Engage mi

“Ministry With” – Foundational Concept for Engage^mi 

“Ministry with” is the foundational concept for the Engage^mi program.  Based on The United Methodist Church’s “Ministry with the Poor” Area of Focus, “ministry with” is grounded in Jesus’ practice of ministry, and our Wesleyan heritage. It is an invitation to move from models of “ministry to” into models of “ministry with.”   

“Ministry to” is defined as mission and ministry programs that merely “give to” or “do for” people. These programs can be highly efficient in distributing materials and resources to address immediate basic needs of food, water, clothing, and shelter. However, they can also create a hierarchy of “givers” over “receivers,” foster systems and relationships of dependency, and treat “givers” as saviors having all the resources and answers and the “receivers” as objects of charity and problems to be fixed.

In contrast, “ministry with” seeks not only to meet immediate needs, but, also, to foster mutual relationships where all participants are met with dignity, engaged in shared leadership, and growing together in God’s love. It is a challenge for all of us to prioritize people over programs, relationships over resources, and development of long-term solutions over quick fixes. 

The Engage^mi mission and ministry projects, here in Michigan and around the world, are all seeking to respond to this invitation. The goal of Engage^mi  is to encourage your congregation to partner with these projects and to meet the challenge of being in “ministry with” people in your congregation and your local community.

Download Engage^mi  2022-2024 Book - Released May 2022

Download Engage^mi  Update Form (PDF) - Released May 2023

Download Engage^mi   Report Form (PDF)

Download Engage^mi   Report Form (Word Doc)

2022 Engage^mi Churches

Thank you to our 2022 Engage^mi churches

Central Bay District: Coleman: Faith, Essexville: St. Luke’s, Mayville, Owendale, Pigeon: First, Shepherd, Vassar: First, Watrousville

East Winds District: Burton: Open Door, Clio: Bethany, Flint: Court Street, Fostoria, Gaines, Grand Blanc: First, Lexington, Mt. Morris: First, Otisville, Port Huron: First, Sandusky: First

Greater Detroit District: Dearborn: Good Shepherd, Grosse Pointe, Howarth, Livonia: St. Matthew, Troy: Big Beaver, Utica, Waterford: Trinity, West Bloomfield, Wyandotte: First

Greater Southwest District: Battle Creek: Chapel Hill, Centreville, Coldwater, Kalamazoo: Westwood, Scotts, Paw Paw: Almena

Heritage District: Carleton, Chelsea: First, Dixboro, Jackson: First, Milford, Monroe: St Paul, North Lake, Northville: First, Oak Grove, Reading, Saline: First, Walled Lake, Ypsilanti: First, Ypsilanti: Lincoln Community

Midwest District: Byron Center: Carlisle, Edmore: Faith, Grandville, Ionia: LeValley, Lowell: First, Pierson: Heritage

Mid-Michigan: Bancroft, Holt, Laingsburg, Lake Odessa: Central, Mason: First, Owosso: First, Shaftsburg

Northern Skies: Amasa: Grace, Crystal Falls: Christ, Escanaba: First, Gladstone: Memorial, Hancock: First, Iron Mountain: Trinity, L’Anse, Munising

Northern Waters District: Grawn, Lake City, Ludington

Thank you to our 2022 Honorable Mention churches which include those who returned their Engage^mi report with partial participation:

Allen, Azalia, Bellevue, Bellville, Berrien County: Lakeside, Bronson: First, Byron Center, Cadillac: South Community, Capac, Cedar Springs, Colon, Crystal Valley, Delta Mills, Delton: Faith, Detroit: Central, Empire, Flint: Bethel, Flint: Hope, Gaines, Ganges, Georgetown, Gladwin: Wagarville Community, Grand Ledge: First, Grass Lake, Gull Lake, Gunnisonville, Harper Woods: Redeemer, Hesperia, Hillsdale: First, Homer: Calhoun County, Howell, Jerome, Kendall, Leighton, Marion, Morrice, Mt. Morris, Nashville, Nashville: Peace, New Hudson, Newton, Oscoda, Owosso: Trinity, Paw Paw, Pinconning, Port Hope, Portage: Pathfinder, Rockford, Saginaw: First, Shelby, Sturgis, Traverse Bay, Union City, West Branch: First, White Cloud, Williamston.