Motown Mission Sets Eight Year Record

In its eighth year as a Christian mission trip destination the Motown Mission Experience has completed its largest service season to date.  Between March and August Motown Mission hosted almost 600 participants from 35 churches around the country - a 200 person increase from 2011.   Motown Mission, a program of the United Methodist Young Leaders Initiative located in the Detroit Renaissance District, has now contributed over $842,000 in volunteer time and project materials to...

Bishop's Day 2012 to focus on improving health globally

  "Improve Health Globally" is the theme of the 2012 Bishop's Day, which is set to take place in each district of the Detroit Conference during the month of March. The theme is tied to one of the Four Areas of Focus of The United Methodist Church, "stamping out killer diseases of poverty by improving health globally." Each of the conference's six districts has planned at Bishop's Day event that focuses on global health in a variety of ways, from providing fresh water...

Registration open for Keep Making Peace event

Shane Claiborne, sought-after speaker and bestselling author, will speak at the 10th annual Keep Making Peace event at University United Methodist Church in East Lansing.   Registration is now open for the event, which will take place from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 31. To register, visit http://msuwesley.org/claiborne or call 517-332-0861. The event is free for students, $15 per person and $25 per family. Lunch will be included, and space is limited for the...

Spanish Language Workshop being offered for clergy and lay leaders

  Recently, as part of the Saginaw Bay District Mission Celebration, I gave a sermon at Laporte United Methodist Church. My sermon was about the day of Pentecost. In my sermon, I did not focus on the actions of the apostles, but on the response of the community members that gathered there that day. That day, as we know, the Holy Spirit came down and filled the apostles and they started to speak in different languages. Normally, our focus is on the apostles and their ability to speak...

Bishop's Advent Offering to support water ministry in Sierra Leone

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:   Grace and Peace to you in the name of our lord and Savior Jesus Christ! For the Advent Offering I am asking you to support the Water and Development Ministry of Sierra Leone, Africa of the West Africa Central Conference.   The Water and Development Ministry improves the quality of life for the people of Sierra Leone. This program provides sanitation and education and medical clinics that meet the needs of a struggling community.Supporting...

Popular Christian Activist Speaking March 31

  Shane Claiborne, sought-after speaker and bestselling author, will speak on March 31, 2012, at University United Methodist Church in East Lansing.   With tears and laughter, Shane Claiborne unveils the tragic messes in the world and the tangible hope that another world is possible.  Shane has worked alongside Mother Teresa, in a wealthy, mega-church, and written "Jesus for President."     He is also a founding partner of The Simple Way, a faith...

America's Sunday Supper promotes service

United Methodist Communications and the United Methodist General Board of Church and Society are urging communities to Rethink Church in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with America’s Sunday Supper on January 15, 2012. America’s Sunday Supper will be a nationwide night of simultaneous dinners and discussions shared in churches, homes, community centers and kitchens to promote positive change in the world. As an activation partner with Points of Light, United Methodist...

10-Fold Launches October 10

  The General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church (GBGM), along with the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) will be offering a 10-day online event called "10-Fold" that allows individuals to be counted, get involved, and raise funds for United Methodist projects around the world. 10-Fold will take place from October 10-19 at www.10-fold.org.  By visiting and spreading the word, you can raise up to $10,000 for each project During each day of...

Art & Soul Accepted for 2011 ArtPrize

  The Art & Soul mission of Birmingham: First United Methodist Church is pleased to announce that its group project, Transformations, has been accepted for exhibit at the 2011 ArtPrize in Grand Rapids, which will take place Sept. 21-Oct. 9. Fifteen hundred artists from 36 countries and 43 states will show their work in 164 venues within three-square miles of downtown Grand Rapids, Mich. Each artist will compete for the world’s largest prize for art.     &quo...

Conference UMM Raising Funds to Fight Hunger

The Detroit Conference United Methodist Men are encouraging all men in the conference to join them in fighting hunger relief in March and April through the Meals for Millions program that is sponsored by the Society of St. Andrew.    From March 1-April 30, the Feinstein Foundation is granting $1 million in matching funds to selected groups that fight hunger, and the Society of St. Andrew is one of the groups that have been selected.  With the opportunity to have donations to...

Detroit Conference tops list of givers to Meals for Millions

The Detroit Conference led all annual conferences in 2010 giving to Meals for Millions, a mission project begun by the United Methodist Men in 1989 to raise funds for the Society of St. Andrew’s potato and produce project.    Wade Mays, an executive with the society, told the National Association of Conference Presidents, meeting March 3-6 in Nashville, that they had increased their 2010 giving by some $4,000, the first increase in several years. The men gave a total of...

Fowler to Address Laity At 2011 Annual Conference Session

  The Rev. Faith Fowler, who directs one of United Methodism’s most extensive and multi-faceted ministries with the poor, will speak directly to laity during the 2011 Detroit Annual Conference which will be meeting in Adrian May 19-22.    As chief executive for Cass Community Social Services (CCSS) since 1994, Fowler oversees fiscal, administrative, and program development for a human service agency that works with the hungry, homeless, seniors, unemployed,...