By Holly McCray

Rickety homes with dirt floors and no doors. A community nowhere near a medical center. A town regrouping after a damaging storm. A church building wearing its old age.

You learn about such need, and you want to help in-person. One way to respond is through Volunteers In Mission (VIM). A recent reorganization in the Oklahoma VIM office will make your team’s ministry even more effective.

"You tell us where’s God’s calling you, and we’ll help you get there," said VIM Director Jeremy Basset.

In the realigned VIM structure, coordinator Kristin Terrell-Wilkes is the person to contact first about a new mission or team. However, experienced VIM team leaders now will be travel agents, of a sort, for their groups. Those leaders will secure lodging, air travel, meals, etc.

"We are asking our team leaders to take on the work of planning their own logistics, but our office will supply needed information and contacts," Rev. Basset said. VIM will waive fees, other than the $25 team registration cost, for teams whose leaders themselves handle these duties.

That shift in responsibilities will enable the Conference’s VIM staff to embrace other major tasks as interest in hands-on mission continues to grow.

"This way VIM can serve more teams and do more training and motivating," Basset explained, "instilling excellence and the highest possible commitment to participating in God’s mission." The agency also will amplify its work building relationships with existing and potential mission partners, near and far.

Three Team Leader training events are scheduled next year: Feb. 27, Sept. 18, and Oct. 23, 2010. All classes will be in Oklahoma City.

Basset emphasized the office will continue to work directly with any team leaders who request staff help in handling logistics.

At the United Methodist Ministry Center in Oklahoma City, seven people comprise the VIM staff led by Basset. Associate directors are Richard Norman and Gene Brantley. Coordinators are Lori Foster and Terrell-Wilkes. Serving internships are college students Luisa Media and Sarah Nichols. The staff recently bid goodbye to Shannon Lemmons, who chose employment closer to her Lucien home.

Nichols is the newest staff member, and grant funds made her one-year post possible. Her focus will be developing VIM’s work with young adults.

"Our vision is to provide new mission opportunities for this age level of disciples," said an enthusiastic Basset.

"We want to include every church in Oklahoma in VIM," he said. "This is a ministry in support of every church in the annual conference. We are determined to offer a seamless support system to enhance your ability to make your mission the most meaningful and effective experience it can possibly be."

He recalled the VIM statement of purpose: To share the love of Christ in ways that make a Christian difference.

"The tasks we go to perform are a fraction of what this can be all about. We can be authentic witnesses for Christ, even if we are only there for a short time," he concluded.

Web site: www.okvim.org