Author Archives: michelle

Global Ministries, The United Methodist Church

Provide substantive (developmental) editing, copy editing, writing and consultative services for the general agency. Standard materials include the organization’s e-newsletters, special promotional print collateral, video scripts, news releases, and other projects as needed including the following:

Revised and recast the language for 13 Mission Initiatives to focus on the programs’ positive gains in each country.

Substantive editing for UMCOR’s 75th Anniversary materials.

Substantive editing for Evangelization and Church Growth in the African Context, which is a compilation of articles from nine African authors.

Interview donors and write profiles for the agency’s Planned Giving Newsletter.

International Ministries Social Media

Provide ongoing social media strategy, support and maintenance for the Board of International Ministries, American Baptist Churches, USA. Managed their 2014 and 2015 #GivingTuesday campaigns, each raising approximately $10,000 for the organization.

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International Ministries Facebook Page

International Ministries Twitter

United Methodist Women Mission Studies

Substantive (developmental) editing for the following educational texts and leaders’ guides that are used extensively throughout the denomination.

Climate Justice: A Call to Hope and Action and related studies and leaders guides for children, youth, and adults.

The Bible and Human Sexuality: Claiming God’s Good Gift

Created for Happiness: Understanding Your Life in God

Latin America studies and related leader’s guides for children, youth and adults and the 2016 supplement to this study.

The Call: Living Sacramentally, Walking Justly

The Roma of Europe

Leaving Home; Finding Home, A Mission Study for Children

United Methodist Women Handbook 2013-2016

Wrote the handbook that is used by this 800,000-member organization. Used input from committees and provided biblical foundations for different aspects of their programs and ministries.

United Methodist Women Handbook

UMCOR Web Features

Write regular feature stories for the United Methodist Committee on Relief’s website. Some samples are below:

Making Strides to Imagine No Malaria

World AIDS Day: Standing Up to Stigma

Ten Years of Mission in a Cup

A Centenarian Recalls Her Leap of Faith

United Methodist Women Program Materials

Provide substantive (developmental) editing, writing, and consulting services for United Methodist Women, including Mission Studies, Program Book, Annual Reports and other core materials for the organization 2012 to present.

2013-2014 Program Book

2013 Annual Report

United Methodist Women Pledge Service

Developed concept and wrote this worship service for United Methodist Women members to use in 2012 when they make their financial pledge for the year.

2012 Pledge Service: Walk with Wholeness

Student Profiles for UMC Giving

Interviewed and wrote profiles of scholarship recipients to inspire donors.

Life Comes Full Circle Through Serving Others

Future Pastor Wants to Create Change in DRC

Being God’s Hands and Feet

Church Communications, Media Beckon Her

Sojourners Magazine Ads

Wrote ad copy for UMC Giving for Sojourners Magazine December Alternative Gift Guide.

10-Fold 2011

Wrote daily marketing emails during the 10 day campaign encouraging donors to participate.

Revised the online toolkit to help participants prepare and share information about 10-Fold.

Wrote and directed 15 videos and advised on several others for the projects.

www.10-Fold.org

Columbia Spectrum Fall 2011

Researched and wrote articles for the Columbia Spectrum, the periodical for the Columbia University School of Social Work.

One Giant Inspires Another: A New Compton Foundation Centennial Professor

Driven by Science: The New Willma and Albert Musher Professor of Social Work

connectNmission eNewsletter

Wrote copy for the General Board of Global Ministries monthly eNewsletter, connectNmission. Work included identifying appropriate content for 10-12 stories each month as well as working with subject matter experts to determine the scope and focus for each issue.

This new communication combined three former newsletters and required much planning and coordination to make it work. Also wrote announcements to explain the nature of the change to subscribers of the communications that were rolled into this new piece.

In March 2011 connectNmission won a DeRose Hinkhouse award of excellence from the Religion Communicators Council.

Read issue.

UMCOR 2009 Annual Report

Worked with client to determine theme and style for their 2009 Annual Report. Provided editing, copy writing, project management and photo selection services. Worked with client-selected graphic designer to complete final project. Download and view PDF report.

10-Fold 2010

Developed key messages at the beginning of the campaign that were then used throughout all promotional materials including the video and website.

Wrote copy and advised on the 10-Fold 2011 calender and initial eNewsletter updates for the campaign.

www.10-fold.org

United Methodist Women Membership Brochure

Wrote brochure and several other membership pieces in preparation for the United Methodist Women’s Assembly in 2010. Applied new branding, theme and language.

4 Areas of Focus

Revised a complex brochure on the four areas of focus for The United Methodist Church and how they apply to the General Board of Global Ministries to meet new communications standards.

The brochure can be ordered online at Cokesbury.

EAA AirVenture OshKosh, WI 2009

Worked with a team to create an exhibit and supporting materials for United Methodist Aviation Ministries. Consulted on logo creation and use, wrote print materials, hired photographer and scripted multimedia presentation. All materials were created to be useful beyond the aviation convention itself.

Multimedia project and other items are available online at www.umaviationministries.org.

UMCOR Disaster Response Training Supports Methodists Worldwide

The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) has long been known in the US as the go-to organization for disaster response training. Read article.

UMCOR Unit Brochures

These seven award-winning* brochures addressed the United Methodist Committee on Relief’s need to promote the unique work of each of its units while also creating awareness of the full body of UMCOR’s work. Previously, unit-specific materials made no mention of the larger organization.

The four-panel brochures first open to show two panels that provide general information about the organization and it’s work. Inside, is a concise description of the specific UMCOR unit. These brochures replaced multiple print pieces that struggled to communicate the work of UMCOR’s various units.

All other unit-specific materials are available online. Unique URLS were secured for each unit and published in the relevant brochure to make it easier for readers to find more information and to drive them to the UMCOR website while also reducing the number of print pieces that are produced annually.

*DeRose Hinkhouse Award of Excellence 2009

Bikram Yoga Bay Ridge eNewsletter

Worked with studio owner to create a marketing and informational eNewsletter for the studio. Designed masthead and developed graphic standards that matched the current studio logo. Helped determine newsletter content, interviewed students for monthly profile, edited and prepared newsletter for publication. Read issue.

Razoo January 2010 eNewsletters

Wrote marketing eNewsletters for Razoo to summarize their first full year of online operations and encourage continued participation in Razoo for the year to come. Read issue.

Access, Testing and Follow-Up Remain Barriers to Treating Children with HIV

Accessibility, appropriate testing and follow-up care were recurring themes during the panel discussion on children with HIV held at UNICEF Read article.