All United Methodist churches are connected through shared mission and ministry and united in their efforts to grow in love of God and neighbor, reach new people, and heal a broken world. Check out these recent news tidbits from the Minnesota Annual Conference, which serves all 360 United Methodist churches in the state.
 Bishop Ough
: ‘It is time to do something’: “It is time to take and pass the final exam
—it is time to do something,” Bishop Bruce R.
Ough told 800 Minnesota United Methodists at this year’s conference session in St. Cloud. He said the question Jesus said would be put to us in the final judgment is haunting: “When was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not care for you?” (Matthew 25:44). “The final exam is whether you and I will fully, sacrificially, extravagantly engage in Christ’s mission to transform the world,” Ough said. “The final exam question will not be about what we professed but what we did when we saw the least of these hungry, thirsty, naked, a stranger, sick, or in prison.” God is calling us to build bridges out of poverty and to heal a broken world.
 Love Offering: As of the end of annual conference session, the
Love Offering for missions (collected by Minnesota United Methodist churches) totaled $74,735; donations can be sent to the conference office throughout the year. Can we surpass the $121,000 collected in
2014? Sixty percen t of this year’s Love Offering will help expand
Grace Children’s Center in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, which is providing education and daycare for orphaned children. Thirty percent will be used for grants for Minnesota churches to develop long-term partnerships with local schools, and 10 percent will go toward scholarships for first-time Volunteers in Mission participants.
Volunteers in Mission is a program through which teams spend up to two weeks working on mission projects either domestically or abroad.
 Camp Minnesota: Registration is still open for the 2015 camp season, and there are LOTS of great camps to choose from. New this year: For each new camper you or your child brings to camp in 2015, your event will be reduced by $25. Go to www.campminnesota.org
for more info or to register.
IT WORKED FOR OTHER CHURCHES
 Elementary school adoption: Oakwood UMC in New Ulm adopted an elementary school several years ago to share God’s love with the neediest kids in the community. The church donates items for the school’s emergency clothing closet, provides teacher appreciation gifts, and secured grants for 60 students who couldn’t afford to cover the cost of the daily snacks the school provides. New people have come to worship after hearing about the church’s outreach.
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 ‘Laundry Love’ ministry: Vineyard UMC in Hutchinson started a
“Laundry Love” ministry. Once a month, church volunteers spend a day at a local laundromat providing detergent, dryer sheets, quarters, treats, and hospitality to people in the community who are struggling to make ends meet. The city has a fair amount of homelessness and a substantial percentage of children are on free or reduced lunches, and members wanted to share Christ’s love in a tangible way with those in need. Word is spreading in Hutchinson and nearby cities.
STAY CONNECTED!
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For more information about any of the items listed above, visit www.minnesotaumc.org
. For inspiring videos showcasing vital ministries at other Minnesota churches, visit https://vimeo.com/minnesotaumc/videos .