As Michigan United Methodists, we have a long history of missional priority and focus. In this ever-shifting season for the Church, we are committed to renewing and strengthening our missional heart by reviewing, re-imagining, and praying our way to new approaches for engagement in mission.

EngageMI encourages congregations to lean into the Learn-Give-Act steps as Spirit led catalysts for prayerful, playful, and creative conversations and approaches to ministry. With the Spirit’s guidance, we trust that local congregations will use these steps to develop a missional identity adapted to their context and unique to each faith community.

SUGGESTIONS TO GET STARTED

• Gather a diverse group – not only the Missions Team - for a conversation about Engage^mi (be sure to include youth).
• Prior to the conversation, ask participants to read at least pages 1-9 of the Engage^mi program book.
• During the meeting, pray, imagine, and talk about what their 'Learn-Give-Act Goals' might be.

Learn examples:

• Ask for youth volunteers to visit the umcmission.org General Board of Global Ministries website and report back with what inspires them.
• Invite anyone to attend “Still In Mission” Events to connect with UM missionaries around the world with a brief report to the congregation.
• Invite all to visit umcjustice.org and to find General Board of Church and Society resources, Bible studies, and tool kits that they might like to use.
• Have a young person or adult send an email with a few meaningful questions (pen pal style) to a General Board of Global Ministries Missionary.
• Invite anyone to read a book, write a brief review, and send to 10 people in the congregation and 3 outside it.  https://uwfaith.org/resources/readingprogram/
• Form a pop-up book group to read a book and discuss. Report to the congregation what the experience was like and invite others to form more groups.
• Subscribe to the Michigan Conference MIConnect e-newsletter for breaking news about missions.
• Read articles on the Michigan Conference Mission Stories webpage for archived mission news.
• Read together: “Building Power Together: A Toolkit for Advocates in Leadership” from the General Board of Church and Society.

Be creative, be joyful in Christ, stay connected, and become an Engage mi Congregation!

HELPFUL RERSOURCES IN THE MICHIGAN CONFERENCE

LEARNING EVENTS

• Michigan United Methodist Advocacy Day, https://michiganumc.org/justice-and-advocacy/.
• United Women in Faith Mission U (formerly known as United Methodist Women Mission U, https://www.umwmichiganconference.org/).
• Volunteer in Mission & Emergency Response Team Trainings visit  VIM & Disaster Response Coordinators.

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES 

Children’s Hunger https://michiganumc.org/missions/childhungerresources/

Resources for learning, acting, and advocating; including a list of children’s books, some with video recordings. Highlights include:

• Maddi’s Fridge by Lois Brandt
• Lulu and the Hunger Monster by Erik Talkin and Sheryl Murray
• Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Pena and Christian Robinson
• Uncle Willie and the Soup Kitchen by Dyanne Disalvo-Ryan

To learn more, see Life Long Faith or contact the Michigan Conference Connectional Ministries Team.

MULTICULTURAL VIBRANCY

• Bishop Bard’s Anti-Bias/Anti-Racism Challenge.
• Courageous Conversations About Race.
• Intercultural Development Inventory.
• Michigan Conference’s Anti-Bias/Anti-Racism Education & Training.

To learn more, contact the Michigan
Conference Connectional Ministries Team.

HOST A SPEAKER

• Mission Personnel who are itinerating in Michigan or who can tune in virtually (contact the Conference Secretary of Global Ministries)
• Global Mission Fellows, young adult
  missionaries serving in Michigan (contact the Michigan Conference Connectional Ministries Team.
• Leader from a Michigan Conference Christ Centered Mission and Ministry Project.

UNITED METHODIST RESOURCES

• The Michigan Conference UMC Website contains the most current EngageMI program information, a PDF of the EngageMI booklet, additional information about Part 2 Ministry Partners and projects, and much more.
• General Board of Global Ministries, learn more about national and international ministry projects, mission personnel, and UMCOR, including disaster responses.
• General Board of Church and Society, learn about United Methodist Social Principles and what we believe regarding Civil and Human Rights, immigration justice, economic justice, environmental justice, health and wholeness, peace with justice, and women and children. Find toolkits for advocacy, tips on community organizing, and educational opportunities.
• United Women in Faith, for justice-oriented and biblically centered resources including the reading program, webinars, Mission u, and more.
• UM mission and justice related educational resources are also available online through: UMC Giving, Resource UMC, UMNews, General Commission on the Committee on Status and Role of Women (COSROW), General Commission on Religion and Race, Disability Ministries Committee, The Connectional Table, and Discipleship Ministries.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

WEBSITES

• The Lewis Center for Church Leadership, resources to help congregations engage their community, reach new and more diverse people, and resources on stewardship and leadership excellence.
• The Lupton Center, resources for deeper understanding and impact in empowering community transformation.
• SojoAction: Resources & Training, including a curriculum to help congregations have difficult conversations across political divides, and on important topics such as immigration, voting rights, and creation care.
• Red Letter Christians, an organization mobilizing individuals into a movement of believers living out Jesus’ teachings about mercy and justice.

BOOKS

Crossing Boundaries: Sharing God’s Good
News Through Mission by David W. Scott

Discovering The Other: Asset-Based Approaches for Building Community Together by Cameron Harder

Doing Justice: Congregations and Community Organizing by Dennis A. Jacobsen

Friendship at the Margins: Discovering Mutuality in Service and Mission by Christopher L. Heuretz and Christine D. Pohl

Grace Under Pressure: Negotiating the Heart of the Methodist Traditions by Joerg Rieger

Walking with Nehemiah: Your Community Is Your Congregation by Joseph W. Daniels, Jr.

When Helping Hurts: Alleviating Poverty Without Hurting the Poor by Steve Corbet and Brian Fikkert

VIDEO CURRICULUM

Doing Good Well

Vital congregations are increasingly committed to serving others through mission. And congregations are asking whether their good intentions always yield good results. Through engaging videos, presentations, and supplemental materials, Doing Good Well, from the Lewis Center for Church Leadership, explores the fruitfulness of mission efforts and provides practical strategies to help ensure your mission hits the mark.

 

Engaging Local Schools  

Through videos, presentations, and supplemental materials, Engaging Local Schools, from the Lewis Center for Church Leadership, guides your congregation in considering questions that are critical to the success of a school-focused service initiative.

 

 Seeking Shalom 

A six-part video series from the Lupton Center that challenges us to take a more holistic view of poverty, equipping teams to create real and lasting change. Hear from movement leaders in community development as you or your team are guided through core principles that go beyond meeting material needs and to finding “shalom.”

 

Taking Church to the Community

Through engaging videos, presentations, and supplemental materials, Taking Church to the Community, from the Lewis Center for Church Leadership, explores strategies your congregation can use to reach beyond its walls with worship, community events, ministries, and service — meeting community members where they are and moving them toward discipleship.

 

HOST MISSION PERSONNEL VISITING MICHIGAN

Throughout the year Mission Personnel visit, or “itinerate,” Michigan to share about their ministry and to build partnerships with Michigan United Methodists. Consider hosting visiting mission personnel at your congregation.

Contact the Conference Secretary of Global Ministries, for more information.