Central United Methodist Church of Traverse City

Missions

Central United Methodist Church
On a Mission...
Prayerfully, Personally, Financially

We are called as Christians and United Methodists to open our hearts, our minds and our doors to the needs of our brothers and sisters here and abroad.

Central UMC has had a long history of support for many of these projects. Our ongoing support has and will continue to make a difference in the lives of many. We encourage you to learn more about our church’s commitment to the needs beyond our doors.

MISSIONARY SUPPORT
Sue Henry: Susie Henry’s projects in Bolivia involve mission communications and coordination of Volunteer in Mission teams to eastern Bolivia. She is a local pastor of Nueva Vida UMC in Santa Cruz.

Peter and Estel Hudy: Peter serves as director of the Rio Colorado Agricultural School in Bolivia. In addition to handling finances, he also teaches and manages the school’s computer system. Estela works in community development, leads Bible study, and organizes projects. The Hudy’s received their call to mission service at an Emmaus Walk while members at Lansing Central UMC.

INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS
Urban Santa Cruz Children’s Ministry: These ministries for street children provide education to children who are otherwise washing cars, selling newspapers and shining shoes. The program, sponsored by Nueva Vida Evangelical Methodist Church includes kindergarten and tutoring for elementary and junior high students. Their hope is to create programs of sports, handicrafts, and nutrition that will help integrate these high-risk children and youth into society.

Rio Colorado Technical School: The school offers basic technical training in a remote area in the lowlands of Bolivia. These vocational agricultural classes are the only chance many students have to obtain a high school education. Students are the children of mountain peasants or miners who have resettled in the area in hope of improving their economic condition.

Babyfold at Old Mutare Hospital: For several reasons – cultural, social and economic- many infant babies are abandoned at birth in Zimbabwe, Africa. Multiple births, deformities, and the death of the mother are often interpreted in a negative way. The result is a steady flow of infants to this home for orphan infants

Uzima Mupya (New Life) Center: The Center is directed by Delbert and Sandy Groves, Methodist missionaries in the Congo and Zambia, where they publish, translate and print religious materials in local languages.

UNITED STATES PROJECTS
Red Bird Mission: Founded in 1921, Red Bird’s modern school serves the educational needs of 300 children in a remote area of Kentucky. Other ministries include a strong Christian education program, a senior citizens’ center, meals for the homebound, and a craft program that provides jobs and opportunity. The community store sells goods and clothing at a low price. The work camp program provides housing repair and construction for residents.

P.E.T. (Personal Energy Transport): P.E.T. provides personal mobility for persons suffering from the loss of legs due to polio or land mines. P.E.T.s go wherever God’s people need mobility. These hand-cranked tricycles are now made in several workshops in the U.S. and shipped in pieces all over the world for those in need to easily assemble and use. It costs $250 to make and ship a P.E.T.

HUNGER/RELIEF PROJECTS
Haiti School Hot Lunch: There are 105 elementary and secondary schools related to the Haitian Methodist Church with an enrollment of approximately 20,000 students. It is estimated that 17,000 students are in risk of malnutrition. Many of the children walk a long distance to attend school and the only daily meal they receive is at school. The Haitian proverb, “Sak vid pa kanpe” (an empty sack can’t stand up) suggests the kind of difference a good meal makes for a young learner.

Grace Children’s Hospital: With over 30 years of experience growing out of the vision of a Methodist couple to provide care for children with tuberculosis, GCH is now Haiti's leading curative and preventative treatment center for children and families suffering from TB. Through time, and in response to the needs mentioned above, Grace has taken intentioned steps towards a broader, integrated program of health promotion and disease prevention. Specifically targeting desperately needy slum communities surrounding the hospital. In short, Grace has become the hub of an integrated health service delivery system reaching an immediate population of roughly 50,000 while continuing to be the leading referral center for pediatric TB for the entire country.

LOCAL PROJECTS
Love INC: Love “In the Name of Christ” enables Churches in the Traverse Bay area to use a referral networking approach with governmental and non-profit agencies to provide a quick response to people in need and help eliminate duplication of services. CUMC is a supporting church of Love INC and provides our members an opportunity to use their gifts and talents to make a difference locally.

CUMC Emergency Fund: This fund is one avenue of our local Mission outreach. Central works with Love, I.N.C., several agencies and local churches to provide emergency, short and long term care. The Emergency Fund’s services include help with utilities, rent, prescriptions, gasoline, car repair, bus tickets and daycare.

Habitat for Humanity: Grand Traverse Region Habitat for Humanity builds 5 houses every year in an effort to eliminate substandard housing in the area. Many members of our congregation have worked over the years to raise funds for Habitat as well as contribute time to participate in work projects.

RACIAL/ETHNIC PROJECTS
Northport Indian Mission: For over 140 years, this congregation has worshiped at its present site on N. Manitou Trail (M-22) just west of the village of Northport. Over 90% of the congregation is Native American. As the only Protestant Native American Church in the Leelanau Peninsula, Northport Indian Mission provides a significant ministry to those who live on and around the tribal land of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottowa and Chippewa Indians at Peshawbestown.

WEST MICHIGAN CONFERENCE PROJECTS
Africa University Scholarships: In June 2001, The West Michigan Annual Conference set a goal of $65,000 to endow a scholarship at Africa University in the name of the Conference. The University, located in Zimbabwe, opened in 1992. It has grown from 40 students to an enrollment of 800. There are five colleges: theology, education, agriculture, natural resource management, and humanities/social science. Annual tuition/room/board is $4000 per student. As the economic situation in African nations worsens, students have increasing difficulty paying fees. Gifts to this fund enable African students to obtain the education they need in order to contribute professional skills and leadership on their continent.

V.I.M. (Volunteers In Mission): Recognizing that mission trips are an important tool in a congregation’s understanding of the many needs outside our own community, CUMC provides materials and supplies as well as helps to organize and raise funds for persons interested in joining a mission work team. In the past, members of our congregation have shared their faith and talents in Africa, Haiti and Bolivia and many U.S. areas, bringing the joy of outreach back with them to their CUMC family.
Unloading equipment in Bolivia

DESIGNATED OFFERINGS
CROP
Heifer International (Fill the Ark)
One Great Hour of Sharing
Souper Sunday for Local Food Pantries
Blanket Sunday

Members of 2004 Mission Ministries Team:

Chuck and Sue Ellinwood
Bob and Carolyn Grigereit
Sue Hornby
Jim Huckle
Paul and Judy Kropf
Jim and Julie Runstrom
Bill and Phyllis Donberg, Co-chairpersons

__________________

Rev. Dale Ostema Rev. Tamara Williams

If you would like more information or become more involved in our church’s mission program, please contact us at:
centralumc@chartermi.net or call our office at 231-946-5191.

Photo Galleries

• Photos of the Guatemala Eyecare Mission

• Photos of Tractor Mission to Bolivia