Mission Opportunities in NWTX & Beyond

As we move into the last of 2020 and the beginning of 2021, it is important to recognize the methods and ways we can respond to people in Disaster and Need from our conference. For example, here are the various teams that we can implement:

Mission Teams - responds to a particular "mission" inside and outside our geographic area.

ERT (Early Response Trained) Teams - trained and vetted, "first-in, first-to-aid," specially taught, and organized "strike teams" for Disaster and Emergency Response.

Long-Term Recovery Teams - are dedicated to working on long-term projects and events.

Construction (non-Disaster Response) Teams - usually works hand-in-hand with other teams requiring rebuild/remake skills, more medium-term.

Combined Teams - any combination of groups mentioned above or with other organizations.

Educational/Relational Teams - works primarily with victims to stabilize and enhance recovery.

Community Outreach - Special project/focused on a specific (usually short-term) goal.

Youth/Young Adult Teams - teams of young people that are led by adults in specific tasks.

All the above are coordinated teams with assigned tasks. Not all but most groups require specific training/orientation, and ALL disaster teams are required to be coordinated (usually with Conference Disaster Response Coordinator (CDRC) or UMVIM Coordinators).

So, there is a lot of room for you to help. Contact CDRC Charlie Brown @ 806-789-0791 for more info or email: charlie.m.brown@gmail.com.  

We have a team scheduled to help in East Texas in December but will need more after the New Year. ERT training will also be offered in February 2021 for ERT Training and Pre-qualification for domestic and international placement.

Thanks,

Charlie M Brown, NWTX Disaster Relief Coordinator

Ministry Partner “Vanco Faith” Offering One-on-One Help to Set Up Digital Giving

Nashville, TN – The GCFA Connectional/External Relations teams are announcing that Vanco has renewed its ministry partnership with GCFA. Vanco, through Vanco Faith, has built new services and enhanced existing tools to help churches, including a free smartphone app. By putting the time and investment in advanced eGiving options, Vanco can work with churches to find eGiving plans that fit the individual church’s needs. Vanco can offer churches giving tools that help track donations, keep members connected, and provide different giving platforms for ministry supporters.

GCFA has had a vetted relationship with Vanco for nearly 20 years. In this timespan, more than 3,000 United Methodist churches and ministries have used the giving platforms that have grown from “how to receive checks” to the latest electronic giving platforms. The Vanco giving platforms integrate with multiple church management software providers so churches are not required to change software. Vanco is committed to making sure each church that partners with Vanco is set up for success as they utilize online giving.

All UMC churches that sign up with Vanco by November 30 will receive personalized one-on-one onboarding with a Vanco eGiving specialist, an offer valued at $500. Click here to visit the site designed for United Methodist churches and learn more. The dedicated implementation specialist will assist the church through three one-to-one training sessions to personalize the church’s online giving page that will focus on highlighting church missions, create communication to share with members using customizable marketing materials, and more.

“Vanco is very excited again to partner with GCFA. We’ve enjoyed this partnership for many years as we achieve our aim of helping those who enrich their communities. UMC churches do amazing work during difficult periods, and they are continuing that work in new and innovative ways to support their community. Vanco is happy to introduce new tools, including our church community smartphone app, to United Methodist churches. Our online giving tools help UMC churches thrive financially and succeed in their ministries – whether congregations gather in person or virtually,” said Shawn Boom, CEO of Vanco.

For more information on the Ministry Partner program, contact Kellie Schmeal at connetionalrelations@gcfa.org, or 615-369-2408.

Live Stream Tips and Tricks

Was live streaming your church services one of your 2020 goals? Maybe not initially, but COVID-19 threw most of us into the strange wild west of live streaming. Now that you have been several months into streaming take some time to see how you can take your stream to the next level as we approach holiday and advent season!

Here are some tips for improving your live stream.

• Send your live stream to one or more viewing platforms. If you want to stream to more than one platform, that usually requires a streaming service and host. There will be some options listed at the end.

• Choose an online host to chat and engage with your viewers during the service. This host could be a volunteer or staff member. A volunteer watching from home would be perfect!

• Create a simple page on your website that lists your online expressions such as live streaming links, online giving options, prayer requests, or online attendance form.

  • If you are not set up on a website already, Square Space is an excellent resource for a simple drag and drop website. They also have a price for integrated online giving resources. www.squarespace.com 

• Pick a different day of the week to stream a devotional from the pastor, staff, or church leadership.

• If you can run your live stream through your soundboard, this can help increase your sound quality for your viewers and give you the ability to adjust certain parts of the sound while minimizing room sound.

• If you are streaming through a computer, improving your internet connection can be crucial in taking your live stream to the next level. Switching from WiFi to a wired ethernet connection can make a huge difference in your connection speed and quality. If you have to use WiFi, the closer you are to your router, the better your connection will be. Can’t move the router, try getting a WiFi booster to put in your sanctuary. Check your internet upload speed at a site like speedtest.net before broadcasting. Disable or pause any Dropbox/Google Drive apps you might be running in the background.

• Plan ahead! Now that you have had time to settle into a live streaming routine, planning early can help you create a better engagement. Make sure to check on room conditions, lighting, sound, distractions, and plan accordingly.

• Being on time is also a huge aspect of streaming. Make sure you start on time, so you don’t lose any viewers that might be waiting with nothing to watch. Consider using a 10-minute countdown if you are streaming through an online program.

• Be creative and don’t get caught up in trying to have everything be perfect! 

• Find what works for your church and community. Be consistent in what works and look at improving something each week, in person and online!

If you are meeting in person and unsure about continuing your live stream, this is the perfect opportunity for you to shape your live stream to meet your viewers’ needs at home. Live streaming is a part of our new normal in how we share the gospel.

Live Stream Resources

Make sure that you have the streaming license with CCLI if you are streaming your songs! If you just stream your sermon, you should be ok. www.ccli.com

• Facebook, Instagram, and www.churchonlineplatform.com are free. A good, paid option is www.livestream.com. YouTube also has streaming services.

• Please note, you may need to mount your camera in Portrait Mode instead of Landscape Mode when doing live videos on social media – so, be sure to test this. Here are some tripod options if you are using a mobile device.

• 30 Examples of Live Stream Set-Ups from Church Motion Graphics

  • I love Church Motion Graphics as a resource for all media! They are so much more than motion backgrounds now. They also provide templates for sermon graphics, announcement slides, social media posts, and more! If your church could use a resource like this, it is worth looking into. They also provide freebies regularly!

• Go Light Stream - Streaming Platform Resource

• Legally Livestreaming Resource from the UMC.

• Taking Your Worship Online for Beginners and the Rest of Us from Resource UMC.

• One License Resource

What Is One Thing ... Week 4

Here we are! Our final week of diving into these four questions. For most of us, we like to start in this section. Starting something new! And why wouldn’t we? Usually, something new brings fresh energy and excitement. Something to look forward to. Something unexpected. Something different. There is a reason it is the last stop in the questions.

Maybe listing your accomplishments was easy, and you wanted to jump right to starting something new. It is easy to get caught up in that winning momentum. Maybe you answered question one with ease, and looking at where to improve began to sting a little, and by the time we started looking at what you need to stop, you decided you would stop this process. I hope not, but I know it could have happened!

Maybe the first three questions were comfortable, and this one has you stumped. Perhaps one was hard, and you brushed this off to the to-do pile.

Finding your groove in this process is just that, finding YOUR groove. But far too often, I think we fall in the trap when things are going really well, to start new things without going through the process of evaluating what we are currently doing and making changes based on that evaluation.

So, what are you dreaming about? Amid the COVID fog, what are you hoping for or ready to start? Many of us jumped into new ways of doing church, and now that they are up and running, we have space to go back and evaluate them and tweak them to be the best that we can do. Then when you have found your new groove, what else do you want to start doing?

What Is One Thing ... Week 3

This week we are looking at what is one thing you will stop doing. This week will either be super easy for you or hard. Make sure you have your list of what you are doing well and what you need to improve, ready to go! If you need more information on those, you can read them here. One Thing You Are Doing Well and One Thing You Need To Improve.

Without giving you my whole personal story in this section, let me tell you that it is so HARD to stop doing something once I have committed to it. SO HARD! It is a blessing and a curse, I have decided. It is easy for me to live life with a plate too full. Sometimes it is just easier to hide behind the busyness than actually sort my life into healthy functioning sections. Becoming a mom helped a lot in guarding my time, but it is still something daily that I have to submit and work on. And I am not just talking schedules/to-do list/commitment busyness but being still and silent (shocker for those who know me well, I am sure). Even if my office is quiet, there’s an ongoing to-do list running in my brain (looking at you Annual Conference) and music playing in my head.

But enough about me, where do you fall on that scale of being able to prune and cut things that you know you need to cut? Looking back at your list of things to improve, is there anything that might hinder you from pursuing that goal and getting that focus moved from your improved list to your doing well list? Is there something that just doesn’t bring you joy or reach your goals that is something you can actually cut out of your routine? Maybe you can delegate it. Perhaps you just need to step away from the commitment. What is something you need to stop doing so you can take your next step toward something that helps you reach your goal and brings life to your inner being?

Maybe it is something like not looking at social media or email on your Sabbath. Or blocking time in your schedule to work on a goal or project as if it was a meeting. Maybe you are only home one night during the week, and that is draining.

Take some time and see what blocks you from reaching your goals or draining your energy. Make a list of what you need to stop doing and narrow it down to one thing you are willing to cut out. Then take action.

This week’s question and next week’s question were homework for our Laity group, but if you were in that session and did your homework ;) please send it my way! montgomery@nwtxconf.org.

McMurry Announces Community Commitment - Half Tuition For Families Who Serve

McMurry University Announces Community Commitment Scholarship Half-Off Tuition for Families Who Serve

October 14, 2020, Abilene, TX – Today McMurry University is announcing the Community Commitment scholarship, which will offer at minimum half tuition for new undergraduates whose families have chosen careers in service. Students do not have to financially qualify, and additional merit- and needbased scholarships may be added. This meaningful and significant scholarship honors families who have chosen careers in service and is built on the University’s core value of “Service as the measure of life.”

The Community Commitment is a financially aggressive scholarship that supports a student whose parent, legal guardian, or spouse is currently employed full time in public service; as a first responder; in education, healthcare, or ministry; or with a nonprofit. If the employer's website ends in .edu, .gov, or .org, the student is likely to qualify. Incoming freshmen and transfer students applying for the Fall of 2021 are eligible to receive the Community Commitment.

“Service above self is in the DNA of McMurry University,” said McMurry President Dr. Sandra S. Harper. “This important scholarship will honor those who chose selfless service, whether they are serving the community through teaching, caring for or saving others, or the military. During the current COVID-19 crisis, awareness of the sacrifices of our community heroes has been heightened, and McMurry is excited to be able to offer a distinctive scholarship to reward individuals for their commitment to others.”

McMurry University is the first university in the state of Texas to make a community commitment to families in service of others. According to GuideStar, there are 1,147 nonprofits in Taylor County. Add in schools, police, fire, and military, and the impact of this scholarship is tremendous in Taylor County alone. The scholarship is available to any student who wants to attend McMurry University, regardless of where they live.

As a private, faith-based university, McMurry University recognizes that community challenges are numerous, and there has never been a greater need for individuals dedicated to a life of service. McMurry University wants to provide financial support as it develops future leaders who can think critically, fight against oppression, understand our differences, and translate this knowledge into building a better society.

“McMurry University is a champion for better communities and for people who are building them,” said McMurry Vice President of Enrollment Grant Greenwood. “McMurry is the place to train for a life of service, and we believe this training and experience should be accessible to all who want it.” Greenwood added that McMurry University is making a simple commitment: “If a life of service runs in your immediate family, then we’ll cover at least half of your tuition.”

The Community Commitment adds to McMurry University’s intentional focus, which began in 1990 with the University’s servant leadership curriculum that guides students to develop a sense of purpose in their studies, careers, and contributions to community and society. This scholarship advances the University’s core values: Christian faith as the foundation of life; Personal relationships as the catalyst for life; Learning as the journey of life; Excellence as the goal of life; and the foundational value, Service as the measure of life.

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About McMurry University

Founded in 1923, McMurry University is guided by our core values: Christian faith as the foundation of life; Personal relationships as the catalyst for life; Learning as the journey of life; Excellence as the goal of life; and Service as the measure of life. As a vibrant, comprehensive institution of higher education, we offer a student-centered, relationship-based educational learning environment. McMurry University’s intentional one-on-one focus allows students to build meaningful relationships with their professors and fellow students. The University provides students REAL discovery experiences throughout their college careers. Our diverse academic curriculum includes over 55 majors in the arts, business, education, and sciences, as well as preprofessional programs in medicine, dentistry, engineering, law, pharmacy, and physical therapy. Enrollment at McMurry University stands at 1,100 students strong. A member of the American Southwest Conference, McMurry University has 21 intercollegiate sports, as well as an evolving Esports team. Students actively engage with the community and average 24,000 hours of annual service. For our students, the pathway to REALize dreams, careers, and goals starts at McMurry University. McMurry University … Where REAL Happens.

Nominations Accepted through December 1 for 2021 Woodrow B. Seals Laity Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 12, 2020

For more information:               

Rev. Connie Nelson, Executive Director of Public Affairs and Alumni/ae Relations

214-768-2335, clnelson@smu.edu

Bridget Oswald Anderson, Associate Director of Public Affairs and Alumni/ae Relations

214-768-1393, boswald@smu.edu

Nominations Accepted through Dec. 1 for 2021 Woodrow B. Seals Laity Award

DALLAS, TX – Nominations are now open for the 2021 Perkins School of Theology Woodrow B. Seals Laity Award and will be accepted through December 1, 2020.

The annual award is presented to a layperson in the United States who exemplifies an exceptional commitment of service to Christ through faith and action in the church, community and world. Awarded first in 1993, the award has been presented to more than 50 distinguished laypersons throughout the years.

The Seals Award receives support from the Howard-Holbert Endowment Fund, and honors Judge Woodrow B. Seals (1917-1990), a distinguished layperson whose interest and energy were instrumental in establishing the Perkins Theological School for the Laity.

The 2020 Woodrow B. Seals Laity Award recipient was Mary White, a faithful United Methodist, church leader, volunteer and retired educator. After joining St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in El Paso, Texas in 1983, she served as principal, then director of St. Mark’s School, and continues to support the school as a volunteer. Over the years, White has been active in a wide range of mission efforts, including ten mission trips in Eastern Europe, Mexico and the U.S.- Mexico borderlands.  

The 2019 recipient was John M. Esquivel, a faithful United Methodist, a community leader, a philanthropist and an advocate for civil rights. In 2018, there were three recipients: Dr. Lydia Bean, founder and Executive Director of Faith in Texas; Dr. Kathryn S. Stream, retired Senior Vice President of the Texas Medical Center collaboration in Houston and Dr. Beverly E. White, a hospitalist at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas.  In 2016, the recipient was Dr. Mauro Ferrari, the Executive Vice President of Houston Methodist and the President and CEO of the Houston Methodist Research Institute. (No award was given in 2017.) Other previous recipients include Kay Prothro Yeager (2015), Bliss Dodd (2014), Linda Marr, Dr. Kenneth and Lila Foree (2013), William E. "Bill" Turner (2012) and Jackie A. Strange (2011). See a complete list of past recipients here. 

Presentation of the 2020 and 2021 Seals Laity Awards will take place during the worship service for the Perkins Summit for Faith and Learning, which will be held virtually on Friday, March 19, 2021, beginning at 4:45 p.m. 

Nominations must include:

*A one- to four-page document including a biographical narrative and examples of nominee’s activities showing commitment to Christian service in the church, community and world

*Three letters of recommendation from clergy and lay leadership of nominee’s congregation and/or denomination, as well as supplemental letters of support from officials in other church or community organizations

*Contact information for the primary sponsor who will serve as the contact for Perkins School of Theology.

The sponsor should compile all nomination materials and mail or email as one package. 

Selection is made by a committee of the Perkins Lay Advisory Board. Nominations remain active for three years including the year of submission.

Nominations should be submitted by December 1, 2020 to:

The Woodrow B. Seals Laity Award Committee

c/o Associate Dean for External Programs

Perkins School of Theology

PO Box 750133

Dallas, TX 75275-0133

Or by email to: theoexternalprograms@smu.edu.

View Additional Information about the Woodrow B. Seals Laity Award.

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Perkins School of Theology, founded in 1911, is one of five official University-related schools of theology of The United Methodist Church. Degree programs include the Master of Divinity, Master of Sacred Music, Master of Theological Studies, Master of Arts in Ministry, Master of Theology, Doctor of Ministry, and Doctor of Pastoral Music as well as the Ph.D., in cooperation with The Graduate Program in Religious Studies at SMU’s Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences.

What Is One Thing ... Week 2

Last week we talked through navigating change, especially during a season of constant change and isolation. Hopefully, you could make your list of things that you have been doing well and narrowed them down to one. If not, take a minute, read last week’s post and spend some time doing that before we move on to today’s question, what is one thing you would like to improve.

This week’s focus may not as come as natural to you as last weeks did, and that is ok! Internal reflection, either personal or as a church body, can be some of the hardest critiquing to walk through. But it is so vital to helping us move forward. Now that you have spent some time patting your back and looking at the things you are proud of that you accomplished, let’s look at the things you may need to improve.

If you are a goal setter, how well are you making progress with reaching your goals? How far have you gotten this year, or did things get off track? What is working for you in achieving those goals? What is not?

If these questions aren’t helping your thinking juices flow, take a look back at your accomplishment list. What didn’t make your top 3-5 big wins? Is anything going well on that list but could use some focus for improvement? Anything going through the motions in your ministry that you want to shape into the best it can be?

Those are the areas that will want to be on your things to improve the list. If your plan is large, don’t get overwhelmed! You start improving with one decision, one step forward. So, narrow down your focus to one thing you would like to improve, start making a plan and take action towards meeting that goal.  

If you struggle with goal setting and accomplishing, here are some pointers on setting goals! I love this process from the Michael Hyatt & Co. group. https://michaelhyatt.com/goal-setting/

He recommends a SMARTER formula for goal setting. Be specific in identifying your goals. Make them measurable, so you know whether you are hitting your goal or not. Every plan should be actionable and start with an action verb. A good goal is risky to make you stretch a little and take you to the edge of your comfort zone. Every goal should be time-keyed with a date associated with it. It should be exciting to keep you focused on the destination and relevant to your values, season of life, and other goals. Write them down and review them regularly! You can read more about his goal-setting process here…

Make sure you write down key motivations to help you reach your goal and list the next steps, so you make an action plan that works instead of a new year’s dream. Know your reward for how you will celebrate when you reach that goal!

Here are some of the areas from the Laity Session that you listed as areas needing to improve.

• Increase attendance among members/reconnect with inactive members

• Be the first church to host community outreach events

• Become more appealing to young families in worship and Sunday School

• Host more ministry opportunities and communicate them better

• Technology training/how to improve & build on our streaming services of worship

• Youth outreach/connection

• Increase membership/membership retention/membership involvement

• Inviting people to church/Facebook streaming

• Continuing to give to the church even when not in attendance

• How do we better welcome and attract new people/evangelism?

• How do we use more efficiently and often social media/more digital presence?

• Reach the unchurched/the lost, least, & lonely

• Improve Sunday School attendance and effectiveness

• Keeping 2 campuses or services connected and blended into one unified church

• Involve all of the congregation in ministry/the work of the church

• Visitation

• Follow up on outreach

• More support for the pastor

• Remind laity God is in charge

• Better use of the facility

• Reach and integrate all ages

• Think about the future/not dwelling on the past

• Serve the community with virtual groups

• Outreach to children with innovative activities during COVID

• More compassion, we have had a decrease of compassion during COVID

• People leaving the church because of divisiveness on COVID

• Acceptance of change

• Communicating our calming/uniting message of the UMC to the community

How would you transform these needs to improve statements into SMARTER goals?