Mission of the Month

September 2011

Mission of the Month Newsletter:
Feeding the Need: Hunger Among Us

RISK-TAKING MISSION AND JUSTICE WORK SUGGESTIONS
from United Methodist Ministries---Missouri River District

In This Issue

Advance Project

Hunger Concerns

10-Fold

World Food Day

Fair Trade at Home

Fair Trade at Church

Stand Up Against Poverty

Resources

Subscribe to the UMCOR Hotline

Events

Suggested Reading

"For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."

-Galatians 5:14

Friends,

Food is such a basic need that we believe it is a human right. The United Nations adopted "ending extreme poverty and hunger by 2015" as its number one goal in its Millennium Development Goals. And yet hunger remains a serious problem on a global scale and in our local community as well. There is an extreme hunger crisis in the horn of Africa affecting 11-12 million people. New U.S. census numbers report that 1 in 6 Americans is living below the poverty line. And, locally, we continue to hear from our partners at food banks and pantries who are experiencing a severe food shortage. We hope you will take the time to take action. You can make a difference.

Advance Projects of the United Methodist Church
World Hunger & Poverty

Help those affected in the horn of Africa food crisis by giving to the World Hunger & Poverty Advance project. Urge your church to take up a collection, as well. One hundred percent of all gifts given through UMCOR's Advance go directly to the designated project.

Hunger Concerns Continue to Rise

How You Can Help

Empty Pantry Shelves

Low-income families and individuals in the Metro-Omaha area are facing increasing

obstacles when it comes to putting food on their tables. Local food banks and pantries are operating at critical levels due to donation shortages, the rising cost of food, natural disasters, more crops being diverted for use as biofuels, and cuts in federal funding.

United Methodist Ministries has heard from representatives of Pearl Pantry, Heart Ministry Center, and Together, Inc. who all concur that they are having trouble meeting family and individual needs for food this summer. Pearl Pantry, Heart Ministry Center, and Together, Inc. for example, have had very little meat to disperse. They are relying on canned meats such as chicken, tuna, and pork.

Individuals and congregations are encouraged to help immediately, either with monetary or food donations. Items that pantries need most include:

flip-top cans of soup
pasta
fruits and vegetables
peanut butter and jelly
shelf-stable milk
apple sauce
fruit cups
fruit juice
dry cereal
Cup O' Noodles
canned meats
diapers
toilet paper
laundry soap
toiletries
instant oatmeal
crackers
granola bars
dried fruits
trailmix

For more information about increased hunger concerns facing lower-income families and individuals see:

Food Bank for the Heartland
Together, Inc.
Hunger Free Heartland
Bread for the World: Hunger and the U.S. Budget

Global Ministry Projects

10-Fold Campaign

10-Fold is an interactive global gathering, offered by the General Board of Global Ministries, the mission agency of The United Methodist Church. Just as all of Global Ministries does, 10-Fold puts faith into action, living out the commitment of The United Methodist Church to congregational development, leadership development, global health, and ministry with the poor.

Log on each day between Oct. 10-19th, to explore daily featured projects. See live webcasts and videos, read powerful stories, and learn ways YOU can join the effort. Plus, when you click to BE COUNTED, 10-Fold sponsors will give $1 to the day's initiative---just because you visited!

Please share 10-Fold with your family, friends, and fellow church members. For your convenience, we have created a toolkit to answer questions and provide you with suggestions for how you can get others involved.

Click here for more information.

Food Day

United Methodist Ministries invites congregations to participate in Food Day, the week of October 24th. Modeled after the Earth Day concept, Food Day celebrates healthy food and food justice by inviting communities to plan their own events that are appropriate to their context.

Congregations are invited to create their own event or activity to celebrate healthy food; as a special incentive, UMMinistries is offering prizes to congregations for participating - each congregation (UMC or otherwise) that reports on their event will receive a certificate suitable for display and will be recognized on the UMM website. A few congregations will be rewarded for their efforts with a gift package of garden and food-related goodies appropriate for sharing. Congregations are encouraged to show evidence of strong participation, creativity, thoughtful planning, and collaboration with community partners, other congregations and/or people who are not members of the congregation.

Congregations are also encouraged to register their event on the national Food Day website; doing so helps get the word out that UMCs care about healthy food, and literally places your congregation "on the map" for Food Day. To receive recognition through UMMinistries, please send a brief description of your activity/event and a photo to Erin Eidenshink.

Click here for registration information.

In Your Home

Educate Your Family About Fair Trade

Are you planning to have a Fair Trade Halloween? It's easy---all it takes is a little planning! Here are some ways to highlight Fair Trade issues in your home this Halloween:

Help your child or grandchild to Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF. Trick-or-treaters receive small boxes to collect money for children around the world. Click here to order your collection boxes (or email Rev. Steph).

Distribute Equal Exchange Fair Trade chocolate through their Reverse Trick-or-Treat program. These are available through Blue Flamingo thrift, Soul Desires Bookstore, Ten Thousand Villages, and other Fair Trade sellers. But you must order early!

Host a Halloween fundraising party or create your own customized "Trick-or-Treat Online" page to collect donations for UNICEF over the Internet.

In your church

Educate Your Congregation About Fair Trade

Fair Trade means giving workers a livable wage. Celebrate Fair Trade Sunday at your church during the month of October!

Invite Blue Flamingo thrift to set up a Fair Trade gift table.
Use the United Methodist Committee on Relief's Fair Trade coffee worship service.
Sell Equal Exchange coffee, tea, cocoa, and chocolates.
Use the trick-or-treat for UNICEF campaign as a children's sermon illustration. Email Rev. Steph to get your boxes.

The following statement was approved at the 2004 United Methodist General Conference encouraging congregations to use Fair Trade coffee:

"Be it resolved that, in seeking an authentic Christian response to the plight of developing world small individual coffee farmers, their families, and their communities, the General Conference of The United Methodist Church urges all agencies of the church, local congregations and their affiliated organizations that use coffee to purchase coffee for corporate and personal use through the fair trade partner, Equal Exchange or through another fair trade organization."

Will your congregation commit to Fair Trade this year?

Stand Up Against Poverty

Youth and youth leaders are invited to take a stand against poverty with United Methodist Ministries Sunday Oct. 9, 2011 at the fourth annual Stand Up Against Poverty Day of Service. This year's Stand Up event will include the opportunity for teams of youth to participate in hands-on mission work in the metro-Omaha area while identifying avenues to practice justice in their local setting. The event aims to raise awareness about issues of poverty facing people locally and globally, while empowering youth to take action. Click here for more information.

New Video Resource

Ministry With.org

Have you seen the awesome new website and video put out by the General Board of Global Ministries and the United Methodist Women? In a hip and inspiring format, it provides helpful statistics and ideas for action regarding poverty. It's about doing ministry With*, not for, others. This downloadable video would make a great sermon piece, a UMW program, an outreach committee devotional, or a youth group lesson. Click here to access the website.