Mission Updates
ERT--CARE TEAM Leaders Needed:
Many of you have been trained in our disaster response CARE TEAM Ministry. We are ready to move into the next phase in this area of our disaster response ministry and are requesting that each of you pray for guidance in how God will use you. In order to move forward with your CARE TEAM Ministry we must have several individuals step up and take leadership positions and work with the OKVIM Disaster Response Coordinators in developing the CARE TEAM process of our Annual Conference disaster response ministry. If you feel God is calling you to take a leadership role in this vital ministry please email or call Richard Norman.
ERT--ERT Training Status:
The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is the entity who certifies the trainings and trainers within the United Methodist Church. Six months ago UMCOR asked that all Early Response Trainings (ERT) be discontinued, reviewed, and then realigned so that all Annual Conferences (AC) are conducting the same Early Response Training. At that time UMCOR set specific requirements which potential trainers had to meet in order to be trained to be a trainer. At a recent national meeting with UMCOR several Annual Conferences, including OK, shared that the experience requirement was greatly limiting their ability to get trainers. UMCOR agreed to temporarily “set aside” the requirement to allow AC’s to certify potential ERT Trainers until they get the required experience. This has enabled us to scheduled an Authorized Training Event (ATE) on December 12th and 13th. We hope to get 8 to 12 individuals certified as Authorized ERT Trainers at that event. We will then be able to begin scheduling ERT Trainings around the state. Please contact Richard Norman if your church would like to potentially host an ERT training. We ask for your continued patience as we continue to work through the challenges to develop and grow this very vital ministry of our Church.