May 2009
Believe in Miracles!
by Jerri Savuto
Clurisa, four years old, was bitten by a snake that fell from the roof into her bed. She is doing so well. She has even been smiling when I visit, which is often. Everyone calls her recovery at Maua Methodist Hospital in Kenya a miracle.
Nine days ago she had her last surgery to graft the skin where it sloughed off due to extreme swelling. The venom caused the tissue to become necrotic. Her arm had been and continues to be painful.
Daily, Maua Methodist Hospital admits 25 to 40 people like Clurisa who cannot pay for their care. Many people are also malnourished in Kenya, a country struggling with drought and hunger.
Nurse Jerri Savuto is a missionary who carries out God's work in the world through Global Ministries. She oversees the quality improvement program for Maua Methodist Hospital in Meru North, Kenya.
To partner with Ms. Savuto as she cares for Clurisa and others at Maua Hospital, enter into a Covenant Relationship with her or make an online donation to the missionary connection by giving to: Jerri Savuto #08799Z. To read more about Clurisa's healing and Kenya's urgent need for rain, click Bill and Jerri Savuto.
Advocate of the Month
Charlotte Davis
Charlotte Davis, lay leader of the Red Bird Missionary Conference, asked if 25 people in her church, New Springs United Methodist Church, in Beattyville, Kentucky, could give one dollar extra, "the mere cost of a Coke," every week to support one missionary right in their backyard: the Red Bird Missionary Conference.
"Praise God, volunteer hands went up all over the church, and New Springs has agreed to do that," Ms. Davis said. Red Bird received the award for the highest number of churches participating in The Advance for the entire Southeast region.
To follow Ms. Davis's lead and support one of the 30 United Methodist missionary pastors of the Red Bird Missionary Conference Church, go to missionary biographies and search for Red Bird under "Categories of Mission Service."
Did You Know?
Advance Staff Visits Annual ConferencesIn May and June 2009, The Advance staff will visit more than 40 annual conferences as they did in 2008. "Last year, we celebrated the 60th anniversary of The Advance, but we were really celebrating long-term giving through The United Methodist Church," said David Malloy (right), annual conference liaison with The Advance.
Last year, conferences were honored with special plaques, and this practice will continue to recognize their faithful giving. These visits support awareness of The Advance as The United Methodist Church's giving channel where 100% of each gift reaches its intended mission or ministry.
In 2009, The Advance staff will be promoting two special emphases for The Advance:
- Covenant Relationships with missionaries: Covenant Relationships
- B1 Youth Campaign: fasttodaychangetomorrow.org
Featured Resource
Alternative Giving: Two Gifts in OneEvery gift multiplies. A gift to The Advance through an Alternative Gift Card benefits more than just the giver and the receiver. This year, gifts to newlyweds or graduates are gifts of caring that ripple out to the world and make a big splash.
Examples of where your Alternative Gift Card donation goes:
- $11 helps train a midwife in Afghanistan.
- $55 feeds a starving child for a year in Haiti.
- $85 gives sight to an older person with cataracts in China.
There's never been a better time to give through The Advance than May and June as we celebrate weddings, graduations, and family reunions. Share the love. Share the gift. Order Alternative Gift Cards. To learn more, go to Alternative Giving and download the Alternative Giving PDF flyer (2 pp., 592K).
Thank you for giving generously through The Advance. Your gifts truly make a difference!
Send This to Someone Else
Please forward this newsletter to them and have them visit The Advance website at www.advancinghope.org and sign up for the Advancing Hope eNewsletter.
