Haiti Update

Our wonderful Office Manager, Mrs. Barbara Webb has been adding updates, and information from the Missouri Conference on Haiti Relief efforts to the "Heartland News" e-messages, and on the District Web Page. There are also updates and information located on the Missouri Conference Website (www.moumethodist.org) along with those available in your local Church office. I encourage you to continue checking these sites for the latest updates. Pray for those who's lives have been turned upside down by this disaster as the work continues to rebuild a City overcome by it's effects. I continue to give God the glory for the wonderful outpouring of care, and support for the relief efforts, and your generous contributions to UMCOR, and other relief agencies urgently rushing to help. Lord, hear our prayer.
Kevin <><

Help for Haiti

I received this message from our Conference Lay Leader, Brian Hammons who has been in contact with the South Central Jurisdictional relief coordinator and UMCOR efforts to help our brothers and sister in Port-a-Prince, Haiti. The United Methodist Church has close ties with the Methodist Church in Haiti and I know we are all in prayer for those ravaged by this disaster. Please remember as you read this information that 100% of your donations go directly to relief. Kevin <><

Dear Friends,

I would like to update you on the UMCOR relief effort for Haiti. Tom Hazelwood of UMCOR held a phone call this morning with the Jurisdictional UMVIM Coordinators to discuss earthquake relief efforts and how we can help. Sam Dixon, Clint Rabb and Jim Gulley of GBGM were in Port au Prince for a meeting with the new head of the Haitian church. They have not been heard from since the earthquake. We ask for prayers that they are safe and prayers for their families and friends while we await word of their safety.

To give relief funds you can give through the ADVANCE. They have issued a number for giving to the effort. This number is 418325 Haiti Emergency relief. this is the website where you can give on line. http://secure.gbgm-umc.org/donations/umcor/donate.cfm?id=3018760&code=418325

UMCOR is asking for health kits. I have attached the instruction to this email for you to please share as you see fit. If your conference has a warehouse Tom asked if it could be a central holding area. Please let UMCOR know if this is possible and they will make sure the kits are picked up. He did not want churches not to make the kits because of the cost of shipping.

As for teams, it is too soon to consider sending teams in. Tom will let us know at the time is appropriate. When Haiti is ready for teams there will requirements. We will work on projects which are the priority of church of Haiti, team will be team leader trained, will have had prior Haiti experince and must be self-sufficient.

We will be having another call conference when there is more news to tell. Please feel to call me if you have any questions.
Blessings,

Deb
Debbie Vest
Volunteers in Mission
South Central Jurisdiction
United Methodist Church

To Sustain Everyday Life: UMCOR Kits Are Another Way to Give
UMCOR Sager Brown Material Resources Specifications
Kits to Sustain Everyday Life
The following kit is used in places where people do not have ready access to many essential supplies for everyday life. Please follow the directions exactly. Include all items; do not add items that are not on the lists. Extra gifts, though given with the best of intentions, render a kit unusable and must be removed. Note: All items sent must be new!

Health Kit
(Updated: 07/11/2005)
Health kits provide basic necessities to people who have been forced to leave their homes because of human conflict or natural disaster. Health kits are also used as learning tools in personal hygiene, literacy, nutrition and cooking classes. When people gain the knowledge and materials to maintain personal hygiene, their overall health improves.


1 hand towel (15" x 25" up to 17" x 27")
1 washcloth
1 comb (large and sturdy, not pocket-sized)
1 nail file or fingernail clippers (no emery boards or toenail clippers)
1 bath-size bar of soap (3 oz. and up)
1 toothbrush (single brushes only in original wrapper, No child-size brushes)
1 large tube of toothpaste (4.5 oz. or larger, expiration date must be 6 months or longer in advance of the date of shipment to UMCOR Sager Brown)
6 adhesive plastic strip sterile bandages

Place these items inside a sealed one-gallon plastic bag.

Value: $12 per kit.
In a separate envelope, please send a check for at least $1 for each kit to help UMCOR Sager Brown with the costs of processing and shipping kits around the world.

Important: Please do not include any religious, political or patriotic notes or emblems in any kit.

Thank you for your donations. You are helping to make a difference in people's lives.

Welcome to your new position

Everyone talks about it; few understand it. Most everyone wants it; some achieve or consistently practice it. From time to time we wish we could vote for it; and disappointingly it gets pushed aside when selfish interests over-ride it. Ask a dozen people to define it and you’ll get as many different options to consider. What is this illusive thing . . . Leadership!

Dr. John Maxwell, an internationally recognized leadership expert, speaker/teacher, pastor and author would tell you, that after more than four decades of research and observation in the realm of leaders that the answer boils down to a simple . . . “Leadership is Influence” That’s it.

Now how do we go about developing that influence as a learned trait. can we learn how? Sure, but we need tools which can extend this influence to our lives and our ability to work with and serve others. I encourage us as congregational leaders to seek these tools. Many courses and seminars are offered within our District, and throughout the Conference from local congregational groups studies, the Lay Leadership Development (LLD) course, Healthy Church Initiative and Small Church Academy opportunities and alike. Lots of excellent books and websites are also available to grow our individual skills all of which go about the faithful learning and reflection we need to be effective. As we begin this new year in our various Church Leadership positions lets ask ourselves, What am I doing to be, grow, and recruit servant leaders to carry out the mission?

Wow, what a great idea and a critical element to keeping things moving forward – I will continue to share with you the dream of a “Church full of Leaders?” and ways to add to our toolbox but I will also challenge you to ask yourselves the hard questions, to pray for guidance along with your Pastor partners, so that together we can see this dream come true.

What would it take in your congregation? What training is needed to fulfill the dream? What’s the hold up! I often use this quote from Maxwell's book. . . He, who thinketh he leadeth and hath no one following, is merely taking a walk. For the many servant leaders out there putting Laity on the Line in our vibrant congregations – I share your dream, and ask – how can we serve YOU and OTHERS in this effort?

We are currently planning or spring learning event schedule for April in Lexington with a very special guest speaker and will be glad to hear of your thoughts and needs.

till I see you again, I’ll be on bended knee as we explore this important topic and commitment of our faith, for your leadership vision and spark, and for us all as we seek to follow Christ as true servant leaders.

Feel free to share your comments, questions and concerns here with me.

Blessings to you always my friends.

Kevin <><