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Visit our website at www.eocumc.com/mid-ohio February 2020

This is a powerful prayer but then again when we go to the Lord in

prayer, we expect a powerful response.

The Mid-Ohio District Strategy Team is intentionally praying for

each of the 69 churches in our district. It is the least and most we can

do. We faithfully stand in the gap!

Churches we are focusing our prayers on for the month of February

are those listed below…

Marion Salem Martel Mt Gilead Trinity Mt Zion Nakin

New Beginnings Nevada Olivesburg Paradise Hill Plankton

Believe it or not, it’s time to think

about how your children will spend

their summer vacation! At East Ohio

Camps we are focused on partnering

with families and local congregations

in the faith formation of children,

youth and adults they send our way.

The three sites: Aldersgate, Asbury

and Wanake, and the Youth off-site

events: CYF, ReachOut, & Institute,

all provide excellent camping experi-

ences, yet offer a variety of programs

that celebrate their uniqueness. Camp-

ing can satisfy what children need.

They experience faith, responsibility, and cooperation as part of a caring community. They experience

self-esteem as children of God. In a world where it is hard to be a kid, and it is hard to be a parent, let

East Ohio Camps be your partner in faith and the development of your child. With hundreds of events

to choose from, one will be right for you and your child. Sports! Drama! Water! Horses! Great places!

Great experiences! All with trained, caring staff. Visit www.EOCSummercamps.org to learn more and

find the camp right for you. Also, don’t forget to get a campership application from your United Meth-

odist pastor or contact the district office (419-522-3881 or midohiodistrict@gmail.com) to receive one.

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Last spring, Shelby, OH was hit by a tornado. No one was expecting

that but in the days following the cleanup and recovery actions began

as needed. I was partnered up with a fellow pastor from the United

Church of Christ and we spent days delivering water, passing out gift

cards and lending a helping hand in any way that we were able. This

was all during Holy week and I can tell you that it was busy, complicat-

ed, and not very well organized, at first.

The reason for this article is to hopefully help the reader prepare your church in the event that some-

thing happens in your area. I know that this is not something that is normally covered at an “Admin”

council, but, if we as a group look at being prepared, we can respond efficiently and effectively.

Here are some questions to ask yourself and your council: If a disaster were to strike what would we

do? Who would we contact? What would our response to the community be? What would we do during

a cold snap? Could we open a warming shelter? If so, how do we do that? Who mans it? What if a tor-

nado or flood happens? Do we have a way to contact parishioners quickly? Do we have an “active

shooter” plan? Do we practice drills? What if the Coronavirus turns into a pandemic? How are we go-

ing to deal with that at our level? I could go on with pages of questions, but you get the idea.

Now is the time to prepare. I am not suggesting that churches begin hoarding food or building elaborate

bunkers. What I am suggesting is to start talking to each other and have some kind of idea of what to

do. If you are looking for resources go to Google and type in the following “a checklist for a disaster

preparedness plan for churches” what you will find is a plethora of information and ideas to get started.

It is also imperative that you get to know the County Emergency Manager from your county. After op-

erating a warming shelter at Shelby 1st last year I have the number for the Richland County EMA pro-

gramed in my phone. These people are there to help you with specific issues, make use of what they

offer. The Mid-Ohio District has two people designated as Disaster Response Coordinators, myself and

Stan Wertz. My cell phone number is: (419) 512-2812. Please feel free to call me anytime and I will do

my best to work through any issues you may be having.

Please take the time to make a Disaster Prep Plan, blessings to all Garland Harvey.

Active Shooter in a church Seminar

February 16, 3:00 - 6:00pm @ Three Crosses UMC

(12 Cleveland St., Butler, 44822)

FREE course open to safety teams, church staff and members. (Freewill love offering accepted to help cover costs.)

Register at facebook.com/kmsafety or message 567-275-1003 with event, name and number attending.

K&M Safety Consultants, LLC * www.kmsafety.org

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2019 Audits

Let’s practice good stewardship and fiscal re-sponsibility by making sure your annual audit is completed and submitted to the district of-fice by the deadline of March 31. Thank You!

Annual Conference will relocate in 2021 to the Johns S. Knight Center in Akron for these missional

reasons: costs for members to attend, the travel distance to Lakeside Chautauqua, housing concerns,

accessibility, and limited breakout space.

The location for Annual Conference 2021 is changing, but the faithful ministry of East Ohio Confer-

ence pastors, congregations and faith communities remains unchanged.

For more information, visit the East Ohio Conference website: www.eocumc.com

Ohio Youth Annual Conference 2020

Attention youth leaders: Registration for Ohio

Youth Annual Conference (YAC) 2020 is now

open. The first 250 participants to register during

Early Bird Registration (January 1 - March 31)

will receive a FREE sound-activated glow in the

dark wristband with your welcome packet at

YAC 2020 check-in! Learn more and register.

We have Hope

as an Anchor

for the Soul

Annual

Conference

2021

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Mid-Ohio District Office of the UMC

410 Park Ave. West, Suite 2

Mansfield, OH. 44906-3121

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

US POSTAGE PAID MANSFIELD, OH

44902 PERMIT NO. 348

Contact Us

Articles for the district news-

letter must be submitted by

the 15th of each month and

are subject to editing and

availability.

Mid-Ohio District Office

410 Park Ave., W. Suite 2

Mansfield, OH. 44906

(419) 522-3881

(419) 522-5485 fax

midohiodistrict@gmail.com

Visit us on the web at

www.eocumc.com/mid-ohio

Please help us be better

stewards of our resources

and read the newsletter

via email or on the web-

site and let us know to

remove you from the

postal mailing list.

Thank You!

Teach • Reach • Bless is an East Ohio Conference mission initiative to raise $1.5 million to build and furnish a residence hall for female students at Africa University because our Conference is committed to improving education and wellness of women today for a better Africa tomorrow. To date, the campaign has received $479,589.05 in commitments and donations. To support the campaign, write a check payable to your church and include Teach • Reach • Bless on the memo line. Church treasurers should send all collected campaign donations to the Confer-ence lockbox and include the amount on their church remittance form under Fund 9915.

Learn more, download resources, and support the campaign.

Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors… The People of the United Methodist Church

EOC

to

Build a

Dorm

at

Africa University