Special projects project Allocated grants by the World Mission Group January 2006 January 2007

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Cecil Simpson
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1 Special projects Allocated grants by the World Mission Group January 2006 January 2007

3 Our Mission in the Methodist Church The calling of the Methodist Church is to respond to the gospel of God s love in Christ and to live out its discipleship in worship and mission. Methodism endorses many dimensions and methods of mission, such as: Telling the good news of Jesus; calling people to faith in Jesus Christ and to Christian discipleship; caring for individual people and communities; sharing the task of education and social and spiritual development; struggling for a just world; being alongside the poor; becoming friends with people of different cultures and faiths; caring for the earth; building partnerships with other churches and groups who share some of our mission aims. Many of these aspirations are achieved through the projects supported by grants from the Methodist Church Fund for World Mission. This booklet describes some of the many projects that are supported by the Methodist Fund for World Mission. There are many more and not all of them are supported by large grants was given to UMC Lithuania towards the cost of local preacher training. The Methodist Church in Kenya received a grant of 800 towards the cost of HIV/AIDS training for teachers associated with the Church. The photographs printed in this publication are not necessarily from current projects but aim to give some idea of the scope of projects that you are supporting through your gifts to the Methodist Church Fund for World Mission. Without your continued giving to the Fund for World Mission, it would be impossible to support these projects. If your church is interested in supporting a particular project, Mission Education will do their best to provide you with further information. However, as the grant will have already been allocated, any money you raise will fill the hole that it has left thus allowing further grants to be made. You can give to the Fund for World Mission in the following ways: - In gift-aid envelopes and collecting boxes (available from mph) - Regularly, via standing order (form available online) - Using your credit/debit card online at

4 Evangelism and Worship And he said to them, Follow me, and I will make you fish for people. Matthew 4.19 (NRSV) Christians are called to make more followers of Jesus Christ Americas/Caribbean Programme of Pastoral & Theological Training of Indigenous Leaders MCCA Peru The districts of Cusco and Puno in southern Peru have been running a biblical and theological programme for lay pastors for over four years. There is a great need for lay pastors in these communities as there are few ordained ministers in the region. A key element of the programme is the use of education as a tool for the liberation and transformation of the poorest and most marginalised through biblical and theological reflection. By conducting the training within local communities, the programme takes into account local cultural practices in their evangelisation effort. It strengthens indigenous identity, slows down migration to cities to seek education and establishes the Methodist Church as an agent of social transformation. Numerous leaders have already benefited from this training which has helped to ease the ministerial crisis that the Church had been experiencing. In turn, the communities these leaders serve have also benefited from improved pastoral care, leadership and teaching. A grant of 3,500 was given to this programme in early The programme was founded in 2003 with three objectives: Firstly, to respond to the increasing demand for local leaders to motivate Methodist churches in the region. Secondly, to train lay pastors, enabling them to develop their own pastoral gifts within their families, churches and communities. Finally, to encourage church growth and help them develop a strong Methodist identity.

Europe Italy Methodist Church in Florence 3,370 was given to the Methodist Church in Florence towards the cost of decorating and equipping a youthwork room.

5 Europe Italy Methodist Church in Florence 3,370 was given to the Methodist Church in Florence towards the cost of decorating and equipping a youthwork room. By having this resource, the church is able to give dedicated space to young people which should encourage youth work to grow within the community. Americas/Caribbean Methodist Church in Cuba A grant of 4,300 was given to a yearlong project designed to provide training for leaders of evangelism, discipleship and missions. This will enable them to face the challenge of the increasing size and diversity of the Methodist Church in Cuba. In 2006, the Church had over 14,500 members, 205 pastoral posts and over 1,000 churches. The programme has two stages. The first involves workshops in biblical and evangelical theology which takes place within the districts. The second consists of training courses in subjects such as mission studies, leadership, basic tools of evangelism and the discipleship of children. Sing a new song to the Lord; he has done wonderful things! Psalms 98.1

Learning and Caring The LORD of hosts cares for his flock Zechariah 10:3 (NRSV) Christians are called to help people to learn, and grow in faith, through mutual support and care Asia-Pacific

6 Learning and Caring The LORD of hosts cares for his flock Zechariah 10:3 (NRSV) Christians are called to help people to learn, and grow in faith, through mutual support and care Asia-Pacific Methodist Church Upper Myanmar As part of his role as community development and mission worker within the Methodist Church of Upper Myanmar, Mr Lal Rin Sanga is responsible for the Church s HIV/AIDS Awareness and Prevention Programme. Over the last year, he has overseen the production and distribution of pamphlets on the subject of the Church and HIV/AIDS. The church community has now accepted the importance of this programme as it touches the hearts and minds of people. The number of HIV+ people is increasing, therefore, it is crucial that church members knowledge and understanding of HIV/AIDS is improved. The ultimate goal of the programme is to see the community s behaviour changed, so that the number of people being infected with HIV decreases. In addition to funding the post of community development worker as a National in Mission Appointment (NMA), the Fund for World Mission (FWM) also provided the Church with a grant of 1,500 specifically for the HIV/AIDS Awareness and Prevention Programme.

Asia-Pacific World Student Christian Federation (WSCF) The Asia-Pacific region of the WSCF organises conferences and training for students across the region and includes membership from 16 national

7 Asia-Pacific World Student Christian Federation (WSCF) The Asia-Pacific region of the WSCF organises conferences and training for students across the region and includes membership from 16 national Student Christian Movements (SCM). In September 2006 it held a workshop in Indonesia on the theme of Human Rights, Poverty and Conflict which was attended by 30 young people from 13 countries. Over 10 days, the participants explored the impact of economic policies on the economic, civil and political rights of people. region shared their experiences of the themes being explored. For example, a delegate from the Philippines highlighted the issue of extrajudicial killings there and encouraged people to join the SCM campaign against this. This sharing was reinforced by an exposure trip to Porsea village in North Sumatra, where the indigenous Batak people have been struggling against a giant pulp factory. This enabled participants to see, observe and listen to the people s stories of how the factory has destroyed the environment and the people s means of livelihood. At the end of the conference, a Human Rights Action Plan was agreed which included recommendations to follow-up and pursue the commitment to work for human rights at local, national and international level. A grant of 6,000 was awarded to WSCF Asia-Pacific to help fund this workshop and a subsequent internship. The workshop had four major themes. These included looking at the major issues affecting the region (poverty, militarism and conflict); the War on Terror and theological reflection on conflict and poverty. Speakers and participants from across the

8 Service the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve Matthew 20: 28 (NRSV) The Church exists to be a good neighbour to people in need and to challenge injustice Europe Touch of Hope Project Croatia Touch of Hope is a programme organised by CFR Footprints (Community for Reconciliation) in the UK and the Centre for Peace, Non-Violence and Human Rights in Osijek, eastern Croatia. Its long-term goal is to build a healthy society, based on a culture of non-violence, in war-torn areas of eastern Croatia. The project aims to motivate and empower those wounded by the war and in the process of healing not just personal wounds, but those of the community in which they live. A new programme based in Vukovar is a recent development. 192 people were massacred close to the town in 1991, and the story of this event is now recorded in a touching memorial. Croatia is a popular holiday resort for tourists thus giving the impression that everything is back to normal after the war. However, the Vukovar region has much unemployment and many people are struggling to come to terms with the aftermath of the 1991/2 war. Many suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The project is tackling much needed healing of hurts and helping to create healthy communities. Touch of Hope has started its second phase of workshops. Participants come from both sides of the divide; Serb and Croat, and are all actively engaged in working for reconciliation in their local situations. They are following a basic course in Healing the Hurts of War. One participant, Vesna writes: Our workshop on the Wounded Healer was honest and open and I shared very deeply with the other 9 members of the group who come from both sides of the war, Serb and Croat. That is what I expected to happen and I am glad to have the space and time to share in a safe place we are learning as a group to be at peace within ourselves and to work for peace in our community. A grant of 6,200 has been contributed towards the work of Touch of Hope in Vukovar.

9 of crime, serious poverty and an alarmingly high level of drug abuse. Americas/Caribbean CAF, The Family Centre (Methodist Church Chile) The Centro de Atencion Familiar (CAF) or Family Centre is a Methodist church project in Alto Hospico, near Iquique in northern Chile. It supports women and families suffering domestic violence, in a town that is recognised as one of the poorest urban areas in Chile. It is a community with high unemployment, levels Mission Partner Chris Esdaile has been the Director of the Centre since early In addition to his role, the Centre also has a caseworker, social worker and psychologist. The psychologist s position was funded in part by a 3,550 grant from the FWM. The Centre is small enough to be able to offer a personal service to people, and can respond to their spiritual needs as well as more practical concerns. The Centre is a first port of call for many families - especially women - experiencing, for example, loss of work, child abuse, loss of self-esteem, and issues arising from poverty, though the predominant problem is domestic violence. Through the support of the church congregation, it is also able to provide some basic food parcels in emergencies.

Grants for relief work Natural disasters continue to make news headlines and several of our partner churches have been affected by floods, typhoons, earthquakes and hurricanes.

10 Grants for relief work Natural disasters continue to make news headlines and several of our partner churches have been affected by floods, typhoons, earthquakes and hurricanes. China Christian Council Typhoon Saomai (in August 2006) was the worst typhoon to hit China for 50 years. The provinces of Zhejiang, Fujian and Jiangxi were worst affected. A special grant of 5,000 was given in support of the China Christian Council s relief work. Central and Southern Central Conferences of United Methodist Church (UMC) Europe Severe flooding in Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria resulted in thousands of people being made homeless. Many had barely recovered from similar flooding the previous year. A special grant of 5,000 was given in support of the flood victims. Indonesia Council of Churches As a result of the Java earthquake in May 2006, thousands were killed and many more left homeless. A special grant of 5,000 was given in solidarity and support of the Indonesia Council of Churches. Church of North India and Church of Pakistan The monsoon season of 2006 resulted in major flooding in the Indian states of Orissa and Jharkhand and the district of Swat in north-eastern Pakistan. An emergency grant of 5,000 was given to the Church of North India s Flood Relief and Rehabilitation Work and a special grant of 2,000 was given to the same programme in the Church of Pakistan.

12 More information and resources available These are only a few of recent Special Grants allocated. If you would like to know more, or make a donation to the Methodist Church Fund for World Mission, contact: Mission Education Methodist Church House 25 Marylebone Road London NW1 5JR Telephone: missioneducation@methodistchurch.org.uk Your generous giving to the Methodist Church Fund for World Mission supports much of this work. Thank you!

Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12 (NRSV) In this special edition of World Church News, our focus is on