Conference Events

"Grow Your Church Where You Are" Workshop

Saturday, April 17, 2010

9:30 am-3:30 pm (Check-in will begin at 9:00 am)

Savoy UMC (3002 W Old Church Rd, Champaign)

This workshop will help you to evaluate all the major systems of your church.  You will walk away with dozens of practical new ideas for promoting growth and reaching your community in a new way.  This workshop will help you identify areas of great strength, as well as weaknesses that can be improved.  The training will apply to any size congregation and any age church.

Guest speakers Brad Kalajainen and Ken Nash are pastors of Cornerstone United Methodist Church in Caledonia, Michigan.  Brad started Cornerstone UMC in 1990, and it has grown to over 1,500 in worship. They relocated to a new campus on November 1, 2009, and had over 2,000 congregants on the first weekend.  Ken has been the teaching pastor at Cornerstone since July 2006.  Prior to that, Ken served a church in a small community that grew from 80 to over 400 persons in attendance.

Presented by the Office of Congregational Development, this workshop will be hosted by Savoy UMC.  The cost for the workshop is $60 (includes lunch) for up to three people from a church and $20 for each additional person (i.e. one person, $60 total; three people, $60 total; four people, $80 total).  There is an early bird discount if registered with full payment by March 15, 2010 (download the registration form at http://www.igrc.org/Ministries/Congregational-Development/Training/Grow-Your-Church-Workshop.aspx).  Registration fee includes payment for lunch.  All participants MUST pre-register no later than April 7, 2010.

District Events

District Mission Trip to

Henderson Settlement

July 18-24, 2010

I.        I.  Registration/Payment Schedule

1      a.  Henderson registration fee is $200.  This fee covers the cost of "room and board".

        b.  We are required to purchase General Board of Global Ministries insurance on each volunteer. Cost will be $10.

        c.  Payment schedule

              -  $50/person non-refundable registration fee is due by

                 Monday, February 1, 2010

              -  $100 of registration fee is due by March 1, 2010

              -  $50 (remainder of registration fee) is due by May 1, 2010

              -  $10 for GBGM insurance is due by May 1, 2010

 II.  Transportation

 a.      We will be taking privately owned vehicles to Henderson

 b.      These vehicles will be used for transportation to the work sites

          each day

 c.       Encourage people to car pool with others from your

          church/area

III.  Housing

a.       Henderson can accommodate approximately 200 volunteers

          each week.  There are various living facilities provided for

          volunteers.  Most of the volunteers are housed in a large      

          (nice) dormitory.

 IV.  Work Teams

  a.     Volunteers are divided into work teams of 4 to 10 persons

  b.     There is a wide variety of work assignments allowing each

           team to be assigned to a job which is suited to their physical

          and skill abilities.

          V.  Project Costs

         a.      This is a District Mission Trip so all churches will be asked to

                  participate with raising funds

         b.      Funds to cover the material and fuel costs for the work trip will 

                  be approximately $25,000.  Calculations based on the 2008

                  average worship attendance in Iroquois River District

                  churches show that $4.00 from each attendee will provide     

                  ample funds to cover material costs for all work teams.  (That's

                  less than a meal at a fast food restaurant!)

         b.      A letter explaining this will be sent to all clergy and mission

                  chairs

         VI.  Miscellaneous

         a.      Henderson recommends that the age of team members to be

                  at  least 13.

         b.      It is required that there be at least one adult for every 5 youth.

         c.      There are daily sunrise devotions at 7:00am

         d.      There is a general store nearby where snack food and   

                  personal items can be purchased

         e.      There are 4-5 spaces for RVs.  Water and electric hookup is

                  available with septic hookup nearby.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Pat at the District Office or Rev Charlie Graul. 

There are many ways members of your local church can be a participant in this mission trip.  First and foremost, pray for those coordinating the trip, for those who will go and for those who will be helped.