GPconnect – Aug. 24, 2016 Urgent assistance needed to help Louisiana flood victims

The Louisiana Conference is seeking assistance as it copes with devastating floods there. The biggest need beyond prayers right now is flood buckets to help people clean up once the water recedes.

Bring completed kits to the Lincoln office by Sept. 9 and the Wichita office by Sept. 16. The Rev. Hollie Tapley, Great Plains disaster response coordinator, said any buckets assembled and brought to the offices by those respective dates will be transported to Louisiana.

Read a story about the flooding from United Methodist News Service.

See what each bucket should include and how to assemble it via the UMCOR website.

Read a story about the need from the Louisiana Conference.

Zimbabwe facing severe humanitarian crisis

A severe drought has led to a declaration of a humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe. Half of the country’s rural population of about 10 million people are expected to need food assistance by Christmas.

The drought has food prices and malnutrition on the rise from Angola to Zimbabwe. The Rev. Dr. Linda Louderback, Wichita West District superintendent, writes about the crisis and how the Great Plains Conference, as a Chabadza partner, can lend a hand.

Read her account.

Deadline nears for Leadership Institute; race discussion added

The Early Bird Deadline for Leadership Institute 2016 is Wednesday, Aug. 31. Join 2,000 ministry leaders from across the nation for inspiration, renewal and practical ministry tools at this annual training event at The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas. Workshops are filling quickly, so get your team together and register today.

In light of recent events, the institute leadership believes it is time to engage in meaningful conversation about race and equality. We are honored to announce the addition of a Post-Institute from 2-5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30.

“Leading the Conversation About Race and Equality in Your Community,” will be led by F. Willis Johnson, lead pastor of Wellspring Church in Ferguson, Missouri. It is designed to empower and equip church leaders to faithfully lead guided conversations on race and equality and respond confidently when crises occur.

Bishop Will Willimon from the Duke School of Divinity and Scott Chrostek from Church of the Resurrection will join Johnson for this significant and timely conversation.

To register, contact sharechurchevents@cor.org or 913-232-4157.

Continuing education for our clergy in the Great Plains

Preaching Rocks

Preaching Rocks is a workshop academy for sharpening skills in public speaking to effectively present the good news of Jesus Christ. Persons who can benefit from Preaching Rocks include:

• Those who are new to the preaching experience. • Those who are aware that their preaching isn’t to the level they would like it to be. • Those who want to become the best preacher possible (which hopefully is every pastor).

The leader for Preaching Rocks is the Rev. Dr. Lew Kaye-Skinner. Lew, who has been teaching public speaking since the mid-1990s. He directs the Writing Center at Bryan College of Health Sciences in Lincoln, Nebraska, and teaches courses in public speaking, communications, writing and religion. He is an elder in the Great Plains Conference and has been practicing public speaking since childhood.

This preaching academy will rely on group learning, consultation and support for one another to increase individual skills in preaching and worship leadership. Each participant will be asked to complete

a preliminary skills assessment and to invite members of their congregation and their district superintendent also to complete the assessment.

Preaching Rocks group gatherings will be held every other month, beginning Sept. 16-17, at Grace UMC (1832 W Ninth St.) in Hastings, Nebraska. Individual conferences will be via Skype, GoToMeeting or Google Hangouts.

View complete details and the link to register at greatplainsumc.org/preachingrocks.

Leading Out of Drama

Does your church have drama? Most do, at some time or other. The question is whether or not the drama consumes the energy of everyone and takes over the mission of the church, or if people respond in ways to defuse it to a manageable level.

Lay people and clergy can benefit from a workshop called "Leading Out of Drama." Leading Out of Drama will help leaders transform the interpersonal and group dynamics that sabotage morale, engagement and productivity by helping to identify drama behaviors in self and others and increase self-awareness. This means that conflicts can be defused early on, leading to positive change.

Two Leading Out of Drama workshops are being offered this fall. Each consists of two one-day retreats.

• Sept. 26 and Nov. 3, at First-Faith UMC in Grand Island, Nebraska, led by the Rev. Adam Barlow-Thompson

• Sept. 20 and Nov. 1, at Chapel Hill UMC in Wichita, Kansas, led by the Rev. Phyllis Provost-Saas.

You can find the full information, including cost and registration link at greatplainsumc.org/leadingoutofdrama.

Experiencing Excellence

Experiencing Excellence, led by the Rev. Adam Barlow-Thompson, is an opportunity to receive an overview of the Process Communication Model (PCM). The assessment participants complete helps the individuals gain valuable self-awareness which can lead to greater missional effectiveness in the local church with further training and practice in PCM. This training is for clergy and lay members of local churches.

Three Experiencing Excellence trainings will be offered (you only register for one):

• Sept. 6 at First UMC (946 Vermont St.), Lawrence, Kansas • Oct. 11 at First UMC (2123 Forest Ave.), Great Bend, Kansas • Oct. 12 at First UMC (2710 14th St.), Columbus, Nebraska

More information and the registration link can be found at greatplainsumc.org/experiencingexcellence.

Enhancing Emotional Intelligence

Emotional Intelligence (EI) refers to a distinct combination of emotional and social skills and competencies that influence our overall capability to cope effectively with the demands and pressures of work and life. Professionals who have chosen to utilize it in their personal development report increased work and life satisfaction. The good news is that emotional intelligence can be grown.

EI is invaluable to a leader’s success as it enhances both personal and professional satisfaction. The EI assessment will provide participants with insight into their leadership strengths and potential areas for development.

The Great Plains Conference is offering Emotional Intelligence to clergy at a reduced cost as an investment in the gifts and talents of pastors. Clergy who register for Emotional Intelligence will participate in a 360 assessment, which provides opportunity for others to give their feedback about the pastor. Following this there will be one to three feedback sessions for the pastor and at least one SPRC member to meet with one of the facilitators. An action plan will be developed, identifying areas for development. Additionally, there will be a one-day skill-building session for clergy and SPRC members to attend. More information can be found at greatplainsumc.org/emotionalintelligence.

Check future editions of GPconnect for a link to a webcast recorded Aug. 23 about this subject.

Small Wonders conference to focus on young-adult ministries

Registration is open for the annual Small Wonders conference, which aims to help churches with fewer than 100 people in average worship attendance better live out the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

This year’s event will focus on presentations and conversations about young-adult ministry. Join us Oct. 7-8 at Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina, Kansas. The two days will be filled with worship, workshops and brainstorming about how to best participate in ministry to young adults in small churches in rural, urban and suburban settings. Young adults will be among our leadership for the conference.

The Peterson Brothers – from Assaria, Kansas – will perform their farm parodies of pop songs and talk about their faith. Learn more about the Peterson Brothers. And check out some of their parodies.

For more information on workshops, hotel options and registration, please go to www.greatplainsumc.org/smallwonders.

Contact the Rev. Micki McCorkle, coordinator of small-membership church ministries, at mmcorckle@greatplainsumc.org.

Back on campus

Pastors and church leaders urged to help campus ministries connect with college students.If your church has incoming freshmen or students already on one of our campuses, please send their contact information (name, email, mobile phone) to our campus ministers and chaplains so we can reach out to them.

Chances are, unless you send us their information, we do not know they are on our campuses, so it is vital that we receive contact information about your college students from you. Thank you for empowering us to invite, connect and equip your young adults during their college years! Grace. Empowerment. Transformation.

Nebraska

Nebraska Wesleyan University Rev. Eduardo Bousson www.nebrwesleyan.edu University of Nebraska – Lincoln Pastor Michelle Chesnut facebook.com/motiveUNL University of Nebraska Omaha & Creighton University Rev. Chris Jorgensen www.urbanabbeyomaha.com

University of Nebraska at Kearney Pastor Laura Stubblefield www.ucmunk.org

Kansas

Kansas State University Rev. Justin Jamis www.kstatewesley.com facebook.com/k-statewesley University of Kansas Susan Mercer Emporia State University Rev. Kurt Cooper facebook.com/UMCM-EmporiaStateUniversity Fort Hays University Rev. Kathy Bannister Facebook.com/groups/UnitedMethodistCampusCenter Wichita State University Jonathan Flesher facebook.com/cmconnectwsu Washburn University Rev. Cherie Baker Southwestern College Rev. Ben Hanne www.sckans.edu Baker University Rev. Kevin Hopkins www.bakeru.edu Kansas Wesleyan University www.kwu.edu Connect directly or use the online contact form. More info at can be found at www.greatplainsumc.org/campusministries.

Help sustain Camp Comeca by assisting in meeting challenge

Camp Comeca, a Great Plains Conference facility near Cozad, Nebraska, has enjoyed a successful summer, including more than tripling the number of campers it had last year.

In addition, the camp distributed 25 Call to Ministry cards and had a dozen campers make the decision to become followers of Christ, said Sara Shaw, conference coordinator of

camping ministries and interim director of Comeca. A nationwide search is underway for a new camp director. The camp has also increased its number of worship opportunities in a day with two chapel services, a Bible study and devotion time.

At the Great Plains Annual Conference session in June, delegates were told of a matching grant from the Nebraska United Methodist Challenge Fund that could raise $111,632.61 for Comeca. As of July 31, $21,601.57 has been raised – leaving $90,031.14 yet to be raised for improvements to the camp.

“We’d love to be able to meet our goal by the annual barbecue on Sept. 25,” said the Rev. Evelyn Fisher, director of congregational excellence for the conference.

Contributions can be made through a secure site at www.greatplainsumc.org/campcomecacapitalcampaign.

Four Conference men’s rally set for October

A rally for United Methodist Men in four conferences will be Oct. 7-9 at Lake Okoboji Camp and Retreat Center in Spirit Lake, Iowa.

“Run For God – How Steel Sharpens Steel” is open to men from the Great Plains, Dakotas, Iowa and Minnesota conferences, hosted by Iowa United Methodist Men.

The rally will begin with a work day on Friday. For more information on the work day, contact storminnorman@q.com. The retreat is from 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7, through a 9:15 a.m. worship on

Sunday, Oct. 9. The cost is $70 for the weekend and $35 for Saturday only, and includes all meals Saturday and Sunday breakfast. A Friday dinner is to be determined. Bring your own bedding and personal hygiene items.

Those attending are asked to bring hearing aids for the General Commission on United Methodist Men General Secretary Gil Hanske’s “Hope of Hearing” mission to Haiti.

Preregister by Oct. 5 by emailing laceyjim89@gmail.com. Entry fees will be collected at check-in. Golfers interested in playing can contact daveamyjo@msn.com.

Learn more about issues related to poverty, race, gender, environment

The Great Plains Annual Conference’s Mercy and Justice Team invites you to spend a day learning about issues related to poverty, race, gender and the environment. Leaders in the field will be coming from several parts of the United States including Lincoln, Nebraska, to share their knowledge with us. You do not want to miss this opportunity!

One session is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, at First United Methodist Church, 2723 N. 50th St. in Lincoln.

Online registration will open soon through GPConnect, the Great Plains Conference website and The Great Plains Facebook page.

For more information, contact the Rev. Kalaba Chali at 316-684-0266 or via email at kchali@greatplainsumc.org.

Grand Island church uses seed money for ‘peace pole’

A Social Justice Seed money grant through the Great Plains Mercy & Justice Team supported a wonderful peace pole celebration at Trinity United Methodist Church in Grand Island. Deb Brummund shares about the event:

“Rev. Dr. Theresa Mason wrote a grant to refurbish a peace pole that was gifted to Trinity United Methodist Church when the peace park along I-80 closed. A committee was formed. It was decided that the peace pole would be dedicated during the church's annual Neighborhood Night Out on August 2nd. After much discussion on the design, a format was chosen that allowed the word peace to be printed on the pole in 19 different languages. A local printing company took on the project and rewrapped the pole. Five committee members took the finished pole to the school closest to the church and met with each class to discuss peace and invite them for free food, an African drum circle and entertainment at Neighborhood Night Out. Fliers were also distributed in the immediate church neighborhood. Stickers were printed and distributed to the children with this invitation. Many children were interested in it all.

“In the evening of the Neighborhood Night Out, the United Methodist Men cooked 475 hot dogs. Tres leche cakes and sticky rice were donated by a church member. And a church group gave out ice cream bars. People were able to learn to make origami cranes. There was a drum circle with 40 drums. There was voter registration, and the Literacy Council, Justice for Our Neighbors-Nebraska and YWCA had information booths. The fire department, ambulance, police and Red Cross were all in attendance. Games and face painting were big hits.

“During the dedication a women's group sang “Peace on Earth.” Rev. Del Roper did a wonderful job giving the history of the peace pole and dedicating it. Prayers were repeated in English, Arabic and Spanish. Children were invited to place their hands on the peace pole to dedicate it. Everyone else held hands outstretched towards it. The dedication was followed by singing in both Spanish and English. The pole has been set in cement and is awaiting being finished with the addition of a rock garden around it. A trifold brochure was designed to explain the peace pole and show what language the words are. This brochure has been distributed to the church members during a Sunday worship and is available to anyone interested. In addition, there is a plan to further share ideas of peace with the children in the local school by distributing pencils and bookmarks that promote peace. Our hope is that this peace pole will be an inspiration for years to come.”

Social Justice Seed Money grants want to encourage churches to engage in justice outreach ministries in accordance with our Social Principles. The last application deadline for 2016 is Sept. 30. If you have

questions, contact Louise Niemann at lou_niemann@hotmail.com or Andrea Paret at amparet08@yahoo.com.

A flier and online application can be found at www.greatplainsumc.org/justiceandadvocacy.

Scholarships available for Climate Crisis and Peace conference

Bishop Ciriaco Francisco

This year’s peace conference at Lake Junaluska will take

place Nov. 10-13 in North Carolina. The theme of the

conference is “The Climate Crisis and Peace.” United

Methodist Bishop Ciriaco Francisco from the Philippines

will be one of the keynote speakers. His island is already

suffering greatly from climate change. But current global

climate models fail to take into consideration the

evaporation taking place on small islands.

Climate change affects communities worldwide. These

days, we especially hold in prayer our sisters and brothers

in the southern parts of our country who struggle with

the extreme flooding happening there. God calls us to

care for God’s creation. Please consider attending this

conference and bringing back action steps we can take

right here in the Great Plains Conference.

Scholarships to attend the peace conference are available through Great Plains Peace with Justice

Ministries. Early Bird Registration is Sept. 1.

For information and registration go to lakejunaluska.com/peace or to

https://www.facebook.com/LakeJunaluskaPeaceConference.

For information about the scholarships, contact Andrea Paret, Great Plains Peace with Justice

coordinator, at amparet08@yahoo.com.

Updates from Nigeria

Nigeria orphanage director gets van back on the road

With the help of donations from the annual conference session and from individual churches across the conference, Simon Benjamin, the Nigeria orphanage director was able to get the van fixed and back on the road. Trips to local churches, to student medical appointments and other administrative

needs can now be accommodated with transportation. In addition to new tires, several mechanical problems were solved and new parts installed.

A drought is currently forcing up food prices for the orphanage. Those wishing to donate to the Great Plains Conference Advance set up for the orphanage can make checks payable to the conference treasure or to your local church and write Advance 300 Nigeria Orphanage on the memo line. Donations can be placed in your church's offering plate or send it to Conference Treasurer, 4201 SW 15th Street, PO Box 4187, Topeka, KS 66604.

Don't forget the opportunity for children to give through Nickels for Nigeria or use your own local fund development idea to draw attention to the project.

See a PowerPoint presentation with recent photos from Nigeria.

Orphanage receives food stuffs from Women Affairs and Social Development

The Honorable Minister of Women's Affairs and Social Development Senator A'isha Jaummai Alhassan responded with a delivery of food stuffs to aid the orphanage during the food shortage. Photos included in the PowerPoint show the celebration and presentation as well as the repaired van in use (slide 6).

Nigeria Mission Partnership committee meeting set for Aug. 29 at 6 p.m.

The Nigeria Mission Partnership committee focusing on the Jalingo, Nigeria Orphanage collaboration with the Nigeria Conference will hold a conference call at 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 29.

If you plan to participate, please contact Kathryn Witte at kathrynwitte75@yahoo.com.

The agenda will include an update on the students, a financial update as well as future goals.

EmberHope seeks United Methodists to serve on its board of directors

EmberHope is seeking United Methodists who have a passion and commitment in

serving at risk youth, families and other vulnerable populations in Kansas to serve as board members. Board members lead and advocate on behalf of its mission “Sparking Change to Improve Lives.”

The following areas are desired to diversify the expertise of the EmberHope board structure.

• Health care administration • Nonprofit business administration • Fundraising/development

• Social services administration • Primary, secondary and post-secondary education • Marketing/media experience

To learn more about EmberHope, board member responsibilities and bylaws contact Shelley Duncan, EmberHope president and CEO, at 316-529-9100 ext. 8127 or sduncan@emberhope.org.

Golf scramble to benefit Camp Horizon

A golf scramble to benefit the Great Plains Conference’s Camp Horizon near Arkansas City, Kansas, is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, at Quail Ridge Golf Course in Winfield, Kansas.

The four-person scramble is limited to the first 30 teams. The entry fee is $70 per person or $280 per team, or $60 for a Quail Ridge pass holder. Fees include a green fee and cart, prizes, range balls and lunch.

There will be men’s and women’s contests, closest to the pin, longest putt, longest drive, closest to the line and a hole-in-one contest.

A cash back Skins game is $20, with two mulligans for $5. There will be a traveling trophy for the low net church team.

The deadline for entry is Wednesday, Sept. 7. To enter, call the Quail Ridge golf shop, 620-221-5645 or 1-800-676-3880, or email jwheatcroft@winfieldks.org.

Trousdale, Kansas, church celebrates 100 years of ministry

Trousdale United Methodist Church in Kansas celebrated its 100th anniversary Aug. 14.

Pastor Jeff Mildren led the service, and nine former pastors attended the service:

Rev. Elaine Lord, Robert Brooks, Doyle Carroll, Harlan Rittgers, Bill Salmon, Don Zook, David Upp, Byoung Lee and John Paulin.

After the worship service, the church celebrated with a reception, at which more than 160 people signed the register.

Newsletters

• Global Ministries: connectNmission • Ministry Matters: Aug. 22, 2016 • UMC Development Center: Spiritual Giving • United Methodist Communications: MyCom • Lewis Center for Church Leaders: Leading Ideas • Cokesbury: Array of Giving Resources

Opinion

In Layman’s Terms: Todd Seifert, conference communications director, writes about how you can help people who have lost their homes to catastrophic flooding in Louisiana. Jurisdictional Conference opens intern’s eyes to inner workings of the church: Kylie Stamper, a communications intern with the Great Plains Conference this summer, provides a column reflecting on her time serving as a page at the South Central Jurisdictional Conference in July in Wichita.

Letter to the Editor: ‘Compassionate compromise’ reached in Rev. Meyer case

I just saw the article referencing Rev. Cynthia Meyer's involuntary suspension. I believe you have reached a compassionate compromise while we wait for the Council of Bishops to return a recommendation to our General Conference.

Thank you for enforcing our Discipline.

Rev. David Cooper Elder, North Georgia Conference

Classifieds

• Printer for sale • Hand bells for sale

To view these and other classifieds, go to greatplainsumc.org/classifieds.