Recommended Reading: Jack Martin on the UMVIM Journey

Rev. Dr. Jack Martin, a retired clergyperson from the Virginia Annual Conference, recently wrote a lengthy piece entitled "The UMVIM Journey." The piece is an extensive first-hand recounting of the history of the rise of the United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) movement in the Southeast Jurisdiction from someone who was personally involved as a leader of and advocate for that movement. Among other forms of involvement, Rev. Dr. Martin was president of the UMVIM board from 1988 to 1996. As Martin acknowledges, the definitive history of the development of UMVIM remains Rev. Thomas L. Curtis’ book, From the Grassroots: A History of United Methodist Volunteers in Mission. However, Martin's narrative deserves to take its place as an important additional historical source on the history of this significant mission movement.