“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.

How to Contribute to an Engage^mi Project

Individual Contributions by Check

Individuals may submit a check to a local UM church for any EngageMI project.  Simply make the check payable to your local church and specify the project name and number.  

Individual Contributions Online

Individuals may donate online to any EngageMI Michigan project by visiting the Conference EngageMI webpage, Michigan Ministry Partners.  Find the partner project and click the GIVE button.  Payments by card or PayPal are accepted.  Save the acknowledgment for tax purposes.  This is the fastest way to get funds to the chosen Michigan project. 

Church Contributions Remitted by Church Treasurers

Send all EngageMI payments with the monthly Ministry Shares payment to Conference Ministry Shares, PO Box 72472, Cleveland, OH 44192-0002.  Be sure to list the project numbers and amounts.

Individual Contribution Directly to Global Ministries

Individuals may donate directly to Global Ministries Advance projects online, by phone, or by mailing a check. See General Ministries online or mail to Global Ministries/UMCOR, GPO, P.O. Box 9068, New York, NY 10087-9068. Make the check payable to Advance GCFA, write the name of the missionary or project, and the Advance number on the memo line of the check.

Congratulations 2024 Engage^mi Churches

Central Bay District: Auburn, Beaverton First, Coleman Faith, Edmore Faith, Farwell, Riverdale: Lincoln Road, and Saginaw First. 

East Winds District: Caro Watrousville, Clio United in Faith, Fostoria, Gaines, Grand Blanc, Laingsburg, Lexington, Marysville, Otisville, Owendale, Owosso First, Paint Creek, Pigeon First, Port Hope, Port Huron First, and Romeo.

Greater Detroit District: Carleton, Dearborn Good Shepherd, Farmington Hills Orchard, Grosse Pointe, Livonia St. Matthew, Monroe St Paul, Northville, Troy Big Beaver, Walled Lake, West Bloomfield, and Wyandotte First.

Greater Southwest District: Battle Creek Chapel Hill, Centreville, Gobles, Kalamazoo Westwood, Lake Odessa Central, and Scotts.

Heritage District: Bancroft, Dixboro, Eaton Rapids First, Hillsdale First, Holt, Howell First, Jackson First, Lansing Grace, Milford, Morrice,  North Lake, Oak Grove, Petersburg, Saline First, and Ypsilanti Lincoln Community.

Northern Skies: Escanaba First, Gladstone Memorial, Hancock First, Iron Mountain Trinity, Ishpeming Wesley, Lake City, and Munising.

Western Waters District: Georgetown, Grand Rapids St. Paul, Grandville, Grawn, Lowell First, Traverse City Old Mission Peninsula, Rockford, and White Cloud.

Thank you to our 2024 Honorable Mention churches which include those who returned their Engage^mi report with partial participation: Allen, Azalea, Belleville First, Calhoun County Homer, Coldwater, Colon, Denton Faith, Fenton, Flint Bethel, Howarth, Jerome, Mendon, Mount Clemens First, Nashville, Nashville Peace, New Baltimore Grace, Niles New Journey, North Muskegon Community, Sandusky First, West Branch First, and Ypsilanti First.

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