home > recent articles > MISSIONERS OF HOPE
Missioners of Hope: two years at work

See also

1999
  commissioning,
  Zambia

Missioner's
Stories

Ghana:
   Kargbo

DR Congo:
   Maleka

Kenya:
   Matheri

Mozam -
  bique:
   Nawej

Zambia:
   Sinnah

July of 2001 marks the second anniversary of Missioners of Hope, a new category of missionaries of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries. In 2000 GBGM reached its projected goal of commissioning 100 missioners for assignment throughout the continent of Africa.

An initiative that evolved from the 1999 Bishops' Appeal of Hope for the Children of Africa, Missioners of Hope work exclusively in ministries for children whose lives have been devastated by war, sickness and poverty.

More than 90 percent of these missionaries are of African descent. Some have suffered trauma similar to that experienced by the children they now seek to assist. They are assigned as teachers, counselors, agricultural and health care workers.

This initiative brings relief to thousands of suffering children and also strengthens the global church—as has been eloquently stated by Levi Williams, a missioner in Zambia, who suggests that the program "renews the vision of mission in Africa". Outlining the significance of this initiative, Rev.Williams states that Missioners of Hope:
  • puts human and material resources at the disposal of the whole church, so that the western church will not bear the elephant's share of the task
  • challenges the annual conference in Africa to become even better stewards of God's gifts
  • strengthens a new generation in Africa to undertake the missionary enterprise
  • encourages the examination of African culture and tradition to discover ways in which the church can better express the Gospel through contextualization
  • empowers the church in Africa to become more holistic and to facilitate peace and stability throughout the continent.
As the initiative reaches this second year of service, the church stands indebted to missioners who serve in difficult and sometimes vulnerable situations. Pray that God gives them strength and courage to continue in their ministry—and that the church will keep this promising vision alive.
General Board of Global Ministries
United Methodist Church
475 Riverside Drive - New York, New York 10115
1-800-UMC-GBGM