Holding Institute in Laredo, TX

As we continue to bring light to a bleak subject of the difficulties on our southern border, information about an "old light" has come brighter.   The Holding Institute Community Center in Laredo, TX has really stepped up to the plate to help in the crisis with all those who are entering our country after the long trek from various parts of Central America. 

Normally, this not-for-profit and faith-based institution affiliated with the United Methodist Church offers education, English classes, and services to adults in this border town.  

In the recent months, they had to take a step back and assess how to be in ministry differently.   It didn't take long to realize that offering a place for weary people to sleep, have something to eat, and way to connect with others may have to take front and center over teaching English and other adult classes.    Miracles have taken place as suddenly there is food to eat, clean clothing for those who have nothing but the clothes on their backs, and a clean cot on which to sleep.  Volunteers from the area and around the US have offered their assistance in providing the extra staff to accomplish this new focus almost over night.   

Weary travelers find a place to rest at the Holding Institute

If you would like to know more follow this link to a full article about how the United Methodist Church is responding to the refugee border crisis.  

Save the date...

Ardell is colorful...when she's with the children. 

Ardell

Our missionary Ardell Graner and her missionary husband Gordon will be with us on Sunday, October 5.   She will be introduced in each of the services.   Following the 3rd service we invite you to join us for lunch and a time of getting acquainted with Ardell and Gordon.    Watch for details.  

Why are the Honduran children taking chances?

As we continue to follow the plight of the children coming across the border and how the United Methodist Church is responding, an article arrived in my inbox from the UM News service.  Please use this link to read the words of  the Superintendent of the Methodist Mission in Honduras. United Methodist News shares the following story.  Click on this link.   

 

Pray each day for the safety and well being of all the children and families who have come to find refuge in our great country.   May God give us wisdom in all that we do.  

Your Monthly Mission dollars are appreciated...

This past week a couple of representatives from the Upper Room Recovery Ministry (a ministry of South Bend 1st) were in the neighborhood (near Franklin and Jefferson) so they stopped by the church office to say how much they appreciated our recent donation.   May's focus was this recovery ministry in North District.   The offering was $838 so the Mission team added funds from our budget (which comes from the pledges paid by all) to make the total donation of $1,000.   Thanks for your faith giving to the Monthly Mission Offering.

 

July's focus was ZOE (pronounced ZO EEE)  $920.   The Mission team again added to that with budget funds to make the amount $1,500.    If we use ZOE's website, we have provided 2 families with a start up business ($600 gets a "family" the necessary things to begin a business of their own after successfully completing the training session),  provide one family with a goat, and 12 children will have a mosquito net for reducing the likelihood of getting malaria. Thanks again for your contributions to ZOE.    

 

 As you  know we are gathering information about what is happening to the children along our southern border.   We are pleased to report the churches who have provided humanitarian and compassionate ministries continue to do so and area churches have responded in amazing ways.   The food pantry had to ask people not to drop off food as they didn't have the space to store any more.   They have also refused any more used clothing.  They still need new underwear and socks for children 0 - 8 years old.  

 

Fort Wayne churches have indicated they would be willing to find families to care for up to 2,000 young people (children) who do not have family in this country until their legal status is evaluated.   There is a process for evaluating all those who enter our country to determine whether or not they have a legitimate reason for being here.    Human treatment is expected for all those who have endured all sorts of hardships prior to coming to our border.  

 

Don't forget to check the Facebook page for El Valle District.  Great updates on the amazing work being done in that area.   If you have information that you would like to share, don't hesitate to send Bonnie Albert an email.  bonnie@albertmail.com or bonkay@hotmail.com

 

 

 

 

Ebola in West Africa

This weekend Indiana Conference hosted a United Methodist Volunteers in Mission/ RxConnection event sponsored by North Central Jurisdiction.  Epworth Forest was buzzing with mission folks for 3 days.   Presenters included Denise Honeycutt, the new head of UMCOR; Una Jones, the person responsible for Mission Volunteers for our denomination; as well as Missionaries which included Ardell and Gordon Graner.   (Ardell is Valparaiso 1st UMC's covenant missionary in Dominican Republic.)     

 



Tee-shirts have been printed.

With Rx Connection (the medical volunteer arm of the Jurisdiction) being involved in the weekend's planning, current information about how the church is responding to Ebola in West Africa was a topic of conversation.  This is how the church is responding.UMCOR has given to various NGO's (Non-Governmental Organizations) $87,000 to be used in the Ebola response.   Indiana Conference sent $10,000 for Bishop Yambuso (Bishop of Sierra Leone) for use in training pastors in Sierra Leone.  With just 40  people remaining at the event, the Sunday offering was about $650 and that will be sent to UMCOR for use immediately. 

How might Valparaiso 1st Church respond to this emergency?

1. Pray for those who live in fear of this deadly disease, those who are suffering from the disease, the health care workers who are doing everything possible to keep the disease from spreading, the NGO's (non-governmental organizations) who are providing support and education, and the governments of West Africa.
2. Learn more about how the church is responding by following this link.
3. Make an online gift to UMCOR to  project #982450 and indicate Ebola.
4. Write a check to Valparaiso 1st UMC and write #982450 Ebola on the memo line. 

  

Give Them Something to Eat

A special worship time with a powerful message by Pastor Jacob using the familiar scripture Matthew 14:13-21 has been the start of a wonderful week.   While bringing bags of groceries to the front at communion time made for a bit noisier time than usual, the visual of food bags for the Christian Food Pantry made a joyful noise in our hearts.  We had 183 bags of groceries (and more promised) as well as cash donations for the Food Pantry  given on Sunday.  

After re-reading the scripture, listen to this song and feel the words...  Until All are Fed  

What a blessing we have received with excitement about feeding those in our community.  We were stretched to consider that it was far more than food that Jesus was talking about.  Will we continue to continue "feeding" others, "until all are fed"?  

Statement on Refugee Crisis at Our Southern Border

The Indiana Conference UMC's Social Advocacy team has shared the following statement: 

The Welcome of Christ: Unaccompanied Minors at the Border

There have been many responses to the “border crisis” and the lack of comprehensive immigration reform in our nation. The United Methodist Church, in its Social Principles, teaches that “we recognize, embrace, and affirm all persons, regardless of country of origin, as members of family of God.” Many within The United Methodist Church have worked for comprehensive immigration reform in the past. This work continues as many children, unaccompanied minors, have made their way to our border. There are United Methodist congregations on the border and here in Indiana who are working to help these unaccompanied minors.
Indiana Governor Mike Pence recently released a statement calling on President Obama to send the children back to their home countries. The Social Advocacy Team of The United Methodist Church in Indiana calls on Gov. Pence and the United States Government to respond in a humane and generous way to these children who have arrived with nothing. They are simply seeking a better a life, one that our United Methodist congregations hope to help them reach. They are refugees coming from terrible situations that we can only imagine here in the United States. It’s time to act on comprehensive immigration reform and it’s time to make the right decision for families and children who are at risk.
According to Matthew 25:35, Jesus defined a righteous person as one who welcomes strangers and does not turn them away. As followers of Christ, we feel compelled to welcome these children and youth who have come to the United States in hope of a better tomorrow. We believe to deny them is to deny Christ. Here are four ways you can be involved:
Pray: Pray for the children and their families, their countries and those responding to their needs.
Learn: Understand the underlying issues and the personal stories of the children. Information on the United Methodist response can be found on UMC.org/immigration.
Support the humanitarian response: The United Methodist Committee on Relief, Justice For Our Neighbors, United Methodist Women, Church World Service  and other organizations are responding. Individual congregations can seek to work with border churches and ministries.
Advocate: Urge lawmakers not to repeal provisions of human trafficking laws that protect minors or to expedite the deporting of children. The General Board of Church and Society information on advocacy, and a General Board of Discipleship resource offers action steps.
 The Mission Council's goal is to provide information for all of our church members to make informed decisions about the situation at our borders.   We will post information from time to time and in September we will use the Monthly mission offering to help is some way.   We encourage your input and would love to hear from you.   You may contact Tom Neff (wlfkei@aol.com) or Bonnie Albert (bonkay@hotmail.com) with questions or concerns.