Every 45 seconds, a child in Africa dies of malaria. Millions of lives, needlessly lost each year. A continent. Entire nations…slipping away. Slipping through life’s precious net. Unless you hear the buzzing inside you.  Just Imagine …

It’s time we all join hands with Africa | On a personal mission to heal | Imagine no malaria | Then make it real. | Over a million lives, we’re gonna save | But only if you get involved today. | The bednets have been cast | But people can’t slip through | Listen to the buzz inside of you.  Be part of the Dream … be part of the Solution … be part of the work of Jesus! 

10-Fold!

What is 10-Fold? What’s The Advance? 10-Fold is a movement to raise awareness of projects of the General Board of Global Ministries around the world, supported through The Advance—the designated-giving arm of The United Methodist Church. This message of doing something (advocating, raising awareness, or giving) and watching it expand “10-Fold,” comes with the guarantee that 100 percent of all money raised through The Advance goes directly to the project you support or donate to. Join us daily, October 10-19.

By clicking on the site each day, you register your interest in a program, triggering $1 of support on your behalf, given by one of our sponsors: http://www.10-fold.org/ the project you support or donate to.  If you miss a day, don’t worry, you can go back to that day and still partner with the ministry by learning about and supporting the ministry with your donation.  Remember, you are the key partner in mission.  Only by your participation will these vital ministries occur.  Jesus calls us to journey with him in the transformation of the world.  10 Fold is a facet of that journey.  Please join us in touching the lives of the least, in bringing hope into despair, in proclaiming the saving grace and life of Jesus Christ!   10 Fold – Advancing the realm of God.    

Refugee settlement - the result of war. Photo - Steve Taylor/NCCUMC

Each year people all over the world recognize World Refugee Day. World Refugee Day encourages us to prayerfully reflect on the lives of refugees, and raise awareness in our communities and congregations about refugee resettlement.

UMCOR, together with congregations and the Church World Service resettlement network across the country, has developed a series of World Refugee Day materials that can be accessed online and downloaded. There is a church bulletin insert for use on Sunday June 19, the day before World Refugee Day. Additionally, you can arrange to make an announcement about World Refugee Day during worship or another church gathering. Your church may also consider planning a worship service around the theme of refugees. You can download the poster and other materials here.

We need YOUR HELP to get the word out about these materials so please forward this email to your networks, colleagues, pastors and friends. We hope that you will make every effort to lift up this important day at your worship service on Sunday June 19^th.

Do you have an idea for raising awareness in your congregation about refugees? Is there a way that UMCOR might be able to help? Please don’t hesitate to contact us at UMCORRefugee@gbgm-umc.org or 212-870-3888. The more we hear from you, the better!

ZOE Ministry has a handful of slots open on two upcoming mission trips to Rwanda:

The trips will cost approximately $3,200 and will introduce missioners to ZOE’s remarkable orphan empowerment project.  This project equips orphans to live self-reliant, faith-filled lives within three years, thus breaking the cycles of poverty and dependency.

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10-Fold April – Healthcare Initiatives in Africa

”My work with Health and Welfare has taught me not to underestimate the resilience of women and men however adverse their condition may be.” —Dr. Cherian Thomas, Director of Health Ministries for UMCOR.

Help spread the word to your districts and congregations that the next 10-Fold online event on April 10th will focus on United Methodist Church healthcare initiatives in Africa.

Main Woman's Ward at Ganta United Methodist Hosital

In many parts of the world, getting to healthcare when it is needed is not always possible. This is a challenge that The United Methodist Church has stepped in to meet. In Africa, UMC missionaries are working with communities to build hospitals and train volunteers to spread information about good health. Being proactive is the best way to prevent the need for hospital care.

UMCOR programs, sponsored by the General Board of Global Ministries and supported by dollars raised through The Advance, are helping to make healthcare attainable, accessible, and sustainable in the US and around the world.

Here are the details you can use in church announcements:

On Sunday, April 10th, throughout the day, Dr. Cherian Thomas, Director of Health Ministries for UMCOR, and missionaries stationed in Africa will provide an inside look at the work being done to promote good health in communities that don’t have easy access to medical care. There will be a live update at 12:00 p.m. ET, with an opportunity to ask questions. You can also chat throughout the day with others who are interested in these projects.

To participate in this online event, go to www.10-fold.org/live.

Don’t forget, while visiting 10-Fold.org, with one simple click of the mouse it is Read more »

You are invited to participate in Love for Liberia – Change the World Day!

The Love for Liberia focus for January – June 2011 is the Ganta United Methodist Mission Hospital/community health ministry and the mission station schools.  You are invited to participate in supporting these critical ministries through the collection of critical items needed by Ganta medical providers and patients, and school teachers and students.

Please see the Quarterly Focus for Love for Liberia.  This page will provide a full list of ministry opportunities – hands and hearts, collection, mission trip opportunity, and prayer requests.

We are collecting:

• Collect School Kits for Students- Click here for items and instructions (Collection to be carried to MERCI Center on May 14 – Volunteers needed at MERCI.)
• Collect a health kit for patients served by Ganta Hospital and the Community Health Ministry(Collection to be carried to MERCI Center on May 14 – Volunteers needed at MERCI.)
• Collect a birthing kit for mothers being served by Ganta Hospital and the Community Health Ministry (Collection to be carried to MERCI Center on May 14 – Volunteers needed at MERCI.)
• Medical Supply Kits (Collection to be carried to MERCI Center on May 14 – Volunteers needed at MERCI.)
• Collect Story Books for Children and Age-Appropriate Bibles (Collection to be carried to MERCI Center on May 14 – Volunteers needed at MERCI.)
• Teacher resources and Equipping Classrooms (Collection to be carried to MERCI Center on May 14 – Volunteers needed at MERCI.)
• Donate High School Physics, Chemistry, Zoology books and dictionaries for library. (Collection to be carried to MERCI Center on May 14 – Volunteers needed at MERCI.)

There is also an upcoming opportunity for joining a medical and educational mission team to Liberia.

• Join a teaching/medical mission Team

You are also invited to participate at MERCI on May 14 for the shipment day.
Your District Mission Secretary will soon have more information to your regarding collection points and volunteer opportunities. Stay-tuned to the Love for Liberia First Quarter Page for more information!

When Jesus spoke of the children, he must have had Liberia in mind.  Everywhere, in every village, in every town, on every road, there are children.  Most, at least at first, will eye you warily, looking like a frightened cat, an intense stare, muscles tensed, ready to take flight from this unknown threat that we represent, white folks with note books in hand and cameras by our side.  Of course, had I the misfortune of being born into a place where over the last twenty years there has been at least as much warfare as peace, I suspect I might look a bit cat-like as well.  For here, even during the times of peace, marauding bands of rebels, or the over-zealous thugs known as government forces, never remained too far from one’s periphery, always seeming to inject themselves with shakedowns and roadblocks and violent outbursts that would bring another moment of anguish or an additional point of death.  In such an environment, I imagine that skittishness is a desirable trait if one wishes to extend one’s life into the next minute.  But sometimes, if one is indeed fortunate, even a frightened cat will find its way to gently nuzzle your leg, and then you will know, you have been well-adopted indeed. Read more »

A Haitian boy receives treatment at an ad hoc medical clinic at MINUSTAH's logistics base after an earthquake measuring 7 plus on the Richter scale rocked Port au Prince Haiti just before 5 pm on January 12, 2009. Logan Abassi / The United Nations

Two weeks ago, a NC Conference Work Team that included many members of our Cabinet, journeyed to Haiti and worked on the Ryan Epps Home for Children. Our team accomplished much in this wondrous worshipful work and many opportunities remain to complete the good work that God has begun!  You can help!

We are providing a list of materials needed to complete the interior of the dormitories, the dining/family area, and the living quarters of the director’s family.  So, if you have not already done so, please join us in this ministry of shelter and life and love.

Please pass along the Opportunities and Needs List for Ryan Epps Home.   You will touch the lives of these beautiful children at Ryan Epps who would otherwise be living on the streets in the midst of this Haitian nightmare of earthquake damage and destruction, a place and event that has been forgotten or ignored by so many in the world. Read more »

Love for Liberia:  The war in Liberia exacted a heavy toll on all it’s people, but most especially on it’s children.   And though seven years has passed since the end of the most horrific violence, children still continue to experience the devestating affects of such recent history.

During the war, thousands of children were forced to fight.  Some as young as ten were given weapons and fed drugs.  Then in a stupor of addiction, they killed anything and everything.  It was a mindless and almost endless killing.  The violence consumed everything, especially the children themselves.  It murdered and it taught murder.  It lasted for years, but even nightmarish malice cannot last forever.  Horror reigned and flesh might be killed, but never love.

So on this day Frido N. Kinkolenge, GBGM Missionary supported by the NC Conference, lives out the story of resurrection love. Read more »