George Ramseyer, a men’s ministry specialist in the North Central New York Conference, cuts floor panels for a D'lberville La., house damaged by Hurricane Katrina. He was part of a 2007 mission team that repaired damaged homes.

BALWINSVILLE, N.Y. –– A North Central New York Conference man who has helped rebuild homes in the Gulf following Hurricane Katrina is available to help conference churches expand their ministries to men.

George Ramseyer, secretary of Conference United Methodist Men, and a member of First United Methodist Church in Baldwinsville, has been certified as a “men’s ministry specialist” by the Nashville-based General Commission on United Methodist Men.

Ramseyer has led men’s DISCIPLE Bible studies and courses based on Spiritual Fathers by Dan Schaffer and Why Men Hate Going to Church by David Murrow. He also reaches out to the community at large by teaching a men’s Bible study at the largest mall in Central New York.

Ramseyer is the coordinator of the Post-Emmaus Reunion for the conference, and he is a member of the 19th Annotation of The Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius.
As the prayer advocate for his local church he coordinates a monthly remote Upper Living Room Prayer Line to respond to prayer requests from callers around the world.  
A veteran leader of mission projects, including the construction of handicap ramps, rebuilding homes in the Gulf and preparing summer camps, Ramseyer says, “I believe that men lead others best by modeling Jesus Christ in thoughts, words and deeds.”

With an interest in social networking, Ramseyer plans on utilizing “Second Life” as vehicle to reach out to men who might not be found in traditional Christian environments. Second Life is a virtual Internet world developed by Linden Lab. A free program enables its users to interact with each other through avatars.

“Not only is this an opportunity to meet others in a non-threatening environment, but it also offers opportunities for men to meet in groups that focus on spiritual growth,” he said.

 Ramseyer was commissioned during a March 5 certification ceremony during a Nashville meeting of the National Association of Conference Presidents of United Methodist Men.