Risk-taking Mission and Justice
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- Risk-taking mission and justice is one of the six signs of discipleship in the Nebraska Conference
- Immigration Resources for Local Congregations
- Come to the Hill 2010
- Keep up with the Micah Corps!
- Social Justice Seed money available for 2011! Applications due by October 1, 2010!
- Working for an AIDS - Free World Grant
- Minds and hearts were stretched at Horizons of Faith event at FUMC in Omaha, March 12/13.
- Young Adults at Horizons of Faith
- Story of a Lay Missioner
- 2010 RTMJ Plan
- RTMJ Team Minutes
- RTMJ Resources
- So, what is "risk-taking mission?"
Risk-taking mission and justice is one of the six signs of discipleship in the Nebraska Conference
The above photo was taken during an extended work session at Camp Comeca in October 2009.Each person brings their own perspectives to the work of the RTMJ Team as well as experiences from their local churches. Together, through prayer and sharing, the team is continually striving to be a resource to local churches in the arena of taking risks and doing justice for the transformation of God's world.The RTMJ team leads in a bold and creative conferencewide ministry that Creates opportunities for young adult, lay members and clergy to deepen their faith, collaborate, and build their capacity to be disciples who can make a difference. It empowers local churches to:
Come to the Hill 2010
Join RTMJ at Camp Comeca on September 30- October 2 to engage with the Council of Bishops' God's Renewed Creation! Our special guest will be Jim Winkler, General Secretary of the General Board of Church and Society.
Below you will find the application for this event as well as a brochure to share with people in your local church.
- Come to the Hill Brochure
Download and share with others! - Application
Fill out this application and send it in right away!
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Keep up with the Micah Corps!
Our five Micah Corps interns are blogging this summer! See what they're up at the Micah Corps blog.Social Justice Seed money available for 2011! Applications due by October 1, 2010!
If your local church has a great idea to become more involved in risk-taking mission and justice work, but just needs a little seed money to get started, check out this information about RTMJ funds.
An example of social justice education around hunger is:
Research how people are impacted by hunger in your community. Ask the underlying questions of why are they hungry, form discussion groups to look at root causes of hunger.
An example of social justice action around hunger is:
Plan and implement a community garden in a lower income area of your community.
An example of social justice advocacy around hunger is:
Sponsor three letter-writing opportunities in your congregation to support specific legislation (state or federal) which would address the root causes of hunger.
Working for an AIDS - Free World Grant
In Nebraska local UM Churches have an opportunity to apply for a Grant that was started in the Fall of 2009 and entitled the "WORKING FOR AN AIDS - FREE WORLD GRANT." Now local churches are encouraged to initiate local HIV AIDS projects. The yearly offerings that fund the GRANT come from 25 % of the offferings for Global AIDS Fund in Nebraska near World AIDS Day December 1 each year. They need to be sent to the NE Conf Treas. Our goal is $1 per member.
Grants are due each year Nov 1 before the Nebraska UMC HIV AIDS Task Force decides how the grants are given. This task force, started in September of 2009, is part of the Risk Taking Misson and Justice Team in Nebraska. See the Grant form for more information. Also, see the SMART Goals form below to aid in your filling out of your application.
Become a NE AIDS Ambassador today to promote this offering: UM Global AIDS Fund
Let Andrew at NAP kearney know if you want to be an AIDS Ambassador for the NE UMC at Nebraska AIDS Project
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Minds and hearts were stretched at Horizons of Faith event at FUMC in Omaha, March 12/13.
Your Mission Share dollars helped send justice seekers to this gathering. The theme was Justice for the Common Good. Each scholarship recipient was encouraged to take the information and ideas for action back to their local churches.
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Young Adults at Horizons of Faith
Rebecca Albers, from Aldersgate UMC in Bellevue and Jennie Catlett from Hastings FUMC were two young adult scholarship recipients who participated in Horizons of Faith thanks to Mission Share dollars through Risk-taking Mission and Justice Ministries.
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Story of a Lay Missioner
Sandy Sypherd is a Lay missioner in Columbus, Nebraska. Hispanic/Latino Ministry began on July 1, 2007 at the First United Methodist Church in Columbus. Gary Main, the District Superintendent of the Prairie Rivers District at the time, asked her to work for the district as a Lay Missioner in the church. She has been certified as a Lay Missioner after completing Modules I and II of the National Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministries.
The mission of this ministry is to have a Lay Missioner/Pastor team that forms a partnership, and that this team will become an agent of change within the church and society that operates from the demands of the gospel. Ultimately, the mission of Hispanic/Latino Ministry is to make disciples of Jesus Christ by proclaiming the good news of God's grace and by exemplifying Jesus' command to love God and our neighbors.
To learn more about the National Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministries go to the website here.
2010 RTMJ Plan
The conference voted on this plan for Risk-taking Mission and Justice at Annual Conference in June, 2009. See how you and your local church can work with the RTMJ Team to take risks and seek justice in the courageous spirit of Christ!
RTMJ Team Minutes
Check back here on regular basis for the latest updates from the RTMJ team. You will find meeting minutes posted below.
RTMJ Resources
Check out these resources related to RTMJ! Just click on the link, download the resources, and share with all!- Get out of the Boat! brochure
Use this brochure as an promotional tool for RTMJ in your local congregation. Simply download and reproduce as needed. - RTMJ Flyer
Acquaint your congregations with just a few Risk-taking Mission and Justice opportunities. Download this flyer and share with others. - GBGM Young Adult Flyer
Pass this information on to young adults in your life! The General Board of Global Ministries has several domestic and international options for young adults to experience risk-taking mission and justice work!
So, what is "risk-taking mission?"
Nebraska Conference local churches are shaping ministries around six signs of discipleship. One of the signs is risk-taking mission and justice work.
As congregations address this particular sign, questions soon arise, "So, what is risk-taking mission? Isn't all mission, risk-taking?"
Bishop Robert Schnase is helpful at this point. He writes in Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations: "Risk-taking steps into greater uncertainty, a higher possibility of discomfort, resistance, or sacrifice. Risk-taking mission and service take people into ministries that push them out of their comfort zone, stretching them beyond the circle of relationships and practices that routinely define their faith commitments.
God uses such ministries to expose church members to people, situations, and needs that they would never ordinarily encounter and that reveal to them spiritual qualities and practical talents that, apart from their deliberate intention of serving Christ, they would never discover.
The most poignant of Jesus' teachings and practices were costly
demonstrations of unexpected love that transformed lives, families, communities, and the world.
Disciples called to risk-taking mission do not ignore "ordinary" missions such as bringing canned goods for a food pantry or putting mittens on a Christmas tree which are expressions of care and compassion, but a sign of a deepening journey of following Jesus calls each of us to discomfort, resistance, sacrifice and costly demonstrations of unexpected love.
As your congregation works on more intentional risk-taking missions, using Bishop Schnese's insights can be helpful.
We would like to share stories from congregations who are practicing risk-taking mission. Please send them to the Risk-taking Mission and Justice (RTMJ) Team at rtmj@gmail.com or mail to 3735 No. 39th St., Omaha, NE 68111-2621.