Rural-church advocate due in Woodward - New Christians

On Oct. 15, Woodward-First UMC will host the next training event in the "New Christians" initiative for the Oklahoma Conference.

Title is "Evangelism in the Small and Rural Church." Guest speaker Ed Kail was the first chair of Town & Country Ministries at Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Mo. He also served as national president of the United Methodist Rural Fellowship, which educates and advocates in support and empowerment of rural ministries, churches, and people.

He will speak twice and lead a workshop on local application "how-tos."

The training opens with a 10 a.m. plenary session and concludes by 4:30 p.m. Lunch is included.

Sponsors are the Discipleship Ministry Team’s evangelism task force, the Woodward District, and the Discipleship Ministries of the Small-Membership Church.

• The final "New Christians" training event for 2011 is set for Nov. 19 in the Lawton District. Presenter will be John Ed Mathison.

• Find "New Christians" information and resources at www.okumc.org/NewChristians.  Follow the weekly prayer calendar posted there, and view video messages by Bishop Hayes.

Registration is $15 for the Oct. 15 event. Contact the Woodward District office, 580-254-3913, wdoumc@sbcglobal.net;  or sign up online at www.okumc.org/Evangelism.