MOPSTalk Zone 22 ~ Eastern PA and NJ: Ideas for Steering Team Training/Retreat

CONVENTION UPDATE

Ta da! A Convention announcement!
We just signed the papers and we thank you for your prayers as we worked on moving, well, a whole lotta details in just a few days.

Drum roll #1: The Gaylord Palms in Kissimmee, FL (Orlando area) was able to welcome us (in the midst of many conventions needing to move).

Drum roll #2: We're able to keep the registration fees the same, so some of you might decide to come early or stay late, and enjoy the Orlando amenities with your friends (or family).

And thanks for all the great ideas of cities! You helped our future dreaming. 'Twould be fun!
And again, it will be great because of Who we'll be with: "Where(ver) two or three (thousand) are gathered in my name, there am I with them." (Mt. 18:20, our year's theme verse with my additions).

Naomi Cramer Overton

Convention Details:
The MOPS International Convention will be at the Gaylord Palms, Kissimmee, FL (Orlando area). Dates will be the same, August 5-7, 2010. Speakers and artists will be the same great lineup — Julie Barnhill, Margaret Feinberg, Donald Miller, Naomi Cramer Overton, Shelly Radic, Go Fish, Mandisa, The Katinas and Richie McDonald.

Convention registration will re-open on Monday, May 17.
The early bird registration deadline will be extended to June 7.
We are working with the Gaylord Opryland for an official letter we can provide to anyone who has already purchased airline tickets to use with airlines to avoid rebooking fees. This letter should assist you in rebooking airline tickets — it will be posted online at www.MOPS.org/convention.
We continue to pray for families and businesses affected by the flooding and we have sent MOPS materials to local MOPS leaders who are distributing supplies in the Nashville area.

MOPS International Convention 2010

August 5-7, 2010
Gaylord Palms, Orlando FL

Check back often for more information!

Your MOPS International Convention Checklist:

Register for Convention (re-opens May 17)
Reserve a room at the hotel (register first!)
Schedule shuttle transportation

Saturday, February 10, 2007

Ideas for Steering Team Training/Retreat

Hi Coordinators,
Has your group had a Steering Retreat? What do you do to training, motivate and nuture your Steering Team? I thought I'd start sharing some ideas for you to use.
One of my favorite activities is making and sharing life maps. (The handout is copied below.) I've done this in a retreat setting so we take an hour or so to make our life maps and then the next 2-4 hours to share. However, you could spend one meeting making them and then have a couple people share at each meeting for the next few months until everyone has shared.

Life Map
How can I see God’s hand in my life?

Here are some Scriptures to think about before you begin your life map:

In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.Proverbs 16:9

All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.Psalm 139:16

And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this.Esther 4:14b

Getting Started:

· Make a list of the major events in your life from birth to the present.
· Think specifically about lessons that you learned and times when you saw God’s hand at work in your life or family.
· Think about the “peaks” and “valleys” and what your relationship with God was like during those times.

Get busy!

· Using the list you’ve made as a guide, draw your life map on the paper provided. This is a map of journey up to this point in time.
· Use words, symbols, illustrations and/or stickers to denote the major events.
· Mark peaks & valleys with up and down arrows.
· Make a list of lessons learned and times that you saw God working in your life. This should be a great tool for helping you to share your story with others.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who
called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
1 Peter 2:9

Special thanks to Vickie Musni, from NV who shared this idea on the MOPS Leaders Coordinators forum.