The Missions Office offers a listserv for Missions
The Mission Briefs listserv offers mission information, support, and opportunities. Your congregation's mission coordinator should definitely be receiving these updates, however, anyone is welcome to sign up! If you would like to sign up for the mission listserv, or if you would like to sign up someone else, please send an email to beckybiegger@nccumc.org or staylor@nccumc.org .
Project AGAPE Shipment
A Project AGAPE (Armenia) shipment is scheduled for June 10 at 10:00 AM at the MERCI Center in Goldsboro. Volunteers for loading and packing are needed! Please contact Becky Biegger at beckybiegger@nccumc.org or 800-849-4433 ext 256 if you can assist in this life-giving work. Also, the following items are great needs of the refugees in the Lachin area. Children's clothing (ages 5 - 17), shoes, new underware, and canned foods. Please remember - NO MEDICATIONS!!! For more information see: http://nccmission.org/agape_shipment.htm
Gary Locklear - Church and Community Worker in the NC Conference
Did you know that Gary Locklear is a General Board of Global Ministry Missioner from our Conference who is serving right here in our Conference! Gary is serving some of our poorest neighbors in the area in and around Robeson County, NC. Like all our missionaries, Gary is an extension of our hands and our hearts, sharing God's love and proclaiming Christ. You can support Gary through your Advance Giving by simply making an offering through your church (check made out to your church) with the designation to support Advance # 982955 Gary Locklear . One hundred percent of your gift will go toward Gary's support. For more information also see our missionaries: http://nccmission.org/our_missionaries.htm
You can find Gary's bio at:
http://gbgm-umc.org/who_we_are/mp/bionewmw.cfm?id=963&CFID=2033703&CFTOKEN=29098919
United Methodist Volunteers In Mission (UMVIM) Team Leader Training
UMVIM Team Leader Training will be held on May 19 - 20 , beginning at 7:00 PM and ending at noon on Saturday at The MERCI Center in Goldsboro, NC. Join us for wonderful sessions of learning, sharing, fellowship and fun as we come together with other motivated mission servants to enhance our skills as team leaders. Team Leader Training will be offered for those persons in the local church who are considering or planning to serve as team leaders. The weekend is useful for both new team leaders and those who have "been there...done that" as new Advanced Training sessions are now being offered. There is no cost to this training, but it is required of team leaders in order to receive seed money offered through UMVIM, NC. Leaders must have taken an initial or refresher course within the four-year period prior to the trip. For more information and to register on line, please visit www.nccumvim.org .
Sudan : UMCOR is Continuing the Work
Your United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) workers in Sudan are providing humanitarian assistance in South Darfur. The UMCOR board of directors recently approved funds to extend the work into a second year. This work includes child protection, camp management, micro-credit, health, skills training for young adults, and agriculture programs. Last fall the result of seeds and tools program was an abundant harvest. Peanuts, millet, sorghum, watermelon, and okra were harvested. Good rainfall, new agriculture techniques such as planting several crops together in the same plot, and adequate food to eat during the growing season have yielded this bountiful harvest in the Al Daein region of South Darfur, Sudan. This sustainable ministry continues with your generous donations. Please give to Sudan Emergency, UMCOR Advance #184385. For more information on your proclamation of God's love in the Sudan, please see: http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/work/emergencies/ongoing/sudan/
For UMCOR information, please see: http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/about/
Pray with our Liberian United Methodist Brothers and Sisters
We are connected as children of the God of All. You can now express such connection in daily prayer with neighbors in Liberia. The Liberian Missions Prayer Calendar is available on-line and as a download. Each day, you connect your hearts with the hearts of those walking barefooted on muddy roads, living without running water, and struggling for life in a history of violence and heartache. Your faith is always connected with theirs and theirs with yours. In this Christ, we are one. http://nccmission.org/liberia_prayer_calendar.htm
Youth-Adult Mission Work Team Opportunities
There still remains a few available weeks for Mission Work Team Opportunities. Here are several United Methodist and UM related sites from which to choose:
The Robeson County Church and Community Center: http://www.nccumc.org/robesoncounty/
Contact the Executive Director: Rev. Jane Esdell, 910-738-5204.
MERCI Center http://www.merciumc.org/ Contact (888) / 440-9167 or (919) / 739-9167.
Hinton Rural Life Center : http://www.hintoncenter.org/ Then click on missions.
Project Crossroads in Virginia , Contact Betty Metheney / Harry Howe, 214 East Main Street, Marion, VA 24354; (540) 782-3339; fax (540) 782-3833; projectcrossroads@netva.com .
For a wealth of youth/adult mission trip possibilities across the SE Jurisdiction and the world, please see: http://www.umvim.org/team_opportunities-sej.htm
For an overseas project, consider working with our NC Individual Mission Volunteer (NC Missionary) Wil Bailey. please see: http://www.costaricamissionprojects.com/pages/1/index.htm
