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MISSIONS & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

UMVIM Teams

United Methodist Volunteers In Mission (UMVIM) is a grassroots movement within The United Methodist Church designed to provide an official channel for people to offer their skills and talents for Christian service at home and around the world on short term journeys.

The work of teams includes building relationships, constructing and refurbishing mission facilities, teaching, witnessing, conducting medical clinics, adult Bible study, or children’s vacation Bible school (VBS), and serving in disaster relief efforts around the world.

The UMVIM network offers guidance, organization, and training for serving with the poor, building churches, and assisting in disaster response, community health, and leadership training. You may serve as an individual or be part of a team of 10-16 people.

When you are part of an UMVIM team, you participate in each of the Four Areas of Focus of The United Methodist Church: you develop principled leaders, engage in ministry with the poor, improve global health, and create new and renewed faith communities. Living as a disciple, being the hands, feet, and heart of Jesus Christ in this way, makes new disciples and transforms the world.

UMVIM Mission Partnerships

The new approach to mission partnerships emphasizes forming relationships in the communities in which we work together. Instead of simply responding to mission as needs-based, short-term relief, the new vision of partnership embraces asset-based, long-term development and advocacy. Partners commit to one another through an understanding that we all bring gifts and strengths to solutions, and that needs and solutions must nurture capacity building, empowerment, ownership, and development.

To receive funding for UMVIM mission partnerships, you must be in relationships through the connectional ministries with The United Methodist Church, Global Ministries, or affiliated organizations in host countries. Learn more about our denomination’s In Mission Together 50/50 Partnership.

UMVIM Local Mission Sites

Blue Rose Mission, Mansfield
Covered Bridge Mission, Jefferson 
Epworth Center Work Mission, Bethesda
North Street Mission, Wooster 
The Nehemiah Mission, Cleveland
Urban Mission, Steubenville

UMVIM National Mission Sites

Eastbrook Mission Barn, Pennsylvania
Midwest Mission Distribution Center, Illinois, Contact: Sandy Bittner E-mail
McCurdy Ministries, New Mexico
S.O.W.E.R. Henderson Settlement, Kentucky
NCJ UMVIM, North Central Jurisdiction
Youth Mission Trips, Contact: Kathy Dickriede E-mail

UMVIM International Mission Sites

AFRICA

Liberia
Camphor Mission Station, Contact: Jason Hockran E-mail
Ganta, Contact: Jim Szakacs E-mail
Farmer to Farmer, Contact: Pryde Bass E-mail or Robin Dillon E-mail

Sierra Leone
Mercy Hospital in the Bo region, Contact: Constance Clark E-mail

Zimbabwe
Africa University, Contact: Laura Jaissle E_mail
Emsizini, Contact: Russ Ham E-mail or John Parker E-mail
Precious Life Foundation, Contact: Bruce Hitchcock E-mail
ZOE Ministry, Contact: Tom Koop E-mail

ASIA AND PACIFIC

Cambodia, Contact: Nathan Howe E-mail
Philippines, Contact: Armando Arellano E-mail

EUROPE AND EURASIA

Russia/Ukraine Contact: Vernon Palo E-mail

LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

Cuba, Contact: Allan Bevere E-mail 
Haiti, Contact: Tom Sperl E-mail or Suzanne Lewis E-mail
Guatemala, Contact: Kimberly Arbaugh E-mail
Mexico, Contact: Tammy Kuntz E-mail or Carragan Deeks E_mail
Peru, Contact: Kathy Dickriede E-mail