A video and bulletin inserts promote the 2017 Annual Conference Ingathering.
For nearly 20 years The Michigan Area has shared important covenant relationships with our brothers and sisters in Liberia and Haiti.
During opening worship at Annual Conference, June 1, an ingathering offering will be taken to support these two important Advance Mission programs that meet the critical needs of thousands of vulnerable children in Liberia and Haiti.
The Bishop Judith Craig Children’s Village is a haven for scores of orphaned children in Liberia. Many are like 8-year-old girl named Mamaili, who you will meet on the promotional video. She, like many others, arrived at the Children’s Village after losing both her parents to Ebola. Today, Mamaili lives in the Alpena UMC Cottage and receives food, clothing, education and medical care but most importantly, love and support. Long term, helping vulnerable children like Mamaili leads to a reduction in Liberia’s illiteracy and crime rates and improve the outcome for this African nation.
Across the Atlantic, the Haiti Hot Lunch Program feeds up to 20,000 children a day in Methodist Schools across the island republic. For many children living in poverty and still recovering from the devastating hurricane that hit last October, the Haiti Hot Lunch Program is the only healthy food many of these kids will receive all day. Improved nutrition leads to better-educated children and that, ultimately, leads to a stronger more stable country. Right now, funding only allows us to feed these children three days a week. The goal this year is to make sure these kids receive five hot lunches a week.
Please make your check payable to “Detroit Annual Conference” or “West Michigan Conference” noting “Haiti/Liberia Offering” in the memo line.
The 1,500 United Methodists who will gather Up North also have an opportunity to make a difference locally. Conference members are asked to bring personal care items for the Safe Harbor of Grand Traverse, an ecumenical ministry that provides a rotating shelter for those who are homeless in Traverse City. Find details here of hygiene items to donate, then plan a May ingathering that will fill a car travelling to Annual Conference.
United Methodists have giving hearts. Thank you for taking the effort to gather dollars and donations from your congregation in order to make a difference in the lives of others in the nae of here in Michigan as we seek to be an example of Christ around the world.
Last Updated on January 12, 2023