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Advancing Hope Monthly E-newsletter

| Did You Know? | Advocate: | Featured Resource: Materiales en Español|

August 2009

Rio Grande Annual Conference Partners with Colombian Methodist Church

Bishop Cardona & Bishop Dorff holding a plaque

As part of a partnership between the Rio Grande Annual Conference and the Colombia Methodist Church, a task force consisting of pastors and laity will be working with and promoting The Advance and Volunteers in Mission efforts for the Colombia Methodist Church.

During the Rio Grande Annual Conference at University United Methodist Church in San Antonio, Texas, June 11-13, 2009, Bishop Juan Alberto Cardona of the Colombian Methodist Church was the guest preacher for the Memorial/Communion Service.

Abel Vega, Jr., Rio Grande's director of Connectional Ministries & Congregational Development, wrote:

A special offering was taken to support the construction of the church's first sanctuary. The Colombian Methodist Church has no physical infrastructure as it has been very much a church located where the people are, particularly the poor and marginalized.

Bishop Cardona also recognized Rev. Manuel Grajales, who after retiring from service in the Rio Grande Conference, joined missionary efforts in Colombia in the late '90s that led to the start and growth of the Colombian Methodist Church.

The Advance director, Shawn Bakker, also gave a talk at the plenary session regarding The Advance's important role as the "giving arm" of The United Methodist Church.

Two projects to receive special focus are:

Photo Above: Bishop Cardona and Bishop Dorff with plaque for Rev. Manuel Grajales.
Photo: Courtesy of Rio Grande Annual Conference

Hispanic and Latino MissionariesAdvocate of the Month
MARCHA and the National Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry

Hundreds will gather in Chicago, Illinois, August 20-23, 2009, for the annual meeting of MARCHA, Metodistas Asociados Representando la Causa Hispano Americana. The theme "Transforming the Church to Transform the World" includes a review of United Methodist advocacy of immigration and a presentation by Inelda González, president of the Women's Division.

For more information, go to the MARCHA website, http://marcha.info, and download the agenda and registration forms in Spanish and English.

The vision of the National Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry is that of a growing, dynamic, and inclusive church as United Methodists respond to the opportunity presented by the increasing Hispanic/Latino population of the United States. To be such a church, God need disciples who are faithful sowers of the gospel in our world.

For missionary biographies and information on providing support, go to: Hispanic/Latino Ministry Missionaries. Following are several Hispanic/Latino Advance projects:
 

Did You Know? Missionaries in Latin America

Among the more than 300 Global Ministries missionaries, 48 come from a Latin American or Spanish-speaking country. About half of those serve in Latin American countries. Twenty-two serve in the United States through the National Plan for Hispanic and Latino Ministries.

For more information, go to:

Photo Above: Missionaries worshiping in Latin America
Photo: Chris Heckert

Featured ResourcesMateriales en Español

  • The Advance overview brochure is now available in Spanish: "Avance." Go to Materiales en Español and download the PDF (12 pages, 1218K).

Thank you for giving generously through The Advance. Your gifts truly make a difference!

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