by Denise Honeycutt

In February 2014, about four months after Typhoon Haiyan had struck the Philippines, I traveled there with the International Disaster Response team of the United Methodist Committee of Relief (UMCOR). We were looking for a small Philippine community whose people would accept UMCOR’s help in rebuilding their homes.

A government official who was working with us suggested a place where he thought we could find an open atmosphere and local residents willing to work with a United Methodist relief agency. Calogcog, a community of 300 families, experienced approximately 200 fatalities and the destruction of 220 homes out of a total of 243. The need to provide high-quality permanent shelter was the first step toward reestablishing a thriving local community. As the mayor of this village led us on a walk around the community, his wife took hand and continued to hold it. “That was where our neighbor’s house stood,” she said, pointing. A husband, wife, and three children lived there…but we haven’t found them yet. Over there, is where the school used to be.”

Then, pointing toward a far-off grove of trees, she added: “Yesterday, down below those trees, they found a man from our village who had been holding onto a tree as the typhoon struck—they found his body, but we don’t yet know who he was.” At that point she asked me, “But why would you help us? And how would we decide who would get the first house?”

I said: “What UMCOR does is to look for the most vulnerable people in the community. Any good humanitarian organization does that. We know that the best practice is to help the most vulnerable first. But another reason we do so is that we are followers of Jesus, who made it clear that his followers should care for the least, the last, and the most vulnerable. That’s why we do what we do.” Still holding my hand, she said, “I think we can work together.”

– See more at: http://www.umcmission.org/Learn-About-Us/News-and-Stories/2015/January/010875years#sthash.d7uDKPtf.dpuf Denise Honeycutt meets with some of village leaders and UMCOR staff in the Philippines after Typhoon Haiyan. ~umcor photo/Jack Amick

DENISE HONEYCUTT
Deputy General Secretary UMCOR

In February 2014, about four months after Typhoon Haiyan had struck the Philippines, I traveled there with the International Disaster Response team of the United Methodist Committee of Relief (UMCOR). We were looking for a small Philippine community whose people would accept UMCOR’s help in rebuilding their homes.

A government official who was working with us suggested a place where he thought we could find an open atmosphere and local residents willing to work with a United Methodist relief agency. Calogcog, a community of 300 families, experienced approximately 200 fatalities and the destruction of 220 homes out of a total of 243. The need to provide high-quality permanent shelter was the first step toward reestablishing a thriving local community. As the mayor of this village led us on a walk around the community, his wife took hand and continued to hold it. “That was where our neighbor’s house stood,” she said, pointing. A husband, wife, and three children lived there…but we haven’t found them yet. Over there, is where the school used to be.”

Then, pointing toward a far-off grove of trees, she added: “Yesterday, down below those trees, they found a man from our village who had been holding onto a tree as the typhoon struck—they found his body, but we don’t yet know who he was.” At that point she asked me, “But why would you help us? And how would we decide who would get the first house?”

I said: “What UMCOR does is to look for the most vulnerable people in the community. Any good humanitarian organization does that. We know that the best practice is to help the most vulnerable first. But another reason we do so is that we are followers of Jesus, who made it clear that his followers should care for the least, the last, and the most vulnerable. That’s why we do what we do.” Still holding my hand, she said, “I think we can work together.”

UMCOR’s Beginnings

For 75 years, UMCOR has been in ministry with the most vulnerable—being present with and offering relief to those who have been displaced by war, other conflicts, or natural disasters. That’s who we are as UMCOR—the globally connected United Methodist family. For 75 years, United Methodists have been journeying with communities on the long road to recovery and development, responding to the spiritual and emotional needs of those who find their lives turned upside down by disasters, and compelled by Christ to offer hope and healing to a hurting world. That’s the community of faith that sends UMCOR out into the world.

As UMCOR’s 75th anniversary approached, I searched for the original speech—delivered in 1940 by Bishop Herbert Welch—that launched the mission movement we now call UMCOR. Surprisingly, it was part of a report to the 1940 General Conference from the Methodist Committee for China Relief. Although many details of that General Conference were covered at great length by the media of the time, Bishop Welch’s call to action was more like a side note. The delegates took an on-site offering dedicated to the relief work of the newly created Methodist Committee for Overseas Relief (MCOR). A committee was formed, with Bishop Welch as chair, and a day prayer and fasting, when the churches could collect an offering, was set aside for a Sunday later in the year. MCOR was authorized to funnel funds through six religious relief organizations. Behind the scenes, John R. Mott, Bishop Welch, Bishop Arthur Moore, and Ralph E. Diffendorfer (director of the newly constituted mission agency), added an amendment—calling for the creation of MCOR—to the China Relief committee’s report.

The 1940 General Conference was preoccupied with many important and politically charged internal matters. It was the first General Conference of the Methodist Church, which was formed in 1939 by a merger of the Methodist Protestant Church; the Methodist Episcopal Church; and the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. The Methodist Protestant Church had already ordained several women, but the Methodist Church would not ordain women for another 17 years. Compromises had to be made. There were concerns over Methodist missionaries held as prisoners of war and prayers for those who had died while in service. Methodist churches in Europe and China were being crushed by the war. Every committee and agency had to be officially approved. Three Methodist women’s organizations were being combined into one. There were many important issues to cover. Most of the compromises were worked out a year ahead, behind the scenes.

As a former missionary myself and as an ordained clergywoman, I can especially appreciate and be grateful for the time and effort spent on those matters. But while there is a need for space and energy to deal with internal issues, they should never overwhelm our call to look beyond ourselves and focus on the needs of those who are the most vulnerable.

UMCOR’s Mission Ministry

As UMCOR heads with confidence and strength into the next 75 years, we continue to work on behalf of all United Methodists in our efforts to alleviate human suffering and to advance hope and healing. As the global humanitarian relief and development arm of the church, UMCOR is called by Christ to work with the poor—with all those on the margins—acting, as Bishop Welch challenged, “in the relief of human suffering without distinction of race, color, or creed.”

That is UMCOR’s mandate, mission, and ministry. The agency does its work boldly because it is grounded in Christ. It lives out this mission in relationship with the communities it serves. As Christians, we believe that all persons are created in the image of God and have the right to a full and abundant life. Through the work of UMCOR, lives are being transformed and communities, strengthened. Out of the tragedy of natural or human-made disaster, healing and hope take root.

As the church begins the next 75 years of life-giving ministry, we at UMCOR have reaffirmed our work to be among and with those on the margins—the vulnerable and the poor. UMCOR’s work is marked by mutuality, empowerment, and sustainability. We strive toward a rights-based approach in all that we do.

The mission of UMCOR is God’s mission. As such, it is centered in relationships—relationship with God through the living Christ, relationships with one another, and relationship with all of creation. As Global Ministries’ Mission Theology statement affirms: “The Spirit is always moving to sweep the church into a new mission age. With openness and gratitude we await the leading of the Spirit in ways not yet seen, as God continues to work God’s purposes out in our own day in a new way.” This theological understanding grounds UMCOR’s work.

Hope in Crisis

When a crisis disrupts life and overwhelms a community’s capacity to respond, UMCOR works to empower the community’s full recovery. Part of our covenant with community members is staying until the recovery is complete. Beyond the initial emergency response, proactive steps are taken to train and equip communities to prepare for future scenarios. Thus UMCOR works with communities on Disaster Risk Reduction projects so that community networks can identify local hazards and design local strategies to prepare communities for action before the next crisis comes. Working at times with missionaries, local leaders, and partner organizations, UMCOR responds to disasters whether or not they have captured the attention of the global media.

UMCOR has earned a global reputation for its ability to provide professional humanitarian assistance that meets international standards for best practices. Not only is UMCOR present with people in the face of crisis or disaster, but we also stay to address long-term development needs. In part, this is possible because UMCOR works with and supports our central conferences, Methodist and United Methodist bodies, local and international relief agencies, and other secular and faith-based partners to assess community needs and assets. A primary goal is to meet the development needs and local goals of the people being served. Future regional offices will enhance and enrich this work. Currently, UMCOR’s country offices connect with community-based as well as national and international organizations to build the capacity of local communities. Throughout this work, vulnerable populations, particularly women and children, are always the main focus.

Sustaining Life 

Our current sector-specific work includes WASH (Water and Sanitation Hygiene), which ensures sustainable, safe water usage. In the United States, many of us take a clean, reliable water source for granted, yet for many in the world, the search for clean water is a daily struggle. Similarly, access to a nutritious and sustainable source of food is beyond the reach of many. Besides rural farmers in developing countries, low-income urban neighbors and impoverished war refugees are among those that UMCOR’s Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security programs serve. The elimination of hunger and poverty continue to be primary goals for UMCOR. An integrated, holistic approach connects community-based primary health care, water, and agricultural ministries for a maximum healthful benefit.

UMCOR, like many humanitarian and development organizations, is finding itself at the intersection of its historic mission to alleviate human suffering and the realities of climate change and other environmental devastation. In many parts of the world, our suffering planet causes its inhabitants to suffer. Changing weather patterns caused by global climate change are often felt most severely by those living in the poorest countries, rendering their land and ways of living unsustainable. As the church actively pursues its mission of alleviating human suffering, the necessity of embracing a ministry that includes all of God’s creation becomes clear. The myriad and complex webs that connect and sustain fragile ecosystems support life for everyone. We are beginning to work more deliberately with communities in adapting to and mitigating the harmful effects of climate change so that their people might not simply survive, but thrive.

Into the Future

Cutting across all of UMCOR’s work is a continuous drive toward efficiency, measurable impact, and learning. Developing deep, meaningful relationships with those we serve allows us to truly listen and refine our work. UMCOR continues to be diligent in its responsible use of the funds entrusted to its care. We are often able to leverage UMCOR resources to gain institutional donors and strategic partnerships. As a result, the faithful giving of Methodists is multiplied, providing even greater impact.

We are excited about being a part of God’s mission, of following the “Spirit in ways not yet seen, as God continues to work God’s purposes out in our own day in a new way.” The great needs of our world have not diminished since Bishop Welch’s call to action 75 years ago. As we head into the future, we are grounded in Christ, confident of our call, and ready to offer God’s love in action.

This article was first published in the January-February 2015 issue of New World Outlook magazine. Used by permission.
 

Last Updated on February 2, 2024