VIM - Volunteers in Mission - Exactly what is it?

Jesus summed up the Christian lifestyle in a simple formula - “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength” and “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:30) When asked by a lawyer to explain who was his neighbor, Jesus told the story of the good Samaritan. The Samaritan was a good neighbor because he had compassion and was able to cross culture and religious boundaries to help someone who was obviously hurting and in need of help. And then Jesus said, “Go and do likewise!” (Luke 10:25-37)

Our neighborhood has expanded. Today we are a global neighborhood and our neighbors are everywhere. There is no place on this planet where we are not called to go if there is a need. There is no place on this planet where we do not have the opportunity to receive those who understand themselves to have been sent. As we move into different cultures and experience the reality of other contexts, we begin to live our lives with greater sensitivity, understanding, and compassion. This kind of living and understanding can be life energizing and church energizing. Therefore, putting our faith into action is at the very heart of our Christian calling and not just something that we do in our spare time after we have reached our personal goals. Through Volunteers in Mission every person in the church has the opportunity to serve and to live their calling and their lives more faithfully. And when we reach out in this way, using what God has given us in the service of others, we have “lifetransforming” experiences. (http://new.gbgmumc.org/about/us/mv/index.cfm?print)

Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference has had the previledge and opportunity of hosting Volunteers in Mission teams for over forty years. It is with the dedication of these teams that new sanctuaries, fellowship halls, and parsonages have been constructed. Also because of the teams’ answer to God’s calling, numerous repairs - facelifting of parsonages, sanctuaries and fellowship halls have been accomplished.

A more detailed process of applying for VIM work teams is being introduced by the conference Director of Interpretation. This process will help churches see the procedures that are undertaken in securing assistance from work teams.

Workshops will be presented in each of the regions. If not, during the local church officer trainings, then a workshop will be scheduled. This process will be introduced during these workshops. It would be beneficial for those churches that may be looking at some type of construction or repairs in the next few years to attend a workshop. (Top photo, Bobb Meyers parsonage, bottom photo, Bobb Meyers fellowship hall, Illinois work team June 2007)