THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S GREETING Like good stewards for the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received I Peter 4:10
GREETING IN HIS NAME!
As we move into the twenty-first century there has been significant changes in how the church is doing in mission. We are moving toward consensus regarding partnerships; we realize that partnerships are essential for mission of the church and especially vital in international, multicultural, and urban contexts. In addition to the continuing work of long-term missionaries, congregations are now directly involved in global mission, In the midst of leaning how to form global partnership, the Department of Global Witness and Ministry of the African Methodist Episcopal Church recognized a need with congregations who are involved in their own mission initiatives.
The Department of Global Witness and Ministry has given invaluable services through tangible gifts and in-kind contributions. Thus, let me chronicle some of the ministries of missions for the period of August 2008 - July 2012.
Program Initiative in Missions:
· Hurricane Preparedness Training · GWM is committed to providing districts 14-20 with blankets, sleeping mats, mosquito nets, water cans, and cooking utensils to people displaced by violence · One Great Hour of Sharing (offering) Fourth Sunday in March - Local Congregations · Endowment Fund for Mission goal $300,000 by 2012 · Increase subscription to the VOM Magazine · Distribute magazine, church calendars, Bible, pens, and other materials to overseas' districts
Projects in Mission:
· Stipends to indigenous pastors: Episcopal Districts 14-20 · Special Edition of the VOICE Magazine (highlight former supervisors on the missions field)
Partnerships in Mission:
· Church World Service · Seventh Episcopal District Lay Organization (South Carolina) · Connectional Women’s Missionary Society · American Bible Society · Christian Doctors Association · Medical University of SC · Africare · Bread of the World · America’s Second Harvest International · The Bank of SC · Corporate Entity
Boards/Forums Moments in Missions:
· Church World Service Board of Directors’ · Latin American & Caribbean Forum · Africa Forum · U.S. Heads of Missions’ Forum · National Council of Churches
Overseas Travels and number of Countries visited:
· International trips October 2004-July 2008 taken: 22 · Number of miles traveled: 1,941,717 · Number of countries visited: 42
The work of mission and ministry is one of the most spectacular ministries of the church; however, globalization and post modernity are changing the world that we live in. Increasing choice and diversity are primary features of these tends. Like a child at a candy counter, we can now mix and match the food we eat, clothes we wear, films we watch, and games we play. In this new world of difference, what is local is also international, and with this increase in options come the power to affect others elsewhere.
Thus, without missions there is no growth, no hope,
for the future, no people to be trained or empowered. We are globally
connected and without locally invested institutions and people to assist
in enlarging the mission message through the world we are doomed.
Therefore, I challenge us to do three things as it relates to mission
and ministry to the world. 1. GO 2. GROW 3. GLORIFY
The Department of Global Witness is a cooperative ministry of thousands of local AME parishes providing sustainable self-help and development, disaster relief, and refugee assistance in more than 20 countries through programs of social and economic development, emergency response, and assistance to refugees, education and advocacy, and ecumenical relationships.
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