The United Methodist Church

WORLD

2012

Four Areas of Ministry Focus

The Four Areas of Focus express the vision and yearnings of the people of The United Methodist Church. Over this quadrennium, the church will seek to focus the work of making disciples for Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world around these areas of ministry:

Combating the diseases of poverty by improving health globally.
Engaging in ministry with the poor.
Developing principled Christian leaders for the church and the world.
Creating new places for new people and revitalizing existing congregations.

Global Health Initiative

The Global Health Initiative is major area of focus for the ministry of The United Methodist Church,which aims to combat diseases of poverty such as malaria, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosisas well as provide health education, advocacy and infrastructure. We have long been a key player in the fight against malaria through the hospitals, clinics and missions centers we have operated across Africa for more than 160 years.

Hunger/Poverty

More than 800 million people in the world go hungry every day. The role of the church in alleviating hunger and poverty is crucial. God has placed the responsibility for leadership on our shoulders. As a church that follows the teachings of Wesley and Christ, we have a responsibility to share the blessings that God has bestowed upon us.

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Leadership Development

All Christians are ministers. All are called to service. While some United Methodists will be ordained as clergy, others are called to the ministry of the laity, paid or volunteer. (From our baptism, we are part of the general ministry of the church.) The laity are best suited to carry out many of the ministries of the church.

Church growth and development

The denominational church-planting movement encompassing national, regional and local levels of The United Methodist Church. We provide collaborative leadership to re-evangelize the United States so that we might reach more people, more young people, and more diverse people for Christ by creating new places for new people. Path 1 seeks to cultivate the leaders, develop the systems and implement the strategies necessary to regain our healthy denominational habit of starting one new church a day.

Christ

The Men, Women, and Children

Understanding World Religions...

Discerning God’s Vision for Me As a Ministry Leader

In the United Methodist Church, people live out God’s call to be in specific ministry in many ways. Each ministry is valid and essential to the church. When we look at the church as the body of Christ, we understand that the body is only complete when all of the parts are used to their best potential. The important thing to remember is that God calls and equips each of us for ministry.

Ministry is the work of all Christians. One of your essential goals as a Certified Lay Minister is to discern how God is calling you to be part of God’s great mission. God has blessed you with specific gifts, talents, and passions. By finding the place where these areas intersect, you are likely to find the unique vision God has for you in ministry...