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United Methodist Volunteer in Mission (UMVIM)

What Is UMVIM?

United Methodist Volunteers In Mission (UMVIM) is the official short-term mission agency of the of The United Methodist Church. UMVIM promotes, encourages, and enables Christians to exemplify “Christian Love In Action” through short-term mission service in the United States and abroad. UMVIM "exists to enable the participation of persons from throughout the world in global mission volunteer programs and projects so that affirming, empowering, and trusting relationships are established." (2008 Book of Discipline, ¶1313.5)

UMVIM is a grassroots movement of United Methodists who seek to put their “Christian Love in Action.”  Since the 1970s, UMVIM has offered a framework through which disciples can engage in short-term missions locally, nationally and globally.  Our volunteers are any United Methodist who engages in outreach as a member of a United Methodist Church in service of their neighbors near and far, lay and clergy, young and old, with differing abilities and vocations, from all walks of life. Volunteers in mission engage in short-term mission each year in ministries as varied as disaster response, community development, pastor training, microenterprise, agriculture, Vacation Bible School, building repair/construction and medical/dental services. There is a place for everyone to serve.

Why UMVIM?

UMVIM provides opportunities for service connecting mission sites with church mission teams and individual volunteers by developing and nurturing relationships with domestic and international leaders. UMVIM continually fosters contacts with leaders to respond to the needs of local communities and to provide comprehensive project information. UMVIM teams are sent to a country or area only when invited by an appropriate church leader or accepted non-governmental agency. Projects are evaluated and project leaders are accountable to UMVIM.

LEADING PRACTICES OF UMVIM TEAMS

  1. Pay Attention to Spiritual Formation at Every Stage of the Journey
  2. Commitment to Intercultural Competency
  3. Have a Trained Team Leader
  4. Serve with an UMVIM Project
  5. Comply with Safe Sanctuaries
  6. Insurance Coverage
  7. Register Your Team

CORE VALUES

  1. It’s God’s mission, not ours
  2. Radical discipleship
  3. Partnership
  4. People over projects
  5. Growing in intercultural competence
  6. Self-awareness
  7. Do No Harm. Do Good. Stay in love with God.

To see a video about UMVIM click here.

 

CONNECT

 Seeing the need:

The mission of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.  To join in the mission of the Church we give of ourselves through the service of volunteering. From serving in disaster sites to serving as readers at the local elementary, volunteering to build homes in foreign lands to building wheelchair ramps in the neighborhood or handing out cleaning buckets to knitting prayer shawls for medical patients. There is always something that can be done for the mission of the church.

  •  Start small. Identify other members of the congregation and local community who share a passion for the mission you are wanting to volunteer your service. 
  • Come together in prayer and planning.  “Unless it is the Lord who builds the house, the builders’ work is pointless.” (Psalm 127:1)
  • See where the Lord is leading your efforts and what you must do to prepare. Preparation can include securing a room in the church or local community center, identifying who you will serve and how, establishing a method of funding if needed, and knowing what supplies you will need. 

These are just a few things to consider when starting a volunteer mission.

How to Develop an UMVIM Mission Team
One principle of UMVIM is that team leaders should be trained to appropriately lead teams and that team members should be trained by their leaders in how to properly serve in the mission field. An understanding of expectations before and during a mission experience and an awareness of how to deal with cultural differences is critical to a successful mission experience. UMVIM provides connections, training, and resources that equip and empower churches and persons to better be about God’s mission in the world.

If you wish to develop a mission team through UMVIM, click here to visit the Southeastern Jurisdiction UMVIM Website. Select the type of trip to download forms that must be sent to UMVIM at least two weeks prior to departure (preferably much sooner).

Click here to see about the process of sending an UMVIM team. One major advantage of registering with UMVIM is that you can purchase travel insurance at a low price. This insurance is the best around and covers:

  • accident and medical coverage, including pre-existing condition waiver up to $15,000.
  • medical evacuation and repatriation up to $100,000.
  • trip interruption in the event of the death of a family member or serious damage to the inured member's home, up to $5,000.
  • lost luggage up to $250.
  • emergency medical reunion.
  • the return of a minor child.

See UMVIM Travel Insurance for more information.

 Leader Training

What is your first reaction when you see TV news footage of communities in need in the US or around the world?  You want to help. Before you gather your clothing donations, rush to someone's aid or try to engage in a mission trip - the first step is to learn how to help and be an effective leader.

Well-trained team leaders, and thus their teams, are more effective in Christian ministry. At the team leader training sessions, participants will receive a wealth of information on preparing an UMVIM team for service, including such topics as effective project selection, spiritual development, cultural sensitivity for teams, logistics and finance.

Participating in the training does not obligate you to lead a team but will help you understand the fundamentals of team leadership and will enrich any future mission experiences you have. You will also gain ideas on places around the world where you can serve.

Team leader training is just as appropriate for teams traveling within their own state as for teams traveling nationally or internationally.

We highly recommend that an UMVIM team leader experience at least one mission trip prior to leading a team. The team leader training is not limited to those who have been on a mission trip, but you will gain much more from the training and will be a better leader if you have had a mission experience first.

 *Note: UMVIM team leader training is not the same training as disaster response - early response team training.

SERVE

Volunteering is serving without cost. Click here to see how to effectively serve as a volunteer.

General Information for Disaster & Work Teams

  • All persons must be 16+ to serve. For every five minors in your group there must be one adult.
  • Disaster rebuild work often requires skilled and unskilled labor. Based on the skills assessment we will place you in an appropriate area for your group to serve regardless of the specific project you signed up for.
  • Survivors should always be the ones to bring up questions about faith. The conference promotes a safe and inclusive space for all individuals to experience recovery from disasters.
  • We never discriminate against individuals in any way including but not limited to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or national origin.
  • We never wish survivors to feel their recovery is dependent on conversion to the Methodist tradition.
  • Always wear closed toe shoes on work sites.

What You Need to Bring for Disaster & Work Teams

  • The Mississippi conference expects our volunteer groups to provide the following:
    • Bedding
    • Towels
    • Toiletries
    • Work Clothing
    • Food – Kitchen provided at housing site
    • Transportation
    • Water Bottles
  • Communicate the following with the volunteer coordinator at tyler.nicodem@twkumc.org:
    • Arrival time
    • Time(s) available to work
    • Time you would like to be back to your host site by each day
    • Date and time you will be exiting the host site and ending your time serving

Host Sites for Disaster & Work Teams

  • The volunteer coordinator at Mississippi disaster relief will coordinate with our ministry partners to provide a host site.
  • The volunteer coordinator will inform you where you will be staying and provide you with the contact information for your host site.
  • It will be your group’s leader/point of contact responsibility to reach out to the host site to understand site specific rules and communicate times when you will be arriving and leaving.

 * If you wish to stay in a hotel/motel please communicate that with the volunteer coordinator. Your group will be responsible for all aspects of your housing if that is your wish including but not limited to finances, booking and coordinating.

Insurance for Disaster & Work Teams

  • We require all groups residing outside their assigned work site’s state to carry insurance.
  • A copy of your proof of insurance should be sent to the volunteer coordinator of the Mississippi disaster relief ministry no later than 3 weeks before departure. If you do not provide a copy of insurance before your start date you will be denied access to the worksite until you provide proof of insurance.
  • Please send all copies of proof of insurance to Chris Adams at cadams@mississippi-umc.org.
  • UMVIM provides insurance at a low rate for both domestic and international groups. Insurance plans can be reviewed here.

Background Checks for Disaster & Work Teams

Beginning January 1, 2024, to provide a “safe space” for all persons volunteering with Mississippi Disaster Relief, as well as acting in accordance with the Mississippi Conference Safe Sanctuary Policy, all volunteers aged 18 and older are required to submit a recent (within three years of visit) screening background check. Background checks will remain on file and valid for three years from the date of background check.

Click here for more information about the Mississippi Conference Safe Sanctuaries policy, MinistrySafe Training and how you can complete the background check.

Those needing further assistance with securing their MinsitrySafe training and background check may seek assistance through the Mississippi Conference office by contacting Debbie McNeely at dmcneely@mississippi-umc.org or 601.354.0515. MinsitrySafe training and background checks must be completed by MinistrySafe. 

Clothing for Disaster & Work Teams

  • Always wear closed toe shoes on work sites.
  • Shirts are to be worn at all times. T-shirts are acceptable attire.
  • Walking shorts or skorts should have a six inch in- inseam or longer.
  • The following attire is not considered acceptable (this is not an exhaustive list, please use discretion when choosing attire):
    • Halter tops or sports bras worn as outer garment.
    • Spandex clothing.
    • Sheer tops showing under garments.
    • Clothing expressing alcohol/beer slogans or explicit sexual references.

 Areas of Service

  • Mississippi Conference
    • Community centers
    • Disaster Response
      • 2021 Hurricane Ida Recovery (Pearl River, Hancock, and Harrison Counties)
      • 2022 March 22 Tornado (Hinds County)
      • 2023 March 24 Tornadoes (Sharkey, Humphreys, and Monroe Counties)
      • 2023 June 19th Tornadoes (Jasper and Jackson Counties)
      • 2023 July 13th Flooding (Winston Counties)
    • Local Churches (If your church would like to add your ministry, please contact Frank Newell at  fnewell@mississippi-umc.org.
  • Supply depot & affiliate warehouses
  • Missions in the United States and throughout the world.

GIVE

Mail checks or money to:

MS Conference of The United Methodist Church

P.O. Box 1603, Jackson, MS 39215-1603

Please write “Disaster Relief” in memo line.

Resources

CONTACT US
320 Briarwood Drive
Jackson, MS 39206
601.354.0515
or use our contact form
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The Mississippi Annual Conference—empowered by love, generosity, justice and apprenticeship—forms spiritual leaders, faith communities and connections so more disciples of Jesus Christ transform the world.
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