Extraordinary ministries by United Methodist Men around the world are among the best kept secrets in the denomination. Men are known for doing it, not talking about it. When men see a need, they respond. They get the job done without publicizing their accomplishments. As a result, few lay or clergy leaders know what men are doing even within their own churches.
Therefore, it seems appropriate in this report to local church presidents to lift up what is being done by the General Commission on United Methodist Men and the National Association of Conference Presidents. The two groups can take pride in what they have been able to do together. I wish I had space to fully describe all their accomplishments, I will only list them.
While we talk about our support for scouting ministries, we sometimes forget this includes the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Camp Fire USA, 4-H, and Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Funding for our scouting office is provided by the UM Men Foundation, which also provides funds for the toll-free telephone line for the Upper Room Prayer Ministry.
The Scouting Office also raises publication funds for Strength for Service to God and Country, a historic book of daily devotions that has been distributed to some 435,000 people; most of the books are provided free to military personnel.
During a 12-year partnership with the Society of St Andrew, UM Men have contributed $2.3 million to Meals for Millions. Ninety percent of these funds are used to feed poor people. UM Men have also led 50,000 volunteers in 4,000 gleaning efforts to provide 19.7 million pounds of produce for more than 11,000 feeding agencies.
UM Men also support Hope for Hearing, a project that provides hearing aids for children in Haiti. Often, this program enables kids to hear for the first time.
UM Men participate in various mission project, such as UMCOR disaster relief; UM Volunteers in Mission, and local UM Men groups provide aid and manpower to mission projects around the world. According to local church reports, UM Men annually give over $14 million to various mission projects.
Spirituality is important to UM Men; we provide volunteers for the Upper Room Prayer Line Ministry; and we participate in programs sponsored by Wesley Building Brothers, Letters from Dad, Man in the Mirror, and Walk to Emmaus. UM Men realize the importance of their walk with Jesus Christ and are constantly looking for ministries to enhance their relationships with Him.
Training is paramount to UM Men. The NACP provides training for conference presidents at their annual meeting in March, and the commission trains persons to become men's ministry specialists and scouting ministry specialists.
The General Commission on United Methodist Men raises 75 percent of its annual budget; no other general agency in the UMC compares. We are able to do this through chartering local fellowships, Legacy Builders, Circuit Riders, John Wesley Fellows, Life Members, major gifts, and endowments.
This is only an overview of the activities of UM Men. Please free to e-mail me or contact East Ohio President, Leland Spencer at 330.499.3860, if you have requests or suggestions.
Help me tell our story. We are not the UM Men of 20 years ago - or even 10 years ago. Huge strides are being made to improve our ministry to men in and beyond local churches. New ways of communicating are on line, and we must share our story of these extraordinary ministries with every local church, district and conference.
Peace,
John Dowell
NACP President, United Methodist Men
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