By Wendy Riddle

The need for United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) has rarely been greater! Fortunately for you, leader training is taking place in just over a month. Consider the needs that have arisen recently just in the U.S. From Hurricane Harvey to the wild fires raging across the west; rebuilding is going to be a long-term process. And as I write, Hurricane Irma is bearing down on Florida.

Ronda Cordill answers a participants question during a previous UMVIM workshop.

While it may be some time before some of the aforementioned communities are ready to receive UMVIM teams, there is no time like the present to prepare yourself to respond.

Your ability and willingness to bring the active presence of Christ to hurting people across our nation and the world is central to the UMVIM mission. From working at the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) Depots to traveling across the world to be in foreign mission, people will benefit from your presence and assistance and you will benefit from the presence and involvement of those you encounter!

We need team leaders trained now, so when the opportunities arise, we can quickly deploy teams where they are needed. Sign up today for team leader training – even if your intent is to serve on a team, rather than lead one.

Here are the dates:

United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) Team Leader/Team Member Training
October 28 | Pasco: Riverview UMC (Click here to register)
November 18 | Tumwater UMC (Click here to register)

Also, those interested in disaster response might want to consider participating in Early Response Team Training. Here are those dates:

Early Response Team (ERT) Fall Training
September 30 | Marysville UMC (Click here to register)

ERT Training – Kitsap County: “Be Ready to Answer the Call”
October 14 | Bremerton UMC (Online registration coming soon)


Wendy Riddle serves as UMVIM Coordinator for the PNW Conference.

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