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Advancing Hope Monthly E-newsletter

| Did You Know? | Advocates: | Featured Resource: Alternative Giving|

October 2009

Feature story
National Bible Week and Bible Sunday

Amity's Gospel Clinic

By David Webb

In the story of the farmer and the seeds, Jesus said, "Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God." (Luke 8:11) God's timeless Word teaches, uplifts, and shows us the way. National Bible Week and Bible Sunday are coming November 22-29. For one Sunday school class in Texas, every week is Bible Week.

After hearing about the Amity Printing Press from retired Global Ministries' missionary Judy Williamson, the 3rd - 5th graders at Lake Cities UMC in Lake Dallas, Texas, decided to raise money for this project through The Advance. Dorothea Dickey, Director of Children's Ministries at the church, said, "The children decided to raise enough funds to sponsor as many Bibles as we have in the pews in our sanctuary."

The children had bake sales and ran concession stands at Lake Cities' family movie nights. When all was done, those young United Methodists had passed the goal of $306. Equally important, they built fellowship and showed dedication to sharing Bibles with people who haven't had the opportunity to read them before.

Either way, 100% of gifts to mission through The Advance go to their designated purpose! Visit www.advancinghope.org to find more information about any of the following, as well as other missionaries and projects:

You, too, can celebrate National Bible Week at any time by supporting Bible-based mission projects and missionaries through The Advance. There are many to choose from all around the world. Some of them include the following:

To learn more about or support these and other projects, please visit www.advancinghope.org.

Photo: Amity's Gospel Clinic, pharmacy. Luzhou, China.
Courtesy: Richard Lord

Deaconness Myka Kennedy being commissioned by Bishop Martinez and Bishop Bruce Ough.Advocates of the Month
Bishop Bruce R. Ough and Bishop Joel N. Martinez

Bishop Bruce R. Ough, president of the General Board of Global Ministries, and Bishop Joel N. Martinez, its interim general secretary, both accepted the challenge at the agency's annual Board Meeting in Stamford Connecticut, October 12-14, 2009, to support United Methodist missionaries through Individual Covenant Relationships.

They completed Individual Covenant Relationship forms after a challenge came from the floor from Global Ministries director Rev. Denise Honeycutt, who encouraged all directors to consider supporting United Methodist missionaries through Covenant Relationships. Several directors at the Board Meeting completed and handed in their forms to The Advance staff.

Individual Covenant Relationships allow individuals to connect with missionaries and learn about their work, their calling, and their story. They enable individuals to experience the work of The United Methodist Church through a unique connection and expand their idea of mission.

Photo: Deaconness Myka Kennedy being commissioned by Bishop Joel Martinez and Bishop Bruce Ough.
Courtesy: Cassandra Zampini

Did You Know? The Anchor Cross is given to every missionary
Missionary Commissioning Broadcast Live on Internet

The United Methodist Church commissioned 31 missionaries and nine deaconesses and home missioners on October 13, 2009, in Stamford, Connecticut--the first such service broadcast live on the internet.

The live webcast of the commissioning was available at www.ummissionaries.org, which now has a photo gallery, downloadable video of the commissioning, and a link to missionary biographies. Read about the event here: Live Commissioning.

Photo: The Anchor Cross is given to every missionary
Courtesy: Cassandra Zampini

Featured Resources: Alternative Giving
Alternative Giving

The Advance offers perfect opportunities to give beyond the ordinary with alternative gifts the practice of giving a donation in someone’s honor rather than a physical gift. Alternative giving works for all occasions, from Christmas and birthdays to anniversaries and retirements. After you give your gift through The Advance, tell the person you honor with a special card. Free alternative giving cards for Christmas and all occasions are available.

The web address is: http://new.gbgm-umc.org/advance/give/alternatives/

Courtesy: Shawn Bakker

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.