Dear Church Leader,
When your congregation gives to the Native American Ministries Sunday (NAMS) offering, they make a significant change in the lives of Native American seminary students; congregations; rural, urban and reservation ministries and communities. Seminarians who attend United Methodist schools of theology are equipped to share God’s word more effectively. Pastors who attend approved Native American MinistriesCourse of Study classes received continuing education. Your gifts are an investment in the future of The United Methodist Church.
Iliff School of Theology student Dez DAlessandro is able to continue their education thanks to a scholarship funded by the NAMS offering. Dez’s time at Iliff is equipping them to follow their calling to minister to youth and to spread awareness about the climate crisis.
In two weeks, The United Methodist Church will celebrate Native American Ministries Sunday on April 14. Meet with your leadership team to fine-tune the celebration plans and remind your congregation about the upcoming celebration.
- Communicate your online giving to your members or promote UMC.org/SSGivefor online giving to Native American ministries.
- Place the Pew Cards in the pew racks or high-traffic areas. You may also place them in your visitor or new-member packets.
- Download the Offering TalkandCall to Worshipand print theBulletin InsertorCover for worship.
- Grow generous and mission-minded adults by sharing the NAMS Children’sMessage and Bulletin Inserts with your Sunday school students. This is a great way to get children involved in the mission of the church early in their lives.
- Play a Native American Ministries Sunday video from the UMCGiving YouTube channel as congregants enter the sanctuary or use the video to introduce the offering.
- Share theSocial Media Graphics on yoursocial media platform(s). Tag church members and encourage them to share the videos with their family and friends.
- Customize the reminder copy below and use it on your social media platform(s) or send it as an email to remind church members about the April 14th celebration. Members who are unable to attend the service may find this useful as they participate in your online service, if you stream your service.
- Thank your members for their generosity and plan to send the offering to your annual conference treasurer.
Recognizing and supporting our Native American members is an important ministry of the church. Your gifts allow us to collaborate with existing Native American ministries, create programs and support seminary scholarships for United Methodist Native Americans. Thank you for leading your congregation to support ministries with Native Americans.
Thank you for your leadership,
The Connectional Giving Team
REMINDER COPY OR EMAIL
Email Title: 2024 NAMS Email #2
Email Subject: Celebrate Native American Ministries on April 14, 2024
Scripture: “Remember your work that comes from faith, your effort that comes from love, and your perseverance that comes from hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father.” —1 Thessalonians 1:2-3, CEB
Pretext: Declare God’s divine love on Native American Ministries Sunday. Give to Native American ministries.
Iliff School of Theology student Dez DAlessandro is able to continue to work toward their calling because of the support of the Native American Ministries Sunday scholarship. “Iliff has an ecojustice/ecospirituality ethos that helps inspire me towards how I can tap into traditional Christian beliefs and traditional Indigenous lifeways to help support these youth in making new meaning and building their own relationship with Creator, the land, and their human communities,” says Dez. Your gifts to Native American Ministries Sunday support students, like Dez, who are committed to the future of the United Methodist Church.
As we gather to commemorate Native American Ministries Sunday in two weeks, plan now to attend this celebration and participate in the offering that empowers Native American ministries on April 14.
You can give to the Native American Ministries Sunday offering in the following ways:
- Give through our church’s online giving portal at ________; Designate “NAMS” in the memo section.
- Write a check for the NAMS offering to our local church and place it in the offering plate; designate “NAMS” in the memo line.
- Give your cash offering in the offering plate.
- Give online or set up monthly giving at UMC.org/SSGive.
We look forward to this great celebration as we recognize the contributions of Native American people.
Thank you for your generosity,
Pastor”