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Why a Mission Celebration?

The answer is to lift up mission opportunities and to encourage everyone to share their time and talents with others.  The Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church is lifting up the theme “All Things New – Fruitful and Multiplying”.  To focus on this idea, the Danville District of United Methodist in Virginia decided to hold a Mission Celebration Weekend so that our people and congregations would have access to mission interpreters and participate in hands-on mission(s).

We believe that a congregation grows and becomes stronger if it is involved with a mission or missions.  That’s why we chose as our logo for the weekend “CHURCHES RISE ON THE TIDE OF MISSION”.  Based on this belief, the Danville District Mission Celebration Committee is working to offer numerous opportunities to learn about various missions by meeting one-on-one with persons who are involved with that mission (Mission Expo at The Crossing at the Dan in Danville during the day on Saturday); to experience a mission project by participating in the “sweet potato drop” to be held at First Church Martinsville, by walking in the “Bare Foot Mile” walk at The Crossing at the Dan in Danville or by bringing a non-perishable food item to each event so as to fill the food pantries in the Danville District; and to be involved in a Sunday service where ever pulpit in the District has a Mission Interpreter.  Giving of ourselves is what we are asked to do by Jesus Christ.  We believe that all of God’s children are seeking ways to be in service.  Here is an opportunity to be exposed to missions that are local, national or regional, and international.

How do you measure success for this type of event?  We will be surveying each District United Methodist Church prior to the Mission Celebration Weekend to ask what mission or missions they are involved with.  Three or six months following the event, we will again survey the District United Methodist Churches and again ask what mission or missions they are involved with.  Our goal is to have every church on the District involved with or supporting at least one mission.  We will probably follow this survey up with another one about a year out to evaluate how mission involvement has impacted the congregation.

Come share and find a mission that touches your heart!