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Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
| Hoosier United Methodists together |
November/December 2006 |
Area-wide Christmas offering to benefit children
By Daniel R. Gangler
Bishop Mike Coyner urges Hoosier United Methodists in Indiana to consider receiving a special offering this coming Advent-Christmas season on behalf of children here in Indiana, across the United States and around the world.
"Christmas becomes a special time for our children. Unfortunately, many children both here at home in Indiana and around the world don't receive the blessings of this special holiday season, but we can make a difference in their lives through our gifts," said Coyner. "As has been the tradition in the two conferences in the Indiana Area, there again will be a special Indiana Area United Methodist Offering for Children."
Earlier this year, the Offering for Children committee, composed of an equal number of representatives from both conferences, distributed more than $76,000 in funds from last year's offerings. Last Christmas North Indiana churches gave $43,815 and the South Indiana churches gave $42,730 to the offering. Each project received $2,800. The committee also reserved $10,000 for emergency distribution that Bishop Coyner can use in emergency funding of children's ministries.
This Special Christmas Offering will be sent to 12 projects here in Indiana, nine projects across the United States and nine projects in other needy places around the world. Projects funded this year are listed in a sidebar next to this story.
The committee will equally divide this offering into thirds for projects in Indiana, the United States and the world.
The poster image for this Special Christmas Offering comes to us from Surviving Child Orphan Trust in Zimbabwe, one of several AIDS ministries in Africa.
A portion of our Christmas Offering will go to AIDS Awareness and Care for AIDS Orphans in Kenya. This program at Maua Hospital feeds 430 children and educates 195. The program was started to feed and educate children because Jesus calls us to feed the hungry and bring His Good News to all, according to program leaders.
Another portion will go to the Babyfold at Old Mutare Hospital in Zimbabwe. "Babyfold" is a home for orphan infants. For several reasons; cultural, social and economic, many infant babies are abandoned in Africa at birth. The result is a steady flow of infants in need of the Babyfold.
All the projects chosen by the Bishop's Special Christmas Offering for Children committee are United Methodist Advance for Christ and His Church projects. Indiana projects are Advance projects of each of the conferences.
Posters, bulletin insert masters and envelopes will be distributed to each Indiana United Methodist congregation this month.
Last updated on 25 Apr 2008