| "Across the Miles" in Mission | |||||||||||
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by Richard Arnold |
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Greensboro, North Carolina, November 20, 2009--Isaiah, prophet of ancient Israel, told his people that God was saying to them, "I will give you as a light to the nations that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth." This promise provided the theme scripture for "Across the Miles," a consultation focused on United Methodist mission in the Eastern Europe and the Balkan countries. More than 110 persons from nine countries and 14 US states took part in the three-day event, November 5-7, hosted by the West Market Street United Methodist Church in Greensboro, North Carolina, and sponsored by the In Mission Together program of the General Board of Global Ministries. West Market Street Church played a significant role in planning and conducting the consultation, which was the sixth for In Mission Together Eastern Europe and Balkans. The purpose was to:
Participants saw and heard how God is using In Mission Together mission partnerships to energize and transform churches on both sides of the Atlantic. In Mission Together Eastern Europe and Balkans incorporates a line of countries beginning with Poland in the north and extending south to Macedonia. Two hours of the consultation on two evenings were broadcast live on the internet, reaching another 150 persons. The videos of these sessions are available on the Eastern Europe and Balkans In Mission Together group in Facebook: EE&B In Mission Together. Included in one of the webcasts was the singing of a theme song "Across the Miles" by the composer, the Rev. Curt McKee. Other parts streamed live were the introductions of all the Europeans present, a visit with "John Wesley," enacted by Dr. Verne Hoshal, and a drama, "Crossing to the Other Side" presented by The Strangely Warmed Players, a youth group from First United Methodist Church of Ann Arbor, Michigan. Also broadcast was the closing service of worship led by pastors who represented the In Mission Together partnership between the US and Bulgaria. The service concluded with Holy Communion. Each day began with a Bible study led by the Rev. Üllas Tankler of the Global Ministries staff, with the themes of "Who is the light to whom?" and "Where are the ends of the earth?" One of the highlights was a "Journey Across the Miles," with small groups symbolically moving from country to country to hear presentations and get their "passports" stamped. Workshops covered such topics as the nature of an In Mission Together partnership, quality partnership communications, building healthy partnerships across cultural borders, money issues in a down economy, youth ministry and mission, and strategies for successful mission partnerships. Attention was also given to "The ABC of Short-Term Mission," the cost of essential theological education, and the role of women in ministries in Eastern Europe and the Balkans. International participants included mission coordinators from several countries:
Urs Schweizer, assistant to Bishop Patrick Streiff of the Central & Southern Europe Central Conference, took part, along with a number of pastors and lay leaders, who were also in the US to visit their In Mission Together partner congregations. Five new IMT partnerships were announced, new relationships were formed, and existing relationships were celebrated. "In Mission Together" is a partnership program coordinated by the General Board of Global Ministries. For more information on In Mission Together Eastern Europe and the Balkans, contact Richard Arnold, Global Ministries' consultant, 465 Mill Pointe Road, Blacksburg, VA 24060, 540-961-1265 or 540-230-5550(C), dick.arnold@comcast.net, or go to the In Mission Together web site: www.inmissiontogether.org. To view pictures from this event, go to In Mission Together Photos.
Date posted: Nov 20, 2009 |
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