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VIDEO: Broken to Peace: study helps people find faith during trouble (EcuFilm)

Christians facing difficult life circumstances can find help dealing with them through a new inspirational video study series called Broken to Peace. Designed for group study, the six-part series features people sharing compelling real-life stories that brought them to their knees and how faith helped them cope.

The video discussion starters follow the journeys of people who have faced difficult issues – breast cancer, job loss, addiction, loss of a child, depression, and physical abuse -- and found peace through their faith:


    •    Kathleen, who spent countless nights searching homeless camps and jails looking for her drug-addicted son
    •    Joyce, who confides she believes God gave her breast cancer as “punishment”
    •    Charles, who felt “damaged” after losing his job
    •    Isaiah, whose father beat her with a golf club and called her names
    •    Bonnie who fought the stigma of depression
    •    Corliss and Donna, who bared their souls as they share every parent’s worst nightmare -- losing a child

You’ll hear testimonies about how they were able to rise again with God as their support, one step at a time, and continue their walk towards spiritual healing and human wholeness.

The series features a downloadable leader’s guide for facilitating group study. Written by Christian educator and pastor, the Rev. Mark Price, the small-group study guide includes ideas for creating a welcoming place for participants, suggestions for leading group members through the video viewing, guidance for exploring Scripture, exercises for engaging the senses and thoughts on taking action.

Several promotional resources like bulletin inserts, an invitation card and a poster are also available for downloading.
Offered by EcuFilm, an ecumenical film/video production and distribution service, Broken to Peace is available for $39.95. Orders can placed a number of ways:
    •    Online at www.umcom.org/orderbrokentopeace
    •    E-mail csc@umcom.org
    •    Phone 888.346.3862
    •    Fax 615.742.5494

For more information about Broken to Peace, visit www.umcom.org/brokentopeace.

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MAGAZINE: Online enrollment for Interpreter Magazine 2012 now available (UMCom)

Interpreter is a publication for lay and clergy leaders in local United Methodist churches across the United States. Articles in the magazine connect you to:
· God,
· Other United Methodist leaders, and
· Ideas and resources to use in your ministry.
 
Published six times each year by United Methodist Communications, each issue includes a cover package of feature articles for local leaders and other stories and articles providing ideas and resources.
 
Each congregation is eligible to receive 10 complimentary subscriptions for leaders (five print, five digital). Online enrollment for 2012 is available at http://enrollment.umcom.org. You can also subscribe as an individual or purchase additional subscriptions for leaders and future leaders in your congregation. You may also enroll by sending or faxing a list of leaders to receive Interpreter. For help with any of these procedures, please contact United Methodist Communications Customer Service, 888.346.3862, or email Interpreter at interpreterm@umcom.org.
 
To receive a sample copy of Interpreter, call Customer Service or email your request to interpreterm@umcom.org.

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BOOK: A Life In Time, A Woman's Journey from Orphanage to Peace Corps (Kaye Stone)

Kaye, at six years old, went to an orphanage with her sisters. She lived there until she was 18 years old when she went to college. In Part One of A Life in Time, Kaye reports how orphanage life was for her during those years. Part Two discusses the early days of a new government program started by President John F. Kennedy, the Peace Corps. Kaye's sisters saved eighty-seven letters she wrote from India as a Peace Corps Volunteer; they are the basis for Part Two.



Kaye adapted to institutional living as a six year old and she adapted to India in the Peace Corps. She lets the reader find out what personality characteristics made her experiences good ones.



One thing for sure, Kaye's orphanage life is not the Oliver Twist situation most people imagine. Her Peace Corps trials and successes show a range of experiences. The reader's eyes will be opened.



A Life in Time endorsement from President Jimmy Carter | "Kaye Stone's book about her early life and service in the Peace Corps is especially interesting to me because she served in India in the same group as my mother. A much younger Volunteer, Kaye's perspective is quite different, but is an intriguing supplement to my mother's observations about an adventurous, challenging, but gratifying experience."  - President Jimmy Carter

> Order online

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STUDY: Irresistible Invitation: Cultivating Joyful Giving in Your Church (Maxie Dunham)

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DVD: Helping Congregations Reach New Disciples (Lewis Center for Church Leadership)

For Immediate Release
Contact: Ann Michel – amichel@wesleyseminary.edu, 202.885.8582
 
WASHINGTON, DC – To help congregations reach new disciples, the Lewis Center for Church Leadership of Wesley Theological Seminary will host the Connect with Your Neighbors Conference and release a companion DVD/CD Resource.
 
Conference
The Connect with Your Neighbors Conference will be held Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011, from 9:00 am - 12:30 pm on the campus of Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC. Building on the Center’s continuing work in attracting new disciples, the half-day conference for laity and clergy will feature insightful presentations from Dr. Lovett H. Weems, Jr., Director of the Lewis Center for Church Leadership, and Dr. Amy Oden, Dean of Wesley Theological Seminary.
 
Dr. Weems says, “To reach new disciples, it used to be enough for our churches simply to reach out to our neighbors. But today we need to do more. Today we need to connect with our neighbors through understanding, engagement and service.”
 
The conference also features practical workshops from knowledgeable Lewis Center staff: Discovering Who Your Neighbors Are, Ways to Understand Your Neighbors Better, Using Social Media to Reach New People, Your Website Is Your Church’s Welcome Mat, and Needs-based Community Outreach.
 
> Early-bird conference registration discounts are available through Oct. 10, 2011.
 
DVD/CD Resource
The Connect with Your Neighbors DVD/CD Resource includes videos of the conference presentations plus workshop PowerPoint presentations, introductory videos, outlines, key points and other resources to help congregations reach new disciples. The resource will be available in early December 2011, and the Lewis Center is offering a preorder discount through Nov. 5, 2011.
 
The Connect with Your Neighbors Conference and DVD/CD Resource are part of the Lewis Center’s Reach New Disciples program.
 
Additional conference, registration, and resource information is at available at http://www.churchleadership.com/newdisciples.
 

The Lewis Center for Church Leadership of Wesley Theological Seminary seeks to advance the understanding of Christian leadership and promote the effective and faithful practice of Christian leadership in the church and the world.  The center is building a new vision for church leadership grounded in faith, informed by knowledge and exercised in effective practice. The center seeks a holistic understanding of leadership that brings together theology and management, scholarship and practice, research and application.  The Lewis Center serves as a resource for clergy and lay leaders, congregations and denominational leaders. Through teaching, research, publications and resources, the center supports visionary spiritual leaders and addresses key leadership issues crucial to the church’s faithful witness.

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BOOK: GODTALK: 52 Fun Activities to Teach Children (Rev. Dr. Rita Hayes)

Rev. Dr. Rita B. Hays, Associate Pastor at Connell Memorial United Methodist has authored the book GODTALK: 52 Fun Activities to Teach Children. It is a practical, easy-to-use resource for Sunday school teachers, children’s ministers, children’s ministry volunteers, pastors, and family members. 

Each conversation centers on a simple scripture verse children can read, have read to them, or memorize. After each scripture verse, a talk point describes how the conversation applies to the spiritual growth of children. Each conversation includes suggestions for engaging children in a fun activity that engages the children’s senses and relates to living a life of faith in the world today.

God Talk may be used in a variety of settings within the church. Worship leaders who have the responsibility of sharing the children’s sermon could, with little preparation, use the God Talk conversations in the worship setting. Children’s church leaders can follow up by reinforcing the God Talk and having the children put the 
God Talk into action through a simple craft project and or activity, thus providing a consistency with what the children have heard in worship.

God Talk could also be used for Wednesday night children’s programming, special children’s events, children’s devotional times, and as a supplement for Sunday school lessons.

Parent and grandparents will find God Talk a helpful resource in the home to engage their children in conversations about God.  Lessons can easily be adapted for use in the family setting. The craft projects will be especially fun for children, but enjoyable for all family members.

The book is published by Abingdon Press and is available at Cokesbury bookstores or online, CLICK HERE.

Dr. Hays is also the author of Five Practices for Children, The Children’s Minister, The Most Important Space in the Church: The Nursery and All in the Family, Faith Issues for Families Facing Addiction.

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