It's HealthQuotient Time!

Every August, those in the HealthFlex insurance program have to go on line and fill out the HealthQuotient assessment survey.  If they do not, they will pay $250 extra for individual deductible or $500 extra for the family deductible.  The primary person and the covered spouse must both take the HQ by September 20th to avoid the higher deductible.  
 Click to get started

Church Online Payment Option
Cathy & Dru during a serious moment.
    
Approximately 20 forward-thinking churches are now using the online payment option to pay their shared ministry and pension & benefits contributions.  The feedback we received was that it was easy to use, once they got started.  It will save churches precious time, and money in postage.  Churches can pull up their statements, and reports of all the contributions that they have previously made . It is a handy way to have all the data you many need at your fingertips.   
     This is a great time to get accustomed to using the online program.  Starting in January, statements will not be mailed and payment not accepted via mailed check.  All statements and payment will be online. In general, it will bring the Conference up-to-date with current business practices. 
     If you have any questions or concerns, please call Cathy Anderson, Conference Treasurer & Statistician at 505-255-8786, ext. 103 or Dru Ann Kuntz, Conference Pension & Benefits Officer at 505-255-8786, ext. 102.  

Fall Clergy Retreat Registration Opens Tomorrow!

Simple Strategies for Raising Up New Leaders
By Kay Kotan

     Leadership development comes up nearly every time I work with pastors and churches. I have come to understand that we can only grow our churches in proportion to how we grow our people. To take the next step, you could say, we can only grow our churches in proportion to how we raise up leaders.
     So often in churches we are so eager to get someone to say yes to fill in a required blank on a form that we skip over the most important part. We skip over fully equipping the person for the ministry. Equipping comes in a variety of forms. Yes, we need job descriptions for all ministry positions. People need to know what to do and what is expected of them. But what is even more important is mentoring people into ministry positions. 
Read the whole article about Leadership Development 
 

Back to School Photos
Don't forget to post your Back to School Event photos!
We'll be creating a Back to School Memory Book 

KidMin Conference 2017
Sept. 22-24th in Chicago
 
Do you have an awesome Children's Ministry and you want to support your leaders?  Do you need to boost your Children's Ministry?  Consider sending your leaders to a Children's Ministry Conference.   
 
Click here for all the KidMin17 info

CMConnect Children's Ministry Conference
April 30 - May 3, 2018 Brighton, Michigan

Click for all the CMConnect Info
How to get your Church Website to the Top of the Search List 
How do churches befriend Google and get in front of searching eyeballs? There's no easy way. It's just like any other friendship - takes time, persistence and lots of love. We'll talk about search engine optimization tips and tools you can use to find and reach your audience. 
UMCOM Podcast 
UMCOM Podcast

New Church Development Mini-Grant Recipient   
New Covenant UMC-Farmington

     The first grant we applied for was for money to renovate some outdoor space the we are calling "The Porch" to be used for young adult ministry meeting space and youth meeting space.  The only meeting spaces we have for non-children within the walls of the church are around a couple tables in the kitchen and in the sanctuary.  Neither space is good space for young adults and youth.  So, we asked for money to convert an existing porch area into outdoor meeting space.  We are building a few things like a fire pit, grill station, serving station and extending the current patio space.  We will also be adding some elements for shade and installing misters.  We will be buying some stand-alone outdoor heaters to be used in the colder months.  This space will be used for Bible study, small group meetings, and fellowship.  
     The second grant we applied for was for money to offer partial scholarships to young families in the community to attend Financial Peace University classes at the church.  We will be offering scholarships through the Young Leadership Club at the college, the AA group that meets at our church, and Identity Inc. (a local support group for the LBGTQ community in Farmington)  Our goal is to build bridges with these groups and meet felt needs within our larger community.  The grant we received will help to  provide scholarships as well as provide childcare during classes. 
Submitted by Mel Roberts, Pastor

If you are interested in NCD Mini-Grants, Click here for more info & the application.

 

Upcoming Events

August
August 18-19 - Lay Servant School - St. Paul's UMC-El Paso
September
Sept.8-9 - CLM Training - Asbury-Odessa
Sept. 22-23 - CLM Training - University-Las Cruces
Sept. 27-29 - Leadership Institute - Leawood, KS
October
Oct. 1-4 - Fall Clergy Retreat - Sacramento
Oct. 14-15 - CLM Training - Asbury-Odessa
Oct. 14-15 - CLM Training - University-Las Cruces
Oct. 27-29 - Connect Rest - Sacramento
November
Nov. 3-5 - Explore Calling - Portland, OR
Nov. 7 - Be Strong & of Good Courage Workshop - FUMC-Roswell 
Nov. 10-11- CLM Training - Asbury-Odessa
Nov. 10-11 - CLM Training - University-Las Cruces
Nov. 17-19 - CCYM Fall Retreat- Sacramento 
 
Fall Itineration Schedule
Sept 16 - Roswell, First UMC 2:00 pm
Sept 23 - Tucumcari, Center Street 3:00 pm
Oct 14 - Odessa First UMC 10:00 am (Central Time)
Oct 21 - Farmington, First UMC 10:00 am
Oct 22 - Albuquerque, St. John's 2:00 pm
Nov 18 - El Paso, Trinity-First 2:00 pm  
 
 
Click here for the Conference Calendar

Classifieds
Conference Calendar
UMC website
 


RELEVANT, PASSIONATE, AND LIFE-CHANGING CHURCHES

New Mexico Annual Conference  

11816 Lomas Blvd. NE Albuquerque, NM 87112

Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Receptionist Hours: 9:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.

(800) 678-8786 toll free; (505) 255-8786; (505) 265-6184 fax

 Click here to view our staff listing  

 

 

Please send photos, articles, events, etc. to Alli Costello, Communications Director at alli@nmconfum.com.  Send classified ads to frontdesk@nmconfum.com.