Because of a recent military action in Nagorno-Karabakh, thousands of ethnic Armenians are having to leave their homes. Many of these persons were clients who were helped by Project Agape over the years when there was a headquarters in Berdzor. Because of the connections that Nara Melknoyan (the Project Agape coordinator in Armenia) has made, quite a few refugees have already contacted her at the new headquarters in Vayk, Armenia.
Nara is visiting Churches in our area over the next couple of weeks (see the schedule below) and opportunities will be given at each location to make a love offering to help purchase bedding for persons who have been displaced. 100% of such offerings will go to this particular purpose.
In addition, the NC Conference Missions Team will be sending a container to Armenia with the Christmas boxes that have been given for children. We will find room for bedding which Churches want to donate during the month of October. There is a need for bedding for twin beds—including sheets, pillows and pillowcases, comforters, blankets, quilts, duvets, and the like. Twin bed mattresses can be given, but they would need to be in good shape. This push for bedding is time sensitive: all items will need to be at the MERCI Center in Goldsboro by November 1. Donations of bedding can be either taken to MERCI or at one of the other drop off points which are being set up in each District (your ALDS will be given that information next week).
Churches are hosting Nara Melkonyan and would love to have you at their event to learn more about the situation in Armenia and how Project Agape is responding. Here is the schedule for her public visits for October 2023:
October 1
Morning Worship at West End UMC at 10:00 am
October 2
Evening presentation at Haymount UMC at 7 pm in Fayetteville
October 3
Fuquay-Varina UMC Circle of Faith at 10:00 am
October 4
St. Luke UMC, Sanford at 6:45 pm
October 12
Horne Memorial UMC Circle Meeting at 9:30 am
October 13-14
NC Conference Annual Meeting of United Women of Faith
St. Luke, Sanford
October 15
Worship at Epworth UMC in Durham (9 am and 11 am)
October 16
West Nash UMC in Wilson at 7 pm
October 18
Project Agape Board Meeting at Mt. Pleasant UMC, Greensboro
October 21
Project Agape 30-Year Celebration at Mt. Pleasant UMC, Greensboro Registration Deadline: Oct. 5th
Register Now→
If there are specific questions that you have, please contact the Rev. Bill Haddock at 910.262.3831 or via email at revbillh@nccumc.org.
If you would like to donate to help purchase supplies to be sent, click here