Outreach
 

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Church of Excellence in Outreach


"Recognizing Churches with a Heart for Mission"




 
2012 Recipients

Alcovy UMC
Rev. Teresa Lilja
 
Douglasville First UMC
Rev. John Pinson
 
East Cobb UMC
Rev. Brian Germano
 
Hoosier Memorial UMC
Rev. Bernice Kirkland
 
Kelly Chapel UMC
Rev. Derrick Rhodes
 
Union Point First UMC
Rev. Bert Mathews

University Heights UMC
Rev. DonnAnn Weber



2013 - 2016 Church of Excellence in Outreach
 
 
Download Church of Excellence in Outreach Application  (Word Document)

Amplifying Information for Criteria

Use the Church of Excellence Application Form above to provide contact information. Criteria for qualification are listed on a separate page. List these criteria by number on a separate page to describe how your church has participated in those areas. Forward the information by mail/email to any of the members listed on the bottom of the application form. The deadline for receipt is January 31 of the following year.
 
1. A mission leader for your church will be the contact point for the District Secretary of Global Missions (District Mission Coordinator). This person must have an active email address and to be in regular contact with the DSGM.
 
2. Implementation of a Mission Strategy
 
Making Outreach a goal for your church will require direction on the part of the mission leaders. Take time to prayerfully consider your call to mission and outreach by being intentional and Biblically based. You may consider but not be limited by the Biblical affirmations of mission listed below.  Choose any biblical verse that exemplifies the mission nature of your individual church. 
 
                  Isaiah 42:6-9                                       Mark 1:17                                  Genesis 12:1-2
                  Isaiah 65:17-23                                   Luke 4:18-19                            Mathew 22:36-40
                  Micah 6:6-8                                         John 17:20-21                           Mathew 25:34-40
                  Mathew 5:13-16                                  Acts 1:8                                     Mathew 28:19
                  Ephesians 4:11-13
                                               
3. The annual mission event is a celebration of the mission ministry of the church and provides an opportunity to display mission opportunities available for your congregation. This event provides opportunities and invitation for those who may or may not have been involved in mission. This may be done by testimony of those who have participated in mission or by providing information to those who may not be involved. Support and information is available from your DSGM.
 
4. Participate in the Covenant Relationship program with a GBGM missionary or an equivalent of a Methodist sponsored missionary program.
 
The GBGM Covenant Relationship program is established when a church partners with a missionary commissioned by the General Board of Global Ministries. The church provides financial and spiritual support for the program of the missionary and the missionary covenants to communicate and establish a relationship with the congregation. Financial support is specified as $2,500 or more per congregation each year for 3 years or, for smaller churches, $5 per member per year. You may go to the web site http://umcmission.org and click on “MISSIONARIES” then “missionary profiles” or contact any of the individuals listed on the bottom of the COE application for help in selecting a GBGM covenant missionary.
 
This partnership is more than a financial commitment. It is a dynamic relationship where the church and missionary pray for one another and communicate regularly. By deepening its own awareness of the struggles and triumphs of the missionary, the congregation participates in a work that is truly connectional. A GBGM covenant relationship form is included on page 4 of this document.
If the missionary is not associated with GBGM the covenant relationship must be documented. A statement of giving must be provided with the application form. The amount given must follow the guidelines of the GBGM financial support as stated above. The missionary must be affiliated with the United Methodist Church (deacon or elder). 
 
 
5. Local missions are those that are in the vicinity of your church and are of an ongoing nature. It may be a woman’s shelter, food pantry, clothes closet, visitation ministry or any other local ministry that serves your community.

6. A mission project or trip that is not in your local area is a mission trip outside the community of your church. A trip to the Sager Brown UMCOR depot in Baldwin, LA to help assemble material resource kits is an example. Other examples: Action Ministries, the NGC Methodist Children’s Home, and Red Bird www.rbmission.org/Ministries or any one of the "Bridges” mission initiatives of the North Georgia Conference.You may know where there is need in your own county or district. A mission trip to another state or an international mission trip will also satisfy the criteria. This criterion emphasizes church (not individual) participation in a mission project that may be on going or of limited duration.

7. Pay apportionments in full. Self explanatory. 

8. Collect the following offerings or provide financial assistance to each of the following:
 
Housing and Homeless                                                  2nd Sunday in February
One Great Hour of Sharing                                             4th Sunday in Lent
Wesley Homes                                                             2nd Sunday in May
The Bishop’s Annual Conference Mission Appeal             Late May or Early June
The Methodist Children’s Home                                      3rd Sunday in September
 
9. The church or mission leader of the church subscribes to the New World Outlook. This is the Methodist magazine of mission activity, emphasis and work of the church through the General Board of Global Ministries. Subscribe online at http://newworldoutlook.org   Cost for 1 year is $24.00. (2013)
 
10. Contribute to or participate in an Advance project in 4 of the 5 areas listed:
  • Information for International and National Advance projects is available at http://new.gbgm-umc.org/. Click on the drop down “how to give” and then on “The Advance”.  Advance numbers are also available http://www.ngumc.org/pages/detail/663. Click on resources.
  • For material resources go to http://new.gbgm-umc.org. Click on “UMCOR” and then on the drop down “Get Connected” and then on “relief supplies”. This gives the information for relief supplies that UMCOR stores for emergency supply to areas affected by disaster.
  • NGC conference sponsored Advance projects can be found at http://www.ngumc.org/pages/detail/663 . Conference Advance projects are also listed on the GBGM website http://www.umcmission.org/ then select “give to mission” then “search for projects”.
  • Contact your district office to see if there are District Advances sponsored by your own district.

11. Support one of the North Georgia Conference Bridges Initiative. A detailed description NGC Bridges is found on the North Georgia Web site at http://www.ngumc.org/pages/detail/1613. Click on ministries, global missions/ministries and under “Equip” click on “Bridges”. Information about the Bridges and a contact person is available. Click on “workshops” to view workshops available to host at your local church or join other churches to share the information. The 2013 Annual Conference special Offering will be used to support leadership training for our Bridges mission partners. This criterion is satisfied if your church contributed to the 2013 Annual Conference Special Offering.