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Conference and district offices will be
closed Friday in observation of Juneteenth. 

Download the June 16 edition of GPconnect.

In this edition:

THIS WEEK'S NEWS
Grace is there for you to receive, Bishop Bledsoe tells ordinands
Conference developing low-cost, high-def video platform for churches
Memorial fund established for Nebraska pastor killed in accident
Funeral services set for pastor, daughter killed in traffic accident

CLERGY EXCELLENCE
Few spots remain for spiritual formation retreat
At the Threshold is ready to celebrate with 'Proclaiming Great Joy'

EQUIPPING DISCIPLES
Good Neighbor cohorts available for free to Great Plains churches
Leadership Institute set for in-person, online audiences Sept. 29-Oct. 1
Old, New testaments studied in 2-month Certified Lay Ministry course
Openings remain for Certified Lay Ministry retreat, July 23-24

MERCY & JUSTICE 
Micah Corps wraps up fourth week with discussions, legislative visits

ADMINISTRATION
Grants available for new ministries, programs, trainings

DISASTER RESPONSE
COVID testing continues, church vaccination sites are coming soon

RESOURCES
UM Health Ministry Fund offers church conversation guide about vaccine
Caring Congregation resources available on demand
Death, resurrection questions top list of 'Ask the UMC' queries

ACROSS THE CONNECTION
In other news
Newsletters
Classifieds

 

Grace is there for you to receive,
Bishop Bledsoe tells ordinands

The world needs to know that God’s grace is available to anyone who asks for it, Bishop W. Earl Bledsoe says. 

To make his point during his sermon at the Service of Recognition, Commissioning and Ordination, Bishop Bledsoe talked about when he was a pastor giving a sermon and inviting youngsters to “come up and get it” and how some of them did – and in turn received a token from him. 

The bishop made the same offer to those being ordained as elders, deacons and associate members Saturday, as he stood on the floor of the Church of the Resurrection. 

“Do you have the nerve to come up and see if there’s anything up in my pocket this morning?” he asked them. “I’ve got a gift. Anyone willing to step out and receive the gift?”

Read more about the Service of Recognition, Commissioning and Ordination.

RELATED: Ordinands celebrate, look forward to ministries.

Watch the service at this link.

View our gallery of Annual Conference 2021, including the memorial service and service of ordination.

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Conference developing low-cost,
high-def video platform for churches

Eugenio Hernandez envisions a new online video platform for the Great Plains Conference as a modern-day version of the circuit rider.

“This is a new way we can look at the church, at the new quote-unquote cyber church,” said Hernandez, multimedia production specialist for the conference.

The Great Plains United Methodist Television Network, at greatplainsumc.church, would provide a one-stop menu of churches in the conference, organized by districts and their assigned churches individually, with easy access to their livestreaming worship services and activities in one place instead than being scattered all throughout different platforms on the web.

Read more here.

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Memorial fund established for
Nebraska pastor killed in accident

A memorial fund has been established for the family of a Nebraska pastor who was killed in a hit-and-run accident early in the morning of June 7.

Rev. Kolawole Akinpelu Akinnigbagbe, 57, was found along U.S. Highway 20 west of Plainview at about 12:30 a.m. The Pierce County sheriff’s office determined that Akinnigbagbe was walking along the north shoulder of the highway and struck by an unknown vehicle, which had left the scene.

Akinnigbagbe had been pastor at Plainview from 2017-2019 until taking a medical leave. He was previously pastor in Hershey, Paxton and Sutherland UMCs, all in Nebraska.

He received his master of divinity degree from Southern Methodist University and was a staff chaplain at Methodist Hospital in Dallas for several years before accepting an assignment in the Great Plains Conference.

Born in Nigeria, Akinnigbagbe is survived by his wife, Abiola, and three children, Damona, Caroline and Peace.

Funeral services were conducted Friday.

A memorial account has been established at Midwest Bank, 302 E. Park Ave., Plainview, NE 68769. Checks can be made to Adedamola Akinnigbagbe or the Akinnigbagbe Family Benefit.

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Funeral services set for pastor,
daughter killed in traffic accident

Funeral arrangements have been set for the Rev. Phillip Hett and his daughter, Abby, who were killed in a traffic accident south of Salina on Memorial Day weekend.

Services will be at 10 a.m. CT Saturday, June 19, at Bethany Lutheran Church in Lindsborg. Overflow accommodations will be available and the service will be streamed on the church’s Facebook page and YouTube channel. Phil Hett was chaplain at Bethany Village nursing home in Lindsborg.

Phil and Abby were the son and granddaughter of the Rev. Warren Hett, longtime Great Plains clergy. Thirteen-year-old Jillian Hett was seriously injured and was recovering at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita.

Read more here.

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Clergy Excellence

Few spots remain for
spiritual formation retreat

Several openings remain for Roots for Your Soul, a spiritual formation retreat for clergy, scheduled for Aug. 9-11 at the Spiritual Retreat Center, Wichita.

The cost is $25.

The guest facilitator is David Dodge, a retired deacon from the Florida Conference and former director of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry.

Find out more information here.

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At the Threshold is ready to celebrate
with series, 'Proclaiming Great Joy'

This has been a hard year, hasn’t it? Between the “typical” challenges of pastoral leadership, the last few years have brought a great deal of conflict and pressure in the lives of clergy. We do not want to gloss over or minimize the challenges, and yet, our theology compels us forward. Psalm 126:5 is our banner: “Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy!” The opportunity for tears has been plentiful. Is it possible for a harvest of joy to be on the horizon? 

For Summer 2021, At the Threshold will be “Proclaiming Great Joy.” Instead of providing interviews with people who can help us navigate the liminal season of the pandemic, we are collecting stories of joy that clergy are experiencing. Starting the week of June 21 and continuing over the course of the summer, we will release episodes in video and podcast form. As a way of connecting for conversation (and hopefully exhortation of one another), we invite pastors to gather via Zoom once in June, July and August so that we might encourage one another to continue on in this hard and important work of pastoring God’s people in the Great Plains. Those who join at least two of the three sessions will receive a “Joy Box” full of some resources and items that help pastors plant — and harvest — seeds of joy in their lives and communities.  

  • June 24, 10:30-11:30 a.m. CT. Register here.
  • July 29, 10:30-11:30 a.m. CT. Register here.
  • Aug. 26, 10:30-11:30 a.m. CT. Register here.

When they’re available, the episodes will be here. For questions, reach out to Ashlee or Shelly.

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Equipping Disciples

Good Neighbor cohorts available
for free to Great Plains churches

Move from program-driven to relationship-centered.

Move from scarcity to abundance.

Move from inauthenticity to authentic joy.

Become a neighboring church and learn the principles of Asset Based Community Development as part of the Good Neighbor Experiment. This nine-month church training was recently backed by UM Discipleship Ministries. New cohorts start in August.

All Great Plains churches can participate in the cohorts for free thanks to the generosity of the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund. Check out more information on the website or contact Rev. Adam Barlow-Thompson at adam@neighboringmovement.org.

neighboringmovement.org/gne

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Leadership Institute set for in-person,
online audiences Sept. 29 to Oct. 1

The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection announced registration is now open for Leadership Institute 2021, held Sept. 29 to Oct. 1. The annual leadership conference will be offered both online and in-person at the Leawood, Kansas, campus, with a limit of 500 participants for the in-person event.

The aim of this year’s Institute is to equip, strengthen and inspire, preparing church leaders for a new season of ministry marked by unity, clarity of vision and a call to love extravagantly.

Keynote speakers include Bob Goff, speaker and author of “Love Does” and “Dream Big”; Rev. Dr. Kevin Murriel, senior pastor at Cascade UMC in Atlanta and author of “Breaking the Color Barrier: A Vision for Church Growth”; Savannah Kimberlin, director of research solutions at Barna Group and Rev. Adam Hamilton, Resurrection’s senior pastor.

Whether online or in person, all participants will experience the same practical and inspirational schedule. Highlights include:

  • Five plenary sessions led by a strong faculty of speakers who will challenge, provoke and inspire to lead boldly
  • Breakout workshops led by guest presenters and Resurrection staff, carefully curated to address essential subjects facing churches and leaders today
  • Six months of on-demand replay. Exclusive access to the full library of sessions from the entire conference. (Note: Some keynote sessions may only be available for 30 days)
  • Networking with leaders from a variety of church sizes and contexts -- with opportunities to connect either in person or through the online platform

Registration and details are available at sharechurch.com/leadership. For questions, email sharechurchconferences@cor.org or call 913-232-4139.

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Old, New testaments studied in
2-month Certified Lay Ministry course

Rev. Richard Fitzgerald will be offering a lay ministry course in Old Testament and New Testament as a two-month combo. This is open to meet requirements by Certified Lay Ministers and also for any interested individual.
 
The course will teach the students to ask the deeper questions not only of their own biblical understanding, but to also lend a richer and more informed voice to their biblical teaching and preaching. Enrolling in this combined offering?covers both?Old and New Testament CLM courses at a discounted rate. 
 
Course dates: August thru September 2021 - https://www.greatplainsumc.org/clmcourses  

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Openings remain for Certified
Lay Ministry retreat, July 23-24

Ken Willard is visiting the Great Plains Conference to lead lay ministers, lay leaders and church leaders. We will gather Friday-Saturday, July 23-24, at the Saint Benedict Center in Schuyler, NE. The conference will reimburse mileage and is providing room and board at a significant discount. If you plan to stay longer, a recorded sermon by communications director Todd Seifert, certified lay minister, will be made available for use at your local church for Sunday worship on July 25. 
 
Willard is a Christian leadership coach, certified church consultant, author, speaker and developer of curriculum used by pastors and laity leaders. He is an associate certified coach with the International Coach Federation and a member of the faculty with Coaching4Clergy. He is the director of congregational vitality for the West Virginia UMC Conference. Ken works with pastors, laity leaders, local churches and other church organizations all over the country.  

Register here.

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Mercy & Justice

Micah Corps wraps up fourth week
with discussions, legislative visits

Ariel Johnson, a Micah Corps intern from Wichita attending Newman University, supplies this week’s update.

It’s crazy to believe we are already a month into Micah Corps!

We started this week off in Wichita, where we met with Rev. Adam Barlow-Thompson, who is the executive director and one of the co-founders of the Neighboring Movement. In the morning we learned about conflict training and in the afternoon, Adam talked to us about the Neighborhood Movement. On Wednesday we met with Carol Windrum, who is the original creator of Micah Corps and is now working with the Great Plains Conference care team. We learned about the creation care team and what they do, and we are now planning a Zoom event for July 22 with the creation care team.

On Thursday we attended the Nebraska and Kansas legislative visits for the All of Us campaign. The Kansas group met with the office of Sen. Jerry Moran and the Nebraska group met with U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith and the office of Sen. Ben Sasse. In these meetings, we discussed the importance of passing the Citizenship Act of 2021 by sharing personal stories. On Friday we spoke to Shanae’ Calhoun from Topeka JUMP and learned about their organization.

This past week the interns presented at Hesston UMC and created a video speaking about justice and mercy for GP Confirmation Camp resources. We are now focusing our attention to next week where one group will travel to Winfield to present at Grace UMC and the other group will go to Columbus UMC.

As someone who has grew up in the church, it has been great being able to learn about how the UMC works to get people involved in social justice work.

--Ariel Johnson

RELATED: Learn more about the virtual legislative visits.

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Administration

Grants available for new
ministries, programs, trainings

For the third year, the Foundation is offering one-time matching grants to advance ministries across our state, especially in ways that are creative, innovative and new.

Through the Pathways for Discipleship Funds, matching grants (up to $1,000) are being awarded to support three key areas of ministry: Children and Youth Programs, Ministry and Outreach, and Leadership Education. More information is available at www.kaumf.org/grants. Grant applications are due by Sept. 1.

Thank you to all the generous donors who support the Pathways for Discipleship Grant Ministry in life and in their estate.

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Disaster Response

COVID testing continues, church
vaccination sites are coming soon

Churches in the Great Plains Conference continue to offer COVID-19 testing, while churches in Junction City and Garden City will bergin offering drive-through vaccination clinics soon.

Find out more in this update from Rev. Hollie Tapley, disaster response coordinator.

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Resources

UM Health Ministry Fund offers church conversation guide about vaccine

As a health philanthropy, the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund understands the crucial importance of widespread vaccination as the key to ending the COVID-19 pandemic and enabling a return to normal life, which is why we developed a new sermon guide and toolkit, Faith in Vaccines, to support empathetic congregational conversations on COVID-19 vaccination.

The decision to be vaccinated is a personal one and is often complicated by the difficulty of finding accurate, trusted information. Research shows that Americans trust their own doctors and faith leaders for information about COVID-19 and vaccines – and want to be able to talk through any concerns without pressure or judgment.

Informed by regional discussions with Kansas faith leaders and input from several organizations and individuals who shared their expertise, research, and resources, the Faith in Vaccines sermon guide and toolkit is designed to help faith leaders create an open and empathetic space for discussion about COVID-19 vaccines. Faith in Vaccines provides sermon materials, resources on how to share messages about vaccine effectiveness and connect with medical providers to share scientific data, and actions faith leaders and congregations can take to discuss the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccines and promote vaccination.

Learn more and download the free Faith in Vaccines sermon guide and toolkit at https://healthfund.org/faithinvaccines.

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Caring Congregation
resources available on demand

A Basic CCM Training Course has been added to the Caring Congregation Academy on Teachable.com. No more waiting for the next seminar or webinar. This course contains everything you need to establish and equip your care team. When you enroll, you have immediate access for this "on demand" self-paced training that can be done right in the comfort of your home or office.

This course was designed to work in connection with the two new textbooks, “The Caring Congregation Ministry: Implementation Guide” and “The Caring Congregation Ministry: Care Minister's Manual.” It is recommended to purchase these books first so you can use them during the training, following along to make notes in the appropriate sections throughout the course.

Part 1 of the training is geared for pastors, staff and key laity to establish and organize care ministry. Part 2 of the training is for equipping and training your CCMs to carry out that ministry. It is filled with over six hours of professional videos by instructors, Rev. Karen Lampe and Rev. Melissa Collier Gepford, who literally wrote the books on this training. You will receive practical step-by-step guidelines from Karen and Melissa, hear their stories, learn about the resources that worked for them, and more.

Also from the Academy are four specialized courses in the Caring for People in Crisis series, which are excellent resources for continuing education.

Enroll here.

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Death, resurrection questions
top list of 'Ask the UMC' queries

What happens when we die? Is there life after our lives here on Earth, and what will it be like? Many have written to Ask The UMC, the official information service for the denomination provided by United Methodist Communications, over the years asking how United Methodists answer these and other questions about death, resurrection and life in the new creation. The new Death and Resurrection Series gathers responses to these oft-repeated questions in one place for easy reference.

“We thought it would be helpful to gather our responses to the various questions we regularly receive on this topic in one place, so people could more easily find answers,” said Vicki Wallace, Ask the UMC Team Director.

The series also provides discussion questions, which may be used for personal or group reflection.

Ask the UMC is the trusted place where church members and seekers can ask any question about The United Methodist Church. Those reaching out receive person-to-person service with knowledgeable experts. Questions can be submitted by email, an online form or in real time via their live chat feature. Inquiries related to death and what happens next are consistently among the top five theological questions they receive multiple times a month.

Read more here.

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Across the Connection

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