The West Ohio Conference continues to partner with the Laos Mission Initiative in supporting the Lao Samphan Methodist Church. Ministry efforts in community and congregational development offer God’s love and grace to many in Laos who may never have known it before.

To support the Laos Mission Initiative, give online here.

On Labor Day, Marion, OH, received 5 inches of rain in the span of 14 hours. Over 100 homes were damaged, many with basement flooding. As a result, a number of homes are in need of replacement furnaces, water heaters, washers, and dryers, as well as flooring and drywall repairs. Mike Fogle, District Disaster Coordinator for Capitol Area North, and Deb Berry, Case Manager, have connected with many homeowners to provide support and assistance. Volunteers from West Ohio have helped to muck-out several basements. When repairs are possible, Mike has been providing guidance on what parts to purchase and then repairing appliances for free. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, furnace delivery can take up to six weeks - a real concern with cold weather approaching. The Marion Long-Term Recovery Group has been soliciting donations from local businesses and non-profits to help pay for replacement appliances for uninsured homeowners. West Ohio will be providing funds to supplement these efforts. Continue to pray for all those affected by the Marion flooding. Donations can be given online to West Ohio Disaster Response here.

Across the U.S., disasters have struck in many parts of the country, sometimes within days or weeks of another. Emergency Response volunteers (ERT) are still needed in the aftermath of Hurricane Sally and Hurricane Laura in Louisiana, Alabama, and Florida. UMCOR has granted solidarity grants to annual conferences involved in the relief process for these hurricanes, as well as for the wildfires in California, Oregon and Idaho. Donations to U.S. Disaster Response can be given here. Please pray for all those involved in disasters in the U.S. and around the world.

Despite the democratic ideals held by many in the United States, our country has a turbulent history when it comes to voting rights. For more than two centuries, Africans who were brought to this country as slaves were - of course - denied any rights of citizenship, including the right to vote. Yet when slavery ended in 1865, their right to vote was still not guaranteed, as many state legislatures enacted Black codes to govern Black behavior and deny them equal rights. With the passage of the 14th and 15th Amendments to the Constitution - both passed despite the President’s vetoes - Black Americans finally gained the right to vote - and did so in huge numbers, electing 22 Black men to Congress. However, these amendments also gave states the power to determine the specific qualifications for voting - such as poll taxes and literacy tests specifically designed to disenfranchise Black voters. Even when they did qualify, Black voters were often intimidated by white supremacist groups like the Ku Klux Klan. Finally, 100 years after the end of slavery, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 banned literacy tests and similar measures. Read more...

Good Works, Inc. began providing a home to “displaced persons” in Athens, OH, in January of 1981. In 1984, Good Works moved from the basement of the founder’s home on Elliott Street to a house on Central Avenue that was later named The Timothy House. In 2014, Timothy House shifted the process of how people enter and stopped taking people on an emergency basis. The opioid epidemic was at a peak and the staff needed to ensure they were able to maintain a safe, clean and stable place for adults and children. Phone interviews were followed up by an invitation for a face-to-face meeting to determine if Timothy House could provide shelter. The house became much more predictable for everyone, but especially for those in recovery. In August 2020, Timothy House developed an additional process to help two groups of people that caused a great deal of anxiety: (1) Adults who are not cautious with regard to COVID-19 and who are high risk for the staff to serve; and (2) Those who fail a drug test but are willing to be held accountable for their recovery. These residents are permitted to stay overnight but initially have limited access to the house (and to other residents). This is a great deal more work for staff, and because of the pandemic, Timothy House is not allowing outside volunteers. The risks (and uncertainties) continue to be very high and put pressure on the staff, especially as they serve families with very young children who require more supervision. The Timothy House continues to be the only home for people without a home in eight southeast Ohio counties. Learn more about Good Works’ ministries here.

Les and Debbie Dornon have spent 20 years as missionaries to Nepal, working with United Mission Hospital in Tansen. Les was born to missionary parents in Japan, and Debbie grew up in Middletown, OH, where she attended First United Methodist Church. Les is assigned as senior physician at the hospital in Tansen, and Debbie serves as coordinator of expatriate services. The hospital has been very busy since the COVID lockdown ended in Nepal, as the mission hospital does not require a negative COVID test for admission as many other health facilities do. The mission hospital provides free medical care for those who cannot afford to pay thanks to donations to Tansen hospital. One such patient was a 19-year-old named Susma, who came to the hospital due to injuries from a fall. Susma’s parents left her and four other siblings when Susma was just nine years old, so her older sister has been caring for the family. She is a day laborer and earns only 200-300 rupees ($2-3) per day, not even enough for food. Susma was in the hospital for 33 days, including a major operation and physical therapy. She has slowly learned to walk again and can take care of herself without depending on others for help. Les and Debbie ask that you keep in prayer the doctors and staff at Tansen hospital as they work amidst the pandemic, as well as for the thousands of people who have no food or other necessities due to lack of income during the lockdown. Pray also for those displaced by the monsoon due to landslides and flooding. To support Les and Debbie, or to learn more about their ministry, visit their West Ohio web page here.

Our God, Master of the Universe and Creator of us all, we come to you weary, but with thanksgiving in our hearts.

We thank you for the ministry opportunities the COVID-19 pandemic has presented us. We thank you for clergy and lay leaders that did not shy away. We say, ‘thanks,’ because our clergy and laity stretched their minds, hearts and talents to continue in the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ.

They have been courageous to collaborate and learn ministry in a frontier none of us have seen before. They have been open, steadfast and vulnerable in their quest to continue to keep us connected to each other and to You.

From parking lot worship to family-oriented vacation Bible school. From running while praying outside of parishioners homes to running while praying for justice in our world, our leaders of been examples of what it means to be ‘The Church’ in service to our neighbors and not in service to ourselves.

As members of these worshipping communities, let us come alongside Your servants to show love and support; help us to reflect You. Remind us to pray before we criticize and equip us to fill in gaps when we see a need.

As we tread on this road that has not yet revealed an end, please continue to infuse our leaders with creativity, courage and faith to ‘keep on’ in their set apart ministry. Although so much seems uncertain, this we know to be true: Your greatness, faithfulness and mercy endure forever.

Continue to be with us all. Amen.