umvim: November 2015

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

#GivingTuesday 2015: GIVING Health & Safety

GIVING Health & Safety by Providing Training Resources The UMVIM, SEJ Team Leader Handbook is full of resources to make sure your team stays healthy and safe while traveling. From clean water advice and first aid suggestions to work area precautions, we are here to make sure your time serving isn’t hindered from a preventable health issue! (But if something does happen, and accidents certainly do, thank goodness for the UMVIM, SEJ insurance program!)

GIVING Health & Safety through our Insurance Policies Taking advantage of the UMVIM, SEJ supplemental health insurance program is one of the most prudent decisions a team can make for themselves. While all UMVIM projects are safe, working on the mission field can carry with it some inherent risks. UMVIM insurance is provided at a small cost to teams and individuals serving in the mission field, regardless of denominational affiliation. Not only does it ensure medical care should the need arise, but it also covers things like emergency reunions, trip interruption, and even loss of baggage. Click here to learn more about how we are easing the minds of missionaries and their families!

This year #GivingTuesday falls on December 1st, taking place after Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday. On December 1, 2015, United Methodist will join hands to support the work of Advance projects and missionaries to transform lives on #GivingTuesday. Every gift made online through The Advance on this day will be matched up to $1 million. (A maximum of $2,500 per individual gift to a project will be dispersed as matching funds. A project may receive a maximum of $25,000 in matching funds.) UMVIM, SEJ is Advance #901875.

Donations will start matching at midnight, CST on December 1, but in the meantime, please enjoy learning more about the heartbeat of our ministry in the days leading up to the big event! Don't hesitate to contact Landon Taylor, Church Relations, at landon_taylor@umvim.org if you have any questions at all.

Check out our original post to learn more about 2015 #GivingTuesday campaign, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and here on our blog all month long!

Thursday, November 19, 2015

#GivingTuesday 2015: GIVING Resources

GIVING Resources through the UMVIM, SEJ Staff
Our staff is knowledgeable on all aspects of mission training and travel, and we are here to be a resource to you. Our offices are open 5 days a week so we can answer any questions you may have. If we happen to miss you, we will return your call or email within 1 business day. From assistance with registering and obtaining insurance, to helping identify the ideal mission project for your team, we’re here to help!

GIVING Resources through Social Media From travel advisories and heartfelt team stories, to the latest team openings and training opportunities, our social media strategy is simply to keep you in the loop on all things UMVIM. Every Monday morning, we send out our Weekly Update, and throughout the week, we update our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, You Tube, and this very blog! Interacting with the UMVIM community on social media is a lot of fun for us, so please comment, like, double tap, retweet, and share away! Don't forget to use the hashtag #UMVIM to share your short-term volunteer experience with us all!

GIVING Resources through our website, UMVIM.org The UMVIM, SEJ website has a vast array of resources available to teams and team leaders. Whether it's a First Aid Kit supply checklist, icebreakers for team meetings, or valuable travel advice, we are here to make sure you are prepared to lead or participate in an UMVIM mission journey. Check out the Resources and Publications tab on umvim.org for all of the things that are available to you right now!

Check out our original post to learn more about 2015 #GivingTuesday campaign, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and here on our blog all month long!

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

#GivingTuesday 2015: GIVING Training

GIVING Training through the SEJ Disaster Academies

UMVIM, SEJ works in partnership with UMCOR to plan and facilitate the annual SEJ Disaster Academy. These academies are geared to volunteers on every level who are interested in serving in the wake of a disaster, whether as lay leaders, clergy, or on the Conference level. More details on the next Academy, which will be held February 28-March 2, 2016 at First UMC, Franklin, TN, are coming soon; be sure to sign up for our Weekly Updates for the latest info! (You can also read all of our blog posts regarding Disaster Response by clicking here.)

GIVING Training through the UMVIM Team Leader Training Program UMVIM, SEJ believes in effective Christian service, which we feel is first achieved through training team leaders on how to equip themselves and their team to make the most of their mission journey. Each Conference in the SEJ has UMVIM-certified trainers who educate team leaders using the UMVIM, SEJ Team Leader Handbook as their guide. For more information on UMVIM trainings in your area, please click here. To order your own copy of the UMVIM Team Leader Handbook, please click here.

Check out our original post to learn more about 2015 #GivingTuesday campaign, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and here on our blog all month long!

Monday, November 16, 2015

We are excited to announced that details and registration for Young People in Mission 2016 is LIVE! Click HERE to visit our website for all the info!

Monday, November 9, 2015

#GivingTuesday 2015: GIVING Relationships

GIVING Relationships with Each Other
Participating in a mission journey with your church or group is a great way to build relationships with those who live where you are serving, but also with your fellow teammates! We often hear stories where volunteers forged new friendships with people they have been attending church with for years, but never really knew before serving together. Strong relationships in your local church setting build a strong foundation for effective Christian service!

GIVING Relationships with the Local People
People are the heart of our mission. When a short-term team enters into the mission field, they are ambassadors of their home church, the United Methodist Church, and the missionary or project of whom they are working with. UMVIM encourages short-term missionaries to engage with the local people who live where they are serving, as it is a vital aspect of effective, caring, Christian service!

GIVING Relationships with Missionaries, Individual Volunteers, and Projects UMVIM, SEJ is the short-term mission sending agency of the United Methodist Church. We connect mission teams with GBGM missionaries, Individual Volunteers, and UMVIM projects across the country and globe who are working in an area on a long-term basis. We emphasis the importance of entering into covenant partnerships with these people and projects by committing presence, prayers, and resources on an ongoing basis.

Check out our original post to learn more about 2015 #GivingTuesday campaign, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and here on our blog all month long!

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

#GivingTuesday 2015: GIVING Opportunity

GIVING OPPORTUNITY: Medical Missions Medical-based mission trips make up a large percentage of the UMVIM effort. Doctors, nurses, dentists, and others from the medical field take their expertise to underserved areas across the globe to provide quality medical care. If you are a healthcare provider and would like more information on how you can volunteer your time and services, check out the Medical Missions page on our GO! tab for more information. You can also contact your Conference UMVIM Coordinator.

GIVING OPPORTUNITY: Youth and Young Adults UMVIM, SEJ pours a great amount of time and resources into Next Generation efforts. In 2013 we launched a Summer Internship Program where the brightest of the SEJ youth are able to serve in local and international placements. Our annual Young People in Mission event brings youth and young adults from around the Jurisdiction to Lake Junaluska for a week of fellowship and mission training. YPIM is peer-led and designed by the very students who attend each year.

GIVING OPPORTUNITY: Disaster Response UMVIM, SEJ works with UMCOR and Conference Disaster Response Coordinators to send volunteer teams to disaster-effected areas. Last year, a generous UMCOR grant allowed us to bring a Disaster Response Liaison onto our staff to further our ability to connect volunteers to the appropriate response. Click here to head over to the UMVIM, SEJ Disaster Response page.

GIVING OPPORTUNITY: Mission Opportunities Lists UMVIM, SEJ maintains the International Mission Opportunity List and updates it quarterly. All projects on the International and Domestic Lists have been approved by local pastors, area Bishops, and UMVIM to accept short-term volunteers to assist the project leaders with the extra hands and resources to see projects to completion. If you're not sure which Mission Opportunity is right for your short-term mission journey, we are here to help!

Check out our original post to learn more about 2015 #GivingTuesday campaign, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and here on our blog all month long!

#GivingTuesday 2015: GIVING Opportunity, Relationships, Training, Resources, and Health & Safety

As the holiday season draws nearer each day, we would like to take the month of November to tell you–our team leaders, volunteers, supporters, and friends–more about the heartbeat of UMVIM, SEJ. If you're not already, we hope you will follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and here on our blog as we launch our 2015 #GivingTuesday campaign. If you're not familiar with this day, #GivingTuesday is a new movement that seeks grassroots support of non-profits and worthy causes. It's not only about refocusing holiday spending, but it is also a powerful way to raise awareness and resources for our organization. Our ministry is not dependent upon United Methodist apportionments, but rather grants and donations. We simply cannot do what we do without your support.

This year #GivingTuesday falls on December 1st, taking place after Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday. On December 1, 2015, United Methodist will join hands to support the work of Advance projects and missionaries to transform lives on #GivingTuesday. Every gift made online through The Advance on this day will be matched up to $1 million. (A maximum of $2,500 per individual gift to a project will be dispersed as matching funds. A project may receive a maximum of $25,000 in matching funds.) UMVIM, SEJ is Advance #901875.

Donations will start matching at midnight, CST on December 1, but in the meantime, please enjoy learning more about the heartbeat of our ministry all month long! Don't hesitate to contact Landon Taylor, Church Relations, at landon_taylor@umvim.org if you have any questions at all. Here's a sneak peek of what's to come!