Celebrating 100 Years of Men’s Ministry

Celebrating 100 Years of Men’s Ministry (1908-2008)

President’s Report – 2008 Annual Conference

The United Methodist Men of the Tennessee Conference have a rich

heritage and we can be proud of our many accomplishments through
the years. In 2008, the men of the United Methodist Church will reach
a new milestone as we will be celebrating over 100 years of men’s
ministry in the church. Where other men’s ministries have come
and gone over the years, UMM have been steadfast, affecting the lives
of men all around the world. The Tennessee UMM are proud to be part
of this achievement and celebration.

The General Commission has produced a video on our 100th

Anniversary Year that we encourage you to share with your
congregations. This video will also be shown at the 2008 General
Conference. There is an anniversary calendar with suggestions for
monthly observances during the year so please sit down with your
pastor to discuss the possibilities.

Plans are already underway for the 10th National Gathering,

formerly called UMMen Congress, that will be held in Nashville on
the campus of Belmont University. We are expecting nearly 6,000 men
from all over the world to converge on our city for this international
meeting of the UMM. Our local men will serve as the “host” conference
and thereby play a significant role in helping to coordinate the many
activities being offered. The dates are July 10-12, 2009.

At the Conference level, we are currently planning a Men’s 2008

Conference “Men Empowering Men” to be held on Saturday
October 11, 2008 at the Fellowship UMC in Murfreesboro, TN.
Our featured speaker will be Rev. David Adams, General Secretary of
the Commission of United Methodist Men. All men of the church are
invited to come and enjoy this time of fellowship, special music,
workshops, and outstanding leaders as they led us on a spiritual
revival of the Tennessee Conference UMM.
Four quadrennial jurisdictional retreats were held in 2007 impacting
many men and young boys in the name of Christ. These UMM retreats
took place in the Pocono Mountains of Eastern Pennsylvania (NEJ), St
Louis , Missouri (NCJ/SCJ), Tacoma, Washington (WJ), and Lake
Junaluska, North Carolina (SEJ). The focus is to teach and mentor men
how to be disciples, encouraging them to be men of faith through
evangelism, mission, and spiritual witness.

The General Commission of United Men (GCUMM) moved into new

offices on Nashville’s Music Row in 2006. The following are a few
examples of the spiritual renewal being experienced under the
leadership of the GCUMM staff headed by
Rev. David Adams.

*The agency pays the phone bill for the Upper Room Prayer
Line which receives some 36,000 calls each month. UMMen
groups from all over the nation help staff this remote prayer line
at their churches and retreats.

*Last year, UMMen and Big Brothers/Big Sisters joined in a

partnership called AMACHI that links men and women with youth
whose parents are incarcerated. Many conferences, including
Tennessee, are already participating in this much needed
ministry.

*The commission raised funds to help revise and publish a World

War II book of daily devotions (Strength for Service) that has
been distributed to over 300,000 men and women serving in our
armed forces.

*The agency helps fund the “Hope of Hearing” project in which

over 1,000 Haitian children have received hearing aids. Over
500 kids have benefited in the last four years alone.

*The commission coordinates Scouting Ministries in 8,000

United Methodist Churches, touching the lives of 373,000+
young people.

*UMM are encouraged to participate in a training experience

called “Letters from Dad” that allows men to write letters to
their wives, children, or other family members. Over 6,000 men
have already participated in the program.

*The agency coordinates “No Man Left Behind” leadership

training conferences in cooperation with the Orlando, Florida-
based Man in the Mirror Ministries, led by Patrick Morley. These
 leadership workshops are being scheduled all across the nation
now to help men become more effective spiritual leaders within
the church.

*In cooperation with Building Brothers, a Littleton, Colorado

based ministry founded by Dan Schaffer, the agency established
a “Wesleyan Band of Brothers” program and training that
enables men to become spiritual fathers to other men.

*The commission works with the Society of Saint Andrew

(SOSA) to recruit over 5,000 volunteers annually to help harvest
more than 2 million pounds of food to feed America’s hungry.
Their efforts raised over $200,000 for the Meals for Millions
program sponsored by SOSA, a national affiliate of the GCUMM.

As you can see, UMM are making a difference across the country – a
big difference! These are just a few of the many ministries that are
being promoted and actively utilized by UMM. Others include: Legacy
Builders, Habitat for Humanity, Bowl-A-Thons, Room in the Inn,
and potato drops.

UMM in our conference help conduct training sessions for conference

and district leaders. These men are helping local congregations
become more effective in reaching men and growing them spiritually.

This is the year to celebrate our past and plan for the future. It begins
with each of you. The next 100 years promises to be hopeful and
bright as we share with others about Jesus Christ -the way, the
truth, and the life.

I challenge each of you to inspire men to reach for a high calling of

spiritual fatherhood. May the Lord strengthen you and your family this
year as we work together for His glory.

Ingram Howard, President

United Methodist Men of the Tennessee Conference