Annual offering will benefit Alaskan mission
This year's hands-on project: Africa again

Holston Conference will raise $100,000 to benefit a mission in Alaska and collect food and school supplies for two missions in Africa.

The annual spring missions project, always coordinated to conclude by Annual Conference in June, includes a special offering and a hands-on effort.

On May 7 or an alternate date, all congregations are requested to take a special offering to support the work of Church and Community Worker Fran Lynch in Alaska. Lynch's ministry extends to the villages of Willow, Anvik, and Grayling.

For the hands-on effort, congregations will again collect supplies for missionaries Mary and Herbert Zigbuo in Liberia and Maria Humbane in Zimbabwe.

"Providing transportation, housing, food, heating, and clothing, as well as Sunday school, Vacation Bible School, and summer camping are integral parts of Fran's work," Bishop James Swanson said recently. "Through her efforts, many lives have been changed. Her outreach, however, is limited by lack of adequate funding."

Swanson pointed out that the $100,000 goal equals 65 cents per member of every Holston church.

This month, local church treasurers will receive envelopes designated for the May 7 special offering. The envelopes should be brought to Annual Conference by the congregation's clergy or lay representative. Annual Conference will be held June 11-14 in Lake Junaluska, N.C.

Meanwhile, districts are receiving their assignments for helping missions in Liberia and Zimbabwe. As in past conference projects, the supplies and assignments will be varied. For example, Big Stone Gap District will collect athletic shoes and socks and Maryville District will collect canned hams and rice for Ishe Anesu in Zimbabwe. Wytheville District and Abingdon District will collect notebooks, chalk, and dictionaries for young students in Liberia.

Brochures will be distributed to districts explaining the assignments and how supplies should be collected between now and Annual Conference, according to Missions Coordinator Bill Daugherty. Information is also available by calling the Connectional Ministries Office toll-free at (866) 690-4080. For information on deadlines and destinations for dropping off supplies, call your district office. A special video featuring mission work in Alaska is available in district offices.

"I believe that at Annual Conference 2006 we will see an outpouring of generosity as we respond together to God's call upon us to share what God has blessed us with," Swanson said. "I am counting on you."

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