By: Melinda Harwood, guest contributor On 12/12/2011
Topics: Evangelism, Vital Congregations
Both the Kansas East and Kansas West conference boards of Discipleship are working to provide resources to local congregations to help them become more vital.
In Kansas East, the Board of Discipleship is planning a series of events for pastors and laity.
Pastors, mark your calendars and plan to participate in quarterly “Passionate Worship and Sermon Planning Retreats for Pastors.” Retreats are scheduled Jan. 24-28, April 24-28, July 24-28 and Sept. 25-28. These retreats are an opportunity for pastors to individually plan sermons and worship, while sharing ideas and resources with other pastors. Contact Melinda Harwood at pastormelinda@gmail.com for details.
A spiritual retreat will be at Camp Chippewa March 13-15. This retreat is designed for lay and clergy who desire a retreat experience for deepening their spiritual bond with God. For more information, contact Paul Wolf, pastor at Parsons Wesley, at pastorpaul@wavewls.com.
The board also is putting together an information and networking guide for Vacation Bible School Planning.
There also are plans in the work for a summer workshop for church leadership on forming small groups within their faith communities.
In Kansas West, there are grants to help if you are a small church that doesn’t have the funds to purchase materials for Bible studies or Sunday school curriculum that will help members of your church grow in their relationship with God. There are also small grants of $50-250 available if you are planning to implement either of these programs: “Bring A Friend Sunday” or “Rethink Church.”
In addition to the grants if you have someone interested in going on the Walk to Emmaus or a Chrysalis Flight and need help with the cost, scholarship are available.
In recognition that the local churches are the primary place where people come to know God, and explore what it means to grow as a disciple, we want to provide resources directly to the local churches of the Kansas West Conference. We ask that you share your stories with us of how these grants or scholarship made a difference in your local churches ability to help grow disciples of Jesus Christ.
For more information contact Rev. Bethann Black, chairperson of the Kansas West Board of Discipleship at bethann.umcew@sbcglobal.net.
In addition to the grants and scholarships available to local churches, the Kansas West board of discipleship members have committed to be trainers for local churches. If you would like someone to come directly to your local church and lead training in the areas of “Rethink Church” or building a “Faith Sharing” congregation, contact Black.
The board is in the process of updating the “Bring A Friend Sunday” material, which is intended to be done by February 2012, after which we can provide that training as well.