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Liberia: Healing a Battered Nation
They gather in The Women's House of Comfort, one
of several tents outside the Liberian capital
Monrovia's SKD sport stadium. Some are alone,
however many cradle small infants. The women
represent only a small number of the some 30,000
displaced people who are still living in the
stadium under wretched conditions. In spite of
the war being declared officially at an end,
people are still streaming toward Monrovia,
fearful of attacks by rebel soldiers who are
fighting their own war.
Date posted:Aug 29, 2003
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Regional missionaries end first term with U.S. speaking tour
The first class of a new brand of missionaries
sent by the Women’s Division of the United
Methodist General Board of Global Ministries
ended their three-year terms this summer,
traveling around the country, sharing stories
from their tenure.
Date posted:Aug 29, 2003
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I am totally, one-hundred per cent supportive
and enthusiastic about church growth and
development within the Church and as a component
of the General Board of Global Ministries-here
in the United States and around the world. Let
me say a further word about how I understand the
phrase “church growth and development.” I
understand it to mean expansion of the church in
terms of new members and new congregations-
congregations to nurture and to provide
foundations for outreach and service.
Date posted:Aug 27, 2003
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Global Justice Volunteers in South Africa: 'Accompanying Mission Work in South Africa'
Shea Freese, J.J. Wicke, and Jerad Morey served
as GJVs with the Uniting Christian Students’
Association (UCSA) in Stellenbosch, South
Africa. The GJV program is open to young adults
ages 18-25 who are interested in exploring the
links between faith and justice, by partnering
with people of faith around the world who are
working for change in their community.
Date posted:Aug 27, 2003
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Tired of Running, Liberians Lack Basic Necessities
Humanitarian assistance cannot come soon enough
for the hundreds of thousands of Liberians
uprooted by the war-- some 300,000 people in the
capital city alone and at least another half
million people scattered throughout the rest of
the country. The Liberian people desperately need
basic necessities to begin making life bearable:
Plastic sheeting, blankets, toothpaste, cooking
utensils, food, and clean drinking water.
Date posted:Aug 26, 2003
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Donald and Ramona Turman are missionaries of the
General Board of Global Ministries of the United
Methodist Church assigned to the Methodist
Church of Indonesia. They are based in Jakarta.
Don is a teacher at the Wesley Methodist School
of Theology and serves as pastor of Wesley
Methodist Church. Ramona teaches English as a
second language and is an active participant in
the life and ministry of the Church.
Date posted:Aug 20, 2003
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Rachel Muembo, United Methodist missionary
assigned by the General Board of Global
Ministries to Kissy Hospital in Freetown, Sierra
Leone. Her husband, Dr. Eugene Omesomba Muembo
is a Missioner of Hope in Freetown as well. In
the following piece, Rachel relates some of her
most recent experiences.
Date posted:Aug 20, 2003
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Clara Mridula Biswas is a missionary of the
General Board of Global Ministries of the United
Methodist Church assigned as a community worker
in Cambodia. She works to improve the lives of
impoverished children in Phnom Penh, many of
whom are homeless and live in the street. In
the following article, Clara shares the most
recent developments in Phnom Penh.
Date posted:Aug 20, 2003
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Dr. Sylvia Reimer is a missionary of the General
Board of Global Ministries serving as a medical
consultant for the GBGM Wellness Program in
Atlanta, GA. In her previous assignment, Dr.
Reimer, an obstetrician and gynecologist, served
as a physician with an emphasis on care of women
in Zimbabwe. She has also worked to train
nurses, midwives, and community health workers
in the southeast African country. Dr. Reimer is
married to Dr. Marvin Reimer, who has also
served as a GBGM missionary in Africa.
Date posted:Aug 19, 2003
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Daniel and Lisa Godwin, missionaries of the
General Board of Global Ministries, The United
Methodist Church, share news of how various
mission work teams from the United States are
contributing to the life of the church in
Ecuador.
Date posted:Aug 18, 2003
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The juvenile justice system has its origins in
the early and mid-1800’s, when youth were first
separated from adult felons and placed in houses
of refuge and training schools. The first
juvenile court was established in Illinois in
1899. Reformers of this era advocated for such
changes out of a belief that children have less
developed moral and cognitive capacities than
adults and that they deserve special
consideration and protection.
Date posted:Aug 18, 2003
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Late in the night Congress passed bills in both
houses which will add prescription drug coverage
to Medicare and bring with it dangerous
precedents with little benefits to Medicare
recipients. We urge OWL members and supporters
to continue to your advocacy with your
Congressional representatives. Your voices must
continue to be heard. Don't privatize
Medicare. Visit your representatives in their
home offices. Call, send a letter, stop by...
Make your opinions heard!
Date posted:Aug 18, 2003
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The General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM)
and the Church of the Resurrection (COR)United
Methodist Church in Leawood, KS are sponsoring
the First Honduras Consultation to be held from
September 5th to September 6th 2003, in Kansas.
Clergy and Laity, who have been involved with
Honduras mission or would be interested in doing
so, are invited to be part of this event. Come
and listen to the Honduras mission stories.
Date posted:Aug 17, 2003
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When the widespread power outage hit the U.S.
Northeast Aug. 14, Tom Hazelwood immediately
worried about the elderly and the disabled
people who might have been stuck in sweltering
heat without any way to call for help.
"This is where churches should have a disaster
plan that allows for a quick way to check on the
most vulnerable parishioners," said the Rev. Tom
Hazelwood, executive with the United Methodist
Committee on Relief's Washington office.
Date posted:Aug 15, 2003
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Charline Pierre is a Church and Community Worker
for the General Board of Global Ministries of
the United Methodist Church assigned to the
Haitian Churches in the Miami District of the
Florida Annual Conference.
Date posted:Aug 15, 2003
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We hope and pray that the decision of President
Charles Taylor (on August 11) to leave Liberia
will open the way to end the agonizing civil war
in the West African country. We also call upon
all United Methodists to continue to pray for
stability in Liberia. We join Bishop John Innis
of Liberia in his recent appeal for peace and
reconciliation in his homeland.
Date posted:Aug 14, 2003
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Mission leaders of The United Methodist Church
today expressed cautious optimism that the
transfer of political power in Liberia will be a
prelude to peace in the war-torn West Africa
nation, which has some 140,000 United Methodists.
Date posted:Aug 14, 2003
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The last time I had seen Hava Keller, she was 72
years old, bleeding from the leg, and serene.
It was a sunny day in April of 2001. Hava was
one of a number of Israelis, Palestinians, and
internationals who were in the Salfiit region of
the West Bank, seeking to remove two large dirt
and rock mounds from the road. They had been
installed by the Israeli military.
Date posted:Aug 14, 2003
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As a semblance of peace returns to the capital
of Liberia, a United Methodist official in
Monrovia reports that most of the churches there
have been heavily damaged by the recent violence
and that many people - including his family -
have little or no food.
Edwin Clarke Jr., an assistant to United
Methodist Bishop John Innis, said Aug. 14 that
he plans to begin assessing the damages done to
the congregations in Monrovia within a few days.
Date posted:Aug 14, 2003
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Liberian Bishop Seeks Relief for Country in Need
Last week United Methodist Bishop John Innis of
Liberia described the humanitarian crisis in his
country. "People are starving. Children are
dying. Medication is not available." He is asking
United Methodists for help.
Date posted:Aug 12, 2003
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The Rev. Priscilla Legay Jaiah is a missionary
of the
General Board of Global Ministries of the United
Methodist Church assigned to Ghana, West Africa,
where she serves as a drug abuse counselor and
resource person. She also serves as pastor at
the Buduburam United Methodist Church, one of
two in Ghana established for refugees from
Liberia and Sierra Leone. In the article below,
Rev. Legay speaks about the conditions of life
in the Buduburam Refugee Camp and the effect the
most recent fighting has had upon it.
Date posted:Aug 11, 2003
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Making peace is an essential part of being a
Christian, yet for too long, the church has not
followed Jesus in that respect, according to a
United Methodist human rights leader.
"Peace and being called to be peace and justice
makers is an essential part of what it means to
be a follower of Jesus," said David Wildman,
staff executive on human rights and racial
justice at the United Methodist Board of Global
Ministries in New York. For too long, he
said, "the church has only believed in Jesus and
not followed Jesus. To be a disciple is to be a
faithful follower."
Date posted:Aug 11, 2003
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Deborah E. Bass is the new deputy
general secretary for administration of the
General Board of Global
Ministries of The United Methodist Church.
Her election by Board directors was announced
today by Bishop
Joel N. Martinez, president, and the Rev. R.
Randy Day, general
secretary, of the Church's international mission
agency. Ms. Bass
succeeds Lorene Wilbur, who retired at the end
of June.
Date posted:Aug 08, 2003
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At first glance, it may be hard to imagine that
European Methodists have met together in large
numbers only twice: once during the Cold War and
then again this summer. But considering
everything that has conspired to keep them
apart - differences in language, history,
culture, church structure and geography, and
even politically fraught visa application
processes - one begins to appreciate what an
achievement the July 30-Aug. 3 European
Methodist Festival really is.
Date posted:Aug 08, 2003
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As a boy, Martin Kienle dreamed of one day
driving a bus or a truck.
Now 29, he is living that dream, driving the
state-of-the-art "EmK Mobil" bus (loosely
translated as "Methodistmobile") for the German
United Methodist Church. The $1 million bus is
the church's rolling mission in Europe,
traveling to conferences, festivals, shopping
centers and other places to spread the Gospel.
Date posted:Aug 08, 2003
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"Sometimes I Wish" Message of Judy Nutter
Message of Judy Nutter,
Chairperson of Christian Social Responsibility
"Sometimes I Wish"
Date posted:Aug 08, 2003
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Welcome to Your Calling -- To Face the Truth Message of Genie Bank
If I were to give you two words and have you
choose one to describe yourself, I daresay I know
which one you’d pick. The two words
are “ordinary” and “prophet.”
Date posted:Aug 08, 2003
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Bible Study 1 "If not now, when…. If not me, who? Discerning the Challenges."
Bible Study 1
by Aruna Gnanadason
Date posted:Aug 08, 2003
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Bible Study 2 "Celebrating Hope and Life through Social Action"
Bible Study 2
by Aruna Gnanadason
"Celebrating Hope and Life through Social Action"
Date posted:Aug 08, 2003
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Bible Study 3 "Beyond this Time: Living Stones and a Chosen People"
Beyond this Time: Living Stones and a Chosen
People"
Date posted:Aug 08, 2003
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SATURDAY NIGHT WORSHIP AND WELCOME!
The following the opening worship and vespers for
the United Methodist Women's National Seminar,
August 2, 2003.
Date posted:Aug 08, 2003
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Sunday Worship WARM WELCOME TO PROPHETS
The following are the worship and vespers for the
United Methodist Women's National Seminar, August
3, 2003.
Date posted:Aug 08, 2003
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Monday Worship - the Burning Questions
Worship Resources:Monday Worship
Date posted:Aug 08, 2003
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TUESDAY WORSHIP MANY GIFTS, ONE SPIRIT
The following are the worship and vespers for the
United Methodist Women's National Seminar, August
5, 2003.
Date posted:Aug 08, 2003
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Worship Resources WEDNESDAY WORSHIP
The following are the worship and vespers for the
United Methodist Women's National Seminar, August
6, 2003.
Date posted:Aug 08, 2003
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THURSDAY WORSHIP "For such a Time as This"
The following is the last worship and closing
worship service for the United Methodist Women's
National Seminar, August 7, 2003.
Date posted:Aug 08, 2003
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If not now…when? If not me…who?
Are you an Abigail? Looking at I Samuel 25:2-43
yesterday, Bible study leader, Aruna Gnanadson
looked at the interaction between David and Nabal.
David sends a request to share a
feast with Nabal and his sheepherders. Nabal
answers him rudely and offensively. David
responds impulsively and with military might –
vowing to kill all the men.
Date posted:Aug 08, 2003
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August 6 Daily Newsletter What in the World Do I Do Now?
If not now…when? If not me…who?
Date posted:Aug 08, 2003
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August 5 Daily Newsletter If not now…when? If not me…who?
National Seminar of United Methodist Women /
August 5, 2003
A Prophet: No Choice But Obey
God put the right words into the
prophet Jeremiah’s mouth, telling him to use
those words to lead the Jews and all nations –
not just to destroy, but to build and plant.
Date posted:Aug 08, 2003
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August 4 Daily Newsletter If not now…when? If not me…who?
National Seminar of United Methodist Women /
August 4, 2003
Are Called to Be a Prophet?
How would you describe yourself? Ordinary,
normal, common? Or a prophet?
That was the question posed by Genie
Bank, Women’s Division president, as she spoke at
Sunday worship.
Date posted:Aug 08, 2003
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August 3 Daily Newsletter If not now…when? If not me…who?
National Seminar of United Methodist Women /
August 3, 2003
United Methodist Women: Part of History
At the opening plenary, Joyce D. Sohl, deputy
general secretary of the Women’s Division,
informed National Seminar participants that they
are part of history.
Date posted:Aug 08, 2003
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August 2 Daily Newsletter If not now…when? If not now…when?
National Seminar of United Methodist Women /
August 2, 2003
The Church and Christians have a responsibility
to address politics and social issues.
Date posted:Aug 08, 2003
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Opening Press Release United Methodist Women Asking When? Who?
The Church and Christians have a responsibility
to address politics and social issues.
This is the belief of around 250 United
Methodist Women from around the country as they
arrive in Nashville on Saturday to address social
justice issues and discern their responsibility
as Christians to be actively involved in the
issues affecting women and children.
Date posted:Aug 08, 2003
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Dr. Judy Matheny, is a deaconess of the General
Board of Global Ministries who is deeply
committed to people in a rural Appalachia region
of southern West Virginia where she serves.
Assigned as a Church and Community Worker to
McDowell County Ministries, her newsletter tells
of the ongoing struggle of the poor to maintain
their lives with dignity in a declining world
economy.
Date posted:Aug 05, 2003
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“The goal of the Christian Education Program of
the Methodist Church in Brazil is to strengthen
both its Christian and its Wesleyan identities
as it ministers to some of the poorest people in
South America. An important way to achieve that
goal is through a good Christian Education
program.” This was the message of one of the
Brazilian church’s leaders who recently visited
the GBGM Latin America/Caribbean office.
Date posted:Aug 05, 2003
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Liberian Church Leaders Ready to Rebuild a Shattered Society
Liberia is facing an unparalleled humanitarian
crisis. Perhaps every one of its three million
citizens will need some kind of emergency
assistance in the coming months. One example of
the scale of the problem: there are reports of
only five doctors now working in the country.
"The humanitarian situation is deplorable," said
Bishop John Innis of The United Methodist Church
of Liberia and a vice president of the Liberia
Council of Churches (LCC). Liberian church
leaders like Bishop Innis are ready to begin the
work of humanitarian response and peace-building.
Date posted:Aug 05, 2003
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In Turkey, Hearing Impaired Students Give Major Performance
June was a momentous month for students who
attend the Gazanfer Bilge School for the Hearing
Impaired in Karamursel, Turkey. They gave two
major theatrical performances and eleven of them
graduated from eighth grade.
Date posted:Aug 05, 2003
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