Volunteers in Mission

 

 

Mission Around the Conference

Tell the Story

Jesus went through all the towns and villages in the New York Annual Conference area, teaching kingdom news, and healing bruised and hurt lives. Jesus felt great pity. His heart broke when He looked at the confused and aimless crowds, like sheep with no shepherd. “What a huge harvest!” Jesus said to the congregations of New York Conference.” “How few workers! On your knees and pray for harvest hands!” (adapted from Matthew 9:35-38)

The mission field begins here in New York Annual Conference area. The workers, missionaries or the harvest hands are also here - all of us, member of the United Methodist Church. Overwhelmed with the need – “huge harvest” and the limited resources “few workers” Jesus instructed - “P.R.A.Y. for more workers!”

This inspiring story from Asbury United Methodist Church illustrates the fact that when the need is identified and the challenge is presented PRAYERFULLY to God and God’s people, the impossible becomes possible. Here is the story:

Well, well, well – three holes in the ground! That’s a very old joke, but it was no joke when dedicated members of Asbury United Methodist Church in forestville, CT decided to act on a suggestion of one of its members to dig a well through church World Service somewhere in Africa. The idea of raising $3775.00 seemed a bit overwhelming at first, but we made it a churchwide project and in just 10 months raised $4,021.98.

“How did we do it?” one might ask. One member, to gave us a visual aid for our fund raising, donated a decorative well he had in his front yard. We held luncheons, a Super Bowl of Caring, a fun filled Cruise Night and many bake sales, one sponsored by the Sunday School children. Ninety tee shirts with the church name and the slogan “Love Colors our World” were sold and worn by church members both walking in and viewing the parade. Handmade holiday ornaments in the shape of a well, decorated flower pots and church notepaper made by church members were also sold. One of our Lenten service speakers donated the collection from that evening. We also received many memorial gifts and donations.

Soon our well was overflowing! And so are our hearts! We are so proud of what has been accomplished, we entered a float entitled “Love Colors our World” in the annual Mum Festival Parade in Bristol, CT on September 28th. The float carried our well and a globe of the world surrounded by 100 pots of chrysanthemums also donated by church members. Our church has grown stronger and closer working together on this project.

IS YOUR CHURCH or YOUR COMMUNITY overwhelmed with a need – “huge harvest” in the face of limited resources “few workers?” Remember that the mission field begins right here in New York, and the workers are here in the congregations. Your brothers and sisters in your church, and around the NYAC will “P.R.A.Y. for more workers” and voluniteers will come to you and make the impossible possible.

Rev. Joseph Ewoodzie, Conference Mission Coordinator is updating the list of work projects within the perimeters of the New York Annual Conference. The Work Project List will be published on the website for the benefit of local and national VIM Teams that are looking for work projects!  Please send your work project (jewoodzie@nyac.com)

the following information will be needed:

        1. Name of the project, (i.e. St. Mark's UMC, or Community Playground, etc.)

        2. Location of the work project (physical and mailing address).

        3. Name, address, phone and email of contact person.

        4. Brief description of the nature of the project including the level of skill required: high, medium or low.

        5. Type of VIM Team required: Youth, Adult, Young Adult, all of the above.

        6. Approximate number of people per team.

        7. Approximate dates of teams are needed.

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