Military veteran ministry nov 29 meeting

Bay Harbour United Methodist Church3459 FM 518 Rd E, League City, TX 77573 • (281) 334-1100

Military Veteran MinistryNovember 29, 2012 Meeting

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Purpose and Agenda (preliminary)November 29 meeting, 7:00 – 8:00 pm, FLC – Room TBD

Purpose

Discuss a vision for operating the Military Veteran Ministry including organization groups and roles within those groups.

Please note that we don’t need to be veterans nor family members of veterans to volunteer and serve.

Agenda• Introduction and Overview Steve

7:00• Draft vision for operating the ministry Jerry

7:05• Thoughts, advice and brainstorming All

7:20• Draft engagement & communications plan Steve

7:40• When to meet next All

7:55

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The Military Veteran Ministry

What

The Military Veteran Ministry is a Christ-centered ministry at Bay Harbour dedicated to providing services to all service members and their families. It will address transition issues that may include emotional, spiritual, personal, family, work, etc. to anyone who served at anytime at any location during any era and their family members.

Why

At Bay Harbour we desire to grow and to help others grow in a relationship with Jesus Christ by loving God, loving people, and serving the world. We want to serve anyone who is serving or has served in the military at anytime at any location during any era and their extended family members.

How

Partner with and leverage other Bay Harbour ministries such as the Prayer Ministry, Safe Harbour, Stephen Ministry, Harbour Helping Hands and others. Partners with and leverage Federal, State and Local Government agencies and Private Community-Based organizations such as Gulf Coast Center Veteran Support Services, Military Veteran Peer Network, Wounded Warrior Project and others. The ministry serves as a clearinghouse for referral to these and many, many other organizations that provide valuable services.

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Example Opportunities to Serve*

• Be proactive and persistent in reaching out to service members, veterans and their families to understand what needs they have and finds ways to help meet those needs.

• Be sensitive to the emotional issues of military separations and transitions. The emotions experienced by spouses and family members can be similar to those in the grief process at the death of a loved one.

• Begin regular support group meetings. If the congregation has several service members and veterans, it may be helpful to allow spouses a time and place to share frustrations and successes with each other.

• Provide practical support to families of service members and veterans such as mowing the lawn, household projects, auto repair, child care – especially needs of families with infants and small children.

• Identify and employ local mentors and resource people. Partner with other congregations, local veterans organizations and “para-congregational” groups like Stephen Ministries.

• Consider adopting a chaplain/chaplain's assistant. Partner with an active military ministry team to pray for the ministry and to see what needs the unit being served has that the church may assist in meeting.

• Long post-deployment reintegration period. This period is often very difficult for service members, veterans and their families. They may face difficulty in finding work and/or in accessing VA benefits.

• Be patient and persistent. Many veterans who have been exposed to the atrocities of combat are highly resistant to seeking mental health care due to the stigma often associated with such care in military.

• Likeminded listeners. Veterans NEED to talk. They prefer talking with other veterans because they don't have to explain so much, and their confessions are accepted, affirmed, and recognized.

* Adapted from the United Methodist Endorsing Agency

Vision for OperationsOrganization Groups

Others such as Prayer, Quilting, Harbour Helping Hands…

Safe Harbour Ministry

Stephen Ministry

Bay Harbour Leadership and

Office Staff

Agencies and Community- based

organizations

Trained Transition Meeting Facilitators

Research, Support Communications and

many others…

Licensed Professional Counselors

Military Veteran Ministry

Leadership/Core Team

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Bay Harbour Providers Partner Providers

Vision for OperationsRoles and Responsibilities



Stephen Ministry


Office Staff


organizations



many others…


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Draft

What Bay Harbour Has to OfferOffering all opportunities of BHUMC to Military / Veterans and their families and loved ones.

• Church• Safe Harbour• Stephen Ministry• Prayer Ministry• Quilting Ministry• Sunday School experience• Harbour helping Hands• Coffee / Drinks Snacks• Add others as needed• Rearrange/change boxes on left as needed.

May need to confirm contact(s) for each offering above, briefly describe what they do and describe how “referrals” are made to each.



organizations



many others…


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Describe some of the organizations• List key ones here and describe briefly what they do and

maybe who our contact(s) is• List key ones here and describe briefly what they do and





maybe who our contact(s) isBriefly describe how we’ll work with them. Point out we’ll want to leverage all we can. We’re more of a “clearinghouse”.

Point out we’ll need to actively seek out, partner with, and work to maintain good working relationships with each.



organizations



many others…


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Describe what Licensed Professional Counselors do.• May need• A few bullets• Use as needed

Describe required qualifications and training needed.• May need• A few bullets• Use as needed

Point out that they may be Bay Harbour members or not. Most likely won’t be.

• May need• A few bullets• Use as needed



organizations



many others…


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Describe what Trained Transition Meeting Facilitators do.• May need• A few bullets• Use as needed

Describe required qualifications and training needed.• May need• A few bullets• Use as needed

Point out that they may be Bay Harbour members or not. Not sure what mix might be.

• May need• A few bullets• Use as needed



organizations



many others…


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Stephen Ministry


Office Staff


• Research Veteran issues (from group mtgs.)• Publicity / Communications• Web site / Newsletter / Brochures / Handouts• Records & Statistics - Reporting to Church Staff• Financial matters• Outreach / Inreach• Connect Veterans to:

• Houston Bar Assoc. (Weekly free legal assistance)• Give an Hour• Wounded Warrior Project• Advocates for paperwork assistance

• Assist with Veteran issues:• Education benefits, Medical benefits, Financial concerns• Work related issues (available free training)• Housing and land acquisition• Connecting with the Church

•Get the word out:• Connect with Texas Annual Conference• Communicate with other churches• Communicate with other Veteran / Military groups



organizations



many others…


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Stephen Ministry


Office Staff

Military Veteran Ministry

Leadership/Core Team


Leadership Team• Co-Team Leads: Jerry Clark, Bob Sindylek (“permanent”)• Remaining members made up of “owners” of various “sub-

groups” to be identified as we move forward. • Made up of Bay Harbour and Partner participants.• Co-Leads and “Owners” make up decision team, Co-Leads

have ultimate decision if consensus can’t be forged.

Core Team• “Core Team” is very open, inclusive. Okay be rather “fluid”.• Made up of Bay Harbour and Partner participants.• 3 - 5 year “vision” plan, updated annually. Input from all who

regularly participate/contribute. Leadership Team “confirms”.• Annual operating plan, including budget. Input from all who

regularly participate/contribute. Leadership Team “confirms”.

Thoughts from Jerry

• What are the guidelines?• How does the group think get into

action? (If someone in resource thinks we should do something that others don’t feel is properly timed or good for the cause, how is the gatekeeping handled?)

• How do we adopt changes in how we see the ministry now?

• This is the one piece that has been forming the ministry that has operated on its own and as we bring more folks in, there is potential for disharmony.

• I feel this needs more discussion

Weekly Meetings

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Support Team MeetingsUse this time as working session, training, planning, coordination, action item follow-up, issue resolution, status updates…whatever is needed.

Christ centered environment for• Networking with others • Building friendships• Meetings on topics such as

o Angero PTSDo Transitioningo Family issueso Topics of interest or “hot topics”

identified by Veterans / Military

o Isolationo Drugs/Alcoholo Benefitso (add another)

VeteranMilitary Meeting

Spouse and Family

Meeting

7:00 pm 8:00 pmVeterans, Military and Families Mix

and Mingle

Post-Meeting• Identified research

opportunities• Issues to resolve• How was Christ here

tonight (examples)

Close

Future ServicesAdopt a chaplainAdopt a unitFamily groupsMulti-Family GroupsCouples’ night outMentorshipsGive a ride• Dr. Appointments• VA Hospital

InformationGreetersWelcome tableGuide attendees to appropriate locations:• Snacks & drinks• Meeting rooms• Other resourcesAnswer QuestionsProvide handouts and other materials

Pre-MeetingReview do’s / don’tsConfidentialityWhat’s happening in:• Groups• Research• Other ministriesCommitment: How do I want God to use me

tonight?

6:45 pm

Communications

Methods and Media

• Weekly Transition Meetings• Personal Contact• Website• Weekly Transition meeting emails• Monthly ministry summary email• Brochure(s)• Business Cards

Stakeholders

• Veterans, Active Duty, Reservists and their extended families from all eras– Encourage them to participate– Identify needs and opportunities

• Partner Providers– Coordinate and maintain partnerships– Establish new partnerships

• Bay Harbor Provider Ministries• Bay Harbour Leadership• Bay Harbour Congregation

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Placeholder slideTo be developed

(single slide)

Documents

Military veteran ministry nov 29 meeting