Best Practice Model - Tooting UMC horn

There are ministries within the United Methodist Church that serve as best practice models. In this blog and future blogs, I hope to "toot the United Methodist Church horn" sharing some of those ways that we indeed are transforming lives and making a difference.

At First UMC, Sheridan UMC, there is a daily luncheon held at the church for children, youth and adults. The food is delicious and very healthy. There are secrets in the spaghetti sauce that I don't plan to tell. Only a few know that you don't have to eat your salad to get vegetables.

There are lots of reasons why this is a best practice model for many communities besides the healthy food. Volunteers come from the community and from the congregation. Children are welcome not only to eat, but they also become volunteers. Matt, Josh, and Owen were key volunteers yesterday serving, cleaning up and drying dishes. Helen gets an opportunity to have "family talk." If we listen we learn lots of things -- like when your teenagers are in the car with you. I got this opportunity yesterday to listen...I got to know them...and I hope that I shared God's love with them ...

Churches Helping Our Children

Churches helping our children is an article in the Indianapolis Star that features East Tenth UM Children & Youth. There are many programs from Vacation Bible Schools to leadership camps to theatre camps to meal programs within our churches and ministries.

I have already attended three summer youth programs. These programs are indeed a very important and valuable part of the kids' summer -- keeping them safe.

It is exciting to see the kids being engaged in fun and learning. I have no doubt that at the Castleton United Methodist Church VBS that nearly all of the 270 children were able to repeat the scripture lesson of the evening -- John 3:16 -- through the many activities and fun they were having together.

Brightwood Community Center is continuing their literacy center during the morning schedule. In the afternoon I visited, each youth was given choices of their next activity -- many headed to the gym to "just play" others watched a movie or played table games.

I was at Lawrence UMC Youth Corps this afternoon. The plan was for me to be there and participate in the morning work, but the rain kept me away. I was "called out" by Pastor Joe and Director Kevin because last year when I volunteered it rained. Even so, the kids welcomed me at Chapel Time where I enjoyed speaking to them. I'll be checking the weather before I head out for my next visit.

Follow Metro Ministries on Face Book during this summer featuring United Methodist Church and local ministry programs. Metro Ministries, along with Greg Dupuis (Reel Good Videography), are working on a summer youth program video celebrating these ministries.

It is time to prioritize

I just returned from the Indiana Conference, The United Methodist Church, is a gathering of lots of United Methodists from each church in Indiana. It was a great opportunity to talk with many people about Metro Ministries. At the Metro luncheon that we sponsored at the conference, the focus was on "Putting it all together" which for us is to communicate to all people. No matter whether you are on the Internet or receive the news by mail; the goal is to get the word out about the work of Metro Ministries. It seems that it is hard to communicate all the things we are doing fast enough, but it will be a priority this new conference year. Metro will be using all forms of communication from videos, eNews and announcements, Face Book, Twitter, blogging, YouTube and post card newsletters. "Let's Put It All Together"

Radical Hospitality -- You never know Where it is going to come from....

I attended the leadership training events at Calvary Brownsburg UMC and Christ Westfield UMC on January 10 and 17, 2010. Each location was very hospitable to those of us with a display, teachers and participants coming for these events. The events were all well attended and appreciated.

But, you never know where your church is being “radical” until you look around the community. I stopped at the Marathon station in Westfield following last Sunday’s event to fill up my tank. I was surprised to see that I would need to go into the station to pay. I stepped into the station and thought maybe a snack was in order for me – laughed that was smart of this station to make people come inside for the hot chocolate and other items available – and told the clerks this. In our conversation I told them I had been at Christ UMC nearby for an event. One of the clerks smiled and said, “Yes, I have been directing a lot of people to the church today.” Many of the participants needed help to get to Christ UMC, and there was radical hospitality received even before they entered the church. Cool.

Change -- You've Got to Love It

The Metro Ministries, Inc.’s office is now a part of the Central District of the United Methodist Church. The running of the office has gone from six persons to 3 ½. It feels like it too. We knew it was coming, but nothing prepared us for this transition.

On the other hand, change allows us all to do things differently and Metro Ministries is continuing to work in different ways. After the Metro Ministries’ Celebration on December 13, Nancy Myrland came to me with an idea of a baby shower for the BIBS pantry run by the United Methodist Women at University Heights UMC. This program promotes the healthy moms and babies in Marion County through Methodist Hospital and Healthnet. Who would not want to support something like this? Nancy learned about the BIBS Pantry at the celebration display booth led by Peggy Richwine of University Heights. I told Nancy, yes, I agree – let’s do it. The event is scheduled to be an all United Methodist Church Baby Shower on February 14, 2010 – For the Love of Mothers and babies – on Valentines Day. Please watch for the details on the website and eNewsFlashes from Metro Ministries.

The BIBS baby shower is different. Metro Ministries is about supporting the local churches doing mission and ministry in their community. Metro Ministries does not have to create mission and ministry. It is being done in the local community centers and the local churches. By supporting Metro Ministries, individuals and local churches are making a difference within Central District, Indiana Conference and the connectional United Methodist Church.

Keep in touch, Metro Ministries is changing -- doing things differently. Please invite me to visit your church for a Mission Moment, mission team, UMM or UMW meeting to tell the story of the mission and ministries that are changing lives throughout Central Indiana.