VISION—The ministry of men in the local church is defined as a core group of men, part-nering with their pastor, to invite and initiate spiritual growth opportunities for all men of the church. Everyone has different gifts, graces and areas of interest. Therefore, op-portunities for participation would include diverse ministries of the church, such as prayer groups, missions, Bible studies, retreats, workshops/seminars, small groups in the Wesleyan tradition, leading and participating on committees, teaching Sunday school classes, youth ministries, scouting, mentoring and assisting in leading worship service. The focus is not inward, concentrating only on those who attend a set meeting, but out-ward to all men, assisting them to engage the process of spiritual growth.

MISSION—Our mission is to support spiritual growth among men, helping men to ma-ture as disciples as they encourage spiritual formation in others.

GOAL—Our goal is to empower the ministry of Jesus Christ through men within the con-gregations of the UMC.

PATHWAY—Our pathway is a lifelong commitment to spiritual growth to maturity as Christ followers. Our spiritual formation is marked by spiritual reproduction, as our faith passes on in others.

Contact Steve Wallingford @ 254-3720 or s.wallingford@mchsi.com for more information.

Present: Steve Wallingford, Dave York, Steve Green, Nathan Ward, Terry Frisbie, Russ McNees, Arch Auerbach, Jake Auerbach, Wilbur Hansen, Gary Newton, Tyler Wallingford and Alan Ladd.

Steve Wallingford called the meeting to order in the chapel at 10:00 a.m.

The minutes were approved with a motion by Dave and seconded by Steve G.

Treasurer Steve Green reported the balance in the checking account is $922.63 as of December 31, 2012. He discussed the finances from the various activities completed in 2012. The report was approved with a motion by Dave and seconded by Arch.

Steve W. noted that annual dues were $10 and payable to Steve G.

For new business the Soup Cook-off was the first discussion item. It will be held on February 3 at noon with a free-will donation. Proceeds will be used to donate to the Personal Energy Transportation (PET) project. Saturday, February 2 at 1:00 pm in the church kitchen will be the time and place for men to gather to make roasters of soup. Wilbur and Steve W. asked all available men to join them.

The following individuals will provide a crock pot of soup for competition:
-Jake Auerbach -Dave York -Terry Frisbie -Mark Jacobsen
-Steve Green -Nathan Ward -Tyler Wallingford -Steve Wallingford – soup & cornbread

Various ways of judging the soup were discussed. Kim & John Jordan will donate a trophy to the winner.

A pancake breakfast focusing on recruiting new members will be held after before and after the first service on April 14 as the church hosts the Faith Sound youth group from Harlan. Mark McNees and Gary Newton will co-chair the free-will donation breakfast.

Steve and Donna Green are co-chairing the community garden at Don Prall’s farm. An area is reserved for planting sweet corn that will be used for the Windsor Chop dinner this summer. Methodist Men will be needed to help with the project. Lee Saathoff donated the sweet corn for the project.

Scraping and painting the Youth House will be a project in the spring.

Steve Wallingford is continuing to collect tools, sawhorses, etc. for donation to the Red Bird mission in Kentucky. The mission trip is tentatively scheduled for July 27-August 3.

The next meeting will be at 10:00 a.m. on February 24 in the chapel.

It was moved and seconded to adjourn the meeting. Motion passed.

Respectfully submitted,
Alan Ladd