Thanks for the fundraising help UM Churches of Campbell County

Thanks for the fundraising help to the United Methodist Churches of Campbell County. Your support of Wesley, The Movie helped us raise $171.00.

Your help goes toward funding:

• A training on domestic violence or sexual assault
• Feeding Hope Youth when they come to do community service
• Keeping our website and blog online
• Reaching out through our Voices of Hope internet radio program
• Speaking engagements to encourage the hurting
• Brochures and fliers to tell others what we do 
• Puts Christian material into the hands of shelters and transitional programs
• Phone and other office needs.

Our Campbell County participating churches were:

Caryville
Caywood
Fincastle
Jacksboro
LaFollette
Wellspring

We couldn't help others without the generosity of folks like you. Thank you!

A church takes a stand against sexual and domestic violence.

~~Many thanks to the blog of Jacksboro United Methodist Church for participating in the Hope for Healing.Org Blogathon 2010.~~

Churches can be an important source of spiritual support for victims of sexual and domestic violence if they know what to do. Sometimes, well meaning churches fall a little short when it comes to effectively ministering to victims.

That's why we're so proud of the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church and to all the pastors and churches who received valuable training at the Clergy Gathering in October. It's also good to see that churches like Jacksboro United Methodist Church is continuing to make a difference by speaking out in support of victims of sexual and domestic violence.

Hope for Healing.Org is one of the few 501c3 nonprofit organizations that offers free information on domestic violence for clergy. Visit our Clergy Page on our website for free bulletin inserts, responsive readings, pulpit helps and more.

Great night at Calling All Men

Tonight has been a great night at Calling All Men. It was great seeing all of the displays that were set up. We're just off the entrance and to the right of the main room. Be sure to look for our table. It'll be hard to miss the black and white chairs and terrific purple chair that the kids from Restorative Justice have created.

Our table is full of domestic violence awareness items. There are 2 different posters, awareness cards for college kids and Love is Respect awareness cards from the Liz Claiborne Foundation.

This is the 3rd year for the United Methodist Men's event named Calling All Men. This large men's revival is the only one of its kind that is sponsored by the UMM of the Holston Conference. We deeply appreciate the invitation to display.

It takes everyone to stop domestic violence. Either gender can be a perpetrator or a victim of domestic violence. This crime hurts everyone. That's why we're so glad to be at Calling All Men. Together, we can all make a difference.

Come see us if you're at the event!

Domestic Violence Display At Calling All Men Event

For the 3rd year Hope for Healing.Org will have a domestic violence awareness display at Calling All Men!

This United Methodist  Men event happens August 13-14, 2010 at Cokesbury UMC. Over 20 agencies will be participating with information about our programs. Be sure to stop by!

We appreciate the invitation to set up at Calling All Men again this year. Domestic violence effects men, women and children. To end abuse it takes educating both women and men.

Our display will have posters, awareness cards, brochures and more. Come by and see what we have. It's the perfect time to gets lots of information to take back to your church.

See you there!

Photos of our booth at the Holston Annual Conference

Here is our display. Isn't it cool?

We're in the Harrell Center across from Stuart Auditorium. Here are two photos of the Hope for Healing.Org display.

If you are at the Holston Annual Conference and can't find it email hello@hopeforhealing.org or call us.

See our domestic violence display at the Holston Annual Conference

We are at the Holston Annual Conference 2010 in Lake Junaluska, NC. Be sure to stop by our booth at the Harrell Center directly across from Stuart Auditorium. This is our 8th year to have a display at this event. It's both fun and exciting to be here.

In our excitement let's not overlook the reason for our display. The juvenile offenders we work with have gone all out to create a display about domestic violence and one that tells the story of our work at Hope for Healing.Org. We'll think you'll be impressed. Make sure that you stop by.

We also have a few items that Hope Youth and Volunteers have made. If you've been looking for an Anglican Prayer Rosary this is the place to get one. Want some snazzy earrings for your new outfit? We have those too. Looking for a copy of Does God Still Love Me? Well, you get the idea.

So come, visit us, leave a card or a note or sign up to learn more. Our display in the Harrell Center is just waiting for you to stop by.

Presenting at Breaking the Silence of Domestic Violence Clergy Training 10/13/09

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It's been a long time in coming. Tomorrow our executive director will be speaking at the Clergy Gathering in Kingsport, TN. It's a mandatory clergy domestic violence training event for United Methodist Pastors of the Holston Conference. The conference area includes all of East Tennessee plus north Georgia, north Alabama, Western Virginia and a few churches in Kentucky.

Planning for the clergy domestic violence training event has been in the process for month. Representing Hope for Healing.Org will be Gayle Crabtree presenting Domestic Violence 101.

She will be presenting at the Clergy Gathering along with:


Bishop Swanson of the Holston Conference
Attorney Robin Kimbrough with the Tennessee Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence
Attorney Deban Yeomans of Legal Aid of East Tennessee
Rev. John Crabtree of the Holston Conference
Rev. Billy and Karla Kurtz of the Holston Conference 
And other members of the Holston Conference Domestic Violence Task Force.

The clergy domestic violence training is set for Kingsport, Tennessee. The event starts at 10:00 am. See you there! (Be sure to look for our display. We'll have special conference pricing on both of our books!)

Oak Ridge District Meeting of the UMC

Search from this link to help victims of domestic violence!

I just got back in from attending the Oak Ridge District Meeting of the United Methodist Church tonight. This was held at Cove Lake State Park.

It was great to see all of the pastors and to get to meet the new ones that are coming into the district. We have a new Alan McKee and his wife Charlotte are our new district superintendent and wife. It's a good time to be a United Methodist in the Holston Conference. I look forward to working with this terrific group of pastors for years to come!

Here are a two photos from tonight.

Meeting with a Newport Pastor

It was a pleasure to meet with Newport, Tennessee pastor Rev. Spell. He had only good things to say about his church. What a joy it was to talk with him!

As I shared about Hope for Healing.org he seemed to appreciate much of what I had to say. Hopefully, this will be the beginning of a long-term relationship.

United Methodist Men Day with Bishop Swanson

What a day! All the men who came for the United Methodist Men Day Apart with Bishop Swanson were looking forward to having a good time. They were all terrific when they stopped by our booth! My hunch is that there were over 100 men in attendance. I can't wait to hear what the final total came out to be!

The Boy Scouts brought much-appreciated canned food for our pantry. We ended up with two apple boxes full of nonperishable food. This will be a help to families who need it.

As a ministry, we appreciate the help. If it weren't for the kindness of those who brought food and who support us, we could not do what we do. Thank you to all who help!

UMM Day with Bishop Swanson

Are you ready for Saturday? It's the United Methodist Men's Day with Bishop Swanson. If you are going be sure to look for us. We'll have a display near the front door in the narthex.

We are also going to be the recipient of the canned food drive. So please, bring cans! Bring yourselves. Bring friends. Just come! We'll be glad to see you and you'll be uplifted.

More information on the event can be found here:
http://holston.org/events/2009/mar/21/umm-day-bishop-swanson/

UMVIM Training Today at Bearden UMC

The Conference Connectional Ministries team together with the SEJ Conference of the UMC held a training at Bearden UMC. It was on mission team leadership. I have to say that this was an exceptional training. There was much in the way of questions and answers. The person leading the training took the time to be sure everyone had answers or knew where to look to find them.

One of the great things about attending the connectional trainings is getting to see people who don't ordinarily cross your paths. Most people know that I'm part of the Alaska Mission Team with Lafollette United Methodist Church. We're scheduled to leave in June. Today, I had the opportunity to meet and speak with 3 people who have been on this trail before me. Their insights were valuable and helped me feel supported.

Connectionalism isn't just one of the componets of the United Methodist Faith it is one of the best things about this denomination.

I can't wait to put my skills to use. But I will have to. Alaska is calling me first.

Gayle D'Ambrosio-Crabtree

Voice of Hope Talk Show Expands to Tuesdays

By popular demand, our internet radio show is going to expand to Tuesdays. We are planning to offer an "Ask A Pastor" show on Tuesdays at 12:00 PM. Brown bag your lunch and join us live. Email your questions in advance to voicesofhope@ hopeforhealing.org. We'll be glad to get your questions answered. Remember, everyone who phones in or emails a question can get a free e-book. It's yours for participating in our show.

See ya online,

Gayle

Alaska Missions Trip Meeting

We had a great meeting for the Alaska missions trip. We'll be going in June to help out an organization in Willow, Alaska. It will be a packed 7 days but should be a good time. I'm looking forward to seeing how another organization does things. I'm also looking forward to learning all that I can.

Email me if you are a client of ours and are in Anchorage or Willow. It'll be good to hear from you!

What's Ash Wednesday?

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Christian season of Lent. An Ash Wednesday service includes having a pastor put ashes on your forehead. This is a reminder of the sacrifice that Jesus made for all sins.

Not every denomination will celebrate Ash Wednesday. It is more common among the denominations Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Methodist, Episcopal and Eastern Orthodox.

The ashes are typically made from the dried palm leaves that are collected from the previous year's Palm Sunday service. These are burned during the service by the pastor. The ash is then placed on the head of the participant.

Those who observe the tradition find it to be a moving service.

See our booth at Resurrection!

Resurrection is just a great experience overall. We have so many contacts to follow up on. I'm putting out a second sheet now. Be sure to leave your information when you stop by.

The Hope Quilt is attracting a lot of positive attention. Everyone loves seeing it. We love showing it. I especially enjoy watching people's reactions as they read the squares. No one fails to be moved. It is just amazing.

Look for our booth upstairs. We're just down from the snack area and in between the stairs and elevator. It's almost impossible to miss us.

United Methodist Youth Resurrection 2009

We are at Resurrection 2009 in Gatlinburg, TN. This is a HUGE United Methodist youth event involving 12,000 kids over two weekends. We're upstairs just down from the Elkmont room. Look for us in between the elevator and the stairs. So far, I've talked to several people and am exctied by all the good things I'm hearing. People seem to be receptive to stopping domestic violence. That just makes my day!

If you're here, be sure to stop by!

Thanks Concord UMC !

Our van is soon to be fixed thanks to the generosity of the United Methodist Men's group at Concord United Methodist Church. On Sunday, Allie and I were privileged to be at their monthly breakfast. What a great group and nice meal!

They surprised us by being willing to help with needed van repairs. (Blog readers will be familiar with our ongoing efforts to get it back on the road.) Thank You So Much! This will be a huge help to our program. Soon, we'll be able to do pick-ups once again!

In another kindness, Mike Smith shared other good news. The kids who come to us for community service will soon be able to have a hot lunch! A gas grill and tanks are going to be given to us by the United Methodist Men of the Holston Conference and the UMM at Concord.

We're thrilled beyond belief and deeply moved by the generosity of this group. Your acts of kindness will go a long way toward helping us help the people we serve. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

From AC at Lake Junaluska

This is being posted from beautiful Lake Junaluska, NC. Allie and I are hard at work at the mission's fair. We're handing out information about domestic violence and talking to everyone who comes by our table. So far, the response for trainings have been good. We're excited about the prospects and looking forward to varied ways of connecting with churches across the Holston Conference.

The good news is that all - yes, I did say all - of our training materials on domestic violence have been picked up. We offered these for free because the good folks at Asbury UMC in Greenville were kind enough to make extra copies for distribution. What a great way to help!

If you're here, be sure to stop by the booth! We've lots more info to give away, plus, we'd just be glad to see you. :)

Morristown District UMW Event (TN) - Parrottsville UMC

Staff and volunteers are hustling and bustling to get the word out about domestic violence and the services we offer at Hope for Healing.Org in 2008. Yesterday, two volunteers and I set up a display at the Morristown District UMW Event in Parrottsville, TN.

We appreciate Vicki's invitation and the warm welcome by the ladies there. In contrast to the snowy morning the event was warm and cozy. The church was packed with what appeared to be around 100 women. A nice worship was offered which included communion. You couldn't help but be impressed by the speaker at Wesley House and with all the great work they are doing!

After the meeting and service we adjourned to lunch in the fellowship hall. If you came, that's where you found our table and the Hope Quilt. We appreciate all the ladies who stopped by to talk and the almost 1/3 of you who picked up information! Most of all, we appreciate the opportunity to meet the enthusiastic ladies who make up the UMW in the Morristown District.

Thanks for inviting us and making us feel welcome! We hope to see you again next time!