The Four Areas of Focus express the vision and yearnings of the people of The United Methodist Church. Over the 2008-2012 quadrennium, the general church seeks to focus the work of making disciples for Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world around these areas of ministry:

• Developing principled Christian leaders for the church and the world. The church must recruit young people for ministry and provide them with the skills necessary to be effective in this new time of opportunity.  That includes women and people of color the world over.  Similarly, we must offer leadership training for lay people who are in ministry in countless ways.

• Creating new places for new people by starting new congregations and renewing existing ones. If we are to remain faithful to our commitment to transform the world, we will reach out with genuine hospitality to people wherever they are. We will make them feel welcome as we start new faith communities, seek to renew existing ones and inspire faithful discipleship.

• Engaging in ministry with the poor. As an expression of our discipleship, United Methodists seek to alleviate conditions that undermine quality of life and limit the opportunity to flourish as we believe God intends for all. As with John Wesley, we seek to change conditions that are unjust, alienating and disempowering.  We engage in ministry with the poor, and in this, we especially want to reach out to and protect children.

• Stamping out killer diseases by improving health globally. Conditions of poverty cause illness and death. The lack of access to doctors, nurses, medications and appropriate facilities is deadly, especially among those who live in conditions of poverty. But the diseases of poverty are not inevitable. We believe the people of The United Methodist Church can play a significant role in educating others about diseases such as HIV/AIDS and malaria, and treating and preventing their devastating effects. 

EPFM’s Ministry Team structure is an intentional effort to organize the functions of our local church ministries to reflect the Four Areas of Focus: 

• Leadership Excellence Team (Developing Church Leaders) 
• Congregational Vitality Team (Church Renewal, New Places & New People)
• Justice & Reconciliation Team (Ministry with the Poor) 
• Missional Engagement Team (Community/Global Health)