Photos for this story by
Bobbie Armstrong and Joshua Lewis.

Used by permission of
The United Methodist Review,
Louisiana Conference Edition.

See also:
Making a Miracle Happen and
Fundraising Gears up for "Miracle Night Offering"

Inside the Gold Dome at Centenary College in Shreveport, the night crackled with excitement. The voices of children in song filled the air and the metal beams and triangled ceiling buzzed with anticipation, wired white hot with the energy of a thousand believers gathered in expectation of a miracle.  Had we done it? Could we do it, or...would we be there ‘til morning's light waiting for that miracle to happen?

You guessed it! When a need arises somewhere in the world, Louisiana United Methodists do what it takes to help heal human suffering. On this opening night of Annual Conference 1999, churches around the state brought forth from their congregations (in only one passing of the baskets) an amazing $226,000 Miracle Night Offering (the total amount has now reached $233,000) for children stricken by great injustices in Africa, surpassing the goal of $200,000 decided on at last year's Annual Conference for the United Methodists Bishops' Initiative: Hope for the Children of Africa.

This high moment in Louisiana Methodism on June 7 brought to fruition each church's year-long focus on raising $5 per average attendance so that the Louisiana Conference could contribute at least $200,000 to the $12 million being raised by the initiative to support the Methodist Church in Africa and its ministry to children and youth.  The funds will help build schools, shelters and churches in countries where children's lives have been destroyed by war and poverty.

Churches, and particularly their children and youth, used creative ways to raise the money. One church sold hockey pucks at one dollar each and when they collected $500 an associate minister played hockey with a professional team in Baton Rouge; another created an African safari and charged $5 a ticket for participation.  Many, many children throughout the state contributed their allowances and chores money as well as soft drink and snack money to the effort.  Even the children at the Methodist Children's Home in Ruston raised over $800.

During the offering time, specially marked envelopes and cash donations were placed in huge baskets by representatives of each church.  While the Conference Children's Choir, the Zambian Quintet--an African a cappella group going to school in Texas--and Music Leader Howard Hanger presented songs of praise and worship, inviting the audience to sing along with them, the baskets were taken into a secured room where the donations were swiftly counted by staff and volunteers.  This continued for about a half hour until all the donations were collected, accounted for and totaled.  The amount was written on a sheet of paper and sent to Bishop Solomon who was waiting on the stage.  But would it be enough?  Everyone prayed and prepared themselves to stay, as the bishop had suggested, until the goal was met.

And then it was announced..."We did it! The Louisiana Annual Conference has offered $226,000!" The crowd went wild, breaking out in song and promenading in celebration around the arena, understanding more deeply the love of Christ that makes miracles happen.

Do you know how many people in North America are falling asleep in front of their TVs tonight?” Rev. Michael Rivas, guest speaker for the evening, had said earlier. “But you are here to care for the children of Africa when so many look the other way. That is a miracle!  And, because you care for the children of Africa, you care for all of God's children regardless of whether they are in Harlem; Littleton, Colo.; Miami; New Orleans; Shreveport; Baton Rouge or the bayous and parishes of Louisiana.”

Rivas, a deputy general secretary with the General Board of Global Ministries, described himself as “a product of Methodist mission.” As a young man in Castro-led Cuba, Rivas said he had to give up everything, including a father who had forbid him to go into ministry, to follow his calling to serve Christ.  Excerpts from a prayer recited during the service summed up the need for this Miracle Night and the need for ongoing Miracle Night Offerings:  We pray for those (children) whose nightmares come in the daytime, who will eat anything, who have never seen a dentist, who aren't spoiled by anybody, who go to bed hungry and cry themselves to sleep, who live and move, but have no being.

“While the amount of $233,000 is gratifying and commendable,” says Bishop Solomon, “the real joy comes in knowing that these funds are going to make it possible for hundreds of children to be cared for, fed, sheltered, and guided by people who love the Christ who loves the children. The miracle has just begun!”