August-September issue of The BEACON 'Rewound'
The sole
purpose of rewinding the current issue of The BEACON is to help ensure information about the UMMen 2018 Spiritual Advance is making its way into the Virginia Conference ... Wide-and-Deep
.
If you have signed-up by taking advantage of the
Early Bird discount that expires at 11:59 pm, Monday, September 17
and the opportunity to hear the Word from a host of Spirit-led speakers,
please feel free to disregard this notice.
OR better yet ...
Please
let the men in your congregation know about the UMMen Spiritual Advance being held
in Virginia Beach, October 26-27.
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August-September, 2018 Volume 19, Issue 6
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President's Message - Andrew Kissell
Having a Stake, well done!
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As many as two out of five Americans give absolutely nothing to charity. On average, Methodists give less than 3% of their net income to the Church. Median giving is closer to 1% with big givers skewing the average up.
So why should you help the United Methodist
Men here in Virginia through the 2018 Stakeholder Funding Campaign?
Pray about it first. Ask questions like: "What will the money be used for and why is ministry for men so important? What has the UMMen done for me and my church?" It's great to respond to a need, but you should do so carefully. It's much safer to give to established, reputable causes with low overheads than just anyone who asks.
Read what Pastor Rick Warren has to say about Four Heart Attitudes for Giving.
"You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. 'For God loves a person who gives cheerfully"
(
2 Cor 9:7 NLT
)
What is your heart saying you should give?
That's not to say we shouldn't give out of obedience to God. But our hearts need a stake in it, too, not just our heads. Giving cheerfully rather than reluctantly or out of compulsion is a test of gratitude. I give generously because God is so generous. And
generosity is the sixth fruit of the Spirit (
Galatians 5:22 NRSV)
:
As we grow spiritually, both our joy (fruit of the Spirit #2) and our giving grow!
I love the Church and my fellowship with United Methodist Men. I have hundreds of brothers whom I consider my mentors. I am grateful to the men who continue to pray for our church and carry out their faith in service to the poor and lost. I ask that you give so that we can continue to support the ministries we've come to love: Building Brothers
Heart Havens
,
Camp Rainbow
,
Prison and Jail ministries
,
Scouting
,
Hunger Relief
,
All God's Children
and unexpected ministry opportunities that come our way. And, especially so that we can help men grow spiritually, producing fruit at our Annual Spiritual Weekend this fall.
Just decide in your heart how much to give
.
Grace and Peace,
Andrew Kissell, President and Stakeholder
757-839-0790
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A Personal Invitation from Bishop Lewis
GO ... and Make Disciples!
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A brief message from
Virginia Conference Resident Bishop
Sharma D. Lewis
"Take advantage of a very exciting opportunity to stir into the Flame your Spirit andboldness within you."
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40
th
Annual United Methodist Men Spiritual Advance
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 Along with an
all-new
setting in Virginia Beach where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean, you're in store for a refreshing new program format. You'll also see another
big change this year
... Spouses are invited to attend and be an active part of the 2018 United Methodist Men Spiritual Advance. And don't forget, there is plenty to see and do in Virginia Beach, a great year-round vacation spot!
Interest and excitement is building for the
October 26-27
spiritual weekend that begins with registration at 5:00
pm
on Friday at the Virginia Beach Conference Hotel. The scheduled program of speakers and workshops begin that same evening at 6 o'clock at Baylake UMC.
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2017 Spiritual Advance Survey Responses to the question:
"How likely are you to attend the 2018 Spiritual Advance?"
Yes
: 89% Undecided: 8.2% No Response: 2.8%
"As a long-time participant in the UMM Retreats, I was looking forward to the new venue [Randolph Macon] and was not disappointed. I plan to be back in 2018."
Robert LaChance, Fredericksburg, VA
"The weekend was stimulating and uplifting as I had expected. I plan to return next year."
Grover Thompson, Burke, VA
"I always get a boost by attending, I'll be back."
Gl
enn Spain, Alexandria, VA
"It worked [at Randolph-Macon], it was good and we had a great time with a Godly speaker. I'll be back. Praise God!!"
Allen "Butch" Cover, Fredericksburg, VA
"I'll be back again next year."
Calvin Hughes
(Col., USAF-Ret.), Lexington, VA
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Spiritual Advance Headliners
Featured Speaker
Bishop James E. Swanson, Sr.
- a gifted speaker alive with the Spirit - will teach and preach three sermons throughout the weekend under the theme
GO ... and Make Disciples!
based on New Testament scripture. He will also lead an essential workshop called
Apprenticeship
that invites your participation.
Listen Bishop Swanson's special Invitation 1:37) to be present for the 2018 Spiritual Advance at Baylake UMC, October 26-27.
 Guest Speaker, Greg Koukl, has a long history of telling God's Good News!
He started out thinking he was too smart to become a Christian and ended up as an
apologist,
that is, dedicating his life for the defense of the Christian faith.
Greg will guide you through sessions on
Tactics, Intolerance of Intoler-ance
and
The Story of Reality
.
He will also conduct a workshop on the
Truths of Spiritual Growth.
H
ear him now on "building a bridge" to Spiritual conversation (1:00) and hear more at In Virginia Beach.
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Workshop and Devotional Leaders
Rev. Greg West
has served both as the Chaplain at Virginia Wesleyan University and as an evangelist in the Virginia Conference since 2010. Greg is passionate about small group ministry seeing this as the
front line
for both evangelism and discipleship.
Rev. Wayne Snead
He was the founding pastor at Messiah UMC in the former-Norfolk District until 1996 when he was appointed to Galilee UMC on Arlington District and serving there for 17 years until being appointed to the Bishop's Cabinet as the Elizabeth River District Superintendent in 2014.
Rev. Reason A. Chandler
is now in his sixth year as Pastor of Jackson Street United Methodist Church in Lynchburg. Prior to his appointment there in 2013, he had served several churches since becoming a Full-time Local Pastor in 2000. Jackson Street UMC is approaching its 152nd anniversary since its founding in 1866.
Rev. Clark Cundiff is the
Senior Pastor of Baylake United Methodist Church; he is
finishing his 18
th year as a pastor having served five congregations in Virginia and South Carolina. Clark has a Master of Divinity from the Candler School of Theology and a Master of Human Resource Development from Clemson University
.
Jim Boesch
is an Orlando, FL-based deployed staff member of the General Commission on United Methodist Men. He was certified as a Men's Ministry Specialist by GCUMM in 2009 and is a nationally certified trainer and facilitator of training.
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BOGO: Bring One. Get One.
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Spiritual Advance Registration Check-in Hours
Friday, October 26
Virginia Beach Resort Hotel 5:00
pm - 6:00
pm
Baylake United Methodist Church 6:00
pm - 8:00
pm
Saturday, October 27
Baylake United Methodist Church 7:30
am - 1:30
pm
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Spectator or Servant. Which one are you?
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Q:
What does the future hold for VA UMMen?
A:
It all depends on robust fundraising and Spiritual Advance attendance
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The 2018 Stakeholder Fund Campaign
Fundraising Report
has been up-dated for your review. The Report lists the contribution amounts received February-thru-August.
It also shows names of contributors who are eager for the Virginia Conference UMMen cabinet leadership to meet this year's mission goals (see chart below).
If your name is not shown, please consider making a contribution as generous as your budget will allow. We need you help!
Can we count on your support?
2018 Projected Expenses $11,800
(35.4% of Budget)
Please say,
"YES, I want to be a 2018 UM Men Stakeholder."
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Good news for golfers
Tee-off at Ocean View Golf Course - Norfolk
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The Virginia Conference Heart Havens Benefit Golf Outing, hosted by  Elizabeth River District United Methodist Men is sched-uled for Friday, October 26 at the Ocean View Golf Course-Norfolk located at 9610 Norfolk Ave. Getting to the golf course is a straight shot on US-60W, 12 miles from the Virginia Beach Resort Hotel & Confer-ence Center at 2800 Shore Drive, and only 9 miles from Baylake United Methodist Church at 4300 Shore Drive.
Cost is $70 each, or $260 for team play, which includes golf cart, lunch and beverage; and $100 for Golf Outing hole sponsorship.
Be sure to register by no later than Sunday, October 17!
Golfers are urged to check-in at the Ocean View Golf Course by 8:00 am to be ready for a 9:00 am shotgun start.
Golfers, Please Note: All proceeds after expenses will go to Heart Havens to help maintain their seven residences, places that are called "home" by God's children who live there. Heart Havens empowers adult men and women with a developmental disability to live full and vibrant lives with as much independence as possible.
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Upcoming Dates to Remember
United Methodist Men in Ministry
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2018
SEP 29
UMMen Cabinet Meeting
United Methodist Center, Glen Allen, VA
OCT 26-27
2018 UMMen Spiritual Advance
Baylake UMC (Elizabeth River District)
4300 Shore Drive, Virginia Beach, VA
2018 UMMen Stakeholder Fund
Campaign
Please say,
"YES, I want to be a UMMen Stakeholder!"
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Confidence in God's love.
This is a day the Lord has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
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nearby 
