Churches of The Desert Southwest Conference,

If you are reading this letter then you have received the first issue of Transformation, Ministry Magazine of The Desert Southwest Conference. This new printed communications tool is designed to be one more way to share the stories of ministry from The Desert Southwest Conference with church members and church visitors around the Conference and beyond.

Transformation is the result of years of study and planning. In the fall of 2007 a task force was empowered by the Communications Commission and the Program Cabinet to look at if there is a need for printed communications in the Desert Southwest Conference and what printed communications should look like if such a need exists. By Annual Conference 2008 the study was completed and a recommendation was made.

The report recommended the creation of a new printed communications piece that would both complement and undergird the great work that had been done in electronic communications. This recommendation went to Annual Conference and was supported by the body. The full report of the Print Piece Task Force is available at www.desertsouthwestconference.org/communications.

Transformation is a full color, slick stock magazine that reflects key highlights of ministry from around the Desert Southwest Conference and the United Methodist Church. The stories of ministry are not of a timely nature. Rather, they are feature stories and columns that will hold a level of importance over time. Some of the stories are brand new, some of the stories have run in other DSC Communications pieces, and some of the stories come from outside sources. All of the stories are designed to be inspirational and let the world know what it means to be a United Methodist in this place called the Desert Southwest Conference.

The magazine will come out quarterly, with timely information being dealt with electronically, and will be shipped directly to each local church. It will be up to each local church to decide how to distribute the magazine, but it is recommended that some copies of Transformation be made available in gathering areas and some copies be saved for visitors to the church. Individual subscriptions will also be made available at the annual cost of $20. Those interested can subscribe by filling out the order form in an issue of Transformation Magazine or by visiting www.desertsouthwestconference.org/transformation.

It is the prayer of the Communications Commission, the Print Piece Task Force, and all those involved in communications in the Desert Southwest Conference that we never loose track of our charge to share our Christian story with the world. Hopefully, this new ministry magazine will aid in our charge. Let us continue to find new and exciting ways to share the story so that we may make disciples of Jesus for the transformation of the world.

In Christ,

Stephen J. Hustedt,
Desert Southwest Conference Director of Communications
steve(at)desertsw.org, 602-266-6956