Welcoming Congregation Training

United Methodist Communications and the New Mexico Conference will be working together to bring a variety of training opportunities to the churches within New Mexico Conference.

Among the trainings offered through Communications Ministry Training Program will be Welcoming Congregations.

Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal

to the hungry, a bed to the homeless – cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help. That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything – encores to the end of time.

Oh, yes!

1 Peter 4:7-11, The Message

The purpose of Welcoming Ministry training is to enable every United Methodist church to have a welcoming ministry that effectively extends a welcome to visitors, guests, newcomers, seekers, members and the community all the time.

Lay and clergy members will adopt a welcoming lifestyle and serve as model leaders to develop a welcoming ministry in their congregations within two months of receiving training.

Main points covered in this training are:

• A welcoming ministry is foundational to every ministry of the local church.

• Welcoming is a lifestyle.

• Welcoming is everyone’s responsibility.

• Everyone should be welcomed every time, not just the first time.

• Welcoming extends into the community and worldwide Web.