Global Missions
Holston Conference Continued Support for African Missions: Our Conference will continue to help build a bright future for Africa’s children and youth through an orphanage in Yei, and endow scholarships for Africa University. Holston will continue to support the Ishe Anesu, “God is with Us,” education and outreach project in Mutare, Zimbabwe; The J.J. Roberts School, Sinkor, Monrovia, Liberia; and Africa University. Offerings for these missions given at Annual Conference June 12 should be marked, “Africa Mission Offering.” Our special Easter offerings already have been designated for these missions.
Hands on Mission Project for Annual Conference, Chattanooga District: Our goal is to donate as a district 400 school supply kits for Liberia. Each kit is to have the following:
3 spiral notebooks; 10 pack of pencils; pair of flip-flops; Small dictionary; 10 pack of pens; Small Bible; calculator; 12 inch ruler; medium to large poncho; protractor.
Please pack the above in a 2 gallon zip-lock type secure plastic bag. Please also attach to the outside of each kit a check for $5.
Completed kits will be collected in a box found in the atrium of the church.
Sudan: Our Conference Mission team to Sudan left Tuesday 15 March for 2 weeks. The principle part of their mission was to build a building used for Sunday worship and as a primary school the rest of the week at Ligitolo, about 13 miles south of Yei. The cost of building materials for the team was $15,000. Through your generous gifts, Hixson UMC was able to give $6,600 towards this goal. We also paid for our own Carmen Rawiszer, a nurse specializing in pediatrics, to go as part of this team, her second trip to Sudan. Because of your generosity and the involvement of our Holston Conference, we have started 19 new churches in Southern Sudan, and each church has a well for safe water. Presently in Sudan illiteracy rates are as high as 85%. Only 50% of persons complete a primary education. 33% of all schools are open air; with a 1:90 teacher to student ratio.
East Africa—Rebekah S. With further war in neighboring areas the village where she serves has had an influx of approximately 30,000—40,000 displaced persons. We gave $1,000 from offerings designated, “for missions,” for health kits for displaced families. Rebekah’s organization needs a new vehicle to help meet the needs of so many persons in the area.
Sweden—Patrick Teasdale: Patrick intends to spend from Fall 2011—Summer 2012 in Uppsala, Sweden offering the Good News of Jesus Christ to university students through Campus Crusade for Christ. Sweden has among the highest rates of alcoholism, suicide and abortion.
East Asia—Mark Gambrell: At school, learning the local language, studying at a university, building relationships, sharing the faith of Jesus. Mark is daunted by the task, and sees enormous progress. He now shares the Good News in the local language and in English. He will be doing further training in the states in late Spring, then return to school in E. Asia in the early part of 2012. He hopes to fulfill his calling for an extended stay. He asks for our Father to guide him in decisions, to provide places to stay, for reliable transport, for clarity for co-workers. He hopes to see us soon.
Churchill Activities and Tutoring - Ben Rybolt is spending another year teaching and tutoring over 60 inner-city children and youth in community in Richmond, VA. His full-time work is often 14hrs./day.