Native American Offering Enriches Heritage, Outreach
For the past two years – thanks to the Native American Ministries Sunday offering – Carson Jones and his daughter, Sade, have attended summer conferences of the Southeast Jurisdiction Association for Native American Ministries at the United Methodist Center at Lake Junaluska, North Carolina.
'Rich in the love of God'
Triad Church is a "Native American church that strives to have Native style worship and celebrate Native traditions," says Strickland. Many of its 110 members "are retired and live on Social Security. We are not a rich church, but we are rich in the love of God. "Many Native people come to the Triad area searching for a church, and they find us," she adds. "We have many poor people, and we have middle income, but we don't look at socioeconomic conditions. We look at the heart. "Carson is just one example of a person (moving from) being homeless to owning his own home from the time he joined our church." Native American Ministries Sunday reminds United Methodists of the contributions made by Native Americans to the church as well as to society. The financial gifts benefit Native American ministries, help preserve a rich cultural heritage and empower local outreach within annual conferences and across the United States. They also provide seminary scholarships for Native Americans. "We desire to be like Jesus, so we work hard to show God's love in our communities," Strickland says. "Our first full-time pastor received help while in seminary from Native American Ministries Sunday. "Native American Ministries Sunday is crucial for native people who go to conferences because many of them live on fixed incomes," she continues. "Without the offering, many of our church members could not attend the summer conference." Heather Peck Travis is a freelance journalist living in Glasgow, Ky. RELATED ARTICLES AND RESOURCES School’s leadership program nurtures Native Americans Native American Ministries Sunday Pastor and Leader's Kit 21st century worship resources for Native American Ministries SundayResources for Vital Congregations
CHURCH LEADERSHIP
Lewis Center for Church Leadership
Lewis Center for Church Leadership: Books
Lewis Center for Church Leadership: Serve Your Neighbor
GBHEM Leadership Resources
Living Faithfully: Human Sexuality and the United Methodist Church
Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations
Ted Talks: The Power of Vulnerability
Ted Talks: The Price of Invulnerability
Meditations on the Ministry of All Christians
DISCIPLE FORMATION:
A Disciple’s Path; A Guide for United Methodist
Lewis Center for Church Leadership: Adult Christian Studies from the Wesley Ministry Network
Traveling Together: A Guide for Disciple Forming Congregations
WESLEYAN STUDIES:
Living As United Methodist Christians
Methodist Doctrine: The Essentials
Reclaiming our Wesleyan Tradition: John Wesley’s Sermons for Today
John Wesley Sermons: Anthology
REACHING PEOPLE:
Evangelism & Theology in the Wesleyan Spirit
Fresh Expressions: Dinner Church
Lewis Center for Church Leadership: Reach New Disciples
Lewis Center for Church Leadership: 50 Ways to Reach People
Community: The Structure of Belonging
RESOURCES TO CONNECT WITH THE COMMUNITY:
GRANTS:
The Royce and Jane Reynolds Ministry Fund Grants
OTHER:
The Appalachian District Church Vitality Team has been prayerfully seeking ways to help support you and the ministries of your local congregation during this COVID-19 pandemic. Together they have diligently researched and connected with others throughout the conference and our denomination to identify resources and offer them to you. We hope they will be helpful to you and bless you greatly in leading your churches and communities through this unprecedented time. We are very grateful to the District Vitality Team and other contributors for their great work on this resource.
This faithful team has created three documents, two of which you are receiving today. They include:
- Family Home Worship – designed to help families establish a regular worship space within their homes as well as a time where they can worship together.
- Tech Strategies – to help guide you in selecting effective tools and resources within your budget to best communicate in the digital world.
We believe these resources will be of great benefit to you. Also know that the District Vitality Team is available to answer any questions you might have in regards to the documents attached. If you have questions, you may email Rev. Howard Fleming at hfleming@wnccumc.net.
- Resources