Faith Into Action: How You Can Help (Hope for the Children of Africa)

Faith Into Action: How You Can Help

Lend your support to the bishops’ appeal, "Hope for the Children of Africa":

Pray for relief and reconciliation through restoration of United Methodist churches and ministries that serve the physical, social and spiritual needs of Africa's children.

Inform your pastor, lay leader, mission chair, congregation and family about the appeal, and solicit their support.

Give to the Bishops' Appeal: Hope for the Children of Africa, Advance #101000-4. (Please write the Advance number on checks submitted through your local church treasurer.)

Compose and present special litanies and prayers during Advent. Include ones written by children and youth.

Send a holiday letter church members asking them to pray for peace, justice and reconciliation throughout the world.

Urge families to hold regular meditations and give thanks for the ways children of Africa offer hope to the world.

Keep a written and or photo journal of children you meet if you travel to Africa. Include them in the church newsletter, on bulletin boards or as a part of special presentations.

Coordinate an art exchange between children in your congregation and children in a church in an African nation. Draw pictures of favorite things and exchange them. Use them for bulletin covers or banners.

Coordinate a special worship service with neighbor churches using children in key planning and leadership roles.

Become a pen pal. Write special prayers for your pal, and include their letters and prayers back to you in worship.

Become a pin pal. Turn photos of you into pin-on buttons and send them to your friends in Africa. Or use photos they may send to you and return them as gifts. Wear the pins on special days during which you pray for African children and their families.
Dedicate specific bulletin board space for the appeal. Use it to collect and share special requests from the congregation, posters, artwork, prayers, activities and updates on the financial progress.
If you're interested in communicating with a church in Africa, contact the General Board of Global Ministries, Clyde W. Anderson, (212) 870-3703, canderso@gbgm-umc.org or Zebediah T. Marewangepo, (212) 870-3701, zmarewan@gbgm-umc.org.