wfn.org | Nine ethnic church projects receive grants

[NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG]

Feb. 27, 2001 News media contact: Linda Green·(615)742-5470·Nashville, Tenn.
10-30-71B{100}

NOTE: This report may be used as a sidebar to UMNS #099.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) -- Nine grants totaling $122,000 have been awarded
to United Methodist-sponsored projects and organizations serving various
racial-ethnic groups.

During their Feb. 20-24 meeting, governing members of the United Methodist
Board of Discipleship approved funding for projects that ranged from
training children and youth in vocal and instrumental music to expanding
efforts to reach the "unchurched" in Chicago. Ethnic local church projects
that received funding approval for one year are:

2001 Institute for Church Growth and Evangelism, Saint Mark United Methodist
Church, Wichita, Kan. -- $20,000 
(Ethnic group served: multiethnic)
Saint Mark's 2001 Institute for Church Growth and Evangelism is Sept. 20-22,
and well-known speakers and church staff will offer Bible study, worship and
workshops on evangelism, church revitalization, leadership development and
using multimedia in evangelism and worship.

Quest for Quality Seminars, California-Pacific Annual Conference -- $20,000 
(Ethnic group served: Asian)
The California-Pacific Annual Conference will provide leadership training
seminars for Asian- American clergy and laity this summer and fall in Los
Angeles and New York. The seminars will be offered in both English and
Korean.

Honoring Our Journey: From Cradleboard to Cornerstone -- $15,000 
(Ethnic group served: Native American)
The Native American International Caucus will use the grant money to help
support the 2001 National Native American Family Camp, July 16-20, in
Bozeman, Mont. The camp will offer a learning environment in which Native
American children, youth and adults may interact through culturally relevant
leadership and bonding activities.

Project H.O.P.E., Fernwood United Methodist Church, Chicago -- $15,000
(Ethnic group served: African American)
The Fernwood church will use the grant to support Project H.O.PE. (Helping
Our People Evangelize), a comprehensive evangelism program designed to reach
and encourage the unchurched in the Roseland Community and Metropolitan
Chicago area.

Vision Leadership Training Program, Saint Mark United Methodist Church, Los
Angeles -- $15,000 
(Ethnic group served: African American)
Saint Mark's program is designed to train young adults, ages 18-25, in
developing a disciplined spiritual life and leadership skills that are
applicable in the church and community. Emphasis will be placed on
devotions, prayer, Bible study and the practice of spiritual gifts. Program
participants will also learn United Methodist doctrine, history and polity.

Empowering the Laity for Ministry, Northeastern Jurisdiction Black
Methodists for Church Renewal -- $10,000 
(Ethnic group served: African American)
The Northeastern Jurisdiction of BMCR will use the money will to support an
Oct. 26-28 Laity Academy in Pittsburgh to help laity and clergy develop more
effective partnerships for ministry.

Western Jurisdiction Korean-American Lay and Clergy Leadership Seminar --
$10,000  (Ethnic group served: Asian) 
Grant money will help pay for a July 9-21 leadership seminar in Seattle that
is designed to train Korean-American lay and clergy members as partners in
ministry.

Youth Convocation 2001, Texas Annual Conference -- $10,000 
(Ethnic group served: multiethnic)
The money will support an April leadership training event for youth. The
event is designed to present faith-sharing techniques to young people; to
assist them in identifying spiritual support teams within the church,
community and on college campuses; and to expose them to faith-sharing
methods in worship and the arts, poetry and theater.

Total Praise, West Ohio Conference -- $7,000
(Ethnic group served: African American)
The West Ohio Annual Conference, in conjunction with Raise Productions, will
use the funds in its efforts to provide training for children, youth, and
adults in vocal and instrumental music.  Included in the program are plans
to introduce signing to African-American congregations so that they might
provide ministries for those who are hearing-impaired.

Priority for grants is given to new programs or pilot projects. All grants
are awarded on a one-year basis, and project-funding proposals are due July
1 and Nov. 1. More information is available by contacting the board's Sang
E. Chun at (615) 340-7050 or schun@gbod.org.
# # #

*************************************
United Methodist News Service
Photos and stories also available at:
http://umns.umc.org