Craig Parker - Elizabeth City District Disaster Response Coordinator unloads cleaning buckets at Bethany UMC in Wanchese. The buckets were delivered by the NC Conference United Methodist Men. Most homes in Wanchese were flooded by Hurricane Irene. Photo by: Bill Norton

Updated:  9-29-2011 at 11:00 AM

Hurricane Irene Response 

Click here for the latest update of activity and information of outreach scope.

We have an immediate need for Casework volunteers, please click here for more information.

The NC Conference has activated a disaster response call center in readiness for Hurricane Irene at the Methodist Building in Garner, NC.    Volunteers are to help with our coordination efforts.

Anyone wanting to volunteer should email disasterresponse@nccumc.org or call 888-440-9167.

We have an immediate need for FULLY assembled flood buckets.  Please see Cleaning Buckets.

The mid/northeastern portion of the NC Conference has been significantly impacted by Irene and we continue to need volunteers.  Due to the critical need and the level of response to date, volunteers, regardless of previous disaster experience or length of availability are needed and will be deployed as soon as possible as per the guidelines found here.

We ask that everyone apprise their local neighborhoods for damage and needed assistance.  Please make that information available to your District Disaster Response Coordinator.  You can find an up-to-date list of District Disaster Coordinators here.   If you have such a team or would like to volunteer, please email disasterresponse@nccumc.org or call 888-440-9167.

For our NC districts and local churches, if you are willing to have your facility be used for work teams for this, or any, disaster, please fill out the Disaster Response Facilities Survey and send it to disasterresponse@nccumc.org .

Please also consider reaching out financially by giving to NC Storms Emergency Response – NC Advance #S-00176. 100% of every gift to this Advance will go to storm response.  You can donate on-line at:  NC Storms Response

You can also send funds to:  NC Conference, P.O. Box 60053, Charlotte, NC 28260.  Please be sure to note Advance #S-00176.

Here are some reminders with regard to Read more »

Bishop Al Gwinn calls on the North Carolina Conference for help in his letter about Hurricane Irene.  Please see his appeal at Bishop’s Appeal for Hurricane Relief

Volunteers work at St George UMC, Maxton, NC. NC Conference Board of Missions Inc. church construction ministry.

St. George UMC – Maxton … a great volunteer driven outreach ministry of the NC Conference Mission Team/Board of Missions.  Please come and join us!  To do so, please contact JP McGuire at:  (919) 920-7282 or jpmcguire@nccumc.com

A word from JP McGuire, NC Conference Lead Contractor – WOW! – what an incredible two weeks.  Volunteers and crew after crews on-site – and we have really moved forward.  The “crowning glory” was the participation of an UMVIM-South Carolina team from Bethany UMC in Summerville, SC this past Friday and Saturday.  This team of 11 contractors came to Maxton and got almost all of the OSB wall sheathing done and about 1/2 of the ceiling 2X4 purlins installed.  That saved me about 3 weeks of regular labor.  They were joied by a couple of volunteers from St. George UMC itself + 2 volunteers from New Hope UMC in Rowland + 1 volunteer from Beauty Spot UMC.  The St. George congregation provided lunch on Friday and the New Hope congregation provided lunch on Saturday.

This is what I wrote on my facebook page regarding this weekend:
Where do I see the face of God?:  -  When 11 people travel 3 to 4 hours to work at hard labor in the reconstruction of a church for a congregation they do not know, for no compensation, and they do so merely because there is a need – a need which their skills can answer, where God’s people are one-in-harmony, I see the face of God.

In addition to the OSB work, other work done:
New roof installed; new brick steps and wheelchair ramp built in front; all walls insulated; plumbing and electrical rough-ins completed; and framing, electrical, insulation (wall) and plumbing inspections all passed.

For the latest information and more updates, see JP’s blog at:
http://www.klipspringerstudios.com/Board-of-Missions-Contractors.html

Children readying for sleep at AGAPE orphanage.

Conference Contractor JP McGuire is leading a Construction Mission Team to Armenia with tentative dates of July 28 – August 12.    Construction experience is not necessary for this trip, just a willingness to be God’s servant in hands-on building ministry.  Approximate costs of the trip is projected at $3500 – all inclusive.

Our primary construction focus will be either (1) a hospital, (2) an orphanage, (3) a staff house, or (4) low income housing.  We, like all other teams/individuals working in such relief, will work where we are asked to work – according to what is the priority of our host in Armenia.

If any of our team members additionally enjoy working with children, or teaching/sharing specific skills with children (art, game playing, architectural drawing, photography, knitting, crocheting, basket weaving, sewing, etc.) time will be secured for such endeavors.  This is looked upon as a way of building upon the good rapport between our two nations, and a way in which the children/adults of Armenia may practice their English language skills.

Children being instructed in an AGAPE computer class at the AGAPE Christian Education Center.

There is a particular need for persons with computer skills.

The computers in use in Armenia are very old.  Persons able to teach on these are appreciated.  New lap-top computers are sought, and the ability to teach the use of these new computers is also sought.

If you are interested in this life-giving journey with Jesus to the oldest of Christian nations, please contact JP McGuire at:  919-920-7282 or jpmcguire@nccumc.org.

Read more »

Child at AGAPE Orphanage receives Christmas gift through your generosity. this Christmas season, let us who are warm, sheltered, clothed, and fed, remember there are brothers and sisters in the world who are not. In Armenia, the oldest of Christian nations, many struggle for life. Through your action, they will not be alone. Through your action, in the midst of despair, they will know hope.

Following this Christmas season, let us who are warm, sheltered, clothed, and fed, remember there are  brothers and sisters in the world who are not.  In Armenia, the oldest of Christian nations, many struggle for life.  Through your action, they will not be alone.  Through your action, in the midst of despair, they will know hope.

January in the NC Conference is Project AGAPE month.  Project AGAPE is a joint ministry with the Western NC Conference, proclaiming the name of Jesus in an area that suffered the devastation of a generation of communist rule and state-sponsored atheism, a war with Azerbaijan, and a place where thousands of refugees continue in a struggle to survive.

Please prayerfully consider supporting our brothers and sisters with an AGAPE offering.  If you cannot do it in January, please consider any other day that works for you.  Your gift could make the difference between life and death, spiritually and physically.   Jesus births God’s light into our existence, so that we may birth the same light into the lives of others.  Please help.

To download the AGAPE bulletin insert, please click:  AGAPE Brochure – AGAPE SUNDAY

To learn more Read more »

The Duke Endowment has generously provided funding for installation of restroom facilities or upgrade of existing inadequate facilities for rural United Methodist Churches in the North Carolina Conference.

It is hoped that these funds will be utilized for materials only, however, if you do not have adequate expertise in your congregation to provide the labor, or do not have the ability to fund the labor, please note the need for labor funding.  Complete and submit the application to the Office of Outreach Ministries.  Grant applications should be submitted by Dec. 13 via mail or fax.   The Missions Team Building Committee will determine grant recipients.   Funds will be disbursed by Dec. 31.  For funding guidelines and downloadable application, please see 2011 Restroom Accessibility Grants.

Early Responders - You will make a difference!

Two Early Responder Team training sessions this week!  

The mission of an Early Response Team is to provide a caring Christian presence in the aftermath of a disaster, under very specific guidelines that enable the team to be productive and caring while causing no further harm or being a burden to the affected community.  Classes are taught by authorized trainers credentialed by the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR).

The following upcoming classes are offered free of charge (including cost of background checks):

Saturday Dec. 10, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. at First UMC, 402 N. Main St., Fuquay-Varina  Phone  919-567-8384
Saturday Dec. 10,  8 a.m. – 4 p.m., Love Joy UMC, Substation Rd., Troy  Phone 910 576-4531 

Visit Early Responder Training to register for either session.

Impoverished Armenian children are loved and celebrated in the AGAPE ministry.

Project AGAPE Armenia, a joint ministry of churches in the NC and WNC Conferences, continues to serve in ministry with some of the most vulnerable people in the world – refugees and displaced persons in eastern Armenia.  Though the ministry remains critical, funding and congregational support for the ministry grows smaller.  Continued ministry beyond June 2012 is in real jeopardy.  You are invited to an AGAPE ministry meeting at the Methodist Building in Garner, on Tuesday, December 6, 7:00 PM – 8:00.  We will have an overview of the ministry’s history, look an current actions, and strategize about possible future responses.  Please RSVP to Kathy Reavis at kreavis@nccumc.org or 800-849-4433 ext 256.

For more AGAPE information, please see:  Project AGAPE Armenia

 The The Duke Endowment has generously provided funding for installation of restroom facilities or upgrade of existing inadequate facilities for rural United Methodist Churches in the North Carolina Conference.  It is hoped that these funds will be utilized for materials only, however, if you do not have adequate expertise in your congregation to provide the labor, or do not have the ability to fund the labor, please ensure that you note the need for labor funding.

Please complete and submit your application to the Office of Outreach Ministries.  Grant applications should be submitted by December 13, 2011 via mail or fax.   The Missions Team Building Committee will determine grant recipients.  Notifications will be made by …. and funds will be disbursed by December 31, 2011.   For funding guidelines and downloadable application, please see:  2011 Restroom Accessibility Grants

Today, through 10-Fold, we journey with our Missionaries serving in the U.S.  One serves here with us in the North Carolina Conference.    Read more of his story below, but before you do, please register at 10-Fold.  Today’s sponsor will donate $1 on your behalf toward the wondrous ministries of our U.S. based missionaries.

Gary Locklear is a General Board of Global Ministries Church & Community Worker and Home Missioner.  Gary is assigned to the Rockingham District Native American Cooperative Ministry in Robeson County North Carolina. Robeson County is one of the poorest counties in the US. Gary works with the thirteen Native American churches in the North Carolina Conference.

His primary responsibility is in the broad area of mission, living into the life of Jesus through Native American interpretation and communicating the story of the ministry.  Gary host’s numerous work teams during the year providing renovation to homes and churches in the community around Robeson and adjoining counties.   In such ministry, the lives of participants are transformed into a greater likeness of Christ, as they reflect on these acts of love and compassion, as they reach out and touch their neighbor, and as they discover Jesus reaching back to them.  It is disciple-making in the fullest sense.  And of course, Read more »

Every 45 seconds, a child in Africa dies of malaria. Millions of lives, needlessly lost each year. A continent. Entire nations…slipping away. Slipping through life’s precious net. Unless you hear the buzzing inside you.  Just Imagine …

It’s time we all join hands with Africa | On a personal mission to heal | Imagine no malaria | Then make it real. | Over a million lives, we’re gonna save | But only if you get involved today. | The bednets have been cast | But people can’t slip through | Listen to the buzz inside of you.  Be part of the Dream … be part of the Solution … be part of the work of Jesus! 

10-Fold!

What is 10-Fold? What’s The Advance? 10-Fold is a movement to raise awareness of projects of the General Board of Global Ministries around the world, supported through The Advance—the designated-giving arm of The United Methodist Church. This message of doing something (advocating, raising awareness, or giving) and watching it expand “10-Fold,” comes with the guarantee that 100 percent of all money raised through The Advance goes directly to the project you support or donate to. Join us daily, October 10-19.

By clicking on the site each day, you register your interest in a program, triggering $1 of support on your behalf, given by one of our sponsors: http://www.10-fold.org/ the project you support or donate to.  If you miss a day, don’t worry, you can go back to that day and still partner with the ministry by learning about and supporting the ministry with your donation.  Remember, you are the key partner in mission.  Only by your participation will these vital ministries occur.  Jesus calls us to journey with him in the transformation of the world.  10 Fold is a facet of that journey.  Please join us in touching the lives of the least, in bringing hope into despair, in proclaiming the saving grace and life of Jesus Christ!   10 Fold – Advancing the realm of God.