A sister is born for a time of adversity
This week's video about The Inn Project is Chelsea Privette's reflection on what she knows about the people who cross the border. She asks, "What will we do? Will we welcome them with drink and food and clothes? Will we visit them in detention? Will we care for them...
Facebook grant for churches
A new Facebook Grant is available for United Methodist churches that have an average Sunday attendance of 100-500 people. The opportunity offers one year of Facebook content, including six posts per week, which will keep your page active and engaging — a key way of...
Adjust Your Focus
When you want to do something new in life, you have to adjust your focus. I really didn’t like what he had to say to me, mostly because it meant I would have to be different. I had a terrific professional coach and we were talking about the reality that in this day and age people were making choices that kept them from growing in faith. Sundays are no longer saved for church.
Cultural Competency Training Workshop
Culture is as much a part of our daily lives as the air we breathe. It shapes everything from what we wear to how we think, and yet culture is often an invisible force. Learning how to navigate diverse cultural spaces is a crucial part of doing ministry in the 21st...
Youth 2019 National Gathering
The national gathering for United Methodist youth and their leaders in Kansas City next July 10-14 promises four days of discipleship, worship, Bible study, big-name musical artists, service opportunities and life-changing fun. Early bird registration is available through Jan. 31 and includes a discounted rate, plus a free spot for every 10 paid registrants. And adults who volunteer for the event get registration at half-price. YOUTH 2019 is for youth grades 6-12 and their leaders.
Hispanic Heritage Month outreach
Hispanic Heritage Month is Sept. 15-Oct. 15, and new tools are available to help your church celebrate the contributions of Hispanic-Latino individuals in your community. Use these resources to invite your community to join you for worship and events throughout the month and to celebrate and build awareness of Hispanic-Latino culture and traditions.
Mission Trip Opportunity
United Methodist Volunteers in Mission Coordinators for the Desert Southwest Conference are initiating a Conference-wide home build in Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point), Mexico, through 1Mission as an effort to involve people who are unlikely to go on a mission trip, to participate in an awesome weekend mission experience with brothers and sisters in Christ. This is going to be fun!
And a child shall lead them
This week's video about The Inn Project provides a child's perspective on the separations of the asylum-seeking immigrant families. Watch and listen to this young volunteer's experience while she and her family volunteer at The Inn Project. The Inn Project is a...
2018 Journal is available
The 2018 Journal of the Desert Southwest Annual Conference is now available for purchase or download. Visit www.dscumc.org/journal to get your copy. Churches, clergy, and members of the Annual Conference can download their copy of this year's Desert Southwest Annual...
Learning Gratitude from Immigrants
The Inn is a shelter that provides radical hospitality to asylum-seeking immigrant families on their journeys. Jesus Robles shares what he’s learned from his experience as a volunteer at The Inn Project about what it means to be grateful.
Who Would Have Guessed?
In 2012 a man named Luke Mickelson learned that there were children sleeping on what he called a nest of piled up clothes. He couldn’t imagine what that must have been like, so he decided to build a few bunk beds to give for the kids to sleep in. He had no idea when he started how big the need really was. That first year he built 11 bunk beds. For the next several years he found himself building more and more beds, recruiting others to help with the project. The task changed into a calling and led Mickelson to start a non-profit agency called, “Sleep Heavenly Peace.”
Chrysalis Weekend for Youth
Chrysalis is a 3 day spiritual renewal retreat that provides participants an opportunity to learn more about faith; to experience Christian love and support; and a chance to make new commitments in their faith journey. The content of the 3 days focuses on God’s grace, how one experiences Christ as friend in the body of Christ and how one is called into discipleship giving love to a needful world.
August 10-11 Lay Servant Ministries Classes Cancelled
The Lay Servant Ministries classes scheduled for August 10-11, 2018 at White Mountain United Methodist Church in Show Low have been cancelled. We apologies for any inconvenience. The classes will be rescheduled in 2019. Lay Servant Ministries classes in the East and West District for the remainder of the year.
Conflict Transformation Seminar
Conflict is an inevitable part of life and growth. Learning to engage conflict in creative ways that open possibilities and lead to growth is a crucial part of building an authentic, collaborative, relational, trusting, bold, and compassionate church that is living...
Register for Mission u Today
United Methodist Women’s Mission u is fast approaching. The date and location for the East and West District Mission u is August 3-4, 2018, at Velda Rose UMC, 5540 E. Main St. Mesa, AZ 85205-8720. Deadline for Registration is Friday, July 27, 2018. 2018 Studies (Click...
Learning Faithfulness from Immigrants
What happens when you stop seeing people as a problem and start seeing them as your teachers? Hear Megan Spittell’s story about her experience as a volunteer at the Inn Project and what she’s learned about what it means to be a disciple.
$200 Grant from UMCOM for Outreach
United Methodist Communications has awarded the churches of the Desert Southwest Conference $200 grants in Outreach product that has been specially designed with UMC in mind! Check out all the designs here. Valid on UMC designs only, this offer has you covered up to...
Are you ready to tell your story?
These familiar words tell us we're about to hear a story. There's an art to storytelling and http://folio.umc.org/Art-of-Story has a palette of tools and resources that can help you craft your narrative and build your storytelling skills. You'll be surprised to find...
Early Response Team (ERT) Classes
Join the Desert Southwest Conference Early Response Team (ERT). Find out where the next ERT training classes will be held.
You are invited —
This year at Annual Conference we were challenged to “Give God Our Best.” It is a challenge that calls us to carefully pay attention to our lives, how we live as disciples of Jesus Christ. So many times, the thought of giving our best is a daunting one. It brings to mind all the times we tried to do our best, but failed terribly along the way. You know what I’m talking about. The weight of the times we failed keeps us from seeing the possibilities around us, so we give up, stop growing, become comfortable with our spiritual malaise. “It’s just the way things are.”
