponsors for EAD include United Methodist Women and the General Board of Church and Society.
If you are interested in going, please contact the Great Plains Peace with Justice coordinator, Andrea Paret, at amparet08@yahoo.com.
For more information, click here.

Chocolate without guilt for Valentine's Day

Editor’s Note: the following was written by Gloria Kimbulu, Micah Corps intern.
Every second, U.S. Americans collectively eat 100 pounds of chocolate. Many people eat chocolate as a snack, comfort food or simply because it tastes good. Chocolate comes from cocoa beans and the majority of cocoa beans are grown in the Ivory Coast. Sixty percent of the Ivory’s Coast export revenue comes from cocoa. The average cost of a candy bar is $1.30 but farmers in the Ivory Coast earn less than $2 a day working on cocoa plantations. To keep prices competitive, many plantation owners also use child laborers on their farms. The children on these plantations are as young as seven, but many are between the ages of 12-16. Can you imagine being seven years old and working on a cocoa bean plantation, working long hours with little to no breaks under the hot sun?
As Valentine’s Day approaches, everyone should consider buying Equal Exchange chocolate as opposed to chocolate from a major corporation such as Hershey’s. Equal Exchange sells fairly traded chocolate, meaning that the chocolate is not made with child laborers and that the farmers who work on cocoa plantations are aided in building sustainable businesses that positively influence their communities.
Equal Exchange works with farmers in Peru, Paraguay, Ecuador and many other countries. Ecuador is one of the top ten cocoa producers in the world.
Equal Exchange produces many different types of chocolate such as chocolate bars, candy bars, chocolate minis, hot cocoas, baking cocoa and chocolate chips. On this upcoming Valentine’s Day, look into buying organic and fairly traded chocolate candy bars from Equal Exchange. There are different flavors including chocolate peanut butter, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, milk chocolate hazelnut and many more. Chocolate bars can be bought in bulk also.
For more information, click here.

Car collides into a Green House Home at Asbury Park in Newton, Kansas

At approximately 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 10, a car veered off Southwest 14th Street, drove over a frozen pond and up the embankment into the back of one of the Green House Homes that provides skilled nursing care, on Asbury Park’s campus.
One resident was taken to the hospital and died the following day as a result of the injuries from the accident. The driver of the car was also taken to the hospital. No others were injured. The staff immediately evacuated all residents from the house to other skilled nursing areas on campus. Because the damage was confined to only one room, the residents and staff were allowed to return to their rooms in the Green House Home at 1212 South Plum the following day once the room had been secured and deemed safe.

Car collides into a Green House Home at Asbury Park in Newton, Kansas

1/12/2015
At approximately 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 10, 2015, a car veered off Southwest 14th Street, drove over a frozen pond and up the embankment into the back of one of the Green House Homes that provides skilled nursing care, on Asbury Park’s campus.
One resident was taken to the hospital and died the following day as a result of the injuries from the accident. The driver of the car was also taken to the hospital. No others were injured. The staff immediately evacuated all residents from the house to other skilled nursing areas on campus. Because the damage was confined to only one room, the residents and staff were allowed to return to their rooms in the Green House Home at 1212 South Plum the following day once the room had been secured and deemed safe.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the Elder who lost her life as a result of this unfortunate accident on Saturday evening. We also are praying for the driver of the car and her family for the emotional suffering from this event. We especially want to thank our staff for their bravery in handling the situation in a thoughtful and compassionate way. The Newton local police and local EMS/Fire Department personnel were professional and considerate when on the premises dealing with our tragic event,” said Tom Williams, president and CEO of Asbury Park.
Bishop Scott J. Jones of the Great Plains Episcopal Area shared, “As a member of the Board and strong supporter of Asbury Park, I am grieved at the tragic accident that led to the death of one of our residents. Asbury Park takes great pride in the care we provide to everyone in our community, and we are sorry that this has happened. Our prayers are with the family of the resident who died and with all the persons involved.”
The collision is still under investigation and information will be released as it becomes available from the KBI.
If you need more information, contact Asbury Park at 316-283-4770.
Asbury Park is a non-profit retirement community that offers caring service to elders with a variety of lifestyles and services, including Independent Living rental cottages, Universally Designed Patio Homes, Rapid Recovery, Assisted Living, Memory Support and 24-hour Skilled Nursing.

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Congregations across the Great Plains Conference are making the news in their local newspapers. View our newspaper clipping reports to see if there are stories, ideas and ministry happenings you can learn from to use in your own congregation. Press clips can be found at greatplainsumc.org/inthenews. You can see education partnership ideas at greatplainsumc.org/education.

Correction

In the article Angel to Angel Project provides cards of care and prayer, in the Jan. 7 edition of GPconnect, the link to the Spanish brochure was broken. The link has been corrected on the archive page and can also be found here.
Editorial Policy: The content, news, events and announcement information distributed in GPconnect is not sponsored or endorsed by the Great Plains Methodist Conference unless specifically stated.
To submit a letter to the editor, send it to info@greatplainsumc.org.

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