Mission fund focuses on children helping children
2/14/2003 News media contact: Linda Green · (615) 742-5470 · Nashville, Tenn
NASHVILLE,
Tenn. (UMNS) - United Methodist teachers and children's leaders are
receiving a packet of information designed to get kids more involved in
supporting missions around the world.
The packet from the United
Methodist Children's Fund for Christian Mission is about children
helping children, said Mary Alice Gran, director of mission education
with children at the United Methodist Board of Discipleship. The agency
is cosponsoring the effort with the denomination's Board of Global
Ministries.
The packet is a tool for mission education, and it
includes information on how children can raise money to support mission
projects that help other kids.
"When a congregation uses the
packet consistently, year after year, the children of that congregation
learn about children in other parts of the United States and the world
as well as develop a habit of being mission-minded," Gran said. "When
giving to others is fun as well as educational, the impact on the giving
children can last a lifetime."
The Children's Fund for Christian
Mission enables children to learn about and contribute to a select
group of mission projects. The projects are chosen for their value in
helping the children understand what it means to be in mission.
"The
packet is a very important tool for congregations and the children,"
Gran said. "The exposure children can have to a wide variety of projects
and places helps them to understand the needs of children everywhere.
Children learn that children in other places may lead different lives
but they have many things in common, too."
The fund raises about
$200,000 for missions with children. The 2003 packet offers teachers and
leaders of children examples of activities to raise money for the fund.
The
Board of Global Ministries chooses six projects - three in the United
States and three abroad - annually for support and study, and the Board
of Discipleship prepares the teaching packet. The projects for 2003
are Ministry With Children in Namibia, South Africa; Wesley House
Community Center in Knoxville, Tenn.; KIDTOWN! Grace United Methodist
Church in Gary, Ind.; Community Outreach Program with Street Children in
Mumbai, India; Wi'am Center: Trauma Healing Project in Bethlehem, West
Bank, Israel; and Character Ministries: Culmore United Methodist Church
in Falls Church, Va.
Each project receives an equal share of the money the fund receives, according to Gran.
Since
there is no reporting number similar to those of the denomination's
Advance Special projects, donors may send contributions directly to the
United Methodist Children's Fund for Christian Mission, P.O. Box 340013,
Nashville, TN 37203-0013. Include the name of the local church and
address.
More information on the United Methodist Children's Fund
for Christian Mission is available by visiting www.gbod.org/children;
contacting Gran at (877) 899-2780, Ext. 7143, or mgran@gbod.org; or
contacting Shirley Wu at the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries
at (212) 870-3615 or swu@gbgm-umc.org.
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