Mission and Advocacy News- 23 August 2010

It was a moment in which I was caught up in my own prejudice.  I looked at the TV and asked myself, after seeing the mass devastation of flood waters in Pakistan: "I wonder why the media isn't making a bigger deal of this?  Well...it is Pakistan."  I then suddenly stopped my crass thought and asked, "What's so different about Pakistan that doesn't deserve my attention?"

I'm not sure what started my state of apathy towards Pakistan compared with any other country in need.  Regardless, it's wrong and un-Christian.  For some reason, if it's news about Haiti, we will pay attention.  New Orleans?  Turn up the TV, I want to hear it.  Maybe we feel Pakistan is too far away, is a culture far too removed, or that the political and religious bias begins to slowly sink in.  Again, it's wrong and un-Christian.

You may have heard just as much about the floods as I have--that is to say relatively little.  It actually took a bit of work to expose how bad this natural disaster has become--20 million people affected, 4 million people homeless (the population of Los Angeles), and 1/5 of the country under water (roughly half the size of California).  It is, by all proportions, an event which will shape the country for decades.  Yet the stories don't grace the covers of our newspapers, and the story is only featured on a side-segment of CNN or Fox News. 

And yet the international community has offered very little attention, particularly in our churches.  As I thought more about it, it occurred to me: we have let media attention shape our faithful responses as Christians.  Pakistan is only one example, but a strong indication of this, and Christ calls us to more.

I urge you and your churches to pray for Pakistan, and give using the example of the Widow's Mite.  Pakistan deserves our attention, and where people are hurting--there is God.  May we be with God in Pakistan.  It's time to be on the side of right, and be Christians.

To give or for more resources, please visit UMCOR's website by clicking here.

(to comment on this blog post, click here) 

Matt

Rev. Matt Lacey, Director of Mission and Advocacy

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Other News Items:

 

-Urban Ministry Conference: On Oct 13th, Rev. Gary Mason from Belfast, Ireland will lead an urban ministry conference at the North Alabama Conference center from 10am-2pm.  All are welcome to attend.  More information and registration is on the conference website at this address: http://northalabamaumc.org/events/detail/3201

- The 2011 Mission Grant Application is now online! These grants are available through your apportionment dollars to help local churches and mission agencies of the conference explore new and creative outreach opportunities, and strengthen existing partnerships. Click here for more information and the application. 

-Drivers are needed to deliver health kits and flood buckets from the conference center to the Disaster Response Warehouse in Decatur, AL.  Please contact Rev. Matt Lacey at mlacey@northalabamaumc.org if you would be able to help.

- For thousands of Honduran children, the Christmas shoe box program sponsored by AHMEN (Alabama-Honduras Medical Education Network) is the only Christmas they receive. Unfortunately, this year AHMEN will not be able to send down a container of Christmas shoe boxes, unless you help us make it happen! To get specific instructions and pledge a number of shoe boxes for YOUR church, call or email: Rev. Dale Capron, Jasper, (205) 387-7603, d_capron@bellsouth.net or Rev. Ray Crump, Decatur, (256) 341-9961, raylcr@aol.com . AHMEN is an Advance Special of the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church.
www.honduranmissions.com

- Chile reconstruction has begun for churches affected. To donate to Chile church reconstruction, please send a check to the conference office made out to "UMCOR". In the note line, please list Advance number 3020485 and label it "Chile church reconstruction".

- Looking for a mission trip?  Have an opening on a mission team?  Click here for North Alabama teams looking for members, or folks looking to join one.

-Volunteer in North Alabama! - the conference website now features a page where you can find outreach opportunites for your church to serve! Visit: http://www.northalabamaumc.org/volunteeropportunities/local . If you know of any opportunities that need to be added to the list, please email them to mlacey@northalabamaumc.org