VALLEY FORGE, Pa. –– Philadelphia Area Bishop Peggy Johnson says she loves United Methodist Men organizations, and she encourages local churches to charter groups with the General Commission on United Methodist Men.

“My first encounter with the United Methodist Men was when I was 14 and I was the director of a children's choir at my home church,” says the bishop. “The men voted to buy a set of rhythm instruments for my choir to enhance our program.  It was quite an encouragement to me at that time.
 
It was not until much later in life that I learned that the United Methodist Men’s goals was to be involved in discipleship ministries.”

Today, she says she admires United Methodist Men for their involvement in several projects

•    Prayer advocacy  (Upper Room Prayer Center)
•    Scouting ministry (Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Campfire, 4-H)
•    Mentoring children (Big Brothers and Big Sisters)
•    Potato projects (gleaning small potatoes from farms and shipping them to food banks)
•    Hope for the Hearing (hearing aids for deaf children in Haiti)
•    Bible study
•    Prison ministry
•    Athletic ministries
•    Strength for Service (devotional books and Bibles sent to our servicemen and servicewomen)
•    Support of the children of incarcerated parents through “Amachi”
•    Men’s convocation every four years

Bishop Johnson notes that individual units of United Methodist Men also engage in additional outreach ministries that are specific to their settings.

“I wish that every church would have a United Methodist Men’s unit or if you have had one in the past that has become inactive, to get it started again,” said the bishop.

“We are United Methodists. We have many wonderful programs and support systems to do many good works together.  When we do our own thing separately we cannot be nearly as effective.  RE-think United Methodist Men!”