Oklahoma Tornado Response
The Missouri Conference is in touch with our brothers and sisters in the Oklahoma Conference to assess the ways we can help. Things you can do RIGHT NOW to assist are; pray for everyone affected/involved/responding, and donate to the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). Remember 100% of your donation through UMCOR goes directly to this disaster response. And finally keep informed via the Missouri Conference Disaster Response newsletter "The Responder". To subscribe to "The Responder" contact Dan Steska at steska@umocm.com. Information on how to volunteer with your presence will be shared in the coming days/weeks. Please remember to be patient as search, rescue, and emergency responders do their work. Our prayer in the Missouri Conference is that we will be able to assist as needed in the future and that our volunteers will do no harm.
New Mission Intern
Meet our new Creative Ministries Mission Intern, Cameron Ward. Cameron will serve with us through the first week of August 2013 developing poverty simulation experiences around the conference. Poverty simulations provide the experience of living in poverty and understanding in a tangible way the struggles and barriers that individuals living in poverty face on a day to day basis. For more information on poverty simulations and how to schedule one in your area contact Cameron at ward@umocm.com.
Strengthening bonds with Mozambique
Right now there is a team of Missouri Conference leadership in Mozambique visiting with local church leadership to discuss future plans for the Mozambique Initiative (MI) partnership. While there, the leadership group with have meetings for the purpose of strengthening our conference to conference partnership, and visit some of the MI sustainability projects. For more information on how you and your congregation can partner with our brothers and sisters in Mozambique contact the MI coordinator, Sarah Bollinger, at sbollinger@moumethodist.org.
Missouri Interfaith Power & Light
Missouri Inter-faith Power and Light (MO-IPL) had it’s official launch on March 7th in St. Louis. Inter-Faith Power & Light is a national committee to address climate change by activating faith communities to advocate for reduced energy consumption and renewable alternatives of energy resources. Learn more about MO-IPL at MOIPL.org. Pictured are steering committee members (left to right) Susan Mlynarczyk, Rev. Kristen Koch, Caroline Kory, Tracey Howe-Koch Sabine McDowell, Front Carla Kline Jeanne Clauson & Polly Rutherford. The Mo-IPL Steering Committee members not able to attend are Sr. Barbara Jennings, Kathleen Engel and Terri Williams. For more information contact Terri Williams at williams@umocm.com.
Mozambique Flood Relief
The flooding of the Limpopo River in southern Mozambique continues to affect hundreds of families. The Mozambique Initiative has reached out to communities separated from necessary resources to provide for those needs. February 7th Mozambique Initiative staff provided rice, instant porridge, corn flour, and cooking oil to 50 displaced families. Food was provided through the Missouri Conference/Mozambique Initiative pledge to raise $15,000 to provide food, clean water and other supplies to those surviving this disaster. For more information on how you can help visit http://www.mzinitiative.com/FLOOD_RELIEF__.php.
Flooding in Mozambique
Photo Credit: Anna Wallenlind Nuvunga/IRIN News (www.irinnews.org)
Last week the Limpopo River in southern Mozambique flooded displacing 150,000 people who fled their homes for camps at higher ground. Aid organizations are working to meet the overwhelming needs of these displaced Mozambicans. The Missouri Conference through the Mozambique Initiative plans to raise $15,000 to provide food, clean water and other supplies to at least 600 people. For more information on how you can help visit www.mzinitiative.com/FLOOD_RELIEF__.html.
Welcome Dan Steska!
Creative Ministries welcomes a new Disaster Response Coordinator, Dan Steska. Dan will coordinate Disaster Response efforts for the Missouri Conference so for more information on his ministry and how you can help please contact steska@umocm.com.
Youth Prepare for SERVE2012
The St. Francisville UMC youth get prepared for SERVE2012 during their summer Vacation Bible School program. August 1st is the final day to order SERVE2012 event t-shirts!!! Shirts are $6 each and sizes available include Youth Extra Small-Extra Large and Adult Small-4 Extra Large. To order register your event or contact Audrey Phelps at phelps@umocm.com or 573-474-7155.