Elizabeth River District Men's Ministry
Friday, March 29, 2024
Ministering To Men Along The Elizabeth River

December 2017 Mens Ministry News

General Commission on United Methodist Men - Leader Letter, December 2017

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A bimonthly e-mail letter
from agency officers and staff 
to leaders of United Methodist Men

December, 2017


Click here to view the full newsletter with expanded articles.

 


Bishop James E. Swanson, Sr., president of the commission, follows the counsel of Robert Quinn, author of Deep Change.  The bishop says, we are wrong to ask, “Are we committed to making disciples?” The right question is, “Are we committed to ‘deep change’ personally?”

Bishop Gary Mueller, vice president of the commission, urges us to get to the “heart of Christmas.” He defines the heart as God deciding to overlook all our sin and become one of us in order to give us salvation. This gift changes everything, including how we see ourselves and how we relate to others.
 
Gil Hanke, top staff executive of the commission, invites men to follow the two commandments given to us by Jesus.Love God with everything you’ve got”; and “Love everybody else.”  He says our first responsibility is to make disciples and he offers resources for men to lead their churches in that effort.

Larry Coppock, director of scouting ministries, reminds UM Men Boy Scout Sunday is Feb. 11 and Girl Scout Sunday is March 11. He suggests these two events will have special meaning for churches and Scout leaders if UM Men will use the occasions to honor Scouts and leaders with awards.

The Rev. Rick Vance, director of men’s ministry, recalls the courage of first century shepherds who left their sheep to take the first steps needed to witness the birth of Jesus. He invites UM Men to take their first steps toward becoming engaged in deeper relationships with God.

Steve Nailor, president of the National Association of Conference Presidents of UM Men, notes that the disciples were ordinary men who were simply available and ready to learn. He asks, “Are you available? Will you leave your boat, your computer, your television set to follow him?”

Jim Boesch, a deployed staff member of the commission, says it is increasingly difficult to battle secularists in order to maintain a belief that Jesus Christ is the reason for the Christmas season. In order to underscore that belief, he traces God’s plan for salvation through the books of the Old Testament.  
 
Mark Dehority, a deployed staff member of the commission, says he was once like the prodigal son who was later welcomed home by the Father. He now identifies with the older brother who resents the return of the prodigal bother. Mark suggests we all need to welcome our prodigal brothers home.
 



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