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. Read about the new business center helping change the lives of youth in the Congo. Learn how West Ohio's COVID-19 Reentry Kit Challenge brought together a variety of West Ohio churches toward a common mission. Discover helpful resources on West Ohio's new anti-racism web page. Be challenged by the work a local Ohio ministry is doing amidst the pandemic. Meet a missionary from West Ohio and learn how she is helping meet needs of ministries throughout the Midwest. And find out how you can use a new video resource to assist those impacted by trauma. 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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Uzima Business Center (UBC) is the name given to a project implemented at Kamina Children’s Home (KCH), the orphanage of The United Methodist Church in North Katanga, DR Congo. The Center was created to be a source of income for the young people of the orphanage, in order to support their transition into adulthood. Funded by Global Ministries, UBC was inaugurated on May 30, 2020. UBC houses several different businesses, including a cybercafé and computer shop, a sewing workshop, a hairdressing/barber salon, a sundries shop, and a mill. Read more...
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The United Methodist Church is a connectional body, and those connections proved invaluable during West Ohio’s recent COVID-19 Reentry Kit Challenge. Reentry Kits are a modified version of an UMCOR hygiene kit, adding shampoo, hand sanitizer, a face mask, and an encouraging note, and providing those returning to the community from prison with the means to protect themselves and their neighbors from COVID-19. Read more...
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Racism demeans, denigrates and destroys the gift of life and the image of God in all of us. For the Christian, the work of being anti-racist personally and institutionally is a sign of our commitment to see and affirm the image of God in every person and in all people. It is our choosing to live in the power of God’s work of resurrection and reconciliation. To that end, West Ohio has created a web page filled with anti-racism resources that you and your church can use to learn, grow, challenge, and act. Included are videos, podcasts, UMC resources, book suggestions, devotions, preaching aids, and more. Learn more by going to www.westohioumc.org/anti-racism. For questions, contact April Casperson, Director of Diversity & Inclusion, at acasperson@wocumc.org.
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The Charitable Pharmacy of Central Ohio, a ministry of The West Ohio Conference, has received a $10,000 grant from the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR)’s Sheltering in Love COVID-19 Rapid Response fund. The grant will be used to purchase additional medications to provide 60-day supplies to patients, particularly older adults with chronic health conditions who are most vulnerable to the novel coronavirus. From March 12-April 12, 2020, the Charitable Pharmacy saw a 30% increase in patients and a 38% rise in the number of prescriptions dispensed. Read more...
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Katie Peterson is a United Methodist missionary serving as a Church & Community Worker with Eastbrook Mission Barn in New Castle, PA. Originally from West Ohio, Katie has served in communities from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to the oil fields of North Dakota. Her current assignment, Eastbrook Mission Barn, is an UMCOR depot, collecting, storing, and sending out more than 20,000 hygiene and cleaning kits each year. Recently, Katie was able to bring over 300 hygiene kits to West Ohio for the COVID-19 Reentry Kit project. Her ministry also builds handicap accessible ramps for neighbors in need. For more information on Katie’s ministry or how you can support her in mission, visit her missionary web page here.
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Mission & Justice Resources |
Trauma happens when the stress from external events (e.g., systemic poverty, abuse and neglect, disaster, racial oppression) overwhelms someone's capacity to function and feel safe. Our communities are riddled with traumatic events and our churches can serve as a place of healing and support. The Trauma-Informed Ministry Videos is a 4-part series including short informational videos on what trauma is, why trauma care in our churches is important, how to identify and respond to trauma, and how to care for those working with people and communities affected by trauma. The series is set up in a way where you can use one or all four of the videos during trainings (e.g., Safe Sanctuaries, hospital visitation teams, children and youth ministry, mission team preparation) and other ministry opportunities. For more information, please contact Rebecca Hug, rhug@wocumc.org.
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Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression. - Isaiah 1:17a |
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Volunteers in Mission Teams
All Volunteers in Mission teams have been postponed until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mission & Justice Events
Many Mission & Justice events have been postponed.
Announcements about future trainings will be found on the VIM and ERT web pages.
A Virtual Reentry Community Experience
October 1-2, 2020
FREE
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The UMC Stands for Justice |
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VOTING: IT'S YOUR RIGHT!
Register to vote! Check your voter registration! Request an absentee ballot! Locate your polling place! Visit www.vote.org to make sure you're ready to vote on November 3!
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