Southwest District News [link removed]
If you have any requests that you would like us to prayer over, please let us know.
We are praying for each of you, your families, and your congregations.



Scholarships Available for United Methodist Students!
Applications are now open for scholarships from the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation. Every year, UMHEF awards $2+ million to students planning to attend one of the 100+ UM-related colleges, universities, and seminaries across the country. Don’t let finances get in the way of achieving your dreams of a quality education! Apply by March 1 at
[link removed] Apply Here →

1.New Places For New People
The Center for Congregational Excellence is accepting grant applications from now until April 1 from churches that are establishing new places for new people in the six categories of small group, recovery ministry, Fresh Expression, new worship service, collaborative parish, and new church or multi-site. For more information and to get started on the worksheet click below:
[link removed] Click Here →
2. Missouri UM Foundation
A Foundation Ministry Grant can help jump-start a new ministry, address a special project or need, and affirm the work and initiatives of your church members. The fall deadline is approaching. Learn more and apply below:
[link removed] Click Here →


Robert and Martha Marble Mission Award
Each year the Robert and Martha Marble Mission Award is given to an individual in the Missouri Annual Conference who exhibits outstanding commitment to mission. This award is given in honor of the Marbles, who served for 36 years as missionaries from Missouri to India. When submitting a letter of nomination, describe the qualifications of the nominee, considering the following guidelines:
Number of years of mission involvement
Leadership given to developing mission projects and programs
Involvement in local church and community mission
Involvement in mission beyond the local church, e.g., VIM projects, Mozambique Initiative, District, Conference, General Church endeavors
Degree to which services were volunteered
The recipient will receive a certificate and $500 given to a mission project of his/her choice. Any clergy or lay member of the Missouri Conference may submit a nomination electronically to Rev. Dr. Lucas Endicott in the Office of Mission, Service & Justice Ministries at mailto:[email protected] [email protected]. All nominations must be submitted by February 15, 2023.

Unity Award
The Values Team of the Missouri Conference of the United Methodist Church is now receiving nominations for the Unity Award. The Unity Award celebrates the spirit and work of an individual in light of the values of the Missouri Annual Conference with particular emphasis on inclusiveness, justice and worth. The recipient must have demonstrated a continuing commitment to the full and equal participation of women, ethnic minorities, and all other groups or individuals historically discriminated against in the total life and mission of the United Methodist Church and the community at large. The recipient may be lay or clergy, youth or adult. The recipient must be United Methodist and affiliated with the Missouri Annual Conference. Please submit a one-page essay with reference to the individual’s name and role within the church, along with an explanation regarding this person’s spirit and work, and why you believe this person should be the recipient of the Unity Award. Please include at the top of the page your name, telephone number, address, and e-mail address (if applicable). Nominations may be submitted electronically to Rev. Kim Jenne in the Office of Mission, Service & Justice Ministries at mailto:[email protected]?subject=Unity%20Award%202023 kjenne mailto:[email protected] @moumethodist.org. Any clergy or lay member of the Missouri Conference may submit a nomination. All nominations must be submitted by February 15, 2023.

One Matters
The One Matters award exists to encourage a renewed focus on discipleship, especially at congregations in the United Methodist connection where annual baptisms and professions of faith too often are nonexistent. This award exists to encourage discipleship in existing churches where this type of growth has been nonexistent for some time. District Superintendents may make nominations by sharing 3-4 sentences about what is happening in that particular church to renew their focus on discipleship and submit to mailto:[email protected] [email protected]. All nominations must be submitted by February 15, 2023.

Denman Evangelism Award: Clergy & Laity
This award honors United Methodists selected by the annual conference for their exceptional ministry of evangelism - expressed in Word (what), Sign (why), and Deed (how) – that brings people into a life transforming relationship with Jesus Christ. A Harry Denman Evangelism Award recipient consistently introduces those they serve to the Good News of Jesus Christ. Their ministry is outstanding for the number of new Christ Followers who credit encounters with this person as critical in helping to start or reignite their faith journey. District Superintendents make nominations and must complete a specific nomination form from the Foundation for Evangelism and submitted to mailto:[email protected]?subject=Denman%20Awards [email protected]. All nominations must be submitted by February 15, 2023.

UNITE Virtual Info Sessions – February 13 and 16
We hope you’re making plans to join us this summer at UNITE, a United Methodist youth conference held July 17-21 on the campus of Central Methodist University. Got questions? Join us at a virtual info session. RSVP at
[link removed] RSVP →



Worship Counting Webinar – February 21 at 1 p.m.
Since the pandemic took church online, the worship counting landscape has changed and brought with it new questions. Join us at 1 p.m. on February 21 for a short webinar with Conference Treasurer Nate Berneking in which he’ll share a revised set of worship counting protocols and address common questions. Local church leaders will learn best practices and how this data can evaluate the health of their congregation both now and in the future. Learn more and register at:
[link removed] Register →


RMC Collab in Aurora
The Rural Missouri Connection invites you to come see what’s happening in rural Missouri as people engage in mission of all kinds across our state. We’ll share ideas and explore how Aurora UMC is using strengths- and solutions-based ministry efforts to create long-term impacts through its Project RISE program. Learn more and register at:
[link removed] Click Here →


The Art of Hospitality conference is back in-person for the first time since 2019! It be held at Church of the Resurrection at their Leawood, KS location April 25-26, 2023. An in-person conference enables participants to be immersed in an environment of exceptional hospitality and to experience firsthand the impact a great experience can have on guests. A positive first experience and a warm welcome lead to a significantly higher return rate for first-time guests and make our churches more engaging.
The conference will be led by Yvonne Gentile, Guest Experience and ShareChurch Lead Director at Church of the Resurrection, in Leawood, KS. and Resurrection Executive Director Debi Nixon, and will focus on the ministry of welcome and intentional hospitality. Participants will learn key principles and methods to create a culture of radical welcome which permeates the entire congregation, including key touchpoints, attracting visitors, effective follow-up, and volunteer training. Churches are encouraged to send pastors, staff or volunteers engaged in the ministry of welcome, visitor outreach or connections to this high energy and value packed conference.
Registration is limited. Super Early Bird pricing of $99 is available through February 28.
For more information, please visit [link removed] sharechurch.com/events. For answers to any questions you might have, please reach out to me at mailto:[email protected] [email protected], or contact Kathy Carter at mailto:[email protected] [email protected] or Jonathan Bell at mailto:[email protected] [email protected].





Lay Education
Opportunities

Saturday, February 25, 2023
9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Warsaw UMC
154 W. Washington St.
Warsaw, MO 65355
1. Ministry of All Believers (formerly Basic)
[link removed] Register →
2.Congregational Care
[link removed] Register →
3.Sharing Our Story
[link removed] Register →
The Methodist Movement is a laity-led movement. Now, more than ever, laity are needed across the Missouri Conference. We need educated, empowered and equipped laity to lead our churches.
We believe that all are called to be servants for Jesus. That doesn’t need a title or status. And we believe that we are all called in different ways – some to preach, some to teach, some to lead, some to offer comfort, some to build, some to organize – the list goes on and on.
The Missouri Conference is committed to educating and empowering laity to go out, using the gifts each of us has been given, and be the hands and feet of Jesus and to ensure laity in Missouri are equipped for the needs unique to our Conference.

If you are interested in information on Lay Leadership please contact:

Mitch Ross
District Lay Education Coordinator
mailto:[email protected] [email protected]
[link removed] (417) 808-0218

Gail Compton
District Lay Education Coordinator mailto:[email protected] [email protected]

Karensue Hensley
District Lay Leader mailto:[email protected] [email protected]

Greg Weaver
District Lay Leader mailto:[email protected] [email protected]
[link removed] (417) 848-9145





Please contact the district office for any district listings or events you would like promoted on future newsletters!
Journeys of Paul in Turkiye & Greece with Chaplain Cliff & Martha Rawley | May 1, 2023
Rev. Cliff Rawley, a retired UM minister, and his wife Martha live in Springfield and are members of a local UM church. They are happy to share their plans of going on a pilgrimage to see many places where St.Paul preached the Gospel in Greece and Turkey on his many missionary journeys. They will travel with Educational Opportunities Tours, which has guided Biblical tours for over 50 years. The dates of the trip are May 1 to 13, 2023. Pastor Cliff and Martha are excited to visit cities where St. Paul endangered his life and suffered greatly in order to spread the Gospel. We will be standing on holy ground as we read Scriptures with other pilgrims at locations where the Holy Spirit worked miracles through St. Paul. Some of the places on this tour are Athens, Corinth, Ephesus, Philippi, Antioch, Thessalonica, and Laodicea. Also included in this trip is a visit to Instanbul, which was the eastern seat of the Roman Empire. If you would like to explore the opportunity of making this amazing trip, you may contact Cliff and Martha at 417.987.8505 or at [email protected]. Pilgrims who travel together find strength and inspiration from each other.
For more information See the link below:
[link removed] Journey of Paul Tour → Please continue to check both sites for more information.

[link removed] [link removed]

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns to our District Staff:

Alice Fowler, District Superintendent - [email protected]
Rebecca Courtney - [email protected] or 417-499-8334
Tiffany Freeman - [email protected] or 417-499-6840
Ethan Owens - [email protected] or 417-623-2382




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Southwest District of the Missouri Annual Conference
2517 E 20th, Joplin, MO, 64804-1037
(417) 623-2382
southwest.moumethodist.org southwest.moumethodist.org