The Global Ministries Child Sponsorship Program works closely with 15 schools and child centers that have long-established links with Global Ministries. These partners provide food, basic health care, clothing, and, in some cases housing, school fees, uniform, books and training and livelihood opportunities to more than 1,000 children in need in Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, the Middle East, and Europe.

We come to you for help in defraying a portion of the costs to operate the Global Ministries Child Sponsorship Program. Remember that 100 percent of designated gifts for the child sponsorships themselves go to the centers and the children. Therefore, Global Ministries asks for your help in assuring the support system necessary to effectively carry out this program, which benefits more than 1000 children in need year after year. Your gift in any amount will be appreciated and will allow us to continue building better lives for needy children around the world. Gifts may be made online at: http://globalministries.org/get-involved/child-sponsorship/child-sponsorship-appeal.html or may be made by check: http://globalministries.org/give/

The Child Sponsorship program has been providing assistance for more than 40 years-one child at a time. Learn more about the Child Sponsorship Program or sponsor a child by checking out the Child Sponsorship webpage at:

http://globalministries.org/get-involved/child-sponsorship/

or by contacting Linda Lawrence at email

LawrencL@ucc.org

or tollfree (866) 822-8224, extension 3222.

Global Ministries Sunday is a new initiative to help congregations put a face on Disciples and UCC ministries of Critical Presence with partners around the globe. The chosen Sunday will be a special time to focus on global mission education and to take steps to engage in God's mission with Global Ministries.

For more information check out our website at http://globalministries.org/resources/special-days/gm-sunday/. 

Among the suggestions and resources you will find are the following: Sermon Helps, Mission Stories, Prayers, Litanies, Multimedia Resources, Songs & Hymns, Sunday School Ideas, Mission Fair Activities, Special Giving Opportunities and Available Speakers. 

Also, Your Passport to Global Ministries, a new resource for individuals to document their personal journey in God's global mission, is also available for this event.

Please contact us, if you want any further information:

Dear Conference:

On a Saturday afternoon in August 1806, five college students gathered in a field to discuss the spiritual needs of those living in Asian countries. When a thunderstorm arose, they took shelter on the side of a haystack and prayed. This gathering came to be called the Haystack Prayer Meeting, launching the modern American mission movement. The concern by these and other young men led in June 1810 to a letter being written and signed by students challenging the General Association of Massachusetts to consider organizing a global mission board. The American Board of Commissions for Foreign Missions was officially organized that year, but it took until 1812 for this new organization to be ready to send missionaries. In 1812, the first missionaries were sent to India, followed quickly by Ceylon (Sri Lanka). In 1820 missionaries were sent out again, this time to both the Ottoman Empire (Turkey) and to Hawaii. Today, Global Ministries, a partnership of the United Church of Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), is a continuation of the ABCFM, begun by prayerful determination of young people and their mentors 200 years ago.

In honor of these 200 years of global ministry, the United Church of Christ has organized five trips for church leaders to different corners of the globe-Haiti/Colombia, South Africa, China, India, and the Middle East. The purpose of the trips are to visit mission partners and personnel and learn of their contexts of ministry.

From August 21- September 5 I will have the great opportunity of travelling with the group going to the Middle East. We will be visiting partners in Lebanon, Israel, and the West Bank/Palestine. 

It is my understanding that we will be blogging along the way, so please go here to read of our journey http://globalministries.org/news/mee/2011-me-trip-blog.html . Upon return, I will look forward to sharing with you more stories and pictures.

Peace and Joy,

Krista