The pastors of Whiting UMC (near Chicago), Benson Chapel (near Danville, IL), and a layman from Yorktown UMC (near Muncie) got together for a one-hour workshop on Sending of the Saints led by Ed Fenstermacher (in Fort Wayne).  How can people in the four corners of the North Indiana Conference afford the time and travel expense to meet for an hour?  The answer, the workshop happened in cyberspace.  Well, actually it was conducted over the phone, with each participant viewing simultaneously Ed’s computer screen. 

This is what Bob from Yorktown says about the experience… "I think we should have more of these on-line workshops since it is very convenient:  a. no travel costs; b. can eat breakfast/drink coffee/relax/dress very casually; c. can ask questions easily; d. can interact with others and hear their concerns; e. the informality of the presentation and the thoroughness of the presentation; and, f. the very low cost to me to attend the workshop (only cost was 1 hour of 
time…phone tolls not an issue). I’m looking forward to more of this type of exchange!!!"

Bob is one of 18 people who have participated thus far in an on-line workshop.  If you’ve missed out, you’re in luck because more are planned, including a new one on Radical Hospitality!  Here is a list…

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Has your church successfully reached out to persons in your community?  Maybe it was through a summer Vacation Bible School, fall recreational program, or food pantry.  Maybe it was through a special small group or through a church-sponsored pre-school or daycare.  Now that you’ve reached them, do you need help in discipling them and assimilating them into a faith community–a small group, worship service, or your church family?

If so, don’t miss this upcoming Sending of the Saints training event, which will be held on Sunday, September 21st, from 3pm-5:30pm EDT, at First UM Church in Wabash.  Cost is $25, which covers one or more persons from a church.  If you register by September 14th, it only costs $15.

The training event will feature a panel discussion by churches that have been successful in this area.  It will be moderated by Rev. Kim Reisman, our conference evangelist.  There will also be mini-workshops offered on the following topics:

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The following is a message from Chuck Salter of MissionInsite, which is the North Indiana Conference’s demographic provider…

 MissionInsite is pleased to announce a new partnership with ReachingAmerica to provide churches with up to date "new mover" data.

45 Million Americans move every year and are looking to establish new relationships.  Using new resident data from MissionInsite and ReachingAmerica is an excellent way to enhance any church’s outreach program by connecting with new families in your area.

By clicking here you will be introduced to the power of having "new movers" data for your church.  As a special introductory offer, you will also receive a FREE COUNT of the number of new families that have moved into your area during the past 30 days. 

According to a recent web article by the Barna Group research organization, only 5% of American adults tithe their income to charitable organizations.  Nearly two out of every three adults made a contribution to a church, synagogue, or other place of worship.  The average amount given was $883 for 2007, slightly up over the prior year. 

So who are the most generous?  Nearly one out of every four Evangelical Christians tithed and 83% gave at least $1,000 to their church in 2007.  This compares to only 8% of Protestants who tithed, and 2% of Catholics according to the article. 

To read the entire article, click here.

Now that you’ve reached people outside your church–such as through a VBS, kids club, pre-school, daycare, food bank, recreational ministry, etc.–how do you help them deepen their relationship with Christ and assimilate them into a faith community? 

This is the focus of a special Sending of the Saints‘ training event that will be held Sunday, September 21st, at Wabash First U.M. Church.  The workshop, which will include presentations and mini-workshops from churches that have actually done it, will begin with registration at 2:30pm EDT, with the actual event beginning at 3pm and ending at 5:30pm.  There is a $25 cost per church; only $15 if the church registers by Sept. 14th.  A church can bring as many people as it wishes.  Contact Mary at mary@nicumc.org or phoning 800 783-5138 to register.  

For churches unsure as to where to begin their SOS outreach, consider participating in a free one-hour mini-workshop.  Choose a date that works well for you:  Aug. 11 @ 10am; Aug. 12 @ 7pm; Aug. 13 @ 2pm; Aug. 27 @ 2pm.  All you need is a phone and computer with an internet connection.  Contact Ed Fenstermacher at ed@nicumc.org to sign up. 

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The following is from a layperson from an NIC church.  It is being shared anonymously.  What’s your SOS testimony? 

"I was looking over some of the workshop material.  I think it is great! It will be fascinating to see if our church decides to participate.  We seem to have great difficulty in "reaching out" to the community.  We have difficulty reaching out to people within our own church.  For years and years we have had a reputation as being an unfriendly church…and guess what, we are.  People in our church do not even know the names of the people who live across the street from the church. I didn’t either until one guy wrote.  I handled the situation and went to see him and met other neighbors as well.  They were astonished to see someone from the church. 

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Greetings!  Have you had a chance to try out our new demographic resource yet?  If not, I encourage you to go to MissionInsite.  Remember, if you haven’t established your personal username and password yet, you’ll need to give the site our North Indiana Conference agency number, which is:  EL6D3.  (Please note this is only available to NIC United Methodists.)

I’m giving free workshops on how to use this new tool next month.  Contact me at ed@nicumc.org if you’re interested in participating in one of the conference-call mini workshops.  These workshops will be done over the phone using a shared computer screen.  So as long as you have a telephone and a computer that’s connected to the internet, you can participate.  There’s no charge and you don’t have to travel anywhere, so you can save on gas too!

I’m pleased to report from actual experience that if you run into a problem and contact MissionInsite for help, they will respond very quickly.  I also can field your questions.  Here are a couple I’ve had recently…

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  Is your church involved in an intentional effort to help its members discern whether they’re called to ministry?  If so, it may want to consider applying for a $5,000-$12,000 grant from the Fund for Theological Education (FTE).  According to a recent Newscope article, "the awards, funded by Lilly Endowment, Inc., go to congregations and church-related organizations that are involved in the lives, education and vocational discernment of young people in their congregation or local area." 

Park Avenue UMC in Minneapolis, MN, is one church that recently received such a grant.  It was for the church’s Light the Path project, which–according to the Newscope article–"provides training and guidance for both youth and their adult mentors, so adults may accompany youth on their spiritual journeys."  September 1, 2008 is the deadline for the next round of grants.  Click here for more information.

Other grants from the North Indiana United Methodist Foundation are also available for North Indiana UMCs.  For more information about evangelism and mission grants, as well as Christian Education scholarships continue reading…

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Save on gas and attend free workshops in the comfort of your home or office.  All you need is a telephone and a computer that’s connected to the internet.  Ed Fenstermacher will be offering two different workshops during the month of August–one on the new demographic tool that is now available to all North Indiana Conference churches and one for churches just starting their Sending of the Saints outreach effort.

Each one-hour workshop will be offered a variety of times at no charge.  Choose the one which best fits your schedule.  (Times are Eastern Daylight Savings Time.)  Each is limited to only 15 people, so contact Ed at ed@nicumc.org to reserve a spot for you!

Introduction to Demographic Tool —Aug. 7 @ 10am; Aug. 8 @ 2pm; Aug. 18 @ 10am; Aug. 28 @ 7pm

Introduction to Sending of the Saints — Aug. 11 @ 10am; Aug. 12 @ 7pm; Aug. 13 @ 2pm; Aug. 27 @ 2pm.

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August 10th is the deadline to apply for an Ethnic Local Church Grant from the United Methodist General Board of Church and Society.

The purpose of the grant is to strengthen ethnic local churches through education, advocacy or leadership training and development as they engage in social justice.  Grants are awarded twice a year: Jan. 10 is deadline for the March funding cycle; Aug. 10 is deadline for the October cycle.

An application form with grant description and steps to qualify can be downloaded by clicking: Grant Application.

The grants are administered through the Board of Church & Society’s Ministry of Resourcing Congregational Life. For more information, contact the Rev. Neil Christie, Assistant General Secretary, at nchristie@umc-gbcs.org.