NC Emergency Management and FEMA are hosting a virtual outreach workshop for Houses of Worship about FEMA Public Assistance for storm-related damages. The training will be held on April 27, 2022, from 1 pm – 5 pm.
Thank You for Your Faithfulness & Courage
As we continue to see encouraging trends and begin to see aspects of our lives opening up, it is appropriate to pause and reflect on how COVID-19 has affected our lives and how we have responded. We hear you – we know this has been and continues to be a hard road to travel. But we have seen the stories of courage, perseverance and God’s faithfulness throughout the pandemic.
Laity and clergy have partnered to keep their members together and engaged. Mission and ministry have continued through distance and precautions, and new ministries have been born. Our conference support to churches has been strong throughout the pandemic, including purchasing or upgrading communications equipment and Zoom accounts, upgrading internet for distance learning, funding missional outreach programs and assisting with insurance and pension payments, pastor compensation, and church operating expenses.
We thank you for all you have done during these times of anxiety, grief, and discouragement – for your faithfulness, courage and resiliency to make sure the church was present in the lives of your members and community.
Disaster Ministries Training Retreat
On April 1 and 2, thirty-two Disaster Response Committee members and Early Response Team (ERT) leaders joined us in Goldsboro for a training retreat. Throughout the weekend, attendees learned about Disaster Ministries operations and received training to help prepare teams to respond to a disaster.
The event commenced with an introduction from Disaster Ministries Director Al Miller and NC Conference Disaster Response Coordinator Ann Huffman, followed by a devotional led by Rev. Dusty Sprouse. Butch Huffman led Early Response Team Training and Recertification in the Friday afternoon session, and Bryant Dodson led advanced ERT classes: Site Assessment and On-site Management. Following the session, the attendees gathered at MERCI for dinner provided by Wally Mills and the NC Conference United Methodist Men. Later Friday evening, Rev. Shawn Mitchell led an Emotional and Spiritual Care course.
Saturday morning, the participants attended Basic ERT training or a course on Chainsaw Safety, led by Cullen Whitley. After the morning session, participants had an opportunity to hear from Chris Baker, FEMA Region IV CEM, about FEMA’s recovery program. Everyone reconvened at MERCI for lunch provided by St. Luke UMC before the afternoon session. Some participants attended Connecting Neighbors training to prepare their church and community for a disaster while others learned about mold spray trailers and how to tarp a roof.
Thank you to our Disaster Ministries Staff, trainers, Wally Mills, NC Conference United Methodist Men, Chris Baker, St. Luke UMC, Goldsboro Holiday Inn Express staff, and all attendees for making this event possible and a great success. To learn more about training opportunities or how to join an Early Response Team, visit our training page or contact 888-440-9167.
Youth Week – Virtual Information Session May 9th
Parents, Youth Workers and Youth are invited to a virtual information meeting about the NEW Conference Youth Summer Camp, called NCCUMC Youth Week, July 11-16th. Camp organizers Julia Royall Johnson and Lydia Cauley, will host the meeting Monday, May 9th form 7:00pm – 8:00pm.
Please register to attend the meeting using the following link CLICK HERE. We look forward to seeing you all there and sharing more about NCCUMC Youth Week!
Native American Ministries Sunday is May 1
May 1 is Native American Ministries Sunday. This is an excellent opportunity to celebrate the contributions made by Native Americans to our Conference and to our broader connection. The video below features Louise Mitchell, Rev. Mattheue Locklear, and Rev. Dr. Kenneth Locklear. Please watch and share this video with your congregations.
ResourceUMC has provided a wealth of resources to share information about Native American Ministries. All of the resources, including bulletin inserts, pew cards, and guides for children and youth, are free and available for download now.
Native American Ministries Sunday is also an excellent opportunity to give to support these vital ministries. Giving is quick and easy.
COVID-19 Update for April 19, 2022
Happy Easter! Our Health Ministries Team is back with another update and helpful information from Dr. Wes Wallace. Thanks to Rev. Lindsay Collins, Health Team chair, for the video recapping the latest information.
Additional Resources:
COVIDActNow – U.S. COVID Tracker
Slide Presentation from Dr. Wes Wallace (PDF)