Click here for the June 24 printable version of GPconnect.
In this edition of GPconnect:
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Education Partnership webinar set for July 7
Register now for the Aug. 29 ABIDE preview
Several items left at annual conference session
EQUIP DISCIPLES
Ramping up to take down hunger
Bishop's Bicycle Challenge celebrates 6th ride to support Open Door
Help develop a culture of call - share with those 16-34
Camp Fontanelle has reasons to jump for joy
Jesus stops a storm
CLERGY EXCELLENCE
Register now for clergy retreat series
EQ-HR workshop to be held this summer
MERCY AND JUSTICE
How to respond to the shooting in the AME church in South Carolina
Mission agency head lauds climate change encyclical
Formerly undocumented immigrant shares about her journey
OTHER NEWS
Newsletters
Classifieds
Press Clips
Education Partnership webinar set for July 7
Look for help with starting a school partnership, overcoming barriers or taking your partnership to the next level? Make plans to participate in the Educational Partnership webinar on July 7, 4-5:30 p.m.
This interactive webinar is open to all Great Plains United Methodists and hosted by the Kansas Leadership Center and the Great Plains Conference. Seth Bate, KLC coach, and the Rev. Evelyn Fisher, director of Congregational Excellence, will lead this event. No registration is required.
Visit greatplainsumc.org/education for the link to join the webinar on July 7 at 4 p.m. You can use a headset with your computer or you will be asked for an area code and phone number, then the conference will dial you. You do not need an Adobe Connect account. You can sign is as a guest. If you need more information, contact TruDee Little attlittle@greatplainsumc.org.
Register now for the Aug. 29ABIDE preview
Are you a small congregation looking to revitalize your ministry? Are you looking to strengthen leadership development among folks in the church? If yes, your congregation could be just right for ABIDE.
Abide is a process of learning and revitalization for small attendance congregations (about 50 and fewer in worship). Laity and pastor together form a covenant team of leaders who seek and follow God’s vision for their congregation and community.
A preview of this energizing and spirit-filled process for small church development will take place Aug. 29, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., in both Lincoln, Nebraska, and Wichita, Kansas. The event is free although donations to cover lunch are appreciated.
Register online now. If you need more information, contact Micki McCorkle at mmccorkle@greatplainsumc.org or 316-210-3996.
Lost and Found
Several items left at annual conference session
Several items were left and never claimed at the 2015 Great Plains Annual Conference Session, held at the Century II in Wichita, Kansas. If any of these items sound like something you are looking for, contact Dana Reinhardt at dreinhardt@greatplainsumc.org.
Black sunglasses
Book: “The First 48 Hours”
Brown glasses case
Camo sunglasses
Gold and brown reading glasses
KC key
Metal coffee cup with black accents
One long silver earring
Palmer Physical Therapy for Women seat cushion
Purple, pink and white scarf
Soft child duck puppet/blanket toy
Tan umbrella with wood handle
Two Black umbrellas
USB charging/transferring cable for phone or camera
Women’s long sleeve red button up sweater
Ramping up to take down hunger
The Bishop’s Round-Up Against Hunger announces its 2015 celebration event for Saturday, November 21 from 8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the Douglass County Fairgrounds in Lawrence, Kansas.
The Bishop’s Round-Up Against Hunger is an annual event to celebrate what the church is doing to meet the needs of the poor and hungry. Each year more than 125 youth gather to participate in a Youth Lock-In event. Each year more than 20 agencies come to the event to receive supplies for their ministries to the poor and hungry in their local communities.
As we prepare for this event, we want to invite you to participate. You can come and join the celebration of what is going on in the church. You can participate by bringing supplies to distribute to agencies on that day. You can participate by completing this form to report what your church is doing in your community to meet the needs of the poor and hungry.
The agencies that come to the Bishop’s Round-Up Against Hunger event are looking for particular items that have been traditionally provided by the Bishop’s Round-Up Against Hunger. These include Food, Bedding, Toys, Paper products, diapers, Winter Coats – Child & Adult, HUGS (Hats, underwear, gloves and socks), Health Kits, School Kits and Layettes.
You can help provide these items on the day of the event. As we celebrate all that the church is doing, we also want to do ministry as well to the agencies who come to the Bishop’s Round-Up Against Hunger event.
Here is a listing of what would be requested by the agencies for this year’s event. You can download the brochure and this flierwhich explain what each of these items are:
3400 cases Food (distributed in cases of 12 items)
200 boxes Bedding
100 individual Toys (new)
250 boxes Paper (toilet paper, paper towels)
750 boxes Diapers
450 sets HUGS
2600 full kits Health Kits
1500 full kits School Kits
300 sets Layettes
Your church can package these items and bring them to the Bishop’s Round-Up Against Hunger for distribution to the agencies who attend the event. These are also the items you can report using this form to show what your church is doing and add to our celebration.
We do hope you will help us meet the needs of the poor and hungry. We do hope that you will come and celebrate with us. We do hope that you will bring items to distribute.
You can read more about the Bishop’s Round-Up Against Hunger here. The Bishop’s Round-Up Against Hunger brochure and this flierexplain what we will collect and distribute.
Be sure to "like" Bishop’s Round-Up Against Hunger on Facebook. If you have questions, contact Matt Johnson at brotheryo@gmail.com.
Bishop's Bicycle Challenge celebrates 6th successful ride to support Open Door
On the morning of Saturday, June 20, 2015, 97 cyclists took off from Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Wichita, Kansas, for the 6th annual Bishop's Bicycle Challenge. Riders chose between three routes through West Wichita and rural Kansas, 100K (62 miles), 50K (31 miles) and 20 miles, all starting and ending at Aldersgate UMC. The weather was sunny and humid with a bit of wind.
100 percent of funds raised from the event support the ministry of Open Door, a conference-supported mission agency in Wichita, Kansas. Payments are in process so a total amount raised is not available yet.An update will be posted here when it is available. Many registrants said they choose to ride in the Bishop's Bicycle Challenge year after year because they believe in supporting Open Door. 93-year-old Wanda Groves was the oldest cyclist this year, riding a three-wheeled bike for much of the 20-mile route.
Sponsors for the 2015 ride were:
Bicycle Exchange
Bicycle Pedaler
Heartland Bicycle
Interstate Batteries
Johnson’s Garden Centers
Mead’s Corner
Pactimo
Signs and Designs
Mark your calendar now for the 7th annual ride on Saturday, June 18, 2016. "Like" the Bishop's Bicycle Challenge on Facebook and share our posts.
Photos from the event are posted on Facebook and on Flickr.
Help develop a culture of call - share with those 16-34
Registration is free to Great Plains participants
All interested 16-34 year-olds are invited to attend the first National United Methodist Young Preacher's Festival and Conference at The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, in Leawood, Kansas, July 16 and 17. This national gathering is being held right here in the Great Plains Conference and there are some special opportunities, just for you.
You will experience:
Keynote preaching sessions led by the Rev. Jasmine Smothers, the Rev. Adam Weber, the Rev. Junius Dotson and the Rev. Adam Hamilton
Inspiring and practical workshops led by seminary faculty and denominational leaders
A Powerful Evening Concert featuring Glory Revival
Intentional Time of networking and connection
A free lunch on July 16 with other Great Plains UMC participants
This festival is perfect for high school youth, students, college aged ministry participants, youth directors/pastors, declared and certified candidates and young clergy already serving churches. There is something for everyone.
Because the Great Plains Conference believes in you and in this great opportunity, the conference will pay your entire registration to go to this event … free registration! Register for the event following the instructions below and send a note stating that you will be coming tonconard@greatplainsumc.org, so your way can be paid for. You will be responsible for housing, travel and others meals. If you register for the event and do not attend, you agree to reimburse the Great Plains Conference for the registration fee ($79 or $99). This does not apply if you cancel your registration by the event's June 18 cancellation deadline.
View more details and register for free.
Camp Fontanelle has reasons to jump for joy
Exciting things are happening at Camp Fontanelle in Fontanelle, Nebraska, this week. Camp Fontanelle has seen a record number of campers registered to attend camp this summer, surpassing the 2013 record of 625 campers. While registrations may slow because of the number of registrations received, if the pattern of registrations match previous years between now and the end of the summer, there could be a 12 percent increase from 2014.
Also this week, a second jumping pillow is being installed to be used for summer programming, as well as the second season corn maze and pumpkin patch. The second jumping pillow will allow large numbers to jump at the same time and the ability to separate young jumpers from older jumpers.
The same company installing the jumping pillow is also marking out the pattern in the corn maze. The Maize Company, located in Utah, works with Camp Fontanelle to design and "cut" the maze. They create more than 260 corn mazes in more than four countries and have been working with Camp Fontanelle for the nine years that there has been a corn maze out at camp.
Staff is excited for what is happening at camp. There have been great campers and volunteers to help make this an exciting place to be. If you have not registered to attend camp, it is not too late. There are still camps available for pre-school ages through adults. Go to CampFontanelle.com to find the perfect camp.
Jesus stops a storm
Editor’s note: The following was submitted by Rena Conner, member of Alma UMC.
There really wasn't a storm Sunday at the Alma (Nebraska) UMC in the Gateway District, and there usually isn't a boat at the altar. However, the Rev. James Bendorf arranged for member Cliff Jorgensen to bring his boat to church for Sunday's worship service. It is a unique two-part boat made by two former Alma UMC members - the late Don Loy and his son Donn Loy who now lives in Kearney, Nebraska.
The boat was a wonderful visual for the children's time (with the children and Pastor Jim in the boat) and for the sermon which was based on Mark 4:35-41 "Jesus Stops a Storm." Those attending the service were reminded that as Christ brought his disciples through the storm and waves on the Sea of Galilee, so God has brought each of us through the turmoil of our lives. Where would we be if God's love and care were not there to calm the sea and carry us safely through the storm? May we be who God has called us to be in helping others through their storms.
Register now for clergy retreat series
Clergy are often seen as the problem to be exorcised
The Center for Pastoral Effectiveness of the Rockies will begin its 60-plus retreat series in the Great Plains area beginning July 13-15 at the Manna House in Concordia, Kansas.
When a church is anxious, for whatever reason, clergy are often seen as "the problem" that needs to be exorcised from the church. It is often scapegoating on the part of the church. In fact, when the "problem clergy" issue develops in a church system and all of the attention is focused on that person, it usually means there are deeper, more basic issues being ignored by the church. The scapegoating is a great way for the church system to eliminate looking at themselves. So how do we as clergy deal with this? This is what we address in The Center for Pastoral Effectiveness of the Rockies.
As you begin planning your continuing education for the coming year, you might want to consider The Center for Pastoral Effectiveness of the Rockies. Now in its 16th year, more than 500 clergy have attended The Center from five different denominations in one of the Center sites in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, Nebraska, Kansas and Iowa.
The Center was created to maintain ministers in ministry utilizing family systems in the church. The Center is a "pastoral" model. Everything done together enables clergy to be healthier leaders of their personal and professional life.
Six three-day retreats over about 18 months costs $1,980 with payments spread over that time period.
You can register now. Just email the Rev. Bill Selby atintegrity4u@comcast.net. For more information go to pastoraleffectiveness.org.
EQ-HR workshop to be held this summer
These core EQ-HR Center workshops are an intensive session designed to enable participants to learn about, build and practice emotional intelligence skills in a small group setting. Skilled facilitators provide tools and feedback to enable participants to learn about themselves and to immediately practice emerging skills. The following are dates and locations of upcoming workshops.
July 6-10, at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. Full tuition is $595. ESCI Assessment is $199. Lodging and meals are available at Luther Seminary. Contact Luther Seminary Gust Housing Reservation ine at 651-641-3237 or email stubhr@luthersem.edu.
July 27-30, at the University of Tennessee, Conference Center in Knoxville, Tennessee, prior to the PCUSA Big Tent event. Full tuition is $545. ESCI 360 Survey is $199. Lodging and meals are available at the Hampton Inn. Meals on and off campus.
Aug. 10-14, at the Highlands Presbyterian Camp and Retreat Center in Allenspark, Colorado. Early registration cost is $595 - the price will increase to $645 after July 13. ESCI 360 Survey is $199. Lodging and meals are available on site. Single is $548, two occupants per room is $682, three occupants per room is $888 and four occupants per room is $1,112.
Aug. 24-28, at Pilgrim Heights Camp and Retreat Center in Montour, Iowa. Tuition is $595. ESCI 360 Survey is $195. Lodging and meals are available at Pilgrim Heights. Single is $405, two occupants per room is $325, commuter is $155.
Register online for these events. View flier for more information.
The local church drives change
How to respond to the shooting in the AME church in South Carolina
Editor’s note: The following was submitted by Andrea Paret, Great Plains Peace with Justice coordinator.
On Monday, the General Board of Church and Society (GBCS) under the leadership of Bill Mefford, director of Civil and Human Rights organized a phone conference focusing on this terrible tragedy. Representatives from the Great Plains Conference were among the participants.
“I was honored that the Rev. Charles Boyer of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church shared with us how shaken all AME churches are by the shooting in which nine people were killed at "Mother Emanuel" in Charleston, South Carolina, last week. He graciously invited us as United Methodists to join our AME sisters and brothers to build bridges, share resources, and work together to overcome the epidemic of racism and gun violence that plagues our society,” said Mefford after the call.
During the call, the General Commission on Religion and Race invited us to utilize valuable resources they have available to address the racism in our churches and in our communities.
In light of this terrible tragedy where nine people lost their lives, we might feel helpless in regard to what we can do. But Mefford reminds us about what seems like an “inevitable cycle of these horrible shootings,” and “how our outrage too often fades away as the media glare softens, and we move on to other things. This cycle will only be broken when our own silence and inactivity are broken. “
Here are two possible responses discussed during the phone conference for what each one of us can do:
If you are in a predominantly Anglo church, walk across the street or drive across town and sit down with leaders of a church that is predominantly made up of people of color. Start building crucial relationships. Listen to what they say, and learn from them. If your town or city has an AME church, then let this be a Kairos moment for you. We are all part of the Body of Christ. When one of us hurts we all hurt, so let's actually be the Body of Christ!
Go to the people in your congregation who you believe share your passion. Have a one-on-one conversation with them. Share your passion to end racism and gun violence, and listen to their passion. Then talk about what you can do and who else you need to talk to in your congregation to help form a team. You cannot end racism or gun violence by yourself. You have to form a team, and if you spend one year having one-on-one conversations with folks, your team will be powerful. But you must begin now to start the change that is needed.United Methodist Bishops reach out after Charleston shooting
United Methodist Council of Bishops
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, June 18, 2015
Washington, D.C.: In the wake of a tragic shooting of nine people attending Bible study at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C., the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church is reaching out to their colleague bishops in the African Methodist Episcopal Church with a message of prayer and healing.
The bishops also called upon United Methodists to support victims of violence and to work to end racism and hatred. Their message echoed that of a pastoral letter on racism issued by the Council to the people of The United Methodist Church in early May.
A letter from the President of the Council, Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr., to the bishops of the African Methodist Episcopal Church reads:
Dear Bishop Bryant and colleague African Methodist Episcopal Bishops,
Grace and Peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ, the Savior of our broken world.
Your sisters and brothers in the Council of Bishops and congregations of The United Methodist Church are in prayer with and for you in the wake of the racist murders and hateful violence at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. May the Holy Spirit endow you with a full measure of love, wisdom and courage as you lead the Church and witness to the world in this consequential time.
We join in mourning the tragic loss of Rev. Clementa Pinckney, and the other victims who were meeting with prayers offered to the One who is our hope. We are all now a part of a global prayer meeting for these families and all families and communities deeply wounded by racism and violence. We unite voices in proclaiming, "If God is for us, who can be against us?...Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?...No! In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us!" (Romans 8)
As other recent events of violence and racism have compelled us to do, again we call on United Methodists and all people of good will to support the victims of this and all acts of violence, to work to end racism and hatred, to seek peace with justice, and to live the prayer that our Lord gave us, that God's "kingdom come, (and) will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."
We go forward with Wesley's assurance that "Best of all God is with us."
In Christ's Love,
Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr., President
The Council of Bishops
The United Methodist Church is in a full Communion relationship with the African Methodist Episcopal Church and the other member Methodist denominations of the Pan-Methodist Commission.
###
About the Council of Bishops
The Council of Bishops provides leadership and helps set the direction of the 12.8 million-member church and its mission throughout the world. The bishops are the top clergy leaders of The United Methodist Church, the second largest Protestant denomination in the U.S.
Media contact:
Diane Degnan ddegnan@umcom.org
615.742.5406 (o) 615.483.1765 (c)
Mission agency head lauds climate change encyclical
"The General Board of Global Ministries stands in solidarity with our own bishops and Pope Francis as we as Christians seek to incorporate our biblical vocation of caring for the earth into the mission of The United Methodist Church. I urge all United Methodists as well as all people of faith to read and study the papal encyclical, to comprehend our collective role as caretakers of God’s creation, and to pray and act to change lifestyles and systems of injustice and oppression that perpetuate environmental challenges," says Thomas Kemper.
http://www.umc.org/news-and-media/daily-digest-june-23-2015Read the full story.
"The General Board of Global Ministries stands in solidarity with our own bishops and Pope Francis as we as Christians seek to incorporate our biblical vocation of caring for the earth into the mission of The United Methodist Church. I urge all United Methodists as well as all people of faith to read and study the papal encyclical, to comprehend our collective role as caretakers of God’s creation, and to pray and act to change lifestyles and systems of injustice and oppression that perpetuate environmental challenges," says Thomas Kemper.
http://www.umc.org/news-and-media/daily-digest-june-23-2015Read the full story.
Photo: UMW at a climate march last year
“... Do justice, love kindness, walk humbly with God.” - Micah 6:8
Formerly undocumented immigrant shares about her journey
Editor’s note: The following was submitted by Ama Agyabeng, Micah Corps intern.
The Great Plains Conference Micah Corps interns were blessed to hear a presentation from Justice For Our Neighbors-Nebraska (JFON-NE) staff Guy Weinstein, attorney, and Maria Mendoza, legal assistant. JFON-NE is a United Methodist nonprofit organization whose major role is to welcome immigrants into our communities by providing free, high-quality immigration legal services, education and advocacy working hard to keep immigrant families together.
JFON-NE achieves its goal by hosting monthly legal clinics with immigrants in United Methodist churches as well as offering services in collaboration with other community partners.
Weinstein explained the nature of the current immigration laws and how complicated and outdated they are. There are a limited number of visas available to applicants and no real lines for individuals to wait in to migrate legally. For some, the process of obtaining a visa can take about 25 years. In some cases, individuals may die before it gets to their turn. For persons who turn 21 or get married, they have to restart the process again.
One of the areas JFON-NE works in is to legally represent children who migrated into the US unlawfully in an effort to flee from abuse, danger and neglect from relatives. With the assistance of JFON-NE, children and families are able to seek legal status and have better chances of having a positive outcome. Families without information about the legal immigration process also benefit from the resources provided by JFON-NE. Research shows that immigrants with legal representation are five times more likely to successfully resolve their cases and yet nearly 70 percent of detained immigrants processed through the Omaha field office do not have the benefit of legal representation.
Mendoza shared her story with the interns. Maria entered the US in 1997 at an early age with her mother and her sisters. Maria’s family migrated because of the abuse they were experiencing from their uncle after the loss of her father. Due to her immigration status, Maria had a childhood filled with fear of losing her mother to deportation or being deported herself.
“I always had that fear in my heart that I would come home from school to find that my mother had been deported,” Maria told the Micah Corps interns.
Unlike her friends at school, she was unable to take trips outside the country. Maria lived in the shadows in hopes of a bright future. At a tender age she was with child. She and her boyfriend got married. Maria then sought guidance on how to change her status to that of a legal permanent resident (LPR) through Catholic Charities, another legal service provider that JFON-NE collaborates with. It took several years but Maria is now a US citizen.
“This was one of my proudest moments,” she recalls.
Her mother and her sisters are also LPRs who are on their way to obtaining their citizenship status. Maria is thankful to be working as a legal assistant for JFON-NE and hopes to impact the lives of others through her knowledge and experiences as a former undocumented immigrant.
To learn more about JFON-NE, one of the Great Plains Conference mission agencies, go to www.jfon-ne.org.
The Micah Corps is a summer intern program of the Great Plains Conference which helps young adults link faith with social justice. They invite you to follow what they are up to this summer throughfacebook.com/MicahCorps, Twitter @MicahCorps, and blog atMicahCorps.wordpress.com.
Photo: Maria Mendoza shares her story with the Micah Corps
Newsletters
General Board of Church and Society: Faith in Action
Global Ministries: connectNmission
Lewis Center for Church Leadership: Leading Ideas
Ministry Matters: June 24, 2015
United Methodist Church Development Center: Spiritual Giving
United Methodist Committee on Relief: Hotline
Classifieds
Communion trays available to church in need
Database, membership office assistant sought at Woodlawn UMC in Derby, Kansas
White dish set available to church in need
View these and other classifieds at greatplainsumc.org/classifieds.
Press Clips
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.
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.
Want More?
Episcopal Office: 9440 E Boston Suite 160 Wichita, KS 67207 316-686-0600
Topeka Office: 4201 SW 15th Street PO Box 4187 Topeka, KS 66604 785-272-9111
Wichita Office: 9440 E Boston Suite 110 Wichita, KS 67207 316-684-0266
Lincoln Office: 3333 Landmark Circle Lincoln, NE 68504-4760 402-464-5994
____________________________
“... Do justice, love kindness, walk humbly with God.” - Micah 6:8
Formerly undocumented immigrant shares about her journey
Editor’s note: The following was submitted by Ama Agyabeng, Micah Corps intern.
The Great Plains Conference Micah Corps interns were blessed to hear a presentation from Justice For Our Neighbors-Nebraska (JFON-NE) staff Guy Weinstein, attorney, and Maria Mendoza, legal assistant. JFON-NE is a United Methodist nonprofit organization whose major role is to welcome immigrants into our communities by providing free, high-quality immigration legal services, education and advocacy working hard to keep immigrant families together.
JFON-NE achieves its goal by hosting monthly legal clinics with immigrants in United Methodist churches as well as offering services in collaboration with other community partners.
Weinstein explained the nature of the current immigration laws and how complicated and outdated they are. There are a limited number of visas available to applicants and no real lines for individuals to wait in to migrate legally. For some, the process of obtaining a visa can take about 25 years. In some cases, individuals may die before it gets to their turn. For persons who turn 21 or get married, they have to restart the process again.
One of the areas JFON-NE works in is to legally represent children who migrated into the US unlawfully in an effort to flee from abuse, danger and neglect from relatives. With the assistance of JFON-NE, children and families are able to seek legal status and have better chances of having a positive outcome. Families without information about the legal immigration process also benefit from the resources provided by JFON-NE. Research shows that immigrants with legal representation are five times more likely to successfully resolve their cases and yet nearly 70 percent of detained immigrants processed through the Omaha field office do not have the benefit of legal representation.
Mendoza shared her story with the interns. Maria entered the US in 1997 at an early age with her mother and her sisters. Maria’s family migrated because of the abuse they were experiencing from their uncle after the loss of her father. Due to her immigration status, Maria had a childhood filled with fear of losing her mother to deportation or being deported herself.
“I always had that fear in my heart that I would come home from school to find that my mother had been deported,” Maria told the Micah Corps interns.
Unlike her friends at school, she was unable to take trips outside the country. Maria lived in the shadows in hopes of a bright future. At a tender age she was with child. She and her boyfriend got married. Maria then sought guidance on how to change her status to that of a legal permanent resident (LPR) through Catholic Charities, another legal service provider that JFON-NE collaborates with. It took several years but Maria is now a US citizen.
“This was one of my proudest moments,” she recalls.
Her mother and her sisters are also LPRs who are on their way to obtaining their citizenship status. Maria is thankful to be working as a legal assistant for JFON-NE and hopes to impact the lives of others through her knowledge and experiences as a former undocumented immigrant.
To learn more about JFON-NE, one of the Great Plains Conference mission agencies, go to www.jfon-ne.org.
The Micah Corps is a summer intern program of the Great Plains Conference which helps young adults link faith with social justice. They invite you to follow what they are up to this summer throughfacebook.com/MicahCorps, Twitter @MicahCorps, and blog atMicahCorps.wordpress.com.
Photo: Maria Mendoza shares her story with the Micah Corps
Newsletters
General Board of Church and Society: Faith in Action
Global Ministries: connectNmission
Lewis Center for Church Leadership: Leading Ideas
Ministry Matters: June 24, 2015
United Methodist Church Development Center: Spiritual Giving
United Methodist Committee on Relief: Hotline
Classifieds
Communion trays available to church in need
Database, membership office assistant sought at Woodlawn UMC in Derby, Kansas
White dish set available to church in need
View these and other classifieds at greatplainsumc.org/classifieds.
Press Clips
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.
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.
Want More?
Episcopal Office: 9440 E Boston Suite 160 Wichita, KS 67207 316-686-0600
Topeka Office: 4201 SW 15th Street PO Box 4187 Topeka, KS 66604 785-272-9111
Wichita Office: 9440 E Boston Suite 110 Wichita, KS 67207 316-684-0266
Lincoln Office: 3333 Landmark Circle Lincoln, NE 68504-4760 402-464-5994
____________________________
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