Why UMVIM... <br>United Methodist Volunteers In Mission?

“UMVIM…….What is it?” We hear this question so often…..and from Methodists!

As your Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference UMVIM Coordinators, we are trying hard to provide more information about the many programs available through United Methodist Volunteers in Mission.

Our own experience with UMVIM began as Individual Volunteers, serving for a year in Peru as onsite coordinators of the new Peru-Bolivia Border Mission. (Misión Fronteras) We were fortunate to learn first-hand about the process of becoming an UMVIM mission site, which operates under the General Board of Global Ministries. Although our church, Boise FUMC, had been visiting with mission teams to the Lake Titicaca region since 2001, we became an official UMVIM site in 2009. By the end of our year, our replacements worked with us to receive status as an Advance site, which signifies the site has met UMVIM’s rigorous criteria for goals, objectives, management, and budget accountability.

Was it worth the extra effort, time and paperwork? A resounding YES from current and past onsite coordinators, and from our family of faith in Peru and Bolivia! The mission is alive, vibrant, and continuing to grow in a sustainable direction. Through UMVIM, Misión Fronteras has two dedicated onsite coordinators that have integrated well into the Aymara communities they serve. There is consistent onsite accountability and communication, and expanded financial and spiritual support from another conference as well as our own.

What a blessing! But isn’t that what it’s all about? Working together as United Methodist Volunteers in Mission!

There are three websites for you to learn about what is happening at the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference, Western Jurisdiction, and National (General Board of Global Ministry) levels. Please see Lorna Jost’s well-written article, “Why Go UMVIM?” at umvimwj.blogspot.com

• www.umoi.org Information and networking within the Oregon -Idaho Annual Conference
• umvimwj.blogspot.com Excellent current information and networking or mission opportunities in the Western Jurisdiction
• gbgm-umc.org/vim Information about ways to volunteer (Nomads,Primetimers Individuals, Teams)mission sites, trip insurance, training