Mission Mosaic
The Mission & Justice Newsletter of The West Ohio Conference
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Greetings!
In this edition of Mission Mosaic, we'll take a look at just a few of the many ways the people and congregations of The West Ohio Conference are in mission here and throughout the world. Discover the history of the Methodist Mission in Cambodia and its incredible ministry today. Learn about the ongoing recovery efforts for tornado survivors in Dayton. Read a letter condemning the violence perpetrated against Asian-Americans. Meet seven of West Ohio's missionaries who serve in the U.S. and around the world. Consider whether you or your church are ready to travel for mission again this summer. And find resources and information about Disability Awareness Sunday, coming up on May 2. If you are feeling called to be involved in the work of mission and justice in West Ohio, please email me at dstickley@wocumc.org.
Together in Mission & Ministry,
Dee Stickley-Miner
Director of Connectional Ministries
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In the 1980s, following the brutal Khmer Rouge regime that killed 2 million Cambodians, the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) became involved in refugee assistance and the reconstruction of Cambodia. In 2003, the Methodist Mission in Cambodia was commissioned with five participating Methodist agencies. Now fully autonomous, the Methodist Mission in Cambodia continues its journey toward becoming an Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. Today, vibrant ministry is happening within the Methodist Mission in Cambodia, including...
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Community Health and Agricultural Development (CHAD) - working to improve the health, well-being, food and economic security of individuals, families and rural communities.
- Project ARK - tackling poverty as a cause of human trafficking by equipping and restoring livelihood and dignity through the construction trade.
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Women's Empowerment - offering leadership and educational opportunities to women, including vocational training.
- Street Children - sharing God's love by funding children’s education, teaching vocational skills, and providing health care to the sick and undernourished.
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Developing Young Leaders - ministries with young adults including scholarships for university and a dormitory for university students.
To support the Methodist Mission in Cambodia, click here!
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On Memorial Day of 2019, the Dayton, OH, area was devastated by 15 tornados, including an EF-4 with winds over 165 miles per hour. The tornados destroyed at least 1,500 buildings and damaged 7,000 across four counties – Greene, Mercer, Miami, and Montgomery. In the immediate aftermath of the tornados, many Dayton area United Methodist churches provided food, water, prayers, and volunteers who helped to clear debris. In the months that followed, United Methodist Early Response Teams and other volunteers worked to help homeowners in the hardest hit areas. Nine months into the recovery process, more than 1,900 volunteers had given 16,663 hours toward tornado relief work, and West Ohio had raised $224,000 for disaster response. Read More
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An article by M. Garlinda Burton, Interim General Secretary of the General Commission on Religion and Race, following the killing of six Asian-American women in Atlanta, GA.
Once again, women of color have been murdered in a society that glorifies racist and sexist violence. As the leader of a Christian entity that seeks to confront racism in all its forms, in the name of Jesus—my heart goes out to the victims, their families, and their communities. And I offer this question to my Christian community: When will we, the followers of Jesus, get frustrated enough and convicted enough by our faith to cry out, intercede, and transform? Read More
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The West Ohio Conference supports United Methodist missionaries around the world, from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to Western Pennsylvania, and many places in between. While the past year has brought exceptional challenges, these missionaries can also testify to God’s grace and provision for their lives and ministries. Here are a few of their stories…
In just a few short years, Lorraine has helped Kamisamba Farm increase its impact in the local community and become a regional leader in sustainable farming. She recalls, “After some months we received many testimonies about increased yields and many requesting to be included in the upcoming trainings. When we went to do monitoring visits in their respective places, the way they welcomed us in the communities was unimaginable. Everyone knew of our work and were willing to participate in anything we organized. After the visits I realized that the people believed more by seeing. The practical sessions we have in the field, all the techniques we use, they copy in their own farms and have great success. The mind is a powerful thing, and the memories they had from the training is what kept the mission strong in their mind.”
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Thinking of leading or joining a mission team? With the coming of spring – and vaccine distribution ahead of schedule in the U.S. – some mission teams may be considering whether they can safely travel and serve this year. Here are some things you should think about as you make that decision, along with best practices and COVID protocols you may want to consider. Read More
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In the last few months, a group of passionate people, both clergy and laity, have gathered together to form the Disability and Ministry Committee of the West Ohio Conference. One of their first major projects is to establish, promote, and support a Conference-wide Disability Awareness Sunday on the first Sunday of May. This Sunday is a great starting point for individuals and churches to kick off newly envisioned inclusive ministries or celebrate existing ones while raising awareness of the importance of this work. If May 2, 2021 doesn’t work for your church, we encourage you to choose another Sunday this year to celebrate this special day. The Disability and Ministry team has provided a variety of resources and options to assist churches in planning for Disability Awareness Sunday. To get started, check out www.westohioumc.org/disabilities or click here for Disability Awareness Sunday resources.
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Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression. - Isaiah 1:17a |
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Volunteers in Mission Teams
May 12-16, 2021
July 28-Aug. 1, 2021
September 22-26, 2021
November 3-7, 2021
May 2-8, 2021
May 9-15, 2021
July 11-17, 2021
July 18-24, 2021
August 15-21, 2021
August 22-28, 2021
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Upcoming Events
All In Community Events:
Day camps, family camps, overnight camps...all with COVID-19 protocols in place.
Check it out!
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