Claudia Mbuyu grew up at the Kamina Children's Home (KCH), a ministry of the North Katanga Conference of The United Methodist Church. Like many others his age, Claudia was orphaned during the civil war that claimed millions of lives in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Growing up without parents might have made him an outcast, but at KCH Claudia found a home and a family with the church. Provided with an education and nutritious food, and surrounded by people who cared for him, Claudia thrived and went on to attend Africa University in Zimbabwe.

After graduating in 2019, Claudia returned to Kamina with the dream of opening his own videography business - a tall order for someone so young. As with so many other times in his life, The United Methodist Church stepped up to support Claudia - with seed money and mentoring as he started his new business, Big Dream Photography. And through each part of his journey, West Ohio has provided financial and relational support.

For Claudia, the challenges of running a small business in the DRC are many: paying the weekly taxes required by the government, not knowing if the electricity will be working, and having customers one day and then none the next. But he is excited to build his business from the ground up and hopes to one day own a music and video studio in Lubumbashi, one of the largest cities in the DRC. He is especially grateful to West Ohio, and to two of his biggest advocates - Dee Stickley-Miner and Jeff Jewell, a former staff videographer who met Claudia on a trip to the DRC in 2013.

More than 20 months after the Memorial Day tornados that swept through southwest Ohio, West Ohio’s UMCOR-trained disaster case managers continue to assist residents through the recovery process. Between the two of them, Halley McClain and Rhonda Zimmers have managed more than 180 cases – and that is just a fraction of the total cases that have come through the larger long-term recovery group.

While the average recovery time for an individual survivor or family is 1-3 years, that time extends to 5-10 years for the entire community. COVID-19 has stretched that timeline even farther, with property assessments pushed back and inside repairs delayed indefinitely. Now, as Rhonda and Halley begin to wrap up their work in case management, here are some reflections and learnings from their time serving with the Dayton community.

Halley: It provided empowerment and hope to a community building resiliency.

Rhonda: Case managers are with the clients every step of the way in their recovery. A lot of the clients reached dead ends before they came through long-term recovery. We were able to help them find a path forward and give them hope for their futures. Read More...

With the pandemic dragging on, it may feel like life is on hold indefinitely. But one thing that's not on hold is climate change and the damage humans continue to do to our environment. Climate change may seem like something that's too complex for everyday people, but small changes can add up to making a big difference. Here are a few ideas from the United Methodist Creation Justice Movement:

In 2017, OhioHealth and Lutheran Social Services began a conversation about creating a space for people who are ready to be discharged from the hospital but have no place to go. Three years later, the Medical Respite at Faith Mission was opened in partnership with OhioHealth, which donated $350,000 for start-up costs. Located at Faith Mission close to Grant Hospital in downtown Columbus, the Medical Respite is a 3,000 square-foot space with 16 beds in eight rooms. The center can provide 24-hour respite care for patients who need additional recovery time and are experiencing homelessness. Medical assistants, nurse case managers, and medical respite aides will care for patients, who will also have access to Faith Mission's health center, including medical, dental, and vision care. In addition to providing a continuum of care for up to 45 days after discharge, the program will also link patients with Faith Mission's other social services, including housing and employment assistance. "One of the most important elements of the Medical Respite is the opportunity to break the cycle of homelessness," said Jacqui Bastian, Director of Care Management for OhioHealth. The Medical Respite can be used by patients discharged from any OhioHealth facility. For more information on the Medical Respite, click here.

Ever thought about becoming a missionary? Discover how the work of mission enables people, places and communities to meet challenges

with creativity, strength and hope. The General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM) is the global mission agency of The United Methodist Church. They have a variety of opportunities to help you find the best place to serve or volunteer. Service opportunities exist within the United States and in many countries around the world. Currently, more than 300 missionaries serve in over 60 countries, while 100 volunteers reach out to 23 countries. Missionaries serve as pastors, teachers, church planters, social workers, community developers, agriculturalists, health workers, professors, and more! Learn more about mission service with GBGM by clicking here.

In a world wrecked by big changes, many of us have discovered that consistency and companionship are two things we need most to keep moving forward. In 2021, All In Community is offering three monthly opportunities designed for mutual discipleship and encouraging engagement. Each offering will harness the collective compassion, wisdom, and innovation from the group gathered online as we seek to bring hope and healing in the midst of harmful circumstances. Mark your calendar and plan to participate in the following monthly events:

For more information, email allincommunity@wocumc.org.