Mission Stories

Short stories about United Methodists in mission around the world. You can use this for "mission minutes," sermon illustrations, newsletter articles-- whenever you have the opportunity to tell an inspiring story of Christian mission.

Africa

Democratic Republic of Congo

Reflections from the Congo
"People ask why we do it," write Liz and Tom Ryder, United Methodist missionaries working in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Mozambique
Antonio's Smile and The Touch of Christ by Ann Stone
Two brief stories of this missionary nurse's work in at Chicuque Rural Hospital, Mozambique.
United Methodist Missionaries Witness Tragedies Caused by Land Mines
Land mines continue to cause irreparable damage in the lives of innocent victims long after wars have ended (Bryan and Ann Stone, missionaries).
Rwanda
Children Helping Children in Rwanda by Forrest C. Stith
Pastor Jupa wanted more for these children who were orphaned because of the war. With the help of local children, he began to house and educate them.
Impromptu Evangelism in a Broken Van by Forrest C. Stith
The evangelists became inspired; they began to preach the message of salvation and hope for the new congregation that would be formed here. There was a full evangelistic rally as the van sat immobile
Senegal
Badara Ba by Glenn, Darla, and Chayla Rowley
Badara, a two-year-old boy from Lambaye, Senegal came into our lives during the summer of 1997. His mother--who was only 14 when her first child, Khadim, was born and 16 when she had Badara--had abandoned both both little boys a year earlier, leaving them with their father.
South Africa
Meet Mission Intern Amy Peed
Amy Peed of Orlando, Florida, is a United Methodist Mission Intern whose overseas assignment was in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Uganda
God Is Good in Uganda by Forrest C. Stith
The church people were overwhelmed and moved by what they accomplished. They were reminded that "Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain."
Miracle of a Bike by Forrest C. Stith
The results have been amazing. New pastors have been recruited. New churches have been built.
Zimbabwe
Mt. Chiremba, Where Africa University Began by Chomingwen Pond
Mt. Chiremba is where Africa University began. A century ago, when the routing of the railroad necessitated moving the village of Umtali to the other side of the mountains, Methodist Bishop Joseph C. Hartzell obtained the buildings at Old Umtali from Cecil Rhodes and the British South Africa Company for use as a mission station.

Asia and the Pacific Islands

China

Missionary Letter by Diane J. Allen (April 1998)
Diane J. Allen tells the story of Jean Craig, former missionary to China from first the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and then the Methodist Church. Jean Craig died early in 1998.
Thank You for Caring by Merrillyn McNary
Last fall, Caroline, a second-year student at the Jiangsu Institute, came to my apartment for her third conference about her term paper. Toward the end of the conference, Caroline began to speak more slowly and sadly. She asked if she could tell me something private.
Indonesia
Hope and Wings by Brenda Wilkinson
By encountering Methodists in other cultures personally, we begin to see that the mission program of Global Ministries is not just about giving to others-- but a sharing of gifts.
Making a Difference in the Lives of People by Brenda Wilkinson
"A hungry body has no ears," said Bishop H. Doloksaribu of the Methodist Church of Indonesia.
One in the Spirit by Brenda Wilkinson
Church burnings in Indonesia are the result of rising tension between Muslims and Christians and is under investigation by the Indonesia Communion of Churches.
Korea
"Blest Be the Tie that Binds:" Visiting with Christians in North Korea by Randolph Nugent
One of the students asked if she could have the crosses. "I want to evangelize," she explained. Bishop Solomon gave her every one of the crosses and I, in turn, took off the cross he had given me and handed it to her.
Philippines
Short Synopsis of Current Mission Work by Richard and Caring Schwenk
We both teach at Union Theological Seminary (UTS) during the week and then on weekends we do church and community development with the Aetas.
Witness through Environmental Care by Richard and Caring Schwenk
In our recent trip to Sta. Juliana to visit the Aeta, we took a shortcut across the volcanic lahar fields, so it "only" took us four hours to go each way from Manila.

Europe

Youth Mission Chorale Highlights
Several articles and personal stories/witnesses from the tour of the Youth Mission Chorale in Russia and the Baltic States (summer 1998)

Latin America and the Caribbean

United Methodists at Work in Haiti
Volunteers in Mission (VIMs) are providing vital services to improve the quality of life in Haiti, the poorest country in the northern hemisphere (Bob and Nancy Osgood, missionaries).

The Middle East

Ecumenical Work of Global Ministries in the West Bank
Missionaries Alex and Brenda Awad share about their work in the Holy Land and in their educational work in United States concerning the Palestinian people.
Hebron, West Bank: Climbing Walls and Avoiding Checkpoints by Anne Montgomery, Christian Peacemaker Teams
We hear much about "terrorism" and "terrorists"; the good news, as usual, goes largely unreported.
Letters from Israel by the Rev. Sandra Olewine
Whatever the number it will be too many, once again. Two letters written after bombings in Israel.

The United States

Human Relations Day Uplifts Youth, Empowers Communities by Rebecca Asedillo, GBGM, January 11, 2000
Where Everybody Is Somebody: Cross-cultural Churches, by Mary Beth Coudal.
How do people like the Rev. Mark Lykins and Hee Sook learn to communicate and celebrate each other's differences? How do parishioners build multicultural multinational, and multiracial churches?
Vietnamese-American Ministry New Church Development, GBGM, December 13, 1997.
So far, 19 Vietnamese United Methodist congregations have been established throughout the nation.
Shared Mission Focus on Young People, GBGM, December 13, 1997
American Education Week, GBGM, September 5, 1997.
United Methodist Women celebrate American Education Week and strive for equitable quality education for children.
Changing Lives through Christian Love
At Red Bird Mission in Beverly, Kentucky, a young dormitory resident was brought to the principal's office for fighting in the dormitory. But love turned him around....
Evangelism and Ecology by Howard A. Snyder
As the congregation grew, it began to consider building a larger sanctuary. But what was the ecological significance of the marshland the church owned if it filled it in to expand its ministry?
A Gift in Remembrance
"Merry Christmas!" the letter began. "Instead of swapping Christmas gifts... our family decided to truly experience the joy of giving.
Gulfside Assembly (Waveland, MS)
Today, an annual total of more than 5,000 people of all ages and backgrounds assemble at the site for a variety of activities including spiritual retreats, training of clergy and lay leaders, meetings, workshops, and family reunions.
"I Couldn't Live With Myself..." by Judy Matheny
Welfare Reform has decreased the amount of cash families have available to pay their bills and to buy cleaning supplies and extra food after spending their food stamps. As a Church and Community Worker, I have found numerous ways to share the miracle of God's love from the resources available to me.
An Irrepressible Woman Preacher (United Brethren history)
Gertrude Pettibon's favorite hymn was "The Church's One Foundation Is Jesus Christ Her Lord." This she lived by and this she preached.
Life with Alex by Richard B. Cory
My son Alex (age 11) deals with a nightmarish reality every day of his life. Alex lives with the nightmare called AIDS.... I know the inner peace that faith in Jesus Christ can bring and the emptyness that can exist in the absence of that faith.
A New Attitude: A vignette for overcoming violence
In a few short years, Adrian ("A.J") Brooks, 17, has gained a whole new outlook on his life, his community, and the police officers whose job it is to protect both.
Post Card from Victor
Victor Murgia enrolled at McCurdy School in Espanola, New Mexico with lots of problems A few years after he graduated, the school received a post card from him telling how is life was going..
Witness and Reconciliation on Spaceship Earth by Norman E. Thomas
An vision of global interdependence was presented by the late Theodore Hesburgh as "spaceship earth." Nations and peoples are as interdependent today as the Russian and American astronauts on the Mir space station.