contact newspaper april 15, 2011

Contact, an edition of The United Methodist Reporter Two Sections, Section A • 039000 • Volume 157, Number 50 • April 15, 2011 THE OKLAHOMA UNITED METHODIST www.okumc.org The United Methodist Reporter (USPS 954-500) is published weekly by UMR Communications, 1221 Prot Drive, Dallas, TX 75247. Periodicals Postage Paid at Dallas. Postmaster: Send address changes to The United Methodist Reporter, PO Box 660275, Dallas, TX 75266-0275. Watc h Annual Conference LIVE May 29-June 1 n Be a virtual guest and view the soaring worship and dedicated work of this Oklahoma gath- ering as it unfolds in Oklahoma City at St. Luke's and Oklahoma City University. n Prepare and donate emergency supplies to Oklahoma VIM's annual “Kit Drive” during the conference, for worldwide use. Find kit assembly instructions on the UMCOR website. n Give to the Annual Conference Offering, which will support ministry at Cookson Hills Center (Oklahoma), Bolivia, and Liberia. n Enter your best shot of an Oklahoma bridge in the photo contest based on the Annual Conference theme: “The Plan: a Bridge to the Future.” Final attendance tally from the Local Church Leader’s Workshops: 2,633 partici - pants at 10 events across Oklahoma. The March 26 event in Stillwater District, with 175 in attendance, concluded the annual training series. Severe weather forced one district—Ardmore—to cancel this year. These training events answer the call to “Recruit, assess, equip, and send spiritual leaders,” one of the three primary goals of the Conference’s Strategic Plan. Aly Shahan, Conference coordinator of the workshops, reported the classes with the most attendance: Judaism, Christianity, Islam—and Peace, taught by John Starkey; Servant Lead- ership, led by members of the Board of Laity; and What Every Member Should Know About Poverty, by George Warren. “This shows the people of our Conference are yearning to serve and to be in ministry outside the four walls of the church build- ing,” Shahan said. Ranking second in attendance were: Prayer and Your Personality; Who, Me, Evangelism?; Spiritual Practices from the Celtic Christians; Passionate Evangelism; and Coping with Confict in Community. Shahan said, “I believe this conrms the leaders of our local churches are searching for ways to strengthen and renew their spiri - tual lives, both personally and corporately .” Other opportunities to grow as Christian leaders occur throughout the year. Below are two of the events this month. n“Stafng and Suervision for Multi- Staff Congregati ons.” April 26 at Canyon Camp. Leader is Susan Beaumont of the Alban Institute. Each participant receives the book “When Moses Meets Aaron,” by Gil Rendle and Beaumont. Sponsored by the Discipleship Ministry Team. Contact Diana Northcutt, [email protected] rg. n LEAD III seminar for clerg. April 29-30 at OCU's Smith Chapel. Sessions: Accountability and motivation, by Bar - bara Crandall; Continuing education, David Wiggs; Time management , Matt Judkins; Importance of strategic planning , Craig Stinson; and Leading your leaders (staff and volunteers), Bob Spinks. Sign up at www. okumc.org/registrations/register/47 . Local Church Leader’s Workshops: Thousands connect to grow the Body n Addiction Ministries to offer school option, 5A n Bill Chissoe leads United Methodist Men, 6A Follow the links at www.okumc.org. V oting details, 8A. OCU inaugurates President Robert Henry Above, former president Tom McDaniel embraces President Robert Henry on April 6 at the inauguration. Below, David Wilson offers the opening prayer; Bishop Hayes is seated at right. Other festivities: Jasmine Zhang performs the Chinese peacock dance. A new campus sport, sailing makes a splash. Story, 2A. Photos by Holly McCray

contact newspaper april 15, 2011

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