Questions?
Contact Jody Pratt
Volunteers in Mission Coordinator
[email protected]
616-292-4908
To register a VIM team and request insurance
UMVIM-NCJ Webpage
UMVIM-NCJ Newsletters
Scholarships
*To qualify for VIM first-time scholarships, a team must have at minimum, one trained adult. It is highly recommended for VIM Mission Journeys. Michigan VIM trainer: Jody Pratt, [email protected]
First-time scholarship participants are eligible for NCJ trip insurance reimbursements.
Download the scholarship criteria.
Donations are welcome for first-time international missioners ($150) and clergy grants ($500).
MI Volunteers Scholarship/Grant Fund
Information: Jody Pratt, MI VIM: [email protected]
SEEKING A WAY TO SERVE
Volunteers in Michigan serve under the North Central Jurisdiction Volunteers in Mission programs. VIM pairs mission opportunities that match your skills and mission needs with the right training to make your ministry a success. VIM offers both short term local mission opportunities and international projects.
VIM works with both individuals and church groups, both experienced teams and those just getting started. We launch teams that focus on everything from relationship building to construction, even medical and wellness. VIM services all ages and all levels of experience. Your first call is to our Volunteer Coordinator who can guide you to the appropriate training and trips. This is critical to the safety and success of every team. VIM works with federal agencies and insurance providers to secure national and international healthcare and emergencies.
UPCOMING MISSION TRIPS
DISCOVER Peru 2025
North Central Jurisdiction
The North Central Jurisdiction Volunteers in Mission is offering a combined Discover ... Mission Journey for young adults, aged 18 to 35, and an intergenerational VIM group, aged 18-80, to Peru this winter.
When: December 30, 2025, to January 10, 2026
Where: The Lima/Callao area in Peru. Participants will experience project work in health care as well as light construction work. The team will build relationships with our Peruvian partners and grow leadership skills and cross-cultural relationships.
Participants: Maximum of 10. Three adults and two Peruvian young adults/translators will be accompanying the group.
Important dates:
9/1/25 – Application and deposit deadline.
10/25-12/25 - Two to three Zoom meetings as participants interact and plan.
12/29/25 - Travel day. *Departures from the U.S. will vary by location.
12/30/25 - 1/9/26 - Mission ... Journey travel and experiences.
1/10/26 – Return to the U.S.
Cost: $1,600 for food/lodging, internal travel, insurance, project work (includes $100 deposit with application). Upon landing in Lima, all expenses are covered. **Airfare is extra. Rates will vary from $700 to $1000 depending on location.
Team leaders: Steve Blake, Wisconsin Conference, and Jody Pratt, Michigan Conference.
Applications and Questions: Jody Pratt, [email protected]
*Deadline: September 1, 2025 to submit the application and deposit or when the teams fill.
Looking for a Michigan Mission?
Sites currently open for volunteers:
- Cass Community (inner-city Detroit)
Contact Sue Pethoud, [email protected] - Motown Mission (inner-city Detroit)
Motown is reorganizing- please contact director email for information: Carl Gladstone, [email protected] - GCCP/Newberry (rural-poverty Newberry)
Contact Randy Hildebrant, [email protected] - East Winds UMC District Mission work
East Winds Coordinator of Applied Missions, Rev Carol Blair Blouse [email protected]
TRAINING INFORMATION
Michigan Conference Early Response Team (ERT) Basic Training
Volunteer in Mission Team Leader/Team Training Information
Volunteers looking to lead or work with a team for a domestic or international experience are encouraged to attend for certification. Michigan lnternational teams are eligible for scholarships for first time mission journey participants who complete the training. Trainer: Jody Pratt, [email protected]
TRAINING EVENTS
Early Response Team (ERT) Certification
Saturday, May 10, 2025
8:30 AM Check-in (for pre-registered participants)
9 am – 5 pm includes lunch and breaks, participant manual, and a t-shirt
Cornerstone Church, 1675 84th St. SE , Caledonia, MI 49316
Cost: $35 covers materials, lunch, shirt.
Payment due at the door. (Make checks payable to MI Conf Disaster Response
Instructor: Bob Freysinger, Senior MI ERT Trainer and Jody Pratt, VIM Coordinator
This training is for those who wish to be certified through UMCOR for the early response deployment.
Pre-registration required. Contact Jody Pratt at [email protected] or 616.292.4908 to register.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: May 1, 2025
*Interested in hosting a training? Contact Jody Pratt at [email protected] or 616.292.4908.
Long-Term Recovery Disaster Response and Volunteer in Mission Training
Saturday, February 22, 2025
9 am – 4 pm includes lunch and breaks, participant manual, and a t-shirt
Registration begins at 8:30 AM
Central Michigan University (CMU) Wesley House, 1400 S Washington St, Mt Pleasant, MI 48858
Cost: $30 covers materials, lunch, shirt. Payment due at the door. (Make checks payable to MI Conf Disaster Response)
**Please register prior to training.
Instructor: Jody Pratt, VIM Coordinator
This training is for those who want to work long-term on disaster recovery teams (usually 1-2 weeks), domestic or international mission journeys, or partner with a certified Early Response team. Trainer Jody Pratt is incorporating the two training sessions for those who do not want to be certified but still wish to serve under the UMCOR umbrella. We will offer the certification training in Winter/Spring 2025 as churches volunteer to host. Also open to interested Michigan Conference volunteers.
Registration and questions contact Jody Pratt at [email protected] or 616.292.4908
DEADLINE: Febuary 17, 2025
VIM STORIES OF MI UMS IN ACTION
Rice Packing at Annual Conference 2023
Packing meals forMidwest Distribution Center during 2023 Annual conference (Acme, MI). 5,000 meals were assembled in about 90 minutes by volunteers of all ages before the official start of the 2023 conference.
Sturgis First UMC Adult Mission Trip 2024
Sturgis UMC continues as a "mission minded" congregation with the 2024 trip to Reelfoot Ministries in Obion, TN. Pastor Sue Babb has video presentation and it always glad to share! Contact: [email protected]
Mission at Middleville UMC
Learn about the historic 2021 Detroit flood
The 100 Year Flood documentary follows a West Ohio ERT team into Detroit to see the flood damage and its impact on aging infrastructure. A 4-session Bible study accompanies the documentary and asks, Will people change the ways they live to reduce the likelihood of events like this for their neighbors in Detroit and around the world?
Last Updated on March 21, 2025