Welcome to Engaging!
The Engaging Ministries Team was formed in 2008 as part of a new Conference structure.
The Engaging Ministries Team works with ministries beyond the local church. The team is tasked with developing and prioritizing related ministries and making the individual efforts of small groups effective and cohesive with the vision of the Conference, Jurisdiction and General Church.
Related Ministries of the Engaging Ministries Team include those ministries involving camping, youth, higher education, ethnic ministries, new church development, Hispanic and Native American ministries, missions, United Methodist Men and United Methodist Women. Information regarding those ministries may be found in the links to the right.
If you do not find information you need about a ministry, please use the search engine at the top of the page or use the feedback feature on the Contact Us page (link under the Quick Links at left) to let us know what information we need to gather and include on the website.
UNITED METHODIST COMMUNICATIONS sponsors
INNOVATIVE LEADERSHIP PROJECT WEBINARS FOR VITAL CHURCHES
The Innovative Leadership Project for Vital Congregations launched a new round of seminars on Saturday, September 24th, 2011. The Innovative Leadership Project is designed around a 7-month cycle that starts in September of each year. It is designed for churches in a group (District, Cluster, City) to gather learn together in Four Innovative Leadership Project Seminars. Between the seminars church teams and individuals work on various assignments with the goal of developing and improving various ministry areas in the congregation. To learn about the project go to http://churchleaderUMC.com.
The NM Conference Small Membership Church Committee provides a forum for discussion for both clergy and laity. They now have a discussion page on Facebook.
For anyone who is interested, we will be reading a book together in October--Vital Signs, A Pathway to Congregational Wholeness by Dan R. Dick. Please check out this Facebook page and get your copy of Vital Signs... Come and join the conversation!
Fishing for Stories: Spawning for the Future
Eagle Nest, Navajo, El Vado, and Heron Lakes are the lakes in New Mexico at this time of year that experience the land-locked Kokanee Salmon as they begin their final pilgrimage and spawn for the future. These fish, sometimes know as Sockeye Salmon, have a well defined life cycle. The spawn marks the end of one’s cycle and the beginning of another’s cycle.
Certainly the fisher men and women in the area flock to the waters at these times to catch of few of the tasty fish, high in the healthy Omega-3 fatty acids. I don’t believe the fishers have dietary health on their minds while trying to fill an ice-chest with Sockeye. It is easy to become obsessed in a past-time like fishing. As Christians, we are taught to be fishers of men and women, but do we develop the same passion or obsession in our pursuit?
Now, my District Superintendent and the Bishop may think me obsessed with fishing . . . but I don’t. I guess it depends on your perspective. Today I display my fishing versatility as I am fishing for a few good stories to share with our sisters and brothers in the conference.
Our Christian ministry runs in cycles of spawning the new to harvesting the mature with a lengthy growth and development period in the middle. This is the season of the harvest. We are seeking those stories where your group or personal ministry has been productive in the spawning, development, or harvest of making Christians and transforming the world.
Where do you see our individual members or the church engaging the world around us? What examples do you see where we have cooperated with others outside our walls to help others in need?
It is as important for us to share our stories and successes to spawn the new generation of Christians to start their own life cycle as Christians. Like the Sockeye Salmon, our cycle is broken if we do not develop and teach the next generation and demonstrate productive life cycles. Better yet, let us be intentional in bringing our generations together to serve others outside the church.
If you have a story to share, send it to or in the conference office. We would like to share your story. Maybe your story will help spawn new ideas on how the New Mexico Annual Conference can make disciples of Jesus Christ and transform the world.
If you have an idea on how we can reach out to the world as Christians, please let me know. Don’t limit your thoughts to the resources within the church, but how can we partner with other groups outside the church to offer the love of Christ to the world?
Be creative. Think outside the box. Some examples might be:
- Hispanic Ministries working with local health officials to serve the need of the West Mesa barrio.
- Campus Ministries working with local businesses to gather food for food pantries.
- Ethnic Minorities Local Church Task Force working with educational groups to offer ESL classes in our buildings.
- 4 Corners Native American youth working with a local farm and ranch supply to raise vegetables in a community garden.
- A local church working with a local merchant to provide clothing or school supplies to the needy.
- A local church working with a parole officer to place ex-prisoners into jobs and affordable housing.
- Christians and Moslems working to de-escalate the hatred between each other.
Where can you and our United Methodist Church engage the world for Jesus?
(Hint....you may have to leave the building!)
Chairperson of the Engaging Ministries Team is Mary Rutland.
She may be contacted at 505-271-9491.