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August 2019 Volume 20, Issue 5
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President's Message | Andrew Kissell
Discover Transforming Grace at the 2019 Spiritual Advance
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| Andrew Kissell President |
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Greetings!
Please make plans to join us for the 2019 Virginia Conference UMM Spiritual Advance at Baylake UMC, Virginia Beach on September 27-28, 2019. Our theme is Transforming Grace.
As in 2018, there are special rates for pastors, early bird registrations, and spouses. For last year's Advance attendees, take advantage of Bring One Get One free registrations for brothers attending with you for the first time this year.
Also this year, there is a special Church Challenge targeted at both Chartered and Non-Chartered Men's groups. Open to all churches, the challenge is to line up 12 men to come and receive both a discounted rate and free event themed golf shirts. We've also added a box lunch option on Saturday so you may have more fellowship on site with your brothers in Christ.
Why is the Annual Advance so Important?
- The Advance is Spirit led.
Several minutes after we begin, men surrender their wills, and the Holy Spirit leads our weekend. You can feel when it happens, and it's my favorite part of the event!
- The Advance is mission focused.
This event is the primary source of ministry funding for the VA Conference UMM. We support Hunger Relief, Prison Ministries, Domestic Violence Prevention, Mentoring New Disciples, Scouting, Leadership Development, Heart Havens, Camp Rainbow, Disaster Relief and other vital ministries throughout the Conference.
- The Advance features renowned speakers, experts in their field.
This year, o
ur featured speaker is the Rev. Dr.
Kevin Watson, who led Bible Study at the 2019 Virginia United Methodist Annual Conference.
Our guest speakers are
Greg Arnold
and
Odell Horne.
Check out their bios in the article below.
We also have pastors and laity who will share devotionals throughout our day and a half of fellowship and spiritual immersion.
- Meet men from other Conferences at the Advance.
I'm excited to report that we have brothers from the Upper New York, North Carolina, and Western North Carolina Conferences joining us.
- The Advance has been designed for you.
If you register on or before August 27, you receive an early-bird discount of $20.
So, keep reading, find out more, and register now!
Grace and Peace,
Andrew Kissell, President
757-839-0790
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A Personal Invitation from Bishop Weaver
God's Transforming Grace Comes to Virginia Beach
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A message from
Virginia Conference Interim Bishop
Pete Weaver
"Take advantage of this very exciting opportunity to stir into flame your Spirit and the strength and boldness within you."
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2019 Spiritual Advance in Virginia Beach
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The 2019 Spiritual Advance will be held in Virginia Beach, a great vacation spot for families where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean.
Bring the family and enjoy Virginia Beach for the weekend. Extend your stay and enjoy the 2019 Neptune Festival taking place in Virginia Beach.
The 2019 Spiritual Advance with the theme Transforming Grace is being held at nearby Baylake United Methodist Church. Interest and excitement is building for the September 27-28 spiritual weekend.
Spiritual Advance Registration Check-in Hours
Friday, September 27
Baylake United Methodist Church 5:00
pm - 8:00
pm
Opening Session begins at 6:00 p.m. sharp!
Saturday, September 28
Baylake United Methodist Church 7:30
am - 1:30
pm
Morning session begins at 8:00 a.m. sharp!
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2019 Spiritual Advance Hotels
Reserve your hotel rooms now at the special Spiritual Advance rate of $109/night at a choice of two hotels. Both hotels are approximately 6 miles from Baylake UMC. Registration deadline is August 27, 2019.
1570 North Military Highway
Norfolk, Virginia 23502
Phone: 757-213-2231
1500 North Military Highway
Norfolk, VA 23502
Phone: 757-466-8000
Note: Select the dates 09/27/2019 - 09/29/2019 to book the special rate.
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2018 Spiritual Advance Survey Responses to the Question:
"Future Attendance at the VA UMM Spiritual Advance"
Highly Likely: 89% Likely: 6%
Selected Responses from 2018 Advance Surveys:
"Great Location - Nice Facility - Facility very welcoming."
"Good show - Impressive - This was a great two days."
"This was a very good event - The whole weekend was good."
"Very well thought out - put together."
"Although I could not get my wife to come, I would come to future events"
"Thank you for including women - Invite we women again"
"Workshops great - Very informative."
"Appreciated invitation."
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BOGO: Bring One. Get One.
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Spiritual Advance Speakers
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Our Featured Speaker is the
Rev. Dr. Kevin Watson, Assistant Professor of Wesleyan and Methodist Studies at Candler School of Theology at Emory University. He is author of The Class Meeting: Reclaiming a Forgotten (and Essential) Small Group Experience, a best-selling book about Wesleyan transformational small groups, and Pursuing Social Holiness: The Band Meeting in Wesley's Thought and Popular Methodist Practice. An ordained elder in the Oklahoma Conference, Dr. Watson was the Bible Study leader at the 2019 Annual Conference.
 Guest Speaker Odell Horne is the YoungER Men's Ministry Representative for the North Georgia Conference to the Southeast Jurisdiction's team that is working to develop best practices in reaching younger men for Jesus Christ. He is also a Lay Servant at Impact Church (East Point, GA), a Men's Ministry Specialist, and a member of the Society of Biblical Literature. He is a graduate of Texas College, Clark Atlanta University, and Bethel Theological Seminary. He works for the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System. Listen to Odell's personal invitation (0:31) to come to the 2019 Spiritual Advance at Baylake UMC, September 27-28.
Guest Speaker
Greg Arnold is deployed staff at the General Commission
on United Methodist Men (GCUMM) and an advocate for Men's Ministry. The mission of the GCUMM is to help men grow in Christ so that others may know Christ. To fulfill that mission, Greg goes to where younger men are with a Live Bold approach to ministry.
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You are invited to participate in our second annual Heart Havens/VA Conference UMM Golf Tournament. This tournament is being sponsored by the Virginia Conference United Methodist Men of the Elizabeth River District and will support the ministries of Heart Havens, Inc.
The tourne
y
begins with a shotgun start at 10:00 AM on Friday, September 27, 2019,
at Honey Bee Golf Course. All women and men players are welcome to come an
d enjoy an afternoon of great golf, fun, & fellowship! Cost is $60 per
individu
al or $200 per team.
Heart Havens empowers adults with a developmental disability to live full and vibrant lives with as much independence as possible. This non-profit ministry began in 1996 as an outreach of the Virginia Conference United Methodist Church's Commission on Disabilities and has strong ties to the United Methodist Men.
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Golfers, Please Note: All proceeds after expenses will go to Heart Havens to help maintain their seven residences, places that are called "home" by God's children who live there. Heart Havens empowers adult men and women with a developmental disability to live full and vibrant lives with as much independence as possible.
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Upcoming Dates to Remember
United Methodist Men in Ministry
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2019
AUG 24
UMMen Cabinet Meeting
United Methodist Center, Glen Allen, VA
Note date change!!
SEP 27-28
2019 UMMen Spiritual Advance
Baylake UMC (Elizabeth River District)
4300 Shore Drive, Virginia Beach, VA
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Sunrise over
Oneida Lake
Courtesy Darrall Fogus
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God's Grace Transforms
"I believe in Christianity as I believe that the Sun has risen, not only because I see it but because by it I see everything else."
- C.S. Lewis
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