The Port Huron District

September 12, 2005

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ:

Most of us in the Port Huron District know of the covenant relationship that was established between the Detroit Annual Conference and our sisters and brothers in the Liberia Conference. Since its approval in 1998, our Port Huron District has been slow in meeting our obligations to the covenant and we have not nurtured that relationship to any degree whatsoever. In the mean time, those that are part of the church universal have been in a constant struggle with the ravages of civil war, the absence of a safe sanctuary from violence and the arduous task of mere survival. In spite of this struggle, our "family" continues to spread the gospel and is committed to that effort.

In 2002, an effort was made to encourage salary support to the pastors of Liberia by way of the Ministry Jubilee and the vehicle of a special giving opportunity entitled "Pastors Salary Support #014367A", the intent was to assure that the pastors would receive adequate wages if only the pastors and churches in the Detroit Annual Conference would respond. This was also minimally supported. We hope that this will not be the case as we renew our efforts.

In this letter the Liberia Task Force of the Port Huron District is offering that opportunity again, this time asking the pastors, work area groups and fellowship groups to support this same program. The goal of this effort is to encourage and challenge pastors to give ½ of 1% or more of their annual income, and congregations are encouraged and challenged to match or exceed their pastor;s giving.

Along with this brochure, you will also find the Prayer Circle which "yokes" churches from the Port Huron District with those in the Liberian Districts of Grand Gedeh, Nana Kru, and Sinoe.

The Liberia-Detroit Covenant gives us guidelines for this Prayer Circle:

The Prayer Circle will lift up ministries, leaders and other needs for God's blessings. Secondly, United Methodists in both the Liberia and Detroit Annual Conferences will pray for each other and for the ministries of the Church in their nations; and will pray for God's blessings upon the sessions of the Detroit and Liberia Annual Conferences each year. We request prayer from the Detroit Conference partners for the transition that is underway in Liberia today, both in terms of the nation and of the Church.

Through the coming months you will be hearing more and more about this list, what you can do to develop that covenant relationship with your own church, with the pastor that is appointed to that church and much more.

At this point we are asking that you consider doing three things, 1) becoming involved in the pastor support program, 2) begin praying for the pastor(s) and for the church(es) that you are yoked with, and 3) begin to consider how you can be in a mutual relationship with your particular church in Liberia, remembering that direct communication with your prayer partner will be extremely difficult if not impossible. That is the least that we can do at this time. There will be more opportunities in the future and we will all be blessed by what God offers to us.

If you have any questions or are seeking information about the Covenant with Liberia, please contact Rev. Art Stone, Trinity UMC (Sebewaing) at trinity@avci.net or pastorart2440@sbcglobal.net, or call 989-883-2350 (h) or 989-883-3350 (c). You may also contact the District office at 810-385-8840 or at phdisumc@hughes.net

With God's blessings,
Rev. Art Stone
Rev. Peggy Paige

The PHD Liberia Task Force,
Rev. Art Stone, Chairperson
Rev. Peggy Paige, Port Huron District Superintendent