Tornadoes, disease, even war: Special offering provides relief
By Annette Bender
When the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) provides funds and supplies for people in distress, Bonnie Howard wonders, “Where do people think the money comes from?”
Howard is a strong supporter of UMCOR because she has seen firsthand how the orgnanization comes to the rescue, right here in Holston. As Volunteers in Mission coordinator, Howard spent weeks with other Holston workers in the Mossy Grove area of Oak Ridge District following a devastating tornado in 2002. UMCOR immediately sent money and clean-up supplies.
“People must think UMCOR has a money tree,” Howard said. The relief organization depends on gifts through “One Great Hour of Sharing,” as well as other sources, for funding.
That's how UMCOR is able to help children with AIDS, earthquake victims in Iran, and people displaced by war in Liberia. On March 21, Holston churches will join others in the denomination in observing “One Great Hour of Sharing.” Special offerings collected that day will go to support UMCOR. In 2003, Holston churches gave a total of $42,686 for One Great Hour, a drop of 8 percent from the 2002 total, $46,522.
Holston leaders hope that churches
will surpass those numbers in 2004.
“It always seems like [disasters] happen in poor areas,” Howard says “People are working so hard and then here comes a tornado. There is a great need for funding to help these people. If we're going to be a global church, UMCOR is where the money needs to go.”
For more information about UMCOR and One Great Hour of Sharing, visit http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor. To give to One Great Hour of Sharing, make checks to your local church, marking OGHS on the memo line. Or call 1-800-554-8583 to make a credit-card gift.
In 2003, Maryville District led the conference in giving to One Great Hour with $7,336. In 2002, Knoxville District led with $8,402.
top
|
Bishop's Perspective
Cover Stories
Two New Superintendents
and
UMCOR's One Great Hour of Sharing
Give Me a Sign
Denman Awards
Open Meeting
Don't Be Late
Off Their Backs
National & World News
Back to The Call Home Page
|
|
