• Discovery Place Resource Center - Susquehanna Conference resource center for videos, books and other mission resources.  You can browse the catalog at www.discovery-place.org.  Or you may call 717-766-7441 ext. 3400 or e-mail discovery@susumc.org
• Contacts for help in mission work.:
  • Susquehanna Conference VIM Coordinator
    Sara Shaver
    303 Mulberry Dr
    Mechanicsburg, PA 17050
    717-766-7441
    vim@susumc.org
    Facebook

  • Northeastern Juristictional VIM Coordinator
    Ray Yarnall
    nej@umvim.org
    Facebook
    umvim.org

Attention Churches:

Did you know that your church mission or outreach team is a Volunteer in Mission team?
Any of our local church mission teams that are sent out in our neighborhoods, our state, our country, and all over the world are considered Volunteers in Mission (VIM).

An exciting benefit of our connection between our local church teams and the Susquehanna Conference VIM is that Susquehanna Conference VIM provides supplemental accident insurance FREE of charge to our teams serving domestically. We contract with AIG through the Northeast Jurisdiction United Methodist VIM to offer you a medical and accident insurance policy with $50,000 coverage for Domestic
teams.

To receive this insurance for your domestic journey you simply submit a Team Roster. Simply complete the form and hit the submit button. Your form will be processed, and you will receive notification of your insurance from Susquehanna Conference VIM. Please be sure to submit the roster 2 weeks prior to your mission unless prior arrangements have been made.

For International Journeys, we ask that teams register with the new Team Roster and purchase low-cost supplemental insurance from UMVIM-NEJ. For more information on that insurance go directly the page at https://www.umvim.org/nej-insurance.

For questions about resources for our Susquehanna Conference Teams email our VIM Coordinator.

You may find these forms and documents helpful over the course of your mission journey. These can be uses as templates and changed to your team’s specific needs.

Keep in mind some of these forms may be covered in the team registration process for insurance through umvim.org. Many of these resources can also be found in the appendix of the Team Leader Handbook.

• Team Roster Form
• Team Member Application
• Suggested Reading List for Teams
• Safe Sanctuary Guidelines
• Building a Budget
• Covenant for Mission Partnership
• Mission Team Checklist
• Suggested Team First Aid Checklist
• Team Leader Checklist
• Team Member Evaluation Form
• Team Orientation Resource Packet
• Liability and Photography Release
• Medical and Emergency Form
• Mission Covenant
• Notification of Death
• Parental Consent

Download ALL Forms

• Mission u - held each summer for adults, youth and children.  It is an opportunity to meet mission leaders and to be challenged.  Contact your pastor, or United Methodist Women.
• Board of Global Ministries Seminar - a three day seminar and tour of mission projects in New York City, conducted by personnel from the General Board of Global Ministries.  Contact:  Rev. Andrew Burd-Harris with questions: 304-554-9131

• Service Center Catalog - free by request.  Lists current materials available from the Board of Global Ministries, including pamphlets, books, films and maps.  www.missionresourcecenter.org.  Service Center, 7820 Reading Road, Cincinnati, OH 45222-1800
• New World Outlook - a UM mission magazine - $15.00 per year (within USA), 6 issues, (or with Response magazine $25.00).  www.missionresourcecenter.org.  New World Outlook, Service Center, 7820 Reading Road, Cincinnati, OH 45222-1800.
• Response - a program journal of United Methodist Women - $10.00 per year, 11 issues (or with New World Outlook magazine $25.00).  www.missionresourcecenter.org.  Response, Service Center 7820 Reading Road, Cincinatti, OH 45222-1800.
• Partnership in Missions - each pastor has a copy available for loan.  Contains a listing and description of all General Advance Projects.  $3.00 per copy, www.missionresourcecenter.org.  Service Center, 7820 Reading Road, Cincinnati, OH 45222-1800.
• Prayer Calendar - a yearly publication listing birthdays of our missionaries and prayer requests for every day.  $11.00 per copy.  www.missionresourcecenter.org.  Service Center, 7820 Reading Road, Cincinnati, OH 45222-1800.

Mission Speakers - missionaries, national mission workers, mission ambassadors, other people who have been to mission areas.  Contact the Volunteers in Mission Coordinator, vim@susumc.org

The Volunteers in Mission Conference Coordinator provides VIM training. VIM Training prepares us to have a positive impact in mission whether it is a few hours or weeks, local, national, or global. It is open to those who have led teams and those who have never been on a mission trip. Taking this training does not require you to lead a trip but equips you for service. Topics covered include Best Practices, Cultural Awareness, Health & Safety, Team Orientation, Useful Forms, Insurance and Fundraising. Training is 6 hours long and can be in person on one day or split into 3 on Zoom. Look for a refresher course in the future.

For questions and to set up a training please contact our VIM Coordinator: vim@susumc.org.

There are amazing things happening in our conference with missions. We've been told by GLOBAL Ministries that the Susquehanna Conference is known for being strong in Mission! What a nice complement to be known to be in service with others.

The Volunteer In Mission Coordinator is available for speaking engagements. There are range of ways to do this: 5-minute mission moments, Sunday school classes, mission teams, mission committees and so forth. They are also available to preach based around the purpose and call of Volunteers in Mission (VIM). This can be for Mission Sundays or to fill in while your pastor is away.

A lot of our local churches don't know the ins and outs of VIM, if your church is in mission locally (outside of church property), in Pennsylvania, and across the US, your team is eligible for and asked to receive our free insurance. The VIM Coordinator can also connect international teams to UMVIM Inc. for low-cost insurance. In addition to the insurance, they provides training for team leaders and team participants...it's great for all to be on board and delegation is a wonderful thing. They will provide resources for teams including useful team forms. They can help your team connect to a place to serve and help you gather additional team members.

You can submit an article, and it is posted on our website, published in the LINK, and on the VIM Facebook page. It not only lets the conference in on celebrating you, but it also gives the conference ideas on serving. We are a connectional church, and we love hearing what our local churches are up to!

Please contact the VIM Corrdinator for the speaking events, insurance, training, and connection.

Volunteers in Mission Coordinator
vim@susumc.org
717-766-7441 ext. 3105

• Susquehanna Conference UMC (SUSUMC) Website
• SUSUMC – Volunteers in Mission Facebook page
• Mission Central Website
• UMVIM Website
• UMVIM Facebook page
• Anti-Racism resources

• The Pandemic Changed the World of 'Voluntourism' (NPR article)
• White Savior Complex Video
• White Savior vs. Ally Video
• What is a white savior and why it is a problem Video
• Red Nose Day: How Does It Work, And Why Is It Being Criticized? (NPR article)
• The White Savior Industrial Complex by Teju Cole, The Atlantic
• Ugandan Missionary being sued (NPR Article)