Mar. 21, 2005
By Linda Green

As one of the biggest Sundays on the church calendar approaches, United Methodist Communications is offering tips to help churches make visitors feel welcome, along with resources to enhance spiritual development throughout the year.

Through Igniting Ministry, the church's four-year old welcoming and television ministry, the denomination's communications agency is providing local churches with suggestions for welcoming non-regular attendees on Easter. The ideas, along with free Easter worship resources and Web graphics, can be found at http://www.ignitingministry.org/lent/.

"How we welcome people and engage them as first-time visitors is an expression of our desire to incorporate them into our community," said the Rev. Larry Hollon, top executive at United Methodist Communications. "It's very important to be sensitive to how we communicate. In this way, communication becomes an expression of ministry."

Beginning April 1, Igniting Ministry will introduce "Expression Packages." The series of resources will help church leaders understand and use biblical, emotional and strategic themes as they advertise their ministry and welcome visitors. "Expression Packages" will be available in DVD and VHS formats. Each package will also include a compact disc. Shipping will begin in June.

"It is very important that we communicate our openness to persons who accept the invitation to worship and study with us and that we try to make their first-time visit as affirming and welcoming as possible," Hollon said. "The expression packages and other materials attempt to equip local churches with the tools necessary to present themselves in a consistent and integrated way to make newcomers feel welcome and encourage them to become a part of the community of faith."

United Methodist Communications offers a growing selection of resources to enhance spiritual development. The agency's mandate is to inform, inspire and engage individuals in transforming society and to help the church fulfill its mission of making disciples for Jesus Christ. Stories of hope, healing, redemption and justice are presented in many different media.

UMCom produces audio/video materials, sells licenses and computer hardware and software, develops Web sites, publishes church calendars, magazines and other print resources, promotes special church emphases and seasonal products, distributes news, provides welcoming and advertising materials and offers training. The agency uses all its products to inform and spread hope and inspiration to the 10 million members of the United Methodist Church and to people beyond the church.

"Today religious concerns dominate the news, and people are searching for meaning in their lives in many ways," Hollon said. "The church must be attuned to this search and must communicate with people in formats and language that encourage them to consider the faith community as a helpful place to engage in the search for meaning."

UMCom works in partnership with local churches to create effective resources to communicate the Christian faith positively. "In a media-driven environment, such as ours in the United States, this takes on critical importance, because we must break through the clutter of messages in order to reach people effectively," Hollon said. "This is not an easy task, and we can accomplish it only when we work together."

Last January, the agency's connectional giving team launched "Mission Moments & More." Availableexclusively at http://www.umcgiving.org, the series provides a mission story and an offertory prayer for each Sunday and brief articles for church newsletters. Pastors and church leaders can use these to interpret the denomination's connectional ministries.

"Mission Moments & More" highlights the seven apportioned funds, the six church-wide special Sundays with offerings and the Advance for Christ and His Church and other avenues for designated giving in the United Methodist Church.

Through Igniting Ministry, UMCom is helping the church live its promise of "Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors." The church's invitation to seekers is offered through varied media, including television, newspaper and billboard advertising. Training helps churches hone their welcoming skills and reach out to their neighbors.

CDs and DVDs are becoming the video media of choice. Two new productions will help churches respond to the needs of people and make a prophetic witness in the world.

"God, Why? Teachings from the Tsunamis" is a two-session study. The resources on DVD and CD help Christians understand God's activity in the midst of natural disasters. Using the South Asia tsunamis as an anchor, "God, Why?" offers practical and spiritual answers to questions that arise when disaster strikes.

"The Lord of the Rings: Exploring a Holy Trilogy" is six-week DVD-based study examining the themes and characters of J.R.R. Tolkien's complex trilogy. The study relates them to the Christian tradition.

"We seek to communicate about Christian faith in user-friendly formats and in language that makes faith accessible to the audience," Hollon said.

For more information on the services and products provided by United Methodist Communications, visit the Web site http://www.umc.org/.

United Methodist News Service
Linda Green is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in Nashville, Tenn.