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UNITED METHODIST VOLUNTEERS IN MISSION (UMVIM)

Mission News

More news about missions can be found by joining the East Ohio United Methodist Volunteers in Mission Facebook group.

March 29, 2021

Virtual Border Education Tour Starts April 8
A virtual journey to the our southern border is happening in April. Discover what the UMC is doing in Tuscon, AZ and in the desert as they advocate, rescue, save lives, and live out the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Please note the Thursday April 8, 15, 22, and 29 sessions all start at 3:30 p.m. MST, which would be 6:30 p.m. EDT.

Contact Scott Morris via e-mail to register. Please spread the word among others who may be interested in attending. The sessions will run approximately 1.5 hours and all will be recorded - in case you have to miss a session or want to review anything from a session you attended.

Rev. Kathy Dickriede, the EOCUMC Director of Missions and Community Engagement, participated earlier this year and this ministry is powerful! She highly recommends taking to the time to experience it for yourself.

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March 19, 2021

Cambodia Virtual Mission Journey starting April 17
In 2019, an UMVIM team including Bishop Malone journeyed to Cambodia to strengthen the East Ohio connection with The UMC of Cambodia and the missionaries serving there. Help us strengthen and maintain that connection by participating in the upcoming virtual journey there. Mission days are Saturdays, April 17, 24, and May 1 from 8:30-10:00 a.m. The team leaders are Kay Martin & Nathan Howe. The event is free but registration is required. Register online and e-mail Westlake UMC with any questions.

UMVIM Team Leader Training on May 1
Director of Missions and Community Engagement, Rev. Kathy Dickriede, will be leading her first in-person UMVIM Team Leader Training of the year on Saturday, May 1 at Nehemiah Mission in Cleveland. The training is free, but registration is required. In order to observe social distancing recommendations, training is limited to 10 people, so sign up soon if you are interested! Full details and registration information can be found on the Missions Training and Events page.

UMCOR Kit Collection for Annual Conference June 7-13
East Ohio Missions is asking all churches and members to start collecting items for Midwest Mission (MMDC). Since Annual Conference is virtual this year, we will arrange for collection points around East Ohio. Then MMDC will drive through and pick up your donations. Full details are on the Mission Training and Events page, drop-off locations will be announced no later than May 1.

Missions 5K Run/1-Mile Walk June 19
The annual Missions 5K/1-Mile will be held virtually on Saturday, June 19. Participate wherever you are, make it a fundraiser for the mission of your choice, and share on social media using #EOCMissions5K. More details and ideas for hosting a group events can be found on the Mission Training and Events page.

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February 26, 2021

North Coast of Haiti Mission from Walt Merrill
Have a heart for mission but don’t know where or how to begin? Want to be a part of the Great Commission but are unsure of your call? The North Coast of Haiti Mission (NCHM) is looking for hearts that are ready to be challenged and changed by the people of Haiti. Our mission is to provide a Christian based education to children in Haiti. Working with five Methodist Schools in the Cap-Haitien Circuit, NCHM has helped with tuition, books, uniforms, teacher salary shortfalls, security gates, internet access, running water, new roofs, building maintenance, and even latrines. Our scholarship program currently supports 11 worthy students who would not otherwise be attending high school due to poverty. Although travel to Haiti is almost impossible now with pandemics and political unrest, this has not stopped us from starting to plan a virtual mission trip to Haiti in June and, with God’s help, an actual feet-on-the-ground visit to Haiti by the end of the year. If you have interest in one or both trips or would just like to hear more, please let us know. You can contact me, Walt Merrill, by e-mail or by calling (440) 328-5832. We are also a current EOCUMC Advance Special so it’s easy to make a donation to NCHM using Fund 9947. Find out more in our latest newsletter.

Covered Bridge Mission in Jefferson
A new ministry and mission is coming to Ashtabula County, Western Reserve District, and East Ohio Conference! The Covered Bridge Mission site is being established out of Jefferson UMC and their district ministry of H2O. They address small home improvement projects that other charitable organizations do not always provide, such as wheelchair ramps. They are looking to host mission teams in 2021. Find out more in their brochure. To send a financial gift use EOC Fund 9975.

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February 15, 2021

Tools for Missions in Local Churches
UMVIM Mission Academy recorded their winter 2021 virtual session and the topic was Local Missions Engagement. It might benefit some of your church and community goals for outreach and mission.

Watch online here, passcode is X&Ng&9Va.

This would be a great tool for a mission's committee to listen to before their next meetings. You’ll hear many good conversations and ideas about how to start a local outreach ministry.

Check out this video series from UMVIM for more mission tools.

Nehemiah Mission Fundraiser Dinner Delivered to You
It’s been a different kind of year so Nehemiah Mission, one of our Conference Health and Welfare Agencies, is going to celebrate their 17th anniversary in a different kind of way, with a Chama Box. You can now place orders for your very own Chama Box celebration. Each box comes with ingredients and a recipe for an authentic African dish, some awesome handcrafted gifts from ButterPear, the Nehemiah Mission of Cleveland year in review, and a message from Bishop Tracy S. Malone. Full details on the Nehemiah Mission webpage.

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April 30, 2020

UMVIM Team Leader Training
East Ohio has hosted two online UMVIM Team Leader trainings this spring. They both went well and if there’s enough interest we can host another! This FREE online training is limited to 10 participants. If you’d like to lead folks on a journey into the mission field locally, nationally, or internationally, this training is for you! UMVIM will be back to traveling again and the needs will be great. Some of the things we cover in the training are:

• How to build relationships, awareness and advocate with other like-minded people
• East Ohio Conference best practices and resources for mission planning
• How to promote, tell the mission story, recruit, and fundraise 
• What are UMVIM mission locations across the connection of the UMC?
• How to empower others through your leadership

Let’s be a community ready to get back to the ministry of presence and mission in Cambodia, Liberia, Cuba, Haiti, Ukraine, Mexico, and to the work of rebuilding Puerto Rico and other long-term recovery projects! The world needs you and me to be the hands, feet and heart of Jesus.

Contact Kathy Dickriede, East Ohio UMVIM Coordinator if you would like to be a part of a future Zoom UMVIM Team Leader Training.