As part of the 2011 Louisiana Annual
Conference focus on ministry with the
poor, United Methodist churches
throughout the state have made extraordinary commitments of money and service
to alleviate the suffering of the poor.
Each local church was asked to make a
formal commitment for service at the
2011 Louisiana Annual Conference in...
More
As part of the 2011 Louisiana Annual Conference focus on ministry with the poor, United Methodist churches throughout the state have made extraordinary commitments of money and service to alleviate the suffering of the poor. Each local church was asked to make a formal commitment for service at the 2011 Louisiana Annual Conference in Shreveport. Here are a few reports on some of the exciting work that is being accomplished by our churches. The Mission Society of Asbury United Methodist Church in Natchitoches (Alexandria District) hosted a women’s workshop entitled “Fruit of the Spirit. ” Area churches were invited to attend the program which emphasized helping the sick, shut-ins and those in need. Participants donated diabetic socks which were distributed to nursing homes. The church also feeds the sick and shut-ins on the third Sunday of each month. Volunteers send cards, make telephone calls, and visit the nursing homes and hospitals in our area. Colfax United Methodist Church
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From timhebert
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Pub. on Nov. 23rd 2011
Pages: 8
Views: 267
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VOL.
12, No.
21 NoVeMBeR 11, 2011BAtoN RoUge, LA
NoN-PRoFit
U.
S.
PoStAge
PAidBAtoN
RoUge,LA
PeRMit#575
527NorthBlvd.
BatonRouge,LA
70802-5700
Running to Beat Malaria
Imagine No Malaria / 5
Free worship help / 3
Broadmoor UMC / 8
The Louisiana United Methodist
Conference will sponsor a number of 5K
and Fun Walk/Runs on Saturday,...
More
VOL. 12, No. 21 NoVeMBeR 11, 2011BAtoN RoUge, LA NoN-PRoFit U. S. PoStAge PAidBAtoN RoUge,LA PeRMit#575 527NorthBlvd. BatonRouge,LA 70802-5700 Running to Beat Malaria Imagine No Malaria / 5 Free worship help / 3 Broadmoor UMC / 8 The Louisiana United Methodist Conference will sponsor a number of 5K and Fun Walk/Runs on Saturday, April 21, 2012 benefitting Imagine No Malaria, our denomination’s global initiative dedicated to eradicating malaria worldwide. As with the conference-wide “Day of Caring” held May 14 of this year, all of our local churches are encouraged to participate in this very special event. The Conference Global Health Initiative Task Force is preparing for the Imagine No Malaria 5K/Walks and plans on facilitating separate runs in strategic locations throughout the state of Louisiana on April 21. Race directors are being recruited for each of the runs. These volunteers will be United Methodists from our local churches who are also members of local certified runnin
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From timhebert
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Pub. on Nov. 10th 2011
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Views: 78
Downloads: 3
Vol.
12, No.
20 oCtoBer 21, 2011BAtoN roUGe, lA
NoN-Profit
U.
S.
PoStAGe
PAidBAtoN
roUGe,lA
527NorthBlvd.
Batonrouge,lA
70802-5700
Latino Ministry
Roberts UMC / 4
Russians / 3
Douglas UMC / 5
A crying woman, whose husband beat
and humiliated her constantly, asked me,
“Pastor, how can the power of God
change my present reality? I...
More
Vol. 12, No. 20 oCtoBer 21, 2011BAtoN roUGe, lA NoN-Profit U. S. PoStAGe PAidBAtoN roUGe,lA 527NorthBlvd. Batonrouge,lA 70802-5700 Latino Ministry Roberts UMC / 4 Russians / 3 Douglas UMC / 5 A crying woman, whose husband beat and humiliated her constantly, asked me, “Pastor, how can the power of God change my present reality? I don’t understand when you tell me that with God, the best is yet to come and that we have begun to taste it in the present. ” I asked her if she could see herself happy and without fear. “No,” she said, but I began seeing in her face the determination of someone who understands that God created her to be happy, free and without fear. It has been a year since that conversation, and it is now difficult to remember the terror and bitterness in her face. Christ gave her strength and energy to leave her abuser — who did not want to know anything about Christ — and to study and reinvent herself. It is not easy to minister to the Hispanic community in New Orle
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From timhebert
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Pub. on Oct. 20th 2011
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Views: 97
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VoL.
12, No.
19 oCtoBeR 7, 2011BAtoN RoUge, LA
NoN-PRofit
U.
S.
PoStAge
PAidBAtoN
RoUge,LA
PeRmit#575
527NorthBlvd.
BatonRouge,LA
70802-5700
Town & Country
Pineville FUMC / 5
Elders picnic / 2
Youth Ignite! / 8
Nine Louisiana Conference churches
recently celebrated the completion of a
two-year Town & Country Ministry
Academy...
More
VoL. 12, No. 19 oCtoBeR 7, 2011BAtoN RoUge, LA NoN-PRofit U. S. PoStAge PAidBAtoN RoUge,LA PeRmit#575 527NorthBlvd. BatonRouge,LA 70802-5700 Town & Country Pineville FUMC / 5 Elders picnic / 2 Youth Ignite! / 8 Nine Louisiana Conference churches recently celebrated the completion of a two-year Town & Country Ministry Academy sponsored by the United Methodist Foundation of Louisiana and the Conference Office of Church Extension and Transformation. The Academy is designed to strengthen community service and evangelism in small United Methodist congregations. United Methodist churches graduating during the Sept. 17 event included Waldheim and Fitzgerald, New Orleans District; Livingston and Magnolia, Baton Rouge District; Sweetlake, Lake Charles District; Shiloh, Vivian and Haughton, Shreveport District; and Downsville, Monroe District. Participants in the program were nominated by their respective District Superintendents and were accepted into the Academy after a “very specific”
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From timhebert
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Pub. on Oct. 7th 2011
Pages: 8
Views: 62
Downloads: 2
VoL.
12, no.
18 sePtemBer 23, 2011Baton roUge, La
non-Profit
U.
s.
Postage
PaidBaton
roUge,La
Permit#575
527northBlvd.
Batonrouge,La
70802-5700
Tropical Storm Lee
Search for Peace / 4
UMCOR and 9/11 / 3
9/11 remembered / 8
In the wake of Tropical Storm Lee,
United Methodists are contending with
the damage from floods — and...
More
VoL. 12, no. 18 sePtemBer 23, 2011Baton roUge, La non-Profit U. s. Postage PaidBaton roUge,La Permit#575 527northBlvd. Batonrouge,La 70802-5700 Tropical Storm Lee Search for Peace / 4 UMCOR and 9/11 / 3 9/11 remembered / 8 In the wake of Tropical Storm Lee, United Methodists are contending with the damage from floods — and flames. While the storm’s heavy rains cut a soggy path across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia, Lee’s 50-mile-perhour winds whipped wildfires in parched Texas as well as in parts of Louisiana. “My real worry is just having funding to be able to help,” said the Rev. Tom Hazelwood, the executive in charge of the United Methodist Committee on Relief’s U. S. disaster response. “We were short and we got a little money in to help with the spring storms, and now we’ve got all of this, and we have to ask people to give again for a different set of circumstances. ” Hazelwood spent most of Sept. 7 coordinating response to the fire-ravaged parts of Texas, wh
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From timhebert
VoL.
12, No.
17 SePtemBeR 9, 2011BAtoN RoUge, LA
NoN-PRofit
U.
S.
PoStAge
PAidBAtoN
RoUge,LA
PeRmit#575
527NorthBlvd.
BatonRouge,LA
70802-5700
Helping Haiti
Noel UMC / 5
Hagar’s House / 4
Facebook / 8
The Rev.
Timothy Smith, pastor of the
Gretna United Methodist Church, recently returned from the town of La
Tremblay, Haiti where...
More
VoL. 12, No. 17 SePtemBeR 9, 2011BAtoN RoUge, LA NoN-PRofit U. S. PoStAge PAidBAtoN RoUge,LA PeRmit#575 527NorthBlvd. BatonRouge,LA 70802-5700 Helping Haiti Noel UMC / 5 Hagar’s House / 4 Facebook / 8 The Rev. Timothy Smith, pastor of the Gretna United Methodist Church, recently returned from the town of La Tremblay, Haiti where he, along with a small group from St. Francisville United Methodist Church, worked to help rebuild a church that had been devastated by the earthquake in January 2010. Joining the volunteer work crew was a local voodoo priest. As Smith recalled his eight-day mission experience, he noted how he and the priest were able to connect despite their differences. “Even though we had the language barrier, we were kind of connecting and kidding with one another,” he said. Smith, the priest, the work crew and the other volunteers worked diligently to help rebuild the church, even with considerable obstacles. “When working with the cement, we had to carry the san
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From timhebert
A 14-member Louisiana Volunteers
in Mission team traveled to
Guatemala this summer to perform
construction tasks at a retreat center and to lead Vacation Bible
School for a local orphanage.
Students, left, lined up to receive
snack bags after watching a program performed by the team.
VoL.
12, No.
16 AUgUSt 26, 2011BAtoN RoUge, LA...
More
A 14-member Louisiana Volunteers in Mission team traveled to Guatemala this summer to perform construction tasks at a retreat center and to lead Vacation Bible School for a local orphanage. Students, left, lined up to receive snack bags after watching a program performed by the team. VoL. 12, No. 16 AUgUSt 26, 2011BAtoN RoUge, LA NoN-PRofit U. S. PoStAge PAidBAtoN RoUge,LA PeRmit#575 527NorthBlvd. BatonRouge,LA 70802-5700 Going to Guatemala UMW Section / 3-6 First UMC Shreveport/2 Little chapel / 8 Fourteen members of St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge served as part of a Louisiana Volunteers in Mission team to Guatemala during July. Group projects included work on construction at a Methodist retreat center and putting on a Vacation Bible School for an orphanage in Lemoa, a rural village in central Guatemala. “Words or pictures cannot do justice for what our time in Guatemala meant to all of us. We were touched by God often, and we saw His hands at work with o
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From timhebert
VoL.
12, No.
15 AUgUSt 5, 2011BAtoN RoUge, LA
NoN-PRoFit
U.
S.
PoStAge
PAidBAtoN
RoUge,LA
PeRMit#575
527NorthBlvd.
BatonRouge,LA
70802-5700
Connections for Life
Union Chapel UMC / 4
New Song UMC / 3
Cleaning Buckets / 4
A graduate of a Baton Rouge-based
re-entry and transitional housing program
for women in need said her “misery...
More
VoL. 12, No. 15 AUgUSt 5, 2011BAtoN RoUge, LA NoN-PRoFit U. S. PoStAge PAidBAtoN RoUge,LA PeRMit#575 527NorthBlvd. BatonRouge,LA 70802-5700 Connections for Life Union Chapel UMC / 4 New Song UMC / 3 Cleaning Buckets / 4 A graduate of a Baton Rouge-based re-entry and transitional housing program for women in need said her “misery came to an end” when she became involved in Connections for Life. “I had hit rock bottom,” said Robyn, now a member of First United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge, La. “My problems led me down a path to prison. My family was disgusted with my actions and I didn’t care about myself. ” Connections for Life, a non-profit organization founded in 2000, offers a 12-month transitional housing and reentry program that serves women coming from prison, treatment facilities, battered women’s shelters and other referral agencies. The women the program serves are each provided an efficiency apartment as well as clothing, food, transportation, job placement assistanc
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From timhebert
Adobe PDF document
Pub. on August 5th 2011
Pages: 8
Views: 180
Downloads: 9
VoL.
12, No.
14 JULY 22, 2011BAtoN RoUge, LA
NoN-PRoFit
U.
S.
PoStAge
PAidBAtoN
RoUge,LA
PeRmit#575
527NorthBlvd.
BatonRouge,LA
70802-5700
Cyber Church
Exploration / 4
Rethinking Worship / 3
Awakening / 5
It’s Friday, and the Rev.
Jack Kale is
doing what he frequently does on a day
off: household chores.
But as all pastors
know,...
More
VoL. 12, No. 14 JULY 22, 2011BAtoN RoUge, LA NoN-PRoFit U. S. PoStAge PAidBAtoN RoUge,LA PeRmit#575 527NorthBlvd. BatonRouge,LA 70802-5700 Cyber Church Exploration / 4 Rethinking Worship / 3 Awakening / 5 It’s Friday, and the Rev. Jack Kale is doing what he frequently does on a day off: household chores. But as all pastors know, there’s no such thing as a day off when you are doing God’s work. As soon as he drops off the kids at school, his focus shifts from the family to-do list to the Sunday sermon. He thinks about his message all week long, and he wants his congregation to do the same. With technology, this is now easily done. Rev. Kale sits down at his kitchen table, opens his laptop, and signs on to gbNetwork, the private social network of Gulf Breeze (Fla. ) United Methodist Church. He talks into his webcam. “Have you ever just wanted to start over? Have you ever wanted to restart part of your life?” The message is less than two minutes. Kale uploads to the gbNetwork
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From timhebert
Adobe PDF document
Pub. on July 21st 2011
Pages: 8
Views: 123
Downloads: 4
Good Morning.
Bishop Hutchinson, Dr.
Cottrill, Dr.
Miller, members of the Annual
Conference, sisters and brothers in Christ, the
report of the Conference Board of Laity starts on
page 70 and concludes on page 79 of the PreConference Report.
A pastor was preaching up a storm as he proclaimed with great enthusiasm, “Brothers and...
More
Good Morning. Bishop Hutchinson, Dr. Cottrill, Dr. Miller, members of the Annual Conference, sisters and brothers in Christ, the report of the Conference Board of Laity starts on page 70 and concludes on page 79 of the PreConference Report. A pastor was preaching up a storm as he proclaimed with great enthusiasm, “Brothers and sisters, let the church crawl!” An old timer sitting on the front pew was equally enthusiastic, “Amen, preacher. Let the church crawl!” With even greater enthusiasm, the preacher responded, “Let the church walk!” “Amen, responded the brother on the front pew, “Let the church walk!” The preacher called out even louder, “Let the church run!” “Amen,” hollered back the same man, “Let it run!” The preacher then practically shouted, “Let the church fly!” “Amen, preacher let it fly!!” “But to let the church fly, said the preacher, we need more money. ” Dead silence…then the words, “Let the church walk, preacher, let the church walk. ” This familiar joke came to min
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From timhebert
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Pub. on July 7th 2011
Pages: 8
Views: 71
Downloads: 3
“There’s been a change in the River
There’ll be a change in the sea
And from now on there’ll be a change in me….
, and
thee….
, and we….
.
”
When I was a kid our class at school did a musical play
called “Mississippi Melody.
” I had the distinct joy of being
cast as Huck Finn.
There were several songs in the play,...
More
“There’s been a change in the River There’ll be a change in the sea And from now on there’ll be a change in me…. , and thee…. , and we…. . ” When I was a kid our class at school did a musical play called “Mississippi Melody. ” I had the distinct joy of being cast as Huck Finn. There were several songs in the play, but the only one I remember went like this: “Mississippi, roll on past my door. Mississippi, stay on your own floor When you’re glad you bring delight to me; when you’re mad you are an awful sight to see! Once I left you, won’t do that no more. I want to live and die By that Mississippi River shore!” (I’ve wanted to sing that to you for the last eleven years! I just couldn’t find the proper time to do it!) The people of Louisiana are indeed a unique people – culturally, geographically, and historically. Until relatively recent years we were separated by rivers and bayous which allowed us to develop several distinct cultural identities. As the bridges and roads began to g
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From timhebert
Adobe PDF document
Pub. on June 25th 2011
Pages: 8
Views: 57
Downloads: 3
VOL.
12, NO.
11 JUNE 10,2011BATON ROUGE, LA
NON-PROFIT
U.
S.
POSTAGE
PAIDBATON
ROUGE,LA
PERMIT#575
527NorthBlvd.
BatonRouge,LA
70802-5700
Louisiana Annual Conference
Camp directors / 4
Churches celebrate / 2
Day of Caring / 5
More than 1,000 United Methodists
from around the state gathered at
Centenary College in Shreveport June...
More
VOL. 12, NO. 11 JUNE 10,2011BATON ROUGE, LA NON-PROFIT U. S. POSTAGE PAIDBATON ROUGE,LA PERMIT#575 527NorthBlvd. BatonRouge,LA 70802-5700 Louisiana Annual Conference Camp directors / 4 Churches celebrate / 2 Day of Caring / 5 More than 1,000 United Methodists from around the state gathered at Centenary College in Shreveport June 5-8 for the 2011 Annual Conference. “With the Poor” was the theme for this year’s event, supporting the denominational focus of “ministry with the poor. ” Worship services and testimonials throughout the annual conference were centered on the conference theme, with Galatians 2:10 serving as the inspirational scripture. The concern for the elimination of worldwide poverty was woven throughout the conference, particularly as delegates reflected on the May 14th “Day of Caring,” when more than 210 United Methodist churches statewide participated in a variety of poverty outreach programs. The Louisiana Conference was recognized as having the largest number of
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From timhebert
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Pub. on June 9th 2011
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Views: 173
Downloads: 15
United Methodists throughout the
Louisiana Annual Conference are encouraged to respond to the recent tornado disasters in our neighboring states of Alabama
and Mississippi.
Louisiana understands
better than most the urgent needs following
such calamities and the importance of connectional support.
Louisiana Conference churches are...
More
United Methodists throughout the Louisiana Annual Conference are encouraged to respond to the recent tornado disasters in our neighboring states of Alabama and Mississippi. Louisiana understands better than most the urgent needs following such calamities and the importance of connectional support. Louisiana Conference churches are encouraged to take special offerings for the Alabama/Mississippi disaster Response over the next few weeks. When receiving the funds, earmark them specifically for “Mississippi/North Alabama Disaster” and send them to the Louisiana UM Conference office, 527 North Boulevard, Baton Rouge, 70802. Offerings can either be designated to be sent to the UMCOR general appeal (Advance #4331-21), or to the Louisiana Conference special response (Conference appeal #4700-01). Both avenues of giving will assist victims of the storms, and as always, all of the funds go to direct assistance to those in need. Louisiana’s experiences with our own disasters have shown us t
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From timhebert
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Pub. on May 12th 2011
Pages: 8
Views: 205
Downloads: 4
In keeping with the 2011 denominational focus of “ministry with the poor,”
local churches throughout the Louisiana
Annual Conference will participate in a
variety of poverty outreach programs and
projects during “A Day of Caring,” slated
for May 14.
Projects like “Renesting,” sponsored
by Asbury UMC in Bossier City, are...
More
In keeping with the 2011 denominational focus of “ministry with the poor,” local churches throughout the Louisiana Annual Conference will participate in a variety of poverty outreach programs and projects during “A Day of Caring,” slated for May 14. Projects like “Renesting,” sponsored by Asbury UMC in Bossier City, are examples of ongoing ministries with those living in poverty. The ministry provides furnishings to those who cannot afford to purchase their own. On Renesting Saturdays, volunteer teams set up donated furniture in houses as well as receive and sort donations of furniture. The Renesting ministry grew from the reality that homeless persons in the area had a very real need for housing, and even if they secured housing, had no way of acquiring basic household items and furniture to make it a home. Since January of 2010, the project has supplied households of furniture for 102 families and 49 children. District representatives are in place to work with local churches on
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From timhebert
Adobe PDF document
Pub. on Apr. 30th 2011
Pages: 8
Views: 131
Downloads: 6
The 2011 session of the Louisiana
Annual Conference will be held at
Centenary College in Shreveport, La.
from June 5-8.
“With the Poor” is the theme for this
year’s event, with Galatians 2:10 as the
inspirational scripture for the theme.
The conference and denominational
focus this year is on ministry with the
poor, and is...
More
The 2011 session of the Louisiana Annual Conference will be held at Centenary College in Shreveport, La. from June 5-8. “With the Poor” is the theme for this year’s event, with Galatians 2:10 as the inspirational scripture for the theme. The conference and denominational focus this year is on ministry with the poor, and is reflected in this theme. Worship services and testimonials throughout the annual conference are also centered on the theme. The concern for the elimination of world-wide poverty will be woven throughout the conference, particularly as delegates reflect on “A Day of Caring,” when United Methodist churches statewide will be in ministry with the poor on May 14. On that day, local churches will participate in a variety of poverty outreach programs. Congregations have been asked to design a service project that will be implemented on that day, focusing on the needs of the poor in their neighborhood or community. Annual conference delegates will be electing delegat
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From timhebert
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Pub. on Apr. 14th 2011
Pages: 8
Views: 164
Downloads: 9
VOL.
12, No.
6 MARCH 25, 2011BATON ROUGE, LA
Disaster Recovery
Epworth Project / 5
Small groups / 3
Japan earthquake / 6-7
Leona Cousins is one of thousands of
hurricane survivors who have been assisted since September of 2005 by the
Louisiana United Methodist Disaster
Recovery ministry.
Through the efforts of the ministry,...
More
VOL. 12, No. 6 MARCH 25, 2011BATON ROUGE, LA Disaster Recovery Epworth Project / 5 Small groups / 3 Japan earthquake / 6-7 Leona Cousins is one of thousands of hurricane survivors who have been assisted since September of 2005 by the Louisiana United Methodist Disaster Recovery ministry. Through the efforts of the ministry, supported and funded through United Methodist Committee on Relief, Cousins’ Slidell home was rebuilt after Hurricane Katrina sent a tidal wave over her home in 2005. In the past five years, volunteers organized through The United Methodist Church have flooded Louisiana and Mississippi and helped thousands of people like Cousins put their homes and lives back together again. During that period, Louisiana’s Disaster Recovery Ministry hosted 96,181 volunteers and helped more than 67,766 households that were affected by Hurricanes Rita, Katrina, Ike and Gustav. Those volunteers have served 4,188,433 volunteer hours which add up to an in-kind donation to the State
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From timhebert
Adobe PDF document
Pub. on March 22nd 2011
Pages: 8
Views: 309
Downloads: 11
VOL.
12, No.
.
5 MARCH 11, 2011BATON ROUGE, LA
The Social Network
Africa University / 3
First UMC Covington /3
Richard Rohr / 8
While the rest of us have finally
caught up with Web sites and would not
know how to survive without e-mails,
generally speaking, most teens have
already moved on.
Simply setting up a Web site for
youth...
More
VOL. 12, No. . 5 MARCH 11, 2011BATON ROUGE, LA The Social Network Africa University / 3 First UMC Covington /3 Richard Rohr / 8 While the rest of us have finally caught up with Web sites and would not know how to survive without e-mails, generally speaking, most teens have already moved on. Simply setting up a Web site for youth groups is no longer sufficient. Unless you give teens and their leaders and parents reasons for returning, they will visit the site once and leave. In email, they see a lot of junk: spam, marketers, phishers, scams, authorities, adults, random forwards and, most importantly, no friends. It also is too slow. They want communication that is like hitting the “Fire” button when they play a video game. If you are from a church that uses a Web site and mass e-mail messages as your primary means of sharing news and announcements with your youth and if that works for your group, great! Keep it up! If it does not work and you are beginning to feel a little frust
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From timhebert
VOL.
12, No.
4 FEBRUARY 25, 2011BATON ROUGE, LA
Opening Doors
Trinity UMC / 4
First Grace UMC / 2
St.
Peter UMC / 5
The members of St.
John’s United
Methodist Church in Baton Rouge have
always been generous in supporting missions, but in March of 2001, they decided
to do more.
At that time, little or no public funds
were...
More
VOL. 12, No. 4 FEBRUARY 25, 2011BATON ROUGE, LA Opening Doors Trinity UMC / 4 First Grace UMC / 2 St. Peter UMC / 5 The members of St. John’s United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge have always been generous in supporting missions, but in March of 2001, they decided to do more. At that time, little or no public funds were available to churches. Many private sources of funding only provided grants to non-profit groups, not churches. To gain access to those funds so that they could be more effective in serving low income families living near the church, St. John’s Outreach Committee decided to form a non-profit corporation called Opening Doors. In 2001, Opening Doors started an art day camp and a Holiday Super Store. The art day camp has operated as a threeweek program that meets each summer. During the camp, the youth participants create a large mural. These murals are seen throughout the city, with several at the Baton Rouge Regional Airport. The Holiday Super Store was cre
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From timhebert
Adobe PDF document
Pub. on Feb. 24th 2011
Pages: 8
Views: 78
Downloads: 1
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