Roseland United Methodist Church

How is your ministry engaging with the community today? Though our congregation is considered small in membership numbers, we are big in our commitment to expand not only the proclamation of God’s Word but also putting it into action. Aside from our regular worship services where ALL are welcomed, our primary mode of engagement is our childcare and preschool offering. This allows parents in our community to be able to have a peace of mind leaving their children to be cared for and to learn while they go to work and maintain their livelihood. As UMC church, we are also committed in supporting all other mission initiatives of the general church agencies such as committee on relief, global ministries, discipleship, and many others.

What role does technology play in spreading your message? Technology has a great potential to play in spreading our message. However, we do not have the equipment and the resources to utilize its potential. We are currently looking for grants that will help us to get capital investments and the training to incorporate technology in our ministry.

How do you support spiritual growth among your members? We support the spiritual growth of our members (and anyone who comes into our community) in 3 ways:
1. Gathering together in worship services prayerfully curated to facilitate communal reflection of how God works in the life of the church and the community
2. Pastoral counseling and presence – our Pastor is always willing to come for prayers, visitations or to just have a conversation for those who are in need
3. Encouraging personal spirituality among our members through dynamic spiritual disciplines/practices.

What challenges are ministries facing in the modern world? I think two of the biggest challenges that ministries are facing in the modern world are:
1. Letting go of the competition and exclusionary mindset. Oftentimes we see other churches or organization as a competition to our ministry when in fact they can be our partners and together, we can build more effective and impactful ministries. We also have to overcome the thinking that only us can be saved, and those who are not like us, believe like us, and do ministry like us as “others” and unsaved.

How do you balance tradition with innovation in worship? Tradition is very important in worship as that’s where we connect as a community of faith but also because that’s the foundation of our faith. Innovation should not change the tradition or what the tradition signifies but rather, innovation should compliment and strengthen the tradition. Some of the ways or methods may change but the meaning to it should be maintained.

What initiatives are you leading to serve vulnerable populations? As mentioned above, most of the initiatives we have to serve the vulnerable population are those that are prayerfully discerned by our general church agencies. From time to time, we do have our own initiative as the needs seem to be very dire in the community around and close to us.

How can younger generations be more involved in ministry? Younger generation can be more involved in the ministry if the ministry and designed WITH them and not for them. Oftentimes, we design ministries we want for younger generations because we think that’s what they need and want but in reality, the generational gap blindsides us in the kind of ministry that they need in out time today.