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To submit news items, stories, or corrections for inclusion in the newsletter, email the conference Communications Office at Communications@vaumc.org.
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Table of Contents
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- Amid decline, US professions of faith rise
- Motorcycles strengthen ministry in rural Nigeria
- Apply to Youth Service Fund missional grant
- Support Wesley Housing this November
- 2026 Conference Grants cycle now open
- Open enrollment for Benefit Plans open
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Resources & Opportunities
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- Webinar: Motivate end-of-year giving
- Ministry Toolbox Article: Facebook’s New Two-Link Limit: What Churches Need to Know
- Ministry Toolbox Article: Email Scams on the Rise: Slow down, Pay Attention and think before you click!
- Ministry Toolbox Article: Pastor Appreciation Month: Simple Ways to Say Thank You
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News posts
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(Photo of Charis Academy by J Park)
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Witnessing God’s Love in Vietnam
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Our team recently returned from an unforgettable trip to Vietnam, where we witnessed firsthand the powerful, transformative work of God’s love in action. From joyful children learning in bright classrooms at Charis Academy to vibrant neighborhood gatherings, rural farms, and home churches, the Holy Spirit is moving deeply across every community we visited.
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Everywhere we traveled, we met devoted pastors, leaders, and believers who are boldly sharing the Gospel, caring for the vulnerable, and nurturing the next generation with gentle faith and untiring hope. The warmth, resilience, and faith of the Vietnamese people left our hearts full and inspired.
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We invite you to be part of this continuing story! T & J Parks will be visiting Virginia from October 31 through November 8. Please take this special opportunity to meet them, hear their first hand stories, and learn more about what God is doing through ministry in Vietnam.
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Mark your calendars—you will not want to miss hearing about all they have witnessed!
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Amid decline, US professions of faith rise
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UNITED METHODIST NEWS--The United Methodist Church continued to see its U.S. membership slide in 2025. But data collected by the denomination’s administrative agency also shows signs of growth. Read more...
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Motorcycles strengthen ministry in rural Nigeria
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UNITED METHODIST NEWS--United Methodist Bishop Ande I. Emmanuel presented 48 motorcycles to district superintendents in the Nigeria Episcopal Area to ease travel challenges. Read more...
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Apply to Youth Service Fund missional grant
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The Youth Service Fund is a denominational missional grant fund that supports youth in mission in five areas: Faith Sharing and Outreach, Leadership Development, Scholarships for education/training, service, mission, or other ministries, ministry with at-risk youth, or agricultural or vocational development. These grants support local church youth from the Virginia conference in ministries that they lead, which also benefit youth, with funds raised by youth. The application for grants for 2027 is open now through February 1, 2027. Award decisions will come by March 1. To apply use this form. For more information, see the website: https://vaumc.org/youth-service-fund/.
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Support Wesley Housing this November
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For more than 50 years, Wesley Housing has been helping families build stronger, more stable lives by providing access to safe, affordable housing. Today, Wesley Housing provides affordable rental homes to more than 5,300 residents throughout Virginia and Washington, DC. But Wesley Housing goes beyond providing roofs overhead. Through educational, enrichment, and supportive programs, Wesley Housing helps residents gain stability, pursue opportunities, and build brighter futures for themselves and their families. Consider giving today and helping Wesley Housing “build up” our community and the lives of our low-income neighbors. For more information, please visit www.wesleyhousing.org/donate.
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2026 Conference Grants cycle now open
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The Virginia Annual Conference Grantmaking Cooperative is accepting applications from October 1 through November 16, 2026. This year, the Cooperative is looking to fund initiatives across the Virginia Annual Conference that live out our connectional and missional calling, with the goal of large-scale community transformation.
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The Cooperative is looking for strong applications will show that the initiative to be:
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- coordinated among multiple United Methodist congregations and ministry expressions
- has defined, measurable impact in one or more communities
- promotes Wesleyan theology, ecclesiology, and praxis
- has buy-in from partner congregations and ministries
- is a new or renewed opportunity for partnership and community impact
Please note: grant funds may not be used for brick-and-mortar or overhead costs.
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What you'll need:
Plan to prepare the following:
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- a cover letter,
- executive summary,
- statement of need,
- detailed objective and strategy,
- plan of evaluation,
- and proposed budget.
If this project has operated in previous years, please include financial reports.
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2. New users: create an account for your organization. Returning users: log in with your existing credentials.
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3. Complete the application. Your progress saves, so you can come back and finish later.
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4. Submit by 11:59 p.m. Eastern on Monday, November 16, 2026. This is a firm deadline; the portal will not accept late submissions.
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Open enrollment for Benefit Plans open
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Open Enrollment for 2027 Benefit Plan Elections will begin on Monday, October 5 and end on Friday, October 30. Open Enrollment is the annual period when all benefits eligible Virginia Conference clergy and lay employees can enroll in or make changes to their benefit plan elections for 2027. As a reminder, health plan eligibility is available to full-time active clergy serving at churches and certain approved extension ministries and full-time lay employees of churches serving as plan sponsors. The Health Plan Administrator can be reached directly at 804-521-1131 or staceyanthony@vaumc.org.
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During the open enrollment period, the system will be accessible at unity.vaumc.org. Details including 2027 contribution rates and instructions on using Unity Web to log in and enroll/change your benefits or dependents are posted on the Virginia Conference website at vaumc.org.
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Resources & Opportunities
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Webinar: How to Choose an Online Giving Platform for Your Needs
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Choosing an online giving platform can feel overwhelming. With dozens of options available, church leaders often struggle to evaluate processing fees, user experience, reporting capabilities, and the features that matter most for their ministry.
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Join the Foundation for this practical webinar featuring Erica Allen and Weston Williams of Horizons Stewardship. Together, we’ll explore what leaders should consider when evaluating online giving platforms, how to ask the right questions, and ways to align your technology choices with a culture of generosity. This session is ideal for church leaders seeking greater clarity and confidence in selecting a platform that serves both their congregation and their mission.
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The webinar will be held on Tuesday, November 3, from 11 a.m. to noon. It’s free, and space is limited, so register now to secure your spot! Register now...
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The Annual Conference staff is committed to partnering with local churches as they make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Beginning in March, a new resourcing article will be included in each weekly Advocate e-newsletter. Ministry Toolbox: Resources for Churches is designed to provide practical tools, ideas, and encouragement to support the shared work of ministry. Each edition will offer concise, actionable insights that can be put to use in congregational life right away. Articles will be written by the Conference Directors of Communications and Resourcing, along with guest contributors from across the conference. At times, we will also highlight trusted tools and resources from the wider church and beyond.
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Article: Facebook’s New Two-Link Limit: What Churches Need to Know
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If you manage your church’s Facebook page, you may have seen a notice that your account will soon be limited to two link posts per month. A link post is a post that includes a link to something outside of Facebook, like your church website or an online giving page. You can still post as often as you like; the limit applies only to posts that send people off Facebook. This is a change to be aware of, not a reason to walk away from Facebook. With a little planning, your church can keep communicating well. Read more...
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Article: Email Scams on the Rise: Slow down, Pay Attention and think before you click!
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More and more, individuals’ emails are the targets of spoofing, scams, attempted takeovers, and more.
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Clergy and laity emails in the Virginia Conference are no strangers to these dangers, as such attempts are becoming much more commonplace and frequent.
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The attempts in the past have been somewhat easier to spot, though more recent attempts can be more sophisticated and confusing. Read more...
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Article: Simple Ways to Say Thank You for Pastor Appreciation Month
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Every October, churches across the connection pause to say thank you to the clergy who walk alongside them week in and week out. October is observed as Pastor Appreciation Month (also called Clergy Appreciation Month), with the second Sunday of the month set aside as Pastor Appreciation Day. The observance has been marked as a worldwide recognition time since 1992, with roots that go back to Paul’s instruction to give “double honor” to the elders who managed the affairs of the church. It’s a good moment to pause and say thank you. But it’s also a good reminder that appreciation shouldn’t be confined to one month a year. Read more...
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Upcoming Events
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UMVIM Team Leader training on Oct. 24
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Join for the United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) Team Leader Training on Saturday, October 24, 2026 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Tabernacle United Methodist Church, 7310-A Old Plank Road, Fredericksburg, VA 22407. This training is for individuals who have attended at least one UMVIM trip and who are ready to take a deeper dive into servant leadership and leading UMVIM teams. This training will be led in collaboration with Tim Wells, VAUMC UMVIM trainer and Allan Ballenger, Team Leader for recent Western North Carolina UMVIM Teams. Check-in will begin at 8:30 a.m. with light refreshments available, and the class will begin promptly at 9 a.m. with breaks in between. Lunch/snacks will be provided. The deadline to register is Friday, October 16, 2026.
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Once you have registered, an online training manual is available at https://umvim.org/handbook . If you desire a printed copy, we ask that you print and bring it with you in whatever format you prefer.
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Additionally, we ask for you to bring a little team spirit and a servant’s heart!
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For further questions, please contact Tim Wells, cyacard@comcast.net, 703-517-0183. We look forward to having you and serving alongside you!
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Save the Date: 2027 SEJ Disaster Academy
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- February 17-21, 2027
- Fairhope, Alabama
- Hosted by North Alabama Conference and Alabama-West Florida Conference in partnership with UMCOR
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Other VAUMC Communications Channels
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Public Notice Board
Clergy and laity can crowdsource for ideas and resources within the connection through the Public Notice Board. Find the newest notices and share your question or find past queries at the conference website.
Also find free items for giveaway at the conference website.
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