Spring 2020
Mission Mosaic
The Mission & Justice Newsletter of The West Ohio Conference
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. Learn how you can help a hospital in North Katanga fight the coronavirus. Read how volunteers stepped in to help a local congregation when its sanctuary was flooded. Find out how CDF Freedom Schools can help children catch up after months away from school. 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 on the Southside of Columbus. And pray a prayer for all who are affected by COVID-19. 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
Global Mission
In many places around the world, the COVID-19 pandemic is challenging healthcare systems that already lack resources and infrastructure. One of these places is the Democratic Republic of Congo, where The West Ohio Conference partners with ministries in the North Katanga area. One of those ministries is Lupandillo Hospital, which provides care for over 2 million people and has no reliable electricity, hindering their capacity to care for people who are critically ill. Helping the hospital to purchase large generators would allow them to utilize vital equipment as well as have running water for the first time. To support this important project, you can send a check to West Ohio Conference, Attn. Dee Stickley-Miner, 32 Wesley Blvd, Worthington, OH 43085, with ‘NK Clinics & Hospitals' in the Memo line. Or, give online here by choosing ‘Clinics & Hospitals’ from the drop-down menu. For more information, email dstickley@wocumc.org.

Bishop Mande Muyombo speaks about the critical need for generators at Lupandillo Hospital.
Disaster Response
On Friday, March 21, hard rains caused flooding across central Ohio, including the area around Asbury South United Methodist Church in southeast Franklin County. With much of the state shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Rev. Mary Jo Yeakel, Pastor at Asbury South, wasn’t sure if help would come when water started pouring into the church sanctuary. But come it did.

Our neighbors were sheltering in our fellowship hall after being rescued from their flooding homes. Suddenly, just as Red Cross arrived to help them, the water was at our doors – literally. Our neighbors, Fellowship Baptist Church, brought their vans and assisted the last family to a hotel while we engaged the flood. Continue reading...

Social Justice
Students in Ohio will miss more than 2 months of school this year after Governor DeWine closed schools on March 16. Even under normal circumstances, many students fall behind during the year, or become discouraged about learning. Although schools have stepped up to offer distance learning, students - especially those in inner cities and rural areas - may not have access to the technology necessary to participate. Others may not be keeping up with the material without personal interaction with teachers. Now more than ever, Children's Defense Fund Freedom Schools, held for 6 weeks each summer, will be vital to these children's educational future. Learn more about Freedom Schools...

Local Mission
In the midst of coronavirus, many of the ministries provided through Good Works have slowed down or been placed on “pause.” And yet, they continue to operate Timothy House, which provides shelter to people experiencing homelessness in 9 southeast Ohio counties. They work hard to provide a clean, safe, temporary home for adults and children of all ages, implementing new COVID-19 guidelines. Because they cannot isolate people who are sick, they are in conversation with the Health Department regarding plans on where people who are experiencing homelessness and who are sick or have COVID-19 could stay. Good Works is also monitoring services provided through the school system and are ready to offer free lunch every day if that is needed. As Good Works continues to provide outreach to their neighbors, you can help. Continue reading...

Missionary Moment
Jennifer Henneman is a United Methodist missionary serving as a Church and Community Worker with OhioHealth and the Charitable Pharmacy of Central Ohio.

Within the past six weeks, we have all seen so much change in our world, our nation, our communities, our churches, our jobs, our families, our lives. As a church and community worker and registered nurse, I serve as a church and community nurse liaison on the Southside of Columbus. During the COVID-19 crisis, my work flow has changed considerably. Typically, I work with patients and community members in various locations throughout the week, including a medical clinic, hospital, homes, churches, and community centers. However, most of my interactions are now conducted via telephone, or through no contact home deliveries of food and medications. Continue reading...


Mission & Justice Resources
A Prayer for the Pandemic

Healing God, we see the inequitable devastation to individuals, families, and communities from COVID-19.

For those who do not have the luxury of social distancing - sisters and brothers who are incarcerated, and living in nursing homes and residential facilities - Lord, in your mercy. Hear our prayer.

For those who have been forced to return home and shelter in place with unsafe conditions - sisters and brothers facing abuse and neglect - Lord, in your mercy. Hear our prayer. 

For those who do not have the luxury to shelter at home because they don’t have a home- Lord, in your mercy. Hear our prayer.

For those who are terrified of their financial future, who have lost their jobs and are waiting for unemployment checks to arrive from being laid off - Lord, in your mercy. Hear our prayer.

For those whose jobs are essential, who daily are putting their health and the health of loved ones at risk - Lord, in your mercy. Hear our prayer.

For those who do not have the luxury of protecting themselves with hand sanitizer, gloves, and masks because there are none left to buy and shortages abound - Lord, in your mercy. Hear our prayer.

For those who do not have the luxury of stocking up on food and supplies because their income doesn’t provide for “extra” - Lord, in your mercy. Hear our prayer.

For those who are trying to explain this pandemic to little ones, to keep curiosity and learning alive, and constantly feel the guilt of not being present enough with family - Lord, in your mercy. Hear our prayer. 

For those who are alone and lonely, with no one to pass the hours throughout the day - Lord, in your mercy. Hear our prayer. 

For those who are grieving losses- the loss of time with friends, the loss of senior year milestones, the loss of hope - Lord, in your mercy. Hear our prayer. 

And for those who are unsure how to grieve deaths of loved ones without a funeral, without seeing the body, and without being by their side- Lord, in your mercy. Hear our prayer. 

For those who are struggling to breathe, alone and afraid, fighting COVID-19 - Lord, in your mercy. Hear our prayer. 

For those who are on the front lines caring for the sick and grieving, who are short staffed, short on supplies, and short on hope - Lord, in your mercy. Hear our prayer.

For those who are making life-and-death decisions about the welfare of Ohioans and beyond, weighing the chaos of what to do about jobs, healthcare, education, safety, and our future - Lord, in your mercy. Hear our prayer. 

Sustaining God, help us be courageous in comprehending the magnitude of each life lost, each risk taken, and each vulnerable person who does not have the luxuries of protection from COVID-19. Revive our hope in you, and our hope in the human connection. Amen.

-Written by Rebecca Hug, Emerging Ministries Coordinator

Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression. - Isaiah 1:17a
Volunteers in Mission Teams

July 22-26
September 23-27
November 4-8

August 9-15
August 16-22
September 13-19
September 20-26
October 11-17
October 18-24

October 4-9

Mission & Justice Events

All Mission & Justice Events for the months of May and June have been postponed.

Announcements about any future trainings can be found on the VIM and ERT web pages.

New COVID-19 Response Fund

The Advance has created a new COVID-19 Response Fund to provide grants to ministries working on the front lines of the pandemic. You can support this fund by giving online here. Ministries can apply for grants of up to $20,000 by downloading the application here.